Raellians vvith the Kinges consent sent Embassadors vvith ritche giftes vnto Delphicus Apollo fo 20. ¶ The crowne Garlande and the golden Scepter vvith the Oracle that they receiued by the Embassadours from Delphicus Apollo fo 21 ¶ The noble royall Coronation of Hellepatrus king of the Raellyans with the triumphant feates of chiualry and the kings Oration vnto his subiects fo 23. ¶ Howe the crowne Garlande and the Scepter were hanged vp in the holye Alsephon which was a prognostication of the fatall destruction of the kingdom of the Raellians fo 25. ¶ How Hellepatrus beginning to taxe his subiects they conspired treason confederated with the King of the Hircans and banished Hellepatrus from his owne countrey wife and children fo 26. ¶ Of the miserable death of Hellepatrus his vvife and children being left behind among the Raellians fo 27. ¶ How Hellepatrus with his sonne Hellidorus making their refuge vnto the land of the Trebonians for the space of sixe yeares were richly succoured Hellepatrus opening his griefes vnto the king of the Trebonians was promised to be restored home againe into his countrey fo 29 ¶ The vâ—age and behauiour of the two Kings in the time of their banishment fo 30. ¶ Howe the Kinge of the Trebonians vvith the most vvarlike prouision that euer vvas hard of restored Hellepatrus vnto his kingdome fo 31 ¶ Of the hanging of the two Harrroldes of the apprehending and taking of the King of the Hircans of his sore and terrible punishment because he vsurped the kingdome of the Raellians and lastly how he vvas miserably prickt to death vvith neadles fo 32. ¶ Of the establishinge of Hellepatrus againe into his kingdome fo 33. ¶ Of Hellepatrus quiet security being geuen to idolatry dronkennesse and lechery in his olde age vvas poisoned to death by a harlot fo 34 ¶ The noble Funerall of Hellepatrus vvith the Ascalons Oration of the mortalitie of mans life fo 36 ¶ The burning and straunge fire that vvas seene in the Alsephon vvith a crying voyce the night before his Coronation fo 37. ¶ Howe Hellidorus neuer laughinge in his life succeeded his Father Hellepatrus in the gouernment of the lande of the Raellians the manner of his Coronation vvith his sharpe Oration to his subiectes fo 38. ¶ Howe Hellidorus reuenged his fathers death fol. 41. ¶ Howe Hellidorus continuing his idolatry there arose a Prophete among the Raellians vvhich not onely cried out against the present Idolatry of the king and his subiectes but made an Oration vppon the terrible iudgements of the hiest goueruaunce and howe the Prophete vvith the true zeale of vertue brake their Asse of adamant stone fo 43 ¶ The cyuile death and punishment 〈◊〉 the King vsed vppon his subiectes for vvithholding awaie the deedes and writinges vvhich specified how the Lande vvas holden vvhich vvas purchased of their forefathers from the Assyrians fo 44. ¶ Howe Hellydorus lusting after mariage vvith shamful concupiscense vvas blinded vvith an harlot vvith the Kinges amorous vvanton Letters and the harlots aunswer againe ib ¶ Howe the Ascalon rayling against the Prophete vvith many peruerse perswasions continued the Kings blindnes in idolatry fol. 49. ¶ Of the death of the Prophet fo 50. ¶ A persecution thorow the Lande of the Raellians for beleeuing the Prophetes doctrine ib. ¶ Howe the Ascalon vvith the consent of a vvitch conspiring together did steale awaie the Garlande and the Scepter out of the Alsephon vvhich being the â—oâ—titude and magnanimitie of the King and the kingdome being now lost the King vvas married vnto that harlotte Sebona fo 53. ¶ The mariage of the King vnto Sebona the Asealons Oration vpon the mariage daie in the praise of the Queene fo 54. ¶ Howe King Hellydorus in the morning after he had lyen vvith the Queene looking forth of his vvindowe dyd behold an Asse eate Thystles according to the olde Prophesies of the Raellyans neuer in his lyfe before dyd laugh fell nowe to a laughter and vvas turned to an asse fol. 56. ¶ Howe the King of the Assyrians after King Hellidorus vvas turned to an asse dyd conquere the Lande of the Raellyans and put Queene Sebona and the Ascalou to death vvith pricking them vvith neadles fol. 58. ¶ The Kinge of the Assyrians ryding a hunting in a thicked of thornes his houndes vverried Hellidorus the king being in the fourme of an Asse to death fo 59 ¶ The vvords that King Hellidorus spake being in the fourme of an Asse at the verie instaunt of death fo 60. ¶ Of the noble renowned sumptuous Sepulcher vvith the Epigrams that the Assyrians buylded in the vvyldernesse ouer the carkase of King Hellidorus ib. FINIS ⧠Howe the Raellyans began their fyrst estate and of their great Idolatrie to the Asse of Adamant in the holie Alsephon c. VVHereas the Raellyans inhabyting in a certayne desert grounde of the Assyrians exiled for theyr disobedience dissent of not puttinge on the naturall lawes and ciuile ordinaunces of the Scithians were from their originall and natyue countrey quite dryuen out For as the Scythians were a plaine people ignoraunt and altogether vnskylfull of the pompous magnyficent constitucions of other princes so were they wholly directed in the footesteppes of vertue after the documentes of nature they lyued in the most playnest simplicitie of this lyfe they were people that although of small vnderstanding of the eternall gouernaunce yet theyr lyues and good manners were not the worst they had in contempt the deuice of noueltyes As they began with good order so they continued and so they ended Theyr cloathing was of beastes skinnes theyr dyet of the naturall fruites which the earth brought forth by course of kinde Among these Scithians there were som obstinate and vnruly people and such whiche woulde not put on so harde and straite kinde of lyfe were contented rather then to endure the same to become banished men forlorne of theyr owne countrey and to seeke theyr habitation else where There was a certaine wyldernesse called Ramanna which was a waste grounde vnhabited belonging to the Assyrians with the east bordering vpon Aries vpon the south Carmanill vpon the west the Medes vpon the north the Hircans These Raellyans were contented at the first to become tributaries to the Assyrians not onely to inhabite that grounde but also to plant the same with all manner of fruitefull encrease But after good space of tyme the Raellyans growing to great wealth and secure pleasure of all prosperous felycitie were able to traffique prouision of marchandyze to all countreys rounde about them dyd buye and freelye purchase the priuiledge of their countrey and lande of the Assyrians which they the rather compassed to bring to passe for that the Assyrians repined at theyr wallowing in wealth and great happinesse which the Raellyans grewe vnto as also because the Assyrians beganne to extort and with cruell vexation to oppresse them practysed the spaedier to auoyde such inconuenience which might ensue
inuaded his owne countrey with such terrors that those which woulde not obey him were slaine and executed to a most shamefull tyrannous death Some of them were put to fyne some of them put to perpetuall imprisonment some of them bondsâ—aues and dyd serue in the kinges Garison When in this maner the king had pacified his lande with sworde and fyre and with the cruellest terror that euer was hearde of He then assuring him selfe to be most saufest was most in ieopardie for those whiche were most earnest to make him king vnto those was hée a more sharper enemie then vnto the rest The cause hereof was for that they being so earnest to haue a king not that they fauoured any one man to bee theyr king but for that euery man hoped after the kingdome him selfe the king perceyuing euery mannes greedy desyre gaue but certayne outward thankes vnto them but dyd attribute the successe of his good lucke vnto Ladie Fortune and that holy Image For as the King perceaued howe his people hated him so he dyd not squenche their hatered with lenitie or by any execrable méekenesse but with more greater vengeaunce and crueller tyrannie The people had him in suche horrible disdayne that whereas they hauing not delyuered theyr wrytinges and auncient monumentes of recorde which was betwéene their fathers and the Assyrians when they purchased the lande so they practised with the King of the Hircans that if hée woulde make warres vppon theyr king they woulde not onely assist him but also they woulde delyuer vp into his handes the monumentes and wrytinges of the free purchase of the lande which was betwéene their fathers and the Assyrians The King of the Hircans woulde presently haue had the same wrytinges but they woulde not agrée therevnto before he had ouercome and vanquished theyr king by battayle thorowe the great secreate suite of the Raellyans the King of the Hircans was content to satisfyâ— theyr desyre and appoynted an hoast of twentie thousande soldiours to inuade the lande of the Raellyans but the people had so condicioned with the King that all those Raellyans which woulde submytte themselues vnto the Hircans and be content to go in battayle against theyr King shoulde be in saufetie both of their lyues landes and goodes So the King of the Hircans hauing landed his great armie of men in the lande of the Raellyans the Raellyans for the most parte made theyr refuge vnto him and submytted them selues and offered not onely theyr bodyes but their landes and goodes and all that euer they had to be at his commaundement Hellepatrus king of the Raellyans séeing his woful misery draw on his people forsaking him his owne housholde seruauntes denying him his estate to bée the most myserablest of all men aÌ„nd that speedily his enemies drawing on had no other helpe for him selfe but to flye and to become a straunger in another lande forthwith fled into the lande of the Trebonians where he dwelt for the space of fiue yeares In the meane whyle the lande of the Raellyans was gouerned by the king of the Hircans and as the Raellyans lyued as they lysted them selues to be at free lybertye so they proued within that space to be verie riche and welthie and began to abound againe withall maner of plentifull pleasures The king when he fled tooke Hellidorus his sonne with him and lefte Abdona his wife and other children