Kingdomes deuided may no while endure Princes princesses which haue the soueraintie Ouer the people and domination Ifye lyst longe lyue in felicitie Cherishe your subiectes do none extorcion And aduertise of wysdome and reason As this tragedy dothe to you discure Kyngdomes deuided may no while endure The .x. Chapter ☞ How Atreus kynge of Messene wrought ayenst his brother Thiestes slew his thre children dismembred them in pieces made Thiestes to eat of their flesh drinke of their bloud BOchas the Poete auctour of this boke Him purposyng to gather and compile Diuers stories anone his penne he toke Him remembryng within a little while In this chapitle began direct his style To write the story hye and compendious A forne all other of duke Theseus Lorde of Athens a famous great citye Right strong and myghty on euery side But at his backe Bochas did one se Which cryed loude and bade he shold abide Bochas quod he fro the me list not hide My wofull case ne in no wise spare My piteous complaynt to the to declare I am Thiestes besprent all with wepyng Drowned in teares as thou maiest well se Sometyme sonne of the mighty kyng Pelops and borne also parde Of quene Hippodamea excellent of beautye And for thou art desirous to endite Of people vnhappy and their wo to write My will is this anone that thou procede Turne thy style and take thy penne bliue Leaue Theseus and take of hym none hede But first my tragedy that thou discryue For I suppose that in all thy lyue That thou saw neuer a thing more dolorous More vnhappy frowarde ne more piteous Than is alas my mortall aduenture Incomperable the sorow surmounting Of quene Iocasta most wofull creature Or of Edippus his fate euer complaynyng For my complaynt hath none endyng But lasteth euer and beareth me witnes No wo resembleth vnto my heauines And with y â— worde John Bochas styll stode â–ª Full soberly to geue him audience And in the place demurely abode To hear the substaunce of his mortal offence Whiche thus began to shewe the sentence O John quod he I pray the take good hede My wo to write that men may it reade Alas my brother rote of vnkyndenes Atreus called of reason sours and well And finder out of treason and falsenes For all other in fraude he doth precell Whose couert hate is more than I can tell I supposyng of very innocence In him no malice disceite nor none offence But as brother should a brother trust I trusted him of hart will and thought By apparence none other cause I wyst For in his person I supposed nought That euer he culd so false a thig haue wroght But who may soner another man deceyue Than he in whom no malice men conceyue â–ª I demed of him as of my true brother Wenyng he had faythfull ben to me I sawe no signe ne I knew none other In him suposynge no duplicitie But wo alas how might it euer be Or who did euer in any story finde Bloude vnto bloude to be so vnkynde I will passe ouer to tell the worthines Touching the estates of our progenitours Of our kynred and the great noblesse I tell nothing nether of our predecessours Ne of my youth howe passed ben the floures I leaue all this and vnto mynde call The wretchednes that I am in fall My brother founde a false occasion Ayenst me and began a cause feyne To banish me out of our region And began at me of hatred to disdayne Vpon me affirmyng in certayne In our kingdome whiche called is Missene I should haue lien by his wyfe the quene This he compassed full falsely of malice Him selfe well knowyng that it was not so Euer founde vnkynde and misauise Not like my brother but like my deadly â—o And to encrease great percell of my wo By long processe in his entencion He â—â—â—â—gined my destruction And his chefe cause was false couetise Touchyng this thing which he did fame And yet this kyngdome truely to deuise Should haue beÌ„ departed betwene vs twaine But ayenst truth he did so ordayne Me to exyle out of that region Him selfe alone to haue possession Yet in his hart he cast an other wile To my vndoyng and desolation To the place whence he did me exile Vnder a shadowe of false collusion To make a maneâ— reuocation Of brotherhead shewyng a pretence Me to restore ayen to his presence To be accepted as a brother shoulde With full accorde styll with hym to abide All miuries of whyche afore I tolde On either party forget and set asyde That nothing after should our loue deuide But of one will and one entencion Leade all our lyfe without deuision Wherof the people were full glad and lyght Throughout Missene that mighty region At my resortyng founde I euery wyght Ready of hart and whole affection Me to receyue into that noble towne And none so ready by sygnes out shewyng To make me chere in sothe as was the kyng There is no domage in comparison That may be lykened by no resemblaunce To fayned truth and simulation Whan fraude is hyd w t a fayre countenaunce Pretendyng truth outward by deceyuaunce And vndernethe of most false entent Of doublenesse dareth the serpent As vnder flowers is shrowded the dragon For to betray by sodayne vyolence Suche folke as haue no suspection But truely meane in their pure innocence Till they be caught dispurueyed of defence Or as a fishe with bayte of false pleasaunce The hoke not sene is brought to mischaunce Thus semblably at my home commyng I was receyued with euery circumstaunce Lyke as halfe heyre and brother to the kynge And he pretendyng as by countenaunce That he had so inly great pleasaunce Of my repayre of truth he tolde so For reioysyng that he sayed he woulde go Vnto his gods to do some obseruaunce For this accorde and humble sacrifice Made his ministers w t faythful attendaunce To wayte on me in all their best wise It nedeth not to tell ne deuise Neither by wrytyng in bokes sor to set Halfe the ioye he made whan we mette First how frendly he did me embrace Of harty gladnes within his armes twaine â–ª And how for ioye the teares on his face Full entirely gan distyll and rayne That for my party he could not me restraine But that I must of frendshyp fraternall Wepe as did he in his estate royall The wily wolfe that cast him to deuouâ— The sely lambe whiche can no defence Ne none helpe him selfe to succour So feble he is to make resistence Whiche demeth truth of false apparence What wonder is it the fraude not conceiued Though such lambes vnwarely be disceiued Though that roses at midsomer be full sote Yet vnderneth is hyd a full sharpe spyne Some freshe floures haue a full bitter rote And lothsom galle can suger vndermine In dredful stormes y â— sunne amoÌ„g doth shyne And vnder a shadow of fayned frendlyheade There is no frendshyp so perillous to dreade
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
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
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
that one Reigning in Damas of his true ryght Cathabadyn there beyng eke soudan Which in tho daies was holde a good knight And right notable in euery mannes sight And for the Soudan of Babilon aferre Called Saladyn oppressed was with werre For socour sent to these princes twayne To come in hast wyth all their chiualry Him to supporte and do their busy payne Enforce their myght to sustene hys partye Whose request they lyst not deny Abode no lenger but made them selfe stronge To stande with hym were it ryght or wrong Of thys matter the substaunce to conclude These princes came Salech Cathabadyn For their guerdon they founde ingratitude In this forsayde Soudan Saladin Founde him vnkinde plainly thys is the fyne From their estates as it was after knowe Disgraded theÌ„ both broughte theÌ„ ful lowe Of him in so the they had none other mede For their labour nor for their kyndnes What fyll after in Bochas I not rede For he forthwith leaueth this processe And vnto Robert doth his style dresse Called Farentyne reigninge in Taurence Who lost his lordshyp by sodayne violence This to say he reigned but a whyle Thys sayd Robert lost his gouernaunce Next to Bochas came Guylliam of Cecile Kyng of that couÌ„tre lorde of great puâ—saunce Lost his kingdom thrugh fortunes variance His eyen twayne rent out of hys heade After died in mischefe and in drede Which Guilliam reignyng in Cecile Was by discent borne â—ye of alye â–ª To Robert Guisterde as bokes do compile That whylom was duke of Normandye Greatly deliting in chyualry With his brother ful notable of renoun Which brought Naples to subiection His brothers name was Rogere Which had a sonne to be his enheritour Called Tancret as sayth the croniclere Which toke vpon him to reigne as successour Thus in Cecile Tancret was gouernour Agayne whom by title sought a fer Of aliaunce he gan a mortall werre For a mayde that called was Constaunce That doughter was to the kyng Rogere Whych was set of spirituall pleasaunce To be religious of hole hert and entere And by recorde of the croniclere This Constaunce hath the world forsake And to religion hath her body take Of this Constaunce the selfe same yere That she was borne as made is mencion There was a clerke a great astronomere Tolde of her byrth by calculacion She shoulde cause the desolacion Of that kingdome by processe of her age By the occasion onely of mariage Some that were to Tancret great enmy By their vngoodly exhortacion Moued the Emperour y â— Called was Henry To take Constaunce from her religion And by the Popes dispensacion She wedded was to theÌ„perour by his might By tytle of her put Tancret from hys ryght Wyth a great nombre of Italiens The Emperour entred in to that region But by fauour of Ceciliens Tancret long time stode in possession But through fortunes transmutacion The same tyme to conclude in sentence The saide Tancret dyed on pestilence Hys sonne GuilliaÌ„ y â— was but yonge in dede With Ceciliens cast him not to faile To kepe hys land and his ryght possede Met the Emperour wyth stately apparayle Made him redy wyth him to haue a battayle But the Emperour to great auantage Cast otherwyse of fraude in his corage Fayningly duryng the dyscorde The Emperour cast another whyle By a fase colour to fall at accorde And yong Guilliam vngoodly to begile Vndre treaty taken in Cecile Falsly depriued of hys region Sent to Itaile and throwe in prison By wey of treaty the story who lyst see All concluded vnder false treason With Guilliam take were his susters thre His eyeu put out for more conclusion He perpetually dampned to prison Dyed in pouerte lost his enheritaunce Lo here the fyne of worldly variaunce Further to write as Jhon Bochas began After that Guilliam was put froÌ„ hys reem To hym appered Guyot Lucinian Those afore kynge of Jerusalem Whose knightly fame shone lyke the son beem Which by his noblesse he whisoÌ„ dyd attayne GodfraÌ„y present that was duke of Lorayne But by the Soudan named Saladine He was enchaced of that dignite Al worldly pompe draweth to declyne So for the constraint of his aduersite The yeres passed of his prosperite Wente in to Cipres as a fugitife What fil after I rede not in his lyfe To make hys coÌ„playnt