By long absence which eche man shold drede Thrugh diuers sicknes y â— fal in womanhede The tyde abydeth nat for no maner man Nor stynt her course for no creature And harde it is as we reherce can Thynge to withstand that cometh of nature Harme done by kynde is froward to recure And there is founde full lytell sykernes Where as nature afforceth brotylnesse This lytell sonde ought ynough suffyse To declare domage that may fall By longe absence folkes that ben wise Somtime departed agayn men may nat cal That seldome is sene in loue doth appall And nothing maketh more wyues erre Than disceuerauÌ„ce of folke that be in werre This was theffect plainly insubstaunce Sent to their hasbandes which at y â— sege lai Complayning they had had no plesaunce Space of ten yere as in loues play But desolate in sorowe and great affray Their lyfe they lad affyrmyng in sentence Cause of their csÌ„traiÌ„t was their loÌ„g abseÌ„ce And whan the letters were at the siege rad Tofore the cytie in all their mortal stryues They were astonied and gan to waxe sad And very wery almost of their lyues For to considre the complaint of their wiues Tyl their captayne a remedy out sought By whose counsayl euen thus they wrought First old knightes that the siege sworne It for to accomplish and cast them to be true His counsayl was as they had hight beforn To hold their promise therfor nothing rue But yonge knightes that were come of new Myght as they lyst frely at their wyll Those whether they wold go or byde styll And herupon for their most auayle In haste their captayne as made is remembrauÌ„ce Of high prudence gaue them this counsaile hat knyghtes old lyâ—h their assuraunce Shuld of the siege haue the gouernaunce And yong knightes most fresh welbeseyne Shuld from the siege home be sent ageyne They made among theÌ„ a strauÌ„ge ordinaunce At their home comyng without difference To enterchauÌ„ge their wyues for plesaunce And take her first that came to his presence This was thaccorde among them in senteÌ„ce Moste redy way to their opinion To engendrute and procreacion There was amonge theÌ„ quarel nother stryfe In this mater nor no varyaunce For eueryman misused others wyfe To their desyres as was to them pleasaunce And thus children thrugh this ordynaunce That were engendred the case is thus befal Parthenois men did them after cal Which in our tong to speke in words plain After the greke who lyst consydre and se Is no more playnly for to sayne Than thilk chyldren which engendred be In auoutry wherfore in that countre Parthenois of custome they were named Borne of wombes which that were diffamed The false occasion of thys auoutry Caused after great mischefe and domage That no man coude as for his partye By succession whan he came to age By tytle of right clayme his herytage For where a lyne falsly dothe procede Hard is to know by right who shal succede The disturbaunce of false succession And tytels claimed afforced w t great myght Where that auoutry hath domynacion And is supported of wyl and not of tyght And claym of trouth hath lost his clere light Though their parties mighti be and strong God wyll nat suffre they shall endure longe And Parthenois paysing all these thynges Howe false assuraunce was in their lynage The gentle bloud troubled first of kynges For no man knew of high nor lowe parage His owne father by lykelynesse of vysage Nor father none by his great erroure Coude yeue no tytle to his successour Whervpon folowed a great mischaunce Hateful to heare through the countre Echeman troubled in his countenaunce Who shulde clayme by any lyberte To entre his lande or to stande fre Such doute they had echeman for his party So importable was their auoutry This great mischefe who so taketh hede By longe proces made theÌ„ to know and se How they were able as by likelihede For their outrages to fall in pouertie And of assent they cast them for to flie Vnder a captain by strong and mighty hand For that countrey to wyn some other lande And as I rede they chase duke Palantus Of whom I spake to gouerne the passage Takyng no leaue the storye telleth thus At their departyng begynnyng their vyage They were so confuse of chere and of vysage For there was none of that great route To chose his father but y â— he stode in dout They helde them selues very ashamed And for shame out of the lande they went Like people disclaundered and diffamed Through the auoutry to which they did asseÌ„t And to a citye that called was Tarent Which stant in Poile a mighty stronge couÌ„try This duke Palantus came with his meyny And there he put through his great myght The citizyns out of that citye And gate Tarent full lyke a manly knyght And there abode in long prosperitie As gouernour and duke of that countrey Tyll that his people by false collusion Him to depriue sought out occasion They him exiled whan he was fall in age Lo what it is in commons to assure Stormy of hart vnsure of their courage That selde or neuer their frendshyp dothe endure â–ª Men may to day their fauour recure And to morow let set it at a prefe They rathest hinder whaÌ„ men be at mischefe ¶ The .xiiii. Chapter ☞ Of Ceson Quincius exiled and Graccus taken prysoner I Can no more rehearce of Palantes Duke and leader of Parthenois But I wyll tell how Ceson Quincius Came before Bochas w t a full piteous voyce His tale gan how Graccus prince of Equois Bothe at ones gan their songe entune Most dolefully to playne on fortune This myghty prynce Ceson Quincius Complayned first as made is mencion How they of Rome wer contrarious And felly wrought to his destruction And full vniustly banished him the toun And not withstandyng he was a dictatour Him to coÌ„founde they did their busy laboure Cause of his exyle compassed as I rede That he was slowe they sayd and negligent Him to defende touchyng appeale in dede Which again him was brought of falce entet Yet Cyncinatus his father by assent Payde for amendes as sayth cronyclers Met out of lande draught of thre arblasters Yet his enemies would not be content But procede that he was exiled Did extorcion of his iudgement As in his story full playnly is compyled He after neuer myght be reconcyled Whiche I haue pitye to put in remembrauÌ„ce So litle offeÌ„ce should haue so great veÌ„geauÌ„ce Graccus of Rome called Cloellus Prince of Equois mine auctour saith y e same Was in his time notable and glorious And a great duke full renoumed of fame But how y e people of Equois toke their name Vnder support that no man haue disdayne I will the processe here declare in certaine John Bochas sayth there is a nacion Whiche that first were called Hunoys And secondly also by succession Of full long tyme named Anathois And alderlast men
or rede Of this forsayde manly Hanyball My penne quoke my herte I felt blede For to beholde the wofull pytous fall Of hym that was the defensable wall Of Cartage the myghty strong toun Which slewe him selfe by drinkyng of poyson It was to him he thought more manhede To sle him selfe by vengeaunce most mortal Than his enemies by constraynt should hym lede In chaynes bounde he to be thrall So great dispite he had of them at all That leuer he had than byde in theyr pryson To murder him selfe by drynkyng of poyson As me semeth in thys horrible dede He resembled the furies infernall Of cruel Pluto I trowe he toke his mede Voyde of all reason became bestiall It whose terrible feast funerall Goddesse Proserpina came w t Manes doun The same tyme whan he dranke poyson Noble prynces consider and take hede Leauyng the surplus hys dedes marcyall Knyghtly remembre haue in herte hatrede Of his enpoysonyng in especiall Abhominable to god and man withall That a prynce so famous of renoun Shoulde murder him selfe by drinking of poyson The .xxi. Chapter ☞ Howe Prusias kyng of Bithinye that betrayed Hanybal woulde haue disherited his sonne and heyre went a beggyng in straunge landes FOlowyng in order there came to Bochas Of Bithinye the great myghty kyng Whiche in his tyme was called Prusias Greatly sclaundred and noysed of one thyng That he was false and double in workyng Agayne the noblesse of his estate royall Because that he betrayshed Hanyball This diffaute derked the bryghtnesse Of hys fame and his knyghtly renoun And eclipsed hys passed olde prowesse By reporte in many a region Alas that euer the condition Of doublenesse by falsenesse or faynyng Shoulde be founde and namely in a kyng Of this Prusias further to procede Which agayne Hanyball wrought thys treason A sonne he had called Nychomede Borne to be heyre by iust succession But hys father by false collusion Purposed hym for he was yonge of age To put hym out of hys heritage In this matter ther grewe vp a great stryfe By Prusias agayne thys Nychomede Cause that he by hys seconde wyfe Had a yonge sonne in bokes thus I rede Whome he purposed to preferre in dede For whyche he caste by shorte conclusion Of Nychomede the destruction And for tacomplyshe this frowarde falsematere By full great delyberation Kyng Prusyas gan shew heuy chere Gayne Nychomede sekyng occasion To depriue hym of possession After hys dayes by subtell false workyng In Betheny he shal nat reygne as kyng The people seynge thys great iniquite Wrought by the king gayne good conscience Through all the lande of hye and lowe degre To Nychomede all of one sentence Gaue theyr good wyll theyr beneuolence For euery lorde and euery great baron Stode whole w t him through all the region Thus by iust tytle he was crowned kyng Prusias for shame and heuynesse In straunge countreys lyued by beggyng All desolate cryed for almesse Loe here the ende of treason and falsnesse Left at mischefe myne auctour sayth y ◠same Of pouerte forsoke hys owne name Se here two thynges take ryght good hede Of Prusias the vnware sodain mischaunce The disherytyng done to Nychomede After folowyng on him the great vengeaūce As the story putteth in remembraunce For treason done odyble and mortall Agayne the foresayde famous Hanyball The .xxii. Chapter ⧠Howe Perses of Macedone kynge that enpoisoned his brother was by Emilyus outrayed and died in pryson BEspreynt with teares pitouslye wepyng As Bochas sate in hys studye alone Next came Perses of Macedone kyng And mortally he gan sygh and grone And furiously for to make hys mone That he was whylom of so great renoun Constrayned after to dye in pryson This sayd Perses of nature was frowarde Yuyll disposed eke of hys condicion Though he of byrth was but a bastarde He compassed by false collusion After hys father to haue possession As myne auctour remembreth by writyng Of Macedone to be crowned kyng His father Philip the story telleth thus Had a sonne whiche was yonge of age Wyse and redy called Demetrius Borne and begot trewly in mariage But Perses cast by furious outrage Hym to destroy and murdre by poyson He of that kyngdome to haue possession Falsely compassed to hys auauntage In his entent Demetrius to depriue Of Macedone whiche was his heritage And thervpon he letters gan contriue To preue him traytour while he was alyue Wherof kyng Philip greatly was anoyed That he and Perses should be distroyed By Demetrius that thought no domage Ment no harme in hys opinion Yet his father suspicious of corage For Perses gaue hym false information Made him be slayne by drinkyng of poyson Vpon a daye a thyng abhominable Sittyng at meate at his fathers table King Philip after when he knew the trouth Had of his dethe great compassion But all to late and that was great routh Whiche caused after hys owne destruction For sorowe dyed and of presumption Perses after falsly vsurpyng In Macedone was crowned for the kyng With diuers countreys made his alyaunce In Grece Trace gate frendes nere ferre And of pride and wylfull gouernaunce Cast with Romayns for to holde werre Vngrace and youth made him for to erre Tyll a Consul sent fro Rome toun Brought thys Perses vnto distruction Called Emilius was thys Consulere Sent again Perses to haue a great batayle Seynge his doughter heuy of her chere When he went out hys enemies to assayle Made vnto her this vncouth apposayle Why wepe ye so what thyng doth you agreue At my departyng takynge of meleue Father quod she and ye take good hede A whelpe I had that dyd great pleasaunce Called Perses the which right now is dede And this chefe cause is only of my greuaūce Her father than gan chaunge countenaunce This is a token to myne encreace of glory That I of Perses shall haue the victory In Macedone he and Perses mette And quit hym there lyke a manly knyght Cōquered the lande none might him withlet And manly put Perses to the flyght After to Trace he toke the way ryght Of whiche conquest short processe to make With his two sonnes Perses was ther take Emilius after thys victory Asketh the triumphe to hys guerdon And as it is remembred in hys story Perses foloweth his chayre throughe Rome toun Condempned after to dye in pryson The whiche dethe he dyd well deserue For he by poyson made hys brother sterue Thus can fortune erly and eke late Downe from her whele and hye stage Of proude prynces the surquedy abate Whan to her lust she seeth moste auauntage She frowardly gan tourne her vysage And sodaynly the estate of them consume Aboue their office that wrongly lyst presume Amonges whiche a kyng of Israell Agayne the precept and lawe of Moyses Called Ozias the byble can well tell Of presumption wylfull and recheles To sacrifice put hym selfe in prees Lyke a byshop in the temple arayed But or he passed greatly he was affrayed
Called Cleopatra as made is mencion And all his labour in conclusion Was onely this in Bochas as I rede All the kyngdomes aboute hym to possede Who all coueteth sometyme all dothe lese One agayne all selde hath soueraynte And for Ballas frowardly gan chese To holde werre with kyng Tholome And with the foresayde worthy kynges thre All of assent haue suche wayes sought That by theyr workyng he came to nought Fyrst Tholome fro hym toke hys wyfe Cleopatra and toke her in mariage To one Demetry causyng full great stryfe For he that tyme was but yonge of age But Ballas after by full great outrage With all his power gathered nye and ferre Gayne Demetry gan to holde werre Togyther they met proudlye in batayle Ballas constrayned cowardly to fle And when he sawe hys power dyd fayle In Arabye a myghty stronge countre â—abydus a prynce of great poste Toke hym by force quakyng in hys drede To kyng Tholome sent anone his hede Men may two thinges consider in this caas Pryde punyshed and vnkyndnesse And presumpcion in this man Ballas Without tytle or clayme of ryghtwysnesse Made kyng of Surry set i gret worthinesse What was his ende ye get no more of me Hys heed smyt of and sent to Tholome Lenuoye THys tragedye dothe naturally complayne Vpon thys vyce called vnkyndnesse Which to punyshe is tourment none ne payne Rygour condigne flagell nor duresse Emprisoning nor none earthly distresse That may suffise brifely to conclude Againe the vice of ingratitude All creatures on this vice complaine Lawe nature decrees rightwisnesse This monster in kinde dothe y â— light distaine Of euery vertne derketh the brightnesse Alisander can beare hereof witnesse Whiche to his furthers he of his tetches rude Shewed againe warde great ingratitude Of Cerberus th infernall treble chayne Nor of Tantalus hungre nor thrustinesse Of Ixion or Ticius bothe twayne Reken the turment remeÌ„bre the sharpnesse All to litell to chastise or redresse The hatefull vice of them that can delude Their frendes olde by false ingratitude Noble princes which in your demayne Haue gouernaunce of all worldly rychesse Gayne folke vnkynde loke that ye dudayne Suffre them nat to haue none entresse For to aproche to your hye noblesse For there is no vice more hatefull to conclude Than is the vyce of ingratitude The .xxvi Chapter ⧠Here Bochas wryteth of the rebellyons and sedicions in Rome betwene Tribunes and the commons FOlowyng myne auctour in storyes merueylous I must now write y â— stroÌ„g rebellions Of Gayus first and of Tiberius And of the great hatefull secious Meued in Rome twene tribunes coÌ„mons And by their stryues how they gan conspyre For to attayne falsly to the empyre The yere syxe hundred by computacion Gayus Graccus made tribune in that age After the cities first foundacion Which turned after to full great domage Of common profit for by their mortall rage Tumulte and noyse of commons in the toun Caused a great part of their destruction For in departyng of champayne heritage Atwene the worthy and pore of the cite By egall portions Graccus w t faire langage Had greatly meued all their commonte By whiche occasion in story men maye se Another Graccus called the seconde Was slayne in Rome low laide in grounde After the deth of Graccus as I rede Was chosen a tribune called Munycius Whiche fordyd the lawes all in dede Of olde Graccus called Gayus But he that was named Tyberius With helpe of Flaccus Tribunes of estate In the Capitoyle began a great debate They were supported by the commonte By voyce of people y â— word of no man know For Graccus party hye vpon a tre A trumpet stode and proudly gan to blowe Which slayne was fro the tre doun throw By which slawter y â— boke maketh rehersaile Flaccus wext feble his party gan to fayle For drede he fled into the teritory Of Janus temple ran vp to a tour Whan Tyberius as put is in memory Sawe in the cite he had no fauour Dispayred knewe no better succour Sworde set at brest in presence of Myncrue Fully purposed afore her for to sterue There stode one by drew his hand a backe Fro that purpose made him to declyne Thus Graccus party goth dai by dai to wrake And Flaccus toke the temple of Lucyne His son his frendes almost all his lyne Thei kept theÌ„ stroÌ„g but maugre their defeÌ„ce They were there slayne by sturdy violence While Graccus frendes fought for his party And he him selfe constrayned was of drede He gan to pray a boy of hys company To take a sword and smyte of hys hede Set on a speare with the bloude made rede Sent it his mother complayning in her tene Into her castel that called was Missene Named Cornelya his mother was in dede Whylom doughter to great Scipion Her châ—oren all slayne as I rede And Graccus goodes acheted to the toun Therof after made a diuision By iudgement thorughout the cite Where most was nede among the commonte Of Graccus syde fiue huÌ„dred slaine twaine Vpon an hyll called Auentyne And Oppinius a consull dyd his payne Of their conspiring y â— grouÌ„d to serche mine And Flaccus party to bryng to ruyne He slew two thousand by hasty iudgement Amonge which was many an innocent The .xxvii. chapter ☞ How the wyfe of Hastruball brent her selfe and her chyldren HEre John Bochas lyst in especiall To remembre howe Cartage newe agayne Distroyed was and how Hastruball Came to mischefe y â— trouth was well sayne Which to reherce of new it were but vayne Sythe here tofore is made clere mencion Bothe of their brennyng their destruccion Saue here he telleth how Hastrubals wyfe Onely to eschewe to lyue in seruage Chase with her children for to lese her lyfe And wylfully of furious corage She and her sonnes tender and yonge of age Amonge the flames and the coles reed Consumed was into ashes deed Dydo the first that bylte that cite And made tours and the stronge wall Which was betrayshed also of Ene Afore remembred the fires funerall And after longe the wyfe of Hastruball Chase rather to dye with her childreÌ„ twaine Than amonge Romayns for to liue in paine The .xxviii. chapter ☞ Of Machabeus Jonathas take by the kynge of Surry IN order suyng vnto John Bochas There appeared an heuy man of syght Machabeus y â— worthy Jonathas Whiche occupied for wisdome for myght Office of prynce priesthod and of knyght By title of Juda of werres toke thempryse By clayme of Leuy as priest dyd sacrifise The lawe of Jewes manly to defende With all the lande of promyssion This Jonathas ful knyghtly dyd entende Agayne all enemies about them enuyron Tyll of Surry the false kyng Tryphon By traynes coÌ„passed promise falsely holde Toke Jonathas of whoÌ„ right now I tolde In Machabeorum is reherced all Of his knighthode and of his worthynesse With all the treasons in especiall Wrought by Tryphon
by great falsenesse His subtell sleyghtes and hys doublenesse Them to reherce ye get no more of me For in the byble the story ye maye se. The .xxix. Chapter ⧠Howe Demetrius the seconde lost at the last his head BVt I wyll returne to Demetrius That called was Demetrius the seconde Which by discent came fro Antiochus And by his manhode as it is well founde Dyd the pride of kyng Ballas confounde Called Alysander which by great out rage Had put his father fro his herytage This Demetrius famous and notable Vpon Parthoys had many great victory Tyll kyng Arsacides double and deceyuable Him selfe delytyng greatly in vaynglory By hys sleyghty fraudes deceptory Vnder a shadow of faynyng and false chere Toke Demetrius vnwarely prisonere And to great hindring sclauÌ„der of his name Arsacides by a maner mockery Made Demetrius for dispite and shame Poorly arayed of hate and great enuy For to be led through all Jury Made hym after by great auisement To wed hys doughter agayne hys owne entent This Demetrius was kepte out of prees That but fewe had of hym syght Vnto tyme that Arsacydes Was deed and passed for all his great might Than he cast to escape away by flyght And secretly to accomplishe his entent He gate hym couÌ„sayle that was of his assent Gallymandrus a lorde of that countre Which that was of hys assent in dede In their flight to kepe them more secre Made Demetrius for to chaunge his wede And preuy wayes forth he dyd him lede But all for nought his flight was in vayne For by strong pursute he was taken agayne After by constraynt presented to the kyng That he gan wexe wery of his life Kept more straytly folke on him waytyng And maugre him presented to hys wife With her to abide full heuy and pensyfe But wheÌ„ they had childreÌ„ atwene theÌ„ twaine To go more at large losed was his chayne And thus he had space and fre lycence To go and come at his auauntage For whyle his wife helde with him resydence They dempt hys chyldren were suffisaunt hostage But he was euer vnstable of hys corage With Gallymandrus the foresayde knyght Thre times take brought agayn by flyght And for he was so dyuers many folde Kyng Fâ—ahaâ—es in token he was vnstable Sent him thre dice forged square of golde To play raket as a chylde chaungeable Hys disposition was so varyable But for to restrayne hys condicion He was est take and fettred in pryson But whan fortune had geuen hym a pull By many a diuers straunge aduer site To punish him more Phrahates wexeth dul And Demetrius of pryson was made free Full restored agayne to his countre Wext proude agayne of new it is so fall That he was hated of his lieges all Cleopatra hys mother that was quene Of all Egypt and wyfe to Tholome Was with her lorde at stryfe who lyst sene Which turned after to great aduer sue But to strength her party thus wrought she Made her sonne for to take on hande For her to fyght agayne her husbande But Tholome called Euergetes Gayne Demetrius defended hys countre Made zebenna to put hym selfe in prees Sonne of a marchaunt borne of lowe degre To make a clayme by false subtylte Of all Surry to haue possession For hym allegyng tytle of adoption He to be sonne to Antiochus Claymyng therby the kyngdome of Surry Onely texclude the sayde Demetrius And Tholomeus to sustayne the party Of zebenna with all hys châ—ualry Gathered in Egypt and countreys enuyron Agayne Demetrius proudly is come doun And fortune wyth her double face Caused the countre ryse by rebellion That Demetrius stode clene out of grace Whereby the people of that region Were whole agayne hym in their opinion That by Tholomes wonderfull workyng zebenna there receyued was as kyng Thus zebenna by false intrusion Of all Surry was made lorde and kyng Tytle was there none but collusion Texclude Demetrius by subtle compassyng Yet as I fynde hys party defendyng Howe Demetrius zebenna gan assayle Theyr quarel darreyned w t a great batayle Great people slayne vpon outher syde Demetrius put from hys region And ouercome for hys great pryde At great mischefe to hys confusion Hauyng no succour nor consolacion But with a fewe chose of hys meyne Fled by water to Tyre the cite Lyke as he woulde haue lyued there in pees By a faynt maner of perfection Within the temple of myghty Hercules Vnder a shadowe of religion But sodainly at hys commyng doun Into Tyre and at hys arriuayle His heed smit of what dyd his pride auayle ⧠The .xxx. Chapter ¶ Howe zebenna kyng of Surry by entrusion entryng had mischeuous endyng TOuchyng zebenna of whome I spake toforne Poorely brought vp and of lowe lynage And of kynred but a begger borne Came tofore Bochas trist of hys visage Soore wepyng muet of langage Gan complayne hys wofull auenture Vnware and sodayne impossible to recure Hys condicions somwhat dull and rude Fyrst in pouerte proude and presumptious Appeched after of great ingratitude Shewed in hys lyfe to kyng Autiochus Hys first furtherer the story telleth thus For whyche Antiochus greatly was anoyed Cast a meane by whyche he was distroyed There was a cosyn y t called was Grispus To Antiochus and of the same lyne Whiche by title of Demetrius Claymed as heyre by many vncouth signe To reygne in Surry proudly gan maligne Agayne zebenna whose party to supporte Stode Antiochus chefe as I can reporte This sayd Grispus yonge and tender of age By the furtheryng and supportacion Of Antiochus had in maryage His owne doughter with great possession That zebenna for shorte conclusion Compelled was for all his great myght To Antioche for to take hys flyght And there he fyll in so great pouerte Fayled money for to paye wages The soudyous whyche in that countre Abyde vpon him of all maner ages Strange folke and sundrye of langages Theues inurdres mansteers pyllours First of Jupiter assaylyng the treasours To his disclaunder perpetuall of memory The diffame arose so many folde In Jouis temple the baner of victory He toke away that was of massâ—fe golde With a great ymage that stode there of olde Of golde also with other mo treasours With which pillage he payed the soudiours Of sacrilege hauyng no conscience To escape away he entred is the see But Eolus by great violence With winde and tempest as he dyd flee Dyd vnto hym full great aduersite And all his meyny forsoke hym of entent And he was take and to Grispus sent King of Surry to whoÌ„ wheÌ„ he was brought Gaue on hym by iudgement thys sentence For sacrilege that he had wrought Spoyâ—â—g temples by great violence Doyng to goddes no maner reuerence For which Grispus coÌ„mauÌ„deth hath as iuge He to be slayne there was no better refuge Of byrthe a boy clambe vp to royall stage Brought vp of nought and set in dignite Knew nat hym selfe wext cruell of corage Arose fro pouert to great prosperite
tripet And fro my whele I cast him low doun In his moste hyest domynacion Toke no hede where he dyd laugh or mourne For with no man I do alway soiourne Bochas quod fortune take good hede also Howe I can bothe further and disauayle For ensample se howe Athenyo That whylom was a shepherde in Itayle A brigaunt after marchauntes to assayle Laye in wayte besyde a great mountayne Of fugitiues he was made a captayne Slewe first his lorde a ryche Senatour By violence brake many a stronge prison And for a tyme I gaue hym great fauour To gather robbours about him enuyron All the churles of that region He assembled through his iniquite To holde a werre with Rome the cite Besieged castels brake doun mighty tours Slewe and robbed about in eche countre Spoyled palayses of worthy Senatours Tytle had he none saue tytle of volunte Toke vpon hym of pride and cruelte For to be clad in purple lyke a kyng Bare a scepter amonge his men ridyng Vpon his head ordayned for the nones His golden heare tressed lyke an emperour A â—oyfe enbrouded all of ryche stones Me lyst to laughe that a false robbour By supportacion of my gery fauour Which last nat longe for after in short whyle As is my custome I dyd hym begyle I suffred hym and made hym fayned chere As I haue doen to other mo full ofte Tyll downe fro Rome was sent a Consulere Which toke him proudly henge him alofte His churles slayne some of them nat softe In cheynes bounde for shorte conclusion Were dempt by lawe to die in prison By whiche story Bochas thou mayst lere A great party of my condicion But now in hast a story thou shalt here Howe in the yere fro the foundacion More than sixty C. I meane of Rome toun Was a gatheryng a great company Together sworne by false conspyracy Them to withdraw fro the obeysance Of a Tribune called Clodoue Which for knighthode had gouernaunce And was sent downe from Rome cyte With myghty hande to rule a great countre Called Champayne and playnlye for to say The people there lyst hym nat obay Thre score and four were of them in numbre That named were chefe conspyratours Whiche y â— cast theÌ„ their captayne to encoÌ„bre w t multitude of theues robbours Whiche chase amonge theÌ„ to be their supportours Thre mighty captaynes of which there was one Called Spartharcus chefest of echone Gadred churles made them selfe stronge On an hye hyll toke their dwellyng place Hauing no regarde were it right or wronge To spoyle the countre beastes to enchace I cherished them with a benigne face For a season and gaue them liberte By false rauyne to robbe the countre What thing is more cruel in comparison And more vengeable of wyll nat of ryght Than whan a churle hath domination â–ª Lacke of discretion blyndeth so the syght Of comuners for defaute of lyght When they haue power couÌ„treis to gouerne Fare lyke a beast that can nothyng discerne Gladiators folkes dyd them call For their swordes wer with stele made fyne For to fight gayne wilde beastes all As lyons beares bores and wylde swyne And the mountayne where they dyd lyne Called Venuse and through their cruelte Slewe and robbed about in eche countre Spartharchus was their chefe captayne Brought vp of nought borne of low degre But Claudius a mighty stronge Romayne Was sent with power fro Rome the cite For to defende and saue the countre The hyll besieged before them as he lay He was rebuked beate and driuen away Many of them that kept the mountayne Were hurte that day the story telleth thus AmoÌ„ges which was slaine a great captayne That was felow vnto Spartharchus As I fynde he hight Inomaus For whose deth was take so great veÌ„geauÌ„ce That all the countre felt therof greuaunce They of the mountayne all of one assent Without mercy or remission Most vengeable haue robbed and brent All the countre about them enuyron Tyll two Consulers came fro Rome doun The first of them called Lentulus Both put to flight by y â— sayd Spartharchus Wherof the romayns greatly dismayed The Senatours of indignacion Bothe ashamed in them selfe affrayed Sent one Crassus a great lorde of the toun With the nombre of a legion And whan y t he on Spartharcus fyrste set Slewe of his men sixe M. whan they met And afterwarde besyde a great ryuer Called Salayre they had a great batayle Where Spartharcus stode in great daunger For his chere and countenaunce gan fayle Thurty thousande clad in plate mayle Were slayne y t day there gayned no raunson All their capitayns assigned to prison Without all this as made is mencion Sixty thousande in the felde lay dede And sixe thousande were sent to prison The felde with bloude stayned made rede And fourscore M. quakyng in their drede Were thylke day after the romayne gyse Take to mercy receyued to fraunchyse And Spartharcus at mischefe put to flight Whan I from him turned my visage He loste chere he lost also his might Whan I appalled the fyne of his passage And for he was a churle of his lynage Of his encrees I lyked nothyng wele Therfore vnwarly I cast him fro my whele Of my maners to make a greatter prefe There was another famous greate robbour Which through Spayne was a disclaundred thefe And for he dred of iustice the rigour Trusting he shulde fynde in me socour Called Vrinatus he Spayne anon forsoke And to Rome the right way he toke Gadred meyny of his condyrion Of euery secte to make him selfe stronge Theues and robbours of euery region Many a churle was medied them amonge His name tencreace were it right or wronge What euer he gate in cyte or village With his soudyours he parted the pyllage Thus by my helpe he came to greate richesse Which brought in pride and presumpcion He nat prouyded of my doublenesse Gan to maligne agayne Rome toun But by the prudence of last Scipion Sonne of Lepidus makyng therof no boste He slayne was by them he trusted moste By whiche ensample notable of remeÌ„brauÌ„ce Shewed heretofore John Bochas vnto the Thou mayst know in party my puysaunce My sodayne chaunges my mutabylite And for to auoyde all ambuguite To declare the summe of myne entent Great Marius to thee I do present Blacke his wede and his habyte also His heed vnkempt his lockes hore and gray His loke downe cast in token of sorow wo On his chekes the salte teares lay Whiche bare recorde of his deadly affray Wherfore Bochas do thy penne dresse To discryue his mortall heuynesse His robe stayned was with romayne blode His sworde aye redy whet to do vengeaunce Lyke a tyraunt most furyous and wode In slaughter murdre set all his plesaunce Yet nat forthy I gaue him gouernaunce Ouer the people rose on my whele vp fast But as vnwarely downe I dyd him cast Twene him Scilla y â— woful deadly stryues At large herafter Bochas thou
messangere To helpe Flaccus slayne by great aduersite As he entred in to that countre After whose dethe his party to auaunce Of Flaccus meyny toke the gouernaunce Of presumption without auctorite This Fymbria by dyligent labour Full ferre aboue his state and his degree Toke vpon 〈◊〉 by fortunes false fauour To be called capitaine and Emprour Through al that countre bokes specify Of whose presumpcion Scilla had enuy Pursued him through many a greate citye To a castel made him take hys flyght Where Fymbria of great necessite Constrained was maugre all hys myght Dyspayred for sake of euery maner wyght To slee hym selfe the storye telleth thus Wythin the temple of Esculapius The .vii. chapter ¶ Of Albinius that was slayne with stones ANother Consull stoode in case semblable In his tyme called Albinius Whose hareful pride was abhominable To al folkes lothsome and odious Whiche lyke a rebel wode and furious Agayne Romayns ofter than ones Whan he lest wende slayne was w t stones The .viii. chapter How Adriane borne of lowe degre falsly vsurped to be kyng of Rome whyche w t his chorles was after brent NExt cam Adrian which rose to hie estate Fyrst in Rome borne of lowe degre Chosen sent by the whole Senate To gouerne of Affrike the countre Where of hys owne pompous auctorite Toke vpon him by subtel false workynge Maugre Romayns ther to be crowned king Whom to support shortly to conclude Was a great numbre of the cōmonte Of chorles gadred a confuse multitude Title was none nor grounde but volunte Gentlemen than beyng in that countre All of assent and one opinion Assembled them to his distruction At Vtices a large great cyte Hym and his churles beset rounde aboute Of woode and fagot with large quantite In cōpas wise closed him without Gadred with him of vylayns a great rout Layd on fyre that with flames rede Echone consumed in to ashes deade The .ix. chapter Howe Sinthonius kinge of Trace y t much coueted al forwet died in pouerte NExt Adrian came Sinthonius Tofore Bocas w t teres spreint his face As the story reherseth vnto vs In hys tyme he was kynge of Trace Fal sodainly from fortunes grace Cast downe lowe from his estate royal Which came to Bochas to complayne his fal Whose purpose was if it woulde haue be Seuen realmes to haue cōquered w t his hād That were subget to Rome the cytie And all seuen were of grekes lande Who al coueteth ye shal vnderstande He al forgothe ful wel affyrme I dare At vnset houre wherof eche man beware Long or his conquest was brought to a prefe From her whele fortune cast hym doun The pretor Sēcius brought him to mischiefe Dyed in pouerte as made is mencion And Bochas here maketh a digression Compendiously within a lytell space To discriue the region of Trace The .x. Chapter ¶ Here Bochas in partye maketh a dyscripcion of the kyngdome of Trace and passeth ouer lyghtlye vnto the accōplyshment of his boke TRace whylom a countre of greate fame And contayneth a ful large space And of Tyras it toke fyrst y ◠name Son of Japhet and so was called Trace Whyche many a daye dwelled in that place Towarde Septemtrion plenteous of good Besyde Dynoe the large famous flode Southward Trace renneth the flode Egee Macedone standeth in the Occydent And the kyngdome called Propontide Stant in Trace towarde the Oryent Where great plente of blod was shed spente Whan Sencius through his hye prowesse Kyng Adrian there manly dyd oppresse Ebrus in Trace is the chefe citie As myne auctour maketh mencion I cast not long to tary but in breuite To make of Trace a discripcion And to procede in my translacion After myne auctor which wryteth a lōg proces Of great Pompeye his worthynes The .xi Chapiter ¶ Howe after many great conquestes of Duke Pompeye great warre began bytwene hym and Julyus in whiche thre hūdred thousād were slaine at the last the head of Pōpeye smytten of THys Pompeius of whom the name is couth Wise and worthy famous of prowesse Toke vpō hym in his tendre youth After his father by fortunate duresse Called Pōpeye the story beareth wytnesse Distressed was by sodaine deth commynge As sayeth y ◠story through thūdre lyghtning His host dystroyed by the violence Of vnware tempest lyke as saith the boke Fourty thousand slayne in that pestilence For feare the remenaunt the felde forsoke Til yonge Pōpeye of corage on him toke In his beginning proudely to procede Ful lyke a knyght his fathers host to lede Rome that tyme by theyr dyscencions Among them selfe nye brought to ruyne By the frowarde false diuysions Twene Marius Silla brefely to termine Tyl that a new sonne gan to shyne Of worthynes which shad his light In manly Pompeye the famous knyght This sayde Pompeye thys knyghtly man At his begynnyng through hys chyualrye The proude captayne slough whan he began Whych of Marius helde vp the party Called Brutus which in Lombardy Was by Pōpey thrugh knightly gouernaūce With al hys host brought to mischaunce In hys begynning Pompey eke also To set Romaynes in rest quiete One that was called Gneus Carbo He slew him knyghtly whan he did him mete Whych in Cicyle proudly helde his sete And all the countres about him enuyron Pompey made thē subiect to Rome toun After al this Pompeyus on the see Wyth many a shyp stuffed with vytaile Towarde Affrike made a great armee And there in hast after his arriuaile With Domicius had a great battayle Brought the coūtre throughe his hye renoun To be to Rome vnder subiection He pursued the great myghty kynge Called Jertha to Marius honorable And had also hys royall abydynge In Numidy a countre full notable Againe Pompey hys power was not able For at a Castel as they met in fyght He slewe kynge Jertha lyke a māly knyght Thus in brefe tyme holdyng his passage For cōmon profyte as made is mencion By hys wisedome and knightly hye corage Brought al Affrike to subiection Which stode afore in rebellion To the Romayns but all their sturdines The sayd Pompey dyd in haste redresse The greatest enemy agayne Rome toun Thylke dayes was one Sertorius And of fortune whych is nowe vp now doun On Pompeye ones was victorious But after soone of hym it happed thus Among his meyny fallynge at debate He slayne was in hys most hye estate After the deth of thys Sertorius Came Porpenna Pompeye to assayle And as they mette anone Pompeius Ful lyke a knyght slewe him in battaile Which victory greatly dyd auayle To the Romains after by gouernaunce He brought Spayne to their obeysaunce By auctorite gyue by the Senate This Noble Pompeye for vayle of the cite Vpon the sea would suffer no Pyrate Where euer he came fro hym they dyd flee For wyth his shyppes he scoured so the see And bare hym there so māly with hys hande That maugre thē he brought thē to the land Al
his hande Of whose noblesse Pope Vrban had ioy Him to encrease for vertuous liuing Which that time was duke of Anioy After chosen of Cecile to be kyng Of Pope Vrban required by writyng Toward Rome that he should him dresse Of king Manfroy the tyranny to oppresse Agayne the Pope and holy churche right This said Manfroy dyd great extorcion Noble Charles as goddes owne knight Came with stronge hande vp to Rome toun Whiche in his comming gaue possession To Gyot Manfort for to haue the garde In his passage to gouerne the vowarde To Rome with great ordinaunce They passed ouer the boundes of Itayle This maÌ„ly knight Charles borne in fraunce Lad with him many a stronge batayle The Popes enemy manly to assayle But all this whyle to stande at diffence This said Charles founde no resistence Entring Rome to be their protectour Full well receyued at his first entryng Chose and preferred for chefe senatour By the pope most glad of his comming Of Cecile was after crowned king And of Jerusalem as made is mencion Graunted to him full possession Whiche in his ginning bare him so well Entring y â— land with knightly apparayle Of Cassine gate fyrst the stronge castell At Beneuent had a great batayle With kiÌ„g Manfroy whose partye did assayle To reherce shortly his auenture Charles made on him a discomfyture In which bataile king MaÌ„froy was slaine And noble Charles toke possession Wherof Romains were full glad and fayne Yet in Cecile there was rebellion But they were brought vnto subiection And Conradine recorde of al wrighting Sonne of Conrade claymed to be king Gan make him strong proudly toke his place At Alygate a famous olde cite Noble Charles with knightly chere face Fyll vpon him made him for to flye And to set rest in the countre To auoyde trouble make al thing certaine Gaue iugement Conradyne to be slayne Amonge kynges notable and glorious Charles was put as made is mencion Lyke a prince stronge and victorious In full peasyble and hole possession Of Cecile and all that regyon Agayns whom was no disobeysaunce Yelded of hole herte to his gouernaunce By tytle also of his alyaunce Fortune greatly did him magnifye For as it is put in remembraunce The noble princesse that called was Mary Doughter to Stephane reigning in Hungry Joyned was and knit in mariage To Charles son to thencrece of his lynage This same Charles by auctorite So as him selfe list to ordayne Was made king of the great cyte Called JerusaleÌ„ of townes moste soueraine By whiche title he bare crownes twayne His brother Lewes olde bokes say The same time in Egipt gan werray Gate all the countreys aboute enuyron whiche that sarazyns dyd falsly occupye Brought them agayne to subiection Of Jerusalem that iande to magnifye Cartage in Affrike with all their regalye And all the countreys beyng afore coÌ„trayre To kyng Charles became tributayre This whyle he sate highest in his glory Lyke Phebus shyning in his mydday spere with many conquest many great victory whan his noblesse shone most bright clere The same tyme with a frownyng chere Fortune gan from Charles tourne her face And him berafte her fauour and her grace This lady fortune doth selde in one coÌ„tune She is so geryshe of condicion A sorceresse a traytour in coÌ„mune Cast a false meane to his distruction One of his sonnes slayne with poyson which dyd eclypse myne auctor doth expresse A full great partye of his olde gladnesse He was disclaundred of all the vyce which appertayneth vnto tyranny I meane the vice of frowarde auaryce which is contrary vnto his chiualry Diffamed also of false auoutrye whiche was susteyned through his mayntenauÌ„ce within the lande by a knight of Fraunce The same knight abydyng in his hous All Cecile troubled with that dede The great offence was so disclaundrous Thrugh all the region it began to sprede For thylke woman plainly as I rede was wyfe to one whiche suffred this offeÌ„ce And to be venged dyd his dyligence John Prosith plainly was his name whiche cast him fully auenged for to be That kyng Charles should beare the blame Slewe al the frenchmen that bode in y â— couÌ„tre Without grace mercy or pite And for to do full execucion Required was the kyng of Aragon Lost of Cecile hole the region With obeysaunce of many countre And of Jerusalem the possession Fyll by processe in great aduersite And last constrained wyth greuous pouerte To god most mekely wyth ful heuy chere Soone to be dead was hys prayer Supprised he was w t sorowe in his corage Lost his force fyl in to malady Languished forth tyll he gan faâ—l in age Agayne fortune founde no remedy And by occasion of false auoutry Fyl to mischefe and for sorow drede This Charles died no more of him I rede ¶ Lenuoye Lyke as Phebus in some freshe morninge After Aurora the day doth clarifye Falleth oft that his bryght shining Is derked with some cloudy skye Alykenes shewed in this tragedye Expert in Charles the story doth well preue Youth and age rekened truely The fayre day men do praise at eue The noble fame of his fresh gynning To saint Lowes he was nygh of alye Ryght wyse manly vertuous of liuyng Called of knighthod flour of chiualry Tyll maintenaunce of auoutry Came in to hys courte to hurte hys name and greue His life his deth put in ieoparty The fayre day men do prayse at eue Lyke desertes meÌ„ haue theyr guerdoning Vertuous lyfe doth princes magnify The contrary to them is great hyndring Folke experte the trouth may not denye Serche out the rewarde of cursed lechery Where it is vsed the houshold may not preue In this matter to Charles haue an eye The fayre day to prayse towarde eue Noble princes al vyces eschewing Your hyghe corage let reason gye Withdraw your hand fro riotous watchyng Flye fleshly lustes and vicious companye Oppresse no man do no tiranny Socour the nedy pore folke do releue Let men report the prudent policye Of your last age whan it draweth to eue ⧠The .xxix. Chapter ¶ Of Hugoline Erle of Pise slaine in prison AFter Charles story red the woful fyne As ye haue herde the maner and y â— gyse To Jhon Bochas appered Hugolyne Called whylome the erle of Pyse Tyll they gan againe him aryse Most vengeable cruell and vnkynde Slewe him in prison no more of him I finde Saue his children of haterede and enuy Were murdred eke in a depe prison Next with his coÌ„playnt the kinge of Armeny Came tofore Bochas that called was AthoÌ„ A christen prince full famous of renoun For our fayth from which he lyst nat erre Gayne Tartaâ—ines longtime he held werre This manly king in knighthod full famous It was shewed his story who lyst rede Had a brother fell and dispytous Called Sabath desyrous to succede Sted of his brother the kingdome to possede By false treason reued of his right Kept him in holde and put him out
fyre wasteth euery thynge And yron herd doth neshe thynges perce If ought abideth y ◠they may not transuerce Yet cōmeth time and by continuaunce It al consumeth with his sharpe launce His sharpe toth of consumpcion In stil wise doth his busy cure For to aneantise in conclusion Al thynge that is brought forth by nature By long abydyng ye may thē not assure For olde thynges deuoured men may se Ferre out of mynde as they neuer had be Who can or maye remembre in any wise The glorious prowesse of these princes olde ▪ Or the noblesse of Philosophers wyse ▪ Or of poetes their feyning to vnfolde ▪ Processe of yeres alas as I you tolde Deuoured hath their name their noblesse Derked their renoune by foryetfulnesse Thus of their names is left no memory Tyme w t his rasour hath done so greate vengeaunce Shauen away the honor glory Of many noble ful mighty of puissaunce That there is left nowe no remembraunce Of princes poetes ne Philosophers For whan y ◠deth nailed them in their cofers Cam time vpon and by processe of yeres Their memory hath dusked their minde And reuolucion of the heuenly spheres By oft turnyng their glory hath left behind Thus euery thinge whiche subget is to kind Is in this life without more auauntage wasted with time and processe of long age In the first time from Adam to Noe Prudent listers which list in bokes to rede Founde of fortune no mutabilite Neither of her chaūge they toke the no hede But from Adam there rekened ben in dede Vnto Nembroth by turnynge of the heuen A thousand yeres .vii. hundred and eleuen In which space who that considereth wel There ben no thinges writen in especial Digne of memory ne spoken of neuer a del which that ben notable ne historial But fro the time Nembroth had a fal Vnto Cadmus the yeres to conteine They were a M. iiii hundred and fourtene Touchinge this Cadmus as Bochas list endite It is rehersed b◠Rethoriens Howe one Vexores in bokes as they write was made first a kinge of the Egipciens whan Philosophers and nigromanciens Began first taboūde their renoune tauaūce Nachor y ◠time hauyng y ◠gouernaūce Of the Ebrues as made is mencion After Nembroth by true rehersayle Thre hundred yere by computacion Foure score .xii. which time it is no fayle That Vexores begā warres great bataile Of volunt ayenst straunge nacions And to conquere Cityes borowes townes By force only without title of ryght He wan al Egipt to encrease his name But for al that who lyst to haue a sight There is nowe left no reporte of his fame Saue Bochas wryteth howe he first dyd attame Hys mighty conquest of intencion That the glory and the high renoune Ascriued were vnto his worthynes And the residue and surplusage Of golde treasure of good and of richesse Turne should to common auauntage Of al hys people that euery maner age Report mighte it was to him more nerre Aboue singularite his cōmon to prefer Also Tanais of Cithie fyrst kynge Whan Sarneke was duke and souerayne Ouer the Iewes by recorde of writynge Two hundred yere .xl. also and twaine After Nēbroth this Tanais gan ordayne A mighty power a stronge battaile Them of Cithye proudly to assayle Conqueryng from thens vnto the yle Called Ponte in a ful cruel wyse And though his lordship lasted but a whyle All that he wan was for couetise And as Bochas doth of thys folke deuise Proces of yeres for al their great puissaunce Hath put their names out of remembraunce Zoroastes also for all his great myght Of Bactrians kyng and possessoure Lorde of Trace and a full myghty knyght Of all his dedes and his great laboure Of his conquest ne of his great honoure Is nothing left of writyng vs beforne Saue y t he lough the houre y t he was borne He began full sone for to be mery With sodaine laughter at his natiuitie And worthy Ninus that was kyng of Assiry Expowned his laughter to great felicitie The which Ninus wan many a fayre coūtry And day by day his power gan encrease For which he would not of his cōquest cease For this is the maner of these conquerours Whan they haue had in armes victory Do their might their paine their labours With newe emprises to be put in memory For their courage surprised w t vayne glorye Can not be styll content in their estate Till their Parady say to them checkmate Fortune of armes in bokes ye may read With a false laughter on folkes dothe smyle She frowarde euer ere they can take hede Of nature will falsely them begyle Conquest by warre lasteth but a while For who by death dothe sturdy vyolence God will by death his vengeaunce recōpence This worthy Ninus gan mightely preuayle Ayenst zoroastes of whom I spake tofore For he with hym fought last in battayle In whiche Ninus hath him so well ybore That zoroastes hath the felde ylore And he was aucthour as bokes specify Of false Magyke and Nygromancy He fonde the nature of euery element Their kindely workyng their mutacions The course of starres and of the firmamente Their influences their dispositions Their aspectes and their coniunctions Wrote in pillers deuised of metall The seuen sciences called liberall Also in pillers of Brycke full harde ybake There were vp set longe large and huge He began also write them and vndertake To make them sure as for their refuge That they shoulde by floude ne deluge Defaced ben as of their scripture But in their grauyng perpetuall endure But though zoroastes these craftes out fond Full little ornought it myght to him auayle And though he were a good knight of his hōd He was of Ninus slayne in batrayle Lost his realme and royal apparayl And Ninus dyed within a litle throw But in what wise the story is not knowe Also Moydes kyng of Sodome I fynde of him no memory by writyng Saue in a story as men may reade and se He and his people were freell in liuynge But he that was of Assiriens kyng Through false Fortune that can so oft vary To Babylon made them tributary We haue sene and redde also The vengeaunce and the pestilence Done in Egypt to kyng Pharao For that he made a maner resistence Ayenst God of wilfull insolence Therfore his people vpon a day and he Were drent echone in middes of the see The people of God ledde by Moyses Without trouble of any maner wawe Went echone in quiet and in peas And Pharao as he gan after drawe Them to pursue by a full mortall lawe In his pursuite forward was atteynt Among the waues with his host and dreynt In Exodi ben these mencions Ceriouslye put in remembraunce The. xii plages and persecutions In Egypt done by full great vengeaunce And of their treasour their great substaūce They were dispoyled by Ebrues it is tolde Of their vessels of siluer and of