in the lande of the Raellyans which after the departing of Hellepatrus most miserably the Hircans tormented Abdona the Queene and her children in most terriblye burning them to death This banishment dyd not so muche vexe the king as the death and losse of his wyfe with the resydue of his children whereas naturall affection dyd moue him to sorrowe so the remembraunce of reuenge dyd comfort him on the contrary Nature and reuenge working together practised many wayes yet no better way woulde serue his turne then to open his griefe vnto the king of the Trebonians the king of the Trebonians being at mortall detestation with the king of the Hircans declared vnto the king howe the Elders and commens of his lande had chose him king and confirmed the same with as strong and forceable auchority as might be deuised it was also ratified before a blessed Image in his lande which theyr fathers brought from the lande of Scithia howe with an Oracle from Delphicus Apollo the maner of his Coronation was appointed And that both the Scepter and Crowne of his kingdome were hanged vp in the holye Alsephon before the blessed Image which they durst not for feare of eternall plagues once diminish the same And as he thought the strength of his kingdome dyd consist both in the Scepter and also in the Crowne garlande of thystles After they had made mee theyr king and also royally put mee in anthoritie and also had crowned and soueraigned mee with the aforesayde Crowne and Scepter I afterwardes but demaunding their obedience which was due vnto mee and that they woulde geue mee such ryghtes and possessions vnto my imperiall Crowne as they promysed they not onely denyed mée of the one but they rebelled against mée for the other and practising with the king of the Hircans haue dryuen mee from my kingdome and spoyled mée of my landes and goodes and most greeuouslye haue bereft mee of my wyfe and chyldren for most trayterously haue they put them to death ¶ The supplycation of Hellepatrus vnto the king of the Trebonyans O Noble King that beareth the armes of defence looke vppon my innocencie beholde my pittifull complaynâ— see the wretchednesse of my griefe nothing doth rewe my harte to such a terrour and grieuous horrour as this wicked murthering of my wyfe and children ⧠The King of the Trebonians aunswered his pittyfull complaynt in this maner Dareth that wicked worme of the Hircans Feede on the firre trees of the Raellyans I Wyll surelye cleare and purge thy lande and restore thée to as muche pleasure as euer thou haddest in thy lyfe before yea and muche more and I am glad that so good occasion is offered mée against that wynding Snake of the Hircans Hellepatrus and Hellidorus his sonne were succoured and very richly mayntained among the Trebonyans And as Hellepatrus dyd geue him selfe to great excessyue drinking among the Trebonyans so the Trebonyans were a very inordinate people in drynking Hellydorus although geuing him selfe to an accustomed order of myldnesse for that he in all his lyfe neuer laughed so he practised him self to the great actiuitie of the Trebonyans for the Trebonyans were verye actiue and nymble people in the feates of Armes most strongly woulde they fight when they were excessiuely ouercome with drynking But the king of the Trebonians and the people practised many pleasant deuises to moue Hellydorus to laughter but such was his myldnes that it coulde neuer be brought to passe Whylst the Raellyans pleasure increased and their estate beganne to be sure againe Hellepatrus and the king of the Trebonyans ceased
many suppose I am brought to great ioye and lifted vp to many folde renowne yet many sorowes and cares do approch more nearer mee then all the world doth see A King must not only be careful for his owne estate but also of his people and countrey If the one miscary the other cannot doe well The glory of the one is the renowne of the other if the people be disobedient vnruly and that neither the feare of this holy Image or the authoritie of their King or the obedience that is incident in them selues howe many sicknesses and diseases doeth weaken and infeable a Kinge euen vnto death A Kinge is incombred with the whole gouernaunce and charge of the common wealth not onely for their saufegarde but also for their wealth profite and commodytie their sorrowe is my sicknesses in mee and in my personne is the whole lande and countreie if I bee the marke that euerye countreie and nation or hatefull enemie shooteth at howe can I thinke my selfe in any happie saufetie or that I am exalted to suche renowne as the whole lande speaketh of As I woulde be loathe to forsake and leaue of the good wâ—ll that Ladie Fortune-hath bestowed vpon mee so if I maye bee discharged and vnburthened of this great and waightie charge which both by this holye Image the Elders and commons of the lande I am brought vnto so I shoulde haue thought my priuate estate of lyfe to bee more saufe But seeing it is thus come to passe and that I perceaue great wyllingnesse and forewarde zeale to further the successe hereof with the lyke obedience that both presentlye remayneth in you and so as the best is alwayes to bee thought lyke to continue whiche as you doo make mee your Kinge and gouernour and strengthen me with all the right title state and intrest that is in you So I beseeche you continue good subiects do not offer no iuste occasion that through rigorus iustice I should alter your obedient opinions conceiued of me For as a King ought to be a seely lamb in righteous iudgment toward his good people so he ought to be a Lion in executinge of iustice towardes his wicked people especially when occasion is offered Although we haue receiued some sharpe newes from Delphicus Appollo yet I hope all thinges shal turne to the best which the rather will come to passe through your obedience duty towards me in my administration of rightuous gouernment towards you I am that Kyng that this day most dearely doth loue his subiects I beseeche you once againe for no occasion of my mislykinge towards you you are the people of whom I presume and boldly saye that at this instant do loue me your kinge I trust such will be your vsage and reuerent care that I shall haue no occasion offered me to hate you I therfore in you and you in me are many dispersed members at this present day of Coronation knit in one body If one lytle sinew of this bodie do breake a great infraction is lyke to ensewe much more if one ioynt do breake the whole bodie wyll become decrepite and laine such is the knitting of this bodie that if onely 〈◊〉 be rotten many members are put in hazarde to putrifaction good subiectes therfore let vs knit our selues at this daie that wee our countreie and goodes maie be preserued our renowne well spoken of other countreies put in dreade of our loue and quietnesse ¶ Here endeth the Kinges Oration ⧠Here sheweth howe the King was sworne vnto the Commens and passed forth the daie of his Coronation with many pleasures AFter the ende of this Coronation the Elders of the Lande dyd eracte an oathe of the King and they cryed with a lowd voice Holy Image defend our king Fyrst they propowned that he shoulde defende the honour of the holye Image vertuously and shoulde gouerne righteously that neither for fauour of the one or hatred to the other he should deny iustice neyther by strength power or aucthority should extort of them but with equity to mayntaine and vphold the Scepter of his kingdome And lastly to defende them from the inuasion of forraigne enemies This his chardge being at an ende the people showted with lowde voice and the Trumpets blew with other instrumeÌ„ts ordayned for that day and purpose Now lastly setting the Crown vpon the Kings head fowre seuerall tymes one after another but in the end they left the Crowne remayning vpon the kings head styll vntyl night Nowe after the fynal end of all these triumphes renowned plesures the king arose with al the Elders departed for the present vnto a sumptuous banquet prouided for the daye of Coronation In the ende whereof the king with the Elders went vnto the Theatre where they dyd see the yong men of all the Realme shew Royal actiuity of many and sundry Marshall feates of Armes thus the day being almost spent and night drawing on returned to the holy Alsephon where they hanged the Garland of Thystles which was the kinges Crowne and in lyke maner delyuered vp the Scepter and thankes being rendered vnto the holy Image departed ⧠Here is shewed howe the King fell at discorde with his subiects his subiects confederated with the King of the Hircans to inuade their lande Hellepatrus the king of the Raellyans was banished and restored vnto his kingdome by the King of the Trebonians with the myserable death that the King of the Trebonyans was executed to AFter this the king being established in his kingdome confirmed king of of the Raellyans with all the assuraunce that might be the king being of a hautye and lustye nature â—oulde not beare the murmurations of theÌ„ common people but for verye small trifles dyd hang drawe them with executing them to many other sauadge and cruell deaths such was his crueltie that no king was feared lyke vnto Hellepatrus The king seeing his estate sure his subiectes reduced to obedience and that all thinges fell out as he wished for then he procéeded to enriche his unperial Crowne with lands and lyuinges at which generally the subiectes repyned and beganne to repent them selues that euer they had made him king Insomuch the king with such crueltie began to taxe them and brought sore yoakes and burthens vpon them as many of them fled from their owne countrey so many of them yeelded them selues and set good faces of the matter although their hartes were ful of cankered mischiefe and poysoned mallice towards the king The king calling all the chiefs and rychest of the lande together in mouing them to resigne all their lands and lyuinges vnto the imperiall Crowne of his kingdome and to become his tennauntes At which they being all sore amazed for that euerie man helde but according to the cusrome of the countrey denyed the kinges request The king Hellepatrus taking sore displeasure by the aduise of some certaine flatterers about him put many of the chiefe Elders of the lande to death