after hym came one Which had stand in great perplexite Erle of Bryeâ—ne and was called Jhon Whych afterwarde was kynge of the cyte Called Jerusalem and had also parde A faire doughter yonge and tender of age Joyned after to Frederike in mariage Beyng that tyme lorde and Emperour Was desirous aboue al other thyng Of Jerusalem to be gouernour And of Eecyle to be crowned kyng Whiche alderlast for his subtyle workynge Constrained was downe fro that partye To be a capitaine serue iâ— Lombardye The .xxiii. Chapter ¶ Of Henry the eldest Sonne of Frederike the seconde myscheued by hys father NExt to Bochas croked halte and sycke One called Henrye caÌ„e for to plaine The eldest sonne vnto Frederike Whiche by siknesse had felt great payne Megre and pale contracte in euery vayne Of whose langour the chefe occasion Was that he lay so longe tyme in prison Al hys dysease at great aduersite Ycaused was for shorte conclusion By his fathers frowarde cruelte As Bochas after maketh mencion And thys Henry by generacion Sonne vnto Frederike lyke as it is founde I meane Frederike called the seconde This Henry by discent of lyne Of Cecyle fyrst was crowned kinge And of Jerusalem whose renome dyd shine Through many a lande at his beginnyng And fortune also in her workyng Was to this Henry passyng notable In al his workes inly fauourable Of his person he had this auantage To all the people he was right acceptable Well coÌ„mended in his flourynge age Of there face and loke ryght amyable And of his porte very demure and stable Called in his ginninge suche fauoure he hath wonne Of princes al very lyght sonne But ofte it falleth that a glad morning Whan Phebus sheweth his beames brighte The day somtyme therupon folowyng With some derke skye is clipsed of hys lighte And semblably through fortunes myght This said prince by her false variaunce Fonde in her whele full noious greuaunce Who may the furies of fortune appese Her troubly waues to make them plaine Wher meÌ„ most trust they fynde most disease Where double corages stande in no certaine A shining day is ofte meint with raine Thus of Frederike the great vnstablenes Hath brought his son in mischefe dystresse This Frederike set vp in great fauour By the Popes diligent busines Vnto the state lyft vp of Emperour But through his fatal frowarde vnkindnes Of couetyse fyl in such excesse Toke vpon him the Patrimony to gye Of Christes church that parte to occupy Fyl in the Popes indignacion Counsayle nor treaty myght none auayle But of malice and presumpcion Cast wyth the Pope to haue a great battaile The sayd
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
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
bethynke Thought she woulde for zisara so shape That with his lyfe he should not escape She toke a nayle that was sharpe long And couertly gan her selfe auaunce With a myghty hamer round and stronge She droue y â— naile lo this was her beÌ„geauÌ„ce Through his heed se here the soden chaunce On tirantes that trust on Fortune Which wil not suffer them long to contune In their false vsurped tiranny To holde people in long subieccion She can them blandyshe wyth her flatery Vnder a colour of false colluspon And wyth a sodaine transmutacion Fortune them can that poore folke trouble Reuerse their pride wyth her face double What should I lengre in thys mater tary â–ª Though that lordshyp be myghty famous Let zisara be your examplary It not endureth but it be vertuous Conquest victory though they be glorious Vnto the world if vertue be behinde Men not reioyse to haue theyr name in mide For Fortune through her frowardnes Hath kynges put out of their regions And she hath also throughe her doublenes â–ª Dystroyed lynages wyth their successions â–ª Made not she sometyme her translacions Of the kyngdome called Argiuois To be transported to Lacidemonois â–ª The same tyme whan zisara the proude Gan goddes people to put vnder fote Fames trumpe blewe his name vp loude Wyth sacred sownes semynge wondre sote But al his pride was rent vp by the rote Whan hys glory was outward most shyning But who may trust in any worldly thynge â–ª Folke haue afore sene the valuacion By remembraunce of antiquitie Of myghty Troy and of I lion After distroyed by Grekes that cyte To vs declarynge the mutabilite Offalse fortune whose fauor lasteth no while Shewyng euer truest whan she wol begile So variable she is in her delites Her whele vntrusty and frowardly meuyng Recorde I take of the Madianites Their vnware fal ful dolefully pleynynge Which shewed them selfe pitiously wepynge To Jhon Bochas as he in writynge sought How y â— fortune ayenst their princes wrought Which that gouerned the lande of Madian â–ª Trustinge of pride in their greate puissaunce Ayenst Jewes a warre they began Purposinge to bringe them to vtterance But god that holdeth of warre the balaunce And can of princes oppresse the vein glory Yeueth where him list conquest and victory Not to great noÌ„bre nor to great multitude But to that party where he seeth the right Hys dredful hand shortly to conclude So holdeth vp by grace and yeueth lyght The higher hand where he cast his sight Lyst his power and his fauour shewe Be it to many orbe it vnto fewe The wronge party gladly hath a fall Though ther be Millions many â—â—o theran I take witnesse of Jerobaall Whych is also called Gedian That wyth thre C. fought ayenst the fan Of Israel the Byble can deuyse Whan he to God had done hys sacrifice Shewyng to hym a thynge meruaylous Whan the fleece wyth siluer dewe ful shene Was spreint and wet the storye telleth thus And rounde about the soyle all the grene Was founde drye and no drop sene In token onely this duke this knightly man Shulde haue the victory of all Madian This Gedeon toke with hym but a fewe Thre hundred chase whych lapped the riuer God vnto hym such tokens dyd shewe And euidences afore that were full clere That he shoulde be of right good there And on no party hys aduersaries drede For nother prowes neyther manhede Where god aboue holdeth champerty Their may ayenst hym be made no defence â–ª Force strength wysdome nor cheualry Ayenst hys might are feble of resistence Thys was well preued in experience Whan thre C. wyth Gedeon in nombre So many thousandes by grace dyd encoÌ„bre Thys sayd people deuided in to thre With their trumpettes vpon y e derke nyght By Gedeon that had the soueraynte Wyth voyde pottes laumpes therin lyght And thus arayed they entred in to fyght But vnto them thys token was first knowe Whan Gedeon his trumpe dyd blowe They blewe echon and loud gan to crye Brake their pottes and shewted anon ryght As the story doth playnly specifye Their laumpes shewed w t a full soden lyght Wherof their enemies astoinied in their sight Were so troubled vpon euery side That in the felde they durst not abyde The crie was this of them euerychon Thanke to y e lorde most noble and glorious Pryse to the swerde of myghty Gedeon Which vs hath caused to be victorious Made our enemyes most malicious Through influence onely of his grace For very feare to flye afore our face Thus can the lorde of hys magnificence The meke exalte and the proude oppresse Lyke as he fyndeth in hertes difference So of his power he can his domes dresse Mercy aye meint wyth his rightwysenes Hys iudgementes wyth long delay differred And or he punish pytie is aye preferred Lenuoye MYghty Princes remembre that your power Is transitory and no while abiding As thys tragedy hath rehersed here By euidences notable ensuynge And by example in substaunce wytnessyng That all tyâ—antes playnly to termpue Moâ—e from tâ—eir state sodenly declyne Phebus the freshe in hys mydday sphere His beames bryghtest hotest out spredyng But cloudy skyes oft approch nere To eclipse his lyght w t their vnware coming None erthly ioye is here longe abidynge Record of TytaÌ„ whych stondmele doth shine Yet toward nyght his stremes doun decline Whan that fortune is fairest of her chere By apparence and most blandishyng Than is she fallest ech season of the yere Her soden chaâ—ge now vp now down turniÌ„g The nightiÌ„gale in May doth freshly sing But a backe wynter can somer vndermyne And all his freshnes sodenly declyne All erthly blisse dependeth in a were In a balaunce vneuynly hanging Of priÌ„ces priÌ„cesses most souerayne entere In this tragedy conceyueth by redynge Howe that estates by vnware chaunginge Somtime full worthy their liues dyd fine WhaÌ„ froÌ„ their noblesse they were made to declyne ¶ Of mighty Iabyn kinge of Canaan of quene Iocasta and how Thebes was distroyed The .ix. Chapter NOwe muste I wryte the greate sobeyn fall Of mighty Iabyn for his iniquite â–ª Whyche vnto Iewes was enmye full mortal With scepter crowne reigning in Canane And vpon Affrike had the souerainte Rebell to god and lyst not hym obey But euer redy hys people to werrey The lord aboue seynge his tiranny Forbare his hand wyth full longe suffrauÌ„ce And was not hasty of his obstinacy Lyke his desert for to do vengeaunce But euer thys Iabyn by continuance Endured forth in his cursidnesse Tyll the swerde of goddes righwisenes Was whet ayenst this tiraâ—t to chastise And to represse his rebellion From his kyngdome the story doth deuise In myddes of his pride he was pulled doun To exemplify that such dominacion As is found wilful truth to ouer cast God wyll not suffer in power long to last For this Iabyn was found alway frowarde Of high disdaine list not the lorde knowe Therfore