enterchangiÌ„g y â— eche should reigne a yere The tother absent to play come no nere This concluded by their both assent And by accorde of that region Polynices rode forth and was absent Ethiocles toke fyrst possession But whan the ye re by reuolucion Was come about he false of his entent Vnto the accorde denied to assent Thys was a cause of theyr both striues Polynices was thus put out of his ryght Tyll Adrastus that kyng was of Argyues which thorow al Grece gretest was of might Sent vnto Thebes Tideus a knyght Hys sonne in lawe to treat of thys matter And the cause finally to lere Wher through the kyng called Ethiocles Would condiscende of truth and of reason To stynt warre and to cherishe pece After the accorde and composicion Vp to deliuer Thebes that mighty towne Vnto his brother whych abseÌ„t was without Now that his yere was fully come about But he was false and frowardly gan vary Ethiocles from hys conuenciâ—n For whych Adrastus no lenger would tary Whan Tideus had made relacion But called anone throughout his region All the worthy both nere and farre Ayenst Thebes for to begyn a warre For thys cause lyke as ye shal lere Polynices to force hys partie Ywedded had the kynges doughter dere I meane of Adrastus floure of chyualry Whan Tideus dyd him certifye Touchinge the answere of Ethiocles And of his truth how he was recheles False of hys promyse cursedly forsworne For to hys truth none aduertence had he Neyther to the accord y t was made beforne Touchyng y â— deliuerauÌ„ce of Thebes the citie But who that lyst the storye clerely se Of these two bretherne and their discencion And howe Adrastus lay to fore the toun And howe Tideus through his high prowes Fought by the way going on message And how of Grece all the worthines Wyth kyng Adrastus went in this viage And of the mischefe that fyll in that passage For lacke of water tyll that I siphile Norishe of Ligurgus so fayre vpon to se Taught Tideus to fynde out a riuer She that dyd in fayrnesse so excell Ne howe the serpent most vgly of his chere Of â—ig Ligurgus y â— childe slough at the well Neyther howe Amphiorax fyll doun to hel All to declare me semed was no nede For in the siege of Thebes ye may it rede The storye hole and made there is mencion Of either parte their puissauÌ„ce their might And how Adrastus lay tofore the toun And how they inette euery daye in fyght And howe Tideus the famous knyght So reâ—omed in actes marcial Was slayne alas as he fought on the wal And howe the bretherne met among the prese Lyke two Tigres or lions that were wode With sharpe speres this is doutlesse Eueryche of them shed others hert bloud This was the fyne thus with theÌ„ itstode Saue at their feestes called funerall There fell a marueyle which I tel shal Whan they were brent in to ashes dede Of their enuy there fyll a ful great wonder Amonge the brondes and the coles rede Hyghe in the ayre the smokes went a sunder The one to one party and that other yonder To declare the storye me list not fayne The gret hatered y â— was bitwixt hem twayn Thus for their yre and false discention All the lordes and all the chiualrye Were slayne of Grece and also of the towne And rote of all myne aucthour list not lye Was false alyaunce and fraternall enuy And chefe grounde with all the surplusage Who serche aright was vnkyndly maryage The quene Iocasta felt her part of payne To se her chylder eche of them slea other Her son her lorde blynde on his eyen twayne Which to his sons was father also brother Fortune would it shoulde be none other Also Parchas sisters which be in nuÌ„ber thre Spanne so the threde at their natiuitie Also whan Iocasta stode thus disconsolate And sawe of Thebes the subuersion The countrey destroyed and made desolate The gentle bloude shedde of that region Without comfort or consolacion Thought she myght be no more appeyred But of all hope fully loe dispayred Trist and heauy pensyfe and spake no word Her sorowes olde and newe she gan aduert Toke the sworde of hym that was her lorde w t which Edippus smot Layus to the hart She to â—inyshe all her paynes smarte And fro the body her soule to deuide Roâ—e her selfe throughout euery syde She wery was of her wofull life Seyng of Fortune the great frowardnes How her diffame and slaunder was so rife And of Edippus the great wretchednes Also of her sonnes the great vnkindnes All these thinges weyed on her so sore That for distresse she list to liue no more Bochas writeth concernyng her fayrenes Constraynt of sorow caused it to fade The famous light also of her noblesse And all the clearenes of her dayes glade With vnware harmes she was so ouer lade Of very anguyshe that she her selfe did hate So inly contrary disposed was her fate Thus death deuoureth with his bitter gall Ioye and sorow auoyde of all mercy And with his dart he maketh downe to fall Riche and pore them markyng sodaynly His vnware stroke smiteth indifferently From him refusyng fauour and all mede Of all estates he taketh so little hede Better is to dye than liue in wretchednes Better is to dye than euer lyue in payne Better is an ende than deadly heauines Better is to dye than euer in wo remayne And where y â— mischefe doth folke to coÌ„plaine By wofull coÌ„straynt of long coÌ„tinuaunce Better it is to dye thaÌ„ liue in suche greuauÌ„ce Taketh ensample hereof and a priefe Of kyng Edyppus that was so long ago Of quene Iocasta that felt so great mischiefe And of their children remember also Whiche euer liued in enuy sorow and wo. Fortune alas duryng all their dayes Was so frowarde to them at all assayes Touching Edippus processe finde I none What ende he made in conclusion Saue Bochas writ howe that kyng Creon Cosen and heyre by succession Exiled him chayned farre out of the towne Where he endured mischefe sorow and drede Tyll Attropos vntwyned his liues threde ☞ Lenuoy IN this tragedy thre thinges ye may se The pryde of Iabin false presumption Of quene Iocasta the great aduersitie Of kyng Edippus the inclinacion To vyces all and the diuision Of the two brethren playnly vs to assure Kyngdomes deuided may no while endure ☞ Omne regnum in se diuisum desolabitur For who sawe euer kyngdome or countrey Stande in quiete of possession But if there were ryght peace and equitie And iust accorde without discention Voyde of vntruth and false collusion â–ª Plainly declaryng by ensample and scripture Kingdomes deuided may no while endure Seeth here example of Thebes the citye And how that noble myghty region Through their frowarde false duplicitie With warre were brought to destruction Their promise broken their couert treason Shewed by their harmes ipossible to recure
wēt For vnder a colour of liberalite Vnto his palys gladly he would cal Straūgers echone y ◠came through his cūtre And solemly receyue thē one and al And lyke a kynge both in chambre and hal Make them such chere in all maner thynge As apperteyned to a worthy kyng But whyle his gestes lay a nyght to slepe This false tirant in ful cruel wyse Murdred them ethone or they toke kepe And after that thys was also his gise With their bloud to make a sacrifice To Jupiter god of that countre Of hole entent to please his deite That in his kyngdome of frutes grayne The land encresed by great habundaunce Doun from heuin he would send thē rayne This meane he made this cheuisaunce To murdre and slee he had so great plesaūce For of al thing him thought it did him good To murdre his gestes and to shede their blod Whā this murdre of Busiris was couth That no strāgers myght passe his lād i pees This manly knyght yet flowryng in youthe Thys noble famous thys worthy Hercules Among other he put hym selfe in prees And lyke a gest outwarde in shewyng Came to the palys of Busiris the kyng Rebuked hym of his great outrage Done to hys gestes by cruel violence And for to make pesible that passage And for to auenge y ◠his importable offence And of his murdre to make a recompence Thys Hercules slewe Busiris in dede And toke the bloud whych he dyd blede Offred it vp Jupiter to please For thys victory hym to magnifye And al Egipt thus was set in ease Their landes and frutes gan also multiply Theyr grayne encresed about on eche partye And to habounde by influence of rayne Whych afore time of vitayle was barayne Another giaunt called Antheus Kyng of Libye and gouerned al the land Whom Hercules most strong and coragious Sūtime outraid slewe hym with his hand For as they wrastled by experience he fand Touching the erth this giant it is trewe His force his myght dyd alway renewe But whan Hercules the maner dyd espye Howe his strength renewed agayne so ofte Theragaynst he shope a remedy Hye in the ayre he peysed hym vp a lofte And with strokes harde and nothynge softe Backe and bone so sore he did embrace That he fyll deed tofore hym in the place But some bokes of thys giant tell Within his kyngdome who dyd him assaile He would of newe his chiualry compel Efte agayne to mete hym in battayle And in this wyse full selde he dyd fayle To aforce of newe as ye shal vnderstand His strength his myght all enemis to w t stād But Hercules of hye discrecion The felde on him manly to recure Had hym by sleyght out of hys region And as they met there of auenture The sayd Anthens might not endure But was disconfited by Hercules anone Maugre his myght and his men echone After this conquest Hercules is gone For exercise his prowes for to vse Agaynst the myghty stronge Gereon Kyng of Spayne of Melleager and Ebuse The whych tiraunt myght hym not excuse That all his labour as poetes lyst compyle Was from these realmes his people to exile Hys tiranny myght not long endure For Hercules that noble worthy knyght Made vpon hym a great disconfiture And slough the tyraunt as they met in fyghte And after that through his great myght Of highe prowes and magnanimyte Sloughe Cerberus with his heades thre The famous bull of the lande of Crete Whych that distroyed all that region He sloughe also whan that they dyd mete And in Nemea he slough a feirse lyon And for a recorde of hys high renoun Of manly force his skyn away he toke And to his body a cote thereof he shope To his enemis to shewe hym more dredeful Therfore he ware that hidious garment And for he was in armes neuer founde dul But ylike freshe euer in his entent In to a mountaine anone he made hys went Called Erimanthus there in his passage He slewe a boar most wylde most sauage Besyde a ryuer called Styphalus Of furious byrdes he slewe a great nombre Within the kyngdome of kyng Pheneus All the countre they dyd encombre For wyth their shadowe cōtagious vmbre On sede on frutes where euer they alight Al was deuoured in euery mannes sight Vpon the mountayne called Auentyne Which is not far from Rome the citye There is a wode as cronicles determyne Right freshe of light and goodly on to se And Hercules passyng by that countre Fro Spaynward passyng by Itayle Cachus the giant dyd hym there assaile While Hercules among the leues grene Layde him to slepe by sodayne auenture And his beastes against the sonne shyne While that he slepte went in their pasture Came Cachus forth ful hidious of stature Thought he would these beastes w t him haue Stale them echone and hyd thē in a caue And lyke a thefe he made them go backward That no man should y ◠traces of them know Neyther of their passage haue no regarde For by their tailes he ledde them on a rowe In to his caue which that stode full lowe And for they were of excellent fayrnes To kepe them close he did his businesse Out of his slepe whan Hercules awoke And parceyued his oxen were away He rose vp and cast about his loke Began to aspye in all the hast he may To what partie the traces of them lay And while he stode thus musyng in the shade He herd the lowyng that his oxen made And by their lowing he gan anone aproche Toward the parte wher they were kept close Fonde the caue vnder a myghty roche And proud Cachus which had thē in depose Agaynst Hercules he sturdely arose But for al that he myghte hym selfe not saue For he hym sloughe at thentring of the caue And thus his beastes he hath ayen recured That sempte afore inrecuperable After the mountaine byforce he hath assured Which for brigātes afore was full doutable But by his knyghthod it was made habitable That men myght for drede of any foe Whan euer they would frely come and go Touchyng his conquest vpon Feminye Agaynst Amasones with Theseus he went The quene Ipolyta through his chiualry For his praye anone to hym he hent And Ipolita of ful true entent Gaue vnto hym in token of victory A girdel of golde to haue her in memorie After to Affrike he went a full great pace Onely of purpose the gardin for to se Which apperteyned to kynge Athlas That brother was to the kynge Promothee In astrology full wel expert was he And of this gardyn of whych I haue tolde The riche braūches apples were of gold Through magike made by great auisement Ful streyte kepte and closed enuyron And y watched with a fell serpent That no man entred that ryche mancion But Hercules most mighty of renoun The serpēt slough through his māly pursute And fro the gradeyn he bare away the frute This said Athlas
lyst not in no maner wyse Againe the lawe to be fauourable But assented parcel for couetyse Vpon Remus to be more vengeable Of thys entent to make his reigne stable That he alone myght gouerne non other By no clayme brought in by his brother And that the people shuld thē more delite There to abyde and haue possession As olde auctours of Romulus do write Within the boundes of the same toun That he deuised by great prouision In compas rounde so croniclers compyle A teritory that called was Asyle This Asylum by Romulus deuised Was a place of refuge and socours Like a theatre with liberties fraunchised For to receiue all forayne trespasours Theues murdrers wayliggers robbours By great resort within the walles wide To foster all brybers y ◠durst no where abide And with fled people fro diuers regions The citye gan to encrease and multiplye And banished folke of straunge nacions To finde refuge thither gan them hye And thus by processe gan their chiualry First through tyrantes retcheles of workyng Till all the world obeyed their biddyng Of wilfull force without title of right They brought all people vnder subiection A claime they made by violence and might And toke no hede of trouth nor reason And the first auctour of their foundation Was Romulus that gathered all this route Within the citye and walled it about And many day as made is mencion He had this citye in his gouernaunce And was the first kyng crowned in that toun And raigned there by continuaunce Full many yeres till the variaunce Of fortune through her false enuye In Campania made him for to dye Vpon a day whan it gan thunder loude His name foreuer to be more magnified Some bokes saye he was rapt in a cloude High vp in heauen to be stellified With other Gods stately deified There to be stalled by Jupiters syde Like for his knightes as Mars list prouide Lo here of panyms a false opinion To Christes lawe contrary and odious That tyrantes should by false oppression Be called goddes or named glorious Whiche by their liue were founde vycious For this playne trouth I dare it well tell They rather ben fiendes ful depe in hell For but in earth their dominacion Conueyed be by vertuous nobles And that their power and hygh renoun Be set on trouth and rightwisenes Like their estates in prince or princesse I dare affirme of them bothe twayne For vycious liuinge they must endure payne But whan they ben faythfull of entent Right and trouth iustly to maintayne And in their royall power be not blent Wronges redressyng and pore folke sustene And so contune with conscience so clene Such life more rath than pompe of warres Shal make thē raigne in heuē aboue y ◠stars For whiche let princes vnderstand atones And worldly princesses w t all their riches That their high hornes fret w t riche stoues To heauen their passage dothe not dresse But vertuous life chatitye and mekenes Whan they list pride out of their hart arace That causeth thē in heauen to winne a place There is no more straunge abusion Ne tofore god greater ydolatry Than whan princes list catche affection Creatures falsly to deifye By collusion brought in by sorcery Now god defende all princes well disposed With suche false craft neuer to be enoysed And their eyen by none illusions Be not avieugled neither with hoke nor line Nor by no boytes of false inspections Wrought by Cyrenes by drinke or medicine Whiche of their nature resemble to a shrine Through riches outward beauty soueraine And who loke inwarde be like to a caraine God of his grace amende all suche outrage In noble princes saue thē from such werre And them enlumine disposyng their courage In suche false worshyp they no more ne erre Like to Argus that they sene a ferre That no false fagyng cause thē to be blynde Gods nor goddesses to worship againe kynd And though y t Romains did worship honor To Romulus by a constraynt drede Let no man take example of their errour But to the lorde whose sides were made rede To saue mankinde and on a crosse was deed Let men to hym in chefe their loue obserue Which can thē quite better than they deferue ¶ The .xxix. Chapter ☞ Howe Mecius kyng of Albanoys beynge false of his othe and assuraunce was drawen into pieces NExt Romulus w t teares al bespraint Vnto John Bochas appered Mecius Of chere and loke of his port faynte His fall declaryng frowarde dispitous And he was called eke Sufficius Lowe of byrthe and simple in vpgrowyng Of Albanoys tyll fortune made him kyng Again whose pride the Romains gan warrey Full mightely oppressyng his countree And for kyng Mecius list them not obey They cast them fully auenged for to be Because his byrthe was but of lowe degre And was risen vp vnto estate royall They thē purpose to yeue him a sodayne fall Hasty clymbyng of pouert set on hight Whan wronge title maketh him to ascende With vnware peyse of his owne might A sodaine fall maketh him to discende Whan he list not of surquedy entende Fro whence he came nor him selfe to knowe Till god fortune his pōpe hath ouerthrow For this Mecius of presumption Thought again Romayns his pride might auaile Gan warre againe thē by rebellion Was not fearfull their nobles to assayle Till on a day was signed a battaile Bothe their hostes within a felde to mete To take their part be it soure or swete That tyme in Rome raigned Hostilius A manly man and a ful worthy knyght Twene him concluded and kyng Mecius They twayne to mete in stele armed bryght For bothe battayles to trye out the ryght By iust accorde and therin not vary The party vaynquished to be tributary And wholy put him in subiection Without entreatyng or any more delay And finally for short conclusion Kyng Hostilius the triumphe wan that day That Albanoys coulde not say nay But that Romayns as put is in memory By singuler battayle had wonne the victory Thus had Romayns first possession Of Albanoys to obey them and to drede Mecius yelded and sworne to the toun Neuer to rebell for fauoure ne for mede But for he was double founde in dede Of his assuraunce and false to their citie He was chastised anone as ye shall se. Agaynst Fidinates a countrey of Itaile King Hostilius for their rebellion Cast he woulde mete them in battayle For common profite and for diffension Bothe of his citye and of his royall toun And for to afforce his party in workynge Of Albanoys he sent vnto the kynge To come in haste with his whole chyualry And tary not in no maner wise But make him stronge to sustaine his party Like his behest as ye haue hearde deuise But kyng Mecius full falsly gan practice A sleighty treason and a couert wyle Agaynst his promise the Romayns to begyle Yet he outwarde pretendyng to be true Came to the felde with ae full
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
all Inde conquered in substaunce Atwene him and king Lisymachus Of whom tofore is made remembraunce Began a warre and a great distaunce And as they met with their apparayles In a great felde ordeyned their battayles On Lisymachus fyll the disconfiture Wherof Seleuchus glad in especiall Dempt his winnyng came not of nature But by influence very celestiall Gan waxe proude in his estate royall Not supposing in his victorious stall Of his mischeues that should after fall For as the processe declareth vnto vs How of Egypt the great Tholome Brother in lawe to Lysimachus Fyll on Seleuchus by full great cruelte Slew him at mischefe the story ye may se Loste his lyfe as made is mencion In Macedoyne the mighty region And it is know of antiquitee By rehearsayle of the olde auctours That this foresayd great Tholome Was to Alexander one of the enheritours Kyng of Egypt there raignyng in his flours After whose name descedyng downe by grees Were all the kinges called Tholomees As I fynde touchyng his lynage By procreacion he had children thre The first of them to speake in playne langage I named was Ceraunius Tholome Next Philadelphus a daughter Arcynoe That wedded was by her faders coÌ„sentyng To Lisymachus of Macedon kyng The .xx. Chapter ⧠Howe the two sonnes of Quene Arcynoe were by their mothers brother trayterouslye slayne and she exyled ANd thus remembred in bokes olde Death of Seleuchus wrought by Tholome Vnwarely slayne tofore as I haue tolde Next in order came Arcynoe To John Bochas by great aduersite All with teares bedewed her vysage And gan coÌ„playne the coÌ„straynt of her rage This mighty quene the sayd Arcynoe Had sonnes twaine full famous of renoun The tone Lisymachus excelling of beautye That other Philip as made is mencion And her ioye and dilectation In worldly blisse there is no more to sayne Was holy set vpon these children twayne For by the occasion of their great fayrenes Men delited greatly them to se Namely women the story dothe expresse And their mother this quene Arcynoe Stode in great hope that they should be Mighty kynges by iust succession In Macedony the mighty region Onely by the title of their fathers ryght Whiche to her hart gaue full great gladnes For she dempt that none other wight To succede should haue no entresse But Fortune the blynde false goddesse Disposed so for her children twayne That none of theÌ„ their purpose shold attayne For whaÌ„ their father Lisimachus was slaine The sayd quene called Arcinoe To saue her lyfe coulde none other gayne But with her sonnes fearfully to fle Into Cassander a mighty stronge citee Onely for drede of one Antigonus Whiche theÌ„ pursued the story telleth thus But the brother of quene Arcynoe Called Ceraunius rescued her party Agayne Antygonus ye may the story se Yet in his hart he had great enuy Albe that they were nere of one alye That her two sonnes should kynges â—e Of Macedoyne and raygne in that countre For he was set onely of couetise To be crowned in Macedoyne kyng And of his false treason the story doth deuise Them to disâ—â—yue this was his workyng First to the quene full humbly knelyng He made promise vnder great surete In Macedoyne she should crowned be And her children so fayre of their vysage Should be kept vnder gouernaunce Vnto time that they came to age And for to put her in more assuraunce Ceraunius swore god geue him sory chaunce He purposed for all his false workyng To crowne her quene make her soÌ„nes king Toke all the gods therunto witnes And swore agayne with a plaine vysage Vnto the quene of fraude and doublenes His purpose was to haue her in mariage Crowne her quene to her great aduauntage Thus he swore all be he was her brother Yet in hart god wot he thought another Vnder colour of this assuraunce She let him enter Cassandre the cite Came again him to do him more pleasaunce With all her lordes of hye and lowe degre Made the stretes hanged for to be With clothes of golde in solemne wise To all their goddes she did sacrifise And thus he was receyued solemnely The day was halowed and holde feastiual The quene for ioye ordeyned rychely Her two sonnes that were so faire in all To be crowned with crownes full royall Go afore her in the maister strete Gloriously their vncle for to mete With felonous hart vnder a frendly face This Ceraunius rote of all treason Gan his cosyns benâ—igly embrace Him purposyng by false collusion To procede to their destruction And fynally fyrst he did his payne The quene texyle slea her chyldren twayne But or this treason was brought to a prefe Whan the quene apperceiued his falsenes And saw her sonnes brought to mischefe She coniured him 〈◊〉 her mortall distresse To haue pitie of naturall gentilnes Spare his cosins afore him where they stode Of royall mercy so nere borne of his bloud And with a crye paâ—yng 〈…〉 She fyl afore him â—wownyng 〈◊〉 ground Like as she had be 〈◊〉 culpable Seing her sonnes bleadyng w t many wouÌ„de But all for nought there was no mercy fouÌ„d For with their bloud this story is not fayned Her garment was dolefully distayned Her face fayre was foyled with ordure Her golden heere was all to torne rent And like a thrall this wofull creature With mortall wepyng had her sight blent And after that I fynde how she was sent To bury her children for there was no space Into an yle called Samothrace Is any story whiche maketh mencion That a pryncesse of so hye degre Founde so great cause of lamentacion She beyng daughter to great Tholome Her children slayne by vengeable crueltie And to beholde the death most dolorous Of her husbande called Lisymachus â–ª She after banished in exyle made her ende w t sorowful coÌ„playnt her life thus draw aloÌ„g Tyll into fate her spirite did wende It is no drede her paynes were full stronge And if I shoulde rehearce all the wronge That she suffred it woulde greue me to sore Therfore of her now I write no more ¶ Lenuoy THis tragedy sheweth an apparence And a lykenesse of faythfull assuraunce Excyte men to yeue false credence Vnto fortunes false variaunce Which cast her baytes angles of pleasaunce An hoke hid vnder of vengeable crueltie As this chapiter put in remembraunce Of Lisymachus and of Arcynoe Is there any greater euidence Of worldly trouble or worldly constaunce Than to se prynces from their magnificence And from their mighty royall puissaunce Vnwarely brought by fortune to mischauÌ„ce And ouerwhelmed from their tranquilitie Se here a myrror full notable in substaunce Of Lisymachus and quene Arcynoe The ryng the anker of great excellence yeâ—â— to Seleuchus for marciall suffisaunce Whan Appâ—â—â— by heauenly influence Lyst with his mother make his alyaunce Sent hiÌ„ these relikes of singuler acquaintaÌ„ce To set his manhode in more surete But in al such quaueryng acquayntauÌ„ce Thinke on Lisimachus and Arcinoe The vncouth
treasour the gold ne the dispeÌ„ce Of them that haue this world in gouernauÌ„ce Nor al the subiectes vp rekened in sentence Nor al the regions vnder their obeysaunce Princes princesses with al their attendaunce May agayne fortune yeue them no lybertie Who not knoweth her vnsure gery chaunce Thinke on Lisimachus and Arcinoe Her chyldren she slayne by violence Of Ceramius god yeue him sory chaunce That by false coloure dyd her reuerence And pretended a maner obseruaunce The treson close of venomous purueyaunce Purposed afore to outray them all thre The chyldreÌ„ slayne which knew no cheuisaÌ„ce The mother exiled called Arcinoe Noble princes beware of hie prudence Amonge your selfe that there be no distaunce Hyde no rancoure of hateful vyolence Vnder a curtayne of double daliaunce Lyke your hert shewe out your countenauÌ„ce Voide of dissimulinge and duplicitie Wysely way this chapter in balaunce Of Lysimachus and quene Arcinoe The .xxi. chapiter ¶ How Ceramius of Macedoyne kyng that murdred his cosins was slayne in bataile by them of Fraunce THe Noble Poete Jhon Bochas in his boke Procedyng forth coÌ„plaineth of pite With quaking hande whan he his pen toke And gan to writ the woful desteny As ye haue herde of quene Arcinoe And how Ceramius the story maketh minde Was to her false traytour and vnkynde Of whose treason is made a great processe And howe he after was slayne in batayle Punished by vengeaunce for his falsenesse Lyke as his story maketh rehersayle Whych to remembre I cast me not to fayle Folowyng mine auctour procede in writing Howe Ceramius was slayne beynge kinge For whyle that he by his false workyng In Macedoyne had the gouernayle Thre huÌ„dred M. accompted by writynge Went out of Fraunce to conquere Itayle The host departed in many stronge batayle Gate by conquest through theyr hye renoune Ful many a prouince and many a region And as they rode through many a gret couÌ„tre This people of Gaule in stele armed clene They founded castels many stronge cytie Towarde Rome they bylded Mylâ—n Sene Vpon the Alpes their armour shone ful shene And some of them vp to Rome went By very force and the citye brent Some parted vp to the grekyshe see Had a custome to chese their dwellynge place By Augurie as byrdes dyd fle Folowynge their flyght they gan after trace Holdynge their way within a lytell space With myghty hand the boke doth specify They came to a countrey called Pannony This folk of Gaule whych is called FrauÌ„ce To conquere landes put them selfe in prees As most notable people of puissaunce Folowynge y â— exaÌ„ple of their knightly encrese In theyr ridynge of worthy Hercules Which was worshipped in their actes mercial Lyke as a god and called immortall Through grace of fortune in their chiualryes Conquered countreys alwaye forth rydynge Them selfe departynge in diuers companyes Who them withstode they coÌ„sumed by breÌ„nig Came to Macedone where Ceramius was king Of presuÌ„pcioÌ„ wening it shuld auayle Out of ordinaunce he met them in battayle This Ceramius of outrage and of pride Dempt him able to mete with theÌ„ of FrauÌ„ce But for he was through murdre an homicide He lacked grace and power in substaunce Yet they of Gaule by prudent gouernaunce Offred vnto hym though he was retcheles With Macedonoys for to treate of pees But for presumpcion and melancoly Agaynst his enemies he the felde hath take And discomfited anone was his party His men gan flie and haue their lord forsake Hys heed smyt of and set vpon a stake But al his mischefe was to lyte in dede To recoÌ„pence his fraude and his falshede There is no paine againe so great offence May be deuised in no boke that men rede Equiualent murder to recompence Duely to punyshe so outragious a dede Of him that made yonge children blede As did Ceramius whiche of false couetise His cosyns slough as ye haue heard deuise To thinke on murder it is to foule a thing To god and man hatefull and terible The infernal fraude the deuillyshe coÌ„passing To eche creature of nature is odible Whiche to redresse is an impossible O cursed Ceramius I leaue thy story here Thy name no more shal blot my papere The .xxii. Chapiter ⧠How the prynce Belgius was disconfited and brought to nought AFter this tyraunte as ye haue hearde the eaas Slayne in battayle this traytour odious Anone in order came to John Bochas A mighty prynce called Belgius Deadly pale with face furious Whiche coÌ„playned amonge this wofull prees His disconfiture done by quene Softenes This sodayn mischefe greued his hart sore For all the folke that were in his battayle Were put to flyght Bochas writeth no more Of his knighthode nor of his apparaile Saue onely this he maketh rehearsaile Of the Frenche host he telleth in certaine How he was chosen for a chefe captayne And how he came into the riche lande Of Macedoyne with his people of Fraunce Tyll Softenes the quene w t myghty hande Disconfited him brought to mischaunce Of whoÌ„ I finde none other remembraunce Saue whan he wende to be most glorious He was outrayed by force of Brennus ☞ The .xxiii. chapter ¶ How duke Brennus delityng to robbe and steale mischeuouslye ended THis Brennus full knyghtlye in workynge which by coÌ„quest gate many great citie And as I reade of Danes he was kyng Disployled regions many a great couÌ„trie Robbed people of hye and lowe degre Spared no goddes but by vyolence Toke their treasures did them no reuerence There was a temple great and marueylous Built on a roche and on an hyll of stone Sacred to Appollo called Delphicus In all Grece so great a god was none And oft sythe the people woulde gone Vp to a Theatre whiche that stode wythout To haue answere of y t they stode in doubt Their trust hope was to y t god applyed Hauyng to hym singuler affection As though he might haue holpe magnified And done to them great consolation For by a spiryte of false deception He gaue answere of sundry questions To folke that came from diuers regions Kyng Brennus had no fantasy In their temples after their panym gyse Neither to worship nor to magnify Their Grekysh goddes to do theÌ„ sacrifise For in his hart he gan them to despyse Caught a ioy wyth all his false robbours Them to dispoyle robbe of their treasours Behyght his men sayd in playne langage That his desyre and hys entencion Was to be boty with them of such pyllage As Goddes had in their possession And part with theÌ„ for singuler guerdon For their labour and great trauayles That they had had wyth him in battayles He gaue his people a maner hardines Made them trust in great multitude Hauyng despyte of the innocent symplenes Of his enemies because they were but rude I meane tho folke shortly to conclude Whiche had in kepyng the iewels precious Of great Appollo called Delphicus The people also whiche was with Brennus Had all the day
to be lorde and conquere all Itayle As did his vncle whilom doubtles Kyng Alexander called Epirothes First he began his conquest in Itayle Toward Heraclye a mighty great citie Where with Brennus he had a great battaile Consull of Rome and lorde of that countrye And to the encrease of his felicitie As it is remembred in his story Vpon Romayns he gate that victory The Olyphantes with castels on their backe Caused Pyrrus the yong manly knyght With his wisdome wherin there was no lack To put his enemies that day to flyght And in this while it happened forthright The Sicilians Bochas beareth recorde Amonge them selues were fall at discorde There was atwene them great diuision Eche to other contrary in workyng But to reforme their false discention They praied Pyrrus to come be their king To whose request he fully assentyng By them made stronge lyst not to deferre Against the Romayns for to gyn a warre Beside a castel called Esculus Within Poyl his banner he gan splay The same day not happy nor eurous Contrarious fortune his power gan affray Woūded to the death gan greatly him dismay By whiche occasion this Pyrrus anone right Lept on his courser and toke him to flyght A sonne he had called Helenus Borne of the daughter of kyng Agathocles Whō he ordeyned mine auctor telleth thus For to be crowned to his great encrees Of Siciliens to raygne there in pees Wenyng therby to haue had auauntage And in this while came to him a message Out of Tarent whiche stode in auenture For his absence out of that region If he not came they might not endure Againe the power of them of Rome toun Whiche of assent were discended downe Agaynst them they standyng in dispayre Saue in abydyng vpon his repayre Pyrrus this while stode in full hard poynt Waxt abashed and dull in his corage Atwene twayne hangyng in disioynte Werreyed of Romayns hated in Cartage Had a battaile to his fynall domage Within a felde called Arusius There put to flyght by one Fabricius Destitute by Fortune and appayred Voyde of succour barrayne of rychesse Like a man of hope dispayred Towarde Epyre in haste he gan him dresse Where he was first his story doth expresse As ye haue heard rehearced by writyng By succession whilom lorde and kyng But whan he came to Epyre the citie He gan of new agaynst Antigonus Kyng of Macedoyne a full stronge countrie Hym to werrey he was so desierous And by conquest the story telleth thus Within a while there was no great lettyng By helpe of Fortune he was crowned kyng Not seuen monethes raignyng in quiete By Lisymachus maugre all his might He was put downe remoued from his sete Yet of presūption though there was no right He toke on him to gyn a newe fyght Gayne Lacedemonois felly them werrey Onely because they would him not obey Whose presumption whan they behelde Bothe of prudence and policy Women were armed to make a large felde With multitude to oppresse his party For cōmon profite put them in ieoparty And fynally suche was their ordynaunce That Pyrrus was brought to mischaunce His sonne there slayne called Tholome And many other lost there their liues And for all that of pride and crueltie He gan a warre agayne the Argyues And at the ende of his mortall striues For conclusion this was his last fall Slaine w t a stone as he came to their wall His head smit of in the same place And therof made an oblacion To Antygonus for a great solace Thus lyst fortune quite his presumption After his warres with many region Lo here the ende of folkes retchles That folowed warre list not liue in pees ¶ The .xxv. Chapter ☞ How the tyrāt Aristotimus by trecherous working set aside the right line and was crowned kyng of Epirothes and after slayne FOr the proceadyng folowyng John Bochas I wil reherce in ful playne lāgage How Aristotim a tyrāt this y ◠case Cast and compassed by full great outrage Hauyng no title of right nor heritage Of Epyrothes by trecherous workyng Voydyng the line there to be crowned kyng Liuyng two children the story telleth thus Borne by discent to raygne in that citee The eldest of them called was Pyrrus And the seconde named Tholome And bothe twayne by the cruelte Of Aristotym were falsely set aside He made kyng this tyrant through his pryde And while that he thus gan occupy Lyke a tyrant cruell and vengeable Of false rancour and melancoly Slewe all the citizyns y t were most notable And exyled this story is no fable Onely of malice within his hart close All that were contrary vnto his purpose Vnto the women by fraudulent sentence He made ordayne after that anone Of fained pitie gaue to them lycence To their frendes frely for to gone With their riches but they were euerychone By his biddyng and by his false treason Take by the way and fettred in pryson Or they were ware was set on them arrest And after that of vengeable crueltie The children slayne suckyng at their brest Maydens oppressed of their virginitie But in this while at Cypre the citie There was a knyght passyng of great age Whiche cast of purpose to auenge his outrage The same knyght mine auctour telleth thus In the story playnly as I rede Was in Greke tonge called Helematus Right wise manly both in word and dede And thinges twayne put him out of drede To execute his purpose in certayne Maugre all tho that would be him againe For cōmon profite he drad not to be dead A cause was this for he was fall in age And another that put him out of drede For he no children had of his lynage His quarell rightfull gaue him aduauntage And here vpon gathered him of newe Suche as he knew y ◠manly were and true This purpose helde w t circumspect auise And theron made full prudent ordinaunce This Helematus olde hardy and right wise Afore prouided by knyghtly purueyaunce The said tyrant brought vnto mischaunce By helpe of them that were to him assented Vnwarely slain whose deth was not repēted ¶ The .xxvi. Chapter ☞ How quene Arcinoe for the aduoutry done with Demetrius husbande of her daughter Beronices ended in sorowe AFter this story Bochas gan apply To turne his pen like as ye shall here To write and tell the frowarde lechery Of Arcynoe pleasaunt of loke and chere Whiche of her port and eke of her manere Was in her dayes like as it is founde For craft beauty called Venus the seconde For her fayrenes yeuen in mariage To noble Agas of Cyrenes kyng Atwene them while they were yonge of age They had a daughter by recorde of wrytyng Called Beronices the kyng at his endyng In his testament bad that she should be Wedded to the sonne of kyng Tholome And this was done of entencion To cease the warres y ◠had endured longe Atwene Egipt as made is mencion And the Cyrenes bothe realmes stronge By this
Called Seleuchus which was a wonder Fil frō his courser brake his necke asōder The .iii. Chapter ¶ Howe the noble Queene Laodomya was in the temple slayne and vengeaunce take vpon hym that slewe her SYxe of estates prynces and pryncesses Shewed them to Bochas pitouslye playnyng To hym declarynge theyr mortall heuynesses And first of all there came to hym wepyng The noble queene her sorow rehersyng Called Laodomya which with heuy chere Complayned the mischefe of her suster dere Called Nereis yonge and tender of age That wedded was of Cycile to the kyng And on the daye of that great mariage There fyll a stryfe and a great meuyng Amonge the commons by a maner rysyng And when the quene therof had a syght To Dianes temple anone she toke her flyght The people was party rose againe y ◠kyng For whiche rumore and sodayne stryfe Laodomya full fearfully quakyng Ran to the temple for to saue her lyfe Supposyng in her ymaginatyfe That for the temples chaste reuerence Men woulde spare to do there violence But there was one by whom the strife began And was first grounde of this great motion Called Milo a false Cecylian Voyde of all reuerence and deuocion Ran to the temple feirser than a Lyon And where the queene the auter dyd enbrace With a sharpe sworde slew her in the place This sacrilege was punished by vēgeaunce Gods were wrothe through this gret offēce And Diana by full great displeasaunce Made in the courte a sodayne pestylence And Mylo was by vnware violence Tourned bestiall made wode in that affray And slewe hym selfe suyng the twelft daye The .iiii. Chapter ☞ How Cleomenes king of Macedone was slayne with his wife and children AFter this vengeaūce taken on Mylo Came Cleomenes of Macedoyne king And to Bochas gan shew his deadly wo His great iniuries of enemies assaylyng His hye emprises his kyngdome defendyng And alderlast how he in his citee Was by the sonne slayne of Tholome First in his countrey the story doth deuise Againe his enemyes he had a great battayle Of his people defendyng the fraunchyse Of knightly prowesse as he y t list not fayle For his ryght to fyght in plate and mayle His lieges echone beyng of one assente To lyue and dye with him in their entent Men women and children yonge of age Were in one hart as in that mattere Whiche made them stronge gate auaūtage That vndeuided they stode echone yfere Of one corage of one will of one chere Greatly assured in their opinion Because among them was no diuision Their cōmon profite they did more prefarre Than they did treasure lyfe or good For their fredome aye ready to the warre Not afrayed to spende their owne bloude And fynallye so together they stode That of one thought eche gan him redy make To lyue and dye for his brothers sake He had an enemy borne of that region The name of whom was Antigonus And he had wedded the boke maketh mencion The olde quene of kyng Demetrius And had her sonne the story telleth thus Called Phylyp fro youth in hys kepyng Therby pretendyng a tytle to be kyng Of Lacedemonoys claymed agayne ryght There to raigne and take possession Lyke a tiraunt vsurpyng of great myght For to be crowned in that region But for all his false presumption He was put of and yset a farre Though he with thē helde a mortal warre And Cleomenes that was rightfull kyng Was in the felde armed euery day Hardy as Lyon drede hym nothyng Gayne his enemyes he stode s◠at a bay That fro the felde he made them flye away His dredefull sworde grounde was so kene That to abyde hym they myght nat sustene And on a daye descendyng from his cite Helde in the felde a full stronge battayle With lytle people made his fone to fle Retournyng home ful wery of trauayle Thought in his heart that it should auayle To stynt the werre hangyng in no certayne Tyll y t his people refreshed were agayne Set ordinaunce through all the countre Gayne all enemyes to make resistence And into Egypt he goth to Tholome With wife children w tdrawing hys presēce There receyued with great beneuolence Lyke his estate out of care and drede And there abode tyl Thotome was dede But the sonne of kyng Tholome Whiche raygned after by succession Of false enuy and vengeable cruelte Slew Cleomenes in that region His wife his children voyde of compassion Alas it was to straunge a cruel thyng Within a kyngdome to murder so a kyng The .v. Chapter ☞ Of kynge Nero Cornely and Hanyball AFter whose deathe thus wrought by violence The story remembreth procedyng Forth came Nero and shewed hys presence Of Siracuse the myghty stronge kyng Tofore Bothas full pitously playnyng Besechynge hym with a full pitous chere Of his mischefe to wryte the manere The whiche Nero wylfull and furious Lyst to presume of false rebellion For to debate with Appius Claudius And to maligne agayne Rome toun But he anone for his presumptioun Constrayned was in all his most pride Lyke a cowarde to flye and nat abyde No more of hym myne auctour writeth here But in his boke as he dothe procede There came Cornely of Rome a consulere Hym selfe complaynyng of y ◠great falshede Whiche vnto hym accomplished was in dede By assuraunce broke of Haniball Which of Cartage was chefe admirall To thys Cornely Haniball was sworne With the Affricans by a maner flatery To succour hym as we haue tolde toforne With the Romains to holde vp his party But whan they met the boke doth specify Cornely was take and fettred in prison At mischefe dyed there gayned no raunson Than Haniball entred of entent With his knightes into a great cite Of Cicile called Agrigent Where Julius Silua of olde enmyte Layde a siege with a great meyne That he constrayned the sayde Hanyball For very hungre to leape ouer the wall By a posterne he toke hym to the fliyght Gathered shyppes and toke the large see And Julius Silua lyke a manly knyght Faught with him and made hym for to flee Vpon the water anone after he Was of his knyghtes stoned to the dethe And so constrayned he yelded vp the brethe The .vi. Chapter ⧠Of the duke zantipas cast into the see AFter that Hanyball was stayne thus And putte to flyght as made is mencion Tofore Bochas came worthy zantipus A famous duke full notable of renoun And he was lorde of the stronge region Lacedemoyne and was come a ferre Into Cartage to helpe them in the werre By whose prowesse to his encreace of glory The proude Romayns were put to flyght Cartaginences had of them victory And there was take the wyse manly knyght Marcus Regulus and brought anonryght Into Cartage and led as prysonere By zantipus as Bochas writeth here Thys noble duke for all his hye prowesse Done in Cartage and shewed to their toun And for all hys notable kyndnesse They most vnkyndly quit hym his guerdon For
lykely of disposicion Chosin afterwarde for a synguler prise To go to Spayne to helpe Scipion Gaine NumeÌ„taynes a famous mighty toun And there Jugurtha so knyghtly hath begon That by his nobis the town anon was won And to remembre his knyghthod of entent His worthynesse and his hye renoun To Mysipsa letters were downe sent By the forsaid worthy Scipion Which gaue so great a coÌ„mendacion To Jugurtha him callyng in that werre â–ª Of manly prowesse the yonge lode sterre Of king Mysipsa receyued notably Called hun sonne by adopcion The king dead sone Jugurtha traitourly Slewe Hiempsales heire by succession He of that realine to haue possession This was his custome how euer y â— tytle stode By slaughter and murdre for to get good He lyst to goddes do no reuerence Of his nature wylful and recheles Hauynge nouther remors nor conscience Touchyng the slaughter of Hiempsales Falsly practised for his owne encrees For which murdre Romains haue set doun A Consulere to do correccion Calphurnius he called that was sent Onely to punishe that horible dede But with treasour hys eyen were so blent Of execucion that he toke none hede The Romayns ouercome with mede Gaue to Jugurtha by collusion Of this murore a coloured false pardon By which he toke a maner hardinesse Of tyranny which he dyd exercyse Gathered people of hareful cursydnesse And in him selfe gan curledly deuyse To execute the leâ—fe same gyse Of false murdre I meane nowe none other To slee Adherbales the seconde brother That he alone by false intrusion Of Numedy might be lorde and kyng Thus of his cruelte murdre false treason The noyse was borne by laÌ„gage wrytyng Of which the graffes flasly abrode spredynge Brought forth in hyndring of his name Frute of disclaundre reporte of diffame Mortall treason was couered vnder flours To saue him selfe by some subtylte And specially with his great treasours To appease the Senat if it would haue be But theragayne al the coÌ„monte Made agayne him a coniuracion On his salse murdre to do correction Foure Mâ—men of armes were downe sent With a pretour called Actilius The which pretour set al his entent To gather treasour for he was couetous And couetyse is contrarious Vnto knighthode as auctours all expresse And stepmother vnto worthynes A siege he layde aboute a myghty tour Wherin Jugurtha put all hys rychesse The siege was layde for loue of the treasoure More than for worshyp or for worthynesse Wherby his name and his noblesse Ther discomfyted brought vnto mischaunce After for mede made hys alyaunce With Jugurtha to his encrease of shame Caused Affrike through false cheuysaunce They togyther disclaundred by diffame Them to withdrawe fro the obeysaunce Of the Romains more them selfe tauauÌ„ce To theyr purpose corrupted wyth treasour Many a Tribune and many Senatour Of newe againe al the comonte Fro Rome sent Gayus Marius For the murders and horible cruelte Wrought by Jugurtha the tiraunt furious Which to refourme the sayd Gayus A Consulere of purpose was sent doun A manly knyght and famous of renoun Full notably the werres he began Wrought euery thyng of hie prouidence And fortune whyche helpeth hardy man Gaue him great fauour by her influence And alderfirst he dyd his diligence For to auoyde al that were vicious Delicate people and folkes lecherous A day was set and taken a batayle But Jugurtha by false subtilte Profered much good which might not auaile To haue corrupt if it would haue be The sayde Marius but euer in one degre He stode aye stable vpright as a wall And toke none hede to his profer at all Than Jugurtha in party dispaired Greatly astonyed within hym selfe musynge But lyke a man hyndred and appayred He gan purpose anone a newe thynge Of Mauritaine he went to the kyng To get helpe whych called was Boccus Him to succour agayne this Gaius Twene them was made of new an alyauÌ„ce The whyche last but a lytle space For kyng Boccus gan fal in repentaunce Cast he woulde resorte to the grace Of the Romayns and nomore trespace And to perfourme his entencion He made to Gayus this mediacion There was one Scylla called a Questour Of Gayus host had gouernaunce For king Boccus he was mediatour That ther was newely accordaunce Twene him Gayus and by the purueyauÌ„ce Of thys Boccus Jugurtha anone was hent Maugre his myght and tâ— Gayus sent And al his kyngdom without resistence Gaine to Romains came vnder obeysaunce And Marius forgaue them their offence Receyued them vnder assuraunce That he shall by dome do no vengeaunce To punyshe y â— trespaces that they dyd aforne The space coÌ„pted fro tyme they were borne Jugurtha taken almost for angre mad Brought to Rome and fettered in prison To Terpeya an hye hyl he was lad Jugement yeue for his false treason bound to a stone and after throwe doun Fro the place full hye where he stode Without mercy in to Tibre flode ¶ Lenuoye THis may be wel called a tragedy By discripcion takynge auctorite For tragedy as Poetes specify Ginneth with ioye endeth with aduersyte From hye estate cast in to lowe degre Example taken this story sayth aright Of Iugurtha that was fyrst a good knyght At his ginnyng famous in chiualry Gate NumeÌ„taigne of Spaine a great citye But in repairing home to that party I meane whan he came home to his countre He chaunged knyghthode into cruelte With couetise so blinded was the syght Of Iugurtha that first was a good knighte His wyt his power he holy dyd apply To hateful murdre fraude and subtylte By extorte title him selfe to magnify Slew rightful heires reft theÌ„ their lybertie By false intrusion clambe vp to their se And gaue no force were it wrong or ryght A thyng contrary to euery worthy knight Noble princes lift vp your hertes iye Within your selfe remembre and do se Of this murdre the hateful tyrrany With oppression done to the commoÌ„te His gynnyng good a cursed ende had he Murdre axeth vengeaunce day and night A thynge contrary to euery worthy kyght ⧠Here endeth the fyfte booke and here after foloweth the sixte ¶ Here Bochas sittinge in his studie alone wryteth a greate processe howe Fortune lyke a Monstruous Image hauynge an C. handes apeared vnto hym and spake and Bochas vnto her makynge bytwene them both many great arguments and reasons of fortunes chaunces ¶ The Fyrst Chapter IN hys studye alone as Bochas stode Hys pen in hande of sodayne auenture To remeÌ„bre he thought it dyd hym good Howe that no man may him selfe assure In worldly thynges fully to recure Grace of fortune to make her to be stable Her dayly chaunges be so variable She braydeth euer on y â— chauÌ„tipleure Now songe now wepyng now wo now gladnesse Nowe in myrth nowe paine to endure Nowe lyght now heuy nowe in swetnesse Nowe in trouble nowe fre nowe in distresse Shewyng to vs a maner resemblaunce No worldly welth hath here non assurauÌ„ce Whyle