with him saue his Phisitions and such Gentlemen that were of his priuie chamber After his health was recouered and beganne to be strong againe the reremembraunce of the murthering of his Father coulde not be put awaye so the offence was neyther forgeuen nor forgotten For as he had the woman in holde which had so shamefully commytted this murther So he vppon the recouery of his health fell to the examination of this naughty woman And she vpon her strayght imprisonment and strayghter examination apprehended the chiefest of the Elders of the land with theyr wiues which when the king had fullye knowne and with perfect instructiō was acquainted with theyr murthersome practises dyd not incontinently sende for them by his men of warre fearing least they hauing any ynkling hereof would flie into another Lande for no man was priuie to the examynares confession saue onely Hellidorus him selfe dyd after a curteous manner in the waye of friendshippe sende for them and theyr wiues one after another to come and speake with him which so soone as any of them made their appearaunce were presently sent vnto prison without further examination And thus he dealt with all of them one after another vntyll he had apprehended euerie one of them when these deuises were accomplished the king vppon very prudent pollycie sent for all the nearest kindred and friends of these murtherers and talked vnto them after this sort ¶ The Kinges vvordes vnto the murtherers kyndred and friendes MY friendes and subiectes I thought it good and necessarye to sende for you being Raellyans and wyse men and as I hope trustie subiectes Such reports haue beene geuen out of your obedience whiche moueth mee to presume of that good fame and honest report that is spred in all places of this Lande of your true and iust dealinges towardes this Imperyall Crowne For which cause I am perswaded that not for the dearest kyndred or friendes that you haue among the Raellyane wyll aducnture your lyues landes and goodes for theyr sakes If in treasons towardes this Crowne there were any such of your kyndred and friendes to be founde guiltie would take theyr parts Or that their deathes should cause any sorrowe to pearce your haries they being perfectlye knowne and once founde Traytours You knowe my father your late king of famous memorie was most trayterously murthered and shamefully put to death doo you not think it was plaine and presumptuous treason yea such a murther is not to be suffered among common persons much lesse in a King doo you not thinke the doers hereof are worthy to suffer the strayghtest death that maye be deuised And the people aunswered O Noble King if their kindred vvere neuer so deare vnto vs vvee vvoulde doo the best that lyeth in vs not onelie to apprehende them but also to put them to death HEllidorus spake againe indéede they are not onely of your neare kyndred but also of your very friends and such which you of all men and women haue had in greatest acceptation And I of my owne prudencie haue apprehended them alreadie which if they can cleare them selues from that which they be apprehended of they shall be as free as euer they were And also I wyll recompence them for theyr vniuste imprisonment Wherefore for that they are your kyndred friends you shall be assistants in iudgement with mée when they are arraygned to be guiltie of this murther or no These men durst not deny the King his request they were verye sorye that they shoulde be vrged therevnto partly because some of thē were not scarce cleare from the murther other some hanged backe for kyndred sake other some for ignorant simplicitie not knowing what belonged to such a soddaine prouocation woulde gladly haue reuolted not onelye their promise if they durst but also to haue dispatched them seines quite from the matter it selfe But such was the pollicie of the King that the death of so many of the best woulde séeme more terrible to the rest he lesse grudged at them therin for that they were condempned and adiudged by their owne kyndred surely surely there laye as much secreate mischiefe in the hartes of these theyr kindred towardes the King as in the murtherers them selues but they durst not vtter it this woman that was principall vnto this murther was first brought before the King and the Elders and her examination being read the other forthwith were sent for one after another the matter being nearely systed and thorowly tried to the vttermost they were al found guiltie and adiudged to dye for the murthering of king Hellepatrus This was the death of the wicked woman from the toes of her féete vnto her sholder partes one ioynt was cut péecemeale one from another There was two thousande men and women of the Raellyans that were put to death in another maner as this Whoate ouens were heated for the same purpose and the men were put therin there were neare adioyning whoate furnaces of boyling leade wherin the graue women were cast a most lamentable ruth in the presence of many wéeping eyes were skalded to death This terrible iustice of the King dyd stryke suche a horror in the hartes of his subiectes that they not onely feared the kinges presence but also they were in doubte to speake of him thus the king thorowe extremitie obtayned quietnesse and thorowe wisedome and pollicie ruled his kingdome he kepte them in such obeence awe that of all Princes that were then lyuing Hellidorus was of his people most feared ¶ How the King put many to death for concealing the vvrytinges that were betweene their forefathers and the Assyrians when the Lande was firste purchased And also of a Prophete that ryseth among the Raellyans and cryeth out of their Idolatrous Image the Asse in which was all their trust The saide Prophete is put to death by Hellydorus the King. HEllidorus hauing squenched the naturall reuenge of his fathers death established his kingdom subdued his people to great feare then they began by lyttle and lyttle to inquyre after the monumentes and wrytinges that were betweene their forefathers and the Assyrians for the purchasing of that lande The secreate inquisitours of the King handeled the matter in such sorte from one to another vntyll the matter was apparant where and in whose custodie the wrytinges remayned As many suffered death for concealing the matter so many suffered death for the conuaying of them and he in whose custodie they were founde suffered a most straunge and strayght death Thus as the King coulde gette nothing at their handes thorowe gentlenesse so he had what he woulde thorowe croaked crucluesse And lastlye they so muche obeyed and reuerently f 〈…〉 ed him that Hellydorus could not so soone be named among them but they would make lowe courtesie and lowe submyssion of theyr bodyes the King being bothe in riches and Royall pompe with great soueraigne feare in so much that he thought him selfe the saufest king that lyued In the myddest
rough Beare pulling the sayde garland Scepter from the head hynder partes of the sayd Asse and the sayd Beare also dyd kyll the sayd Asse and sucke out the blood of the sayd Asse vntyl her belly was filled so full that it brake and her guts hanged out of her belly In the ende there came a great flight of carreÌ„ Crowes that fed vpoÌ„ the Asse and another flight of Aegles that did quite deuoure eate vp the she Beare At this terrible dreame the king in many troubles of minde dyd wake and as he was telling of his dolefull dreame of the fynal finishing of his lyfe so â—e perceyued Titan gaue out her vnhappy luck vnfortunate mischiefe that ruthfully in the instaÌ„t of one thought was behight vnto king Hellydorus In this apparant twinkling of the day lyght arose out of his weryed touche and beholding the smelling pleasures of the morning dyd sée the sorrowfull sight of his fatall ende which was to be performed finished vpâ—n him from the first Originall begynning and foundation of the lande of the Scithians Hellydorus in beholding this aforesayd morninges pleasure behold an Asse cropping and eating of Thystles at the sight wherof neuer laughing in his lyfe before dyd now fall out to a laughter Which laugh 〈…〉 wonderfull sight of the Queene and the officers of the Court continued for the space of three nightes and dayes And somewhat then he changed his voice to the braying of an Asse which braying continewed for the space of sixteene daies and nyghtes after In the meane whyle by a Metaphorical transmutation nature began to chaunge his shape first his head then his eares and lastly all the parts of his body to an Asse After this his being in the full forme of an Asse wandred from the Court vnto the thicke wooddes and desert places of the wyldernesse This king Hellydorus being chaunged from his Kinglie roabes into an Asses skyn from his crowned Garlande into Asses eares from his comely proportion into the forme of a very Asse from his kingly manners into the manners of an Asse the Queene by the counsell of the Ascalon beganne to take the gouernaunce of the Realme vppon her but the people fell in hatered with her and woulde not obeye Wherevppon incontinent thorowe this wretched amazednesse they made cyuile inuasion one vppon another insomuch that the Assyrians came and conquered the Lande of the Raellyans from whence it was first deryued So the Assyrians lamenting the infortunate hap of Hellydorus and for that noble minde they perceyued alwayes to bee in him in reuenge whereof they persecuted Quéene Sebona the Ascalon to a most terryble death for they were pricked to death with néedles as the king of the Hircans was and their dead carkases were throwne lyke carren into the wyldernesse to bée deuowred of the Fowles of the ayre the Lande of the Raellyans was inhabited of the Assyrians for euer after ¶ Howe Hellidorus was hearde to speake after he was an Asse and there was deuowred of houndes the Assyrians for the loue that they did beare vnto him did burie his carkase in the fourme of an Asse and builded in the middest of the wyldernesse a verie honorable Tombe ouer the same THe King of the Assyrians hauing conquered the Lande of the Raellyans dryue out and dyspersed the people the Lande was fully impeopled with the Assyrians The king of the Assyrians after his being setled in the kingdome on a