all vnkindnes Suche as ben rebell for to do pleasaunce And to his biddyng yeue none attendaunce Noble prynces vertue most pryncipall You to conserue in your high noblesse Is to imprynt in your memoriall Fayth and equitie all wronges to redresse To sustayne trouth and ryghtwysnesse And tofore God holde euenly the balaunce And to his biddyng yeue al your attendauÌ„ce ¶ Acommendation of Obedience VErtue of vertues most of excellence Which y â— haue most souerain suffisauÌ„ce Is the vertue of true obedience Whiche set all thyng in ryghtfull gouernauÌ„ce For ne were not this prudent ordinaunce Some to obey and aboue to gye Destroyed were all worldly policy Where that vertue and hygh discrecion Auoyded haue from them all wylfulnes By titles onely of dominacion Truely lenyng vpon rightwisnes Wrong and errours iustly to redresse Of trouth I may right well affirme and say The people mekely their biddyng shold obey This noble vertue of faythfull obeysaunce Established vpon humilitie Whiche includeth no double variaunce In ail regions and in eche countrey Causeth welfare ioye and prosperitie And as vertue chefe and souerayne All vycious ryote it playnly doth restrayne Obedience eke as men may se Falsenes exileth and all rebellion For by temperaunce ryght and equitye Stant the welfare of euery region For the mekenes and lowe subiection Of comonties holde vp the regalies Of lordshyppes and of all monarchyes And no doubt whan lorshyps of entent Busy ben the souerayne lorde to queme To their subiectes do right iudgement In conscience as ryght and reason deme Than shall their crowne and dyademe Vpon their heade perseuer and freshly shyne And make subiectes to their biddyng encline Thus obeysaunce playnly at a worde In such as haue lordshyp and souerayntie Done of entent to their souerayne lorde Shall cause them raygne in long prosperitie And their subiectes of humilitie For their noble famous gouernaunce Aye to be ready vnder their obeysaunce For who y â— serueth the lorde of lordes all And hath the people in his subiection God wyll kepe him that he shall not fall Longe preserue his domination But agaynwarde whan wisdome and reason Ben ouermastred with sensualitie Farewell the floures of their felicitye Obedience blunteth the sharpenes Of cruell swordes in tyrantes handes And mekenes appeaseth the felnes Of hasty veÌ„geaunce breketh on two y â— boÌ„ds Eke pacience set quiete in londes And where these thre contune in comonties Longe peace perseuereth â— kyngdoms cities Obedience dothe also restrayne Conspyrations and false collusions Whan she stant vnparted not at wayne There is no dreade of no discencions For she combineth the true opinions In the harts of people ful wel afore prouided Vnder prynces to stand whole vndeuided Where princes be meke huÌ„ble and debonayre Toward God of whole affection Theyr subiectes be gladly not contrayre In their seruice by no rebellion For there is founde no deuision But head membres eche for his partye Be so gouerned by prudent policy Contrariously Saule was put downe Abiect of God for his obstinacy Put from his scepter his crowne his region Of Israell lost all the monarchy For he lyst not make his alye Of frowardnes and wylfull negligence This noble vertue called obedience For as it longeth in kingdomes and cityes Vnder a keye of true beneuolence Princes and kynges to gouerne their sees So apperteyneth due reuerence To their subiectes by obedience To obey their lordes as they be of degre By title of right in euery comontee For obeysaunce if it be discerned With Argus eyen who that taketh hede As ryght requyreth is not well gouerned Whan the membres presume agayn the head Of gouernaunce there is no perfite spede From vnitie they go a froward wey Whan subiectes their princes disobey The .ii. Chapter ☞ How kyng Roboam for geuyng fayeth to yonge counsayle lost the beneuolence of his people and died a foole VNto Bochas in order next there came With full great dole and lamentacion The yonge kyng called Roboam Sonne and next heyre to Salomon Entryng by title of iust succession Besought mine aucthour to make of his foly And of his fallyng a piteous tragedy First whan he entred into his region Twelue tribes gouernyng in dede Ruled him selfe by will and no reason Kept his subiectes plainly as I rede Not vnder loue but vnder froward drede Of olde wise to his great disauaile He despised the doctrine and counsayle He demeaned as it was well couth His scepter his crowne and his regaly By such folke as floured in their youth Could of custome their wittes well apply To blynde him falsely with their flattery Whiche is a stepmother called in substaunce To all vertue and all good gouernaunce Alas it is great dole and great pitie That flattery should haue so great fauour Whych blindeth princes that they may not se Misteth the eyen of euery gouernour That they can not knowe their owne errour False hony shed aye on their sentence A fole is he that yeueth to them credence They may be called the deuyls tabourers With frowarde sownes eares to fulfyll Or of Sireues the perillous boâ—elers Whiche gall and hony downe distyll Whose drinkes ben bothe amerous and yll And as clarkes well deuise cunne Worse than the drynkes of Sirenes tuune Eares of prynces full well they can enoynt With the soft oyle of adulation And their termes most subtylly appoynt Eche thing concludyng with false deception Aye blandishyng with amerous poyson And finally as the Poete sayth Their faith of custome conciudeth w t vnfayth Flouryng in words though there be no scute Double of hart pleasaunt of langage Of true meanyng voyde and destitute In mustring outward preted a fayre vysage Who trusteth them findeth smal aduauÌ„tage By apparaunce and glorious freshe shewyng Princes deceauing and many a worthy kyng Roboam can beare full well witnes From him auoydyng folkes that were true How he was hindred by flattery and falsenes By them that coulde forge out tales newe Whose counsaile after sore did him rue And with their fayned false suggestion Greatly abridged his domination He dempt him selfe of more aucthoritye Of folly youth and of presumption Than was his father in great royaltie And this pompous false opinion Came into his concept by adulation For flatterers bare to him witnes How he excelled his fathers hygh nobles He did great rigour and oppression Vpon his people as it was wel preued And to finde some mitigation They in matters which y t haue them greued Of their tributes for to be releued Besought he would relese theÌ„ in their nede But all for nought he toke therof no hede All olde counsayle from him he set aside And refused their doctrine and their lore And by false counsayle of folkes full of pryde â–ª His pore lieges he oppressed sore And ten kynredes anone without more For tyranny and misgouernaunce From him withdrough the trouth lygeauÌ„ce Thus of the kyng conceiued the rygour The people anone of indignacion Stoned Adoram whiche was collectour Of the
he came to nought His renowne sprade through many a reme And all people gan hym magnifye A siege he layed vnto Jerusalem In the tyme of kyng Sedechye But in hys most frowarde surquedy Gods aungell tofore the citye An hundred M. slough of his meyny And the more to make hym aferde Amyd of hys people the selfe same nyght Gods aungell shoue away his berde With a sharpe sworde that shone full bryght Left hys siege and toke hym vnto flyght And in a temple hys gods worshyppynge Slough him selfe as he sate knelyng ¶ The .xxi. Chapter ¶ How king Sedechy as for false for swearyng was slayne and made blinde in pryson TOuching y â— coÌ„playnt of kyng Sedechy And of his sorowes to shew y â— manere Holy write doth clerely specify Wherfore it were but vayne to tell them here For there men the processe may playnly lere How Joachim kyng of Jerusalem His owne brother was led out of his reame Wherof in hart he felt full great sore This Sedechias as it is there founde Because the kyng Nabugodonosor His brother helde strong in pryson bounde Fully in purpose the Jewes to confounde For this tyrant had in that mortall strife His bothers children in pryson and his wyfe And yet this tyrant in his tyranny This fauour did in his fell rage Vnto this most wofull Sedechy To suffer him rayne in his great age From yere to yere to pay him a truage By fayth and othe â–ª and composition Raysed of his people and brought to Babilon Yet Sedechias in especiall By a maner of false felicitie Hym selfe reioysed in his see royall To occupy that noble dignitie And so forgate the great aduersitie Of his brother and other frendes all Touching the mischefe that they were in fall Of pryde he fell into presumption Whan he remeÌ„bred his brother his lynage Considered how fro kyng Salomon He was discended by title of heritage Gan disdayne to pay his truage And to maligne in hart he was so wrothe And falsly brake his assuraunce and his othe He had a maner indignacion Whiche he caught of olde remembraunce How tyme passed to kyng Salomon By hys manly prudent gouernaunce Kinges about for a recognisaunce Payed trybute and durst it not wythsay Fro yere to yere his nobles to obay Whiche thing remembred of kyng Sedechiâ— As he wext great stronge in puissaunce Of hye disdayne his tribute gan denye Set aside his fayth and assuraunce So that his othe stode in no substaunce For he agaynst the kyng of Babilon Presumptuously fyll in rebellion And his kyngdome to strength and fortify Thought he woulde to his aduauntage The kyng of Egypt haue on his party Of pryde he fell into so great outrage That he no more woulde pay his truage But fynally suche wayes he hath sought That of his othe little he ne rought But wo alas it is a dolefull thing To be remembred in hye or lowe degre That any prynce or any worthy kyng Should false his othe or vntrue be Or that men should suche variaunce se In their courages whiche ben so hye borne For any cause falsly to be forsworne By reporte it dothe their fame trouble Infortuneth and clipseth their nobles Whan a prince is of his heste double And chargeth not of wilfull rechlesnes Al be his promisse conclude on doublenes Though god awhile suffer them and respite At vnset houre their falsenes he will quyte His warnyng oft he sent to them afore Because they lackt prudent policy Recorde I take of Nabugodonosor Whiche came vnware on kyng Sedechye For he his tribute gan falsely him denye With all his power as it did abrayed To Jerusalem a mighty siege layed They within constrayned were of nede The kyng him self there was no better defeÌ„ce With mans fleshe his people for to fede While the Caldeys by mighty vyolence Of very force without resistence On false forswearyng for to take wreke Their mighty towers their walles breke To slea and kyll they list none to spare Who soeuer they met or came in their â—ight Sedechias left the towne all bare But take he was as he him toke to flyght In chaynes bounde and fettred anone ryght In whose preseÌ„ce tencrease his paines anone His yonge children were slayne euerichone His wyues most wofull in their cheres Whiche in their tyme goodly were and fayre Deliuered were in handes of straungeres And more alas to put him in dispayre Into his kyngdome neuer to haue repayre With sharpe tonges it was to great a payne Out of his head was rent his eyen twayne Of Jerusalem his citye was brent Playne to the grounde into ashes dede His great riches his treasour wholy sent To Babilon with stones blewe and rede Vessels of golde whiche richest were in dede Without mercy or remission Caldeis toke to their possession And thus in sorowe and in wretchednes He dyed alas fettred in pryson Lo here the ende of periury and falsenes Lo how fortune can turne vp so doun Of mortall men the condicion Now richest shynyng in hye prosperitie With vnware chauÌ„ge to hatefull pouertie Now men lift vp to royall dignities Now hye aloft by fulsum aboundaunce But what auayleth to syt in royall sees To folke that haue therin none assuraunce â–ª Namely whan fortune holdeth the balaunce Whiche aye of custome vnto hye estates Hath a false ioy to shewe her checkmates Recorde I take of prynces more then one Their wofull fates hangyng in ieopardy Remembred late and amonge eche one The wofull fall of kyng Amazie His sonne eke lepre whiche called was Ozie And last of all how in Babylon Kyng Sedechias dyed in pryson ¶ Lenuoy NOble prynces consider the fallas Of fortunes frowarde flattery Sith her disceits in many diuers caas How she first mocked manly Amazy Whiche slayne was for his surquedy To yeue you warning by exaÌ„ple ye may rede WhaÌ„ ye sit hyghest your fall is most to drede And as it is remembred in Bochas Eke in the Bible of king Ozie In his time how famous that he was Bothe of ryches and of chyualry Punished with lepre bokes specify For his presuming remeÌ„bryng this in dede Whan ye syt highest your fall is most to drede All worldly glory flyeth â—ence a pas I take wytnes of kyng Sedechye For false forsweryng he slayne was alas Made blynde in pryson the story can not lye Thus sheweth fortune through her frowarde enuy To you prynces if ye list take hede WhaÌ„ ye sit hyest your fal is most to drede ¶ The .xxii. Chapter ☞ How kyng Astiages laboured to disherite Cyrus but god suffred his malice not to preuayle AFter these kinges one folowed in y â— prees And to Bochas his coÌ„platâ—t can discure He was called the great Astiages Whiche tolde in order his vncouth auenture Lorde of Asye as bokes vs assure And had of treasure duryng all his life Aboue all kynges a prerogatyfe Most fortunate in all his gouernayle Felt of fortune none aduersitie Saue an heyre male nothing did him fayle