repayre To a woman which had in her entrayle Spyrites closed to make his diuinayle In whose wombe barain and out of grace Of wicked spirites was the dwellyng place This sayd woman was a creature The which afore by cursed Julyan By his lyfe his purpose to recure In sacrifice was offred to Sathan And so as he with cursednes began Such was his ende as al bokes tell whose soul with Pluto is buryed depe in hel With this tyrant Bochas gan wexe wroth For his most odious fell outrage And to reherce in partie he was lothe The blasphemies of hys fell langage For nouther furye nor infernal rage May be compared with poison fret within To the false venyme of this horrible synne It is contrary to all good thewes And tofore God moste abhominable Hatefull to all saue to cursed shrewes For of all vyces very imcomparable Moste contagious and most delectable The mouth enfect of such infernal hounds Which euery day sle Christ with new wouÌ„ds For obstynate of purpose for the nones Of disposicion furyous and wode Not afraide to swere goddes bones with horrible other as body flesh and bloud The Lord dismeÌ„bring most gracius good His fete haÌ„des armes face and heed Reno him of new as they wolde haue him deed This blessed Lord which is immortall Though they be dedly they would him slee ageyn They be erthly he is celestial In froward wise they ben ouerseyne Discrecion fayleth their reason is in vayne All suche blasphemy for shorte conclusyon Procedeth of pride and false ambycion It semeth to me they haue foul fayled Of kyndnes to do him reuerence which for their loue vpon the crosse was nayled To pay the raunsome for mans offence Suffred death with humble pacyence False rebukyng spyttyng in hys vysage To bring mankynde vnto his heritage False surquedy that doth the heartes reyse Of such blasphemers as was this Julian whose great empyre might not counterpeise Again the Lord which is both God and man The original ground of pride was Sathan Prince vnder him most infortunate was this Apostata reignyng in his estate What was th ende of this tyrant horrible This cruell felon hatefull to euery wyght By sodayne myracle to al his hoste visible There dyd appere a very heuenly knyght Most freshly armed angelyke of sighte With a sharpe speere sitting on his stede Made the tyrant his hert bloude to blede His false goddes might him not auaile His frowarde off rynge done to maumetry Nor al his proude imperyall apparayle His inuocacions nor hateful sorcerye For this apostata that dyd his faythe denye Amonge his knightes slayn by death sodain His soule in hell with sathan in great payne The xv chapter ¶ Howe themperoure Valence slewe Heremites shed christen blud â–ª distroyed churches and after was brent BOchas in hast doth hys style dresse Next to the mperour y e called was ValeÌ„ce Rehersyng first the perfyte holynesse Of Heremytes that did their dilygence To lyue in penaunce and in abstynence Forsoke the worlde and for Christes sake In to desert they haue the way take â–ª In this world here they lyst no lengar tarye Dyuers and double of trust no certayne Ferre in Egypte to liue solitary Depe in desertes of folke not to be sayne The soyle was drye of vitayle ful barayne The frutelesse trees vp seared by the rote For Christes loue they thoght y e life most soâ—e This sayd Valence of malice frowardly To this Heremites y â— liued in gret penaunce Causelesse with full great enuy Troubled them and did theÌ„ great greuauÌ„ce Lyke a tyraunte set al in vengaunce Distroyd churches with people that he ladde And where he went christen bloud he shadde This mean while by robbyng and rauyne In Mauritayne which is a great countre There was a prince that called was Faryne And in Cesaria a famous great cyte For his extorcion and his cruelte He toke vpon him proudly there reignynge Maugre romayns to be crowned kinge Theodose the fyrst a manly man Was sent out his malice to withstand By the bidding of Valencian Which that time the mpyre had in hand Bothe atones but ye shal vnderstande Theodose was sent out to assayle The sayd Farine and slewe him in batayle Of whiche Faryne by full cruel hate In that countre presumptuously reignynge Smote of his heed and sate it on the gate Of Cesaria this was the endyng Which by intrusioÌ„ afore was crowned king In Mauritayne oppressing them by drede As ye haue herde for which he lost his heade In this mater Bochas doth not soiourne By no attendaunce nor long diligence But of purpose dothe agayn retourne To the mperour that called was Valence Which as I told did so great offence The holy church of froward cursednes Slewal Hermites that bode in wildernes God wolde not suffre he shuld long endure Graunteth no tyraunt here longlyfe For by some mischefe or sodaine auenture They dye by murdre with dagger swerde or knife The Gotheyes whilom gan a stryfe For his outrage and great oppressyon They agayne romains fyll in rebellion A prince of his called Maximus Distressed them by so great tyranny And was vpon them so contrarious That they gadred all the cheualry And wext so strong vpon their partie That by their manhode it fel of auenture They on Valence made a disconsiture Spared not by robbynge and pillage Slough and brent many a stately place Cyties townes and many a small village That were famous within the laÌ„d of Trace But furiously thei met him in the face Where like a coward he turned his visage To saue his life lay hyd in Cartage Thus finally this emperour Valence As ye haue heard fayled of his entent The Gothes folowed by cruel violence As wylde beastes al of one assent The house and him to ashes they haue brent Lo here the fyne ye princes take hede Of tyrantes that saintes bloud do shed The .xvi. Chapter ¶ Of kynge Amacisius and howe Gracian and Theodosy distroied temples of fals gods how GraciaÌ„ was put to flight AFter Valence to God contraryous In al his workes most froward of liueÌ„g Tofore Bochas came Amacisius Which of Gothes was whilom Lord kyng Of his great age piteously complaining Inflate and dole lyst make no delayes Slew him self to short his greuous dayes Then came downe the brother of Valence The mighty emperour called Gracian Whiche afore had had experyence First with his vncle Valentinyan In the Empyre as bokes tell can And afterward Theodosy and he Had gouernaunce of Rome the cyte Theodosy and Gracien of assent Distroyed temples as in that partie Of false goddes also they haue downe rente The great ydols and all such maumetrye And full deuoutly gan churches edifye And in this whyle as fortune dyd ordayne One Maximus was vicar in Bretayne An hardy knight albe that he did vary From his promise made by sacrament In Bretayne list no lengar tary â–ª But into Gaule of hert and hole entent Gayne Gracian he sodenly is went And as
their shields roue a sōdre Eugenius take after and lost his hed And Arbogast slough him selfe for drede Thus gan the Lord of his eternal might Chastice tyrantes and their malice represse Saued Theodosy hys owne chosen knyght who trusteth him of parfite stablenes Gothe fre fro daunger escapeth fro duresse Bokes record howe Theodosius Was in his time called Catholicus The cace was this as I reherce can In Thessalonyca a famous great cyte Being Bishop saint Ambrose in Millan Certayne Jewes for to do equite And sytte in dome hauyng auctorite Notwithstanding their commission Were slayn by commons entryng the toun Therof the Emperour was nothynge faine But commaunded of hasty wilfulnes whan he knew the iudges so were slayn That his knightes shuld them thider dresse Entred the cyte by cruell sturdinesse With swerde pollax daggers sharpe whet Indifferently to sle al that they met By whose biddinge the cite to encombre That day was slaine many an innocent Fyue thousand deed remembring in nombre Murdred in host without iudgement By them that were in to the cite sent But whan Ambrose herd of this cruell dede Like a iust prelate thus he gan procede Ye haue herde how this vengaunce gan By Theodosy to chastice the cyte The same emperour came after to Myllan Wolde haue entred at a sole mpnite The cathedrall church in his most royalte Byshoppe Ambrose at the porche him met And of purpose manly him with set Quod the bis shop I counsayl the wythdraw In to this churche thou haue none entre Thou hast offended God and eke his law Be not so hardy nor bolde I charge the To sette thy fote nor entre in no degree Because thou art a cruel homicide That maugre thy might thou shalt abide Vnto thy palaes home agayne retourne This eyght monthes loke thou be not sein Passe not thy bonds do mekely there soiorn For trust me wel and be rightwel certayne All such murdrers god hath them in disdain Blode falsly shed haue this in remembraūce Calleth day and night to him to do vēgasice Against the for this great offence Innocentes bloude shed agayn right By iust auctorie I giue this sentence This eight monthes accompted day nyght ▪ To entre the church y ◠shalt not com in sight Reason shal hold so iust the balaunce Tyl thou haue fully accōplished thy penaūce what I haue said take therof good hede For this time thou gettest no more of me withdraw thy hād innocentes blode to shede For any rancour or hasty cruelte Than beholde the great humilitie Of the Emperour and consydre wele For it wolde haue peersed a hert of stele with heed enclyned no word he spake again Fyll in wepinge w t subbyng vnstaunehable His purple wede bedewed as with rayne Returning home with chere most lamētable So continued in his purpose stable with al the tokens of faithfull repentaunce In lowly wyse accomplished hys penaunce He gaue ensample to princes euery chone In case semblable that worke of wylfulnes To execusion to procede anon Mentain their errour froward cursednes Defēd their trespas meintein their wodnes Farre out of ioint if it shal be declared To Theodosy for to be compared To the earth he mekely did obey Goddes knight did lowly his penaunce Where there be some that wrongly it warrei Holde ther again by froward maintenance Touching this mater set here in remēbrāce As mendeserue let euery wight take hede He that seeth al quiteth them their mede Theodosius list nothyng abredge To short the yard of his correction Forsoke the platte of rigour toke the edge Mekely to suffre his castygacion To bowe his chine was no rebellion By meke confession knowing his trespace By saynt Ambrose restored agayne to grace Vertuous princes may ensample take Of Theodosy how they the lord shal queme He nat froward amendes for to make His ceptre his swerde and his diademe Subiect to Ambrose what him list deme Obeied al thing and for his great offence To holy churche to make recompence He knew that God was his souerayn Lorde To holy church how greatly he was bound ▪ Grutched neuer in wyll thought nor word Holy on Christ his empyre for to found where vertu reigneth vertu will ay rebound And for this prince obeyed to al vertue Hath now his mede aboue with Christ Jesu The .xviii. Chapter ¶ Howe knightes and gentilmen chase Alerike king and the commons chase Radagasus whyche ended in myschefe IT is remembred of antiquite In the Byble after Noes floud Howe by discent of his sonnes thre Of their linege plainly and theyr bloud All kinreddes dylated ben abrode And myne authour as it is made mynde Of Japhet seuen nacions he did finde The people fyrste of Gaule and Galathe Of Magoth Gothes and folke of Itayle Tyre Cithia with many a great countre Standing in Asia as by rehersayle But in Europe stant Trace it is no fayle Gothes Cithiens of purpose did ordaine ▪ Among them selfe gouernours twayne Knyghtes and gentelmen chase Alericus To be their prince and haue the souerayntie Where the commons chase Radagasus The Gothes fyrst for greate suerte With king Alerike entring the cyte In to Rome to finde there socour That time Honorius being their emperoure By graunt of whome al the hole countre Gaue to Alerike Gaule Spayn and Fraūce There to abide and thereto holde his see Gothes spaynolfes vnder his obeisaunce Takyng on hym al the gouernaunce Tyl Stillicon out of the Occident To mete with him was from Rome sent That time Honorius beyng Emperoure Stillicon gan Alerike enchace With many a sturdy proud soudioure For to fight they chose haue their place But Aleryke stode so in the grace Of fortune that by very might Stillicon he put vnto the flyght Radagasus and Alerike of assent Haue concluded and full accorded be Thrugh Itaile for to make their went Toward Rome and to entre that cyte Maugre romains to haue the souerainte Tofore their entring gan the town manace The name of Rome to chaunge and difface The towne for euermore to do a shame Their purpose was as ye haue heard deuise Fyrst of al to chaunge the townes name Dempt them selfe able to that emprise But for tune thought all otherwyse Like her maners to do most domage Whan she to men sheweth fresh her vysage Her condicions be not alway one Stondmele of custome she can vary For she was fyrst froward to Stilicon And to Radagasus efte agayne contrary In one poynt she list neuer tarye To Radagasus her fauoure did fayle By Stillicon he vanquished in batayle All his pride might not make him spede For fortune lyst so for him ordaine That he was fayne at so strayt a nede To fl ye for socour to an hye mountayne Of all vitaile naked and baraine Weere for hunger he felt so great greefe Nigh al his people dyed at mischefe Of all socour destitute and baraine Sawe no remedy toke him to flyght By the romayns he was so ouerlaine
Take at mischefe and maugre his might In chaynes bound dampned anone ryght For to be deed his people as it is tolde Many one slayne some take and some sold. There was none prouder nor more suâ—qÌ„dus In thylke dayes plainly to discryue Then was this said king Radagasus Which toke on him with romains to stryue His â—ower short was ouerturned bliue For fortune of malice had a lust To â—â—e this tirant with hunger with thrust Among other proud princes all Reioised him selfe by a maner vainglory Because that men in countres did him cal King of Gothes short is the memorye Of him rehersed or written in history To gyue ensample in dede men maye finde The name of tyrantes is sone out of minde The .xix. Chapter ¶ Howe Ruffyn chamberlayne with Theodosy vsurped to be Emperour and therfore by Honorious dampned and his heade smyt of HIe climing vp hath oft an vnware fal And specially whan it is sodaine Fro low degre to estate imperyall Whan false ambicion the ladder doth ordain By vsurpacion presumptuously to attayne Abouâ— the skyes with his heade to perce Fro whens he come were shame to reherce I meane as thus al such hasty climbing Of them that list not them self to know And haue forget the grouÌ„d of their ginning By froward fame with worldly winds blow â–ª To reise their name aboue sagitaris bowe Recorde of Ruffin which proudly gan desire By false intrusion to occupi the â—pite Which Rufin was whilom chamberlayn With Theodosy and holde a manly knight Yet in one thing he was â—oule ouersaine By couetise blynded in his syght To speÌ„d his labour that had no title of right By the emperour Honorius he was sent For to gouerne all the Orieate By processe Ruffin was made vikeâ—e Called after the vikarimperial Toke vpon him holye and entere By authorite chefe and principall Him selfe alone for to gouerne all And most able thus he did deme Before all other to weare a diedeme Of him selfe so much he did make In porte and therto most ambicious At Constantinople he was vnwarely take First bound in chaynes after serued thus By true iudgment of Honorius His hed smot of and his righthand in dede This was his ende no more of him Irede The .xx Chapter ¶ Howe Stillyon and other of like condicon ended in mischefe AFter whose dethe to Bochas came one Such other like of condicion Afore remembred called Stillion Purposed him to haue possession Of the Empyre hole thus he thought And by what mene y â— way his fader sought Compendiously to tell of these twayne Fro diuers countrees towarde SepteÌ„trion To gather people did theyr busy payne Of many dyuers straunge nacion Againe Honorius they came togyder doun And as they met fortune made them fayle Bothe atones slaine were in batayle Their ginning cursed had a cursed fyne After whose death I rede of other twayne Of one Constance his father Constantyne Which Constantine toke on him certayne To reigne in Gaule and after dyd ordayne In that countre to be gouernour There to continue as lorde and Emperoure His sonne Constaunce caught a deuocion Of conscience and forthwith anonright Was shaue a monke made his profession His father after of very force and might Let take hiÌ„ out gaue hiÌ„ thorder of a knight Bothe of assent gan make them selfe strong Toppres the countre do the people wrong This said Constaunce as mine auctor saith Was confederate of hatefull cruelte With one HeÌ„ricius assurauÌ„ce made of faith As brethern sworne for more authorite And for to make the nombre vp of thre Constantyne was sworne with them also To be al one in what they had to do These saide thre sworne and ioyned thus Conquered in Spayne many a great cyte But in this whyle this said Henricius Traytour false and full of duplicite His felowe slought againe his othe pardye Thus was ConstauÌ„ce through false collusioÌ„ Of Henricius murdred by trayson Henricius lyued nat but a whyle By his owne knightes he slaine was also Fraude for fraude disceit is quyt with gyle It foloweth euer and gladly cometh therto Men receiue their guerdon as they do Let men alway haue this in remembraunce Murdre of custome wyll ende w t mischauÌ„ce Among suche other thus endinge in mischefe Came Attalus and one Eraclyan For no prowes but to their great reprefe Remembred here their storie tell can Agayne Romanes whan they rebell gan By Honorius afore made officers And of the Empyre called chefe vykars First Attalus for his tyranny Whan he in Gaule was made gouernour Went in to Spaine with a great company Dyd his payne and fraudulent labour By false sleight to be made Emperour Take and bounde exiled for falsnesse His hande smyt of ended in wretchednesse Of Eraclian the ende was almost lyke Yet was he promoted to great prosperite Made gouernour and lorde of Affrike Of Consulere rose to the dignite Rode through Libi and many a gret couÌ„tre With thre thousande shippes gan to sayle And with seuin hundred to ariue in Itayle So many shyppes neuer afore were seine Like as it is accompted by wryting His nauy passed the nauy in certayne Of mighty zerxses that was of Perce king Or Alisandre but yet in his coÌ„ming Toward Itaile whan he should aryue The sea fortune gan againe him stryue At his arriuaile he had a sodaine drede Cause Honorius had sent downe a capitain Constancius called gouernoure and bede Of all the Romains to mete him on y e plain For whiche Eraclian tourned is again As I fynde gan take his passage Towarde the cite that called is Cartage Thus fortune lyst her power shewe Or he came fully to that noble towne With sharpe swerdes he was all to hewe Among his knights through false collusion As they fil at a discencion Of intrucion fyrst gan the quarell Again Romains whan he gan rebell ⧠The .xxi. Chapter ¶ A goodly processe why Rome was distroied and for the same or lyke cause many other realmes OF many mischeues before rehersed Some drawe a longe and some shortly tolde And howe fortune hath her whele reuersed By tragedies remembred manyfolde Tofore by Bochas of princes yonge olde In the eight boke rehersed the processe Echone almost ended in wretchednesse Namely of them that dyd moste desyre By wrong titel them selfe to magnify To haue lordshyp and gouerne th empyre The state imperial proudly to occupy Whiche estate plainly to specifye As farre as Phebus doth in his spere shyne Among all lordships is brought to ruyne Fro mine authour I lyst nat discorde To tel y â— ground why Rome came to nought By an example I cast me to recorde What was chefe cause if it be wel out soght By a storie that came vnto my thought Of John Bochas whiche ye shal here That full notably is rehersed here Which ensample and storie rehersing Ceriously folowing myne authour Odoacer whylom a famous king A kyng by name and a great gouernour But of
heuen proudly to assaile That namely God whiche gouerneth al He thought he woulde proudely take on hād Ayenst deluges if any come shall Of prouidence plainely them withstande Him selfe to assure make a place on lande That should him kepe and be to a defence Both ayenst god and waters violence And that they might accomplishe their intent Lyke their desire they did their labour Toke their counseil al by one assent Chose Nembroth their duke gouernoure Them to conuey and do them socour To be their gyde to forne as they were ware Towarde a countre called Sinear In compasse wise rounde about yclosed With a great stode named Eufrates Their strong foly whych they haue purposed For to fulfil they were not rechelesse This is to saye they put them selfe in prese So high a toure for to edifye whiche shoulde surmoūt aboue the sterry skie That they shoulde greued be nomore With no deluge brought to distruction Neither that no waters may thē greue sore This was the fine of their intencion And of that tower a mightie stronge dongion Ayenst God and flodes themselfe to assure The hight and largenesse both of a measure Thus in Nembroth encrese began the name And in the peoples reputacion Of golde and richesse he had so great a fame They called him God in their opinion Most eurous most mighty of renowne The worlde also hole vnder his obeisaunce As God and lord he toke the gouernance Vnder whose might the people gan procede He as a lord hauinge inspection Percinge the bowelles of the earth in dede To make mighty their foundacion And of false glorye and vaine false ambicion This proude Nembroth in his appetite To se them worche hath ful great delite His ioy was and his inwarde gladnesse To beholde so great a company Persen the erth by so great depenesse To make the ground stronge by masonry The worke vpwarde for to fortifye With many a stone huge large of weight They haue it reysed vp into y ◠ayre on height And finally by mediacion Of this great werke Nēbroth was famous Takinge in hert great consolacion That by report he was so glorious Of so great might and port so pompous That he was so myghty ryche and stronge To rease a towre so high so large and longe For to this daye touchynge the great myghte Of this towre whych Babell men it cal Men fro ferre may haue thereof a sight It surmounteth other toures all Of whych werke thus it is befal Of serpentes and many a great dragon It is nowe called chefe habitacion That no man dare as they it se For wycked eyre and for corrupcion By a great space and in a great countre Approche no nere y e meruaylous dongion So venemous was that mansion And so horible that no man dare approche Lyke to a mountayne builded on a roche And as men say that had thereto repaire This tower attaineth vnto the sterres clere And transcendeth the region of the eire The stones and the siment were made of such mater And the ioyninge so stedfast entier Though fyre and water both dyd it assaile Litle or nought their power shoulde auayle It was made so mighty to endure So well assured by disposicion That in this worlde no liuynge creature Sawe neuer none like in comparison Whose reryng vp was chefe occasion And the ryches of the masonrye Were through Nēbroth of pride surquedy Demed proudely as in his auise He transcended all other in noblesse Thought him selfe most myghty and wyse Felowe to God as in lykenes But God that can all worldly pryde oppresse And make princes eclypsen in their glory Suche as trust in thinges transitory The same lorde of his eternall myghte Thys tower whyche Nembroth list to edifye He made wyth thunder and leuyn lighte Thereof to fall a full greate partie The boystous wyndes and the ragy skye And goddes power on that other syde Began thus abate a percell of his pryde And in discent and fallynge of the stones Of the werkemen ful many a man was deed And oppressed their backe broken and bones The masonry wyth their bloude was reed Yet proude Nēbroth that of all this was hed With al these signes his lorde list not knowe For whiche his pomp was after broughte fullowe But in hys errour procedeth furth of newe Thought he would get him selfe a name Of melancoly can chaunge loke and hewe And began also to attempte and atame For to encrease and magnify hys fame A newe tower to edify ayen Lyke as God had ben blynde nothing seen He would haue raught vp to the sterres seuen By thassēt of them that can him first coūsail Robbed god and from him raught the heuen But who presumeth the lorde aboue tassayle It were no reason that he shoulde auayle Prynces may well ayenst hym cry loude But his power may clipse wyth no cloude For in the myddes of his great emprises This proude Nembroth makynge his masōs For to compas and cast their deuises Geometries in their diuisions But God that hath his aspections Seynge thententes of euery erthly man As he that is most mighty and best can Ayenst their malice make resistence Their worldly power their dominacion Of his vengeable and most magnificence He can chastice and ouer whelme downe The pride of princes in euery region By ensample of Nembroth as ye shal here Whose pompe raught aboue the sterres clere For whan his workemen stode at auantage And most were busy to hys intencion And before that time spake al on langage All sodenly by transmutacion There was of tounges made a diuision That in their workynge as they can obrayde ▪ No man wyst what that other sayde And it is lyke accordynge wyth reason So as chaunge was made of their langages So of their hertes was made diuision Both of their wyll and of their corrages And in ascendynge of their workynge stages Ther was such chan̄ge of broder vnto broder Like straungers none knew th entēt of other Myne auctour troweth that this aduersitie Was for their gilt caused by vègaunce Or els God of tyght and equitie Disposed hath in his ordinaunce To be amonge them so great a variaunce That through y e world they shuld thēselfe deuide And fro Nembroth disceuer not abide They gan anone among thēselfe disdeyne To accept this Nembroth for their kynge And amonge forsoth there was not twayne One of another that had clere knowynge Ne of their speche knewe the plaine meanyng For whyche y ◠coūtre of Senaar they forsoke And eche of them a sondry countrey toke They departed and made no lenger space Folowyng the fortune of their diuision And begā to chese thē a newe dwellinge place In the parties of many a region And thus Nembroth was priued put doun And of Babel the mighty famous toure He was called no lenger possessour For ayenst the pryde of this Nembroth Froward fortune gan her cours to vary And God also was in maner worth
golde Out of Egypt full great treasure they ladde Such as theÌ„ thought might most theÌ„ auaile And Pharao I fynde that he hadde Two hundred chares enarmed for battayle Them to pursue and proudly to assayle And fifty thousande in whom was no lacke Of men of armes folowyng on horsebacke Two C. thousande of fotemen him aboute And of Egypt all his chyualrye And Pharao with all his great route Began Israel pursue of enuye But for his pryde and false surquedy He and his people were drowned euerychone Of all his number was left not one His froward hart ayenst God indurate Fulfilled of malyce and obstinacy And in his purpose proude and obstinate These foule vyces or he coulde them espye From his glory and his regally He was doun though he tofore was crouned Amidde the sea among his people drowned Of Ogiges kyng of Thebes ANother Prynce called Ogygus Kyng of Thebes as bokes determine And fouÌ„der was thus Bochas telleth vs Of a citye called Eleusyne Which stout in Grece whose power to decline There fyll a floude in that regyoun Whiche ouerflowed many a royall towne And in Cithia that did most dammage Tyme of Iacob patriarke notable And this deluge with his waues rage Slewe lordes many prynces honourable For dame Fortune is so deceiuable That she sumtime when she list disdayne Can folke assayle with a floude sodaine This floude also where it did assayle Wasted cornes bothe croppe and rote Caused also scarcitie of vytayle That many a man felt full vnsote The pore not wyst where to finde bote For their prynces supprised were with drede Through lacke of vitayle in that great nede Of a great floude in Tessaly ANother floude there was in Tessaly In the time when kyng Amphyon Helde the ceptre and the regaly Vpon Thebes the mighty stronge towne Beside the kyngdome of Babilon The same time this floude fell doubtles When Gods people was ledde by Moses With this floude the land had ben deuoured Of Tessaly and of all that region But on Pernaso the people were succored And on the Roches that stode enuyron Founde there refuge to their saluation And great succour til the floudes rage Began to decrease withdrawe and asswage In olde stories also ye may se Whan Cecrops had first possession Of Athens the myghty stronge citye An heate there fell in that region By influence that descendeth downe From the bodies aboue celestiall Whiche likely was for to deuoure all And this heate engendred with the sonne In diuers countreys both in length breade Hath his course so mightely begone That many folke fell in great dreade Ryuers welles who so list take hede Consumed were and dryed vp echone The heat called the enbracyng of Pheton The .v. Chapter ☞ Of goodly Isis wife to Apys kyng of Argyue slayne by his brother Dyffeus WE haue read in stories here toforne How that Isis to Egypt toke her flyght Out of Crete the true daughter borne Of Promotheus a full manly knyght And Isis in euery mans syght So freshe so goodly wedded by her lyue To worthy Apys that was king of Argyue The whiche Isis excellent of beauty After tyme her father was ygraue She was put for more suretye With her vncle that shoulde kepe and saue This sayd maâ—de y â— no man should her haue And her vncle in Ouide ye may se Like as he wrote â–ª was called Epymethe And flourynge vp in her tender age This sayd Isis so pleasaunt was and mete Of semelines of loke and vysage That Iupiter the mighty kynge of Crete Was enuyronned with her for to mete And she excited of feminitie Enclined her hart vnto his deitie And for she was of her entent so clene Obeiyng hun in most lowly wise Of Argiuois he made her to be quene Because that she was smit in couetise Ayenst Argus a warre she gan deuise And for he was vnweldy of his age Her to w t stand he found none aduauntage But yet Fortune gan vpon her frowne And kyng Argus through his subtiltye With his counsaile so prudently gan rowne That she was take by full great crueltie And her souldiours were also made to flye And by Argus there gayned no raunsome She fettred was and put in strong pryson But her sonne God Mercurius Right freshe ryght lusty full of hardines And of his earthly ioye so glorious Ayenst Argus gan his power dresse And so intirely did his busines That Argus was slaine in conclusion And after Isis deliuered fro pryson Of her sleyghtes afterwarde not feynt She toke a shyp and to Egypt went In which shyp there was a cowe depeynt And Theores whom Iupiter also sent Is gone with her bothe of one entent To ioyne a mariage after anone ryght Betwene her Apys a prynce full of myght She was ryght wise aboue other creatures Secrete of cunnyng well expert in science She taught first letters and fygures To Egyptians by playne experience Gaue them cunnyng and intelligence To tyll the lande taught the labourers To sowe their graine multiply by peres And in Egypt her fame and her renowne Began day by day wext her worthines Holde of cunnyng and of reputation By signe shewed not onely in princesse But she was holde among them a Goddesse And with worshyps whiche were diuyne And sacrifices to her they did enclyne But to declare playnly at a worde In middes of all her great prosperitie Mighty Apis her husband and her lorde Prince of Egypt and lorde of that country Sonne of Iupiter and of Niobe Whiche Niobe by long discendyng The daughter was of Phoroneus y â— kyng And Phoroneus first the lawe founde To whiche all Crete stande vnder obeysauÌ„ce And the statutes of that myghty londe Were ystablished by his ordinaunce But for to write the vnhappy chaunce Of kynge Apys that is remembred He slayne was and pyteously dismembred By his brother called Tyffeus Sumwhat of hatred but more for couetise For Tyffeus was onely desitous To reioyce in full mortall wise The mighty kingdom as ye haue herd deuise Of Argiuois to haue possession Preferred by murder and false succession And when that Isis fouÌ„de her lorde so deade Of entent that he were magnified First of wisdome she gan take hede Ordeyned a meane that he were deified High among Goddes to be stellified In Egypt temples made to be stalled And God Serapis after he was called The .vi. Chapter ¶ Of Grysiton that his membres eate for honger WHat shall I write of case horrible Of Grisiton w t hoÌ„ger so coÌ„strayned That his life was to him self odible In Thessaly w t indigence payned And pyteously his fame was disteyned When he solde his daughter in seruage Liriope whiche was but yong of age By exchaunge of God to puruey theÌ„ vytayle Of very nede he was so wo begon He had nothing y â— might his thirst auayle Ne stauÌ„ch his hoÌ„ger but gnawyng on a bone Wherfore he ate his membres one by one A prynce alas was it not great pitie To se him
liege men of Thebes citezynes Made ayenst him conspiration Put him in exile and his wife also His sons daughters brought to destruction And to the encrease of his mortall wo He and his wife compelled bothe two For very pouerte and very indigence In their last age to purchace their dispence Thus of Cadmus the sorowes to discriue And his mischiefe to put in remembraunce He banished was twise by his lyue First by his fathers cruell ordinaunce Of his sister to make enquiraunce And alder last in his vnweldy age He was compelled to holde his passage Out of Thebes his wife and he alone In sorow wepyng to accomplishe their daies Into Illery togither they be gone Their pacience put at fell assayes Whose bitternes felt none alaies Also of their ende and vnhappy fate Ne of their death I finde none other date Saue that Ouide maketh mencion And Iohn Bochas the poete excellent Say that two brethren zethus and Amphion Out of Thebes by one assent Haue this Cadmus into exile sent His wyfe also after their high noblesse To ende their life in sorow and wretchednes But the Gods of mercy and pitye WhaÌ„ they theÌ„ saw by fortune thus cast doun From their estates into great pouertie Hauyng of them full great compassion They made of them a transformacion Of bothe twayne them yeuyng a likenesse Of serpentes to liue in wyldernes ¶ Lenuoye OWhat estate may him selfe assure For to conserue his life in sikernes What worldly ioy may here long endure Or where shall men finde now stablenes Sithe kinges princes froÌ„ their high nobles Record of Cadmus ben sodeÌ„ly brought low And from the whele of fortune ouerthrow Who may susteyne the pyteous aduenture Of this tragedy by writyng to expresse It is like to the chaunte plure Beginnyng with ioy endyng in wretchednes All worldly blisse is meinte with bitternes The sodayn chauÌ„g therof may no man know For who sytteth highest is sonest ouerthrow Was in this world yet neuer creature Reken vp princes for all their hygh noblesse But fortune coulde enclyne them to her lure And them enperishe through her frowardnes Wherfore ye lordes w t all your great riches Beware afore or ye daunce in the rowe Of such as fortune hath froÌ„ her whele throw The .viii. Chapter ☞ A processe of Oetes kyng of Colchos Iason Medea Theseus Scilla Nisus and other mo WHan Iohn Bochas was most diligent To consider the successions Of lynages withall his entent In his writyng and discriptions To compyle the generations Of many noble famous of estate I meane of suche as were infortunate In his serchyng he founde not out a fewe That were vnhappy founde in their liuynge To his preseÌ„ce anone there gan hym shewe A multitude full piteously wepynge Among whiche full dolefully playnyng Came forthe Oetes hath coÌ„playnt beguÌ„ne Kyng of Colchos and sonne vnto the sunne For of Phebus which is bryght and clere Poetes write that he was sonne and heyre Because he was so myghty of power So freshe so lusty so manly and ryght fayre But of fortune he fell in great dispayre Cursyng his fate and his destayne When Iason first entred his countrey againe By Pelleus sent from Tessaly There to accomplishe by diligent labour The great emprises through his chiualry If God and fortune list do to him fauoure That they might winne the excellent treasour This is to meane that he were so bolde The ram to assail which bare y â— flece of gold This Iason through counsaile of Medee By sorcery and incantacion The bulle slough horrible for to se And vainquished the venimous dragon The kyng dispoyled of his possession Accomplished with carectis and figures Of Colchos the dreadful aduentures And afterwarde when he his purpose had He left Oetes in full great dispayre And Medea forth with him he lad And her brother which was the kyngs heyre But as I finde howe in his repayre Out of Colchos whan they gan remue Kinge Oetes after them gan sue Vpon Iason auenged for to be Without tariyng he folowed proudly The whiche thing when Iason did se This Medea gan shape a remedy She toke her brother and slewe him cruelly And him dismeÌ„bred as bokes make minde And piecemele in a felde behinde She gan him cast all bespreint with bloude Wherof his father when he had a syght Full pale of chere still in the felde he stode While she and Iason toke them vnto flyght I trowe that tyme the most wofull wyght That was on liue whan he did know His childe dismembred and abrode ysowe Whiche cause was alas and welaway That he so stout as man disconsolate While that Iason fro Colches went away And Medea most infortunate Was rote and ground of this mortall debate For who saw euer or redde of suche another To saue a straunger list to slea her brother Forsoke her father her countrey and kinred The lande emperished through her robbery Of her worshyp toke none other hede Loue hath her brought in suche a fantasy And while that she abode in Tessaly And with Iason did there soiourne She made Eson to youth returne A yarde she toke that was drie and olde And with her herbes and commiâ—tions She made it boyle in Ouide it is tolde And by charectes and incantacious And with the craft of her coniurations The yarde began to bud and blossome newe And to beare frute and leaues freshe of hew And semblably with her confections His olde humours the hath deputed cleane And with her lusty freshe pocions His empty skynne tremblyng and right leane Pale and wanne that no bloude was sene But as it were a deadly creature All this hath she transformed by nature Made him lusty and fresh of his courage Glad of hart liuely of cheare and syght Right well chered and clere of his vysage Wonders deliuer both of force and myght In all his members as weldy and as lyght As euer he was in the same estate By craft of Medee he was lo alterate After all this ayenst kyng Pelleus She began to maligne vncle vnto Iason And of enuy she proceadeth thus The kings daughters she draweth to her anoÌ„ Them counsaylyng that they should gone Vnto their father playnly vnto him sayne If he desired to be yong agayne Full restored his force to recure And therwithall in lusty age floure She behight to do her busy cure Lyke his desire to helpe and socoure And in this matter so crafty laboure Fynally stande in the same case To be made yonge as his brother was Touchyng whiche thing for more euidence This Medea hath to the daughters tolde Of entent to yeue the more credence She bade theÌ„ take a ramme y â— was right old And wyth a knyfe for to be so bolde To slea the beast before them there he stode And in a vessell drawe out the olde bloude Fullye affirmyng like as it were true That he should be a lambe agayne For she by craft would his bloude remue In such wise by
anoue That towarde Grece he should gone Vnto a mountaine that Phocis bare y e name And there he shoulde of his kynred here Also lyke his fate the answere was the same He shoulde slee hys owne father dere And after that to Thebes drawe hym nere Wedde his mother of very ignoraunce Called Iocasta throgh hys vnhappy chanÌ„ce He list no lenger tary ne abyde Thys sayd Edippus but forth goeth he And on hys way he began anone to ryde Tyi he the mount of Phocis did se Vnder the which stode a great countre Called Cetoyens whiche that time certayne Werreyed them that were on the mouÌ„taine His father Layus through his chiualry With Citoyens is entred into battaile And Edippus came wyth the partie Of the hyll armed in plate and mayle And as they began eche other to assaile Among the prese at the encountrynge Of auenture Edippus flewe the kyng Vnknowen to hym that he his father was Hauyng thereof no suspection Passed his way platly thys is the case And also vnknowen he came to the toun Of mighty Thebes wher for his hie renoun He was receyued wyth ful great reuerence Bycause that he slough in their defence Sphinx the serpent horible for to se Sometyme ordained by incantacions For to distroy the towne and the countre By his compassed sleightly questions Sloughe man and chylde in all the regions Such as not coude by wysdome or reason Make of his probleme playne exposicion Who so passed by he coude hym not excuse But the serpent woulde hym felly assaile With a problem make hym for to muse Called of some men an vncouth deuinayle Whych for to expowne who that did assaile Ther was none helpe neither other remedy By the statute but that he must dye And for all folke haue not knowledgyng Of this demaunde what it was in dede I wyll reherce it here in my wrytyng Compendiously that men may it rede First this serpent who that list take hede Was monstruous and spake ayenst nature And if it fyll that any creature Man or woman should forth by passe Highe or lowe of all that region As I sayde erst there was none other grace But if he made an exposicion Of this serpentes frowarde question He must dye and make no defence The whych demaunde was thus in sentence The serpent asked what thyng may that be Beast or foule whan it is forth brought That hath no power to stand go nor flee And afterwarde if it be well ysought Goth fyrst on foure or els gothe he nought After by precesse on thre than on twayne And eft agayne as nature doth ordayne He goth on thre and efte on four agayne Also kyndly right nature disposeth it so And in a whyle it foloweth in certaine To the matter which that he came fro He must of kynde resort ayen therto And who can not the meanynge clerely se He of this serpent shall deuoured be Which Edippus ful sobre in his entent Not to rekell or to hasty of langage But in his hert wyth great auy sement And full demure of loke and of vysage Considred fyrst thys perilous fel passage Sawe wel tofore that it was no iape And ful prouided y â— no worde should escape At good leysar wyth hole mynde memorye Seyng the ernest of this mortal emprise Hys life depending bitwixe deth victory Thys quod he plainly to deuyse Is fyrst a child whych may not suffyce Whan it is borne the truth is al day sene Wythout helpe him selfe to sustene After on four he naturally doth crepe For impotence and grene tendernesse Norices can tell that do them kepe But afterwarde vp he doth hym dresse With his two fete the thirde to expresse Is hand or benche or support of some wal To holde hym vp lest he catche a fall And afterward encresyng of his myght To great age whan he doth attayne Of his nature than he goth vpryght Mightily vpon his legges twayne Than cometh age his power to restrayne Croked lame lyke as men may se With a staffe or potent to make vp his legges thre But whan feblenesse or syckenes do assayle On handes and fete he must bow and lout For croche or potentes may not than auayle Whan lusty youth is banished and shet out Than eft agayne hereof maye be no dout With four fete to erth he doth retourne Fro wheâ—s he came there styl to soiourne All came fro erth and all to the erth shal Agaynst nature may be no protection Worldly estates echone they be mortal There may no treasour make redempcion Who clymeth hiest his fal is lowest doun A meane estate is best who coude it knowe Betwene hye presumynge bowing to lowe For who sit hyest stand in ieopardye Vnder daunger of fortune lyke for to fall Mischefe and pouerte as for their party Ben lowest brought among these people al. Some folke tast sugre and sum tast call Salomon therfore myrrour of sapience Bytwene great riches and great indigence Asked a meane called suffysance To hold hym content of coÌ„petent dispence Not to reioyce of to great haboundaunce And euer in pouerte to send him pacience Sobre w t his plenty in scarsnesse non offence As of grutching but bitwene ioye and smart Thanke god of all and euer be glad of hert Erth is the ende of euery maner man For the rich wyth great possession Dyeth as soone as I reherce can As doth the poore in tribulacion For deth ne maketh no diuision By syngler fauour but bitwene both ylich Of the poorest of hym that is most rich This said problem concluded in this case Whych y â— serpent began sleighly to propose That whan a childe is fyrst borne alas â—ynde to his dethwarde anon doth 〈◊〉 dispose Eche day a iourney there is none other glose Experience can tech in euery age Howe thys worlde is here but a pilgrimage Thys sayde Edippus fyrste in Thebes borne Sent to a forest deuouâ—ed for to be Founde brought forth as ye haue herde toforne And after drawynge home to his countre Slough hys father so infortunate was he Of frowarde happes followynge al hys lyue As this tragedy hys fortune shal discriue But for that he through his hye prudence Vnto the serpent declared euery dele He slough hym after by knightly vyolence More by wysdome than by armure or stele Stace of Thebes can tell you thys ful wele Whych was one cause if ye list to sene Whâ—â—through Edippus wedded hath y â— quene Called Iocasta princesse of that countre Hys owne mother vnknowen to them bothe And though she were ryghte fayre vpon to se With this mariage y â— goddes wereful wroth For their aliaunce nature gan to loth That a mother as ye shal vnderstande Shoulde her son take to be her husbande There was therin no conuenience To be supported by kynde ne by reason But if it so be the heuenly influence Disposed it by the inclinacion Of some false froward constellacion Caused by Saturne or
Mars the frowarde star To engendre debate or some mortal war In thys matter playnly thus I deme Of no connyng but of opinion Though he were crowned w t sceptre and diademe To reigne in Thebes the stroÌ„g myghty toun That some aspect came fro heuen adoun Infortunate frowarde and full of rage Which agayne kynde ioyned the mariage He crowned was by assent of all the towne Flouryng a season by soueraynte of peece And whyle he helde the possession Sonnes and doughters he had doubtles The fyrst sonne called Ethiocles Polynices called was that other As sayth Bochas the seconde brother Also he had goodly doughters twayne The eldest called was â—ntigone The seconde named was Imeyne And both they were ryght fayre vnto se The quene Iocasta might no gladder be Than to remembre whan they wexe in age Her goddes had encresed their linage It was her ioye and her felicitie To se her children that were so inly fayre But after ioye ther cometh aduersite And hope assured wanhope doth oft appayre â–ª CoÌ„trarious trust wyll gladly their repaire Wher false wenyng in hert is coÌ„ceyued Through ignoraÌ„ce which hath many disceiued What thynge in earth is more disceyuable Than whan a man supposeth verily In prosperite for to stand stable And from his ioye is remeued sodaynly â–ª For where fortune is found to hasty To trise folke she is greuous to endure For sodayne chaunges be hatefull to nature Vnware wo that cometh on gladnes Is vnto hertes ryght passinge encombreous And who hath felt his parte of wealfulnesse Sorowe suynge on is to hym odious And worst of al and most contrarious Is whan estates highest of renoun Ben froÌ„ their noblesse sodenly brought doun There is no glory whych that shyneth here That false fortune can so magnifie But whan his laude brightest is clere She can eclips it wyth some cloudy sâ—â—e Of vnware sorowe onely of enuy Seeth of Edippus an open euidence Which by his life had experience Of highe noblesse and therwyth also Parte importable of great aduersite Hys ioye euer meynt wyth ful mortal wo. For while he reigned in Thebes the citie â–ª And Iocasta with ful great â—oâ—alte Within the countre there fyl a pestilence The people infectyng with his violence Through all the land and al the region In euery age but most greuously On them echone that were of that towne The infection spred most specially And of vengeauÌ„ce the swerd most rigorously Day by day began to byte and â—aâ—ue Of ech estate causyng folke to sterue Thus began to encrease the mortalite That euery man stode in ieopardy Of their lyues throughout the countre So importable was their malady That ye might heare the people clepe and cry Dispeyred so were they of theyr lines Voyde of all socour of their preseruatiues They sought herbes spices in their cofers And began to seke for helpe other socours The cause enquiringe of prudent philosofers And of their most experte diuinours Why that the goddes wyth so sharpe shours Of pestilence and in so cruel wyse Lyst them alas so mortally chastyse But among all in soth this is the case There was founde one ful prudent and wyse A prophet called Tiresias Of prophecy hauyng a souerayne prise Which affirmed and sayd in thys wyse As vnto him was shewed by myracle Phebus him selfe declarynge the oracle Cause of this syckenes and these maladies As the goddes plainly haue disposed And Senecke writeth also in hys tragedies Though the cause be secrete and yclosed Vnto the tyme there be a kyng deposed Which slew his father raft him his life And hath also take his mother to his wyfe Tyll thys be done and execute in dede Ther may be made no redempcion But pestilence shall multiply and sprede Euer more and more through that region Tyl vnto the tyme that he be put a doun Fro his crowne whych not long agone His father slough among his mortall fone And hath his mother wedded also Agaynst lawe and agaynst al ryght Tyll vengeaunce vpon that crime be do There shal be war pestylence and fighte Sorowe strife euery maner wight Of veugeaunce hys neighbour shal hate Brother w t brother bloud w t bloud debate This is al and some there may be no socour Whych brought the people in great heauynes For Tiresias the great diuinour By propherâ— told them thus expresse And at the last by tokens and witnes Men vnderstode by signes out shewyng This pestilence was brought in by the kyng And though the people gaue no credence To Tiresias ne to his prophecy The quene Iocasta caught au euidence And in her hert a full great fantasy Specially whan she dyde espie Of Edippus the fete that were wounded How this tumour was on trouth ygrounded Because also there was a diuinour Which tolde tofore that Edippus shoulde be To Layus of Thebes successour Wherby the kyng the quene and the ryte Fyl in great trouble and great aduersite Well more than I by writyng can report For there was nothing y t myght theÌ„ recoÌ„fort Ful oft in the day Iocasta gan to swoune And kyng Edippus to sobbe crye and wepe In salte teares as they them would drown Deth craÌ„pishing in to their hert gan crepe A day coÌ„plainyng a night they may not slepe Cursynge the houre of their natiuyte That they should lyue that day for to se. Their mortall chaunce their dedly auenture Their fortune also whych gan on theÌ„ froun Inpacient and doleful to endure Their froward fate wyth their lokes broun The kynge foryre caste away his crowne And began to â—ace for coÌ„straint of his payne Out of his heed his wofull eyen twayne Day and night he cried after deth Hatefull to come in any mannes sight Most desirous to yelde vp the breth Woful in hert to come in any light Coorbed for sorow feble to stande vpright And specially in hys deedly distres For drede and shame he dared in derkenes The cruel constrâ—int of his most grenance Was that his sonnes had hym in dispyte Which gan his sorowe greatly to auance For him to scorne was set all their delite Was neuer none that stode in worse plyte For thus lyeng and destitute of chere Vnto the goddes he made his prayere Beseching theÌ„ with a ful doleful herte Vpon his wo to haue sum compassion And that they would for to auenge his â—inert Bitwene his sonnes make a diuision Eche to brynge other to distruction Thys was his prayer in substaunce That eche on other may take vengeaunce In yeres fewe for their vnkyndnesse They herd his prayer as ye haue herd deuise The bretherne two through their cursidnes Eche gan other mortally dispise For lacke of grace and for false couetyse Eche for his partie desirous in dede Tofore other to reigne and succede And thus these bretherne most infortunate Bitwene them selfe fill at discencion And finally this vnkindly debate Brought al Thebes to distruccion Yet was there made fyrst a conuencion By
hye renounes And of their loue write a great history And how they conquered diuers regions Gouerned cities countreyes also townes Tyll fortune their prowes did appall To shew their suger was meint w t bitter gal Prynces pryncesses se how deceptory Ben all these worldly reuolutions And how fortune in her reclinatory With her treacle tempreth false poysons So marueilous ben her confections Of frowardnes she wyll what so befall Euer with her suger of custome temper gall ¶ The .xiii. Chapter ¶ Here Bochas writeth agaynste them that geueth hastye credence to lyers and flatterers IN this chapter Bochas in sentence Repreueth blameth not onely princes But all them that lyghtly geueth credēce To euery tale and fable whiche is Reported vnto them for sothfastnesse And list nothing do as it were due To proue the truth were it false or true All though so be in euery maner age Folkes ben diuers of condicions To turne plye and chaunge in their courage To outher party with sodayne mocions And for to bowe by transmutations With euery wynde as the vnstable leaues Which hang on trees in forestes in greues But of al chaūges y ◠chaunge is most to drede And most fearfull is that variaunce Whā that princes whych may the people lede Ben founde vnstable in their gouernaunce For their nobles and their hye puissaunce Assureth them by a maner of forme What euer thē list to accomplyshe performe To cōmen profite they most may aueyle Whan they ben ruled by wisdome and reason And to the people they may most disaueyle Whan they lacke wytte and discrecion Thus betwene twayne in euery region The people draweth who that can discerne To good or badde as prynces them gouerne They may not be to hasty ne to sodayne But do all thyng by good aduisement Kepe thē fro tonges y t parted be in twayne Not be to hasty to geue no iudgement And of folkes whan they ben absent Lieue no tales ▪ neither geue no credence Tyll that the party may come to euidence Sumtime hath happed that slowe credence Hath in some be founde full noyons But hasty credence I dare say in sentence A thousande folde is more perillous For vnaduised all haste is odious For haste full oft for lacke of reason Of muche people hath ben destruction There is no domage that men can purpose More to be dradde nor more lamentable Than a prynce his eares to vnclose To euery tale and euery fable It is a token their hartes be not stable Whan they to flatterers their eares do apply Namely to suche that can well forge lye Folke ben diuers some false some true In diuers studies done their busines Some can study and finde out tales newe And some for lucre can maintayne falsenes And holde vp quarels ayenst ryght wisenes Pretendyng truth vnder a false entent To hinder folkes whiche ben innocent Men to suppose it were a great folye That folkes shoulde in their opinion Speake or pronounce all on one party Or holde one way in their intencion For semblably as there is a diuision Of courages of hye or lowe degre So is there truly a great diuersitie In rehearsall or report of a thing For to his party eche man is fauourable Some man can say well in al his rehearsyng Some man is double and some disceauable Some men say true and some be variable Wherfore a prynce of ryght as it doth seme Should well examen before that he deme For there is none more dreadfull pestilence Than a tonge that can flatter and fage For wyth his cursed crabbed vyrulence He enfecteth folke of euery age Wo to tonges froward of their langage And wo to tonges false furious and wode Which of no person neuer can say good Bochas rehearseth it is right well sittyng That euery man other do commende And say the best alway in reportyng For in well saiyng no man may offende Where men say well god will his grace send After as men be mē must their praise vpraise Like their merites alowe them or disprayse But where a thing is vtterly vnknowe Let no man there be hasty of sentence For ryghtfull iudges sittyng on a rowe Of their wisdome and of their hye prudence Will of trouth haue first some euidence I meane such as gouerned be by grace Or any dome forthe of their lippes pace A prynce should assemble thinges twayne Within him selfe full prudently Shut vp the domes betwene lockes twayne One of the soule to reason for that party Prudence chosen and right for the body And betwene them bothe or he geue sentence To counsayle call truth and good conscience First to consider wyth euery circumstaunce And diligently do theron his laboure Of discrecion to take the balaunce And first wey out who is the accusour And whether that he for falsenes or fauoure In his processe list to procede Hereof a prynce must of ryght take hede He must also consider by and by What he is that to him is accused And whether the accusour be frend or enemy Or whether he shal be accept or refused In his actes this must afore be mused And whether he be by report of his name A man well noysed or slaundred by diffame If Thesius thus had ben auysed And considered of reason the manere He had not so hastely deuised His sonnes death like as ye shall leare For if there had assembled be in fere In his person prudence and reason He shoulde haue sene in his descrecion By knowlegyng of long experience Of his wyfe the great vnstedfastnes Which through her false compassed eloquence Was ready euer to bryng folke to distresse And in his writyng Bochas beareth witnes Of their nature women can flatter and fage And be sumtyme to copious of their langage Also of wisdome duke Thesius Should haue considred afore in his entent How that his sonne called Jpolytus Of all vnclennes was founde euer innocent And how that he by custome made his went Into forestes durynge his yonge age To hunt at beastes which that were sauage Rennyng on fote as ye shall vnderstande On hilles and valeys to eschue idlenes Mother of vices with his bow in hand Diana to serue of huntyng chefe goddesse Sumtime to hauke he did his busines Also vnto fishyng greatly he was applyed So that his youth was neuer vnoccupied Thus he liued in woodes solitary And of Venus dispised the seruice Among women he would neuer tary Their felowshyp he did alway despise For he demed by sentence of the wise Who toucheth pytche by a saye men may se It fayleth not he shall defouled be Jpolitus sawe wel this thing before Kept him at large from such contagiositie His grene youth he would not haue it lore To be defouled for lacke of chastitie For he liued euer in virginitie And neuer did Bochas will not vary Nothing that was vnto God contrary Thus of entent he kept his body clene Duryng his life both in thought and dede Whose mother was Jpolita the