tyme for pleasaunt recreation dyd ryde forth a hunting into the wyldernesse bychaunce in the sayde wyldernesse in a great brake of bushes his houndes found an Asse which they coursed and bayted so sore before any succour coulde drawe neare that the sayd houndes had drawne the guts out of the Asses bellye the braying of the Asse the noyse of the hounds heing hearde of the King and his nobles drewe neare perceauing it was an Asse tooke vp the houndes and the Asse being halfe dead spake vnto the king of the Assyrians in this sort ¶ The wordes of King Hellidorus when he was an Asse O King of the Assyrians I am Hellydorus that was once King of the Raellyans heare mée which although I am in the forme of an Asse yet haue I the minde of a man O idolatry dyd deuowre mée and my Lande the blood of a holye Prophete doth crye out against mée O my tyranny is turned to myserie O my heauy fate I was deceaued by a wicked woman subdued to wretchednesse the forgetting of the eternall gouernance and the blind worshipping of an Image which was an Asse hath transformed mee from a man to an Asse O King of the Assyrians as thy houndes haue wounded mée to death yet honorablie bury my dead carkase which although it be the shape of an Asse yet it is the carkase of King Hellydorus which hath a penitent hart Presently dying the king of the Assirians did burye the dead carkase and builded a very rytche gorgeous Tombe ouer it in the myddest of the wyldernes with these Epigrams written ouer the same and an Asse portrayed in Adamant stone vppon the same The verses wrytten ouer King Hellydorus his Tombe Ah cruell fate O noble King Subdued by natures kind Although in shape thou art an Asse Thou wast a man in mynde Though wretched treason did translate By steightes of Venus lust Such was the hap and fruitles fate In thee to be discust A noble king durst Nature race The guerdon of thy right To chaunge a king to be an Asse VVhich did appeare so bright This king was beate with cruell roddes Before his fatall day In glorious pompe and wallowing wealth There is no hope or staye FINIS Alsephon A sancna or holie place of their religion The Deuyls practise first tâ— deceaue with Idolatâ—ie waâ—ch hideth th world â—t vertue smellinâ— on all vousnesse This the poy 〈…〉 of Idol 〈…〉 triâ— th 〈…〉 shall sub 〈…〉 uâ—et th 〈…〉 lande The strife for theyr CoronatioÌ„ was the eternal prouidence A costly Pallace was â—â—ylded ouer Hellycon to lodge strangers Renowne respecteth not peryls It is the greatest policy that may be to bridle affection in the gouernance of a kingdome Mortalitie 〈◊〉 changed by death into immortalitye Such was the opinion of immortalitie Hellepatrus 〈◊〉 They had â—te faces 〈…〉 t colde â—rtes Securitie 〈…〉 ne Chastisement for 〈…〉 e. The kings wordes Vnseasonablenes of the weather causeth scarsitie Persecution Sebonaes letters to the King. The King sent for Sebona Voluptuous Loue is 〈…〉 de The ende of the Kinges vvordes The manner of the Raellyans 〈…〉 ages Sweete poyson The kings dreame The carren Crowes or the Aâ—â—â—â—…ans how rude The Eagles or the Asâ—â—â—â—…ans them selues
of charitie the protection and defence of good order and the stopping of the mouthes of euyll enemies Then also not onelye this holye Image wyll beholde the innocencie of my hart but the people whose feruent zeale this daye haue chosen mee to bee an Orator in their defence as vnworthie of the same wyll geue out theyr showte and crye of consent Our realme and countrey was firste begunne of the Scithians blood vvhich although fleshlye nature dyd ioyne them to bee of naturall consanguinitie yet in maners there was great difference For as the Scithians were barbarous and lyued in a sauadge and rude maner of lyfe plaging their carkases ' bothe outwardly and inwardlie Our fathers being of hautie and noble stomackes hauing a wonderfull and highe speculation in the giftes of nature so they woulde not teare theyr fleshe and pyne their bellyes whiche should be honoured And therevppon it came to passe that our fathers refusing their obedience were banished and for a monument of renowne transported this holye Image whiche hath directed and taught them in all honourable nobilities and reuerent adorations vnto this daye In this holye Alsephon hath all good vertues beeneset forth and taught vnto our elders and lefte vnto vs vvhy shoulde wee thus fall at variaunce then within our selues for a Kinge VVhat shall other bordering countreies here about vs report Some of them wyll saye that we cannot agree within our selues And is it not commonlie seene that kingdomes whiche is diuided within it selfe doeth soonest decaie and fall to destruction and the concorde of the people is the best defence of a countrey and the happiest gouernance of a coÌ„mon wealth Our fathers haue brought vs to this happie inheritaunce why shall vve now seeke our owne woe to correcte our fathers actions VVhat shall other countreies saye beholde this kingdome howe it altereth from the begynning of theyr fathers Oh vnhappie children the cursednesse of your estate hath deserued some great plague from the first begynning and nowe shall be reuealed in this generation If we haue a king our goodes and our possessions are not our owne we shall be oppressed with taxes as our forefathers were vnto the Assirians If our forefathers could haue endured obedience why would they haue refused theyr owne kindred and countrey the Scithians vvhy did they raunsome their tribute whiche they paide vnto the Assirians vnto theyr great charges not being growne to the thirde parte of the wealth as we nowe ares but because they woulde freely at theyr owne lybertie enioye theyr owne goodes without controlement and make vs their heyres freemen I praye you prudent Senators of the Raellyans heaâ—ken vnto me which speake before this Image can there be nowe an alteration of this our estate but that diuers sundrie vexations wyll lurke and secreetelye lye hydde in the hartes of the people Doo you not knowe howe harde and straunge a thing it is to remoue olde and auncient customes Doo you not see the people thorowe this lyttle stryfe are readie to holde vp the sworde one against another vvhiche if this your enterprise doo ensue presently looke for vtter destruction in short tyme after to followe It is harde to grafte a wylde thistle in a Rosemarie stocke it is a more harder matter to plant the weake braunches of the nettles in the highe fyrre trees of this wyldernesse The growthe of many yeares hath strengthned the fyrre tree as the sweete heate of sommer hath caused the stinging blossomes of the nettles gallantlie to shew forth their friseled faces so the colde winter hath quite withered the same away againe Let vs remeÌ„ber what pleasure the Hircans the Trebonians obtained through their renowne they got in lyuing at their ownely bertie and what mischiefe and destruction they fell vnto when as they gaue consent to thrust their neckes vnder the yoake of obedience to be ruled wheras before euery man did rule at his owne pleasure This their vnhappie estate of lyfe maye make your estate of lyfe happie if they in not taking hede may cause you to take hede If they in falling to destruction maye cause you to winne renowne and keepe it Then thinke and perswade with your selues it is farre better to lyue in the pleasure of free men to be rulars then to fall to destruction by slauish bondage to bee ruled This oh holye Image witnesse that I haue spoken nothing but that which my harte witnesseth to bee true and the sinceritie of an vnfayned minde can neuer but persist in the same this I hope you all are fullie perswaded in the strength of this my Oration Here endeth Harmannus his Oration ⧠Howe Alectros the Orator for the Elders confuteth Harmannus his Oration and what perswasions hée vseth for the establishing of a King. THe skilfullest cunning that lewde Oratours vse vvith fayre vvordes and most solempne protestations to drawe the eares of men to heare them and the eyes of men to beholde them and the mindes of the people to thinke vppon their nyce ballauncing speache as this holie Alsephon being a place of Religion subuerted thorovve flattering Oratours to be a place of impudent behauiour thorow vvhich it is manifest that orations of renowne are turned to shame and rebuk of Anâ— vvheras before this Image of all blessednesse which nowe soundeth both in the eares and hartes of the people shall be reuealed the vnhappie â—nrsednesse of a faithlesse Orator vvhiche both neglecteth the commoditie of a common vvealth and countrey and also his bolde desperate careles minde daring to incur into the dominion and power of reuenge before this holie Image vvhich neither for hyer or vvages for praise or singular estimation vvill rewarde shameles demerites It is to bee seene before this holie conuocation that he vvhich boasteth either his owne vvickednesse or maintaineth the malicious naughtinesse of so vile a cause I vvishe and desire that according to desâ—rtes he maie be plagued vvith the pestiferous plagues that is due to such a flatterer or suche a one that respecteth both his ovvne gaine and the breache of the knot of concorde For surelie the sinceritie of righteous vertue vvill neuer vvitnesse othervvyse but a corrupt harte and an vnsauerie mâ—nde a peruer e intention to all impietie the vndoing of a common vvealth the depranation of the auncient meaninges and maners of our forefathers the tying and knitting together of sects and opinions the vvouuding of the vvhole the breeding of diseases the impouerishing of the countreie the disquieting of the people the dispersing of charitie the subuersion of good orders the opening the mouthes of euill enemies then no doubte this holie Image vvill beholde the corrupte vvickednesse of his harte But the people vvhose foolishe zeale this daie haue chosen a golden sheathe for a vvodden knife a levvdâ— Oratour in so cauilling a cause most fit If his boldnesse bee brasened and countenaunce hardened and their hartes putrified vvith stynking stomackes let them geue out their shoute and crie of one consent In deede