For he most gloriously sate in his se Of worldly wealth he lacked no plente Except onely as clarkes on him wryte He had no sonne his kyngdome to enherite Whiche to his wealthe was great distres Least succession fayled in his lyne A daughter had he called Mundanes Out of whose wombe as bokes determyne He dreampt on a nyght howe he sawe a vyne In his auysyon with him so it stode Ouer all Asye his braunches spred abrode He had also a reuelation Slepyng a nyght after his soupere Though he not knewe the exposicion He thought he sawe a cristallyn ryuere With lustye waters as any Beryll clere Out of her wombe with his stremes fresh The soyle of Asye make tender and neshe Touchyng this riuer and this lusty vyne To hym shewed in his auysion Within him selfe he coulde not termyne Therof to finde no clere coÌ„clusion Without some maner exposicion To him declared by folkes in sentence Whiche of suche dreames had experience To him he called his astronomers His phylosophers and his deuynours That knew the meanyng of the nine spheres Images of stars their houses their towers And such as were expert expositours And they were assembled euerychone Touching his dreme they corded all in one To tell him trouth they were not retchles Said his daughter froÌ„ whoÌ„ there came a vine She that by name was called Mundanes Should haue discendyng from her lyne Whose noble fame through Asia should shine Whiche should put through his renoun Him by force of armes out of his region This was his fate he might it not refuse The heauenly cours but it did fayle Wherupon he sore gan to muse Suche fantasies did his hart assayle Fill in great doubt of their diuyâ—ayle Thought he woulde make purueyaunce For to withstande gods ordinaunce Full harde it is to make resistence Again thiÌ„g ordeined wheÌ„ god will that it be And namely there where as influence Of heauen aboue hath shape a destiny Some men record that no man may it fle The dome of this where it holde or flyt To astronomers all wholy I commit This sayde kynge of whom I spake but late Cast he woulde for his aduauntage The ordinaunce reuerse and the fate Of the heauen with all the surplusage And yeue his daughter as in mariage To sum vnworthy pore infortunate That neuer were likely to rise to hie estate And in this wise kyng Astyages Maried his daughter as in his entent To one vnworthy called Cambyses Demyng therby by short auisement Within him selfe that he was ryght prudent Wening y â— nobles came by discent of bloude And not by grace nor as the heauen stode In his reason was not comprehended How Socrates master of Platon Of full low bed by birthe was discended And not to enherite kingdome nor regyon But for to haue fully possession Of morall vertue and philosophy Duryng his life his witte he did apply He sought countreys for wisdome and science And secrete cuÌ„nyng to serche he did his payne And he founde out through his diligence This philosopher as bokes assertayne To ioye reserued outher to payne By grace of god whiche is eternal How mens soules be founde aye immortall The great Appollo in bokes it is founde Gaue iudgement of equitie and ryght That Socrates in vertue most habounde And most preferred in euery mans sight Was called of wisdome the lanterne and light And wisest named at euen and at prime Of philosophers that were in his tyme. The poete also called Euripedes Most honourable named in that age All be his mother of lyfe was retchles And contagious through vycious outrage Yet was this poete for all his vyle lynage Most vertuous founde at all assayes Of all poetes that were in his dayes Called in his tyme a great tragician Bicause he wrote many tragedyes And woulde of trouth spare no maner man But them rebuke in his poetries Touching the vices of fleshly fantasies CoÌ„playn in princes theyr dedes most horrible Aâ—d eche thyng punyshe that was odible Another called clarke Domosthenes The most subtyll rethorician And most inuentyfe among all the prees That euer was sythe the worlde began Al be of byrth he was a pore man Yet had he most souerayne excellence Among philosophers of speach and eloquence By whiche example me semeth doubtles That royall bloude nor hye lynage To mens byrthe yeueth but small encres Nor vnto vertue but little auauntage For hye nobles taketh not his courage Of riche nor pore nor states souerayne But of his grace as god list ordayne Wherefore of foly kynge Astiages Contrariously agayne al gentry Bad that his doughter called Mundanes Fyrst whan folke wyth chylde her dyd espy For to accomplyshe his froward fantasy Whan it was borne charging aboue althing Of Arâ—â—anie to beare it to the kyâ—â—e Whych in that tyme was called Harpagus And as I fynd he dyd in vertue floure And spyte had the story telleth thus That beastes shoulde the litel childe deuouâ— But god that may in mischefe best socoure To kepe the chyld was not recheles Agaynst the malice of kynge Astyages Which had commauÌ„ded of malice hatred Howe that this chylde grene tendre of age By Harpagus shoulde be cast in dede To be deuoured of beastes most sauage But for he drede to do so great outrage To his shepeherde himselfe to stand at large The chylde to slee he fully yaue the charge This heerdman al be that he was loth To execute this woful auenture In to a forest forth wyth the chylde he goeth And gaue to beastes that litle creature Whom to foster by grace agaynst nature A wylde bytche her whelpes there forsoke And to her pappes the litel childe she toke And w t her mylke she made hym sup and dine And busy was for hym to enchace Wyld foules and beastes sauagyne That none ne durst nyghe to that place Lo how that god dispose can his grace Innocentes fro mischefe to preserue Agayne false enuy whych would make them sterue O blode vnkynde founde in kynred For couetise O blode disnatural Of false malyce O blode ful of hatred To murdre a chyld borne of the stocke royal Where mannes reason is turned beastiall Falsy transfourmed vnto cruelte To slee a chylde where beastes haue pyte The sely herde hath tolde his wyfe the case And she anone of pitye dyd aryse With her husbande went a ful great pase In to the forest beholdyng al the gyse As here to fore ye haue herde deuyse Seyng the chylde with lippes tendre softe The bytches pappes how he sokte ful ofte The sayd heerde called Sparagos His wyfe also of whom tofore I tolde This yong childe toke in their depose And in her armes â—he softly gan it folde And he ful goodly her face gan beholde And on his maner the same whyle In chyldly wyse on her gan to smyte The childes laughter whan she dyd aduert With al her hole faythful diligence She gan to cherishe it wyth al her herte She yaue it soke
rightes ceremoniall To Jupiter by full great reuerence Afore his auters wyth fyres and encence But for that he in hys inward intent By cyrcumstaunces of his oblacyon Was rechelesse founde and also neglygent By some frowarde false affection The goddes caught an indignacion And sodaynly discendyng from the heauin He was consumpt with a firy leuin Hys false goddes might hym nat auayle Jupiter Saturnus Mars nor Venus Let all chrysten defye suche raskayle For to our faythe they be contrarious And among godds a thyng most outragious Is whan that prynces bleut in their foly Lyst erthly thynges falsly deify For vnto God is hatefull and odyble A withdrawyng of his reuerence To magnify thynges corruptible with vndue honour with false concupiscēce Wherfore ye prices beware of high prudēce Lest god vnwarely punyshe your noblesse Make you in erth no false God nor goddes ¶ The second Chapiter ¶ Howe Anchus kynge of Rome was murdred by Lucinyo by the assent of his wyfe THynke on Anchus kynge of Rome toune Whyche was so noble shynynge in glorye Weared a crown ful famous of renoun Next Hostilius as put is in memory Wan the palme of many a great victory But for al that with a ful sharpe knyfe He murdred was by assentyng of his wife He loued her best aboue eche creature Considred not her statery nor falsnesse Her double meaning vnder couerture Falsly blent this princes worthynesse To robbe reue him of his great richesse Was her labour with counterfete pleasaunce In her entent to bring hym to mischaunce This anchus had a great affection Vnto his goddes to make sacrifyses And to augment the religion Of paganysme made in sondry wyses Through his manhode circūspect deuyses Vpon Latines rebel to his citye For comon profyt he made a great armye One of their cities called Polotory He knightly wan maugre al their myght And whan he had of them ful victory He abode no lenger but anone forth ryght Made al the people in euery mannes syght As prisoners thys romayne champion Brought afore hym boūde in to the toun Eke as I fynde this Anchus nolde cease For cōmon profyte in his affection Their teritories to augment and encrece In al the countreis about enuyron Towarde y ◠riuer where Tiber renneth doun At the which place he let edifye A ful stronge citie which called is Ostye But not withstanding al his worthynesse He was depriued the story telleth so Of his kyngdome and his great richesse By a foraine called Lucinio His wife Tarquild assented was therto By whose outrage and gredy couetyse Anchus was murdred in full cruel wyse The .iii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Lucinio that murdred Anchus was after murdred THus fro the whele of fortune he is fall Lucinio in Rome is crowned kyng And the Romayns after dyd hym cal Tarquin the olde by recorde of writyng Which hath atayned by fraudulent workyng And by his subtyll forged eloquence Vnto the state of royall excellence He fyrst ordayned in his estate roiall Turneys iustes in Castels and cities And other playes called marcial With many famous great solempnitees Sessions for states and degrees This Tarquin eke was fyrst y ◠did his payne In open stretes tauernes to ordayne Eke to preserue his citye out of doute If their enemyes