as bokes specifie And poetes also of him endite He was connynge in astronomy And therin did ful greatly him delite And many a boke he made and dyd write With great labour and great diligence In hys time vpon that science The which were more precious than golde And more rich in his opinion But Hercules in soth as it is tolde Gate all the bokes through hys hie renoun Bare them by force out of that region And to Grece lyke a conquerour With him he brought theÌ„ for a great treasour Of Trace he slough the giant outragious That sumtime was called Diomede Which murdred al that came to his house And with their fleshe his horse he dyd fede And through his witte labour and manhede Of Achelous whych was a great wondre He made the stremes for to departe a sondre And by his wisdome dyd theÌ„ so deuide In two parties disceueringe his passage For afore no man myght abyde Of his course the furious fel outrage For in countreis it dyd so great domage Turning vpward there was non other bote Where euer it flowed of trees crop and rote A great emprise he did also vndertake Whan that the messe hidious and horible Ariued vp of Archadies the lake Called Lerne the beastes ful odible Which with their teeth mouthes terrible Frute grayne corne dyd mortally deuour But Hercules the countre to sucour Came lyke a knyght their malice for to let And by his prudence destroyed theÌ„ euerichon With in the lake the wormes vp he shet Saue among all behind was left one And against him this Hercules anone Of knighthod raught so great auauntage That to the couÌ„tre he dyd no more domage Thus all that euer may rehersed â—e Touching knighthode prowes or prudence Or glorious fame or long felicitie This knyghtly man had most excellence And in armes longest experience And for his triumphes and actes marciall He set vp pillers for a memoriall Whiche remembred his coÌ„quest most notable And his dedes by grauyng did expresse Beyonde whiche no lande is habitable So farre abrode spred his noblesse But as the sunne leaueth his bryghtnes Sumtime whan he is fresshest in hys sphere With vnware cloudes that sodaynly appere Semblably the nobles and the glory Of Hercules in this vnstable lyfe Eclipsed was and shadowed his memory By Dianyra that sumtyme was his wyfe For by her fraude came in the mortall stryfe As ye shal heare the maner and the caas Wherby that he lost his lyfe alas Yet for her sake this most manly man Fought as I fynde in singuler battayle With Acheloes sonne of the Occian Lyke as Poetes make rehearsayle And as eche other proudly did assayle This Hercules of knyghthode souerayne Sent from his head one of his hornes twain Of kyng Oene she was the daughter dere To Hercules ioyned by mariage And as they came to a great riuere With sturdy waues where was no passage Nessus the gyaunt vgly of vysage To Hercules profered his seruyce And full falsely against him gan deuyse Made his promise to Hercules in dede To put his life in great aduenture Ouer the streme Dianyra to lâ—de Because he was large of his stature And for she was a ryght fayre creature Whan they passed and came to londe Nessus falsely woulde vpon the strâ—nd Haue know her fleshly like as write Ouide Hercules hauyng therof a syght As he abode vpon that otherside And for to auenge him of his great vnright â—ake his howe and â—ent it aâ—one ryght â–ª And wyth an arrowe fyled sharpe and grouÌ„d Gaue to Nessus his deadly fatall â—â—unde Like a condyte gusshed out the bloude And whan he sawe that he must dye To Dianyra before him there she stode With all his hart he her gan pray That in one thing his lust she would obey To take his shert and be not retcheles With bloud distayned and sende it Hercules There through with him to be reconsiled And she to him anone the shert hath sent Through whose venim alas he was begiled For what by touching and by enchauntment His fleshe and bones were all to brent And among his deadly paynes all Into a rage he sodaynly is fall And as a beast furiously he ranne On valeys hylles among craggy stones Semblably as doth a woodeman Pulled vp trees and rotes all at ones Brake beasts hornes al to gnew her bones Was it not pitie that a knyght so good Shold amoÌ„g bestes runne sauage woode Thus ouerwhelmed was all his worthines And to deâ—iyne went his prosperitie Cause and roote of al his wretchednes Was for that he set all his felicitie To trust so much the mutabilitie Of these women whyche early and soone Of their nature brayed vpon the moone Alas alas all nobles and prudence Prowes of nature force and chyualry Forsyght of wisdome discrecion and science Vertuous study profityng in cleargy And the clere shynyng of Philosophy Hath through false lustes here be manaced By sleyght of women darked and defaced O Hercules I fele my penne quake Mine ynke full filled with bitter teares salt This piteons tragedy to write for thy sake Whom all Poetes glorifye and exalt But fraude of women made thy renome halt And froward muses thy triuÌ„phes all to â—end For to discryue alas thy fatal ende ¶ Lenuoy THe sole ve 〈…〉 sauory pâ—ysoâ— The dredfulâ— ioyâ— the dolorous pleasauÌ„ce The 〈…〉 the furious 〈◊〉 Fayth dispayâ—â—d 〈…〉 â–ª Vertue exilyng where lust hath gouernauÌ„ce Through false luxury diffasen all nobles As this tragedy can beare full well witnes Where froward Venus hath domination And blinde Cupide his subiects doth auaunce And wilfull lust through indiscrecion Is chosen iudge to holde the balaunce Their choyse vnlefull hath through yll chauÌ„ce Derked of prynces the famous nobles As this tragedy beareth full well witnes O thou Hercules for all thy high renoun For all thy conquest knyghtly suffisaunce Thou were by women brought to confusion And by their fraude thy renoumed puissauÌ„ce Disclaundred was brought to mischaunce I were ashamed to write it or expresse Except this tragedy can beare well witnesse Prynces princesses of high discretion This thing imprinte in your remembraunce Of others fallyng make your protection You to preserue through prudent purueiauÌ„ce Afore prouided that your perseueraunce Be not perturbed by no false sorceresse As this tragedy of other bereth witnesse ¶ The .xv. Chapter ☞ A processe of Narcissus Byblis Myrra and of other their infortunes to Bochas complaynyng NArcissus Byblis and Myrra all thre Tofore Bochas pyteously did appeare Their infortunes their infelicitie To him complaynyng with a deadly cheare And of their commyng to tell the manere Narcissus with sorow and dole attaynt Began first to declare his complaynt He was the sonne of Cephisus the flode And his mother called Lyriope And by discent borne of gentle blode Of creatures fayrest on to se. And as I finde at his natiuitie Tyresias by spirite of prophecy Touchyng his fate thus gan specify The goddes haue prouided
Cynarus hath his daughter founde And cruelly began enhaunce his hande With his sworde to geue her a wounde But the goddes of mercy most habound Hath fro the death made her to go fre And through their power traÌ„formed to a tree Which after her beareth yet the name Called Myrra as she was in her life Out of whiche aucthours say the same Distilleth a gome a great preseruatife And of nature a full good defensife To kepe bodies from putrifaction And them franchise from all corruption By influence of the sunne beames Myrre is engendred by distyllyng of his kind With round dropes ayenst Phebus streames And doun discendeth through the hard rinde And through the riftes also I finde The sayd Myrra hath a childe forth brought In all this worlde if it were sought Was none so faire formed by nature For of his beauty he was pereles And as Poetes recorde by scripture He called was the fayre Adonydes And to his worshyp and his great encrees For he of fairenes bare away the floure Venus him chase to be her paramour The whiche Goddesse gaue to him in charge That he should in his tender age In forestes while he went at large Hunt at no beastes whiche were sauage But he contrary to his disauauntage Through wilfulnesse I can say no more Was slayne vnwarely of a Tuskye boare At the whiche he felly did enchace But of folly in vayne was his laboure For he lay slayne full pale of chere and face Whom Venus turned to a full freshe stoure Whiche was as bloude of purple the coloure A budde of golde w t goodlye leaues glade Set in y â— middes whose beauty may not fade And whan Myrra froÌ„ Bochas was w tdraw And declared her great aduersitie And of her fate tolde the mortall lawe Came Orpheus full vgly vnto se Sonne of Appollo and of Calyope And appeared with a full dolefull face Sumtime brought forthe yborne in Trace Full renoumed in armes and in science Famous in musike and melody And full notable also in eloquence And for his soote sugred armony Beastes and foules as poetes specify Wodes floudes of their course most strong Stynte of course to harken his sote song An harpe he had of Mercurius With the whiche Erudice he wanne And to Bachus as write Ouidius Sacrifices solemnely he began And vnto hell for his wife he ran Her to recure with sote touches sharpe Whiche he made vpon his heauenly harpe But whan that he this labour on him toke I lawe was made which that bouÌ„d him forâ— That if he backeward cast his loke He shold her lese and se her neuermore But it is sayd sythen gone full yore There may no lawe louers well constrayne So importable is their deadly payne If some husbands had stand in the caas To haue lost their wiues for a loke sodayne â—hey would haue suffred and not sayd alas â—ut paciently endured all their payne â—nd thanked god y â— broken was the chayne â—hich hath so long them in pryson bounde â—hat they by grace had such a way founde â—olye in pryson it is a ful great charge â—nd to be stocked vnder key and locke â—t is meryer a man to go at large â—han with yrons to be nailed to a blocke â–ª But there is a bonde that called is wedlocke â—ettryng husbandes so sore that it is wonder â—hich with a file may not be broke asunder But Orpheus father of hermony Thought Erudice y â— was his wife so fayre For her sake he felt that he must dye Because that he whan he made his repayre Of her in trouth nothing embraced but ayre Thus he lost her there is no more to sayne And for the coÌ„straynt of his greuous payne At his hart her partyng sate so sore The grene memory the tender remembrauÌ„ce That he would neuer wine no more So fayre he was escaped his penaunce For wedlocke is a life of muche pleasaunce But who hath ones infarnall paynes sene Will neuer after come in the snare I wene This Orpheus gaue counsaile full notable To husbandes that haue endured payne To such as ben prudent and tretable One hel is dredful but more dredful is twain And who is ones bounde in a chayne And may escape out of daunger blyue If he eft resort God let him neuer thriue Vpon this sentence women were vengeable And to his writyng full contrarious Sayd his counsaile was not commendable At the feast they halowed to Bachus They fill echone vpon this Orpheus And for all his rethoryke swete They slough alas this laureate poete And of his harpe if ye lyst to heare The God Appollo made a translation Among the ymages of the starres cleare Wherof men may haue cleare inspection But fortune to his confusion Denyed him frowarde of her nature Whan he was slayne fredome of sepulture Next Orpheus there did appeare also Of Amasons worthy quenes twayne Merpesia and her sister Lampedo Whiche in conquest did their busy payne And great worshyp in armes did attayne Namyng them selues by writing nere farre Doughters to Mars which is god of warre Merpesia rode out in regions And conquered full many a great citye For couetise of great possessions To encrease her lordshyp if it would be And her sister kept surely their countrye Of all enemies so that there was no doubt While Merpesia rode with her host about But while she was in conquest most famous â–ª And her enemies proudly did assayle Fortune anone wart contrarious And caused that she was slaine in battayle Lo what conquest or victory may auayle Whan that fortune doth at them disdayn Se here ensample by these quenes twayne ☞ Lenuoy THis tragedy remembreth thynges fyue Of Narcissus the excellent beauty And of Biblis dothe also discriue The great luxury and dishonestye Myrra diffamed turned to a tree To exemplify that lechery and pride Ben from all vertue set full farre aside How Orpheus endured in his liue Joye entermedled wyth aduersitye In his youth whan he did wyue He felt in wedlocke full great felicitie His worldly blisse meynt with duplicitie As fortune her chaunges can deuyde Whiche from all vertue be set full farre aside Merpesia for her list to stryue Wyth wylfull warres to encrease her couÌ„tre But her pompe was ouerturned blyue Whan in battayle vnwarely slayne was shet For of all warre death is the fyne pardee So furious Mars can for her folke prouide Whiche from all vertue ben set farre aside Ye mighty princes let witte and reason dryue Your high nobles to consider and se How fortune estates can depryue And plonge theÌ„ downe from their prosperitie Pride and luxury I counsayle that you flye Falce auarice ne let not be your gyde Whiche from all vertue is clene set asyde ¶ The .xvi. Chapter ¶ Of Priamus kyng of Troye and how the monke of Bury translatoure of this boke wrote a boke of the siege of Troy called Troy boke AFter these complayntes and lameÌ„tacions Which that Bochas did in his boke coÌ„pile Medled
may your state assayâ— Whan subiection doth the people fayle ¶ Lenuoye THis tragedy declareth in partye What myschefe foloweth of extorcion Eke of spousbrech and of auoutry By Tarquyn doue through false extorcion Vnto Lucrece wythin Rome toun Kynges exyled for such misgouernayle And false outrages done to the porayle Eke Appius of wylful tiranny Agayne Virginia toke an accion Through a false lust of frowarde lechery Blent and fer derked his memory reason Which was chefe cause and occasion Why the estate of dizhom dyd fayle Through false outrage done to the porayle Kyng Philyp lost sceptre and regally Of Macedone the famous regyon Vnwarely slayne amyd his chiualry Sittyng at the table w t in his chefe dongeon And greatest cause of his fallyng doun Was whan fortune his pride dyd assaile For false outrages done to the porayle Duke Hasdrubal whome bokes magnify Vp to the heuyn for hys hygh renoun Whose triumphes raught vp to the sky And had al Cartage in his subiection Yet was he slayne vnwarely by treason By a seruant lo what it doth auayle Treason purposed afore in the porayle Noble princes your reason do applye Whych ouer the people haue dominacion So prudently to gouerne them and gye That loue and drede by true affectyon Preserue their hartes from false rebellionâ— Syth to you nothynge may more preuayle Than true subiection expert in porayle The .vii. Chapiter ⧠How Jeroboham kyng of Israel for Idolatry disobedience came to a myscheuous ende NExte these storyes in Bochas as I fynde There dyd appere vnto his preseÌ„ce Kynges syxe hym praying to haue mynd Vpon their fal by vnware violence From theyr estates of royal excellence And to fore al I fynde that there came Of al Israel kyng Jeroboam Vnto myne aucthour he gan to declare His deedly complaynt with a pale face His great mischeues and his yuel fare And howe he fyl downe froÌ„ his kyngly place Through vnhappes which dyd him enbrace And as this story plainly hath deuysed For his offences howe he was chastised An Idolater he was as it is tolde Reysed vp auters of very force myght Set therupon two calfes of pure golde Dyd them worshyp agayne al skyl ryght Gaue euel example in the peoples syght Whan he dyd wyth fumes and ensence To false ydols vndue reuerence Fro the temple he made the people gone Priestes ordained after his owne gise Forsoke the trybe of Leuy and Aaron And vpon Bethel his offryng gan deuyse And whyle he dyd vnleful sacrifice God that well knewe of hym the false entent From Jerusalem a prophet to hym sent Whych him rebuked of his misgouernauÌ„ce And gan the parels to hym specifye Told him afore for to do vengeaunce Of Dauid kyng there should come one Josye Which should his priestes that falsly coud lye Manly distroy slee them al at ones And into asshes bren them fleshe bones And in token of their distruction The prophet tolde among them al How his auters shoulde bowe doun And his ydols from their stage fal Whom that foles their goddes falsly cal Which haue no power to helpe in no maner For they may neyther se fele nor here After thys prophet Jadan had tolde These sayde signes playnly to the kyng His auter fyl on peces many folde And ouerturned backewarde his offring For whych the kyng furiously loking Put forth his hand the story maketh mynde Bad his men the prophet take and bynde And as he his arme raught out on length Had no power it to wythdrawe ageyne Wext vnweldy contract lost his strength And whan the kyng these tokens hath seyne â–ª And how y e prophet spake no word in veyne Greatly astoyned coude say no more But praied Jadan his arme to restore And by his prayer and mediacion Of his arme after this vengeaunce There was anone made restitucion And of his payne feleth aleyaunce For which the kyng w t ful great instauÌ„t Required hym to be so graciouse That day to abyde and dyne in his house But the prophet would not assent Nouther wyth hym to eate nor to drynke Toke his asse and forth anone he went On whose departyng y â— kyng gan sore thynke And fantasies gan in his hert synke Specially whan he toke hede Of all these tokens howe they were true in dede God â—ad Jadan in this great emprise To Jeroboham fyrste whan he was sent Eate nor drinke in no maner wyse In that citie whyle he was present But a nother prophet of entent Ful olde and slygh on that other syde Compelled hath this Jadan to abyde Hym aforsyng by false collusion To resorte agayne vnto the citye And to make no contradiction With hym to dyne of fraternitye To hym affyrmynge it may none other be For god sent him as to his frende brother To abyde with him plainly with none other Of frendlyhede and true affection Within his house to shewe his presence For a repast and refection This is goddes wyl and fully his sentence To whose wordes y â— prophet yaue credence And as they sate at dyner both in fere God vnto Jadan sayd in thys maner For the brekyng of my comaundement Thy great offence thy transgression That thou hast be so wylfull negligent Thou shalt endure this punicion Be al to torne and rent of a lyon And in thy countrey thou shalt not recure With prophetes to haue thy sepulture Of which thing this Jadan nothynge fayne Gan to departe with ful heuy thought Of a lion amyd of the way slayne But his asse harmed was right nought A full great maruaile if it be wel sought The lyon syttyng as in their diffence And kept them both from al violence Al these tokens myght not conuert Jeroboam fro his iniquitie Goddes warnyng hym lyst not to aduerte Nor by hys prophete corrected for to be Wherefore god would that he should se Vengeaunce folowe as it dyd in dede Both vpon hym and his kynred A sonne he had which fyl in great sickenes Called Abia the boke doth specify For whych the king bad the quene her dresse To go disgised without company Vnto a prophet which called was Achy Hym to require truely for to sey Whether the chyld should lyue or dey And in his inward syght coÌ„templatife God shewed hym by clere inspection Of Jeroboam how she was the wyfe For al her sleyghty transformacion For nouther fallas nor false decepcion May be of god but it be parceyued For he â—e his prophets may not be deceyued She came to him in straunge wede At the entryng he called her by her name Come forth quod he for it is no nede To hide thy selfe as it were for shame For the trouth truely to attame God hath yeuen me fully knowledging What thou shalt answere say to the kyng Say plainly to him marke in thy thought In thy repayre these wordes rehersyng Syth god hath made thee raysed vp of nought From a seruant to reigne as a kynge Fro Dauids kyn most
by the goodly hede And through the nobles of this most knightly man All mistes clered of dispayre and drede Trust hope and fayth into my hartran And on my laboure anone forthwyth I gan For by cleare support of my lordes grace All foraynes lettyng fro me I did enchace For folke that vse to make great vyages Whiche vnderfonge long trauell and labour WheÌ„ thei haue don gret part of their passages Of werines to asswage the rygoure Against faintyse to fynde some fauâ—â—â— Loke oft agayne parcell to be releueâ— To se how muche their iourney is acheued Cause why they so oft loke ageyne Backeward turne loke and eke vysage Is only this that it may be seyne To them how much is done of their vyage Eke wery folke that gone on pylgrimage Rest them some while a full large space Laborious sweate to wipe fro their face Their heauy fardell among they cast adoun At certaine bouÌ„des to do their backes ease At welles colde eke of entencion Drinke freshe water their greuous thurst to apease Or holesum wynes their appetite to please Rekenyng the myles by computacions Whiche they haue past of castels of townes It doth them ease the number for to know Syth they began of many great iourneys Of hye mountayns and of valeyes lowe And straunge sightes passyng by countreys The vncouth buildyng of borowes and cities Counting y e distaunce froÌ„ townes the spaces This is their talking at their restyng places The residue and the surplusage They reken also of their labour commyng Thinke it is a maner auauntage To haue and se a cleare knowlegyng Of thinges passed thinges eke folowynge For to their hartes it doth full great plesauÌ„ce Whan all suche thing is put in remeÌ„braunce And semblably Iohn Bochas as I fynde Gan turne backe his loke and countenaunce And to remember appoyntyng in his minde To the stories rehearsed in substaunce In his two bokes of sorowes displeasauÌ„ce Him selfe astonied marueilyng a great dele The fall of prynces from Fortunes whele Of their vnhap as he dothe rehearce Towarde theÌ„ selfe the cause dothe rebounde Their climbyng vp the heauens for to perce In worldly riches to encrease and abounde Their gredy etike doth them selfe confounde And their thirst of hauyng vnstauncheable Causeâ— their nobles to be so variable Hygh climbyng vp of reason who can se Dulleth of braines the memoriall Blunteth the sight of hygh and low degre Whiche from aloft maketh them to haue a fal Men saye of olde who that couet all At the vnset houre suche one shall not chese But all his gadryng at once shall he lese For worldly folke whiche so hye aryse Wyth the great peyse of worldlye abundauÌ„ce And with the weight of frowarde couetise Namely where Fortune holdeth the balauÌ„ce With vnware turne of some vnhappy chauÌ„ce This stormy quene this double Goddesse Plungeth theÌ„ downe from all their riches Wherfore Bochas hereof to make a prefe Sheweth to purpose a sentence full notable A clere example of suche vnware mischefe Writeth of an auctour by maner of a fable Albe the menyng be full commendable And well accordyng in conclusion To the clere purpose of his entencion Finis ¶ Hovve Andalus doctour of Astronomy concludeth how Prynces shoulde not atwite constellacions nor Fortune of their vnhappy fallyng but their demerites and vycious liuyng ¶ The first Chapter AT Naples whylom as he dothe specify In his youth whan he to schole went There was a doctour of Astronomye Famous of cunnyng and right excellent Of hym rehearsyng shortly in sentment His ioy was most to study and wake And he was called Andalus the blake He redde in scholes the mening of the heauen The kinde of starres and constellacions The course also of the planets seuen Their influence and their mocions And helde also in his opinions The fall of princes the cause well out sought Came of them selfe and of fortune nought Nor the starres was nothing to wite By their meuyng nor by their influence Nor y t men should of right the heauen at wite For no froward worldly vyolence For this clarke there concluded in sentence How men by vertue longe may contune From hurt of starres or of fortune Their owne desert is chefe occasion Of their vnhappe who so taketh hede And their demerites vnwarely put theÌ„ doun Whan vycious life doth their brydle lede Course of fortune nor of the starres rede Hindreth nothing agayne their felicitie Syth of free choyse they haue full libertye God punished sinne in many maner wyse Some he chastiseth for theyr owne auaile Men may of reason in suche case deuise Sinne aye requireth vengeauÌ„ce at his tayle God of fortune taketh no counsayle Nor from her meuyng no man is more fre As clarkes write than is glad pouertee And vnto purpose this auctour full notable To his scholers there beyng in presence Full demurely gan reherse a fable With many a coloure of sugred eloquence Theron concludyng the suÌ„me of his sentence Touching a strife whiche he did expresse Atwene glad pouert this blinde goddesse ☞ A disputation betwene Fortune and glad pouerte HVod Andalus whilom of fortune In straite place there sate glad pouert Whiche resembled of loke of figure A retcheles woman most vgly vnto se At a narow metyng of hye wayes thre All to torne to ragged and to rent A thousand patches vpon her garment She was hydous bothe of chere and face And in semyng voyde of sorow and drede And by that way as Fortune did pace And of glad Pouert sodaynly toke hede She gan to smile and laught at her in dede By a maner scornyng in certayne Of her aray she had so great disdaine Whose froward laughter whaÌ„ pouert did espy How she of her had indignacion She rose her vp of hygh melancholy Playnly to shewe her entencion Without good day or salutacion Doyng to Fortune no maner reuerence Vnder these wordes declaryng her sentence O thou Fortune moste fole of foles all What cause hast thou for to laugh at me Or what disdayne is in thyne hart fall Spare not a deale tell on let se For I full little haue ado with the Of olde nor new I haue none aquayntaunce Neither with the nor wyth thy gouernaunce And whan Fortune beholdeth the manere Of glad Pouert in her to torne wede And knew also by countenaunce and chere How she of her toke but little hede Like as she had to her no maner nede The whiche thinges conceyued and seyne To pouerty she answered thus ageine My scornefull laughter plainly was for the Whan I the sawe so megre pale and lene Naked and colde in great aduersitie Scabbed scoruy scalled and vnclene On backe and body as it is well sene Many a beast walke in their pasture Whiche day by day of new thou doest recure Hauyng nothing to wrap in thy head Saue a brode hatte rent out of nattes olde Full of honger for defaute of bread Slepyng on strawe in the frostes colde And where thou comest
Oropastes quaking in his drede Full vnwarely or that he toke hede Was slayn ther guerdoned for al his might Of pretence kinges y t reigne haue no right The .vii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Dary obteynyng the kingdom of Perce by sleyght ended with shame AFter the deth of these Magicyens Was left no king to haue y ◠gouernaūce Nor for to rule the lande of Perciens Saue fyue princes full famous of puissaunce Whyche made a statute and an ordinaunce Of one accorde by recorde of writyng Theron concluding who shuld be chose king Their sort their hap and all their auenture Was yeue to fortune of thys eleccion And thus the prince the crowne shall recure Among these fyue by theyr conuencion For to gouern the mighty regyon And in that lande to reigne and contune Lyke as the fauour lyst ordeyn of fortune Thys was the statute vpon a mornyng All atones erly for to ryde Atwene Aurora and Phebus vprisyng Vp to a hyll to houe and to abyde All rancour dyscorde set asyde Whose horse among them was first herde neying Without grutching shulde be crowned kyng Vpon this mater what shoulde I leger tary Hereon was made an othe in sykernesse Among these prīces one which was called Da Aprince of Perce excellyng of noblesse Whych had a seruaunt y ◠story bereth witnessery That kept hys horse thought in very dede Hys lorde he wolde preferre at suche a nede The sayd seruant full sleyghtly in werkyng His dilygence lyst nothyng to spare The day to fore set of their metynge At a place smothe playne and bare Hys lordes horse he made leape a mare And on the morowe when the princes met On horsbacke there hys lorde he set And whan the horse thyder came agayne Nature anone afforced his corage To neye loude vpon the same playne Where as the mare had vsed her passage Kynde in suche case had great auauntage By whiche sleyght playnly to reherse The sayd Dary was crowned kig of Perce The prynces all lyke theyr conuencion Or Phebus shewed his firy beames bryght Without stryfe or contradiccion From their horse sodaynly alyght And vnto Dary as lowly as they myght Sayd in greke or they vp rose Policromtudo Basileos Which is in latyn to spake in wordes playne And in englyshe by expowning of scripture After the Greke as moche for to sayne As longe tyme myght the kyng endure And lyue in helth with good auenture By the grace and fauour of fortune Vpon all Perce to reigne and contune Who wyll consydre euery cyrcumstaunce It is a meruayle nat grounded on prudence By such sleyght a king to haue gouernaunce Through tytle or clayme as of iust euidence So to be raysed to kyngly excellence But whan fortune fauoureth suche assay Tyll y ◠she chaunge ther can no man say nay Thus was kyng Dary borne of lowe linage Set vp by sleyght in estate honorable Thought y ◠he wolde for his auauntage To make his kyngdom his reigne stable Wed such a wyfe as to hym was most able Demyng of trouth hys clayme were well amēded Of Cirus lyne if she were discēded To wede suche one was all his couetyse Stable for to reigne vpon the Perciens And as I fynde in full cruell wyse By the counsayle of false magicyens A werre he gan vpon the Egipciens Eke folily he gan for to werrey Them of Athenes whiche lyst hym nat obey And as myne auctor maketh rehersayle He for his pride and false presumpcion Was discomfyted twyes in batayle And neuer after as made is mencyon He was nat had in reputacyon Among Perciens so gan his honoure fade Wyth sleyght he gan with shame an ende he made ¶ The .viii. Chapter ¶ How Corolian by Romaynes exiled gan warre agaynst them and how after they sent out his mother withother for peace which had they eft him exiled and after was slayne AFter this Dary as I rehearce can And mine auctour liketh to conclude To Iohn Bochas came Corolian The most wofull of that multitude Which gan complaine vpon the ingratitude Of the Romayns how they whilom in dede Exiled his person of rancour and hatrede Whiche in his time would neuer ceace Through his noblesse hys hygh renoun Their common profite to augment encrece And for to bringe to their subiection Many a citye and many a noble toun Yet they agaynward for all his chyualry Him exiled of malyce and enuy But whan this Marcus called Corolian Saw of Romayns the great vnkindnes Toward a countrey that called was Tuskan Of high disdayne anone he did him dresse And them entreated of manly fell prowes To gyn a warre sythe they so manly be Through his cōueiyng againe Rome y ◠citye And for to put them more in assuraunce To haue victory through their high renoun He tolde them playnly of a great distaunce Of a false strife and a discencion That was of newe fall in Rome towne Wherfore they should if it be prouided Cōquere thē lightly because thei wer deuided By their assent they made a great armye With stuffe for war richely apparayled Pyght his tentes tofore that great citye And in the fielde stode proudly battayled But the hartes of Romayns haue thē fayled And durst not passe the gates of their toun There was among thē so great deuision Their citye stode that time destitute With feare supprised for lacke of gouernaūce Them to defende they founde no refute So farre enfeblished was their old puissaūce For euer gladly where stryfe and variaunce In any kingdome haue an enteresse Touchyng a defence adue all hardinesse Within them selfe they stode at debate Afore their enemies ready for to assayle Comfort was none in hygh nor lowe estate For where discord is what auayleth coūsail Their fone w tout within them selfe battayle Brought in alas to their confusion By the false serpent of dissencion But at the last afforced and constrayned They were coact after peace to seke The case stode so of nede they were payned Maugre their might their harts for to meke And their mischefe more to encrese and eke In augmentyng of their cruell fates They saw their enmies armed at their gates They sent out first priestes of the toun With their enemies for to entrete of pees With humble profers lowe subiection But Corolian this is doubtles Againe the Romayns was so merciles That grace none myght in his hart myne To their request his eares to enclyne Than the Romayns the story tell can To Venturia made their prayere Whiche was the mother of Corolian And to Volumnia his faithfull wife entere That they should both go in fere Vnto that prynce besechyng at the lest Benignly to heare their request His mother first full prudently abrayde Vnto her sonne makyng this question At their metyng to hym thus she sayde Shall I quod she for short conclusion Of faythfull harte and true affection To thy presence declare finally Be now receyued as mother or enemy After thine aunswere I must
reioysed all hys life Kept what he redde in his memoriall And of wyse counsaile was none to hym egal An vncle he had ycalled Perycles Which stode in daunger of excessife spendyng Yet in hys youth thys Alcibiades Seyng hys vncle pensiefe in lokyng Cast of wisdom to remedy that thyng And for to aswage hys heartes heuynesse Gaue hym this counsail by great auisenesse Fyrst to rehearse how the matter stode And of hys vncles wofull hygh distresse Ther was to him delynered a sūme of goode To repayre the temple of a goddesse Called Minerna but for the great excesse Of hys dispences he stode somwhat in drede Touching thacoūpt y ◠he muste yelde in dede Alcibiades here vpon musyng To hys vncle gaue counsayle in sentence Vncle quod he let be your thynkyng And for your selfe shape thys diffence Nat for tacoūpt by meane of your prudence Afore prouided with face chere vnfayned To suche duresse that ye be nat constrayned And whan Pericles his coūsaile aduertiseth Fonde to his worshyp it was resonable And by good layser him selfe ful wel auiseth And by prouision prudent and notable Saued hys estate frō eche thyng reprouable So that he stode touching thys matter As for accomptes out of all daunger Alcibiades of Athens chefe capteyne From day to day waxt vp to great encres Suche another was ther no where seyne Them to gouerne bothe in werre pees And all the citye by assent hym chees Of theyr nauy in especiall Vpon the see to be theyr admyrall For his knighthod they sent hym out aferre To Cathenoys to be theyr gouernour Gayne Cyracusenes for to gin a werre First there receiued w t glory gret honoure But in the end of his great laboure Fortune that is aye varyaunt and vnstable Was to this duke nat founde fauourable He was accused to them of the toun Which in Athenes had gouernaunce That he was gilty in party of treason By thē reuoked for al his great puissaunce Of Capitaynship and by their ordinaunce And fortunes false mutabylitie Vnwarely depriued from all dignitie But for him selfe thus he gan prouide Went into exyle not fer from that countre In to a cytie that called was Elyde There for to haue fredom and lyberte And of hys lyfe to stand in suerte For in Athenes they wolde haue him deed Vnto their goddes to offre vp his heed But whan he was of their entent certayne To Lacedemone he toke the ryght way And by relacion there he herd sayne Howe Cathemenses were put to afraye In a batayle vpon a certayne daye Which that they held to their aduersytee Gayne Cathenoys as they fought on the see But the cause of this discomfyture As was tolde Alcibiades Was by thre captayns through misauenture Which in their leading were found recheles The chefe of them named Demosthenes The tother called the story telleth vs The tone Niceas the tother Eurilocus Alcibiades hauyng herof tiding To auenge his wrong put him selfe in prees Of Lacedemon he gothe fyrst to the kyng Which of trouth was called Agydes Beseching him to graunte to his encres Certayne soudyours out of hys countre For to werrey of Athenoys the cyte Thus he waxte stronge of noble prouydence Had great people vnder his gouernaunce And lyke a duke made strong in hys defence The people gadred to his obeysaunce That other princes that wer of hye puisaūce Gan haue enuy of wylful frowardnesse And to malygne agayne hys hyghe noblesse For selde or neuer in any regyon Prowesse of armes noblesse of chyualry Encrease of ryches report of high renoun Fame of connyng in craft or in clergy May no wher dwell without some enuy From whose malyce as folke expert may se Saue only wretches no man hath lyberte For which this prince as put is in memory Escaped nat for all his hygh parage But that some enuyed at his glory For in this life no man hath auauntage Agayne tonges nor odyous false langage To stop such venym this is the best obstacle That mē with suffraūce tempre their triacle The clere prowesse of Alcibiades Stayned the nobles of other prynces al His eure hym raised vp to so great encres To the highest trone of fortunes hall Such fatal grace is vnto hym fal That in tho dayes playnlye this is no fable There was no knight to him resemblable In his exyle so clere his renome shone And through Grece gaue as gret bryghtnes As doth a ruby aboue eche other stone Yet for to clips and shadow his worthynes Lacedemonois dyd their busynesse Such as nat myght to his nobles attayne By false report his renome to restraine Awayt was layd to take him at mischefe And many traynes wer serched out sought Of entent to put him at reprefe But al y ◠euer agayn him they haue wrought At the end the purpose came to nought For God prouideth of his magnificence Agayne such malice to saue innocence He was lykely to fal in great daungere Lacedemonois gan so at hym dysdayne Because his honour nobles shone so clere That to his fone it was a deedlye payne And thus his lyfe stode in no certayne For all be it he manly was and wyse He knew nothinge their purpose nor malyce Hee had almoste ywarned be to late And lyke to haue stand in great perplexitie And more his grace and fortune to abate By thoccasion of hys great beaute He wyth the quene was woxen full priue For in her grace so well stode there none Whiche gaue to him warnyng of his fone And by the counsayle onely of the queene Fro Lacedemon he wysely toke his flight Towarde Athenes thought he wolde sene His owne countre full lyke a manly knyght And though thei had nat gouerned thē a right Towardes hym beyng in distresse To auenge his wronge he dyd thē no duresse For he thought it was agaynst nature To be vengeable or shewe his cruelte By thoccasion of any auenture Or ginne a werre vpon his countre His natiue bloud meued him to pyte And of very naturall gentlynesse Was debonayre agayne their vnkindnesse The case was this for short conclusion How king Dary with great apparayle Thought to werrey of indignation Them of Athenes their towne tassayle And in purpose proudely to preuayle Thessifernes a prince of great puissaunce Of Daries power had al the gouernaunce Final cause and grounde of all this werre That Darius gan on them so hastelye And that he sent his puissaunce from so ferre For to destroy Athenes vtterly Was to holde vp and sustayne the party Of Lacedomone whiche of olde hatrede Were euer enuyous thē to oppresse in dede But by meane of Alcibiades And his treatie founded on prudence Thessifernes enclined to the pees Therby in party to appease his violence And all was done of noble prouidence And fro the place to which he was exiled He to Athenes shoulde be reconciled Vnto the citie he dyd signify How Darius had made his ordinaunce And by his letters he
brake The .iiii. Chapiter ⧠Howe Pausanias duke of Lacedemon was exyled by them of Athenes THys was his end after this Bochas Gan in hast hys style auaunce Of Pausanias to tel the pitous caas And all the maner of hys wofull chaunce Whiche was a duke had in gouernaunce Lacedemone there foundyng a cite Which of olde tyme was called Bysaunce They of Athenes that cite gate with might And it conquered by theyr chiualry And afterwarde were it wronge or ryght They exyled the same Pausany And thus fortune through her false enuy Caused that duke without more delayes In payne pouerte for to ende his dayes ☞ The .v. chapter ⧠How Heliarchus the tyrant for extorcion and oppression was slaine by the knyght Leonides AFter the fall sothly of these twayne Iohn Bochas was moued of courage For to rehearse with all his busy payne The great fury and the odious rage Of Helyarchus whiche by great outrage Though he ne were famous in chiualry He noyed all Perce with his tyranny Wherfore Bochas gan at him disdayne Cast he woulde onely for his sake Touche of tyrantes mo than one or twaine And by writyng agayn theÌ„ a warre make And in his hande he gan a penne take Tolde in order the perillous pestilence Whiche they wrought by mortall vyolence First he declareth how fortune of right Againe tyrantes furious and wode Hath full cause for to shew her myght To appal their dignities in which they stode Suche as reioyce for to shede blode Do nought els but labour and deuise To spoyle the temple in many sundry wyse And Helyarchus through hys cruelte And his contryued false extorcions Was mortall enemy to a fayre citee Called Heraclye and many other townes And by extort false oppressions As the dede concluded at a prefe All that countrey he brought to mischefe Turnyng his grace and fauour to hatrede Mercy and pitie vnto crueltie Franchise of people to seruitude and drede Oppressed their fredome and olde lybertie And all their statutes by which they wer fre He interrupted of force and not of right Whiche made him odious in all mennes sight But to restrayne his great extorcions Fortune this while was not retchles For his horrible abhominacions She gan to auale him this goddesse merciles By a good knyght called Leonides Whiche with a felow borne of that countrye Cast on this tyrant auenged for to be They dempt it was an almesse dede To set their lande in quiete and in ease Of a tyrant the furious bloude to shede His importable malyce for to appese Whyche to their citye did so great disease And of assent with their swerdes kene They slew the tyrant in their mortall tene Of whose death many a man was fayne And specially of Heraclie the cite Dempt it was medefull y t he was so slayne To set in quyete all a commonte Lo here men may the rightfull guerdon se Of tyrantes whiche by their vyolence To oppresse the people haue no conscience The .vi. Chapiter ☞ How the vycious Dyonis kyng of Cycyle slewe his brethren and kynrede and after exiled dyed at mischefe AFter this tyrant with a full heauy chere And countenaunce piteous lamentable Vnto Bochas Dionys dyd appere Whiche in tyranny most was importable Through his lande hatefull and reprouable But for all that he gan myne auctour pray Of his maners sumwhat to write and say Bochas lyst not rehearse his lynage Nor make no processe of his genealogy Because he was with all hys great outrage Full of all vyces pryde and lechery Of auarice ofyre and of enuy In Cicyle helde his royall see At Cyracusis a mighty stronge citee Thys Dyonis was cursed of nature Most malicious both of thought dede For as it is remembred in scripture He slewe his brethren his cosyns kynrede That he alone in peace might possede Wythout trouble or interruption Of all Cicyle the mighty region Among all vyces Bochas dothe specify He gan drawe vnto ydlenes Folowed his lustes of foule iechery And oft of custome he fell in dronkennes And thought it was most souerain blessednes Lyke as he had be master of fortune To solow his lustes and aye therin contune He waxt ryght fatte and right corcious And his eyen gan darke of his syght That vnneth this man most vycious Ne myght not well beholde the dayes light And of malyce thys tyrant agayne right With helpe of robbers of false foreyns Slough of his citte nye all the citâ—zeyns His vycious lyfe in order to rehearce Were contagious to the audience His extort pillages done in Grece Perce For to write or tell them in sentence Would infect the ayre with pestilence But I wyll briefelye remember and discriue The sacrileges whyche he dyd in hys lyue In Venus temple besyde Cytheron A great number of women he dyd call Fâ—ll well beâ—eue and by oppression He made his meyny vnwarely on theÌ„ fall Dispoyled them so that one and all By hys outrage and frowarde vyolence They naked stode echone in his presence And whan he sawe their shape and feytures He suche chose out as were to his pleasaunce Robbed the other and toke their vestures And let them go without ordinaunce And for this vncouth abhominable chaunce Their city Loâ—roys arose w t stronge hande For hys outrage banished hym their lande An other tyme also he dyd soiourne Wythin the temple lyke as it is tolde Of Jupiter sonne vnto Saturne There beholdyng his relykes manifolde Sawe among other a mantyll large of gold Wherupon whan he cast hys loke That ryche iewel vnto his vse he toke And thus he sayde him selfe to excuse It was to heauy and to comerous In somer season that mantyll for to vse Bicause it was to large and poâ—derous And ouermore he aledged for hym thus Sythe the garment forged was of golde For wynter season how it was to colde And whan he gan away thys mantel pulle Than ryght anone thys tyrant deceyuable Gaue hym another single made of wulle Affirmed sothely it was more conuenable To other season more meâ—e and agreable CoÌ„cludyng thus for somer it was â—yght And warme for wynter in the colde nyght An other tyme this tyrant eke also Whiche was of hart most auaricious Entred ones the temple of Appollo And of his sonne Esculapius And whan this tyrant fell and contrarious Beheide Appollo beardles that was olde And Esculapius with a long bearde of golde Quod Dionis than as semeth vnto me Here is a straunge froward coÌ„uenience That the father beardles should be The sonne bearded standyng in his presence Made anone by sturdy vyolence To take away the bearde which in his syght Of most fyne golde shone so clere and bright Through Grece Perce where he did gone In all the temples this was his vsaunce The stately relyques wyth many ryche stone And massy tables of full great substaunce To take them all that were to hys pleasauÌ„ce He spared none thus liuynge lyke a thefe Til he
aduersite And for his wordes of great authorite His noble langage and his fayre eloquence The people had him in ful great reuerence And for they were manly and coragious Able to assemble bothe plate and mayle He made them rise agaynst Antigonus By theyr prowes with hym to haue batayle But of fortune hys party gan to fayle Wher thilke people the story telleth thus Had afore ben full victorious Antigonus hath the felde recured That day his knightes fought lyke wodelyons In furious tene of hys corage assured Brake theyr tentes and pauilions Spoiled their castels robbed their dâ—geons Where that countre vnwarely thus affrayed Had neuer afore in batayle ben outrayed And of dispite this people recheles Caught in their hert great indignation Agayne their prynce this sayd Eumenides Which had theÌ„ brought to their destruction And all the people of one opinion Presented him it was nat after longe To Antigonus bounde in chaynes strong In this proces brefely to procede At great mischefehe dyed in prysone He found no mercy playnly as I rede For all his noblesse nor hys hye renoune Yet of hys manhode made is mencion Who that story lyst to loke aryght With Alysander there was no better knight In hys conquest euery hour and space He was most cheryshed for hys hye noblesse Aboue all other stode most in his grace To helpe and releue folke in their distresse All be that he dyed in wretchednesse To vs declaryng the great variaunces That all daye fall in fortunes chaunces ¶ Lenuoye THys tragedy of duke Eumenides She weth of fortune y e great doublenes How worldly princes that ben recheles With vnware chaunges fall into distresse And there may be no greater heuynesse After prosperite nor greater payne Than aduersite which that is sodayne Greatest enuy where is greatest preace Greatest awayte where is most rychesse And greatest ease where is rest and peace Where most discorde most is heuynesse And of all sorow sorow fullest excesse Is thylke sorow y â— dothe a man constrayne After prosperite with aduersite sodayne Princes in erthe of power peerles Which excelled all other in noblesse Had in this worlde by coÌ„quest most encrees As Alysander the story bereth wytnesse RemeÌ„bre the fyne of all theyr hye prowesse And the triuÌ„phes to which they dyd attayne After prosperite aduersite sodayne The strong enheritours which y t he out chees Sixe thirty the nombre to expresse Whiche hadde possession of kyngdoms doutles Eche thyng obeying to their worthynesse Tyl fortune through her wunted doublenesse Shewed her myght vnwarely to ordayne After prosperite aduersite sodayne Noble prynces to auoyde all disencrees Amonge your selues discordes to represse Be nat enuyous nor yrous causeles Worke nothyng of hasty wylfulnesse Let discretion be your gouerneresse For there must folow yf ye parte on twayne After prosperite aduersite sodayne The .xiiii. Chapiter ⧠Howe Queene Olympiades for she delyted in vyces murdre and vengeaunce dyed at mischefe NExt in order to Bochas dyd appere After the mischefe of Eumenides The great quene w t a full pitous chere Mother of Alysander Olympiades Borne of the lyne of Gaades Amonge quenes her story bereth wytnesse Excelled all other in beauty and rychesse She was doughter to Neoptolomus The mighty kyng of Epirothes And had suspecte how Neptanabus By enchauntment put hym selfe in prees Of wifely trouth to make her recheles But Bochas here for to saue her name Writeth but lytle of her disclaunderous fame This sayd quene right fayre of her visage Was first brought forth in thylke regions Where all the worthy of blode and of lynage Helde theyr scepters and their ryche crouns Through all Grece with full possessions So that this quene that tyme nere and farre Was of beaute called the lode starre But among al her great prosperitees Her youth flowig in most souerayne noblesse Her ioye was meddled w t great aduersitees Whan Philip Maredo in her great heuinesse Was mortally wounded in distresse In Cythia by a certayne nation Called Triboloys as made is mencion For in that countre vpon a certayne day Where as he faught and dyd hys best payne To gette a cite and at a siege lay And for thassaute dyd his stuffe ordayne He lost vnwarely one of his eyen twayne That whan the quene behelde hys wounde For sorow she fell platte vnto the grounde Another thyng bokes specifye Troubled her fame by great heuynesse The suspecte sclaunder of aduoutry Wrought by Neptauabus enchauntyng her fayrenes The light eciipsyng of hie nobles By swifte report for to hynder her name What flieth more swifte then wicked fame In womanhede as authours all wryte Most thing coÌ„mended is theyr chast honeste Thyng moste sclaundrous their nobles to atwite Is whan princesses of hasty freeite Excede the boundes of wifely chastyte For what auayleth linage or royall bloode Whan of theyr liuyng y e reporte is nat goode The holy bedde defoyled of maryage Or ones soyled may nat recured be The voyce goth forth the froward langage By many realmes and many a great cite Sclaunder hath a custome and that is pite Crew outher false by contagious sowne Ones reysed it goth nat lyghtly downe And to more hindryng of Olympiades Philippe away dyd from her deciyne And of the kyng of Epyrothes The wyfe he toke to hys concubine Called Cleopatra playnely to termine And thus in myschefe tencrease of her trouble Their false aduoutrie gan to wexe double Of this proces write wyll I no more Cause the matter is abhominable For kyng Philip the bargayne bought sore As is remembred by cronicles ful notable Slayne on a day syttyng at hys table Full sodaynly or he toke any hede Pausanias dyd that cruell dede Of which slaughter folowed a strange case As ye haue herde by Pausanias wrought Olympiades full glad and mery was Heuy outwarde her heart voyde of thought Yet faynyngly she hath wayes out sought For hym to holde solempne and royall Lyke Grekes rightes a feast funerall After whose dethe wrought of great cruelte Kyng Alysander made no lenger let Made Pansonias taken for to be And to be hanged vpon an hye gybet Vpon whose head there was a crowneset Of golde and peerle and riche stones Inde By Olympiades in story as I fynde For he stode greatly in the quenes grace And as folke dempt of suspection They met together in many priuy place Which greatly tourned to her confusion For noyse arose through all that region That by thoccasion of theyr mislyuyng How Pausanias slough Philyp the kyng But she anone in her malice feruent Fro the gybet made hym to be take doun Made his body solempnely to be brent Kept his exequies with great oblatâ—on After the ryghtes of that region Nat left behinde in partie nor in all That appertayned to feastes funerall Vpon kynge Philyp as it were for the nones To do her lorde a shame or a despyte Solempnely she made brenne the bones Of Pausanias for a false appetite Vnto no man she had so great