them selues If you woulde not abstaine for your owne sakes for your fathers sakes or for wisedome sake which aboundauntly is grafted with in your noble stomackes I saye if none of these thinges can restraine you then looke vp and beholde this holy Image which hath power in one howre yea in one moment to stryke you to death and destruction Repent this your vnreuerent careles wickednesse call to remembraunce this Image which with my consent shall determine this controuersie For that it hath guided our fathers from the lande of Scithia and hath seene al the actions deedes monuments purchases and determinatioÌ„s of all those thinges that haue beene done or thought to be done from the ReellyaÌ„s first begynning vntyll this present daye This Image therefore knoweth what is most profitable and necessarie for this our countrey and common wealth And as I coulde reueale the inward affection of my harte so I wyll suspende my iudgement vntyll this Image hath pronounced a iudicyall determination of the same Repent good countreymen repent bee sorye and no doubte but that this Image wyll both heare and behold you in the instaunt of his blessed oportunitie ease your sighes addresse your calamities pacifie your dislentions quiet your countrey sende health to your boddies with comfort stop your eyes from those miserable teares that doth bleare you with fundrie myseries This my countreymen I hope you bee all prefixed in this blessed purpose of quietnesse and to haue your cause fullie ended and finished by the mouth of this holie Image ¶ Here endeth the Determyners Oration ¶ How the Ascalon of the Alsephon did require an aunswere from the Image whether they shoulde haue a King or no. AFter the Determyner had ended this mylde and curteous Oration the people were not onely perswaded vnto quiet repentannce and sorrowfull compunction but the determination was made and they all wholy agréede vnto the same The Ascalon whiche was the Sacryficer shoulde watche the good leasure of the blessed aunswere of the the Image For he that was alwaies the Ascalon of the holy Alsephon it belonged vnto his office not onelye to watch ouer the people for to espye their feruent zeale towards this Image but also it was not lawfull for any man to speake vnto this blessed Image in any sute but firste he shoulde come and pay the thirdes of al his increase vnto the Ascalon of which he had taken commoditie of a monthe afore And than the Ascalon shoulde be a mediator for hym and vtter his cause And as answer was receiued so answere was made againe And héerein both for appeasinge the wrathe and displeasure of the Image for the former contencion as also for the stirringe forwarde of the Ascalon to be zelous in their cause they gaue of the best of all their increase to be sacrificed before the Image And the Ascalons fées and duety was doubled when they had all departed leauing the holy Ascalon with his officers in the holy Alâ—ephon making humble peticions before this blessed Image About the twelfth howre of the night the Image beganne vehemently to roare thunders lyghtdingâ— rayne wyndes earthquakes with many other straunge tempestes the lyke before that instaunt dyd neuer so fore trouble the lande of the Raellyans The holy Lampe that dyd dayly burne in the Temple went out the Alsephon was darkened the people brought into most sorrowfull calamitie and wretched mysery thorowout the lande thorowe whiche trembling feare many dyed hayle stones dyd driue the Tents of the lande to much â—uyne After these sore troubles the Elders of the lande proclaymed a faste thorowout the countrey for the space of twentie dayes After the ende of the fast and sacrificiall idolatries the holy Ascalon all this tyme wayting the good leysure of the Image at the length receaued an answere which although it might seeme a very delectable answere toâ— the Ascalon and the people for that the lying spyrite in the Image dyd deceaue them with many idolatries so would not leaue of vntyll they were brought to vtter subuersion the Image speaking in a chaungeable voyce sometymes high sometymes lowe sometymes whorse sometymes shyrle after this maner ¶ This countreie must enioye a King and orders straight they must obey Take heede the thistle doo not sting to worke your woefull iust decay Your fathers came from Scithian land this fruitefull fielde for to possesse They brought a poyson in their hande one shall destroye both more and lesse VVhen your King shall laugh and smyle to see an Asse on thistles feede Then looke for spoyle within a whyle to bring your lande to wretched neede The strongest Bull the kingdome win Good hap with all the thread shall spin Let fortie men their Bulles bring in The Bull that first in fight doth slay This land his maister shall obay VVith Scepter sure this kindome take For thee thy heire right kings I make In the morning very early all the prudent Elders with the coÌ„mons of the land resorted to this holy Alsephon some came to make supplycations to this Image for the cruell tempestes that was the same night before some came to heare of the newes which the reuelation of the holy Image as touching their Kinge had set forth and some came for very enuy they had against this new order of choosinge a King to raise tumultes and mischeuous sedition But when the holy Ascalon had read before the people what the Image had pronounced they were then al quiet Some were quieted for ioye that their purpose was at an end some were quieted for sorrowe for that they durste not speake against the Image This determination for choosing of a King was a perfect finall ende ¶ HOW THE KINGE was chosen by the consent of the whole Realme as wel the Elders as the commons THese great troubles beinge appeased and quietnesse established the prudent Elders laying their heads together for the present choosing of their King vsed many wayes yet in the end they agréed and fully consented in one opinion as the holy Image had reuealed which for that it was an impossible thinge that euerye mans Bull should be brought they were therfore all generally setled in this one minde according as the Image had vttered that fortie of the Auncientes of the inhabitours whose fathers first entered the lande and were the first founders of their frutes and pleasures which they did enioye should bring his Bul. When they had builded a goodly theatrée for the buls to fyght in and euery man had clodded his Bull with a harnesse of brasse with long pikes of pron sticking forth at euery place of the saide Bulles nothinge was couered saue their hornes mouthes and legs whiche were at frée lybertye One Hellepatrus a riche Gentleman of that Countrye put vnto his Bul betweene the skin and the Harnesse a number of lytle sharp shorte needles fastened vnto the inward parts of the Harnesse the Bull beynge both couragious fierce and lustye and also vehemently pricked forwardes with
not to consent and take great counsell for the restoring of the king vnto his kingdome And at the last the king made such prouision of shippes and of warlyke armour with such a huge hoast of men as though they would haue eaten vp at on byt the whole countrey of the Raellyans and not by force of armes to haue conquered them The kinges prouision was an hoast of men of a hundred thousand and fiue thonsand Nauie of shippes And hauing landed they marched towardes the highe countrey of the Raellyans which when he drewe neare they deuyded the hoaste into thrâ—e partes The one part the king of the Trebonyans tooke charge of him selfe the other part he committnd to Hellepatrus and the other part to Hellidorus Thus their hoastes being deuided into three leuerall partes went thrée seuerall wayes and yet not farre one from another for as one of them went forwardes so the other hoast went crosse the one on the right syde the other on the left syde of the armye royall And thus marchingâ— forewardes they kylled man woman and chylde burnt and spoyled without any compassion The king of the Hircans hauing prouided also a great hoast of men almost double to the Trebonyans for that he had choose the best men both of the Hircans and also of the Raellyans Pytching from the Trebonyans in the dystaunce of ten myles notwithstanding the king of the Hircans being very fearefull both in that he had falsely vsurped the kingdome murthered Hellepatrus his wyfe and chyldren mayntained rebelles againste theyr soueraigne king doubted that the ende thereof woulde bee naught so that these armyes being in araye the king of the Hircans sent Harroldes to the hoasts of the Trebonyans with letters to vnderstande their quarrell whiche letters were in this maner WE vnderstade that you haue entred this lande you famous souldiours of the Trebonians and haue vtterly spoiled and vndone our borderers kylled them and burnt vp their houses goods we are verie sorie to geue such occasion of crueltie to any nation wee being heere but as guides helpers and succorors to this poore countrey whereas they were oppressed thorowe a wretched king one Hellepatrus who for his shamefull extorcion they haue banished If your tytle bee to the kingdome the people care not who bee their king so that they maie saufelye enioye their owne And wee Hircans that are their patrones and defendours wyll geue vp our right to any king that wyll sweare vnto vs righteously to gouerne them But thus much we craue of you that if your quarrel may be ended with quietnes to take your owne asking Aske what you wyll you shall haue it at our handes so that this seely countrey of the Raellyans maie be preserued AS soone as the Trebonyans had receaued these Letters and read them forthwith they hanged the Harroldes of the Hircans and most terribly put them to death Forthwith they hauing this deuyce in theyr heads practised that a huge hoaste of Elephantes shoulde bee put in harnesse and a great holow cowpe of yron hanged secreatelye about the neckes of the sayde Elephantes and to fyll the sayde hollowe cowpes full of â—ybble stones in the night vnawares were soddainly dryuen vppon the hoast of the Hircans for that they were all at rest suspecting nothing but looking the returne of the Harroldes were sodaynly rowsed with the noyse and force of the Elephantes With amazednesse taking them selues to flight were dispersed and slaine saue onely the king of the Hircans who was taken a lyue and brought vnto the king of the Trebonyans who tyed a great chaine round about his neck and sent him to