lyst them to assaile He was the fyrst that walled Rome about With mighty toures vnlykely for to fayle And had also many a strong batayle With Sabynes in their rebellion And made them subiect vnto Rome toun But for he was assented to depriue Worthy Anchus from his estate royal And after that toke Tanquylde vnto wyue Which slough her lorde by treason mortal God would of right that he should haue a fal The lord wyl not which euery thinge may se Suffre murdre long to be secre For Lucinio for his great offence Touchynge the murdre of kyng Anchus Yslayne was by sodayne vyolence Of two sheperdes the story telleth thus Which of entent were contrarious Atwene them selfe by a fayned strife To fynde a way to reue hym of hys life For while the kyng sate in iugement Vpon their quarel for to do iustise Full sodaynly they being of assent Fill vpon him in full cruell wise And with an axe the story doth deuise One of them or any man toke hede On two parties rofe the kynges heed This thing was done by the procuryng Of two chyldre sonnes to Anchus Whyche were exyled by false compassyng Of Lucinio agayne them moste yrous To hym their presence was so odyous But they shope tho they were out of syght Theyr fathers deth to auenge if they might For of nature blode wyll auenged be To recompence the wrong of his kyntede In thys chapter lyke as ye may se Blodshed for blode thus bothe dyd blede By whyche example let prynces take hede Howe murdre done for supplantacion Requireth vengeaunce for his guerdon Lenuoye THys tragedie by clere inspection Openly declareth in substaunce Howe slaughter of prices causeth subuercyon Of realmes cyties put out of ordynaunce Of mortall were longe contynuaunce Blode by supplāting shed of kinges twayne By exāple shewed false murdre to restrayne The fyne declaringe of murdre false treson The dede horryble cryeth aye vengeaunce To god aboue to caste hys eyen doune To punishe thys sinne throgh his puissaunce For i◠is mother of myschefe and mischaunce Wherfore ye prynces do some lawe ordayne Within your boundes thre vyces to restraine The vyce of sclaundre murdre and poyson Where euer these thre haue acquayntaunce They bryng in sorowe and desolacyon Put at a prefe by newe remembranuce Of falshede vsed vnder fayre countenaunce Wherfore ye prynces do your busy payne Within your boūdes these vyces to restrayne God defende thys noble regyon With these thre vyces to haue alyaunce For slaundre firste deuoureth hygh renoun And sleeth good fame thrughe false daliaunce Harme done to late foloweth repentaunce Wherfore ye princes do a lawe ordayne To punish their malice fals tōges to restrayne God hath of murdre abhominacyon And false poyson dothe to hym displesaunce There is no payne in comparyson Condygne to murdre paysed in balaunce Wherfore ye princes make an ordynaunce Within your boundes of some preuy payne By dae punishing false murdre to restrayne O noble prynces prouyde of reason Agayne these vyces to make purueyaunce Of rygour shewe due execucion With your labour and hertely instaunce Let deth be guerdon for their fynall penaūce To warne other by cōstraint of their payne Frō these .iii. vices their corages to restrayne The .iiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe for the offence done to Lucrece by Tarquyn was neuer after crowned kyng in Rome TOuching this Tarquin of whō I told As myne auctour maketh mencion He called was Tarquinius the olde Whyche longe in Rome had dominacyon Tyll hys kynrede and generacyon For the offence done vnto Lucrece Caused of kynges the names to cece For his sonne which after dyd succede For his outrages and his extorcions And for many an other cruell dede
Like to Syrens with voyce melodious Enoynt your eares to make you lecherous ¶ The .vi. Chapter ☞ How Cambyses assentyng to the murder of his brother Mergus at the last slough him selfe AFter the death of mighty king Cirus Next came his sonne called Cambises Heyre by succession full victorious Whiche tofore Bochas put him selfe in prees And gan his complaynt this is doubtles That they of Egypt in many vncouth wyse To sundry Goddes did sacrifice First vnto Apis they dyd Sacrifice Called Serapis their greatest god of all Raygnyng in Egypt most of excellence And god of goddes foles did him call And of his nobles thus it is befall Slayne by his brother whiche is a wonder Seuered on peces and ful farre east asunder And they of Egypt made their ordinaunce Vpon payne of death in their statute olde A god to call him and do their obseruance Within his temple like as they were holde Wherof Cambises tofore as I you tolde All the temples of that region Cast him by force for to throw doun The temple of Jupiter to robbe it by rauyne Called Hammon without exception His knightes sent to bryng it to ruyne But they echoue for their presumption With sodaine leuin were smit and beat down Wherof Cambises in Jsye tho raygnyng Had this dreame as he lay slepyng He drempt his brother y t called was Mergus Should in the kingdome after him succede Wherof in hart he waxt so enuious That he purposed of rancour and hatrede By some meane to make his sides blede And that his purpose should take auayle A magicien he toke to his counsayle And he was holde a full great Phylosopher Called Comares full sleyghty and cunnyng To whoÌ„ Cambises made a full large profer Of golde treasure to make him assentyng To execute this horrible thing And that he would in most cruell wise The murder of Mergus to coÌ„pas and deuise And while Cambises ordeyned this treason To slea Mergus his owne brother dere God from aboue cast his eyen downe Hym to punishe in full cruell manere For he waxed wode who so list to lere Caught a swerde roue his thigh on twaine And sodaynly he dyed for the paine For two causes god toke on him vengeaunce As mine auctour Bochas doth expresse For his presumptuous false disobeysaunce Spoyling the gods of their great riches And for the froward great vnkyndnes To yeue assent to the contagious caas Whan y â— Mergus his brother murdred was The death of whom was chefe occasion Of full great warre striues and debate Eke fynall cause why all the region Of mighty Perce stode disconsolate For heyre was none of high nor low estate By title of right through his vnhappy chauÌ„ce To be their kyng and haue the gouernaunce For the magycien called Comares Which â—lue Mergus as ye haue herd expres Toke his brother called Dropastes And made him kyng the story bereth witnes Because that he resembled in likenes Vnto Mergus of face and of stature To crowne him kyng therfore he did his cure The deth of Mergus outward was not know Nor playnly published in that region His body buried and cast in earth lowe Of whom the murder fraudulent treason The piteous slaughter wrought by collusion And all the maner by processe was espyed So openly it myght not be denyed And in what wyse the noyse gan out sprede Touchyng this murder odyous for to here Whan that Oropastes occupted in dede The crowne of Perce the story doth vs lere There was a prynce full notable and entere Called Hostanes that gan his wytte apply Of high prudence this murder out to espy While that Oropastes vnder a false pretence Of Perciens was receiued for kyng The sayd prynce did his diligence By inquisition to haue knowlegyng By what ingyne or by what sleyghty thing The sayd Oropastes caught occasion In stede of Mergus to occupy the croun On this matter he had a coniecture That his title was neither whole ne clere The trouth to trye he did his busy cure And to serche out wholy the manere He sought so farre that he came ryght nere And in this case letted for no slouth Tyll that he had founde out the very trouth The case was thus playnly to termine He had a daughter full fayre of her vysage Whiche of the kyng was chiefest concubine By whom he thought to catche aduauntage And vnto her he hath sent his message Secretely to enquire how it stode Where y t the kyng were come of Cyrus bloud And bade that she shoulde secretly take hede While that he slept to do her busy payne With her handes for to fele his hede And to grope after both his eares twayne And if it fyll there is no more to sayne Vpon his head that she none eares founde To tel her father of trouth as she was bouÌ„d This mighty prynce Hostanes knewe wele Ryght as it is recorded by scripture Touching this case how it stode euery dele How kyng Cambyses of sodaine aduenture By his liue for a forfeyture Made of Oropastes the story sayth not nay Both his two eares to be cut away And hereupon to be certified He was desierous to haue full knowlegyng Whiche by his daughter whan it was espyed Vpon a nyght liyng by the kyng Gropyng his head as he lay slapyng Full subtilly felt and toke good hede How he none eares had vpon his heed And to her father anone she hath declared The secrenes of this auenture And for no feare ne drede he hath not spared How that it stode playnly to discure And first of all he did his busy cure All the prynces of Perce lande yfere To counsayle call to entreat of this mattere And whan they were assembled euerychone Of Oropastes he tolde them all the chaunce And how y t Mergus was murdred yore agoÌ„e As here tofore is put in remembraunce Wherupon to set an ordinaunce And to redresse these wronges done toforne Of Perce lande were seuen prynces sworne Of one assent in their intencion By bonde of othe thei made their assuraunce And a full secrete communicacion To put Oropastes froÌ„ his royall puissaunce Whiche had all Perce vnder his gouernauÌ„ce By a full false pretence of herytage For he was like to Mergus of vysage These seuen prynces of which tofore I tolde All of one hart and by their othe ybounde Prudent and manly and of yeres olde Haue sought a tyme Oropastes to confound And w t their swerdes sharpe whet ground Vnder couert in their apparayle Came of entent Oropastes to assayle And in the palays whom euer that they met Or agayne them made resistence All of accorde they fiercely on him set But the magicien y â— was there in their preseÌ„ce Came agaynst them by sturdye vyolence And at the encountregan theÌ„ so constrayne That of the prynces they haue slaine twayne But finally the other prynces fyue Whan that they sawe their two feres blede In al the palays they left none alyue And kynge