their manhode in actes marciall Assigned were by diligent busines To wayte and kepe in especiall Vpon the maiestye in his estate royall Of Alexander for trust as chamberlayns Agayn the assault drede of all forayns After whose death for singuler guerdone Made prefect bothe they were in dede As ye haue heard that one in Babilone The other in Bactry the story ye may rede Yet in quiete they might hem not succede For Seleuchus gan a warre ayen theÌ„ make That they wer fayn their lordships to forsake ¶ The .xviii. Chapter ⧠Howe Sandrocottus borne of lowe degre cherished robbers and theues OTher prefectes there were also I fynde Whiche held the people in ful great seruage In Macedone and in other Inde Tyll Sandrocottus a man of lowe lynage Cast he would redresse their outrage Of entent pore people to restore To their fraunchises y t playned on them sore Sandrocottus auctour of this workyng Behight the people throughout all couÌ„treys Whan he by sleight was crowned kyng Them to restore to their olde liberties But whan he had receyued these dignities All his behestes made with a fayre vysage Turned after to thraldom and seruage Thus whan a wretche is set in high estate Or a begger brought vp to dignitie There is none so proud so poÌ„pous nor elate None so vengeable nor so full of crueltie Voyde of discrecion mercy and pitie For churlyshe bloude selde dothe recure To be gentle by way of his nature He may dissimule and for a tyme fayne Counterfayte with a fayre vysage Out of one hode shew faces twayne Contrary of hart double of his langage Styll of hys porte smothe of his passage Vnder floures lyke a serpent dare Till he may stynge than will not spare And euer like of his condicions Was Sandrocottus set vp in hye estate Vexed people and troubled regions Set cities and townes at great debate Whose gouernaunce was infortunate As it was sene and founde at all preues Cherished no man but robbers theues And to declare how he caught hardines And occasion people to gouerne By a pronostike whiche I shall expresse Ryght marueylous vncouthe to discerne Whiche was this as I shall tell as yerne Right wonderful vncouth for to heare And it was this if ye lyst to lere There was a man called Procatales Borne in Inde whiche of his liuyng Was wonders pore came but selde in prees Because he had trespaced in one thing Agayne VenaÌ„drus y â— was that time king CoÌ„maundyng to slea hym anonryght But he escaped the story sayth by flyght God had geuen him of fete swyftnes By meane wherof he saued him fro daungere Through long trauayle fyll in werynes And refreshed him beside a well clere He lay slepyng that face and all his chere Dropped of swette a lyon came foreby And licked hys face as sayth the story With whiche affray the man anone awoke And sodaynly lyft vp his vysage The lyon rose softly and the way toke Towarde the forest did him no domage Forgate his felnesse and his cruell rage Of whiche pronostyke gan the occasion Wherof Sandrocottus toke an opinion Cast and thought in his fantasy Syth that the Lyon is beast most royall Whiche not disdayned him selfe to apply To licke the face of a man rurall In his nature to shewe him beastiall He dempt well that it was sittyng To take on hym the estate of a kyng His opinion of reason was right nought For where the Lyon left his crueltie He coutrary wext proud in hert and thought Voyde of mercy barrayne of pitie For whan that he was set in dignitie Brought from a wretche to domination Agayne nature he played the lyon Sum time a lyon forgetteth all felnesse Where as a woulfe wyll naturally deuour So royall bloude hath ruthe by gentlenes On pore playnufes to helpe theÌ„ succour Where as a tyrant dothe naturally labour Whan he hath power catchyng auauntage To robbe subiectes and spoyle theÌ„ by pillage Sandrocottus thus borne of lowe kynrede In hye estate by fortune whan he stode Gan make him stronge vengeable in dede With number of robbers furious and wode Cast him to destroy all the gentle bloude That was in Inde and by his ordinaunce To stea al the prefectes that had gouernauÌ„ce And w t the coÌ„mons when he was made stroÌ„g And gan the maner of their death deuise Like a false tyrant although he did wrong Agayne his lordes whan he gan aryse An Oliphant came in full vncouth wise Him obeyed which was a great wonder Whan their battayls were not farre asunder Though he was wild the story saith y e same Sandrocottus lept vpon his syde And on hys backe as on a beast tame Toward the battayle anone he gan to â—yde Was their captayne that day and their gyde With his robbers as it is made mynde Slew al the prefectes geÌ„tle bloud of Inde The .xix. Chapiter ☞ How Seleuchus the myghty prynce was slaine by the great Tholome kyng of Egypt THen came Seleuchus to Bochas complaynyng A myghtye Prynce and a manlye knyght Sonne of Antiochus the famous kyng Was most fauoured in Alexanders syght Whiche Seleuchus for wisdome for might Borne of a prynces the cronicle ye may sene Called Leodice the great famous quene The byrth of him straunge marueylons For his mother vpon the same nyght That she coÌ„ceyued drempt thought thus As it semed playnely in her sight Of great Appollo the heueÌ„ly god most bright How she the tyme of her conceyuynge Receyued that night of golde a riche ryng In whyche rynge was set a precious stone Yeue vnto her for a great guerdon Graue w t anker her coÌ„maunding anone After the byrthe without dylacion To yeue the rynge of whole affection To Seleuchus wherby in especiall He should excell in actes marciall The same morow after the childe was borne Within her bed was founde a riche ryng Wyth all the tokens rehearsed here toforne The anker graue like in euery thing Whiche that the quene toke in her kepyng And of entent for her auauntage Kept it secrete tyll he came to age Another maruayle fyll also withall This Seleuchus which was a woÌ„der thing Had enprynted eke in speciall Vpon hys thygh an anker and a ryng So had all by recorde of writyng Suche carectes the story doth determyne That after him were borne of that lyne When Seleuchus as made is mencion The tender yeres had of his age ronne And came to yeres of discrecion He by this rynge ful many land hath wonne Whose knightly fame shone shene as y â— sonne He well aduised hardy of great myght Time of Alexander hold one the best knight In warre and armes he his time hath spent Brought all Inde to subiection Gate all the kingdomes nye of the Orient Helde them longe in his possession But here alas Bochas maketh mencion All his victories that did in honour shyne With sodaine chaunge were turned to ruyne For whan Seleuchus was most vyctorious Had
dronke myghty wynes To fyll their paūches they were so desyrous That they forgate their marciall doctrines To ascēd y ◠moūtayne feble were their chines Their heades totter their braine gan faile The temple aloft to spoyle or to assayle In their assending by wayes that they chees Vpon the roche they were beat doune Priestes of the temple put thē selues in prees One bare a standard another a penoune Clad in chesibles for hye deuocion And with their other vncouth apparayles Bothe on the roche lowe in their battayles The people of Brennus was incomperable Spred all the felde the story beareth witnes But it is sayd of olde and is no fable That no defence is in dronkennes And wisdome fayleth where is greate excesse And in a felde playnly to conclude Victory alwayes standeth not in multitude For they were set as Bochas dothe deuise Not to knighthode but to false outrage To spoyle and robbe by gredy couetise And stuffe their somters with great pillage Furious rauine hath brought thē in a rage And farewell knighthode marciall noblesse Where couetise is lady and maistresse Two mighty dukes were with Brennus Whiche that were chefe of his counsayle Euridanus that one that other Thessalonus Which as they thought to their great auaile Began a purpose and it was disauayle To robbe the people the countrey ech toun Whiche turned after to their confusion Thus auarice w t stomake vnstaūcheable Hath strāgled y ◠power of many a worthy knight And couetise her sister vntretable Hath of high nobles full oft quaint the lyght Wher Tātalus raigneth a lion hath no might This to meane honger and couetousnes Turneth all nobles into cowardnes For by the counsayle of these dukes twayne Brennus set all his opinion To spoyle and robbe dyd his busy payne To pyll the cities of all that region But in this while as made is mencion Myd their battayles Bochas dothe me lere The God Appollo and Pallas did appere Appollo first shewed his presence Freshe yonge lusty as any sunne shene Armed all with golde with great vyolence Entred the felde as it was well sene And Diana came with her arowes kene And Mynerua in a bright haberion Which in their cōminge made a terible soun The noyse was herd of their bright armure Which made their enemyes almost to raue That they might afore them not endure Fled the felde for drede them selfe to saue And there was herde an hidous erthquaue And from heauen in this mortal batayle Of colde constreyning great stones do hayle Their aduersaries beate downe grounded And afore them durst not abide And Brennus so mortally was wounded Both brest heed hurt through eyther syde Lo here the ende of couetise and pride For Brennus for constraynt of his smert Roue with a dagger him selfe to the herte This was his ende vēgeable merueylous And his dukes slayne both twayne Called Euridanus and Thessalonus The grekish goddes gan at him so disdayne Of sacrilege se here the greuous payne For to goddes who lyst do no obseruaunce Shall vnwarly be punished wyth vēgeaūce It is not holsome with goddes to play Nor their puissaunce presūptously to attame For where as they by vengeaūce lyst werray who lyst assay shall fynde it no game For his presūpcion Brennus founde the same For Appollo Diana and Mynerue For his outrage vnwarly made hym sterue ⧠Lenuoye THis tragedy declareth who lyst here Of duke Brennus many great batayle His extorte conquest and holy the maner Howe by force he rode through al Itayle After how he the Romayns dyd assaile His fall in Grece by vengeable violence For he to goddes would do no reuerence Toke al the treasours iuels most entere Out of their temples and richest apparayle Golde and perle and al that yfere To his encrease whych that myght auayle The rich he robbed oppressed the porayle Of verye pompe and frowarde insolence And lyst to goddes do no reuerence This mighty tiraūt most surquedous of chere With couetyse brent in hys entrayle Whose gredy fret ther might no mesure stere Tyll that fortune at mischefe dyd hym fayle He lacked might her variant whele to nayle Agayne whose fall there was no resistence For he to goddes lyst do no reuerence Noble prynces conceyue and do lere The fall of Brennus for misgouernayle And prudently paysyng thys matere Vertue is strōger than outher plate or maile Afore considred what Brennus doth coūsayle Chefe preseruatyfe of your magnificence Is to god to do due reuerence The .xxiiii. Chapter ⧠Howe Pyrrus kynge of Pyrothe lyst nat lyue in peace but of pryde and presumption in warre came vnto mischaunce IN Bochas boke next folowīg on y ◠rig Came yong Pirrus sonne of Earides Borne by discent to reigne be kyng And to enherite the lande of Pyrothes Yet in his youth and his tender encrees The frowarde people dwellynge in y ◠place Without his gylte gan his dethe purchace But to preserue hym as made is mencion He was committed and take in kepyng Certayne yeres for hys sauacion To one Glaucus of Illirie king Whose wife was cosyn by record of writing To the sayde famous Earides And she in story called Beronices He nye of blode to thys noble queene Bothe twayne borne of one lynage Wonder gracious to all that did him sene And well fauoured of fetures and visage And in the whyle of his tender age One Cassander of Macedone kyng Compassed his deth by subtel false workyng And his purpose for to bryng aboute He sent for hym by false collusion Puttyng Glaucus playnlye out of doute But yf he came lyke hys entencion He wolde worke to hys destruction Gather people bothe nye and farre And on Glaucus gyn a mortall warre But kyng Glaucus toke herof no hede Hauyng to Pyrrus so great affection Of him receyued verely in dede To be his sonne by adoption Purposyng of whole entencion To make Pyrrus plainly if he may To be his heyre and raigne after his day Pyrrus alway vp growyng by encrees Full amiable bothe of there and face And in this while the people of Pyrothes Knowyng that he stode in Glaucus grace Chaunged their hartes cast thē in short space For to restore all of one courage The sayd Pyrrus to his heritage Thus by assent he was crowned kyng Yonge freshe and lusty semely ther withal Wonders well thewed in his vp growyng Like his lynage of courage wext royall The whiche was cause in especiall He was beloued offrendes about And of his enemyes greatly had in doubt The name of him gan to sprede farre Through all Grece about in eche countrey The lande of Tarent gan in his tyme warre Agayne the Romaynes as ye may se Requiryng Pyrrus that he woulde be Fauourable and helpyng of entent To the party of them of Tarent To their request he can condiscende And of purpose cast him not to fayle If that fortune woulde him grace sende With myghty hande marciall apparayle For
mariage y t he myght vnderfonge In his diyng to set a fynall peace Twene these .ii. realmes for their both ēcrece After whose death thus the matter stode Quene Arcynoe most subtyll in workyng Agayne this matter so cruell was and wode Maryed her daughter w t out more lettyng Called Beronices agaynst the biddyng Of her father that called was Agas As heretofore rehearsed is the caas She maried her to one Demetrius That brother was by Bochas rehearsynge Vnto the mighty great Antygonus Beyng in Grece of Macedoyne kyng But infortunate was she after her weddyng As in this story suyng ye shall se By the false workyng of quene Arcynoe And to conclude shortly this mattere Whan thys quene this double Arcynoe Sawe of Demetrius the vysage the there His loke his coloure his langage beautie His manly port and his liberalitie She was enamored of fleshly pleasaunce Lyke her desyre to haue his acquayntaūce Of her nature she was most lecherous And of her frowarde inclination She brought about that Demetrius Assented was by her suggestion For to accomplish lyke her opinion All her desyres of fleashly appetite Thus of accorde there folowed their delite Lefte his wyfe called Beronices The quenes doughter agayne all ryght In a place secret out of prees They lay together almost euery nyght Takyng no hede of god nor of no wyght Tyll of fortune the case is so befall That he was hated of hys knyghtes all Dispyte they had of Arcynoe The dede horrible whan they dede espy Hys wyfe Beronices eke whan she dyd se Holy the maner of theyr ribaudry In heart she caught a great melancoly Ordayned knightes in stele armed bryght In their aduoutry to take them on a nyght Lying a bedde slept and toke no kepe After false lustes whiche they had vsed They fel vp on them whyle they dyd slepe The dede open myght nat be excused To all the worlde thus they were accused With swordes draw y ◠knyghtes thilke night To slee thē both were purposed anone right Out on Beronices cryeth John Bochas Because she badde spare Arcynoe Grounde gynnyng of this horrible caas Sayth her mercy was very cruelte To saue suche one it was a false pite As sayth myne auctour a thyng cōtrarious Her to preserue and slee Demetrius O Beronices small is thy discretion To saue the quene y ◠hath the treason founde First to Demetrius she gaue occasion For which she shuld haue had the first woūde Take for them bothe and in cheynes bounde And after that thys false Arcynoe To example of other shuld haue punished be And whyle they were taken thus in close The sayd Arcynoe made no delay But fro her bedde anone she vp rose Without clothes naked as she lay Ran to their swordes in all theyr gret affray Went atwene them dyd her busy payne To beare of strokes with her armes twayne To saue Demetrius naked as she stode Voyde of all drede dyd her busy cure Her whyte body all bespreynt with blode Gan to cry out on euery creature Alas quod she let me alone endure Deth by my selfe ye be to dispitous To saue my lyfe and slee Demetrius To the erthe anone she fyll adowne To stande vpryght she might nat sustene Deed pale wan with many pitous sowne Dethe of Demetrius gan wofullye bemene Embrasyng him with all his woūdes grene And in her armes albe that he laye deed She kyssed his mouth blew nothyng reed In sorow cōplaynt thus she made an ende I write no more of thys Arcynoe But to Beronices agayne I wyl now wēde For Bochas sayeth in the story ye maye se She after wedded was to worthy Tholome Like as it was her fathers first entent When y ◠he dyed and made his testament ☞ Thus endeth the fourth boke and hereafter foloweth the fyfte Here Bochas vvryteth agaynste them that delyte in beaute and semelynesse callyng to purpose howe a man borne in Tuscan whiche excelled in beaute and fayrnesse and for hys beaute should nat geue other occasion to synne he disfigured hys visage and body wyth manye a great wounde and spotte The first Chapter HEre Bochas scorneth hath disdayne Of thre maner of folke he dyd se In this worlde whiche that in certayne Set at theyr ioy and all their felicite For to excell in fayrenesse and beaute Nat withstandyng as ye well tell can It hath vndone full many a worthy man Recorde he taketh of Demetrius Which in his tyme was fayrest in certeyne Which caused hym to be contrarious To al vertue his story ye haue seyne But of tho folke Bochas hath most disdeyne That busy ben to conquere and recure Beaute by craft which cometh nat of nature The thirde is he y t grutcheth agayne kynde For lacke of stature and of semelynesse And all these thre ben ignoraunt and blynde And agayne reason their corages they dresse Yet aboue beaute vertue is maystresse And lytle worthe is fayrnesse in certeyne In a person where no vertue is seyne Vnto purpose he telleth of a man That excelled all other in fayrenesse Called Spurnia borne was in Tuscan And folke had ioye and great gladnesse To beholde hym for his semelynesse Whose beaute brought women in dotage When they cast her loke on hys vysage Wyues maydens dwellyng in that countre Presed fast on hym to beholde By theccasion of hys great beaute Nat onelye yonge but some that were olde Wyth loues axcesse nowe were they hote nowe colde Thus was hys beaute to many a creature Founde in effecte a perylous lure Husbandes olde caught a fantasy And had a maner suspection Styred by the serpent of false Jelosye Towarde Spurnia as made is mencion But for to auoyde all cruell occasion Of any people that suche malyce thought Ye shall here howe wysely that he wrought To put awaye false dylectacion And all occasions of Cupides rage He of prudence and discretion With many wounde diffaced hys vysage For he dempt it was great domage That by thenchesen of excellent beaute Any creature hyndred shoulde be Philosophers and poetes that were wyse Gaue vnto hym a great commendation That he coude so notably deuyse To fynde a waye within hys reason To set asyde all occasion Of suche vnlefull fleshlye fantasye That might styre women vnto lecherye He knewe afore and saw by experience That all beaute shall waste away and fade Lyke somer flours in theyr moste excellence That growe on hylles or belowe in shade The rose the lyllye whan they be most glade Vpon theyr stalkes theyr prefe is dayly seyne Been beten downe with a stormye reyne And semblably in euery creature Of lowe degre or of hye estate Beauty abideth nat nor lenger doth endure Than youthes ceson w t age is ful checkmate Who thinketh hereon I holde hym fortunate And can afore in his reason caste No worldly beauty in erth mai alway laste ¶ Lenuoye YE worldlye folke that reioyse in beaute Se with the eyen of your aduertence
Howe with a smale sodayne infirmite When deth age lyst she we theyr presence Disdayne al freshnes with vnware violence Agayne whose might there is no other grace Processe of yeres all beaute doth deface Though Demetrius was fayre vpon to se As ye haue herde rehearsed in sentence Gayne law and ryght he loued Arcynoe Thoccasion founde by her false insolence Bycause reason made no resistence Nat aduertyng how euery hour and space Processe of yeres all beaute doth difface Full horrible was their iniquite And tofore god hatefull their offence For through false lust and sensualite Lost was the bridell of inwarde prouidence Sharpe mortal sworde made y e recompence Drowned in teres whan she dyd hi embrace With blody woundes disfigured all hys face O noble prynces let thys story be A clere myrrour to your magnificence Therein considred the false fragilite Of worldly fayrnes which is but apparence And transitory but so be that prudence Gouerne the passage vicious lust to enchace Processe of yeres all beaute dothe difface The .ii. Chapter ¶ Howe the two brethren Seleuchus and Autiochus eche desyrous to excell other fyll at discorde and ended in mischefe THere is no man that can in story rede Of more mischefe nor of more debate Than of debate that is atwene kinrede Twene blode blod gayne kide infortunate Namely in persons whiche ben of hye estate As it fyll ones the story beareth recorde Atwene two brethren that were at discorde That one Seleuchus Antiochus the other As the story hereafter shall deuy se Eche desyrous for to excell other In worldly worshyp wonderly they were wyse And both blent by worldly couetyse For to clymbe vp to hye estate Whiche caused them to be at debate Both mighty kinges Bochas maketh mâ—cioÌ„ And of one wombe sothlye they were borne Vnder a cursed fell constellacion Of frowarde sede may grow no good corne And through couetyse bothe they were lorne And distroyed by the mortall werre That was atwene them in Asie nye ferre It is to me verye contagyous To rede the batayles and discencions The false promyses of Antiochus With the disceytes and conspirations Bretherne of byrth and of condicions Contrarious wayes euer they dyd wende Frowardly they began so made an ende Their mother was called Leodices And in Asya Seleuchus was reignyng Euer in werre coude nat lyue in pees And in Surry Antiochus was kyng And among robbers they made theyr ending Where euer they fought in wronge or ryght Neuer they bode but toke them to flyght Though Seleuchus was at his gynnyng Shynyng in glory and in hye prowesse And of Asya he was lorde and kyng With great diffame was derked his noblesse Bycause that he of great vnkyndnesse Ful falsely slewe without iudgement Hys yonger brother that was innocent And by the byddyng of Leodices Which was his mother of hatefull cruelte Falsely to murdre the quene Beronices Wife to the kyng called Tholome Reygnyng in Egipt but it stode so that he For all his power fayled of hys pray Bycause that she was ware fled away Yet afterwarde of olde hate and enuy This Seleuchus by full false treason Murdred Beronices by conspiracy Her sonne also as made is mencion The sclaundre arose through many a region And was reported vnto hys diffame Wherthrough he lost his worship his name And on thys murder auenged for to be For the horrible great abusion The kyng of Egypt the sayde Tholome Gan make him strong came w t people doun But for there was so great discention Through al his land the story saith certayne He was constrained to returne home agayne Seleuchus than made a stronge armee Gathered shyppes stuffed them w t vytayle Towarde Asye he taken hath the see But suche tempest gan hys people assayle That hertes and power of them gan fayle w t thundring lightning veÌ„geably distrained To take the land of nede he was constrained The people of Asye seyng thys mischefe Had of Seleuchus great compassion And their succour to set at a prefe They hym receyued into that region Though it stode as made is mencion That aforetyme for hys cruell dede They had his person in full great hatrede And for he fonde fortune fauourable Nat considryng her mutabilite He cast of rancour for to be vengeable And gyn a werre agayne Tholome His men outrayed he was constrayned to fle Knewe no refute nor succour of none other But for great mischefe sent to hys brother I meane hys brother called Antiochus Behestyng him for to crowne hym kyng Of all Asye hys story telleth thus Toke truse thys whyle by subtyll false workyng With Tholome for ten yere enduryng And when his brother came with his powere Falsed his promise double of hert and chere Thus of newe they fyll at debate Eche gan other myghtely werray False couetise to encreace theyr estate Caused that nouther lyst other to obay Met in a felde there is no more to say Fought haÌ„de for hande their hostes both two Seleuchus fled as he was wente to do Thus a false werre of hatred fraternall Agayne nature set them at discorde Eche busy was in especiall As their story remembreth by recorde Neuer their lyfe to be at one accorde But whaÌ„ Seleuchus was put thus to flight The people of Surry gan deme anonryght That he that day was outher take or dede And Gallougreis a people of great poste Of Couetyse gan hast them in great spede To entre Asye and spoyle all that countre To Antiochus they had eke enmyte That he was fayne for hys fauacion To pay to them a full great raunsom Their heart was yeue onely to pyllage Takyng of hym of golde a great quantite And he seyng of robbyng the outrage Drew to the pyllours one of them was he And through al Asye they robbed eche couÌ„tre For Seleuchus they gan so purchace That he nat durst abide in no place Than Antiochus drewe to Tholome Voyde of saueconduyte or any assuraunce Though y t atwene them was great enmyte For a season as made is remembraunce To haue founde succour in his gret greuauÌ„ce But all for nought for in conclusion Tholome hym toke and cast in derke prison There constrayned of necessite Knowyng no meane to make his raunson By a woman that lyued in pouerte He was holpe out of that derke prison Lo here of fortune a false condicion That coude make a kyng without pere Of a woman to stande in daungere To proude folke this maye be a myrour To se a prynce thus sodaynly brought lowe That shone in ryches lyke an emperour Which of disdayne lyst no man to knowe Now is he cast nowe is he ouerthrowe Now hath he cause to plain wepe mourne Knowyng no frende for succour him to turne He was aferde to holde hys passage By hye wayes or for to come in syght Fyll amonge theues they by great outrage All mercylesse slew hym anone ryght And his brother for all his great myght
saylyng home towarde his region In a shyp stuffed of their countre Of false enuy they cast him in the see To his noblesse and famous chiualry Whan he of knighthod sate hiest i his flours They of Cartage by hatred enuy Maligned agayne hym chefe sun of their socours Taclipsed his lyght but theragayn auctours Haue by writyng perpetually set his name And it regestred in the house of fame The .vii. Chapter ☞ How Marcus Regulus of hys freewyll dyed for the common wele WHo can tell or reherse the grounde of werres The fyrst cause of suche mortall outrage Whether it began by influence of sterres Twene man and man or of wylfull rage Atwene Romayns and folkes of Cartage To great hyndryng consydred the manere Of both parties as Bochas doth vs lere Italiens therwith were greued oft Namely whan fortune was theyr aduersary And Affricans felt full vnsoft Whan she to them lyst be contrary Whose course of custome stouÌ„dmeale doth vary By experience it hath be proued wele In y e ouerwhelmynge of her vntrusty whele The most worthy and the most famous Afore remembred vpon eche party Fortune to day made them victorious And to morow she dyd theyr myght defye Now vp nowe downe all stode in ieoperdy Lyke as she lyst them fauour nye or ferre Their losse wining called fortune of werre To some well wylled happy and eurous To some also full straunge of acquayntauÌ„ce Reken amonge other Marcus Regulus On Romayne partye a Prynce of great substaunce To be preferred and put in remembraunce One the most worthy true founde in dede Of knyghtly policy that I can of rede To common profit was aye his aduertence Twene loue and hate standyng so vpryght To nouther syde declyned the balaunce Of his domes for fauour of no wyght Tyll that the eye of hys inwarde syght Conceyued had where the trouth stode Than gaue he sentence and theron he abode In all this world ther was no better knight Better named and borne of good linage A semely person delyuer of great might Hardy as Lyon right manly of visage Wal of Romains sharpe yarde to Cartage Demure nat hasty seynge all thyng toforne And in Papinia I fynde that he was borne And for he had so great discretion This worthye knyght thys Marcus Regulus Chosen he was a Consul of the toun And had a felow called Manlius In armes manly wyse and vertuous Whiche for theyr notable hye constaunce Of Romayne werres had the gouernaunce Theyr shyppes stuffed made a great armye Full prudently with knightly apparayle These princes twayne taken haue the see First with Ciciliens had a great batayle Discomfited them at their arriuayle Outrayed Amylchar the story is no fable That was of Affrike capitayne constable Wan in that countre castels many one Toke prisoners stuffe and great rychesse And all that party to Rome he sent anone By Manlius the story beareth witnesse And the Romayns for his worthynesse All of assent because he was so wyse Prolonged haue the terme of hys offyâ—e Of knyghtly noblesse was none to hym lyke Nouther in armes nor politike ordinaunce And for the conquest of Cartage and Affrike To hym they gaue whole the gouernaunce Brought cities townes to the obeysaunce Of the Romayns thys noble worthy knyght Wher euer he rode maugre their foes myght By his faythfull laborous dilygence Gate all the countreys to Cartage toun Tyll tidynges came vnto hys presence Besyde a ryuer there was a great dragon So horrible as made is mencion That al y â— countre of him stode in such doute No man durst neygh hym ferre aboute An hundred fote twayne was hys length Lyke as writeth Tytus Liuius Was none so hardy man nor of suche strength That durste approche he was so venomous But by the manhode of Marcus Regulus Slayne was this monstrous serpent And for a maruayle the skinne to Rome sent Thus in conquest whyle he dyd his payne To get castels myghty stronge towns Agayne hym were sent Asdruballes twayne Called of Affrike the hardy champions With al the power of their regions But as the story maketh rehersayle They were discomfited in battayle Amylchar after came with speare shelde In defence of Affrike and Cartage And he was also distroyed in the felde With all his host maugre his visage Thus Marcus hadde alwaye the vauntage Making y â— Romains this knyght vertuous Through his prowesse to be victorious And where that he in hys tender age Lyst do labour and tyll his owne lande For exercise and vertuous auauntage To hold the plough lede it with his hande Auoyding slouth as ye shall vnderstande Now through Affrike w t many noble knight In stele and mayle he rydeth armed bryght Thus noble Marke what euer he had ado He was in armes souerayne singulere And in the temple at Rome of Appollo For him was kept a crowne of fresh laurere Forged of golde fret ful of stones clere And in the temple of Ioue was reserued A robe of victory which he hath deserued To these goddes who can consider well Of olde custome the ryghtes to mayntene As for a thyng beyng perpetuell Which fadeth neuer of nature thus I mene Ysacred is the freshe laurere grene For causes twayne grauÌ„ted to conquerours In marcial actes by coÌ„quest made victours For the noblesse of this tre diuine Sheweth his odour in wisdome excellence By the grenesse whiche neuer dothe declyne Longe abydyng of vertuous prudence The rounde crowne betokeneth prouidence In signe onely of knyghtly gouernaunce Taketh his guerdon of longe continuaunce Their strength grauÌ„ted them nat the crowne Nor a proude ginninge stablysheth nat theyr But perseueraÌ„ce who list muse roun Graunteth to them and putteth in memory glory The triumphe and palme of theyr victory The crowne of laurer in story it is tolde And of Jupiter the ryche crowne of golde Who can discerne of all these gyftes thre Most appertayneth vnto chyualry Manly prowesse wisdome anone let se Strength hardynesse conquest and policy For the Romans caught a fantasy For his merites notable and glorious To magnifie this Marcus Regulus For this Marcus durynge his lusty yeres Prince of y â— werres gayn Affrike Cartage Toke all their yonge knightes prisoneres Sent them to Rome for common auauÌ„tage But o alas whan he was fall in age The gery goddesse among her chaunges all Agayne thys prince her fauoure dyd appall For to withstand the prowesse of this knyght In helpe of Affrike as made is mencion Came zantipus of whom I spake now right A mighty duke the whiche was sent doun Fro Lacedemone which through his renoun Whan the power of Marchus gan to fayle His meyny slayne toke hym in battayle Into Cartage sent hym prysonere And there he lay in stronge chaynes bounde Lo how fortune chaunge gan her chere Falsest of truste whan she is most iocounde First fauourable after frowarde founde This is her maner with her double face Folke y t syt hyest to chauÌ„ge
thē fro their place For he that whylom had in subiection Almost all Affrike and Cartage the cite Now lyeth he bounde and fettred in pryson Whylom in glory now in aduersite Cast in misery from hye prosperite Fortunes be made who so loketh wele Of brotyll glasse rather than of stele Thys manly knight albe y ◠he laye chayned Whiche had brought Rome to so hye encrees That they of Affrike Cartage wer cōstrained Vnto Romains to pursue for a pees And for to accomplishe this matter doutles Vnder assuraunce made in Cartage toun They toke Marcus anone out of prison bound by his othe there is no more to sayne He to be chaunged for Affrike prisoneres There for to abyde they to come agayne The yong knightes fresh lusty of their cheres So that Marcus feble olde of yeres By Affricans were to Rome sent Bothe assured to accomplishe their entent For the Romains had in suche deynte This noble Marke for manhode prudence And for the furtheryng of theyr commonte They had his person for wisdom i reuerence Called in y ◠toun their wall theyr defence Had in more cheerte for knighthode in y t age Thā all their prisoners of Affrike Cartage Romayns greatly reioysed of his commyng And specially for his delyueraunce All at ones of hert and true meanyng Said welcome home our ioye and suffisaūce Welcome myrrour of knightly gouernaūce This was their voyce this was their langage At his repayre fro Affrike Cartage And thus was he receyued lyke to his estate And conueyed through all the cite Nobly presented vnto the Senate Began his tale anone as ye shall se As he that had more in cheerte The common profite than his deliueraunce Said vnto them these wordes in substaunce Syrs by the auyce of you echone present First by the estates next by the commonte As prince Consul to Affrike I was sent And as ye know seuen yere there I haue be To chastyse rebelles of that countre And by the fauour and helpe of gods myght To your citie haue quit me lyke a knyght In this matter it nedeth nat to tary Ye knowe your selfe I am now wexen olde And fortune is to me right contrary Whereby youre enemies in Affrike be made bolde And they desire me for to be solde In erchaunge by short conclusion For prisoners which they haue in the toun And by the fauour of goddes hye in heauen And by my felowes wyse mediacion Countreys prouynces more than syxe or seuen I haue in Affrike made subiect to this toun Maugre their myght and their rebellion And them constrayned lyke as ye desyre For to obay vnto your empyre To make your empyre more glorious And to encrease the boundes of your cite Whylom by grace I was victorious Vēquished your enemies wher I dyd thēse Nowe through fortunes mutabilite Made vnhappy and desolate of chere Somtime a prynce nowe a prysonere Afore my power by fortune was fraūchised Now am I thrall and fettred in pryson Myne olde triūphes be newly now disgysed And victories oppressed and borne doun With this considred the transmutacion Of youth passed and myne vnweldy age Lytle wonder though dull be my corage Yet ther is a thing y t draweth a lēgth my life Whiche in my hert hath set great gladnesse To your encreace howe this mortall stryfe By my labour and knightly busynesse The marciall prynces famous in worthynesse w t all the knightes most souerayn of renoun Sought through Affrike be in your pryson By whose absence febled is Cartage The coūtre pouerished brought to disencreace Seynge y t I am dull and fall in age Gayne Affricans to put my selfe in preace Causyng your enemies to pursue for peace By exchaunge of me y ◠may but small auayle For affrike knightes most expert in batayle They stande in hope of theyr delyueraunce By exchaunge of me now sent out of pryson Of entent to encrease theyr puysaunce Of new to gynne a werre vpon your toun Now take good hede in your discretion Payse of prudence this thing y t I haue tolde Theyr youth considred and howe I am olde I am consumed and weared in the werres Fortune contrary I febled to beare armour They lusty freshe their name spred farre is And in the felde they able to endure I vnweldy and lyke a creature More semely to draw home to my graue Than be armed this cite for to saue And in effecte I haue more cheerte Of very faythe without variaunce Vnto the profyte of your commonte Than to the matter of my delyueraunce Two thinges paysed and wayed in balaūce Of Affrike knyghtes expert worthynesse In me the constraynt of ages feblenesse And to conclude vpon thys matere I myght neuer as semeth vnto me As of knyghthode deserue the laurere Nor the triumphe in this famous cite Better than dye to encreace the commonte And thus auysed of heart and hole corage Yelde vp the spirite of my vnweldy age In this purpose he stedfast as a wall Of one wyll and one perseueraunce Him selfe commendyng to goddes immortal Chase for to dye of polytike constaunce And to preferre by notable purueyaunce The common profite this was his motyfe Set asyde his good his treasour his lyfe Right wel chered stable of his visage Of perfite loue he had vnto the toun He is repayred agayne vnto Cartage The articles kept and the condicion At the departyng from Affrike region This to say texplete their lust certayne Or prisoner he for to resorte agayne At his departyng the Romayne senatours Gan wexe pale of compassion To se the pauis of all theyr olde soccours As prisoner departe out of the toun Princesses and ladyes fyll in a sowne doun Children wept and cryed for pite Farwel upholder chefe wall of their cite Was euer founde any trewer knyght Whiche of his owne faythful mocion Where he was free had power and might To haue stande at large by hys election To kepe his promyse repayred to prison ▪ What shall I write of his noblesse or shewe To fynde one lyke hym I rede but of a fewe And when he came agayn with his message Knowyng th entent of this worthy knyght Most furiously the people of Cartage In the presence of euery maner wyght Ordayned haue to tourment anonryght First the lyddes of his eyen twayne They cut of to encreace his payne That he nat should slepe in pryson But euer watche with payne intollerable And for the constraynt of hys passion Crye and complayne with sighes lamētable And after this toke a playne table Fret full of nayles sharpe whet grounde And thervpon naked they hym bounde Another table they layde on hym aloft Nayled also and atwene these twayne They couched hym this bed was ful vnsoft Moste importable so hidous was y e payne The blod ran out of euery senow and vayne This was his turment alas a cruell dethe Of worthy Marcus tyl he yelde vp y ◠brethe Who redde in bokes
or euer dyd se Of any princes so stedfast and so stable As whylom were in Rome the cite Or in theyr conquest so longe perdurable Of vertue founde of corage vnstauncheable Reken vp all that euer were in that toun And to this Marcus make no comparison Reken Camillus Papyrius Scipions Notable worthy for many great victory Reken vp all the worthy champions Cursius Fabricius famous of memory But this Regulus eclipseth all theyr glory And surmounteth by reporte of renoun All these for sayde in comparison Reken vp y â— four that whylom were so rychâ— The first of them called Lucius Other twayne of condicion lyche As was Scaurus and Gayus Delius And forget nat the great Emilius But for all theyr great possession Make to Marcus no comparison Remembre of Crassus of whome it is tolde The Assiriens to staunche his couetyse Powred in his throte straÌ„gled him w t golde So he dyed the story dothe deuyse And though these foure wende haue be wyse Greatlye commended through false opinion Of them to Marcus make no comparison Touchyng this Marke let men beholde se He left his treasour fredome and rychesse And for the profite of the commonte Forsoke hys freÌ„des Bochas bereth witnesse To further his towne dyed in distresse To kepe hys fayth resorted to pryson Make of none other to hym comparison Myne auctour here putteth in remembrauÌ„ce Some that had golde stones and pierre Some that had of rychesse habundaunce And of other that stode in dignite And some that had worldly prosperite Set all asyde and conclude of reason Twene them and Marcus is no comparison Prynces may lyue after theyr ententes After theyr power frowardly in vices Of gold and purpure wear riche garmentes After theyr lustes and theyr delyces Graunt theyr ministers great offyces Twene all their pompe and vayne ambicion And atwene Marke make no comparison All these thynges remembred in certeyne Wel considred and yput in mynde There was in Rome but fewe suche seyne To common profit that found was so kynde And tyll I may suche another fynde In all thys boke turnynge vp so doun I wyll to hym make no comparison ¶ Lenuoye THys tragedye who that can take hede Is entermedled wyth wo and gladnesse Joye for worshyp and singuler manhede That was in Marke by excellent noblesse To rede his fall it is great heuynesse Whiche chase to dye where as he stode fre Onely for profite of the commonte To kepe hys othe playnely as I rede Made in Cartage there beyng in distresse Thys noble prynce constrayned of no nede But of frewyll myne auctour doth expresse Fro Rome agayne thyther gan hym dresse To suffer tourment of hys fre volunte Onely for the profyt of the commonte Thys story shoulde crowned be in dede With golden letters for to beare wytnesse Howe the sayde Marke hauynge of death no drede To set Rome fro werre in sykernesse Whose hie renome most soue rayn of prowesse May neuer eclypse by none antiquite Which chase to dye to forther the commonte He deserued for to haue the mede Of triumphe and marciall worthynesse And of Jupiter to weare the purple wede Fret full of stones most heueÌ„ly of brightnesse The laureat crowne coÌ„seruyng hys grenesse Graunted to victours who lyst consider se Which chase to dye for the commonte Noble princes whiche that gouerne lede All wordly people take hede in your hynesse To this story trew as is the crede Takyng example to do your busynesse Aye to support mayntayn ryght wysnesse And let Marcus to you a myrrour be Whiche chase to dye to forther the commonte The .viii. Chapter ¶ Howe Tholome kynge of Egypte called Philopater slewe father and mother and hys wyfe in lecherye spent hys lyfe and mischeuouslye ended NExt in order to Bochas complaynyng Vicious of lyfe there came Tholome Called Philopater was of Egypt kyng In tender age by horrible cruelte Slewe father mother suster ye maye se He to be crowned as it is made mencion To reygne alone in that region He was disposed vnto euery vyce Frowarde to vertue and to all doctryne Slewe hys wyfe called Erudice Left hys spouse and toke a concubyne Wasted hys lyfe and gan hym selfe enclyne To all ryote surfet and outrage And in this wyse he spent hys yonge age Thus was disclaundred hys royall maieste In lecherous lustes watched all nyght In bed tyll noone agayne all honeste Of false excesse shope hym anonryght When he arose to drynke agayne myght Gorge vpon gorge to afforce hys lechery The longe daye he spent in glotony I wexe wery the processe for to write Of this tyraunt vicious and wode It is contagious the processe to endite Because the example doth harme no goode And of vengeaunce thus with him it stoode Of sodayne mischefe I rede he dyd fyne Enbraced in armes of hys concubyne Agathoclia playnly was her name And had a sonne called Agathocles Vicious bothe and sclaundred by diffame Noysed by report they were so recheles Bothe at ones take in a sodayne prees With their alies all at ones fet And by iust dome led to the gybet The .ix. Chapter ¶ How Brythomarus and Viridomarus dukes of Fraunce after great batayls were by Romayns slayne NExte Philopater called Tholome Ther came in order a worthy duke of Frauâ—ce Brythomarus out of that couÌ„tre Rode into Grece with a great puysaunce And first he gan to make hys ordinaunce Agayne Romayns albe they were ferre Proudly with them for gynne a werre But they of Rome to theyr confusion By theyr bysâ— oppes and priestes gan deuise To vse a cursed false supersticion Vnto their goddes in full cruell wyse To offer vp men by a newe sacrifice To burye theÌ„ quike in Bochas thus I rede By a false hope the better for to spede Of frauÌ„ce Grece they toke ten in nombre Halfe men womeÌ„ togider twayn twaine And by false murder they dyd theÌ„ encombre Buried theÌ„ quike their dethe was sodayne At this sacrifice the goddes gan disdayne And to the Romayns wexte contrarious For theyr false ryghtes supersticious And by recorde of olde Croniculers The yere fyue hundred fro their foundacion And one and twenty tho beyng consulers Thre in numbre as made is mencion Whiche gouerned and ruled all the toun The first called Lucius Emilius And the seconde Catullus Gaius Actilius Regulus the thyrde consulere By al the senate ordayned were these thre As I haue tolde the selfe same yere For to gouerne and rule the cyte And to preserue them from all aduersite Agayne two peoples of Gaule Lumberâ—y Which them werred of malyce and enuy Of whiche werre y e Romayns stode in doute The Senatours all the citisayns Because agaynste them there came so great a route Of Lumbardes by this halfe the mouÌ„tayâ—s Joyned together with many fell forayns Which stode departed as made is remeÌ„brauÌ„ce Fro them of Rome and theyr obeysaunce The people rude bestiall and vnstable Together assembled
there was founde great duplicite Followyng after who so can take hede Lyke as this story shall deuyse in dede For by the fraude falsenes most mortall Compassed beforne it is thus befall That by the sleight of this Hastruball As affricans be nye double all Vnder suger can hyde well their gall So Hastrubal by false decepcion Vnder fayre chere deceyued Scipion. He brought in Siphax by false subtilte And by his sleight painted fayre langage That he shoulde with him alied be By full assent to haue in mariage Sophonisba a maiden of Cartage Which was doughter yong fayre withal As sayeth Bochas to this Hastruball The whiche thynge by crafte was brought about And accoÌ„pished verily in dede And by thys meane plainly out of doute There first began rancour and hatrede Simulacion fayned and falshede That atwene Siphax Hastruball alas Scipion was desceiued in this caas And after that done was this mariage Siphax ful enemye to this Scipion With Hastruball rode in to Cartage And gan werray againe Rome toun And in this while as made is mencion Kynge Massmissa out of wildernes Toward Scipion in al hast gan him dresse With his people gan to make him stronge Through helpe of Scipion and of Belgius Went againe Siphax abode not longe His herte againe him was so enuious And on a day the story telleth thus Wyth Affricans and folke of Cartage Siphax the Romains met in the vysage Of Massinissa the people were so woode Vpon Siphax auenged for to be Through their battayls came to him there he stode And maugre him and his cruelte Of very manhode space was none to fle They brought him home throughe theyr hye renoune Into y â— haÌ„ds of worthy Scipion. Siphax was take thus or he was aware Vnder his baner maugre al his myght And in to Rome ledde afore the chare Of Scipion the noble worthy knight That wan the triuÌ„phe grauÌ„ted hym of right And Sophonisba afore to Syphax wyfe Wed to Massinyssa at th eÌ„de of all thys stryfe Lo howe fortune chaunge can her tydes To one this daye she can be fauourable Marke capitayns and these great gydes Which wende haue founde her whele stable But she is aye frowarde chauÌ„geable Frendly to daye to morowe at discorde If this be trewe Siphax can beare recorde This Siphax was sente out of the toune In chaynes bounde without more taryinge And at Tyburny lay fettred in prison Dyed at mischefe made there his endynge And for bycause that he was a kyng The Romayns made of marcial pyte Him to be buried within their citye ☞ The .xi. chapter ⧠Howe Nabyn hauynge no tytle but by ticannye toke on hym to be kyng of Macedoyne and was slayne NExte came Nabyn ful pytously wepynge Tofore Jhon Bochas whyche by tirannye Of Macedoyne toke on hym to be kynge Hauynge no tytle saue tytle of robbery Onely by force hym selfe to magnify Which with stronge hande toke ful possession For to be crowned in thylke region This Macedoyne as by olde writynges Whylome was had in ful great reuerence Bycause onely it floured in two thynges Both in knighthode souerayne Sapience Mars there by manhode Pallas by prudeÌ„ce And whyle these two had gouernaâ—ce Or al welfare they had suffisaunce And whyle noblesse of these thynges twayne That is to say the floure of hye clergy The hye renome mooste famous souerayne Of marciall prowesse and of chiualry Gouerned that land by new policy Than stode that kingdome auctours reherce koÌ„ne Amonge the Grekes lyke an heauenly sonne But at the last eclypsed was the lyght Bâ—th of knighthode and Philosophy Whan couetise gan enter agayne righte For to vsurpe vpon the regaly By intrusion of false tyranny And by extorte force made their entrynges Hauyng no title there to reygne as kynges This was chefe cause for short conclusion That the noblesse of Grece was brought baas And Macedoyne brought to confusion By couetyse that set them in such caas Thereby theyr knighthod translated was And their polycy in Cronicles ye may se Out of Grece into Rome the citye And among other by clere remembraunce Of suche tyrauntes by ordre rehersyng Nabyn was one that had gouernaunce In Macedoyne was there crowned kyng Without title there falsly reignynge And for his frowarde contagious cruelte He was behated of Rome the citye The Romayns sent a mighty Consulere Tytus FlaÌ„minius of their werres gyde To Macedoyne he gan to aproch nere Towarde Argos where Nabyn dyd abyde Of entent for to abate hys pryde But while Nabyn stode hiest in estate Of Grece hys lieges with him were at debate A Duke yealled Philopomenes With the people that dwelled in Grece lande To stryue w t Nabyn put hym selfe in prees Discomfyted him fightynge hande for hande â–ª And at great mischefe ye shall vnderstande Alexamenes a knyght of that countre Slewe thys Nabyn the Cronycleye may se. The .xii. Chapiter ¶ Here Bochas reherseth the mortal werres bytwene Romayns Affricans AFter this Nabyn Bochas dothe procede To tel the werres and the mortall striues Twene Romains and Affricans in dede Wherby ful many lost their liues Caused widowes maidens eke wiues To wepe waile in such disâ—oynte they stode On outher party to se the losse of bloode For the party of them of Rome towne Were made capitaines and diuers officers Which into affrike w t people were sent down And specially there were two Consulers Notable in armes famous in tho yeres Marcus MaÌ„lius borne of the Romain lie That other called Lucius Censorine With them was sent a tribune ful notable Of whom tofore I made mencion For the werres most worthy most able I meane of Rome proude Scipion Which of their cite was chefest champion Of entent the affricans tanoye And specially Cartage to distroye And nye by Cartage ther was a citie stronge Mightely builded and stode vpon the see The walles thicke rounde square longe Chefe diffence called of that countre To saue and kepe them from aduersite And forty cubytes with crestes marciall Lyke as I fynde of height was the wall And in the fronte raysed for the werre Of stones square was an hye dungeon Called Birsa fro which wounder ferre Men myght beholde the courtreis enuyron And ss I reade for their saluacion The Affricans of purpuse dyd ordayne For their captaines Hastrubalies twayne The sayd dungion mightyly battailed Againe al sautes to stand and endure But worthy Scipion for al y â— hath not fayled For to approche and do by buâ—y cure With his engyns mighty stronge sure So that by force this knight most marcial A great quantite brake downe of the wal And Lucius called Sensorine Departed is with Marcus Manlius And by the Counsayle of Scipion doctrine Both of assent in armes vertuous They toke their waye myne auctour telleth thus Wyth Hastrubal sothly and they myght Where as he lay that same day to fight These Consulers assayled the citye Called Ciâ—ie and beate downe the
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