Hellepatrus lâ—â— in the manner of a Dogge and byd the messengers tell Hellepatrus that hée had sent him the worme of the Hircans which dyd deuowre the fyrre trees of the Raellyans Forthwith these three hoasts marched forwardâ— and pursued vpon the dispersed Hircans slewe burned and spoyled in all quarters and places of the lande thorowout so that none went frée that if he stoode in the destaunce or rebelous disobedience of Hellepatrus theyr lawfull king but he was slayne and his goodes brunt When the king of the Trebonyans had purged the lande with kylling and burning thosâ— that were left alyue were myserably scourged with whyppes and the king of the Hircans himselfe was drawne thorow the lande lyke a dogge and most myserably whypped with roddes so in the â—nde of all these tormentes the sayde king of the Hircans was most myserablyâ— pryâ—ked to death with néedles Hellepatrus and the king of the Trebonyans went into the holye Alsephon and rendered humble thankes for their victory before the Image where alsó they saw the crowne of thystles hanging as gréene as euer it was in the begynning and the Scepter gallantly shyning These comfortes dyd put great ioye and comfort in the hartes 〈◊〉 Hellepatrus and his sonne nowe the king of the Trebonyans would not continew in that countrey but desired to returne homewarde notwithstanding Hellepatrus was very desyrous to haue had him tarryed styll and to haue made his habitation there The king of the Trebonyans wyâ—ed Hellepatrus to continew great sharpnesse towardes the Raellyans for so shoulde they best keepe them in order And so the king of the Trebonyans departed but most parte of the souldiours of the Trebonyans continewed within the lande of the Raellyans dyd inhabite there but alwayes such deuision was betwéen them and the Raellyans that not one of them coulde abyde another But as the king of the Trebonyans taking his iorney homewarde passing ouer the high hylles Arnolla his Charriot by great mysfortune breaking be him selfe also hauing a fore fall brake his necke King Hellepatrus vnderstanding hereof sent vnto those hylles where the dead coarse laye for it was but in the borders of the Raellyans to bring the dead carkase vnto him which presently as soone as it was brought â—e buryed it in the holy Alsephon and erected a sumptuous tombe ouer it with these Epigrams written ouer the same ¶ The knot is loosde by death Assured friend adew Oh fortunes cruell fate Such mischiefe to ensew The truest friend That liude in open sight That euer was In warre the noblest knight Oh faithfull friendshippes trust A king of worthie name That nowe is turnde to slymie dust Let praise blowe out thy fame A friende moste sure That neuer failde For to endure Thy friendshippe neuer quailde THis Hellepatrus the King being restored to his kingdome againe lyued very quietly and suffred both the Raellians and Trebonyans to inhabite together he droue the Hircans quite out of the lande and woulde not suffer so much as a lyttle childe to continue there the king perceyuing the fyckle alterations of Fortune dyd agrée verie quietly with his Lande the kinge grewe somewhat to age and vsed great company kéeping and geuen to excessiue dronkennesse and therefore he could not rule them with such puissancie as before he had done the king him selfe not onely became a great
dronkard but also polluted with great lecherie of all women he loued the straunge women of Trebonia for they were very bewtiful women so also were they of light conuersation Thus the king being bothe drowned in dronkennesse ouerwhelmed with lecherie indoted with olde age these thrée enemies were more crueller then all the hoast of the Hircans For as the king had béene bannished from his countreye and nowe restored againe so now drowned in dronkennesse ouerwhelmed with lecherie indoted with olde age being banished from all perfect vnderstanding there was no hope to restore him to the perfection of his flagrant fourmer florishing wittes againe The people of the Raellyans perceauing the kinges myserable estate the wyues of the Raellyans desiring carnall copulation with the Trebonyans secréetely in the night as they laye together dyd kyll the Trebonians and by secreate meanes vnknowne to the king dyd weaken and infeeble the Garyson and soldiours of the Trebonyans which dyd there continew such was the wickednes of these women that one bewtifull fayre Dame practysing with the rest howe and by what meanes they might quite ouerthrowe the Trebonyans and roote them out who shewing her selfe very laciuious wanton in the manner of a nyce harlotte at a banquet in the presence of the king with many songes and whoorishe dittyes thorowe which the king was delyghted not onelye with that maner of pleasure but also with the bewtie of the woman for as the king was verye desirous to heare the woman singe so at the great request of the King shee song this Dittye as followeth and also dyd delyuer vnto the King to drinke a cup full of poyson ¶ Our wyse and noble king In warre a famous knight His sturdie strength to passe did bring To winne his proper right So worthie a man as nouer was seene The hardiest knight that euer hath beene The dayntiest dishe that man doth loue Or Venus in her shoppe doeth sell Of all sweete meate that comes aboue Hellepatrus such flesh loues well This readie cuppe of pleasaunt wine VVith loue shall bleare your wanton eyne The death of Hellepatrus the King. THe King receauing the cup and drinking presently fell downe dead and swelled so much that his skyn brake and his fleshe stancke so vehemently that hee was lyke to haue poysoned all the people rounde about him there creapte and crawled out of the fleshe of Hellepatrus great wormes with blacke beads his tongue hanged out of his mouth his eyes started out of his head be was most myserable to beholde After he was embawmed with many swéete Odiferous spyces and thereby the strength of his corruptions stayed then was he intombed in Leade and brought into the holye Alsephon where he was layde with these Poesies written vppon his Tombe ouer him ¶ The glistering gallaunt flower gaie VVhen vvinter comes it fades avvaie This life that honours great haue gotte So svviftlie comes and goe by lotte O death vvhich cut this royall king VVhose life such cruell feare did bring VVho hath obeyed this earth and claie VVhen death did come thou didst obeie The honours great vvhere pompe doth rest So lodgde vvithin thy graue The slimie vvormes did build their neast Thy kinglie fleshe to haue In vvars abrode to serue thou hadst goodskil At home in peace thou wast a staye to holde vp orders styl These lynes vpon thy rombe shall stande That praise maie shevâ— vvith glistring fame Thou ruldste this noble Lande THe coarse being layde in the graue with great mourning and lamentable sounding of Trumpettes with solempnitie accustomable in the death of a King the Ascalon of the holye Alsephon dyd make the funerall Oration vnto Hellydorus the yonge Prince and the people after this manner The funerall Oration THis daie we being al assembled hither to finishe a noble and worthie remembraunce of our King vvhich before this Image vvhat I speake necessarie to profite your mindes vvith the exercise of vertue it is the testimony of the life of this Kinge heere departed and also of the vnfaynednesse of a good hart in mee the mortalitie of mannes lyfe is plainlie seene that although we florishe with neuer so much renowne the glory of this lyfe being bewtified with many great giftes of worldly pleasures yet you may perceiue the fynal ende hereof is losse both of these pleasures and also of this life you maâ—e also perceaue although we striue to clyme either to a higher estate of life or to continue in one estate it selfe howe or in what sort so euer we lyue whether wee striue for more or whether wee content our selues with lesse death is the ende of all contentions en 〈…〉 es displeasure yea the wrath of a King is confounded by death our good and euyll life is set forth by death the one of them is the starre light of vertue the other is the shadowe of corruption and vice VVhat haue wee to trust vnto whilst we liâ—e heere some saie riches honours kingdomes power and soueraigntie But I saie our vertuous life being the demerites of goodnesse in this life are the felycities and ioyfull happinesse that wee finde in another life wee haue sorrowes and paines in this life but for our good actions euerlasting renowne in another life Then let vs lyue well that wee maie dye well our good death sheweth our good life our good life is the vnspeakeable treasure that vve are rewarded with In this life vve haue sicknesse in another life health in this life sorrowe in another life ioye in this life daunger of many worldly misfortunes but in another life the rewarde of many fortunes O howe happie is death this kingdome hath beene translated vnto this King by worldlie fortune you might perceaue how sinylinglie fortune dealth vvith him In the beginning vvhat a heape of myseries and troubles shee brought vppon his headde shee bannished him from his countreie and kingdome And contrarie to the expectation of all the Raellyans restored him home againe to his kingdome shee hath preserued him vntyll this instaunt VVhat a horrible fact a vvicked vvoman by murthersome practise hath committed Shall I tell vvhether Fortune knewe of any of these euentes or no I shoulde but trouble your myndes and vexe your hartes in speaking And winne no commoditie vnto my selfe but hatered of his posterytie towardes mee for euer vvherfore in these iudiciall causes I vvyll vse silence and saie nothinge but onelie this O yonge Prince Hellydorus in thee is perceaued great towardnesse of vvitte and learning and surelie the Gods haue hydde in thy noble stomacke some maruaylous secreate vvhich is not for mee to intreate of for vvhich neither I'or any man lyuinge coulde euer in thy lyfe tyme perceaue thee laughe or shewe any token of gesture tending therevnto might I tell the opinion of some men who saie that vvhereas any man hauing any speciall gifte no man hauing the lyke that man is eyther loued or feared for the same I hope vppon the best that all the people of