To se a woman so sturdy of vysage Yet men expert all day may se and lere They be by nature ful cruell of corage And no cowardes found of their langage Set at assay and than it shall be sene Wher they be ferfull their quarell to sustene They mai of mekenes shew a fayre pretence Some serpent is of colour syluer shene And some floures ful fresh of apparence Growe on thystels rough sharp and kene And some that ben angelyke to sene And very heuenly with their golden tresses Ben at a prefe verye lyonesses To say the sothe a poore man may be shent I dare no more speke of this matere But kyng Xerxses for all his proud entent All his nauy and his people yfere Were put to flight outraied of their chere Their shyppes drowned amonge the waues rude That none abode of al that multitude Kyng Xerxses hurt and wounded mortally Vnnethes he might the great payne endure His quakyng hert quit him so cowardly On see and lande suche was his auenture And yet agayne his damages to recure Thre hundred M. of feyghters hee gan call Vpon grekes of newe for to fall A mighty Duke called Mardonyus Was captayne made his people for to lede But Themistocles min auctor telleth thus Knowing of Xerxses the cowardnes drede A lettre made for to be sent in dede Enfourming him by grekes greate outrage How of his bridge was broken the passage Of which maruayle when ther came tidinge To king Xerxses he after anon ryght As he that was aferde of ech thynge Full lyke a cowarde tooke him to the flyght Fled in a bote lyke a coward knyght Of al his people there were no more yseyne To awayte vpon him saue a chamberleyne All his people departed here and yonder Standyng in mischefe great indygence To many a coast they wēt and rode asonder Pyned with hunger lacked their dispence Punished also wyth vnware pestylence Feble of trauayle myght not endure For impotence to carye their armure Alas eche way lay ful of caraynes The soyle with blode stayned and the grene The ayre terrible of pathes and of plaines That no man might it endure nor sustene The sauour was so odyous and vnclene Rauenous foules ful homely in their sight Them selfe to fede vpon the corse alyght Thre hundred M. of Perciens were slayne Which Mardonyus afore full proudly lad Of which tiding king Xerxses was not fayn But for distresse and sorow gan to mad And one the last mischefe that he had Was whan Thimon a noble grekish knight Xerxes discomfited and put his men to flight This Thymon was sonne to Melciades His father whilom of Athenes kyng Which last of all outrayed hath Xerxses Saue of his ende there fyll another thyng Artabanus full sleyghty of werkyng Which to Xerxses was not suspect in dede Compassed his dethe in Bochas as I rede This Artaban was prouest of hys house And an officer most especyall With his seuen sonnes strong and dispitous Vpon a nyght furyous and fatall Fyll vpon Xerxses in his palayes royal And in his story as it is remembred On pieces small they haue him dismembred This was of Xerxses the last fynal mede Of his high pride the funerall guerdon Frō his two kingdomes of Perce and Mede Froward fortune hath hym plucked doun What may auayle the dominacion Of such princes as hold them selfe euyn For to be egall with goddes hyghe in heuyn Men list not know such chaūges for no prefe And namely princes in their puissaunces Against erthly parels all worldlye mischefe They can prouyde them set ordynaunces As they that drede fortunes varyaunces But to God ward they take ful lytel hede For the great riches which they do possede If they may heare of an erthe quaue Tofore it fall or any token se Than wyl they go anon them self to saue Out of their houses from the townes fle To put their life the more in suerte Lest their building made of so great costage Fyll vpon them in that mortall rage Or if an horse ronne oute of his stable Breke his colere thicke double and longe Men wyl ordayne a locke of yron able To kepe hym in be he neuer so stronge And thus men can redresse euery wronge Touching the body by great auysenesse Saue for the soule they wyl nothing redres Whan a ryuer passeth ferre his boundes Boyleth vpward fyndeth no resistence Wynneth land and ouerfloweth groundes Drowneth townes with his vyolence Yet men wyl trauayle to fynde a defence To turne her cours som way shal be sought But toward god mē thīke lytell or nought Agaynst sickenes men seke medicines Letwaries and dyuers pocions Serche in physike sondry disciplynes Them to dyete in their transgressions Restoratyues and eke confeccions But vnto Godward in this present lyfe Men not trauayle for no confortatyfe Men their bodies wyl put in distresse Of false desyre and couetous feruence Only cacroche and wyn great ryches Suffre colde labour and vyolence And nother spare for gold nor for dyspence To vnderfonge perylles of vaynglory Only for thynges that ben transitory They passe mountains many hidous roch In hope it shuld to their entent auayle To many mortal monstre they approche And many vncouth sea they sayle Jeopart their lyfe in warre and in batayle By many a daunger mani streyt they ride For worldly treasor which wyl not abide But toward goodes that ben perdurable Full lytle or nought their hertes they encline Nor to the heuenly company most notable They wyl not lyft vp nother heed ne eyne Toward the spheres of Phebus and Lucine Castyng their stremes to vs from ferre Which to considre all worldly men done erre What myght auayle the great couetyse Of kyng Xerxses in his estate royal Of the gret people which ye haue herd deuise Ten hundred M. the people was nat small But for all that he had an hydous fal Whan that he was as tofore is remembred On pieces smale piteously dismembred ☞ Lenuoye THis tragedi put vs in remembraūce Of y ◠vnsiker flateryng blyndnesse Both of fortune and of her vatiaūce And of her vgly froward doublenes In Xerxses shewed for all his ryches To vs declaring plainly in figure A rauynous prince may no whyle endure Kyng Xerxses had vnder his obeysaunce Al Perce and Mede the stori bereth witnes Thought all erthe to lytell in substaunce To staunche the etyke of his gredynesse A fret of hauing put him in such distresse Whose fyne declared by recorde of scripture A rauinous prince may no whyle endure He made also an odious ordynaunce Of surquedy his power for to dresse To robbe the gods maugre their puisaunce And spoyle the temples of their frowardnes Take their treasors agayn all rightwisnes But they him shewed of sodayne auenture A rauinous prince may no whyle endure Great Appollo toke on his men vengeaunce With vnware tempest for al their sturdines Leuin thunder brought them to mischaūce Guerdon most able agayn the
commyng Ditees deuise and of his conquest syng And strange minstrelles to be also recorde Thier instrumentes shal touche at accorde All of entent to geue hym more courage To the Capitole so he shal be brought And lest of pryde he fall in none outrage Nor surquedy within hys owne thought The most wretch shal of the town be sought Which of custome shal haue a staffe in hande And in the chare behinde his backe vp stande Gnotos Eolytos in Greke he shoulde seyne Whiche in our tonge playnly dothe expresse Know thy selfe remembryng in certayne Vpon fortunes frowarde doublenesse On whom thou trust may be sykernesse And who that douteth where that it be thus Let hym remembre the ende of Manlius What auayled his triumphes or hys byes Crownes of golde perled freshe tunicles His hygh prowes or all hys chiualryes Singler fyghtyng or marciall particles Newlye remembred or fed in olde cronicles Peyse his merites and see now at the last How into Tybre theyr champion they cast To his excuse auayled neuer a dele Fauour of coÌ„mons carectes of his woundes Nor to the goddes his lamentable appele Nor remebrauÌ„ce of theyr frauÌ„chised boudes Teritories nor wynnyng of the groundes Which that he wan w t spendyng of his blode All knitte in one to hym no stede they stode Here ye maye se how fortune sodaynly Clerenesse of fame can chauÌ„ge to derkenesse Glory to reprothe worshyp to vilany And ioye passed to mortall heuynesse Swytnesse of fauour into bytternesse And sobernesse into furious rage And old franchise to thraldome and seruage For there was neyther request nor prayere That auayled to hys delyueraunce In cheynes fettred dedlye of loke and there Abode the sentence of his finall gouernauÌ„ce Pale of face with trimblynge countenaunce Whan he alas gan mortal approche Of Terpeya to the hydous roche Of Terpeya thys roche bare the name After a lady as made is mencion Called Terpeya whiche fell in great defame Because she was assented to trayson To haue brought enemies into Rome toun Wherof conuict her story is wel knowe Vnder that roche she was ydolue ful lowe Thys roche also was called Carmentoun After a woman of great aucthorite Called Carmentes which through her hie renoâ—â— The Capitole made in that cite And she found letters first of our a b c And connyng had among her workes all Declare afore thyng that shoulde befall And on thys harde sturdy roche of stone Fro the Capitole Marcus was cast downe Other fauour nor frendshyp founde he none For all his battayles fought for the toune The coÌ„mons hertes were turned vpsodoune Whose loue is lyke preued at assay A blase of fire now bryght and now away The common people may hote and crye fast As theyr heartes stedfast were and stable But at a nede theyr promyse wyl nat last Of theyr corages they be so remouable To folow reason gerysh and vntreatable Lyghtly declinynge that is ful great ruthe After opinions and nothyng after truthe This Manlius was of hys truste disceyued Whose lust vnleful was departed in twayne Whan he of pride woulde haue be receyued To hygh estate which he myght nat attayne Wher through y e senate gan at him disdayne And the commons aye false at suche a nede Lefte hym in mischefe toke of hym no hede ¶ Lenuoye IN this tragedy meÌ„ may beholde se The perilous domages of false ambicioÌ„ Of theÌ„ y t be nat coÌ„teÌ„t w t their degre But would vp climbe lyke theyr opinion To hye estate by vsurpation Which nat consydre the sentence of scripture In a good meane men longest may endure Who that vsurpeth to higher dignite Than appertayneth to hys condition In royall chares for to make hys se And hath no tytle of lyne nor of reason Through frowarde pride full ofte he is putte doun For lacke he seeth nat euery creature In a good meane lengest may endure Whan Dedalus taught his sonne to flee He bad hym first of hye discretion Fro Phebus hete kepe his wynges fre And fro Neptunus colde congelacion Meanyng hereby for short conclusion That who that lyst with ioy his state assure In a good meane he longest shall endure Remembre the manhode and magnanimite Of Marcus Manlyus which by presuÌ„ption Wolde haue gouerned Rome the cite Maugre the senate ruled that mighty toun Whiche tourned after to hys confusion For he saw nat such was hys auenture In a good meane men longest maye endure Some in theyr greatest hygh prosperite Of frowarde corage and furious mocion In theyr great weale by false duplicite Haue a maner straunge condition Nat to be content with plentie nor foyson By a false etyke whiche of theyr nature In a good meane can nat longe endure But in this earth is greatest felicite In heartes ease rychest possession With suffisaunce content for to be Of worldly trouble teschewe thoccasion Meuyng no quarelles causyng no disceÌ„cion Nor cleyme nothyng which hard is to recure Sith in a good meane meÌ„ longest do endure Princes remembre in your most maieste Enuy of clymbyng causeth deuision Be of accord trust in no commonte Whiche at a poynt is but disception And specially flee simulation Ye maye in Marchus se a playne fygure Which for ambicion might