Romayns Sempronius another Consulere That was felowe to the sayde Scipion Sent â—ke fro Rome w t a full proude chere Gayne Hanyball but in his coÌ„myng doun Tofore Tresbie a large myghty towne Outrayed was by fatal auenture And after neuer his fal myght recure Of two Consulers this was the woful fyne Sempronius and Gneus Scipion Ouer the mountayne called Appenyne Went Hanibal through his great renoun To great domage and great confusion Of his people that passed the mountaines Distroyed w t colde snowe hydeous rayns Lost his knightes hys tresour his goodes There myght as tho be made no defence His gret stedes drowned in the floodes By the waters mighty vyolence Fonde for the time no better resistence Saue he escaped fro that sodayne wracke On an OliphauÌ„te he rydyng on the backe So importable was his greuous payne Onely borne vp of marcial corage Yet there he lost one of his eyen twayne Kept of knighthode one chere one vysage Through Itayle helde alway his passage Slewe a Consull called Flaminius Thus in thre battayls he was victorious But in thys whyle as saythe myne auctoure Quintus Fabius subtyl and disceyuable Whiche was in Rome a famous dictatour And he apperceyued by tokens ful notable No Romayne captaine was in tho dayes able As it was shewed by experience Gayne Hanyball to make resistence Yet in his conceyte he subtillye gan serche To fynde a waye he dyd his busy paine Day by day gan fully theron werche Outher by fraude or some coÌ„passed trayne To lye in wayte and secretely ordayne Embusshmentes to his auauntage Of Hanyball to stop the passage But al his traynes serued him of nought For Hanybal this worthy Affrican In his conquest so proudly hath wrought So lyke a prince and a knightly man For thilke tyme that he werres gan Agayne the Romayns both on see lande That they were feble his power to withstaÌ„d This QuiÌ„tus fabius kept him alway close Lyinge a wayte to fal on Hanihal And of assent eke to his purpose There was one Varo manly wyse wythal And these twayne in especiall Within Poyle a large great countre Fought wyth Hanybal at Cannas the cytie As the story maketh rehersayle The Romayne party of worthy werriours Where forty thousand slayne in battaile Emilius Paulus thurty senatours Twenty in numbre y t had ben Pretours And thre hundred captaynes of estate Slayne by Haniball in that mortal debate And by the slaughter of Emilius The noble consul Romains dispayred And Hanybal that day victorious To his lodgyng is agayne repayred His fone outrayed and mortally appayred Knewe no refute agayne this manly knyght But at mischefe toke them to the flyght The which day yf that Hanyball Had them folowed proudly to the towne By the counsayle of one Marthaball A manly knyght a prince of hye renowne He shoulde haue had full possession That day of Rome lyke to hys entent But I suppose fortune lyst nat assent In thys processe playnlye as I rede This Hanyball wexte proude ryght pompous Of four victories dempt hym selfe in dede Aboue all other to be most glorious Of his corage most inly surquedous But o alas alytle slouth and pryde For lacke of pursute his conquest set asyde Yet in hys conquest of knightes y â— laye dede Of Consulers olde and yonge of age With Senatours the processe who lyst rede Slayne in the felde in that mortall rage Duke Hanyball sent vnto Cartage Of clene golde by recorde of writynges Out of the felde thre bushell full of rynges After four victories here remembred By and by the processe who lyst se In which many worthy were dismembred Bothe of Affrike and Rome the cite Abate gan the great prosperite Of Hanybal by froward auenture Set ones backe fortune is harde to recure After the flours of hys felicite His noblesse drewe to declination To Capne he went a myghty stronge cite There to soiourne as made is mencion All the tyme of wynter colde season Where to his lust and bodily pleasaunce Of all vitayle founde great haboundaunce Whiche made his knightes slowe to y â— werre For wine women and plenty of vitayle Full oft sythe cause men to erre Make them feble their enemyes tassayle Gorges agroteied enbossed their entrayle Disposeth men rather to rest and slepe Then of their enemyes for to take kepe But whan wynter with his frostes colde Was ouergone in thylke region Hanyball gan his purpose holde To laye a siege vnto Rome towne But so great raynes fyll fro heauen downe So great tempest vpon euery syde For the constraynt he myght nat abyde To fortifye the sayde Hanyball Agayne his enemies where he had ado Sent letters vnto Hastruball In right great haste for to come hym to But fortune her whele hath tourned so That Hastruball wer he lothe or fayne By Salmator venquished was and slayne Of whiche mischefe and discomfiture Hanybal gan dull in hys corage Complayned sore of hys misauenture Knewe no refute agayne thys mortall rage Herde eke say that Affrike and Cartage Were of newe to hys confusion Strongly werryed by worthy Scipion. Siphax also of Numedy kyng Which agayne Romayns gan a werre make Maugre his might and all his fell workyng Was by force of Scipion ytake Wherthrough his corage greatly gan aslake And how Cartage chefe of that region Besieged was also by Scipion. Thus Hanyball constrayned was of nede Home to repayre for rescue of Cartage And was also in bokes as I rede The same tyme fall farre in age And at mischefe and great disauauntage Agayne Scipion full lytle might auayle By whom he was discomfited in batayle Cartage constrayned of necessite Them to submit vnto Rome toun And for their more aduersite Gneus Gernilius was fro Rome sent doun Onely of purpose for this conclusion For to procure in especiall Final distruction and death of Hanyball After all his marciall labours His olde felicite wext frowarde vnmete In holow ymages put all hys treasours Toke his passage into the lande of Crete And fortune contrarye and vnswere Made officers kepe hys rychesse In the temple of Diane the goddesse Som what for trust and percell eke for drede To fynde succour he went to the kyng Of Bithinye to helpe hym in hys nede Called Prusias but of hys commyng The sleyghty Romayns had knowledgyng To Bithinye downe theyr letters sent If Hanybal escaped they shoulde repent The letters redde the kyng the same daye Made his people besiege the dongeon Where duke Haniball of trust alone lay All destitute when he knew this treason Tescape hys enemyes draÌ„ke wylfully poysoÌ„ Chase rather so other escape was none Then in the handes to fall of hys fone Tofore his dethe sayde this oryson To all y â— goddes deuoutly downe knelyng That they woulde of this false treason Take vengeaunce of Prusias the kyng Whiche was cause by hys false workyng Of the destruction and dethe finall Of this famous worthy Hanyball ¶ Lenuoye THis tragedy frowarde to wryte
Loste his speche smyt with meselty Duryng his lyfe lo here a great vengeaūce Of hys crowne and hys regaly Impotent to vse the gouernaunce Peryll for pride and disobeysaunce For he lyst nat mekely the law obey For which at mischefe he dyd a leper dey The .xxiii. Chapter ¶ Howe Amonyus a prynce of Antioche delytyng in pyllage and robbry with other vicious lyuynge fled in womans clothyng after taken and slayne NExt in order complaynyng hys distresse Came Amonius a notable werriour To John Bochas to shewe hys heuynesse In Antioche prynce and gouernour Of whiche countre whyle he was possessour Had a custome and thys was hys trauayle To robbe the ryche and spoyle the porayle Spared nouther olde nor yonge of age Toke fro marchaūtes treasour and richesse And in delytes of lecherous outrage Was all his lust with watche dronkēnesse Wyll in his courte of reason was maystresse Causyng the people through all the region To ryse agayne hym by rebellion Contrary he was to all good discipline The people arose agayne hym on a day And he for feare in habite feminine Lyke a wretche fled cowardly away Take at mischefe there was made no delay Falsly confessyng hering many a man Agayne nature that he was a woman The trouth knowe and the sclaunder ryfe All of assent the people Antiochene Rose attones and so he lost hys lyfe They wer so wode agayne him in their tene Thus of fortune the chaūge is alway sene Fro better to worse she can so well transmue The state of them that wyll no vertue sue The .xxiiii. chapter ⧠How Andriscus of lowe byrth borne hauyng no tytle became kyng of Macedone and was after taken and died in pryson BVt of one thynge fortune is to blame That she is so chaungeable of corage To set a boy vnknowen of byrthe and fame By false errour vpon a royall stage For one Andriscus by surquedous outrage Without tytle by subtyll compassyng Of Macedone toke on hym to be kyng Colour was none his claime to make stable Except that he of there and of visage Was to kyng Philyp of fetures moste sēblable Whereby the people in their furious rage Caught opinion of wylfull false dotage Agayne reason Bochas dothe discriue That king Philyp was risen fro deth to liue Whylom father of Perses as I tolde And for Andriscus broughte vp in wretchednesse In presence bothe of yonge and olde Was bold to clayme by tytle of rightwisnesse Shewing no grounde but personel likenesse Mocking the people which by their fauour Of royal dignite receyued the honour Thus he that was fostred as a wretche In misery and eke in pouerte Fro poore bedde his hornes dyd vp stretche To holde a scepter of kyngly dignite And by the supporte of the commonte Gan wexe pompous and elate Broughte vp of noughte whan he stode in estate Nothing more cruell nor nothyng more vengeable Nor more hasty to do execution Nor more deynous nor more vntreatable Than whan a begger hath domination I curre more frowarde than a strong Lyon And semblably none so great cruelte As whan a wretche is set in dignite This Andriscus in all his royall chere To execute his hatefull cruelte Gathered people in countreys ferre nere In Macedone and of olde enmyte Began maligne gayne Rome the cite But to withset his frowarde false entent One Inuencius a Pretor was downe sent But because that he was negligent And of dispite toke of him no hede He was outrayed and by Andriscus shent With all the people that he dyd lede But the Romayns of hope better to spede Haue sent Metellus a full manly knyght To Macedone to mete anone ryght Thys worthy man lyst nat longe to tary Set proudly on in hope it shoulde auayle Made Macedone to Rome tributary Toke Andriscus manly in batayle Brought him to Rome w t mighty apparayle And made him lye fettred in pryson For his outragious false presumption Thus for his frowarde vsurpacion That was haute in hys prosperite Knewe nat hym selfe by false abusion Blent with a myst of blynde felicite Lyst nat remembre of hys first ponerte Whom to chastise fortune brought hym low Because he lyst nat hym selfe for to know The .xxv. Chapter ¶ Howe Alysander Ballas kyng of Surry for extorcion pryde and vnkindnesse dyed at mischefe THus can thys ladye play her pagent By a maner of deynous mockerye Her entermesse forth serued them of entent To folke that truste her onely of foly And to purpose whylom of Surry There was a kyng lyke as write Bochas Called Alisader whose surname was Ballas Of whiche Ballas to tell the processe First of his risyng and after of hys fall Antiochus the story beareth wytnesse Called Eupator whiche in especiall Claymed tytle to thestate royall After his father named Antiochus Epyphanes the story telleth thus After whose dethe the kyngdome of Surry Shoulde longe by succession To Eupator and eke for hys party Demetrius hostage in Rome toun Claymed a tytle in that region Of Surry because Epiphanes Was brought to hym the story is no les Demetrius fro Rome is come doun Into Surry to clayme hys heritage Receyued the crowne toke possession Gan wexe proude presumptuous of corage Thus Eupator that was but yonge of age Excluded was in Surry to succede Of Demetrius ferther thus I rede Outragyous he was aboue measure Ryght vengeable and full of cruelte Hatefull also to euery creature And heuy borne of worthy kynges thre Fyrst in Egypt of worthy Tholome And of Actilius in Asy tho reygnyng And Aryrarches in Capadoce kyng All of assent agayne hym haue conspyred Founde a waye Demetrius to depriue Hys vndoyng so sore they haue desyred And theyr entent to execute blyue They gan a fable of purpose to contryue As ye shall here together as they went To whiche all Surry at ones dyd assent They toke a galaunt borne of lowe lynage Called Ballas of theyr acquayntaunce And affyrmed all of one corage Howe he was sonne iust heyre in substaūce To Epiphanes and nexte heyre in aliaunce To succede by tokens affyrmyng Next in Surry to be crowned kyng Alysander of purpose they hym call Because they thought of person he was able Set hym vp in hys royall stall Maugre Demetrius cruell and vengeable And fortune was to them fauourable Made theyr purpose finally to auayle With whome Demetrius had a gret batayle This Alysander which named was Ballas By Demetrius as put is in memory Fyrst ouercome and after fyll the caas He of Demetrius had the vyctory And to encrease of hys royall glory Of fortune by sodayue auenture Ballas the felde of hym dyd recure Thus by promocion of these kynges thre When he was crowned kyng of al Surry To false extorcion and hateful cruelte Thys Alysander dyd hys wittes apply To robbyng pyllage and eke tyranny And dispysed shortly to conclude The sayde kynge of ingratitude He had forget hys estate of pouerte Knewe nat hym selfe of false ambicion Wedded the doughter of worthy Tholome
herts bote Angust passed againe in to the rote By course of nature y â— vertue doth resorte To reuolucion of kynde I me reporte Who should than debarre me to be double Sith doublenesse longeth to me of right â–ª Nowe lyke soÌ„mer nowe with winter trouble Now blinde of loke derke as y â— cloudy nyght Nowe glad of there of herte mery lyghte They be but foles againe my myght to muse Or me atwite though I my power vse Selde or neuer I byde not in one poynt Men must at lowpes take me as they fynde And whan I stande furthest out of ioynt To set folkes backwarde farr behynde Than worldly men with their eyen blynd Sore complayne vpon my doublenesse Call me than the frowarde false goddesse Thus by your wrytig marueilous laÌ„gage I am disclaundred of mutabilite Wherof by ryght I catche great auauntage Syth doublenesse no sclaunder is to me Whiche is a percel of my liberte To be called by tytle of ryghtwysnesse Of chaunges newe lady and princesse Thus whan fortune had sayd her wyl Parcell declared of her gouernaunce Made a stint and soberly stode styll Jhon Bochas sate herde al her dalyaunce Feareful of chere pale of countenaunce In order enprinted eche thynge y t she sayde Ful demure thus he dyd abrayde He toke vpon him vertue and corage Vpon a poynte for to abyde stable Certes quod he lyke to thy vysage All worldly thiges be double chaungeable Yet for my parte by remembraunce notable I shal perfourme southly if I conne This litel boke that I haue begonne And lest my labour dye not nor appall Of this boke the tytle for to saue Among myne other lytel workes all With letters large aboue vpoÌ„ my graue This bookes name shall in stone be graue Howe I John Bochas in especial Of worldly princes written haue the fall Of whyche emprise the cause to discriue Thys was first grounde I wyl not deny To eschewe slouth and vyces all my lyue And specially the vyce of glottony Which is norice vnto lechery This was chefe cause why I vndertoke The compylacion of this lytle boke Yet by thy talkyng as I vnderstande Eche thing here of nature is chaungeable After thy sentence both on see lande Yet coude I reken thynges that be stable As vertuous lyfe abydyng vnmutable Set hole to godwarde of wyl thought Maugre thy power ne chauÌ„geth nought Thou mayst eke call vnto remembraunce Thinges made stable by grace whiche is deuyne Hast thou not herde y â— perseuerauÌ„ce Of holy martirs whych lyst not to decline Fro Chrystes fayth tyl they dyd fyne Thy whele in them had none interesse To make them vary fro their stablenesse A man that is enarmed in vertue Againe thy myght to make resistence And set his trust by grace in Christ Iesu And hath al hole his hertely aduertence Ou ryght wisnesse force and on prudence With theyr suster called Attemperaunce Hath a sauecondute againe thy variaunce They set no store by thy double whele With supportacion of other ladyes thre Their trust staÌ„d not in plate mayle or stele But in these vertues faythe hope charite Called vertues theologice Watch wyth the fowre afore here specified Thy whele and the haue vtterly defied If I with wynges might flye to heauen There shoulde I se thou hast nothyng adone With Jupiter nor the planetes seuen With Phebus Mars mercury nor the mone But worldly foles erly late and sone Such as be blent or dyrked with lewdnesse By false opinion call the a goddesse Giftes of grace nor giftes of nature Almesse dede done with humilite Loue and coÌ„passion be ferre out of thy cure Semelinesse strength bouÌ„tye or beaute Vertuously vsed in their degre Gaine non of these thy power may not stretch For who is vertuous lytel of thee doth retch Of thy condicions to set another prefe Which foles vse in their aduersite For excusacion as somtyme sayeth a thefe Whan he is hanged it was his destyne Aâ—witeth fortune of his iniquite As she had power domination To rule man by wyl againe reason For whych quod Jhon Bochas in party desolate To determin such heauenly hid fecrees To tho that be deuines of estate I remit such vncouth priuitees And w t Poetes that be of lowe degrees I esche we to climbe to hye a loft Lest for presumpcion I shuld not fal soft But if I had hyd in my corage Such misteries of diuine prouidence Without enuy I would in plaine langage Vttre them by writinge with huble reuerâ—ce Predestynacion nouther prescience Not appertaine fortune vnto the And for my part I wyl excuse me And procede lyke as I vndertoke After that I tolde my matere Of fal of princes for to wryte a boke But yet afore if thou wouldest here I desire of hole herte and entere To haue a copie of princes names al Which fro thy whele thou hast made to fal Thy secre bosome is ful of stories Of suÌ„dry princes how they their life haue lad Of their triumphes and victories Which olde Poetes and Philosophers sad In meter and prose compiled haue an rad Song their laudes their fautes eke reserued By remembraunce as they haue deserued Of which I haue put some in memory Theron set my study and laboure So as I coude to their encrease of glory Though of laÌ„gage I had but smal fauour Cause Caliope did me no socour For which thou hast duringe al this while Rebuked me of my rude style Men would accouÌ„pt it were a great dulnesse But if language conueied be by prudence Out declared by sobre auysenesse Vnder support fauoured by defence Of Tullius chefe prince of eloquence Should more profite shortly to conclude Than my style spoke in termes rude Yet ofte tyme it hath be felte and seyne Vnder huskes growyng on land erable Hath be founde and tried out good greine Vnder rude leaues shakynge vnstable Pulled fayre frute holesome delytable And semblably where rethorike hath failed In bluÌ„te termes good couÌ„saile hath auayled Phylosophers of the golden ages And Poetes that founde out freshe ditees As king Amphion w t his faire langages And w t his harpig made folke of low degrees And laborers tenhabyte firste cytees And so by musyke and Phylosophy Gan firste of commons noble policy The chefe of musike is melody accorde Well of Philosophy sprang out of prudence By whych two meanes gan vnitye acorde With politike vertue to haue their asistence Wisemen to reigne subiectes do reuerence And by this grounde in stories men may se Were bylte the walles of Thebes the citie Accorde in musyke causeth the melody Where is discorde there is diuersite And where is peace is prudent policy In eche kingdome and euery great countre Strife first induced by thy duplicite For which y u maist as clerkes thee discryues Be called lady of contekes and of striues Fyrst were founde out hateful deuysions By thy contriued false mutabilitees Slaughter debate frowarde
brought lowe Made Consulere the story is well knowe A seruaunt first and almost set at nought And afterwarde I made him fortunate Left neuer tyll I had hym brought By a prerogatife chose of the Senate To be a pretour an office of estate Which also wrought by conspiration To bryng Metellus to destruction Of whose assent there was also another Called Marius beyng the same yere Texplete this treason their sworne brother which was also that tyme a Consulere I fortune made them full good chere Lyke their desyres gaue them liberte To banyshe Metellus out of their cite Of these thre Romains the first Saturnine And Glaucus was called the seconde And Marius layde out hoke and lyne As I haue tolde Metellus to confounde To their purpose I was also founde Fauourable to bryng them to mischefe As their story sheweth an open prefe They banyshed hym out of Rome toun And Saturninus by hys subtell workyng Clambe vp fast of presumpcion To be called of Rome lorde and kyng I gaue hym fauour by a maner false smiling Tyll at the last playnly to declare Of his distruction I brought him in y â— snare The Senatours knowyng the malyce Of Saturne which made a great gadryng Of sundry folke castyng in his auyce By theyr fauour he might be called kyng All this while of his vpclymbyng I shewed hym duryng a longe space Him to disceyue a full benigne face Tyll Marius a mighty Consulere To withstande his presumption Rose with stronge hande with a knyghtly chere Beset hys palays about enuyron Brake hys gates amyd of the toun And Saturninus voyde of all fauour To the Capitoyle fled for succour He was forbarred by Marius of vitayle The Capitoyle besieged rounde aboute At the entryng was a stronge batayle On outher party slayne a great route Thus of my fauour he gan stande in doute Thus Saturninus brought in gret distresse His good acheted lost all his rychesse Experience full openly men leareth Suche as hyest thervpon ascende Lyke as the turne of my whele requireth Whan they lest wene doun they shall disceÌ„de They haue no power them selfe to defende Agayne my might when they be ouerthrow What do I than but laughe make amow Drusus also borne of great lynage And discended of full hye noblesse Vnto vertue contrary of his corage Frowarde founde to all gentlenesse Yet chose he was the story doth expresse Questour of Asye an offyce of hye degre For his byrthe to gouerne that countre But oft tyme vertue nor gentlenesse Come nat to heires by succession ExaÌ„ple in Drusus the story bereth witnesse Which bothe of corage and disposicion Was euer frowarde of condicion For which let men deme as they must nedes Nat after byrthe but after the dedes Vertues all in hym were set asyde Slowe to be armed hated chiualry Most couetous deynous full of pryde His dedes frowarde full of trechery To hie estate I dyd hym magnify Yet al my giftes in hym ne might stretche For here tofore thee he coÌ„meth like a wretche He dare for shame nat shewe his visage So farre disclaundred is his wretchednesse His couetyse and vicious outrage Falsely caused by hys doublenesse Maguldusa a prynce of great noblesse Betrayshed was for mede to the kyng Called Boccus by Drusus false workyng What maner turmeÌ„t or what greuous payne Were coÌ„petent couenable or condigne To him that can outwarde flatter fayne And in his hert couertly malâ—â—â—e â–ª As Drusus dyd which shewed many signe To Maguldusa of loue and frendlyhede Vnderneth false treason hydde in dede But Maguldusa lyke a manly knyght Gayne king Boccus hath hiselfe soccoured Whan he by dome was iudged agayne ryght Of an olyphaunt for to be deuoured Scaped frely and after that laboured To acquite hym selfe through his hie renoun Slew false Drusus myd of Rome toun Bochas also men put the lacke in me That I was cause of the destruction By my contrarious mutabilyte Of the notable famous Scipion Which in the tyme of Sensoryn Caton Gate the triumphe for many great victory To put his name perpetually in memory For his merites chose a Consulere And chefe byshop to gouerne their cite To all the Senate patron most entere Most famous of name and dignite Saued Romayns from all aduersite Tyme whan the werre dredefull dispytous Gan atwene Pompey and Cesar Julius Thus whan the sayde famous Scipion Was through my fauor acoÌ„pted most notable He fro my whele sodenly was throwe doun Which neuer in word nor dede was culpable But the Romains malicious and vnstable By theyr hangman first chayned in pryson After racked there gayned no raunson Thus he that had auayled them so ofte To saue hym selfe founde succour on no syde His dead body they henge it hye alofte For a spectacle longe there to abyde Thus geryshly my gyftes I denyde StouÌ„dmeale nowe frende nowe aduersary Rewarde good with guerdons ful contrary This was experte full well in Scipion Gan with loye and ended in wretchednesse Bochas remembre make hereof mencion And of Fanaticus how I of gentlenesse Made him ascende to notable hye prowesse Yet bokes saye touchyng his kynrede Manly of person a chorle borne in dede For my disporte with a glad vysage I set hym vp 〈◊〉 hye vpon my whele Gaue hym lordshyp out of low seruage To do him fauour it ly kedine full wele Wherfore Bochas his story euery dele Note it well and in especiall How he by sleyght came to estate royall By sleyghty fainyng to dyuers folke he tolde How that he spake w t Scirra the goddesse At euery houre playnly whan he wolde Of presumption discriued her lykenesse Sayde also how she of her goodnesse Had graunted him hys stare to magnyfy Duryng his life a spirite of prophesy And furthermore the people for to blynde He fantasied by a crafte vncouth Within a shale the story maketh mynde Of a nut to haue fyre in hys mouthe Blew it sparkling north and southe Affyrmed wherwith folke were blent It was a spirite to hym from heuen sent By which he wrought many great vertue Gadred people tyll he had in dede Two thousande churles at hys retinue Whiche afterwarde his purpose for to spede To syxty thousande encreaced as I rede I suffred all serued hym at the tyde Tyll all the courte grutched at hys pryde Though of byrthe he was but a vileyne Rose vp of nought by sodeyne auenture My gery fauour made hym to be seyne Royal of porte dyd hys busy cure To rayse hys baner ware a cote armure And by gracious supportation Brought great people to his subiection At the last my lust gan appall Towarde him not beynge fauourable Down fro my whele anone I made him fal For by Romains was sent a great constable Called Porpenna a prince full notable Whiche fyll on him venquisshed him anone Slewe outrayed his churles euerychone Him selfe was hanged vpon an hye gybet Some of his meyny was cast in pryson Thus to his pryde I gaue a great
shalt wryte How many romaynes lost by theÌ„ their liues I wyll also in ordre that thou endyte And if I shall rebuke them and atwyte As I fro nought made them in honour shine So I again warde made theÌ„ in mischef fine Forget nat also the deadly pytous fate Of him that was so notable in his lyfe I meane the great famous Mithridate Whose name is yet full couthe and ryfe To whom I gaue a great prerogatyfe Fourty wynter the dede was well sene Agayne Romayns the werre to sustene For whiche herafter I gyue it the in charge Of Mithridate the story set alonge Whan thou haste leyser a space large Remember his conquest his dedes stronge And howe that I medled me amonge For al his noblesse and his felicite To yeue him parte of great aduersite Next in ordre after her owne choys Fortune vntrusty vpon eche party To John Bochas bothe conuayed fro Parthoys Stronge Herodes reignyng in Parthy Lo John quod she take hede of this story All his kinred yf it be well out sought Wer by ScithieÌ„s chased brought to nought And yet for al my mutabylite Some of them whyle they stode dispayred I restored vnto their dignite Vnto which whan they were repayred This Herodes was hindred and apayred By chaunges for his hatefull pride Whan he lest wende vn warely set asyde Suyng after within a lytle whyle This geryshe lady of condicion Gan an yll laughing falsely for to smyle Lokyng on Bochas brought with her doun A mighty prince which in Rome toun Had in his dayes notable price and fame All be that she expressed nat his name Bochas than his head gan downe declyne Seyng that prynce of face disfigured Of suspection gan to ymagyne Whan he his mynde fully hath recured By certayne tokens sygnes well assured It was Pompey surquedous of estate Which with Cesar so longe was at debate Disconsolate through his vnhappye caas His face soyled with water of the see Tyme whan Fotynus and cruel Achyllas Drowned hys body of furyous enmyte His face disfigured at the solempnyte With smokes blake deadly and mortall Called of clerkes the feast funerall Codrus caused the corps was brent And consumed into ashes deed To Cesar after his head was borne and sent Vpon a pole hys story who lyst rede After all this Bochas toke good hede How fortune by a maner mockery In scorne of hym gan thus to specify Vp to the heauen after his deuyse I gan enhaunce and encrease hys glory By my fauour I gaue hym many a pryse Conquest of kynges w t many great victory And more to put his noblesse in memory By my support through his chiualry With Cesar Julius to holde champarty And while that I my fauour dyd applye Towarde him his victories to assure His fame arose tyll that in Thessalye I gan withdraw his party to succoure Sufferyng his enemies make discomfiture Vpon this Pompey hyndred in my syght When to Lesbos at mischefe toke hys flyght By the seruauntes of yonge Tholome Reygning in Egypt Pompey in his drede Was take slayne he founde no helpe in me I gaue him vp and so he lost his hede Yet of my chaunges no man taketh hede Nor how vnsurely I cast my dredefull loke Saue thou art busy to set them in thy boke Bochas astonied parcell of her presence Bothe of chere face and countenaunce And this whyle hauyng his aduertence Thought he sawe a maner resemblaunce Of a person which stode in great greuaunce Tyll at last fortune cast her syght Towarde Bochas and tolde what he hyght This is quod she playnly to termine The famous man prynce of eloquence That gaue to Latynes y â— scole the doctrine Of Rethorike as well of that science For whiche I wyll thou doe thy diligence To write with other of thys Tullius All the case and gyn at Marius These wordes sayde fortune made an ende She bete her â—ynges and toke her to flyght I can nat se what way she dyd wende Saue Bochas telleth like an angell bryght At her departyng she shewed a great lyght But assone as she gan disapere He toke his penne and wrote as ye shal here The .ii. Chapter ¶ Howe Gayus Marius of lowe byrth borne came to hie estate whiche blent with couetise after many great batayls dyed at myschefe HEre Bochas gynneth to tell of the man Called in hys tyme Gayus Marius Borne at Aprina a castell of Tuscan Sonne of a carpenter the storye telleth thus Pursued armes manly and vertuous Through all Rome nor in that countre Was there no man holde so stronge as he Discyplyne and great subtylite He had also as bokes specify Prudence manhode and habylite Bothe in armes and in chyualry Moste famous holde towarde the party w tin a while myne auctour saythe certayne Chose a Tribune and a great capitayne But fro the gynnyng of his tendre age As histories put in remembraunce He was pricked so sore in his corage By a gredy fret of longe contynuaunce Neuer to staunche with none habundaunce The worlde nor fortune w t all their richesse Suffyled nat to appease his gredynesse Entring a temple he founde a diuynour Counsayled him there by his diuynayle To entre Rome and holde there soiour By good auice and knightly apparayle Made him promyse that he shoulde nat fayle To attayne by fauour of the commonte To great office and state in the cyte Fauour of commons brought hi to hie estate By them receyued vnto dignyte Of Consulere albe that the Senate Had disdayne of his felicite Bycause he was borne of lowe degre Graunted to him after by the toun To conquere realmes by a commissyon He gate the prouince through his hie renoun Of Numedy as he dyd them assayle And toke the kyng of that region Called Jugurtha proudly in batayle For whiche emprise by marcial apparayle He gate y e triumphe through y â— town ryding Bycause onely for taking of that king And for he was a person so notable For many a famous sodayne victory Namely in conquest preued profitable To all the coÌ„mons as put is in memory And for thencreace of his renome glory By the opinyon hole of the cyte In his hande lay all their prosperite Agayne a people y â— called was Cymbroys TheÌ„ to conquere froÌ„ Rome he was sent doun Also agaynst the boystous Tigurnoys Gadred together of many nacion All them he brought to subiection Like as Romains had afore desyred Because thei had againe their town coÌ„spired They toke vpon them of false presumption To passe all the mountaines of Itayle First discomfited as made is mencion Thre Romayne dukes felly in batayle Fourscore thousand clad in plate and mayle Slayne of Romayns y â— story is well knowe Vnder the Alpes at mischefe ouerthrowe This Marius of marciall auenture In Germany had a great batayle With Tewtobochus a gyaunt of stature Put first to flyght with al his apparayle For Marius dyd hym so sore assayle At the chace
and the vyolence To Eucratides was very importable Besieged first and for lacke of defence Take at mischefe his fone not mercyable For Demetrius was on hym so vengeable Whan he was slayne w tin his owne boūdes Made the carayne be cast out to y ◠houndes Not wythstandinge he was a worthy kynge Borne of hye blode such was his auenture Demetrius sonne aboue al erthly thynge Hated hym by recorde of Scripture Of rancoure denyed hys sepulture And for the matter is hateful and contrary On his story I wyll no lenger tary The .v. Chapter ¶ Howe Herodes kyng of Parthoys werred wyth Romains whych after his sonne and heyre was slayne made hys bastarde sonne kynge y t anon after slewe his father TO Arthabanus whilō of Parthois kynge I purpose my style to transporte A full olde prince had in his liuing Sonnes twayne bokes so reporte Which in his age dyd him most comforte Mithridate was the eldest brother And herodes called was that other Mithridate by reason of hys age Hys father dead dyd after him succede Which banished was for tiranny outrage Afterwarde for mischefe and for nede In to Babylon he toke his flyght for drede The people anone after his partyng Of Indignacion made hys brother kynge Thus came Herodes to estate royal Pursued hys brother in to Babilon Layde a siege rounde aboute the wall They to him yelded vp the toun Thus was hys brother brought to cōfusion Afore the castell wythout lenger date Made smyte of the head of Mithridate In Parthois after he toke possession Thus yong Herodes of voiūte and pride Gan a werre agayne them of Rome toun Whom to w tstande they lyst not longe abyde The cōsull Crassus cam down to theyr syde Cōmaūded was short processe for to make Toward Parthois hys voiage for to take Crassus lyst not to entre in that reme Left Parthois the story dothe deuyse Toke his waye towarde Jerusalem To take there a solempne empryse In the temple onely of couetise Toke there agayne the tytle of ryghtwysnes Vp al their treasour their great ryches By which he gate in diuers regions Great multitude to hold vp his party Led wyth hym eleuen legyons Towarde Parthois fast gan him hye By hys letters proudly gan defy The sayd Herodes wyth great apparayle Myd his countre profred him battayle The next morowe whā Crassus toke y ◠felde To him was brought of blacke a cote armure Which whan his knightes auisedly beheld Dempt it a token of discomfiture For in contrary Romayns do their cure Whan their capitaine shal fighte or be hed His cote armur is outher white or red Another token frowarde to beholde The fyrst Egle beate in his banere Also soone as men dyd it vnfold Contrariously he tourned loke and chere The back to Crassus folke sawe y t stode nere A pronostyke to Romayns ful certaine Howe fortune to them was that daye againe By the flud passinge of Eufrates w t vnware tempestes hys standerdes echone In to the ryuer were cast amonge the prees To reken them all vpryght stode not one Wherof astoyned they wold no further gone These pronostykes made them so afrayed Lyke men in hert dispaired and dismaied Of these tokens Crassus was recheles The pronostykes also he dyd dyspyse Toke vpon him to passe Eufrates To entre Parthoys onely for couetise To whom Herodes sendeth in thys wyse That hys commynge was more for pyllage Than for knyghthode manhode or corage Al the power of Parthoys tho came downe With many Prefecte men of great courage Agayne Crassus them of Rome towne Which as I tolde abode on their pyllage That turned after to their great domage The sonne of Crassus slayne in that fray His father take and al vpon a daye His head smyt of in whom was no defence But disconfyted wyth many a legion The heade of Crassus brought to the presence Of Herodes within his royal toun Whych hath comaunded golde to be broughte doune To be molte there as he lay dead And to powre thereof full hys head This thinge was done for a mockery In signe onely the storye doth deuyse That golde nor treasour vpon no party Staunche myght his thrust of couetyse Suche gredines eche man should dispyse For auaryce of custome in eche place Of hye prowes doth the prise difface Herodes after dyd serche all the wardes Through al the felde vpon Crassus syde Toke the penons baners standardes And in his tempels large longe and wyde Let hange them vp of surquedy and pride In signe onely and eke for a memory He of Romains hath get the victory With whiche he lyst not onely be content Wenyng his fortune shoulde abyde stable In to Surry he hath hys sonne sēt Called Pachorus made him a constable Of that region with him to be partable Of al treasours and mouables y ◠he founde Whereuer he rode throughout al lond This Pachorus by hys chyualry Encrease gan in his tendre age Wherof Herodes his father had enuy Fearful it shoulde tourne to his domage Lest he would by tytle of heritage Maugre him at hys agayne commynge Take vpon him of Parthoys to be king Than Pachorus was called home agayne Out of Surrye where in conclusion Al that he had wrought was in vayne Bycause one Cassius fro Rome was come Slewe al the people in the region Whych appertayued to Pachorus as I find doun Without capitaine for they were left behynde To withstande this Romayne Cassius Herodes hath his sonne sent agayne Whych anone after the story telleth thus Amyd the felde vnhappely was slayne To trust fortune it is a thynge but vayne Whiche of custome to day is fauourable And to morowe geryshly chaungeable Of Pachorus dethe whan the noise arose And the distressynge of his chyualry And to Herodes abydyng in Parthois Tyding was brought farde as he would die Of hertely sorow fyl in to a frensy Heyre was none left of the royall lynes Saue thurty bastardes borne of concubines Thus Herodes was cast in great sickenes Hys sonnes deth was to hym importable Hys worldly ioy was gon his gladnes Fortune cōtrary which neuer can be stable Age fylon hys lyfe was not durable And of one thyng most he dyd hym drede Cause he had none heire to succede Whyche woulde not suffre him lyue in pees Tyll at the last he caught a fantasy Chase a bastarde called Pharactes Bycause he was famous in chyualry Gaue him the crowne and the regaly Which anone after breuely to conclude Slewe Herodes of ingratitude The .vi Chapiter ☞ Howe Fimbria a Consull of Rome slewe him selfe AFter to Bochas by processe of this boke Foure myghty princes notable of estate Towarde him thei cast chere loke Lyke vnto folke that were infortunate With whom fortune had ben at debate For by their maner as it sempt wele They were at mischiefe fall fro her whele First Fymbria a romayne consulere Sent by the romayns to a great cite Called Nichomede came as a
the pyrates and these false robbours I gadred out were of the region Called Sylla whych lyke to rauinours Made agayne Rome a conspiracion Robbed and spoyled saylyng vp and doun Romayne marchātes people of ech countre That none was so hardy to passe by the see After Pompey had made the see to obey That Pyrate none durst theron abyde He by the Senate was sent out to warrey Towarde thorient his knightes by his syde And where soeuer that he dyd abyde Mine auctour writeth by influence of heauē His conquest was swifte as fyre or leuin And to the encrease of his eternal glorye Perpetually to get hym a name Hys laude and renome to put in memorye He buylded a cite in Asia of great fame Called Nichopoly Bochas sayeth the same Twene two flodes that one Araxases And that other was called Eufrates He buylded this cite onely of entent That Romayne knyghtes y t were fall in age And such as were in the warres spent Shoulde of custome haue their herbergage Thys was the custome and vsage In that cite alway and not fayle Beddyng and clothes spendyng vytayle Pompeye after rode in to Armeny Rebell to Rome where Tigranes was king Fought w t him there through his chyualry Disconfyted hym there was none abidynge Where Tigranes hym selfe submyttynge Vnto Pompeye wyth euery circumstaunce Euer to abyde vnder hys obeysaunce Than in al haste Pompey gan hym hye To ryde to Asia where lyke a manly knyght He gate the kyngdome called Albanye Whych toke his name who so loke aryght Of whytnes for euery maner wyght That there is borne by recorde of writynge White as snowe hath his heer shynyng There ben houndes marueilous of nature For tassaile bulles and lyons No wylde beast may agayne them endure So Pompeye by many regions Rode thrugh Armeny with hys champions Where growen herbes y ◠may neuer faynt What euer colour man lyst wyth thē paynt Conquered realmes aboute in euery coost Of Hiberie he gate the region And Arsaces the kynge wyth al hys host Disconfited as made is mencion With his power to Surry he came doun Than to Fenice a kyngdome of great fame Whyche of Fenix whylome toke his name Brought al these countrees to subieccion Of Sidonye the myghty strong cyte Of Iturie he toke possessyon Chrugh Araby he came downe to Jude Whyche of Jewes was sometime the coūtre Of Libanus he passed the mountaine Where Ceders growe as authours sayne Sent tofore him entring in that realme One Gabinius a myghty stronge constable Reignyng that tyme in Jerusalem Aristobolus a prince ful notable And for the temple was strong pregnable Layde a siege about in bred and length Space of thre monthes gate it so by strength Three M. Jewes vnder y e wall were founde Dead at the assaut whych made resistence The wal after beaten downe to grounde Pompey than by sturdy violence Is entred in without reuerence Sancta sanctorum men that place call Made by Hyrcanus hyest preist of all The great byshoppe Aristobolus Sent to Rome in myghty cheynes boūde Towarde Septētrion I fynde wrytten thus Gate .vii. kingdōs with citees walled roūde Rebel to Rome he dyd them confounde Wyth myghty swerde gate all the countre Fro Caucasus downe to the reed see In his conquest it sempt verily As the goddes had done theyr cure And that fortune was wyth them eke busy This mighty Pompey prince of Assure What euer hym list by conquest to recure In Spayne he gate whan they were rebels Thre C. cytees and .lx. stronge castels Harde to remembre his conquestes echone Al the prowesses of thys knyghtly man Towarde the partie of Septentrion A thousande castels I fynde that he wan Sixe hundred mo fro tyme that be began Eight and thirty citees out of dout With mighty walles closed rounde aboute Peyse his dedes his conquestes marciall Thrise Consul chose for his encrees Rede ye shall fynde howe he was egall To Alysandre or to Hercules Where that euer he put hym selfe in prees Al came to hande concludyng ye maye se To commen profite of Rome the cyte His marcial dedes to put in remembraunce One was chose to do his diligence To enacte his conquestes in substaunce And his knighthode to singuler excellence And Trifanes famous of eloquence Assigned was vnto that labour Toke his guerdon of the common treasour Pompey of Rome was chefe gouernour Cesar absente in Gaule a far countre Which time Pompey stode in great fauour Both of Fortune and Rome the citye Somwhat made blynde of hys prosperite Purposyng in his clymbing not stable He would haue none y ◠were to hym sēblable Vnto purpose was sayd ful yore agone Howe that loue nouther hye lordshyppe Prefe hath bene made in many mo than one Nouther of thē would haue no felowshyppe Eche by his own would hys partie kepe In these two cases brother vnto brother Fayleth at a poynt eche wyll put out other To Pompey resortynge nowe agayne He toke on him al the gouernaile Of y ◠Romains as ye haue herde me sayne Both of estates commons and porayle And for his parte al that myght auaile In makinge lawes statutes or decre Al vp engrosed by hys aucthoritie Folke this while which that had enuy Towarde Cesar in his long absence Let make a lawe by conspiracy And a statute concluding in sentence Without excepcion fauoure or reuerenc◠No man should by wil of the Senate In his absence be chose to none estate Nor be admitted by no procuratoure To haue aucthorite of dignite or office In court of Tribune nor of Senatoure To be promoted this was theyr aduice Wer he neuer so manly nor so wise This lawe ordained by folke enuious For hyndring onely of Cesar Julius Whan Julius knewe their false working Fro Gaule sent vp to the cite Al the Senate requiring by wrytyng To graunt him by their auctorite Of triumphe the notable dignite To haue also the offyce and estate Called in Rome the second Consulate For hym allegyng many a great vyctorye In diuers countrees done for the cite Many conquestes notable of memorye Wrought by the knyghthode of his equite Requiringe them guerdoned for to be But contrary vnto his entent They denied him al by one assent Which was chefe grounde rote occasion That brought in fyrst the controuersye Ciuil discordes and frowarde deuision Whan euery man drought to hys partie Of olde hatered to kyndel newe enuy Causing princes Julius and Pomey To theyr confucion eche other to warrey The triumphe denied to Cesar Fraude of Pōpey made him therof fayle Of whose disceite Julius was ware Made him redy wyth many a strong battaile Passed ouer the Aipes of Itayle Fully in purpose playnely if he might With the Romains and Pōpey for to fight Thus gan the warres atwene these princes twayne Pōpey chose for partie of the toun To be their duke and captayne souerayne Agayne Cesar as made is mencion And thus alas the desolacion Sued of the cite by many a strange
signe With vncouth tokeÌ„s whan they gan maligne At the ginnyng of these woful warres In the heuyn were sene dredful sightes Sparclyng broÌ„des comets vncouth starres Flame of fyre w t many fearfull lyghtes Lyke lampes breÌ„ning al the longe nightes Castynge of speres and dartes in the aire Wherby Romayns fylin great dispayre From the partye of Septentrion Towarde Rome came full great lyghtninge At noone sene starres lyke blode the son shon The Mone eclypsed terrible in shewyng The mount Ethna fearfully brennyng From hys cauernes cast vp flames rede Toward Itaile whych set theÌ„ in great drede But of Caribdes a danger in the see Wawes terrible boyled vp lyke blode From the rockes that in Cicile be Was herd houâ—â—ng of houÌ„des that were wode Vesta the goddesse in Rome where she stode Myd her teÌ„ple was al wyth teares spreynt WhaÌ„ the heueÌ„ly fyres were afore her queint Afore the goddesse at the auter principle Was fire perpetuall brennyng day nyght Tyl warres ciuyle hateful and terrible Gan amoÌ„g Romayns in the coÌ„tagious fight Than of vengeauÌ„ce anon was queit y â— lyght Tofore Vesta the fyre partynge on twayne Of diuision a token ful certayne Erthe quaues sodayne and terrible Ouertourned castels vp so doune Wyth flodes rage hydous and horrible Neptunus dyd great distruction Drowned vyllagest and many a mansion Reuersed in temples of golde al their vessels Threwe doun baners staÌ„derdes and pensels Gayne these sygnes was founde none arest The vnware mischefe coude no maÌ„ declyne Lyons wolues came doun fro the forest Wyth many other beastes sauagyne Wylde beastes and serpentes of rauyne Came to the cite and some agayne kynde Spake as do men in Bochas as I fynde Dyuers foules which of their nature Haue in custome to flye but a nyght Afore these warres dyd hem selfe assure At midday whan Phebus is most bryght Through their cite for to take their flyght Women with chylde the story lyst not fayn Brought forth some that had heades twaine Tofore these warres that called were ciuyle Senatours beyng in Rome town Came to the woman that called was Sibile Vnto her made thys question To declare by short conclusion Among their other questions al Of their cite what fortune shoulde be fall To whom she gaue an answere full obscure Wherupon she made them sore muse Toke them sixe letters set in playne scripture Which in no wyse they myght not refuse For false rightes that they dyd vse Lyke the thre letters twyse set in numbre Who VnderstaÌ„deth they shall y â— toun encoÌ„bre Thre R R R fyrst she set on a rowe And thre F F F in order fast by Long tyme after or they coude knowe The exposicion thereof openly Tyl their diuinours gan serche subtelly To fynde out lyke to their entent By the sixe letters what Sibylement Of this worde regnum the fyrst letter is R So is the capitall of Rome the citye Who loketh a ryght the thirde is not ferre This worde ruet gynneth wyth R parde Of whiche wordes whan they ioyned be The sentence concludeth in meanyng Of their cite the ruinous fallynge Touchyng thre F F F who can aduertise Of this worde Ferro F goth toforne And the chefe letter of Fame to deuyse Is F also the processe wel forthe borne The same of FlaÌ„ma by whyche y e towne was lorne Of which reasons make a coniuÌ„ction Causyng of Rome finall distruction Fyre swerd hunger caused by the warres Desyre of clymbyng frowarde ambicion Sheweyng of cometes vncouth sterres With pronostikes of their descrecion Worst of al wilful deuision Among them selfe by vnware vyolence Of letters syxe accomplished the sentence The swerde of Cesar werres of Pompey Twene these twayne lastyng a great whyle Made many a Romayne and Italien to dey By the battayls that called were Ciuyle With prophecies remembred of Sibile As the writyng ful wel reherce can Of the olde Poete that called was Lucan In Martes temple on heith where he stode And Bellona the goddes dispitous The preestes cried offred vp their blode With lamentacion lyke folke furious Cause of tokens fel and contrarious Whych that were shewed in that sentuary How their gods to Romains were coÌ„trarye Among deade bones that lay in their graues Were voyces herd lyke woodmen in their rages Crye of gostes in cauernes in caues Herde in feldes pathes and passages Laborers fled home to their vyllages Serpentes and adders scaled syluer bryghte Were ouer Rome sene flying al the nyght Another token pitous for to here Which astonied many a proude Romayne Dead bodies dyd in the feldes appere Whiche in battayle had afore be slayne Fro their tombes risyng where they layne Whiche in the warres wofull and dispitous Were slayne by Sylla proude Marius It was eke tolde by their diuinours Howe Pompeyus was lyke to haue a fall And howe thestate of Romayne Emperours With theyr triumphes that be imperiall At Julius fyrst nowe begyn shall And after him thestate shal forth procede By election or in Linial kinrede To withstande the power of Cesar Which towarde Rome toke hys waye ryght PoÌ„pey was sent wise manly ryghte ware But whan he herde tel of the myght Of Julius he toke hym to flyght Eke all the Senatours wyth hym dyd flee Towarde Epyre in Grece a stronge cite Pompey was holde famous in chiualry Cesar but yong and hardy for tassayle Vpon the plaines of Grece and Thessaly Pompey and he had a great battaile Gayne Julius swerde no Romaine might auaile CoÌ„strained of force y â— felde to forsake Toward Egipt they haue the way take PoÌ„pey thorugh Cipre came to Tholome By a great water at Paphus dyd ariue On the stronde there he dyd se A stately place and vp he went bliue The name of which plainly to discriue Cacobasyle the countre dyd it cal Of whych name the fortune is thus fal The name tokeneth of frowarde ariuaile Sownyng in great vnhappy auenture By which the trust of Pompey dyd fayle Fyl in dispeyre and myght it not recure Forsoke that yle dyd hys busye cure To take a shyppe so by the see sayling Towarde Egipt where Tholome was king Of trust he fledde to this Tholome In hope he shoulde fynde in hym socour Fayre chere shewed vnder duplicite Fayled at the poynt gaue him faint fauour Albe Pompey by his frendly labour Crowned hym kyng in Egipt as I fynde To whome agayne he was false vnkynde To mete Pompey he let stuffe a barge By a maner pretence of frendlyhede Gaue his meyny that were there in charge To murdre PoÌ„pey behight theÌ„ gret mede Tweyne there were y â— bare to him haterede And in the vessel with sharpe swerdes whet Or he was ware of his head they smet That one of them was called Achylas And his felowe named was Fotyne Toke vp the head of that prince alas Famous in knighthode borne of gentell line Among Romains as authours determine Holde in hys tyme if men do hym ryght Through al the
worlde one the best knyght Thus erthly princes w t at their poÌ„pus fame Which ouer the world yeueth so gret a soun Of slauter and murdre they toke firste their name By false rauyn and extorcion Clambe so vp fyrst to dominacion BreÌ„nyng of countreis conquest by vyolence Set them in chaires of worldly excellence In this batayle that called was ciuile Holde atwene Pompey Cesar Julius Thre hundred M. slayne within a whyle Thre thousande take the story telleth thus Without princes not able and glorious As kynges and pretours reckned al atones Tribunes Consuls and Centuriones Phebus on y â— soil might not his bemes spred Nor on the grouÌ„de shewe out his clere lyght Men that were slayne laye so thicke on brede That of the earth no man had a syght Wolues beares rauinous foules of flight Came great plente to fede there eche day Besyde the ryuer of Nile where they lay Gobbets of fleshe whych foules dyd arace Fro dead bodies borne vp in the ayre Fyl fro the clawes vpon Julius face Amydde the felde where he had repaire Made his visage blody and not fayre Albe that he to his encrees of glorye Had thylke day of Romayns the vyctory The head of PoÌ„pey brought w t his stately rig Offâ—â—d vp to Julyus hye presence He by compassyon the murdre aduertisyng Of his innate imperyal excellence Brast out to wepe and in his aduertence Thought it pyte a price of so great myght Shuld so be slayn y â— was so good a knight The corse abode without a sepulture Tyll one Codrus of compassyon After the batayle and disconfyture Besought hym of great affection To hyde the trunke lowe in the saÌ„des doun Sought tymbre there he fonde but small To do exequies with fyres funerall Nowe sith thys prince came to suche mischefe Murdred slayne by Tholome the kyng Here of her power fortune hath made a prefe What trust there is in any worldly thynge After his deth wanted he not buryeng This proude PoÌ„pey so famus of his hande Of fyshe deuoured as he lay on quicsande What shall men set by power or noblesse Of slyding goodes or any worldly glory Which to restrayne may be no syckernes Fortune and the worlde is so transitory Though Mars to day gyue a man victorye Parcase to morowe vnwarely he shal dey I take recorde of Cesar and Pompey Sith al stant vnder daunger of Fortune Ye worldly men do your loke vp dresse To thilke place where ioy doth aye coÌ„tune The blynde lady hath there none entresse Set pride asyde take you to mekenesse To sue vertue do truely your labour Gaine al pompe make PoÌ„pey your myrrour ¶ Lenuoy THys tragedy of Duke Pompey Declareth in grosse the chefe occasion Why he and Cesar gan fyrst warrey Eche againe other through vayne ambicion To haue lordshyppe and dominacion Ouer y e Romains by fauer fraude or mighte Possession take no force of wrong nor ryght To trouthes partie pride is loth to obey Extort power doth great distruction Wyse policye al out of the waye Prudent counsaile age with discrecion Lost their liberte of free eleccion Who was most stronge with him helde euery wyght Possession take no force of wronge nor right Such deuision made many man to dey Brought the cyte to desolacion With two princes fortune lyst to pley Till from her whele she cast theÌ„ both doun Subtel disceit fraude and collusion By ambicious climbinge blent their syght Possession take no force of wronge nor right Noble princes remembre what I saye Peyse this story wythin youre reason Of false surmouÌ„ting auarice beareth the key Recorde of Cesar Pompey of Rome toun Whose wylfull warres hateful discencion Geueth clere warning to you euery wyght No claime is worth without title of ryght The .xii. chapter ¶ Howe victorious Julius Cesar brente the vessels of Tholome slough Achilas that woulde haue murdred hym and after great victories was murdred with him selfe bodkins by Brutus Cassius AFter the woful complaynte lamentable Of Pompeyes deth pitous for to here Warres remeÌ„bred w t tresoÌ„s importable Compassed fraudes faced with fayre chere Conspired murdre rehersed the manere How kinge Tholome fraudulent of courage The dethe conspired of Pompey fall in age The processe tolde I holde it were but vayne Thereof to wryte a newe tragedy Thing ones sayde to reherce agayne It were but ydel as for that partie But howe Cesar went out of Thessaly Came to Alisandre to lodge him in that place I will remeÌ„ber with supporte of youre grace He lodged was in the paleys royall Where he was busy by diligent labour Through that region in temples royal To spoile goddes and haue al their treasour Where he was mocked and founde no fauour For Achilas whych that slewe Pompey Cast him with Cesar proudly to warrey His purpose was to fall vpon Cesar As of nature was hys condicion Falsely to murdre men or they were ware By some sleight to fynde occasion To distroy Julius by treason And to accomplyshe hys purpose in party Had twenty thousande in hys company This Achilas false cruel and disceyuable Cast him disceyue Cesar if he myght â–ª Of the Egipciens leader and constable With the Romayns purposeth for to fyghte But whan Cesar therof had a fyghte He is discended â–ª and fast by the see Brent al the nauy of kynge Tholome All the vessels were driuen vp wyth a flode To great domage of the sayd Tholome Julius brent them euyn there he stode And a great parte besyde of the cite And there was brent which was great pite The famous lybrary in Egipt of the kyng Full .xl. thousande volumes there lying In which thing Bochas reherseth in sentence Howe Tholome was greatly commendable That through his busy royall prouidence Made him selfe a librarye so notable For to al clerkes in study that were able Of seuen sciences the story bereth mynde Lyke their desire myght bokes fynde After this fyre in Farus the countre The Egipciens had a great battaile Wher Cesar was of great necessite That day constrained whan y e felde can fayle Toke a barge from Egypt for to saile But so great prees folowed at his backe Almost the vessel was lyke to go to wracke Cesar armed with letters in his hande Put his person that daye in a venture Two hundred paas he manly swam to lande And coÌ„nyngly to lande he doth recure Notwithstandyng his heuy great armure But yet tofore or Cesar toke the see He in the felde had take Tholome And Achilas the murdrer of Pompey With al his felowes that were of assent Were slayne that daye there went non away Many Egipcien the same tyme brent Cesar of mercy for Tholome hath sent To Alysandre sent hym home of newe Charging he should to Romaynes be trew But whan he was deliuered from prison Of Egipciens in Alysandre the cite From euery coast gadred great foyson Againe Julius came downe with his meyne But yet for all hys hasty cruelte Such