of these securyties and blinde knowledge of the eternall goueruaunce from about hauing no other vnderstanding saue onlye in that dombe Image the Asse which stoode in the Alsephon which their forefathers brought from the lande of Scithia there arose a great Prophete in the lande of the Raellyans of what countrey nation stocke or kyndred he came of or out of what place no man vnderstoode This Prophete lyued in a most straight kinde of lyfe he eate of the greene Figge leaues of the wyldernesse his garmentes were of a skinne of an vnknowne beast his Orations and outcryinges were not onely for the present wickednesse of the king and the people but he also tolde them that theyr present destruction was harde at hande that for Idolatry and worshipping of a dombe Asse would cause theyr king to be turned to an Asse and the kingdome of the Raellyans to be confouÌ„ded and inhabited of another people The king hearing hereof was sore amazed both at the boldnes and earnestnes of this Prophet feared his estate in which he stoode in knewe not what to doo for that many opinions sects and factions dyd swarâ—â—e in the Lande thorowe the doctrine of this Prophete Some of the people dyd not beleeue of this Image which theyr forefathers brought from the Lande of Scithia Some of them hated the Ascalon some of them coulde not abyde to come within the Alsephon almost none of them coulde abide the King Such was the estate of the Raellyans that of a thousand men there was a thousand opinions one contrary to another The king being very desirous to â—alke with this Prophete sent for him and intreated of him for that he hard that he was a Prophete and outeryed of the voyces and â—â—lâ—hie actions of the Raellyans woulde declare vnto him his present estate in which he stoode with the destruction that was immynent and hanging ouer his head For in deferring his wickednesse the terrible daye of vengeaunce woulde be worse but in the amending his lyfe he might become the better lyuer and teache his people such vertue as best standeth for the saufegarde of his countreye to appease the displeasures and angers that are ready and at hande for theyr destruction for howe can we amende those vices of which we are perswaded to be vertues and no vices The Prophete desired the king both to harken to his counsell and warning that might best sauegard himselfe and profit his countrey The Prophetes Oration vnto king Hellydorus IF that long continuance hath brought the showers of fruictfulnesse ouer this whoale countrey vvhereby you vvallowing in such pleasures and voluptuous ryotof your bodies doo neglect the blasted my series that your mindes are darkened vvithall in the night of ignoraunce vvhich if your bodies be satisfyed and your mindes vnquiet your bodies out of daunger and your mindes in daunger your bodies quiet and your mindes out of quiet howe can you accoumpt your pleasures happie your ioyes reastfulnes for your mindes doo premeditate the actions of your bodies yea your minde is the teacher of your bodies and that which your minde purposeth your bodies doo bring the same in action howe can your bodies do good and perfect affectes when your minde being full of filthie and lewde endeuours replenished vvith al defectes ignorant of that which it ought to know howe can your boddies bring in practise the perfection of goodnesse or the knowledge of vertue if your mindes lusting after vvickednesse do rule your bodies then vertue is drowned and ouerwhelmed vvith the darknesse of sensualitie I tell thee O King thylande is full of Idolatrie they knowe not the reache of the hiest gouernaunce And if they vvorshippe a doltishe God an Asse in vvhich is the spirite of lying and er 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ror howe can there be any light or bright shine of felicitie for an Idolatrous God can not rule the minde although in the blinde purpose of phantasie that God miraculouslie can deceaue your minde for as the highest eternall gouernaunce suffereth your mind to be led so the same gouernaunce can both ransacke your minde and breake your God to a thousande fitters But if your minde vvere in the knowledge of that eternall gouernaunce as it is not neither doeth that knowledge come to any but to those vvhich before are destined therevnto so hauing that knowledge neyther your dombe Asse coulde allude you nor your manifold vices seduce you to the toppe of vengeance and mountaine of wrath and then headlong to throw you to destruction but such is the practise of the lying spirite of errour first to blinde you in Idolatrie and in the worship of a false God which shrowdeth the high pathe of vertue from our eyes to leade you to wallowing lust and such filthinesse which the bodie desireth VVherefore the lying spirite doth first winne and intyce the people to Idolatrie to the ende they shoulde not knowe any other righteousnesse vntyll confusion were hotely powred vpon their headdes least that the true righteous eternitie opening the winges of comfort shoulde drawe them from the dongeon of fleshlie vices which is diffycult to bee done in you for that you are setled in olde custome and long vsage of wickednesse I saye O King Hellidorus consider howe many troubles haue nearelie touched thy fathers estate and thine in this Realme and countreie of the Raellyans â–ª how hathâ— this come to passe but onelie for lacke of the ayde and succour of the chiefe eternall gouernment vvhose breath is able to kyll thee and all the vvhole lande thou vvylt saie thou and thy fathers hitherto haue preuailed in all your tribulations vvyll you attribute the cause hereof to your owne vvarlilce policie learning riches friendes great hoastes but it is not these thinges that haue deliuered you although these thinges might be instrumentes that you vvorke by the hiest gouernaunce did suffer your deliueraunce to be vvrought for that a heauier and more intollerable confusion shoulde ouerthrowe and destroie you Although thy Father Hellepatrus escaped the handes of the Hircans yet was he deliuered into the hands of a shamefull harlotte to be poysoned to death As your dombe Asse is not able to deliuer you so neither can he helpe you but the eternall gouernaunce can doo both that is helpe you and deliuer you the inwarde inuocation draweth repentaunce from the harte it is vertue that is geuen from aboue and no man can repent vvithout this vertue vvhere the mystes of sinne haue ouerwhelmed this vertue there the highest gouernance hath no inwarde vvorke and this being dismembred vvith lewde luste there is no actuall application first leaue thy blinde zeale in vvorshipping this Asse enter into the secreates of thy harte for remorse adioyne an inwarde speculation vvhich sheweth a more bryghter lyghte in an howie then euer thy father or thou diddest see in all your liues before The ende of the Prophetes Oration AFter these wordes of the Prophete the King was verie wrathfull and full of malyce suche a boyling
fulfil my mind restore him that is banished froÌ„ al pleasures to find some ioy thy loue shal be thy renownathy beutie shal be thy pleasures and vvealth the comely nesse of thy bodie shal be rular of this Land and countrey Let me receaue some comfort againe of these earnest letters or else if I be forsaken my svveete Sebona as thou before hast vvounded mee so presently novve hast thou killed me as thou hast punished me so novv hast thou brought me to vtter destruction Heare the pittifull crie of a King that desireth to revvard thy Loue in making thee a Queene The ende of the kinges letters AFter these letters were receaued by Sebona that whore and filthy harlot had counsell by her neare friends neyther to send or go or write or by any meanes to geue the King any comfort of his letters for as they surmysed the King practysed rather to satissye his affection voluptuous lust then to tye himself to that immaculate renowned glory vertuous mariage and in estraunging her self in the mater the kinges earnest desire woulde both increase towards her and also would the readyer indue her in the estate of the kingdome which if she would laciuiously answere the kings wanton letters the king would vse â—er as a harlot to serue his present affection and also suspect her light behauiour to be the lewder But the king perceauing her contemptuous straunge Loue or rather whorish polycie neyther in sending vnto him neyther answering his letters or yet in comforting his amorous agonies with her presence beganne not onely to hate her but also vtterly to renounce her which partly might proceede of his kingly stomacke partly of his voluptuous lust had with diuers other infamous harlots squenched in the stinking lake of concupiscence so it came to passe that Sebona her friends were very sory for that theyr polycie was pretudiciall both to the king them selues to the king in not hauing his purpose and to them selues both for that they had lost the kinges fauour the commodity that might haue rysen thereby they thought they woulde not omyt so happy opportunity being ofred for a lowring countenaunce This Sebona who had bene the Ascalons whore of the holy Alsephon practised with the aforesayde Ascalon what was to be done The Ascalon respecting the famylyaritye that had passed betwéene them the Ascalon could not deny Sebonaes request considering also that if shée were preferred his renowne woulde bee also increased practised with an olde woman that was a witche and also in tyme past Sebonaes bawde for which cause wyllinger to further the matter and with the best indeuor that consisted in her to doo good vnto Sebona By sorcery this olde ryuen witch did vnderstand both where the gouernment of the kingdome and the preseruation of the king dyd consist which was in the gréene Garland that hanged vp in the holy Alsephon which so long as the Garland hangd there no euyl fate or infortunate coÌ„dicion of life could approch the kings person but so soone as the garland was deflowred the kings renowne riches honor glory poÌ„pe fame were fully wholy in the power of theÌ„ that had gotten the same the Ascalon neyther respecting the holines of the function the office of the place neyther the sanctimonyall reuerence due to the place nor the feare of the holy Image nor his duety to the king or yet the commodity that might redown to the common welth practifed