no whyle endure The .iii. Chapter ☞ How Nectanabus kyng of Egypt was by Xerxses constrayned to flye hys kyngdome AFter the fal of Marchus Manlius Bochas anone gan hys style dresse Brefely to tell of Nectanabus Kyng of Egypt and of hys great rychesse Seyng afore in all hys noblesse By vncouth crafte how he ne myght chese That in all hast his crowne he should lese For he was connyng in especiall And ryght expert as made is mencion In all the sciences called liberall And knew afore by calculation How God wolde make a transmigracion Of hys kyngdome and playnly to reporte The lande of Perce to Grekes ful traÌ„sport For by kyng Xerxses out of hys countre Maugre hys treasour hys connyng myght This Nectanabus constrayned was to flye Durst nat abyde to haue of hym a syght But into Grece he drew hym anone ryght Nat lyke a kyng but after olde writynges Lyke a magicien he wrought woÌ„dre thinges Vpon fortune further to procede By hys conning he greatly furthered was And by hys sleighty workyng eke in dede He was acquaynted with quene Olimpyas And so secre playnely thys is the caas That openly her men sayd by demyng He gate Alysandre the great myghtye kyng But how he fled out of hys region Of hys ymages nor of hys illusions Bochas maketh no maner mention Nor how he wrought by incantacions Nor of hys subtel operations Nor how that he lyke a man by nyght Whilom apeared in the quenes syght Saue of hys deth Bochas writeth nought Remembring no tyme nor date How he and Alisander togeder haue sought The course of starres towarde euen late Nor how hys sonne like as was hys fate Downe from a brydge by full mortal wrake Cast hym backward and so his necke
in his drede Trayterously through plate and mayle Perced his hart the bloud abrode gan rayle And as it is also of him remembred The Lucaâ—oyes by vengeable vyolence They haue his carayne on pieces dismeÌ„bred Tyll an olde lady beyng in presence Required them of humble pacience That she of grace gader myght anone His membres all and ioyne them into one And after to sende them vnto his sister dere Olympyades the stately great quene That of affection and loue most entere Whan it befell that she did them sene Should of nature as it muste nedes bene Weâ—e and prouyde in his estate royall To bury the body with feast funerall Se here example of this proude kyng Whiche would haue scaped his fatal desteny Chaunge of places auayleâ— hym nothyng Periodie of prynces may not chaunged be The terme set fro whyche they may not fle For whan heuyn of death hath set the date No mortall man may eschue hys fate The .xi. Chapter ☞ How Dary king of Perce and Mede was outrayed by Alexander kyng of Macedon IN Alexander called Epirothes Me lyst as now no lenger for to tary Slayn at mischefe for he was retchles Double of corage for he could chauÌ„ge vary For turne I will my pen to kyng Dary Whiche that whilom who so lyst take hede Most mightely raigned in Perce and Mede And among other notable warriours Like as I deme by heauenly influence Onely by title of his predecessours And through his prudent excellence To great encrease of his magnificence He had all Asie as made is mencion Vnder his lordship and dominacion And as myne auctor Bochas doth defyne He was discended from the imperiall bloude Of Artaxerses and borne eke of that lyne Passed all prynces of treasure and of goode In Perce Mede his great empyre stoode An huÌ„dred prouynces tencrease of puissaunce And seuen thirty he had in gouernaunce Ouer all Asie towarde the orient His lordshyp last bokes make mynde And he had eke toward the occident Ouer Egypt power as I fynde The redde sea was not left behynde Demyng hym selfe of all earthly treasour Was none but he lorde and gouernoure Toward SepteÌ„trion vnder y â— midday spere His power raught and hys regaly Ouer Inde in cronicles ye may lere And to the boundes of great Armenye Lorde of the kingdome y t called is Parthy Worldly folke dempt hym w t god egall â–ª Master to fortune she not but hys thrall But in his hyghest exaltacion Of worldly glory he could not preuayle For all his riches and vaine ambicion But fortune durst him wel assayle In his most royal riche apparayle Cast in her chauÌ„ges to giue hiÌ„ a sharpe shoure By Alexander of Grece enheritour Vnto purpose I will my penne dresse For to declare and make mencion How proude Dary in his most nobles Was by Fortune from his seate â—ast doun For anone after the coronacion Of Alexander in Macedone kyng This was the processe of his workyng He not delayed nor made no long date In purpose fully of yre to procede Of Perce Mede the scepters to translate All their riches to conquere and possede Perpetually for no abide in dede Vnder grekes mighty obeysaunce In Macedone to haue the gouernaunce And as mine auctour well reherce can He set in Grece the mighty stronge citye Of Corinthe the metropolitan There to establishe his imperiall see In regalibus whan he list crowned be As man whoÌ„ god liste of his might to marke The world to coÌ„quere be therof monarke At the ginnyng of his conquest famous Through out Grece in euery region First he chose out of his fathers house Knightes y t were most souerayne of renowne Notable in armes and of condicion Faithfull true which had of high prudence Foresight in armes of marciall prouidence To them he did full notably assygne As men expert in knightly apparayles To make his stuffe with many a riche signe And forge of stele his plate and his mayles Gaue them the rule to gouerne in battayles For prouidence of yore it hath be tolde Full muche auayleth of knightes wise olde All this accomplished he list no lenger tary This worthy kyng but w t his ordinaunce Purposed to begyn on kyng Dary And as it is put in remembraunce In most proude wise he gan him selfe auauÌ„ce First in his way to brenne and beate downe Of hasty yre Thebes the mighty towne After he gate two mighty regions The one of Frigie the other called Lyde Set by olde tyme were their foundaâ—ions Vpon two riuers runnyng there beside whose goldeÌ„ grauels their brightnes mai not hide Paceolus and Euxyne men them call Richest of stremes though men reken all And of his conquest farder to termyne He wan Isauria a prouince wonder stronge In Asia one chiefest of the nyne And Pamphile a kingdome large and longe He gate also were it right or wronge For where y t conquest haue any title of right My cuÌ„ning it passeth my reason my might I toke no party nor me lyst not tary In this matter but forth I will procede How Alexander hasted towarde Dary To atcheue his coÌ„queste of Perce of Mede But first he came to Frigia I rede Into a citye the name to specify Thylke dayes it named was Gordy After mine auctoure affirme well I dare There was a teÌ„ple in Frigia thus saith he Of Jupiter in whiche there stode a chare With ropes bounde of stones and pyrre Amonge whiche men might beholde and se A fatall knotte by craft made so subtile That no man could vndo it by no wyle For who that had science or cunnynge That curious knot to lose or vntwyne Ouer Asye he should be crowned kyng And Alexander as bokes determyne Seinge this chare knitte with many line And how it semed a maner impossible To seuer it whiche was indiuisible The chare w t coardes was so enterlaced That rychely stode in â—oues tabernacle Whiche by his witte coulde not be enbraced Neither by craft nor no solemne myracle Tyll Alexander by a diuyne oracle Drew out his sworde wherof meÌ„ had woÌ„der Carfe the knotte cordes all asunder Wherby he wyst that he was ordeyned Ouer all Asye to be lorde and kyng Whiche to reioyce this story is not fayned He rode like Mars his battayles coÌ„ueiyng Through Perce mede his staÌ„derds splayig Toward his coÌ„quest where I let him dwell And of his chare knottes I will you tell Prudent Justinus an olde croniclere In his cronicles rehearseth this story Nowe Gordius a pore laborer Beside the citye that called is Gordie â—ryng his lande did his oxen gye And all maner foules that hath flyght Hye in the ayre appeared in his syght Vnknowe to him the token what it meant With diuinours cast him to counsayle Called â—ugures which holy in their entent Knowen the processe of such diuinayle Where it shall profite eyther disauayle And at the gate of Gordy the citye He met a mayde excelling of beautie
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
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
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
countrees Saue in cauernes great holowe trees The boke remembreth how that his diet Were beastes wylde enchased w t great might Fled ydienesse eschewed all quiete And lytle slepe suâ—â—ised him at nyght By exercise his body was made â—yght There was nouther whan hym lyst pursue Harte nor hynde y â— myght his hande eschue He nouther drad tygers nor lyons He was so swifte tho they dyd hym assayle Lyke of strength to olde champions No wylde beast of great nor smale entayle Tescape his hande might not countreuayle If he were ware early outher late So great swiftnesse had this Mithridate Amonge he had in armes exercyse Amonge to tournay and ren on horsebacke All dilicate fare he dyd also dispyse Of gredy excesse in him there was no lacke A nighter tyme his slepe full oft he brake Stoundmeale the houres for to marke In the daunyng rose vp or the larke The space accomplished fully of seuen yere He is repayred home to hys countre Shewed hym selfe of manhode and of chere Full like a knight his story who lyst se Wherof his enemies astonied be Caught of hys coÌ„ming in hert a maner drede Supposyng afore that he was dede In whose absence his wyfe Leodyces Conceyued a childe as made is mencion For the diffame shoulde nat come in prees Him for to murder she sought occasion Fully in purpose to slee hym by poyson Of which defautes her lorde was nat fayne Knowing the trouth made her to be slayne Toke on him after many knightly dede First to conquere all Paflagoâ—ye By the helpe of worthy Nychomede That tyme called kyng of Bithinye Togyther assured to be of one alye In losse or lucre fortune to be theyr gyde And therto sworne neuer to deuyde To Mithridate Legates were downe sent Fro the Romains him lowly requiryng That he woulde lyke to their entent Paflagoâ—ye restore to their kyng Which he had wonne the cite assaylyng But he lyst nat aduertise their prayere Nor on no parties their requestes here He dred nat their thretes nor manaces Gate proudly after the lande of Galathye In his conquest wan many other places Capadoce toke to hys partye Slew their kyng of hatred and enuye Ariarectes a full manly man And in this wyse his conquest he began Agayn thassurauÌ„ce twene him Nichomede All sodaynly he gan fall at debate Thought he wolde warrey hym in dede Because that he pompous and elate In Capadoce toke on hym thestate To reygne as kyng agayns his entent He nouther being of counsayle nor assent Yet Nychomede or they gan debate Had longe afore to his owne encrees The suster wedded of y e Mithridate Whan they as brethren lyued in