during al his life Maried he was had a right fayre wyfe Children many seruauntes yong and olde And as I finde he helde a good houshoulde De Officiis he wrote bokes thre De Amicitia I fynde how he wrote one Of age another notable for to se Of morall vertue they treated euerychone And as Vyncent wrote full yore agone In his myrrour called Hystoriall Nombre of his bokes be there remeÌ„bred all He wrote also the dreme of Scipion Of rethorike compiled bokes twayne And twayne he wrote of diuinacion Of titell of land to write he did his paine A large boke of glorie that is vaine Dere Publica and he saith him selue Of his oracions he wrote bokes twelue And of his dities that called be morall Is remembred notably in dede In the said myrrour Historiall And yet this said Tullius as I rede Myd his worshyps stode alway in drede Of fortune for in conclusion He by enuy was banished Rome toun Beyng in exile this famous Tullius At Campania in Atiue the cite Receiued he was of one Plaucius A man that time of great authorite And while that he abode in that countre Sleping a night the boke maketh mencion How that he had a wonders vision He thought thus as he laie sleping In a desert and great wildernesse Finding no pathe but to and fro romyng Howe he mette cladde in great richesse Gaius Marius a prince of great noblesse Askyng Tulli with a sadde countenaunce What was chefe and cause of his greuaunce Whan Tullius had him the cause tolde Of his disease and his mortal wo Marius with his hande set on him holde To a â—ergiaunt assigned him right tho And in all hast bad him he should go To conuey him do his bu sy cure In all hast possyble to his sepulture Where he should haue tidinges of plesaunce Of his repeyre in to Rome towne Be alleyed of his olde greuaunce This was th ende of his auision The next morow as made is mencion There was hold to Tullius great aueile Tofore Jupiter in Rome a great counsayle Within the temple buylded by Marius The Senatours accorded were certaine To reconsile this prudent Tullius Out of his exile to call him home againe After receiued as lord and soueraine Of eloquence by assent of the Senate Fully restored vnto his fyrst estate This thinge was don whan y â— Rome toun Was at grettest strife twene Cesar PoÌ„pey And for Tullius drue him to Caton With Pompeius Cesar to warrey And of Julius the partie disobey Out of Rome Tullius dyde him hie Fledde with Pompey in to Thessalie Cesar after of his free mocion Whan he stode hiest in his glorie Hym reconsyled againe to Rome town Vpon Pompey accomplished the victorie But Julius slaine in the consistorie By sixty Senatours being of assent Tullius againe was in to exile sent And in a cite called Fariman Tullius his exile dyd endure For Antonius was to him enemy than Bycause that he percase of auenture Compiled had an inuectife scripture Agayne Antony rehersing all the caas Of his defautes and of Cleopatras Thus of enuy and of mortall haterede His deth compassed by Antonius And afterward execute in dede By procuring of one Pompilius Gate a coÌ„mission the storie telleth thus Of false malice and forthe anone went he In to Gayre of Compayne the cite And by the vertue of his commission Taking of Antony licence and liberte Chefe rethorician that euer was in the toun Among Romains to worshyp the cite Was slaine alas of hate and enmyte By Pompilius rote of all falshead Profering him selfe to smite of his head Tullius afore had be his defence Fro the galowes and his dethe eke let Which had deserued for his great offence To haue ben banged vpon an hie gybet Who saueth a thefe whan the rope is knet About his necke as olde clerkes write With some false turne y e bribour wil hi quite Lo here the vice of ingratitude By experience brought fully to a prefe Who in his hert treason doth enclude Cast for good wyl to do a man reprefe What is the guerdon for to saue a thefeâ— Whan he is escaped loke and ye shall fynde Of his nature euer to be vnkinde This Pompilius traitour most odible To shewe him selfe false cruell veÌ„geable Toward Tully did a thing horrible Whan he was dead this brâ—bour most culpable Smit of his right haÌ„d to heare abominable With which hande he lerning on him toke To write of vertues many a famous boke The hande the head of noble Tullius Which euery man of right ought complaine Were take and brought by Pompilius Vpon a stake set vp both twayne There to abide where it did shyne or rayne With wynde weder tyll they were defyed In token al fauour was to him denied ⧠The .xvi. Chapter * A chapiter againe ianglers and dyffamers of rethorike BOchas complaining in hys studye alone The death of Tulli and the wofull fall Grudging in hert made a pitous mone The folke rebuking in especiall Which of nature be boystous and rurall And hardy ben for they no conning haue Craft of rethorike to hindre and depraue Clerkes olde did greatly magnifie This noble science that were expert wyse Called it parte of philosophy And said also in their prudent auise There be thre partes as tresours of gret prise Compiled in bokes and of olde prouided In to which Philosophie is deuided The first of them called is Morall Which directeth a man to good thewes And the second called Natural Telleth the kinde of goodmen and shrewes And the thirde racionall well shewes What men shal voide and what thing vnderfong And to that partie Rethorike doth belong By Tullius as authours determine Of his person rehersing in substaunce Traunslated was fro Greke into Latine Craft of rethorike and for the abundance Of eloquence stuffed with plesaunce All oratours remembred him toforne Was there none like nor after him yet borne Bochas also saithe in his writinges And preueth wele by reason and sentence To an oratour longeth four thinges First natural wyt practike with science Vertuous life chefe grounde of eloquence Of porte aâ—d maner that he be tretable These meanes had mine auctor hold hi able In his writing and in his scriptures Bochas wele parceiueth it must nedes ben Howe y â— of right there long fiue armures To euery notable rethoricien Sette here in order who list them sene Whiche he calleth rehersing in sentence The fiue baners longing to eloquence The fyrst of them called Inuencion By whiche a man dothe in his hert finde A secrete grounde founded on reason With circcÌ„staunces y t nought be left behinde Fro poynt to poynte imprinted in his minde Touching y â— matter y e substaunce the great Of whiche he cast notably tentreat Another armure in order the seconde Of right is called Disposicion As of a matter whan the grounde is founde That euery thing by iust deuision Be voide of al foreine digression So disposed touching
time and space Fro superfluite kepe his due place The third armure named in sentence Is Elocucion with wordes many or fewe Matters conueyed by iust conuenience Diposed in order coÌ„uenably to shewe Like a caruer that fyrst doth tymbre hewe Sqware and compasse cast fetures vysage With caruing tole maketh vp a fayre ymage Pronunciacion is the fourth armure Necessary to euery oratour In such case whan craft vnto nature Joyned is by diligent labour With elocucion and that there be fauour In declaring with euery circumstaunce Folowing the mater in chere countenaunce An heuy mater requireth an heuy chere To a gladde matter longeth well gladnesse Man in pronounsing must folow the matere Olde oratours can beare herof wytnesse A furious complaint vttred in distresse This was y e maner as poetes do discriue In his tragedies whan Senec was a liue The fifte armure called Remembraunce With quicke memorie by prouidence to se So auisely to groce vp in substaunce Holy his maters that nought forgoten be Lest forgetfulnesse derke nat the liberte Of clere report eche thing to haue in mynde That in pronounsing nothing be left behind Afore prouided so that forgetfulnesse Be no hindrer to inuencion And in proceding no foreyne rechelesnesse Trouble nat the order of disposicion And for taccomplishe all vp with reason That pronounsing by clere remembraunce Be well fauoured with chere countenauÌ„ce These said thinges be inly necessary To euery prudent notable oratour Nat to hasty nor ouerlong to tary But to conuey his processe by measure In chere according stant all the fauor For in pronounsing who lacketh chere or face Of Tullius schole standeth far out of grace All erthely bestes be muet of nature Saue onely man which hath auauntage By a prerogatiue aboue eche creature To vtter his conceite onely by langage The soule by grace represseth all outrage Namely whan reason hath the soueraynte To bridel passions of sensualite Kinde vnto man hath giuen eloquence A thing conuenable en especial Whan that it is conueied by prudence To talke of matters that be natural And secretes hyd aboue celestiall Doth entreat of sonne mone starres Thinâ—â—uent power sent of pees and warres God of all this hath graunted knowleging Onely to man by wysedom and reason And through langage giue to him shewyng Outwarde to make declaracion Of the heuenly course and sondrie mocion Diuers chaunges and plainly to diffine The reuolucion of the spheres nyne Men by langage shewe out their ententes The naturall meuing and mutacions Accorde and discorde of the four elamentes Kyndly variaunce of four complexions The generacion and the corrupcions Of erthely thinges contrary eche to other Corrupcion of one engendring of another This is the power and the precellence Which is giue to man reasonable That by langage and by eloquence A man is taught in vertue to be stable Of soule eternall of body corrumpable Taught with his tong while he is aline Of his defautes howe he shall him shryue Bochas eke telleth touching rethorike There be two maners one is of nature Lerned in youth which doth one speke lyke As he hereth or lerneth by scripture Craft of rethorike is giue to no creature Saue to man which by great diligence By study cometh to craft of eloquence Crafte of langage and of prudent speche Causeth prechours by spyrituall doctrine Vertuously the people for to teche Howe they shall liue by moral discipline Langage techeth men to plant wine Enformeth folke to worshyp holy churche The artificer truely for to wurche Yet there be some y â— plainly teche and prâ—che Haue of langage this opinion God hath nat most regard vnto speche But to the heart and to the affection Best gan guerdon the inwarde intencion Of euery man nat after the visage But like the meuing of their inward corage To our langage is great diuersite Whan men shew theffect of their mening Beit of ioye or of aduersite Chere for taccorde therwith in vttring Nowe debonayre som while rebuking And in rehersing like chere alway tapply Be it of rudenesse be it of curtesy Of discrecion sette a difference In his pronounsinge to perce or vndermine To drawe the iudge vnto his sentence Or to his purpose to make him to encline Se wheder he be melancolike or benigne Or his matere be vttred or vnclosed Consider afore howe that he is disposed Peised all this thing by a rethoricien With other thiges which apperteine of right To craft of speche he must conceiue and sene Maters of substaunce matters y â— be light Dispose him selfe tentreate euery wight Like to purpose and fine of his matiere As for the time rethorike dothe require As by ensample myne auctor dothe recorde Men set at warre in hert farre a sonder The rethoricien to make them for taccorde Must seche wayes meanes here yonder Of olde rancour tappeise y e boystous thunder By wise examples prouerbes pertinent Tenduce the parties to be of one assent A man also that stant in heuinesse Dispeired and disconsolate The rethoricien must do his busynesse The grounde considred felt of his estate The cause serched why he stant dissolate Which to reforme by diligent labour Is the true office of euery oratour Of rethoriciens whilom that were olde The sugred langage vertuous daliauÌ„ce By good ensample prouerbes y â— they tolde Wordes pesible enbelished with plesaunce Appesed of tyrantes the great veÌ„geaunce Sette aside their furious sentence By vertue onely of prudent eloquence And contrary plainly to conclude Men se all day by clere experience Folke vnauised and hasty foles rude And braynlesse people of wylfull negligence Bycause they were barraine of eloquence Vttryng their speche as naked men bare For lacke of rethorike their matter to declare By clere exaÌ„ple as purple who taketh hede LoÌ„geth to kinges in storie ye may finde With clothes of golde and riche veluet wede Fret with Rubies and other stones Inde Saphirs emeraudes peerles of their kynde As all these thinges appropred be of right Plesaunt obiectes to a mannes sight So the langage of rethoriciens Is a gladde obiecte to mannes audience With song melodious of musiciens Whiche doth great coÌ„fort to euery presence As by example Amphion w t song eloquence Buylded the walles of Thebes the cite He had of rethorike so great subtilite In his langage there was so gret plesaunce Finding therby so inly great profite That all the countre came to his obeysaunce To here him speke they had so great delite The people enuyron had such an appetite In his person in peace and in bataile Here me may se what rethorike doth aueile ☞ The .xvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Sextus warreied againe Triumuir and of the death of great Antonie and Cleopatras FOlowing thorder of Bochas in his boke Wyth penne in hande as he caste vp his eie Tofore him came pale of chere loke A mighty prince sonne vnto Pompeye Called Sextus whiche as bokes saye
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
Cesar was deified Of whō by Romains was set vp an ymage But whan he sawe he was espied He ran to Julius hie vpon a stage Gan him to enbrace in his piteous rage He rent away by sodaine violence Vnwarely slaine there gained no defence Next in order came Cesarius Of whom there fill a wondre pitous caas Whilom beget of Cesar Julius Vpon the yong fayre Cleopatras Slaine in his youth thus writeth Bochas As Octauian dyd him selfe assigne For he gaine Romains should nat maligne Folowing in order Julia began Hir greuous complaint to Bochas specify Whilom doughter to great Octauian With weping gan to houle and crie Which by her father to punish her lechery Exiled was out of her countre For lacke of socour died in pouerte Her son Agrippa yong and tendre of age Borne of hie blode Bochas doth expresse Came next in order pale of his visage Which spent his time in slombre idelnesse Froward to vertue for his wretchednesse Octauian which was great touthe Suffred him die at mischef for his slouth After Agrippa came forth anone right Cassius of Parme a famous great countre Which in Itaile was holde a māly knight With Marke Antony wele cherished secre Bode in his court and there withall parde Greatly alowed fyrst for his chiualry And for his notable famous policy And there withall he had in existence A right great name stode in great fauour For his knighthode for his hie prudence After accused vnto the Emperour Octauian for a coniuratour He should haue be of frowarde false entent To Julius death fully of assent For whiche by bidding of Octauian Take he was being but yong of age And as mine auctor well remembre can Brought tofore Julius hie vpon a stage There offred vp vnto his ymage By cruell death ▪ the storie telleth thus For the false murdre of Cesar Julius After the death of the saide Cassius Another came of Rome the cite Which as I rede called was Galbus Of a Pretour hauing the dignite And for suspection slaine eke was he His eyen fyrst out of his head were rent For Julius death than in to exile sent Toward his exile by brigantes he was slaine And After that within a litel while Of his labour nouther gladde ne faine Bochas began to dyrecte his stile To great Herodes breuely to compile His greuous fal and holy the manere To set in order next as ye shall here The .ii. Chapter ⧠How the tyraūt Herodes slough his wyfe and chyldren and after died at myschefe REmembrynge fyrste in Jurye he was kyng Antipater his father who lyst se In Arabia mightely reignyng Ouer the prouynce called Idume This same Herodes gardeyne of Galile Ordayned was fyrste for his hye prudence And for his notable knyghtly excellence Famous in manhode famous of his lyne Famous also by procreacion I rede also he had wyues nyne And amonge all as made is mencion To hys pleasaunce and his opinion Maister of stories reherseth there was one Mariannes fayrest of echone By whom he had worthy sonnes twayne Alysander and Aristobolus But for his suster dyd at her disdaine Called Saloma the storie telleth thus He vnto her wext suspicious Bycause she was accused of enuy By Saloma touchyng auoutry Agayne her of rancour sodaynly He gan of herte greuously disdayne With rigorous hert he slewe her furiously But as the storie doth vs ascertayne He for her deth after felte great paine Euer whan it came to his remembraunce Her porte her chere her womāly plesaunce Lo what it is a prince to be hasty To euery tale of rancour to assent And counsaylles to procede wilfully To execucion of frowarde false entent For Herodes so sore he dyd repent That he for thought fyl in to an noy Of hertely sorowe and malencoly Rest had he none nouther day ne nyght Troubled with fury that he wext frantyke w t dremes vexed many an vncouth syght Of chere nor colour to no man he was lyke And euery moneth ones lunatike A great whyle he had this wofull lyfe For sorowe onely he had slayne his wyfe And as the storye wel reherce can In the Capitoyle mydde Rome the cite By Antonye and by Octauian He crowned was and made kyng of Jude By the Senate made theron a decree And registred that he and his kynred Shulde in that lande lineally procede In Rome was made the confirmacion To this Herodes bokes specifye Beyng afore the translacion Was made of Juda and of Jurye Septer and crowne with all the regaly By hym vsurped as ye haue herde toforne Vpon the tyme whan Christ was borne This same Herodes by procuracion Of Antonye dyd also occupy By Augustus plener remission The great estate called Tretrarchy In two kyngdoms with al the regaly Of Traconitides Jtury eke also By the Romains made lorde of bothe two Mayster of stories reherseth of hym thus For commendacion in especiall In Aschalon he buylded a stately hous Of right great cost a palayes ful royal Was none so riche for to reken all After whych myne authoure doth so wryte He called was Herode Aschalonite This same Herodes cruell of nature Of chere and porte passyng ambicious Aye to be venged dyd his busy cure On al that were to hym contrarious Hys wyues brother Aristobolus In Jerusalem chefe byshoppe as I rede Falsely he slough of malyce and hatered Vniustly reigned borne through his realme His hert fret and cankred wyth enuy Another byshoppe in Jerusalem Called Hircanus myne authour lyst not lye This same Herodes in his malencoly Slewe hym vnwarely by rācour vengeable Setting at dyner at his owne table There was no man of corrage more cxuel Nor more desirous to be magnified To make his name also perpetual Four statelye cities he hath edified Of which the names be here specified Cesaria Sebastin citees souerayne Antipadra Cipre that other twayne He had also a false condition He trusted none that was of his kynrede His sonnes twaine he had in suspectiō Their purpose was to sley him of hatred Whan he were deade hopyng to succede And causelesse as father most vnkynde Made thē be slayne in story thus I fynde In al his workyng he was founde double A great tirant hold throgh his realme Neuer thinge so greatly dyd him trouble As whan thre kinges came to Jerusalem Jesu to seche that was borne in Bethelem Boldly affirmynge cause of their commynge Was to worshyp that blessed yonge kyng The which thynge whan he dyd aduertise Prophecies remembringe and writinges Within hym selfe a meane he gan deuise First to distroy these famous holy kynges Namely whan he knewe of their offrynges Imaginyng gan suppose blyue The child was borne that shuld him depriue Newly discended fro Dauid doun by line Cast almost Herodes in a rage Of cursed hert gan frowardly maligne Lyke a tirant of venomous outrage Slewe al the children within two yere of age About Bethelem a ful large space He spared none for fauour nor for grace One
maner of liuyng Of tilth labour to Ianus that was kyng Afore whose commyng tofore as I you tolde Craft was none vsed by no creature Nor no building of houses newe nor olde But liued as beastes their liuelode to recure Lyke as they were learned of nature They coude tho daies make no cloth ne shape Of frosty wethers the greuous colde tescape They were not busy by costfull apparayle Of sundry meates and confections Of diuers drinkes manifolde vitayle To be curious to their refections Marketts were none in cities nor in tounes No man wyth other bought nor solde Tyll Saturne came theÌ„ the maner tolde And whan he had taught them the manere And set an ordre of their gouernaunce There symple people as bokes do vs lere Lyke as to god did their attendaunce w t certaine rightes to do their obseruaunce Worshipped him and after did him call Saturne most myghty of their goddes al. After this Saturne was made a petegre To set an ordre conueied from his lyne Discending downe the maner who list se To one Latinus and so forth to Lauine Which was his doughter as poetes determie Thus by disceÌ„t fro Saturne Faunus Borne of their blode came Vitellius The fyrst knyght borne of that linage Bycause he was manly and ryght famous Had in armes prowesse and great corrage He called was Vitellius Publius And of him came Vitellus Lucius Father to him mine auctour doth expresse Of whom that I haue gonne this processe Diuers stories remembre plainly tell During hys youthe and stode at liberte How this for sayde that called was Vitell Was the most vicious y â— any where might be Yeue to ribaudy and al dishoneste Because of which chauÌ„ged was his name Called Spintour a name of great diffame I finde that he was an hasardour In all his workes passyng riotous For his surfetes great with the emperour That whilom was called Claudius And for his dedes and maners outragious For his great waste and prodigalite Of great dispce he fell in pouerte Amonge his riotes surfetes moe than one Whiche he did in countreis here and there I finde that he for nede solde a stone Which his mother bare whylom at her eare For by olde time was vsed who list lere Women that were that tyme of hye degre Bare at their eares stones and perre And by the sellyng of that rych stone For whych that he receyued great treasour By subtyll workyng sleightes mo than one He gate him trendes was made emperour And therewithall he dyd eke his labour To receyue another dignite To be chefe byshop in Rome the cite And in short tyme thys Vitellius Of th empyre toke on him al the state The sworde receiued of Cesar Julius Vsed a garnement that was purpurate Dempt of him selfe he was most fortunate Not w t staÌ„ding more boldely that time atleest Of Aliensoys holden was the feest Aliensoys was a solempnite Amonge Romaynes kept by dayes olde In freÌ„ch myne auctour recordeth thus parde And in that tyme of custome no man shoulde Nor by statute bounde was nor holde To do no maner occupacion That touched vnto religion Duryng this feast he should haue hys askyng By a custome vsed in that cite And Vitellius as emperour and kyng Asked that time another dignite To be chefe byshop and haue auctorite Of that estate wyth power hole playne No man so hardy to reply theragayne From al vertue Vytel dyd vary Set at nought al wysdome and science Thought vnto him was not necessary CoÌ„ning knighthode maÌ„hode nor prouideÌ„ce Gaue hym onely to slouth and negligence To glotony folowyng his desyres Watche alnyght wyth drinke â—eresoupers Beyng a byshop of their panym lawe Lyke romayne ryghtes doynge their seruise Tofore the goddes he wold him selfe w tdrawe And cast asyde senser and sacrifice And call a boy in ful vngodly wyse A kechyn boye tofore the hye auter And hym coÌ„mauÌ„ded to bryng hym hys dyner Beyng arayed in his pontificail For the maner voyde of deuocion Lyke a ribaude or lyke a wode minstral Euer dronkle we and out of all ceason Gorge vpon Gorge this excessyue gloton Most ydropike dranke oft agayne lust The more he dranke the more he was athrust Thys was a byshop sacred for Sathan And an emperour crowned wyth mischauÌ„ce More lyke in porte a beast than a man Vsed al his power in slaughter vengeauÌ„ce To shed blode was set all hys pleasaunce Takynge no hede nouther of wrong ne right And thus he wexte hatefull to euery wyght Hys soudiours forsoke hym nye echone In al parties by hym where they were sent Through al the countreis of Septemtrion And in al Surry towarde the orient Of one accorde and all of one assent Echone forsoke hym wyth him bode not a maÌ„ And became seruauntes to Vaspasian Vitellius sawe it wolde be none other And for feble of dronknenes and outrage And sawe the power gan fayle of hys brother Whan he had sent and signed the voyage Agayne Vaspasian to holde hys passage But al for nought backward went hys party Stode dyspayred of euery remedy Thus Vitellius vnhappy to the werres Lyke a fordronke vnhappy gloton Whose bost afore raught vp to the sterres Now al hys pryde in mischefe is come doun Fayne for to accord to thys conuencion For litel treasour whych men shoulde hym assygne To Vaspasian th empyre to resygne Thys was his promise but he held it nought What he sayd his worde was neuer stable Certaine flaterers chauÌ„ged had hys thoughte And certayne comoÌ„s that euer be chauÌ„geable Gaue him couÌ„saile sayd hym selfe was able To gouerne thestate imperial And none so able for to reken al. Fyrst of Almayne he sent out soudiours And of presumpcion a newe werre he gan Thought y â— he was amoÌ„ge other werriours Able to fight agayne Vaspasian And of auenture it befell so than In these werres Vaspasians brother Yslayne was it woulde be none other This froward man called Vitellius Vngracious euer founde in hys entent Smyt of the head of the sayde Fabius Brother of VaspasiaÌ„ and to Rome it sent And after that the Capitoyle he brent But suynge on within a lytel space Among Romayns he lost both hap grace Of hys riot what shoulde I more entrete For except riot nothynge of hym I rede His coke his pastelere folke were most mete To serue his lustes and appetites to fede Forsoke him not but went wyth hym in dede Toward Champayne ryght as any lyne Vp to a hyll called Auentyne Standing in hope but that was but in vayne Of Vaspasian the fauour to recure Euyn to Rome retourned is agayne The palays entred there him selfe to assure Hauyng with him none other creature The gates shyt whych was to him shame Take at the last forsoke hys owne name Halfe naked he was and halfe clad Al alone lyke as he was founde So in the citie afore the people lad Both his handes behynde hys backe bounde With mighty chaines and
Gan in Asia and with his host came doun By tygre Eufrates knightly so rydyng Towarde the partyes of Septemtryoâ— â–ª To Caucasus not ferre fro Babylon And all Surrye he proudlye dyd assayle And Capadoce he wan eke by batayle Whom for to mete came Vale rian To Mesopotayme with many legions The werre was stroÌ„g but this knightly man This hardy Sapor with his champions The felde hath wonne with all the legions Afore reherced and through Perce he lad Valerian bouÌ„de with chaynes rouÌ„d and sad He was by Sapor maugre hys vysage â–ª This ValeriaÌ„ so straytly brought to wrake Lyke a prisoner bounde to seruage By obeysaunce that founde were no lacke To knele on foure and profre his backe Vnto Sapor whan hym list to ride Therby to mounte for al his great pryde This was the offyce of Valerian By seruitude duryng many a yere Wherfore he was called of many a man The assendyng stocke in to the sadyll nere Whiche is in frenche called a mountuere This was his office to bowe doun his corse Whan y â— king Sapor shulde light on horse This is the guerdon fauour of fortune Her olde maner to princes and to kynges Her double custome vsed in commune By sodayne chaunge of all worldly thynges After triumphes and their vprisinges What foloweth after here well tell I can I take recorde of Valeryan Thys Lady fortune the blynde fell goddes To Valerian shewed herselfe vnstable Taught him a lesson of the doublenes To kyng Sapor she was fauourable But yet he was to cruell and vengeable Wyth his fete deuoyde of all fauoure To foyle the backe of an emperour Of olde it hathe be songe and cried loude Recorde on Cyrus and many other mo Kinges of Perce of custome haue be proude After punyshed and chastised eke also Princes of mercy shulde take hede therto After victory in their estate notable To their prisoners for to be merciable Myne autor Bochas in this mater tel can Rebuke tyrauntes that were by dayes old Turneth his side speketh to Valerian Where be thy rubies saphires set in golde Theryche peerles and rynges manifolde That y â— were wont to weare vpon thy hoÌ„ds Now as a wretch art bouÌ„d in forayn bondes where thou were wonte of furyous crueltie Clad in purple within Rome toune To Christ contrary in thyne imperyall se Gaue dome on martyrs to suffre passion Nowe lyest thou bound fettred in preson To kyng Sapor constrayned to enclyne whan he lyst ryde bothe necke and chine Thus art thou fall in thine imperial stage Thinke on fortune haue her in memory She hath the cast in thraldom and seruage And eclypsed all thine olde glory where thou sate whilom in the consistorye As an emperour and a mighty iudge Lyest bound in chayns knowest no refuge It is fall ferre out of thy mynde The knightly dede of worthy â—ublyus Of Rome a captayne ordayned as I finde To fyght agayne Aristomachus Kyng of Asye of fortune it fell thus whan the romayns dyd the felde forsake This Publius amonge his fone was take This noble prince standing in dredeful cace His lyfe worshyp dependyng atwen twayn In his hande holding a sturdy mace Smyt out one of his eyen twayne Of him that led him that other for the payne That he felte and the great smerte Toke a dagger roue Publyus to the herte which loued more his worship thaÌ„ his lyfe Chase rather to dye than liue in seruage This conceite he had in his imaginatife And considred sythe he was in age To saue his honoure it was more auauÌ„tage So to be slayne his worshyp to conserue Than lyke a beast in prison for to sterue Fortune his chaptre of him it was not rad As Valerius maketh mencion After whose conceyte no man in vertue sad Shulde not longe languy she in prison But rather chose lyke his opinion Of manly force and knightly excellence The dethe endure of longe abstynence As whylom dyd the princesse Agripine whan she in prison lay fettred and bound Of her fre choyce she felt great pyne Of hungre and thurst in story it is found That she lay pale grofe vpon the grounde Maugre Tibery and let her gost so wende Out of her bodye this was her fatall ende Thou stode ferre of all suche fantasy I speke of the O thou Valerian Thy cruell herte of false malencolye Made whylom dye many a christen man And martyr syth Christes faythe began Which for mankynde dyed vpon the Rode There for tacquyte hym lyste shed hys blode Agayne his lawe thou were impacient And importune by persecucion Thou dydest fauour suffre in thine entent â–ª That Egipciens dyd their oblacion Their sacryfices and ryte vp so doun Vnto ydols of frowarde wylfulnesse That was of Egipt called chefe goddesse Fauourable thou were in thy desire To suffre Iewes their sabote to obserue And Caldeis to worshyp the fyre And folke of Crete Saturne to serue And cristen men thou madest falsly sterue Of whose lawe for thou dyd not retche Thou died in presoÌ„ at mischefe like a wretch The .ii. Chapter ¶ Howe Gallyen sonne of Valerian was slayne NExt in ordre to Bochas tho caÌ„e doun Sonne of Valerian one called Gallien But for great horrible effusion Of christen bloud that men might sene Shed by Valerian God wold it shulde bene Shewed openly to romains by vengaunce Of manye a countre sodaine dis obeysaunce They of Almayne the Alpes dyd pace Vnto Rauenne a cite of Itaile Gothes also proude of chere and face Had agayne grekes many a great batayle And they of HuÌ„gry armed in plate mayle wyth them of Denmarke furious and cruell Agayne romayns wexte of assent rebell To whose domage in this meane whyle Amonge romayns it is befall thus wofull werres whiche called bene ciuile Gan in the cyte cruell and dispiteous First whan they met was slayne Gemyus which first toke on him in bokes as I rede Of hye corage to we are purple wede One Posthumus a mighty strong romayne Kept all Gaule vnder subiection To their auayle after vnwarly slaine Among his knightes for al his hye renoun By a sodayne vncouthe discencion Next Victoryne hauing the gouernaunce Of al Gaule was first slayne in Fraunce But Gallien of whom I spake toforne Sonne and heyre to Valerian His Domination of purpose he hath lorne In Republica whan he began Lyke a contrarious and a frowarde man wext lecherous and obstinate of liuinge At mischefe slayne â–ª this was hys endynge The .iii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Quintilius was murdred by women NExt Gallien came one Quintilius A man remembred of great atteÌ„perauÌ„ce Brother of byrth to great Glaudius wise and discrete in al hys gouernaunce who may of fortune eschue the chaunce To wryte his ende shortlye in a clause Of women murdred I can not say the cause The .iiii. Chapiter Of Aurielan in Denmarke borne OF Denmarke born next came Aurelian A worthy knight his enemies to assaile Again Gothes a great warre he began Gate victory
in many stronge batayle whose noble conquest greatly dyd auayle To comon profyt for al his worke parde was to the encreace of Rome the cyte He recured all the Septemtrion And west warde had many a great victory Amonge other I fynde that he was one Asked the triumphe to be put in memorye But there was a thing eclipsed his glorye which did y â— light of his knighthoâ— withdraw For he was enemy to Christ and to hys lawe Of him Bochas lyst no more to wryte But in his boke go forthe as he began Of one remeÌ„bring that called was Tacyte whych was successour to Aurelian And after him suceeded Folorian Of which twayne no remembrauÌ„ce I fynde That is notable to put in mynde The .v. Chapter Howe Probus discomfited romayns and after was flayne Probus after raygned full seuen yere And four monthes which by his hye renoun Gain went Saturninus w t a knightli chere Brought him proudly to subiection Not withstandyng that he in Rome toun Toke vpon hym of wylfull tyranny Holy th empyre for to rule and gye Besyde the cyte called Agrypyne This sayd Probus gayne many romayne A batayle had lyst not to declyne Met Portulus a mighty stronge captayne Wyth one Bonosus both they were slaine And all their meyny of very force and might Slaynm y â— felde the remnauÌ„t put to slyghte After this batayle and this discomfyture Probus was lodgedi Smyrmie a gret cyte And there vnwarely of sodayne auenture Slayne in a tour that called was Ferre But a small season last his prosperite Siche is fortune let no man in her trust All worldly thynges chaungyng as she lust The .vi. Chapter ¶ Howe Carus and his two sonnes were mischeued TOfore Bochas Carus next came doun with his two sonnes Numeria Carine And as I find he was borne in Narbon But whan that he most clerely dyd shyne By his knighthode plainly to termine In his empyre he gate cyties twayne Chole Thessiphontin Parthia w t gret payne Besyde Tygre a famous swyfte ryuere He pight his tentes cast him there abide A sodayne lightning his face came so nere Smyt all to pouder for all his great pryde And Numerian that stode by hys syde Had a marke that was sent fro heuyn Lost bothe his eyen with the firy leuyn His other sonne Carinus a good knight In Dalmacia had all the gouernaunce And for that he gouerned not a righte He was cast downe lost all his puissaunce Vicious lyfe cometh alway to mischaunce Sepcius chose Dalmacia for to gye Amonge his knightes murdred of enuy The vii Chapter ¶ How the hardy Quene zenobia fought with Aurelian and was take MIne auctor here no leÌ„ger lyst soiourne Of these eÌ„perours y â— falles for to write But in al haste he doth his stile tourne To zenobya hir story to endyte But for Chaucer dyd him so well acquite In his tragedyes her pyteous fal to entreat I wyll passe ouer rehersyng but the great In his bokes of Caunterbury tales This souerayne poete of Brutes Albyon Thrugh pilgrimes tolde by hilles and vales where of zenobya is made mencion Of her noblesse and her hye renoun In a tragedye compendyouslye tolde al Her marcial prowesse and her pyteous fall Mine auctour first affyrmeth howe that she Discended was to tell of herlynage Borne of the stocke of worthye Tholome Kyng of Egypt full notable in that age And this zenobya experte in all langage wyse of counsayle and of great prudence Passed all other in fame of eloquence Amonge she was armed in plate mayle Of Palmyrences wedded to the kyng Called Odenatus prudent in batayle She was also by recorde of writyng Hardy and stronge her lordship defendinge Maugre al tho with her cheualry Agaynst all them that wrongly toke party By Odenatus she had sonnes twayne Heremanus called was that one And Tymolaus of beautye souerayne After whose byrthe their father gan anone To occupy the prouynces euerychone Of Perce Mede by proces made theÌ„â—â—ene Of zenobya the hardy wyse Quene whyle Odenatus wext glorious In his conquest thrughout Perce Mede Slayne he was by one Mionius Whiche to the kyng was cosyn as I rede But for bycause of this horrible dede And for the murdre of king Odenate He dyed at mischefe and passed into fate By processe after zenobya the quene Toke her two soÌ„nes proudly dyd theÌ„ lede Tofore her chare the men might them sene How they were borne as princes to succede Made them like kinges clad in purple wede Them to defende this mightye creature Hardy as Lyon toke on her armure For al her Lordes and knights she had sent Maugre the romains proudly gan herspede All the parties of the Oriente To occupye and her hoste so lede Of themperour she stode nothyng in drede Called Aurelian met him in batayle With her meyny proudly did assayle On outher syde y t day great bloud was shed The stroke of fortune withstaÌ„t no creature The quene zenobia was taken forthe led Fought first as longe as she might endure With rich stones fret was hir armure w t whom themperour so entrig Rome toun Of triumphe required the guerdon He dempt it was couenable and sittinge This Emperour this proud Aurelian To aske the triumph it was so great a thing To take zenobia that such a werre began Gayne romayns this marcial woman For I suppose of no woman borne Was neuer quene so hardy sene aforne This hardy princesse for al hir crueltye whose renome thrugh the world was know With stockes of golde was brought to y â— citi From hye estate in pouerte plunged lowe A wynde contrary fortune hath so blow That she alas hath pitoufly made fal Her in that prowesse passed wemen al. The triumphe yeuen to Aurelian For the conquest he had vpon this quene Called zenobya came Dyoclisian Borne in Dalmacia his story who lyst sene Out of his countre first he dyd flene Of garlyke lekes as saythe the cronyclerâ— â–ª Bycause that he was but a gardinere Other mencion is none of his linage Of his byrthe forsoke the region Left his craft of deluyng and cortlage Gaue him to armes and by election Chose to be emperor regne in Rome toun First into Gaule he sent a great power And Maximian he made his vicar His vicar there had many a great batayle Vpon suche people that by rebellion Gan frowardly and contrary to assaile To obey his lordship within that region Tyll Carausius by commission And an hardy knight vndre Maxymyan Them to chastise toke on him lyke a man But by processe the story doth deuise His lordshyp there dyd great domage To common profit so he by couetyse The countre robbed by full greate outrage And to him selfe he toke all the pyllage And of presumpcion ware the colour Of ryche purple like an emperoure This Carasius of Bretayns twayne Proudly vsurped to be their gouernour Lyke a rebell agayne Rome dyd his payne And busyed him by marciall
after hys batayle On Perciens gan wexe gloryous Gouerned Affrike and lordshyp of Itayle Throughout the Orient he was victorious Tyll he for age gan wexe tedious His last dayes maligned as men saith Of false hatred agayne christen fayth And him to healpe in these false maters It is remembred to his confusion In his empyre he set two vicats Gaue them power in euery region The lawe of Christ to oppres and put downe To punyshe matters and put them to deathe And in this whyle ful manye one he fleeth By this sayd truell Galerius which of th empyre had al the gouernaunce Of cursed hart and corage dispiteous By his vsurped imperyal puissaunce Gaue auctorite for to do vengaunce Vnto twaine Seuerus and Maxence On al cristen by mortal vyolence A certayne space bothe of one accorde To the state of emperour chose was MaxeÌ„ce Tyl Seuerus and he fell at dyscorde And after by vengable pestylence within a city of noble preeminence Called Rauenue Seuerus ther was flayne Of whiche Galerius was nothynge faine For whyche in haste thys Galerius Him to support and stand in hys defence Chase out of Denmarke a knight Lucinius To be emperour through knightly excelleÌ„ce For to withstand and fight agayn Maxence But Maxence of romayne knightes all was chosen emperour and set vp in his stall with which election Galerius wext wode Fil in a maner of froward frensy His entraile brent corrupt was his bloude And of his froward vengable malady In euery membre gan rotte and putrifye Tyll the eyre aboute him enuiron To al that felt it was venim and poison Like a Lazar corbed backe and chine In this while on cristen most vengeable To him auailed no maner medicyne But there was in Christes faythful stable That spake vnto him w t langage ful notable In wordes fewe concludinge in substaunce The gret Jupiter hath take on y â— veÌ„gaunce And euermore for shorte conclusion with a bolde spyrite to him gan abrayde It is nat Jupiter worshipped in thys towne In the capitoyle set sothly as I sayd But Jupiter that was borne of a mayde â–ª which list not suffer of that thou dost endure That anye medecynes shulde therecure Lyke atyraunt by vengaunce furious At mischefe dieth as bokes tell Perpetually with cruell Cerberus Vpon the whele of Ixion to dwell For His demerites wyth tantalus in hell There to receiue his finall guerdon which coude on martyrs haue no compassion It was hys ioy for to shed their bloud Sent out letters to diuers regions Like a slye wolf rauynous and wode To slee martirs by diuers passyons Lyke his desert receiued his guerdons Horrible death did them first confounde with furies infernall lyeth in hell bounde The .ix. Chapiter ¶ Howe Maxence the emperour enemy to Christes faithe mischeuously ended After Galerisu cruell vyolence Gayne christen blode as Bochas hath tolde with piteous there the Emperour Maxence Came tofore Bochas of age not ful olde Famous in armes sturdy freshe and bolde Albe he entred notlike an heritoure Coke vpon him to reigne as gouernoure To Christes fayth he was also enemy After sone he lost his gouernaunce Of infortune slayne sodainly God on tyrauÌ„tes vnwarely taketh vengasice Of whose burying was made no remeÌ„brauÌ„ce For he was nat receiued of the ground But caste in Tibre like a rotten hounds The .x. Chapiter Howe Lucinius enemy to Christes faythe was slayne Next tofore Bochas came Lucynius A knighte of Denmarke borne of good lyne whiche had an ennemy the boke saith thus â–ª An hardy knighte called Maximine Chose a captaine w t the mperour CoÌ„stantyne To the faith of Christ he bare gret enmyte Slayne anone after in Trace the cyte Of whose death Lucinius was glad Gan agayne christen persecucion In his procedyng sodainly wext mad which commaunded of false presumpcyon whan he began to do execucion That nochristen nowhere him beside By no condicion shulde in his house abide This Lucinius which falsly did erre Againe our faith christen men to assasle Gaine Constantine of newe he gan warre But of his purpose in sothe he did fail For he was twise discomfited in batayle By Constantine ones in Hungrye Next in Grece besyde Eualye Thus CoÌ„stantyne through his hye renoune Gate nye Gcece and euerye great countre Alde Lucinius flode in rebellion Gayne Constantine both on land and sea But when he sawe it wolde none otherbe He might not escape in no place Put holy him selfe in Constantyns grace But Constantine for his hie rebellion Gaue iudgement in hast that he be dead Leaste in the citie were made diuision By Lucinius wherof he stode in drede This same while as Bochas toke hede There came before him w t chere ful piteous â–ª Brethern twayne Constantine and Crispus The .xi. Chapter Of Constantyne and Crispus and howe Damalcus was slayne To coÌ„stantine of whom I spake toforne They were sonnes CoÌ„stantine and Crispus The same twayne of one mother borne CaÌ„e tofore Bochas his boke reherceth thus with them came eke Lucinius Sonne of Lucinius which in Rome toun Afore was slayne for hys rebellyon Constantine his werres to gouerne Made them vicars the self same thre Echone rightwise and coude wel discerne What mighte auaile moste to their citye To encrese the profit of the commonte Their names tolde CoÌ„stantine and Crispus Tofore remembred with them Lucinius while these thre vicars vnder the emperour Gouerned Rome as Knightes most famous In Alisaundre rose vp a great errour By a false preest called Arryus To our beleue a thing contrarious And for he did again our fayth so wyrche By a decre was put out of the chyrche By assent at Bithinye full notable In Nicea a famous great citye This errour was proued ful dampnable Thre C. bishops were present there parde And eightene the cronicle who list se And all these of one sentence â—like Preued Arrius a false heretike This same time bokes doth specifye Howe Constantine of hasty crueltye The sayd vicars nigh of alye Fayned a cause to slee them all thre No cause rehersed nor told of equitye Saue only this in which he gan procede To make his cosyn Dalmacius to succede But his fauour was not fortunate Towarde Dalmacius nor gracious in sentence Among whose knightes fell a sodeyn debate Constantine there being in presence Dalmacius withoute reuerence with sharp swordes to speke in wordes fewe â–ª Vnto the death was wounded and phewe The .xii. chapter ¶ Of the brethern Constaunce Constancius and how Magnentius and Decius murdred them selfe THan came Constaunce Constancius yong brethren thus writeth min autour To Constantine in time of Arrius And eche of them by ful great labour Did his payne to reygne as emperoure Tyl at the last breuely for to say Eueryche of the in gan other to werrey This said Constaunce is entred Perce land Nyne times he fought agayne Sapore The same king as ye shal vnderstand That with romaynes had foughten afore But finally Constaunce hath
man I meane this worthy noble ConstaÌ„tine Commeth the Apostata cursed Julian which by discent to Constantyne was cosyn Hys gynnyng cursed had a cursed fyne Entred relygion as bokes specify Vndre a colour of false ypocrisy It hath ben sayd of antiquitie where there is a dissimuled holinesse It is called double iniquitie Fye on all such fayned perfitenesse For simulacion couered with doublenes And false semblaunt with a sour face Of all sectes furthest stant out of grace A certayne space as made is mencion â–ª To al perfection he did him self apply Tyll he wext wery of his profession Forsoke his ordre by apostasye And first he gaue him to nygromancy Double apostata as mine autour sayth First to his ordre and after to our faithe By ordinaunce of Constancius This sayd Julyan rote of ypocrisye Of gouernaunce froward and vicious was sent to Gaule with great cheualrye As vicar chosen the countre for to gye Gate him fauour and falsly gan conspire To haue possession of the hole empyre And for he was not likely to attayne To that estate he did his heart apply Another meane plainlye to ordayne wicked spyrites to make of his alye Became aprentis to learne sorcerie To haue experience by inuocacions To cal spyrites with his coniuracions By false illusyons in the peoples syght wicked spyrites had so great fauour A crown of laurer vpon his heed a light Made folke to deme by full false errour It came by myracle to chose him emperoure whiche in trouthe as in existence was but iutrusion and fayned apparence with them he had his conuersacion Spared not to do them sacrifice with eyremonyes and false oblacion And to be emperour he rose in this wyse The state receiued firste he gan deuise Agayne grekes out of his countre ferre To make him strong w t them to haue werre The fiende a whyle was to him fauourable Gaue him entrye and possession And made him promise for to abide stable In his Lordship and dominacion To haue this world vnder subiection Of which be hest he stode in perilous caas Folowyng the opinion of Pictagoras Pyctagoras had this opinion whan men dyed anone after than There was made a translacion Of his spyrite into another man A maner likenes the Byble tell can The double spyrite of grace and prophecy To Helisius graunted by Hely Hereon concluding like his opinion As Pyctagoras affyrmed in sentence He that had ful possession Of such a sprite in very existence Shuld haue the same wisdom and science The disposicion after him as blyue Which had the spirite that was here aliue Of gouernaunce and also of nature Resemble him of maners and liuing And thus by fraude Pluto did his cure To make Julyan trust in euery thynge He had by byrthe the spyrite of the kyng Called Alysandre by whych he shuld wyn This world by conquest when he lyst begyn Thus gan he foâ—e and fail in fantasy To trust on Pluto and goddes infernal They shuld enhaunce him by his cheualry For to possede and reioice al Sworde seipter crowne and state imperial Passe Alysandre in honour and in glory And him excel in triumphal victorie He trusted Sathan bi whoÌ„ he was disceiued To Christes faith became mortall enemy Where that euer he hathe perceyued Crosse or crucifixe he brake them vengably By false langage he caused traitourly Christ Jesu be called Galilee And of dispyte somtime of Nazaree Agayne our faithe this tyrant wext so wode Againe Christ had so great hatred Slew many a martyr fasly shed their blud An ydolater and regenate in dede Held mortall war with theÌ„ of Perce Mede Comyng to Perce first he gan debate Gayne Sapor of whom I spake but late Of Parthois also he entred thrugh the reem Where he fonde no maner resistence And as he came by Jerusalem The Jewes anone he gaue licence To buylde the temple with great diligence In dispyte of purpose to do shame To Christes church bilt a new in his name In this while he caught a great corage In a Theatre made brode in the toun To wylde beastes cruell and sauage Of sayntes bloud to make oblacion They to deuoure men of religion And al christen of purpose to distroy His lust was set and al his worldly ioye By an heraude that did his host conuey Of very purpose to bring them in a trayne By straÌ„ge deserts found out a froward way The heate importable dyd him so constrayne Brent thrugh the harneyse felt so great pain The drye sandes the ayre infect with hete Made many a man in hast their lyfe to lete This froward tyrant knowing no remedy Of cursed heart gan Christ Jesu blaspheme And of malycious hatred and enuy Wode and furious as it did seme Gan curse the lord that al y e world shal deme Christ Jesu which of longe pacience List not by vengaunce his malice recoÌ„pence And more cruell was there neuer none Nor more vengable not Cerberus in hel Mortal enemy to good men euerychone Whose blasphemies and rebukes fell Byrehersayle if I shulde them tel â–ª I am afrayd the venomous violence Shuld enfect the ayre wyth the pestylence He cast out dartes more bytter then is gall Of blasphemy and infernal langage And in this whyle among his princes all A knight vnknowe angelyke of vysage Freshly armed to punyshe his outrage With a sharp spere thrugh euery vayne Of thys tyrant roue the hart on twayne Bathed in his bloud this tyrant fyll lowe To God and man frowarde and odious Thoughe y â— time the knight was not know Yet some men sayne it was Marcurius Which by the praier of Basilius This tirant slewe as cronicles doth vs lere By a myracle of Christes mother dere This Mercurius as bokes determyne In Cesaria a mighty stronge citie Within the countre called Palestine Buryed afore rose vp at this iournee Out of his graue a strange thinge to se An horse brought to hi arayed in his armure Whiche hyng tofore beside his sepulture The same armure was not sene that nyght Nor on the morowe at his graue founde Tyl midday that Phebus shone fulbryghte whan Mercurius gaue him his fatal wound His blasphemy for euer to confound preue whiche thinge accomplyshed thys myracle to He and his armure were there againe at eue Of his blasphemy this was the soden wrake â—hiche the tyrant receyued for his mede The last worde I fynde that he spake Was thou Galylee hast ouercome in dede Toke the bloude that he did blede This deuyllyshe man dying in dispayre Dispyte of Jesu cast it in the ayre His body slayne and his skyn was take Tawed â–ª after the precept and bidding Souple and tendre as they coude it make Saporbadde so that was of Perce king That men therof might haue knowlegyng Early on the morowe and at eue late He did it nayle vpon his palays gate And to a cyte that called was Kayre As cronycles make rehersayle This Apostata wolde ofte a day