with this filthy whore Sebona to rauish this holy Alsephon with sacriledge and to steale this florishing gréene Garlande of Thistles And as soone as they had burned the sayd Garland of thistles the king perceyued a force to goe from him in the audacity of his countenance of which before he was bolde became nowe shamefast in his strength of which before he was mighty was now weake in his stomacke of which before he was coragious was nowe full of cowardnes in his wisdom of which before he was prudent was now foolish Thus the king in the eyes of al men was marueâ—lously altred his complexion changed so that in steede of a king you would haue adiudged him a prisoner in steede of a rular you would haue adiudged him a wretche in stéede of a knight of armes you would haue adiudged him a caâ—â—â—fe of calamity The king being thus bestract of all the partes of his body his friends seruauntes that were about him marueyled at his sodaine alteration som attributed the cause thereof vnto som priuâ—e disease in his inward parts some sayde it was inward thought some said it was the force cruelty of loue which vehemently perplexed him for the beutiful Sebona Thus as euery mans iudgement was ready so euery man had an inwarde lyking or dysliking of the king some spake as he would haue it some spake for that the kings saufegard was their coÌ„modity and som spake indiffereÌ„tly Thus euery mans affection being bewrayed in the mydst of al which conflicts Sebona her friends vnderstaÌ„ding the kings great affliction heaped miseries which more and more without consolation increased was persuaded to write vnto the king whose letters by the aduise of the Ascalon were in this sort MY right soueraigne gratious Lord as one vnworthy of the fauor of a king did from your maiesty receaue most acceptable letters by which I not only perceiued your gracious opinion conceiued of so vnworthy a wretche as I am but also the feruent flames of Loue which the vnsquenchable fire of Cupid had ragingly kindled in your gratious minde And also since that vnderstanding the great alteration and abatement that is fallen vppon your grace the emptinesse of such a hungry tree as I am not worthy to bee fedde by such a sweete barke and delectable rinde as the bright personage of so comly a gentlemaÌ„ may be ashamed to present my self before your grace my vnworthinesse considered But chiefly I feared your letters were rather the dalying pleasures of a King then the faithfull affection of loue which since vnderstanding the great anguishes of lurking loue that haue assaulted your royall noble hart I sorrowed and was in a heauie hate with my selfe for that I had not long before this haue aunswered your worthie writings not deserued to be writteÌ„ to such a vnthankfull creature as I am Although feare and shamefastnesse haue skalded my harte that I durst not write in time so I trust my letters do not come to so worthy fauourable a king out of time which if any sorrow of sicknesse be fallen vpoÌ„ you and the Phisition of your health chirurgion of your soares The end of Sebonaes letters vnto the king AFter the king had receaued Sebonaes letters was somwhat come vnto him selfe reuiued with a litle pleasure in the myddest of so many sorrowes lying vpon a couch of downed sylke desired one of the Gentlemen of his priuie Chamber to speake with Sebona which sayde Gentleman brought Sebona in the kings preseÌ„ce who
the bitter greife of these néedles came vpon the Theater with such admyrable force that the saide Bull presentlye kylled six other Bulles in the presence of all the Elders of the Lande Incontinent all the aforesaide Elders made low reuerence vnto Hellepatrus and saluted hym king And as he gaue great thankes vnto them all so with great singing and playing of swéete Instruments with all roiall pomp they went to the holy Alsephon to render thanks to the blessed Image WheÌ„ all the Elders of the land with the consent of the CoÌ„mons had strengthened the authorytie of his kingdome some for feare and some for lone then the day of Coronation was appointed with great prouision and assemblye of people with suche magnificent and royall pompe as the lyke was neuer hard in any kingdom before such prouision of wines such store of imbroydered costly garments such store of oyles such store of kids with dates orenges pumgranets yea that cost coulde not be thought but prouision was made for it But yet there rested an other ambiguitie which cumbersomly dyd hang in the minds both of the King the Elders and the commons of the land which was with what Crowne the Kinge shoulde be crowned Some saide a Crowne of Golde some said of Siluer some saide of Brasse some of Iron some other saide a Crowne of Adamant stone imbroydered with Gold for Ada mant stone was thought to be the most precious ornament that their Land was furnished withal This doubt increasing greater and greater with what Crowne the Kinge shoulde be crowned withall they went into the holy Alsephon where petition was made vnto the Ascalon to intreate and make supplycation vnto the holye Image Bothe with what scepter the King should be souerainted and with what crowne crowned The Ascalon made vehement peticion vnto the Image for the space of foure nights and could receaue no other aunswer but this ¶ Let them go To Delphicus Apollo The Ascalons Declaration vnto the Elders concerning the answer of the Image After this answer was pronounced the Ascalon declared vnto the elders that there was some gret secret counsel which lay hid vnto the holy Image for that he could receaue no other answer but commaunded to goe to Delphicus Appollo Then the King and the prudent elders of the land tooke great consultation of the matter and chose two wise learned Imbassadours with a great garrison of men to assyst them vnto Phocides where they shoulde aske counsell of the Oracle After these two Imbassadours were furnished forwardes with spéedy appoyntment for their returne they comminge to Phocides after some pause had with as much expedition as belonged to such a hasty businesse they layd downe beneth the foote of the hill Parnassus their giftes and fat of the earth to be carried vp to the Temple of Appollo being sent from the King and Elders of the Raellians they pitching their pauilion betweene the faire cleare fountaine Helicon and the hil Parnassus The Oracle VVhat wallowing wealth haue we to yeld again what pearles or precious golde Our skill your hononrs high shall main our blisse if we vnfolde At first great grace reueale in vs some hope behinde In this your common weale your seede great want shall finde An Asse portraied in stone shall reape your kingly state VVith scepter strong shall he beholde your hapand cruell fate VVhen as this Asse doth croppe the thist'es sharpe and keene Then falleth downe the sturdie proppe and withe had neaer beene A Garlande gaie on thistles sharpe on which your fate shall lye VVhich shall be greene and nouer warpe for moiste or yet for drie VVhen that your sober King that laughter neuer had Shall geue him selfe to laugh and sing which earst before was sad Then Venus shewes her colloured fac 〈…〉 hâ—â— fate can not hee scape Then oke beholde a king to daie tomorro we anâ— Asse in shape In holie Alsephon hang vp this garland gay For it shall florish with gallant greene vntyll your fatall daye After the Oracle was finished the Embassadours departed to refreshe them selues within Hellicon but on the morrowe they approched néere the hyll Parnassus vnto the temple Apollo where the Oracle commaunded them to retyre vnto the fountaine Castatius where a Nymphe dyd delyuer into the Embassadours bandes the Garlande of thistles and the Scepter on which the Asse was portrayed And forthwith they réturned home into theyr owne countrey This theyr speedy iourney being at an ende the King not onely receyued at their handes the Oracles voyce but also the Garlande and the Scepter with rendring great thankes for theyr kindnesse and richly rewarding them otherwayes Notwithstanding both the Oracle the Garlande and also the Scepter dyd sore amaze the king and Elders of the lande Insomuche that the Elders reopented that euer they had chosen a king and the king him selfe repented that hoe had taken the gouernment vppon him Yet for that they had intricated them selues so déepe in the matter they would not reuoulte but proceeded in the seriousnesse of their purpose and appointed day of the Coronation Vppon whiche day he dyd assure his faith to his subiects and hys subiectes lykewise to him The coronation of Hellepatrus King of the Raellians in the holy Alsephon WHen the day of Coronation was come the sumptuous stagies were set vp And with all noble renowne the fame of the Theater most costly hanged for the prouision of such a sumptuous and statly assembly The fowntaine that ran by the holy Alsephon was for that space conuerted to run with cleare and swéete wine such singinge of ditties such Orations were made in the praise of the king such minstrelsye vppon shawmes fluts Timbrels that the lyke triumphes was neuer hard or séene before among the Raellyans Such feasting and banqueting that for fine delicatnesse thereof I can make no comparison except amonge the Alerandrians in whom all the swéete daintyes of the world are flowyng There was caryed ouer the King a Canapy of imbroidered wrought gold it is a stately tale to tell for that present day there was neuer before in any nacion the lyke famous roialtie comparable to the Raellyans The King with all the aforesayd royaltie marched towardes the holy Alsephon which when the King had taken his place in the presence of all the Elders and Commons of the Lande began to speake after this manner The Kinges Oration MOst deare Elders louing subiects of this Countrye and Lande in whom I finde the faith of subiectes the truthe of men and the loue of vertue which not onely was approued by your generallvoices in choosing mee your King but also your petitions to this holy Image and Lady Fortune that I should glister and brightly shine in their eyes that of so many excellent personages coâ—â—…ly courtly ciuilians indued with all the vertues gifts of honour by her well lyking in me as in one out of time to be brought to beare the Scepter of this Kingdome And although