rest pees And she also was called Leodices Hauyng two sonues borne for to succede After discease of the sayde Nychomede And by processe these sayde children twayne In Capadoce by helpe of Mithridate Claymed a tytle iustly for to attayne Vnto the crowne their father died but late For which they gan felly to debate Tyll Mithridate falsly gan contriue His two neuewes vngoodly to depriue All Capadoce he toke into hys hande His owne sonne he hath crowned kyng Capadociens by assent of al the lande Gan disobey of purpose his workyng Whan the Romains considred all thys thyng Artaberzanes in hast they sent doun Gayne Mithridate to kepe that region The sonne of whoÌ„ fro theÌ„ they haue refused Out of their kyngdome gan him to enchace For they seÌ„pte their fraunchyse was abused To see a foraine occupie that place Mithridate gan newly them manace And toke with him to sustayne his partye Tygranes the kyng of Armenye Artabarzanes that was fro Rome sent To Capadoce to helpe them and counsayle Of Mithridate knowyng the entente Howe he came downe proudly hym tassayle With Tygranes set in the first batayle Of Capadoce that al the region Was brought that day to theyr subiection Thus Mithridate hauyng his entent In short time countreys conqueryng Was mightiest prince of all the orient And in tho dayes one the greatest kyng And as it is remembred by writyng He delyted most in astronomye In sortilege and in sorcerye And with all these he dyd hys busy cure For to lerne vncouth conclusyons And secretes sought out by nature Knewe the langages of diuers regions Of two and twenty sundry nacious And helde women many more than one Loued Hipsycrata aboue them euerychone To the Romains this manly Mithridate As bokes olde recorde of hym and sayne Vpon a day of very cruell hate Through all Asya he bad that eche Romayne Shoulde of his men mercilesse be slayne Twenty thousande he slewe eke on a day Of Romain marchaÌ„tes durst no maÌ„ say nay To him he drewe diuers nacions To encreace his party by puissaunce Kymbrois Gallois with other regions Bostornois toke to his aliaunce With strauÌ„ge people made his acquaintauÌ„ce Where that euer he rode nye or ferre With them of Rome for to holde werre In Grece also he gate manye an yle All Cyclades to his subiection Conquered so that within a whyle Of Athenes he gate the famous toun But when Romains knewe his entencion They sent Scilla in a furious hete With Mithridate in Grece for to mete Archelaus which that was constable Leading the host of kyng Mithridate Gan agayne Scilla trustynge he was able Maugre the Romains with him to debate As they met in their furious hate Beside Orthonia of Grece a great towne Of Archelaus y â— party was brought downe There gan Scilla to be victorious Gayne Mithridate and by great violence Gate al Ephesie a kyngdome ful famous Rode through Asye founde no resistence By his knighthode and manly prouidence Capadoce and Bithinye eke also To Romain handes he gate them bothe two When Mithridate perceyued hath this thinge How the coÌ„quest of Scilla toke encrees Anone he cast without longe tariynge For a tyme with him to haue a pees Of hie wisdome he was nat retcheles To dissimule tyll he founde time and space In double fortune to finde better grace Abode his tyme kept hym selfe close Tyll he founde layser lyke hys opinion In this while of auenture arose Within Rome a great discencion Twene two Consules being in that toun Which to appease by hys auctorite Scilla came vp agayne to the cite When Mithridate his absence dyd espy To his purpose founde oportunite Gadred people and with his chiualry A siege layde vnto Cyzite the cite Of all Asye moste of auctorite Tyll Lucullus a myghty Consulere To breke the siege approche gan full nere Mithridate had on fyue captayns Tofore the towne made a discomfiture Of hie dispyte he had to Romayns But Lucullus the damages to recure To enclose his enemies dyd hys busy cure To his mynours gaue anone in charge About the siege to make a diche full large They within had knowledgyng By certayn tokens of all theyr gouernaunce Whervpon they made no tariyng To cast a way for their delyueraunce Mithridate seyng their ordinaunce Of hie prudence to escape
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
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
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
tofore Gaulter his iudgemeÌ„t to shew With sharp swordes he was all to hewe The execucion done vpon these thrâ— In Tuskan borne the rancour did apease Of Florentines to staunche the cruelte Againe Gaulter to his life great ease He glad to escape out of his disease Fled away in full secrete wyse The towne restored again to their frauÌ„chyse Thus he lost by his insolence All his power and dominacion Bothe of Tuskan and also of Florence And as mine auctour maketh mencion Fro Lombardy he is discended doun Drew to king Iohn reigning tho in FrauÌ„ce And of byrth full nigh of alyaunce As I fynde he was on that partye With king Ihon this Gaulter like a knight Whan that the king with all his chiualry Was take him selfe his lordes put to flighte Into Englande lad after anone righte The said Gaulter hauing no regarde To his worshyp fled like a cowarde Met in his flyght with diuerse soudyours Of Lombardy abiding with king Iohn Which that time as brygantes pyllours Toke this Gaulter led him forthe anone His force his corage his herte was agone Of auenture a certaine Florentine Smit of his head this was his fatall fyne The .xxxv. Chapter ¶ Of Philipot Cathenoise borne of lowe birth which came vnto great estate and after she her sonne her doughter were brent BEspraynt with teares and wofull noyse Tofore Bochas quaking in sorow and drede Next in order came Philipot Cathenoyse Poore of degree borne of lowe kynrede Which rose after to great estate in dede And gan with sorow complaint ful mortal Seriously to tell her woful fall Touching her byrth derke was her linage Of poore bed borne on outher syde Bochas was lothe to spende great langage On her history longe theron to abyde Purposed him nothing for to hide Of the substaunce but tell all the great And superfluite of the remenaunt to leat Whiche was reherced by him in his youth Whan he was toward Robert of Cecyle Kyng of Ierusalem the storye is nat couth Yet in his boke he list it compyle And it reherce by full soueraine stile Lyke in that courte as it was to him tolde By one Bulgare called in slauaine olde The sayd Bulgare was a marynere With him also was a Calabrien Called Constantine which full many a yere Trauailed had and sondry thinges sene In diuers countreis there he had bene Monge other thinges sene in dayes olde This was a storie which Bulgare tolde Duke of Calabre Robert by his name By his father Charles the mighty kyng Had in coÌ„mauÌ„dement y â— storye saith the same Gayne Frederike to make a stronge ryding Which by force proudly vsurping Toke vpon him to be lorde of that yle Which called was the kingdome of Cicyle Depranne in sothe called was the towne Where duke Robert his pauyllions pight Rode armed through his hie renowne Gaine Frederike for the lande to fight And to withstande him plainly if he might And so be fyll the morowe before prime The dukes wife of childing bode her tyme. Violaunt men did that lady call In her time a famous great duchesse Destitute of other women al Whan her childe was borne in that distresse To yeue it souke the story doth expresse Saue for mischefe Philipot was fet nere Of Cathenoyse the dukes chefe laundere By a fysher which was her husbande A childe she had lyuing by theyr trauaile Which fro the sea vnto the courte by lande Day by day caried vitaile And in this case be cause it might auayle Philipot was brought in this greate straytnesse To be norice vnto the duchesse Where she was cherished after her desyres Eche thing redy whan that euer she sent With the duchesse amonge other chambrers In to Naples I fynde that she went Tyll Atropose frowarde of entent Made of this childe there is no more to say The lyues threde for to breke in tway With king Charles of whoÌ„ I spake toforne As mine auâ—tour remembreth in his boke Was one Raymond of Champayne borne Whiche w t the king was called mayster coke And on a day his iourney he toke Towarde the sea a pyrate as I finde Solde him a child which was borneiÌ„ Inde Lyke Ethiopiens was his colour For whoÌ„ this coke Raymonde hath deuysed For in his notable diligent labour Made him christen and so he was baptised Gaue him the name and also practysed Him to promote that he vpon him toke By his doctrine to be mayster coke For he sone after toke the order of a knight The Ethiopien wext a good officere Gate suche grace in the kinges sight To be about him more nere By processe he was made wardyopere And though he was blacke of his visage To Cathenoyse he was ioyned in maryage Wexte malyperte and of presumpcion To be made knight y â— king he gan requere Which of fredom and great affection Is condiscended to graunt his prayere But to declare plainly the manere In this time Violaunt the duchesse Afore remembred dyed of sicknesse After whose death bokes dothe certifye Howe duke Robert of Naples the cite Wedded a Lady that called was Sausye To whom Philipot as fyll to her degre With diligence and great humilite To please her dyd so her deuer That of counsayle there was none so nere Euer redy at her commaundement Wrought atyres plesaunt of delite With holsom waters that were redolent To make her skyn by washing sote white Made confections to serue her appetyte By her husbande the story who lyst se The same Philipot had chyldren three She was connyng of her porte prudent Chosen by fauour for to be maystresse To fayre Iane yonge and innocent Which doughter was to the great duchesse Of Calabre and furthermore to expresse Her husbande the Ethyopyen withall Of Charles houshold was made seneschall O lorde quod Bochas spake of hie disdain What meneth this fortune for to make chere With her fauour to rayse vp a forayne Vpon her whele with bright fethers clere But of custome it is aye her manere Fayrest to appere with chere countenauÌ„ce Whan she wyll bryng a maÌ„ vnto mischauÌ„ce For he that was a boy the last day An Ethiopien borne horrible of sight And afore time in the kechyn lay Amonge the pottes with baudy cote anight Nowe of newe hath take the ordre of knight With king Charles is now seneschall Such sodayne climbing asketh a sodain fal He and Philipot his wyfe fro pouerte Be enhaunced and rissen to great richesse Two of their sonnes stately maryed be And he for fauour more than worthynesse To order of knight in his most highnesse Their father died whose feast funerall Was solempnysed and holde full royall Thus can fortune chaunge as the mone Her bright face derked with a skye His eldest sonne dyed after sone The seconde left vp his clergie To be made knightlgan him selfe apply Stode of his father plainly as I rede In his office by fauour to succede Thus by processe fro Philipot anonright Deathe of