his condicions a rauinous robbour Out of that countre were mercy and pite Banished for euer with trouth equite In that region where mercy is nat vsed And trouthe oppressed is with tyranny And right wysenesse by power is refused False extorcion subporteth robbrye And sensualyte may haue the maistry All of reason be tokens at a prefe Which many lande haue brought to mischef There is no realme that may staÌ„de in surete Ferme nor stable in very existence Nor continue in long prosperyte But if the trone of knightly excellence Be supported with iustice and prudence In him that shall as egal iudge stand Twene riche poore with sceptre in hand A clere ensample this matter for to grounde So as a father that is naturall Or like a mother which kindly is bounde To foster her children in especiall Right so a king in his estate royall Should of his office diligently entende His true lieges to cheryshe and defende By good ensaÌ„ple his subiectes tenlumine TeÌ„poral realmes should as saith scripture Resemble the kingdome which is diuine By lawe of god and lawe eke of nature That Res publica long time may endure Voide of discorde and false duplicite Of one body in longe prosperite Nouther their reigne nor dominacion Haue of them selfe none other assuraunce The estate of kinges gan by permission Of goddes grace and of his purueyaunce By vertuous life and moral gouernaunce Long to continue bothe in peace warre Like their desertes to punish whaÌ„ they erre They should be the myrrour and the lyght TransceÌ„de all other by vertuous excellence As examplers of equite and right So by discrecion of natural prouidence To tempre their rigour w t mercy clemence â–ª What shal fal afore cast al thinges As appertaineth to princes and to kinges Thinges passed to haue in remembraunce Conserue wisely thinges in presence For thinges to come afore make ordinaunce Folowe the traces of vertuous continence Againe all vices to make resistence By the vertue of magnanimite Whiche is appropred to imperial maieste Brother to force authors say echone Which conserueth the royal dignite In suche a meane stable as any stone Nat ouerglad for no prosperite Nor ouer sad for none aduersite For life nor death hygh corage to remue To god and man to yelde theÌ„ that is due Gayne fleshly lustes arme theÌ„ in sobrenesse Voyde all surfettes and froward glotony Gredy appetites by measure to represse Out of his house auoide all ribaudy Rowners flattrers and such as can lie Ware in his domes he be nat perciall To poore do almesse to vertuous be liberal In his array shewe him like a king From other princes by a maner apparence So that men prayse hys vertuous lyuing More than his clothing far froÌ„ his presence And let him thinke in his aduertence Trust theron verely certayne As he gouerneth men wyl reporte sayne Let him also for his great aueile Haue such about him to be in presence As notable princes to be of his counsayle Suche as to fore haue had experience Twene good euill to know the difference And sixe thinges hatefull of newe and olde To banish them out in hast froÌ„ his houshold Fyrst them that loue to liue in ydelnesse All suche as loue nouther god ne drede Couetous people that poore folke oppresse And them also that do all for mede And simulacion cladde in double wede And such as can for their auauntages Out of one hode shewe two visages Let him also voyde out at his gate Ryotous people y â— loue to watche al night And them also that vse to drinke late And lie a bedde till their diner be dight And suche as lyst nat of god to haue a syght And recheles folke that list nat here masse Tâ—uoyde his court let theÌ„ lightly passe For which defautes rehersed here toforne Nat onely Rome but many a great countre Haue be distroied many a kingdom lorne In olde cronicles as ye may rede and se False ambicion and froward duplicite Hath many a realme many a laÌ„d encloied And ben cause why they haue be distroied Jerusalem was whilom transmygrate Their true prophetes for they had in dispite And Balthasar was eke infortunate For he in Babilone folowed al his delyte Dary in Perce had but small respyte Sodainly slaine and murdred by treason The same of AlysaÌ„dre whan he draÌ„ke poison Discorde in Troy grounded in couetyse Whan by false traison solde was Palladion Rome and Cartage in the same wyse Distroied were for shorte conclusion Among them selfe for their deuisyon Reken other realmes that be of later date And of deuisions in FrauÌ„ce y â— was but late Al these defautes rehersed here breuely Out sought the rote and weied in balaunce Chefe occasion to tell by and by Hath ben iÌ„ princes y â— haue had gouernaunce And specially to put in remembraunce For an example telleth as cometh to mynde Of Odoacer the storie as I fynde Borne in Pruce and hardy of corage At his beginning him selfe to magnify Though no mencion be made of his â—mage Hauing no titell but thefte and robbery His coÌ„quest gan nought of blode auÌ„cetry But gadred people of sondry regions Entred Itayle with many nacions With his soudiours fyrst he gan assayle With a multitude entryng anon right Kingdoms of HuÌ„gry countreis of Itayle Met in his passage a Romayne knight Called Horestes in stele armed bright The felde was take and put in ieoparty Horestes fledde for socour to Pauy Straitly besieged and the towne won Founde for the time none other cheuesaunce The next morow at rising of the son Bounde in cheynes tencrees his greuaunce Sent to a cite that called was Plesaunce Againe whom Odoacer was so fel Let him be slayne by iudgement full cruell After whose death by sodayne violence Odoacer is passed through Itaile Entred Rome found no resistence Zeno the Emperour durst him nat assayle For there was none to giue him batayle So that by force and rauinous working Of all Itaile he was crowned king Had all Rome vnder subiection Fortune a while lyst him nat fayle Zeno therof had indygnacion Gan worke againe him in hope it shoulde auayle And therupon the lordshyppe of Itaile He gaue of purpose his power committing To Theodorike that was of Gothes kyng So y â— Theodorike in hope to haue vyctorie Againe Odoacer gan make resistence Of his name to put in memorie Toke vpon him by knightly excellence For the Romains to stand in diffence Met him proudly with his chiualry Beside a riuer that called was Soury With their batails togider whan they met Beside Leglere that standeth in LoÌ„bardy With rounde speres sharpe swerdes whet Odoacer for al his tyranny Was put to flight disconfyted his party And fortune that best can chaunge and vary At vnset hour was to him contrary Him his power the Romains haue defied He brent their vines and toures enuy ron Bycause thentre was to him denied And to Rauenne he is discended
down But maugre him he was take in the toun By Theodorike lette eche man take hede Odoacer he commaunded to be dede Myne authour Bochas of entencion For the time as came to remembraunce Towarde Romains maketh a digression To them recording the great variaunce The vnware chaunges the gery coūtenaūce Of Fortunes false transmutacion These same wordes rehersing to the toun REmembre o Rome call ayen to minde The daies passed of thy felicite Thy marcial cōquestes thy triūphs left behinde Thy great victories most of auctorite Thy famous lawes song in eche countre Which through y e world by report did shyne Now all atones is tourned to ruyne From Est to west thy lordshyp did attayne Aboue all powers most excellent royall But nowe from Rome into Almaine The estate translated which is imperiall Name of thy Senatours name in especiall The golden letters darked and diffaced And from remembraunce almost out raced Cyte of cities whilom most glorious That most freshly floured in chiualry To whiche the alpies mountains most famous Were subiecte of all Lombardy Til that discorde diuision and enuy Amōg your selfe hath clipsed y ◠brightnesse By a false serpēt brought in by doublenesse Kinges and princes were to the tributary Of all prosperite so fulsome was the flode Among yourselfe till ye began to vary The world throughout to you subiecte stode Tyll ye gan shew two faces in one hode What folowed after fortune hath so prouided Ye came to nought whan ye gan be deuided Vnpurueyed of prudent Senatours Thy marchandise tourned to pouerte Of knighthod naked barayne of soudiours Disconsolate stant all the cōmonte Towres and walles broke of the cite That whilom was a paradise of delyte Nowe all the worlde hath the but in dispite Cause to conclude of al thy wretchednesse Is false ambicion pride and lechery Diuision and malicious doublenesse Rancour hatred couetise and enuy Which set aside all good policie In brefe rehersed for short conclusion Haue be chefe grounde of thy distruction The .xxii. Chapter ☞ Howe the kinges Trabstila Busarus were brought vnto subiection and made tributares to Theodorike AFter these mischeues told of Rōe toun Came Trabstila king of Gepidois With other twaine as made is mēciō Busarus that was king of Bulgarois With Philitheus reigning in Ragois All these thre brefely for to saine Came all atones to Bochas to complayne Their realmes standing toward Septētriō And to remembre of the fyrst twayne Were brought atones to subiection By Theodorike that dyd his busy payne Them to conquere proudly did ordayne That they were neuer so hardy to rebell Agayne Romains to take no quarell To Theodorike they were made tributary Most wretchedly bound in seruage Neuer so hardy after for to vary In paine of death during al their age Of seruitude lo here the surplusage Of al wretches most wretched they be foūd That to thraldom constrained be bounde Tresour of tresours if it be well sought Is vertuous fredome with large lyberte With worldly goodes it may nat be bought With royal rubies gold stones nor pyrre For it transcendeth and hath the soueraynte Aboue all richesse that be in erthe found A man at large frely to stande vnbound The .xxiii. Chapiter How Philitheus lost his kingdome and of Marcian and Leo. NExt these two in ordre ye may se To John Bochas gan shew his pre sēce The third king called Philithe Which by fortunes sodaine violence Lost his kingdome by cruel sentence Of Odoacer the tyraunt mercylesse Lost his life and came no more in presse The sodaine chaūges to rede whan I begā And saw the whele so oft turne vp so downe Of fortune there came one Marcian Of whome is made none other mencion Saue only by a coniuracion He murdred was being innocent Amōg his knightes which slew him of asset Than tofore Bochas to shewe his presence There came one that called was Leon Which caught a titell by no violence But made his clayme by iust succession After his father and toke possession Which of Leon myne auctor saith the same Beyng Emperour bare the same name This yong Leon again all truth and ryght By tyranny as made is mencion Through cruell zeno y ◠was a good knyght Was put out of his possession Constrayned to liue in religion But to what order that he dyd wende I fynde nat but there he made his ende The .xxiiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Simacke and Boes his sonne in lawe were banished and after iudged to die AFter these mischeues Simak gan hym drawe Toward Bochas with a ful pitous face Boes came with him y ◠was his son in lawe Which among Romains gretly stodi grace But in this matere brefely for to pace The said Boes onely for his trouthe Exiled was alas it was great routhe For cōmon profite he was vnto the toun In matters that grounded were of right Very protectour and stedfast champion Againe two tirātes whiche of force might Had in the porail oppressed many a wight By exactions and pyllage gun of newe Vpon the cōmens full false and eke vntrew Theodorike of Gothes lorde and king Toke vpon him by false intrusyon To reigne in Rome the people oppressing By his prouostes two as made is mencyon Did in the citie great oppression Confederate as brother vnto brother Coniugast and Triguill was that other Compendiously this matter to declare To saue the commons stode in defence For life nor death he lyst nat for to spare To withstand of tyrantes the sentence King Theodorike of cruell violence Banished him by hatefull tyranny He and his father to abyde in Pauy Afterward Theodorike of cruell haterede Like a false tyrant of malice and enuy Gaue iudgement that both two were dede But touching Boes as bokes specify Wrote diuers bokes of Philosophy Of the Trinyte matters that were diuine Martyred for Christe and called Seuerine The .xxv. Chapter ¶ Of king Arthur his cōquestes and of the commodities of England how he was distroied by his cosin Mordrede WAs neuer prīce might him self assure Of fortune the fauour to restrayne Like his desyre his grace to recure To abide stable and stand at certaine Among all other reken Arthur of Bretaynē Which in his time was hold of euery wight The wysest prince and the best knyght To whom Bochas gan his style dresse In this chaptre to remembre bliue His great conquest and his highe noblesse With singler dedes that he wrought i his liue And first he ginneth breuely to discryue The site of Britaine and of that countre Whiche is enclosed with a large see Set farre westward as ye shal vnderstand Hauing Spayne set in the opposite Of a small Angle called Englande Fran̄ce about hi discryuing thus his sight With many a riuere plesaunt of delite Bothe bathes and welles there be founde Diuers mynes of metalles full habounde Aboute whiche ronneth the Occian Right plentuous of all maner of vitaile The name of which at Brutus fyrst began London
hath shyppes by the sea to sayle Bachus at Wynchester gretly doth auaile Worcestre with frutes haboundeth at the ful Herford with beastes Cotswolde with wul Bathe hot bathes holsome for medicine Yorke mighty timbre for great auauntage Corn wall mynes wherin to myne Salisbury beastes full sauage Whete mylke hony plente for euery age Kent and Canterbury hath great cōmodite Of sondrie fyshes there taken in the see Bochas reherseth there is eke in Bretayne Founde of Gete a full precious stone Blacke of colour and vertuous in certayne For sickenesses many mo than one The poudre of whiche wyll difcure anone If it be dronke though it be secre Of maydenhede broken chastite Ther ben of peerles founde in muskil shelles And the best that haue most whitenesse And as the boke of Brutus also telles How king Arthure to speke of worthynesse Passed all kinges in marciall prowesse Touchyng his line his royall kynrede Who that lyst se in Brutus he may rede His father called Vter Pendragon A manly knight and famous of corage Right notable in his actes euerychon Arthur but yonge and tendre of age By full assent of all his baronage By succession crowned anonright Called of Europe the moste famous knight Curteys large and manly of dispence Myrrour called of lyberalite Hardy stronge and of great prouidence And of his knightly magnanimite He droue Saxons out of his countre Conquered by prowesse of his mighty hand Orcadoys Denmarke and Holande Irland Gaule Norway Scotlād fran̄ce As Martes son to the werres mete Wrought by counsaile and by ordinaunce Of prudent Marlyn called his prophete And as I fynde he let make a sete Among his Britōs most famous notable Through all the worlde called y ◠roūde table Most worthy knightes proued of their hand Chosen out by Arthur this order was begō Their famous nobles through euery land Shone by reporte as doth the midday sonne To Fames palays the renome is vp ronne Statutes set by vertuous ordinaunce Vnder profession of marciall gouernaunce The first statute in the regestre founde Fro which they should na◠decline of right By full assuraunce of othe custome bounde Aye to be armed in plate forged bright Except a space to reste them on the night Seke auentures and their time spende Rightful quarell to sustene and defende The sebler partye if he had right By theyr power manly to supporte If that they were required of any wight Folke disconsolate to beare vp comforte At all times men may of him reporte No maner wyse they do no vtolence And again tiraūtes make knightly resistece That widowes maidens suffre no domage By false oppression and hateful cruelte Restore children to their true heritage Wrongly exiled folke to their countre And for holy churches liberte Redy euer to make them selfe stronge Rather to die than suffer them haue wronge For cōmon profyte as chosen champyons Pro Republica defending their countre Shewe aye them selfe hardy as lyons Honoure to encrece chastise dishoneste Releue al them that suffre aduersite Religious folke haue them in reuerence Pylgrimes receiue y ◠faile of their dispence Called armes seuen dedes of mercy Buryed soudiours that fayle sepulture Folke in prison deliuere them graciously Suche as poore be their raunsome to recure Wounded people that languyshe endure Which pro republica māly spent their blood By statute bounde to do suche folkes good To put them selfe neuer in auenture But for matters that were iust and trewe Afore prouided that they stode sure The ground wel know were it olde or newe And after that the matter whan they knewe To procede knightly and nat fayne As ryght required theyr quarel to darrayn A clerke there was to cronicle theyr dedes By purciuauntes made to him reporte Of their exployte and their good spedes Rad songe to folke gaue great comforte These famous knightes making their resorte At hygh feastes eueriche toke his sete Lyke to their estate as was to them mete One was voyde called the see perilous As Sanke royall doth playnly determyne None to entre but the most vertuous Of god prouided to be a pure vyrgine Borne of discente to accomplyshe to fyne He alone as chefe and souerayne All auentures of Wales and Bretayne Amonge al kynges renomed most famous As a bryght sonne set amyd the sterres So stode Arthur notable and glorious Lyke freshe Phebus cast his lyghte aferres In peace like Argus most marcial in werres As Ector hardy lyke Vlixes tretable Called amōge christen king most honorable His roial courte he dyd so ordayne Through eche coūtre so fer spred out the light Who that euer came thider to complaine By wronge oppressed required of right In his defence he shulde fynde a knyght To hym assigned finally to entende By marciall dome his quarell to defende If it fell so that any straunge knyght Sought auentures thyder came fro ferre To do armes his request made of right His chalenge sene were it of peace or werre Was accept to the courte came nerre Lyke as he came wyth many or alone They were deliuered forsake was neuer nōe There was the schole of marcial doctrine For yonge knyghtes to lerne al the gyse In tendre age to lerne ful disciplyne On horse and fote by notable exercyse Thing take in youth doth helpe in many wise And ydelnes in grene yeres gonne Of al vertues clypseth the clere sonne Wydowes maidens oppressed folke also Of extorte wronges wrought by tiranny In that countre what nacion came therto Receyued were there lyst no man denye Of their complayntes founde sone remedy Made no delay but forth anone ryght Them to defende assigned was a knyght Eke by their order they bounde were of troth By assuraunce and by othe sworne In their emprises let for no slothe Playnely to tell howe they haue them borne Their auenture of thinges done beforne Right as it fyll spare in no manere To tel eche thinge vnto theyr regystrere Thynge openly done or thinge that was secre Of auenture as bytwene twayne Or any quarel take of volunte Trewly reporte and platly not to fayne Them to be sworne the statute dyd ordayne Not conceled of worshyp nor of shame To be regestred reporte the selfe same And to conclude the statute hath vs leared Euery quarel grounded on honeste In that courte what knyght was requyred In the diffence of trouth and equyte Falshed excluded and duplicite Shall aye be redy to sustayne that party His lyfe and hys body to put in ieoparty Thus in Bretayne shone y ◠clere light Of chiualrye and of hie prowesse Which through the world shad his beames bright Wel of worshyp condite of al noblesse Imperial courte all wronges to represse Head sprīg of honor of largise chefe cesterne Myrrour of māhod of noblesse the lanterne Yet was there sene neuer so bryght a sonne The sommers day in the mydday spere So freshly shyne but some skyes donne Might percase curtaine his beames clere Oft it
falleth whā fortune maketh best there And falsly smyleth in her double wede Folke sene expert than is she most to drede Thus whan the name of the worthy kyng Was ferthest sprade by reporte of memory In euery realme his noblesse most shinynge All his emprises concluding on victory This double goddesse enuied at his glory And cast meanes by som maner traine To clipse the light of knighthode in Britaine Thus whyle Arthure stode most honorable In his estate flouringe in his age Among his knightes of the rounde table Hyest of princes on fortunes stage The Romains sent to him for truage Gan make a claime frowarde outragious Takyng their title of Cesar Julius The same time this mighty kyng Arthur Conquered had Gaule and also Fraunce Outrayed Frolle lyke a conquerour Brought Paris vnder obeysaunce Toke them to grace with hys ordinaunce Gate al Anioue Angory and Gascoine Poitowe Nauerne Berry Burgoyne Cesed not but dyd his busy payne Most lyke a knight helde forth hys passage Gate all the lande of Poyters Tourayne Their cite yolde to hym they did homage To be rebell they founde none auanutage Soiourned in Fraunce as sayth y ◠Cronicler Helde possession the space of nyne yere Helde a feast full solempne at Paryse All the countreis whyth he gate in Fraunce Lyke a prince full prudent and rightwyse Which had of fredome full royall suffisaunce Of all his cōquest the countreis in substaunce For his princes and barons so prouided Lyke their desertes he hath them deuided To his Seneschal that called was Kay Anioue and Mayne he gaue all the party To his butler was made no delay Called Bedwere he gaue Normandye To a baron nye cosyn of alye A manly knight which named was Berell Gaue the duchy of Burgoyne euery del Thus he departed lordeshyppes of that lande There he thought was most expedient Some he reserued in hys owne hande Againe to Britayne retourned of entent Sent out letters helde a greate parliament After which he made a feast anon In the countre called Gloumorgon At a great cite called Carlion As is remembred by olde wrytinges Came many a prince many a freshe baron In nombre I fynde there were .x. kynges Redy to obey Arthur in al thynges Present also as was wele sene There was of erles rekened full thurtene Al the knightes of the rounde table Feast of Pentecost as feest principall Many estates famous and honorable Of princes barons borne of the blode royal Were present there and in especiall All that were by othe and promyse bounde To y ◠brotherhede of the table rounde And it fell so whyle that kyng Arthur As appertayned sate in hys estate There came .xii. sent downe by great laboure Of olde men chosen of the Senate Sad of their porte demure and temperate Richely clad of loke and of vysage Gray heared sempt of right great age First connyngly as they thought it due Cause of their cōmyng playnly their entent Fyrst of assent the kyng they dyd salue Next after that they tolde who them sent And their letters mekely they present Concludyng thus to speke in brefe langage Howe the Romains aske of hym truage Customed of olde syth gone many a day Whan that Cesar conquered first Britayne The kynge requiring to make thē no delay Arthur abode lyst nothinge to sayne But all the courte gan at them dysdayne The proude Britons of cruel hasty blode Wolde haue slayne thē euyn there they stode Nay quod Arthur to al his officers Within our courte they shal haue no domage They entred bene and come as messangers And men also greatly fal in age Let make them chere wyth a glad visage Toke his coūsaile with such as wer most wise With this answere sayde in curteyse wyse Your letters red and plainly vnderstande The tenure hole remembred in this place Touching y ◠charge that ye haue take on hāde To yeue answere reherced in short space By worde writyng ye greatly me manace How ye purpose wyth many strong battayle Passe the moūtains me felly for to assayle It nedeth not such conquest to alledge Agayne Britons of none olde truage Of your coming down y ◠way I shal abredge Wyth goddes grace short your passage Make you no delay but with my baronage Passe the see without long tariyng To mete Romaines at their downe cōmyng This was the answer youe to the messāgers At their departing bare w t them great riches As he bade also vnto his officers Agayne to Rome anone they gan thē dresse Plainly reporting the plentuous largesse Of worthy Arthure considred all thynges Of christendome he passed al other kinges Arthurs courte was the sours and well Of marciall prowes to Lucius they tolde And howe that he al other dyd excel In chyualry wyth whom they were w thold The chosen knyghtes both yonge olde In all Europe who can considre arighte Of all noblesse the torches be there lyghte He cast him not to paye no truage Sayde of the Romaynes he helde no londe Which to defende he wyl make his passage Of your clayme 's to breake a two the bonde And knyghtly preue with his honde Ye haue no tytle ye nor your cite Agayne Britons whych euer haue stand fre With y ◠al the kingdoms subiect to Rome toun Kynges Princes aboue the hie mountaines With Lucius they be discended downe To mete Britons vpon the large playnes Arthurs comming greatly he disdains Bycause he had plainely to dyscriue In multitude of people such fyue At Southhamptō Arthur toke the see With all his knightes of the rounde table Behinde he left to gouerne the countre His cosin Mordrede vntrusty vnstable And at a prefe false and disceyuable To whom Arthur of trust toke al his lande The crowne except whych he kept in hande Fro Southhampton Arthur gan to sayle With all his worthy lordes of Britaine At Harflue fonde good ariuaile He his princes their passage dyd ordaine Thrugh Normādy Fraūce eke Burgoine Vp to a cyte called Augustence Wher he first fonde of Lucius the presence So large a felde nor such a multitude Of men of armes assembled in a plaine Vpon a day shortly to conclude Togider assemble afore was neuer seine Lucius had on his party certaine Eastwarde the worlde all the chiualtye Brought by y ◠moūtains down to Germany Their wardes set in ech a great battaile With their capitaine to gouerne to gye Arthur w t britons the Romains did auaile Fond many Sarazins vpō that party The Briton Gaulfride doth plainly specify As he of Arthur the prowes doth discriue He flewe that day of Sarazins kynges fyue The great slaughter the effusion of bloude That was that day on outher syde Eche againe other y ◠furious were wode Lyke for the felde as fortune lyst prouide That if I shoulde longe theron abyde To write the deth the slaughter manere Touching the felde were tedious to here To conclude and leaue the surplusage In that
marueylous rehersayle Howe any woman of reason should be So ful of malice and of cruelte To slee her kyn and set at distaunce By deuision all the realme of Fraunce Bochas dempt it was nat credible That a woman shuld be so vengeable In her malice so venymous and terryble Of slaughter and murdre to be culpable The story susperte helde it but a fable Onely excepte that she dyd him exite With great instaunce her story for to write Her crie on Bochas was very importune To set in ordre her felicitees With her vnhappy chaunges of fortune Her disclaundred great aduersitees With her diffame reported by countrees No very grounde found in bokes olde But of confession that she her self tolde That mine auctour reherced w t soleÌ„pne style Reherce shoulde her wordes disclaundrous Her flouring yeres also for to compyle Medled with her daies y â— were contrarious Her fatall ende froward and furious Wherof encombred of very werynesse Towarde Eraclius he gan his pen dresse The .iiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Eraclius the Emperour sustayned heresy fyll in to dropsye and sicknes vncurable so died AFter Phocas with great honoure and glory Crowned emperour of Rome the cyte In whose time as saith the story The Romains stode in great perplexite By them of Perce that rose with Cosdroye Whiche toke vpon him to be lord and syre As a tyraunt to trouble the empyre Gate many a prouince many a famous Reiem Through all Asie as the cronicle saythe Gan approche toward Jerusalem Afore the towne proudly a siege he laythe As a tyraunt frowarde to Christes faythe But Eraclius maugre all his might Smyt of his head slewe him like a knight And by grace whiche that is deuine This famous prince this Eraclius In his beginning slew many a Sarazyne Holde in tho daies notable and glorius And in his conquest passing famous Dyuers relykes of the crosse he sought And froÌ„ tho couÌ„treis many of theÌ„ he brought Was none so famous holde in his dayes As Eraclius the empyre for to gye Nor more manly found at all assayes Of hie prowesse nor in chyualrye But whan he gan sustaine heresye God toke from him within a littel space His hap welfare his fortune his grace He gan sustene and folowe certaine rites Of wylfulnesse and frowarde fantasy Of a secte called Monacholites Which was a sect of frowarde heresy And sith that he drewe to that party The story telleth for all his hygh estate This Eraclius was neuer fortunate Where he was first drad on the see and land Namely of Sarazins for al his chyualry Grace fortune from him w tdrew her hand For whan he fyll in to heresy He was trauailed with such a dropsy That therwithal he had a frowarde lust Euer to drinke and euer he was a thurst In tho dayes founde was no leche Albe that they were sought on eche partye The sayd prince that coude wyshe or teach Him to releue of his dropsye Made faint feble wyth a great paulsye Thus in sickenes he hath hys dayes spent By vengeauÌ„ce slayne w t infernall turment Of Eraclyus this was the wofull ende As is reherced slayne with sicknes Out of this worlde whan he should wende Al hole the empyre stode in great dystres Force of Sarazins dyd them so oppresse And day by day drewe to decline By his sonne called Constantine The .v. Chapiter ¶ Howe Constantine the sonne of Eraclius supporting errours and heresy was murdred in a stewe WHiche was his successoure as made is mencion In whose time throughe his greate foly Sarasins did great oppression Spoyling the countreis of all Lumbardy And Constantine of wilfull slogardy Wasted his daies till he hath brought All the Empyre almost to nought Gaine Christes faythe in especiall He gan of malice his wyttes to applye And was therto enemy full mortall And chefe supportour of false heresie And towarde Rome fast he gan him hie Spoyled temples of many ryche ymage And by water after toke his passage To Constantinople fast he gan him hie By Scâ—â—il the way was al moste mete At Syracuse I fynde that he did ariue And for the season was excessite of hete Which in his labour made him for to swete And secretly he gan him selfe remue To be bathed in a preuy stue Of euny ther he was espyed His owne knightes like as it is founde By conspyracion certayne of them alyed Fil vpon him with sharpe swordes grounde And mercilesse with many mortal wounde They stewe him there on him they were so wode Amid the stewe naked as he stode After whose death they dyd theÌ„ selfe auauÌ„ce To chose a knight borne in Armenye Of the empyre toke the gouernaunce And to supporte falsly their partie But Constantine succeding of alie Beyng next heyre the trouthe for to sue To him that was murdred in the stewe Called Constantine as his father was Right notable in actes marciall More wysely gouerned stode in other cas Lyke a prince by iugement royall Of manly herte and corage naturall The conspyratours first of all he slethe That were assented to his fathers deathe To great encreace of his famous renoun Grace of god did him enlumine Constantinople in that royall town Olde heresie to cease and to fyne Two hundred bishoppes eke also nyne He made assemble to stande at defence Of Christes faythe of manly prouidence He was eke busy churches to restore All heretikes manly to withstande Their opinions examined well before And whan the trouth was well vnderstonde Like Christes knight list for no man wonde To punish them iustly by rigour Without excepcion of person or fauour Of him in Bochas litel more I rede Nor of his empire I fynde none other date Spared no heretikes for golde nor mede At Constantinople he passed in to fate Whan Bulgarence gan with him debate A frowarde people wilfull and recheles Gaue them a tribute for to lyue in pees The .vi. Chapter ☞ Howe Gisulphus was slaine his wyfe ended mischeuously in lecherye NExt came Gisulphus to Bochas on the ring A famous duke and notable in hys lyfe With weping eyen pitously plaining With whome also came Rimulde his wyfe Which that liued euer in sorow strife Yet was she both of byrthe and of lynage Right excellent and fayre of her visage Sixe children had this famous quene By Gisulphus gotten in mariage Wonder semely and goodly vnto sene And fortunate by processe of their age Albe theyr father felt great domage By the werres he had in his liuing With Cathamus that was of Narces king This Cathamus with many strong batayle Is discended and take the way right Of duke Gisulphus the landes to assayle Togither met in stele armed bright Gisulphus slaine his people put to flyght And Cathamus w t stronge mighty hande Toke possession conquered all his lande After whose death Rimulde the duchesse Greatly astonied pale of her visage To the castell of Forgoile gan her dresse With her knightes of
Belset Tarquiniaine Fro him by force toke many a region Mesopotamie to his possession Toke by strong hand through his chiualry Maugre Diogenes almost all Surrye Belset Tarquiniā made him selfe so stronge By manly force Diogenes to assayle And for Diogenes thought he did him wrong He gan ordaine great stuffe and apparayle A day assigned they met in batayle Diogenes of froward auenture He his knightes brought to discomfyture Take he was brought by great disdayne In whom as tho there was no resistence To kinge Belset called Tarqumiaine And whan he came to his presence Against him was yeue this sentence To lie downe plat and that king Belset Should take his fote and on his throte set This was done for an hie dispite Diogenes brought forthe on a chayne Without reuerence fauour or respyte At great feastes assigned was his payne And alder last put out his eyen twayne The whele of fortune tourneth as a ball Sodayne clymbing asketh a sodayne fall The .xix. Chapiter ¶ How Robert duke of Normandy foughte with the Turkes was named to the crowne of Jerusalem and died at mischefe AWorthye Prynce spoken of in manye reem Noble Robert duke of Normandy Chose to the crowne of Jerusaleem But for cause he did it deny Fortune vnto him had enuy The same Robert next in ordre was That came to playne his fall vnto Bochas For Christes fayth this mighty champion This duke Robert armed in plate and maile With manly Godfray Godfray de Bollion Againe turkes fought a great batayle For Christes faythe that it should auaile To sustene the lawe in their entent To all the kinges of the Occident Of Turkes Sarazins was so gret a nōbre Gaine Christes law gadred in puissaunce The fayth of Christ falsly to encombre But there were made hasty ordinaunce By kinges of England Normandy Fraūce First to socour did their busy paine Godfray de Bollion y t was duke of Loraine Which on Sarazins made a discomfyture Maugre Turkes for all their great might In which battaile Christ made him recure The felde that day to supporte his right Where Robert was found so good a knight That for his noblesse by recorde of writyng Of Jerusalem was named to be king He assented nat to the election Bycause of new that he did vnderstande His elder brother for short conclusion Y called Willyam was dead in Englande Wolde in no wyse take y ◠crowne on hande Of Jerusalem but like a manly knight Came to Englande for to clayme his right And yet or he came he had knowledging His yonger brother called Henry Had vpon him take to be crowned kyng Tolde his lordes and princes fynally He was next heyre entred rightfully As enheritour to succede in that reem His brother being king of Jherusalem God wot the cause stode all in other wyse The said Robert duke of Normandye Purposed him by marciall emprise From his brother to take the regalye Toke his princes and his chyualrye Thought he wold like a manly knighte Arryue in England and reioyse his righte Both in one felde assembled on a day The brethren twayne ech w t strong party To darraine and make no delay Eche with other to holde champarty But whan these lordes the mischefe did espy They busied them and were nat recheles Atwene the bretherne to refourme pees The said bretherne were fully condiscended Vpon this poynt for shorte conclusien As in the accorde was iustly comprehended Henry to holde and haue possession During his life of al this region And Robert should haue for his party A summe of golde with all Normandy Thre thousande poūde put in remembraunce Eche yere to Robert sent fro his region Of which payment to make full assuraunce Was layde hostages as made is mencion But yet of new fyll a discencion Atwene the bretherne of hatred and enuy For a certaine castell y ◠stode in Normandy Which castell longed of heritage Vnto the kinges iurisdiction Of which the duke toke his auauntage Maugre the king and held possession Turned after to his confusion And whan the king this thing did espye With stronge hand came to Normandy Where the duke was layde a siege about Made ordinaunce to recure his right Gate the castell toke his brother out Emprisoned him of very force and might Left him alone out of all mennes sight Fourtene yere the cronicle writeth so There he died in mischefe and in wo. Whyle Bochas was busy in his labour His boke tacomplyshe with great diligence To him appered the great emperour Called Henry shewed his presence Gan complaine vpon great offence Done to him the mischefe and distresse By his sonnes great vnkyndnesse The which sonne was called eke Henry Greatly accused of ingratytude Cause he wrought so disnaturally Toke his father with force and multitude Entreated him boysteously and rude And afterward there gayned no raunson At great mischefe he dyed in pryson The .xx. Chapiter How Joceline prince of Rages for pryde slouth and lechery dyed in pouerte NExt in ordre with trist ded visage ▪ Vnto Bochas to shew his heuines Came Jocelyne lord and prince of Rage Which is a cite famous of ryches And this prince mine auctor bereth witnesse Was greatly yeue to slouth and slogardy And all his lust he set in lechery Left his lordshyp out of gouernaunce For lacke of wisdome and discrecion In fleshly lust set all his plesaunce And of the countreis about him enuyron He was nat had in reputacion Certayne princes mine auctor doth discryue Of his lordshyp cast him to depriue Amonge whiche the prince of Alapy Called Sanguyne the story who lyst se To Joceline hauing great enuy Layde a siege to Rages the cite He beyng absent ferre from that countre And thus for slouthe wylful neglygence Rages was take by mighty violence And Joceline commaunded to prison To him fortune was so coutrarious Lost his lordshyp and dominacion Lo here the fyne of folkes vicious Slowe delicat proude and lecherous Dyed in pouerte in mischefe and in nede Of vicious princes lo here the fynall mede The .xxi. Chapiter ¶ Howe the emperour Andronicus slewe all that were of the blode royal cheryshed vicious people and after was hanged AS very heire here and trewe successour By election and also by lynage Came Andronicus lorde and emperour Of Constantinople crowned king of age Next to Bochas with trist and pale vysage Beseching him to do his busy cure To remembre his woful auenture Amonge grekes by story and scripture This Andronicus gouerned nat aright Againe lawe and eke agayne nature Founde with his suster fleshly on a night Bothe of assent toke them to the flight Agayne him his cosyn was so fell Lorde of that countre called Emanuell For a time stode as a man exiled For his discēcions many an vncouth strife By his princes after reconsiled Standing in hope he should amende his lyfe But in the tyme that he was fugitife He was made lorde stode so for a whyle Reignyng
Gaulter by vnware violence Came fro Naples downe in to Florence The Florentines helde fyrst a parliament For the saluacion and garde of their cyte By great prudence and great auisement Of suche as were highest of degre By one assent they gaue the soueraynte Them to gouerne hopyng to theyr increace With statutes made both for werre peace The greatest states rulers of the toun Called Magnates tho daies in sothnes To Gaulter gaue this dominacion Of entent the commons to oppres And marchauntes to spoile theyr of ryches Streyne men of craft by froward violence Again theyr lybertees vsed in Florence The people alway in awayte lying To be restored vnto theyr lyberte Gan grutche sore among themselfe plaining For great extorcion done to their cyte The greatest also of most auctorite Had leuer to suffre Gaulter reigne Than their actions to modify or restraine The said Gaulter in full subtil wyse By a false maner of symulacion Enemye in herte vnto their fraunchyse All that he wrought for short conclusion Was done onely to theyr distruction With a pretence fayned of frendlyhede To his promise contrary aye was the dede Clambe vp by proces to full hie estate By fayned speche and subtil flattery In his herte wext pompous and elate His working outwarde no man coude espy Lyte and littel drough to his party That to conclude shortly for to sey All Florence his lustes dyd obey Gan subtelly please the commonte For to accomplysh falsly his desyers Made promise to encreace their liberte To suche as were frowarde of maners Made an othe to distroy their officers But they wolde of their fre volunte Graunt vnto him larger lyberte Gretter power and dominacion To encreace his might on euery syde Gan manace the grettest of the toun And day by daye encreace in his pride Felly he gan felly he dyd abyde Therupon kept close in their entrayle The Florentines greatly gan meruayle In this while there was one Reymere Of great auctorite and of great reuerence A mighty sergeant and a great officere To whose bidding obeyed all Florence Which with Gaulter accorded in sentence With soudiours had stuffed eche hostry For to sustene of Gaulter the party And traytourly for to fortifye The entent of Gaulter fell and ambycious To haue the state onely by tyrannye As their chefe lorde froward surquedous To reigne in Florence the case peryllous Whan two tyrauntes bothe of one assent With multytude to accomplishe their entent Which thinge considred by theyr gouernours And Magnates called in the cyte Whan they found among them no socours To remedy their great aduersite Fyll to accord of necessite Gaue their assent without variaunce That Gaulter should haue al y â— gouernauÌ„ce And condiscended they were to this issue That Gaulter should in all his best wyse Vpon the body be sworne of Christ Jhesu Them to restore vnto their fraunchyse Vsed of olde and for no couetyse From their promise for lyfe ne deth decline As the conuencion lyst to termine Herupon was blowe a trompet For to assemble the states of the toun A parlyament was holden Gaulter first set Holy to pronounce the conuencion With euery percell entytled by reason Like their accorde declaring anonright Stode vp a vocate in the peoples sight With men of Armes in stele armed bright Vnto their palayes chefe and principall The said Gaulter conueyed anonright Set in a seate moste stately and royal And the people with voice memorial Gan crye loude concluding in sentence Gaulter for euer chefe lorde of Florence Who to perseuer during all his lyfe Toke in the palayes full possession There durst none agayne it make strife Graunted to him the dominaâ—â—â— Of all the castels aboute enuyron Tuscan Areth and castell Florentine With all lordshippes to mount Appenyne As ye haue herde Gaulter thus began By his owne furious diuinayle Sayd he was borne to be lorde of Tuskan And a great party also of Itayle Tolde he was lad conuayed by a quaile Said euermore were it right or wronge That was the sentence of the birdes songe The same birde brought him first to Florence All the way afore him toke his flight With sote synging dyd him reuerence Hye in the ayre of corage glad and light wolde neuer parte out of his sight Gaue him tokens to set his herte afyre That of Florence he shulde be lorde syre The same birde he bare in his diuyses Full rychely enbrauded with pyrre Toke vpon him many great emprises As chefe lorde of Florence the cite Sate in iugement gouerned the countre Drewe to him flaterers folke y â— coude lye Baudes ribaudes where he might theÌ„ spy Of that cyte toke meruaylous truages Croched to him richesse of the toun Of lechery vsed great outrages Of maydens wyues made none excepcion Voyde of mercy grace and remissyon Founde quarell for to be vengeable That to reherce it is abhomynable Where he hated mercylesse he slee the Brake fraunchyses and olde lybertees The people plained desyred sore his dethe Cried vengeaunce about their citees For tyranny done in their countrees Which was cause of great discencion And of their citee almost subuercion Thus they were among theÌ„ selfe deuided For theyr greuous sodaine oppression Lacke of foresight y â— they were nat prouided To se mischeues that should fal in the toun This is very sothe where is diuysion By wytnes and recorde of Scripture May no kingdom nor cite longe endure For which they gan complaine one and all Bothe of the greate and comonte And of accord amonge them selfe they fal To refourme the hurte of their cyte And fynally they condiscended be By a maner fell coniuracion To procede to his distruction Vpon a day they armed in stele bright Magnates first with commons of the town All to assent rose vp anone right Gan to make an hidous sowne Let slee this tyraunt let vs pull him downe Layde a siege by mighty violence Aforne his palays where he lay in Florence Suche as were enclyned to Gaulter Amyd the palais the story doth vs lerne To eschue the siege with full heuy chere Ordained them selfe to flye away full yerne Out of the towne by a smal posterne Whan Florentines dyd their labour To vndermyne round about the tour Of which thing whan Gaulter toke hede This message sent vnto the toun Nat of trouth but fayningly for drede Made promyse by false collusion For to make full restitucion Of their fredoms as they lyst deuyse Sent them out Guyllamine Dassyse Which to the cite was proued vtter foe Had aforne done them great domage With Guyllamyne he sent to them also His sonne and he yre to stint al their rage Worse than his father of wyll and of corage Bothe at ones were hanged anon right Tofore the palays in Gaulters sight Another also that called was Henry Which had afore yeere instruction Vnto Gaulter and was eke enemy To stire him agayne that noble toun Gynner and grounde of their diuysion Which
her husbande her sonnes twaine Fortune in party eclypsed hath the light Of her welfare and gan at her disdayne Yet euen like as whan it doth rayne Phebus after sheweth more clerenesse So she fro trouble rose to more nobles I meane as thus rehersyng no vertue In her person that men coude espye But onely this by tytle of this issue Whan Charles doughter on that partye Was to the king wedded of Hungrye Called Andree a man of great corage He sayed his wyfe but right tendre of age The same Iane nat without vice As is rehersed somwhat by myne auctour To whome Phylipot whylom was norice As ye haue herde and by full great labour Of the said Iane Robert made gouernour Sonne of Phylipot for a great rewarde Made of Cecyle and of that lande stewarde This fauour done to Philipot Cathenoyse Caused in that lande great indignacion Whose doughters weddīg caused gret noyse Maryed to charles the gret erle of Marchon whiche gaue to folke greate occasion To deme amysse aboute in eche countre That all y ◠lande was gouerned by tho thre By quene Iane and Phylipot Cathenoyes And the said Robert stewarde of Cecyle Son to Philipot this was the common vois The Quene and Robert by their subtil wyle Had of assent vsed a longe while The hateful synne of aduoutry Rose in Cecyle and went vp to Hungry For Quene Iane began no maner thing But Cathenoyse assented were therto The execucion and fully the working Brought to conclucion by Robert al was do And in this time rose a great stryfe also Disclaunderous and a froward discorde Atwene the quene him that was her lorde Harde to procede vpon suspection Sclaunder is swift lightly taketh his flight For which men shoulde eschue the occasion Of fame and noyse of euery maner wight By prouidence remembred in his sight Whan the report is through a lande ronne Harde it is to stint it whan it is begonne Withstand principles occasions to decline Lest vnwarely ther folow great domage To late commeth the salue of medicine To festred sores whan they be vncurable ▪ And in case very resemblable To eschew sclaūder who list nat for to spare Maye nat fayle to fal into the snare Thus for a time the slaunder was kept close Albeit so it did for a while abyde Another mischiefe ful pitously arose Which afterward spred abrode ful wyde Aduoutry to murder is a very gyde Set at a priefe mine auctour doth recorde The king Andre was strangled with a corde Out of his chambre raysed a great heyght By a coniected false conspiracion He was entreated brought downe by sleyght After strangled as made is mencion Whose death to punish by commission Hugh erle of Anelyne by a patent large To be iudge toke vpon him the charge Of this murder rose vp a great noyse By euidence full abhominable Philipot called Cathenoyse Her sonne doughter that they were culpable Dome was yeue by Iudges ful notable And to conclude shortly their iudgement With chaines boūd at stakes they wer brent ¶ Lenuoy ▪ THys Tragedy afore rehersed here Telleth the domage of presumption By experience rehersyng the manere Whan beggers rise to dominacion Is none so dredeful execucion Of cruelte yf it be wel out sought Than of such one as came vp of nought Recorde on Philipot that with hūble chere By sodayne fauour and supportacion Which was to fore a simple smal landere Of no value nor reputacion By fortunes gery trāsmutacion Shed out her malyce testate whan she was brought List not consider how she came vp of nought Where is more disdayne or more daungere Or more frowarde communicacion More vengeable venim doth appere Nor more sleyghty false supplantacion Nor more conspired vnware collusion Nor vndermining done couertly wrought Than of such folke as come vp of nought Fortunes chaunges meuinges circulere With her most stormy transmutacion Now one set vp ful hie in the sphere Enhaunceth vices and vertues put down Record on Philipot whose venemous treasō Compassed aforne in her secret thought The dede sheweth y t she came vp of nought Noble princes with your bright eyen clere Aduertise in your discretion That no flaterer come in your court so nere By no fraude of false disception Alway remembring afore in your reason On this tragedy on this treason wrought By a false flatter that came vp of nought The .xxxvi. Chapter Howe kyng Sauses was slayne by his cosin which was brother vnto the king of Aragon THe that time came of this trauayle Bochas dempt holding for the best This noble Poete of Florente and Itayle To make his penne a while for to rest Closed his boke and shut it in his chest But or he might sparre it with the key Came thre princes mekely gan him prey Amonges other remembred in his boke Theyr greuaunces briefly to declare Wherwith Bochas gan cast vp his loke And of cōpassion behelde theyr pitous fare Thought he would for no slouthe spare To theyr requestes goodly condiscende And of his boke so for to make an ende Here gan first reherse by writyng In his complaynt ful pitously he made Touching the fall of the great king Called Sauses which his soiour had The place named was Astrociade And as he writ a lytle there beside Was alytle I le called Emaside Bothe these Iles together knit in one Wher Sauses had his dominacion Liuing in peace enemy had he none In longe quyet had possession Whose kyngdom hole as made is mencion In the vulgar myne auctour write the same Of Malliogres plainly bare the name There is also another smaller yle Called Maylorge and of both twayn The said king was lord a great while Kepyng his estate notable and souerayne Hauyng a cosyn gan at him disdayne Which was brother as made is mencion Vnto the king that tyme of Aragon In the yles remembred by wryghtinges Whan the people went in to batayle Was the vsage founde vp first of stinges With cast of stones their enemies to assayle They had of shot none other apparayle In that tyme arblast nouther bowe Perauenture was tho but lytell knowe All these countreis were called but one lande Where Sawses helde possession Till his cosyn with strong and mighty hande With great power sodaynly came doun Brought people out of Arragon Fyll on kyng Sawses feble of diffence Gate that kingdome by knightly violence The balaunce was nat of euyn peys Atwene these cosyns who lyst take hede For in hys conquest the Arragoneys Of cruelte hath smytten of the hede Of kyng Sawses quakinge in his drede Though it stode so they were nygh of alye There was that day shewed no curtesy The .xxxvii. chapter ☞ Howe Lewes king of Jerusalem and Cecile was put downe AFter thys Story tolde in wordes fewe And kyng Sawses slayne by tyranny There came a prince and gan his face shewe Called Lewes lorde of Trynacry The same yle in that party Called Cythane the story telleth thus After