Here begynnethe the boke calledde Iohn bochas descriuinge the falle of princis princessis [and] other nobles tra[n]slated i[n]to englissh by Iohn ludgate mo[n]ke of the monastery of seint edmu[n]des Bury ...

Bochas here commendeth humylite

VErtue of vertues o noble pacience w^t laurer crowned o vtuo{us} {con}staūce Laude hono^r price and reuerence Be you•• to y^e prīces most plesaūce Most renomed by olde remēbraūce Of whom the mighty marcyall armure Geyn all vices lengest may endure

Grounde and gynnynge to stonde at diffence Ageyn Sathans infernall puissaunce Laureat quene where thou arte in presence From outrages haue no gouernaunce Condute hede sprynge of plenteous habundaunce Cristall well celestyall of fygure Geyne all vices which lengest may endure

Cheef founderesse by souereyne excellence Of gostly byldynge and spirituall substaunce Emperesse of moost magnyfycence With heuenly spirites next of allyaunce With lyf euerlastynge thy tryumphes to auaunce And Ioye eternall thy noblesse to assure In the aureat throne perpetually to endure

Thre Iererchyes there lyuynge in presence With whom humylyte hath souereyne acqueyntaūce Where osanna with deuoute diligence Is songe of aungels by longe continuaunce Tofore the throne kepynge their obseruaunce Synge Sanctus sanctus recorde of scripture With voys memoryall {per}petually to endure

The brennynge loue of cherubyn by feruence Parfite in charite diligent obeysaunce And Ser••••phyn with humble obedyence And orders nyne by heuenly concordaunce Domynacions with vertuos attendaunce Afore the trynyte singe fresshly by mesure With wys memoryall {per}petually to endure

Suffraunce of paynemes hath but an apparence Done for veynglorye hangynge in balaunce But cristys martirs in very existence List ageyne tyrauntys make no repugnaunce Rather dye than shewe god displesaunce Shewyd in no myrrour lyknesse nor pycture Take full possession for euer with criste to endure

••••ffraunce for vertue hath the premynence Of theym that set in god their affiaunce Recorde of Stephene vyncent and Laurence Blyssed Edmonde by longe perseueraunce Suffred for oure feith victorious greuaunce Kynge / mayde / and marter / a palme to recure In the heuenly courte perpetually to endure

And for to set a maner difference In bochas boke tolde euery circumstaunce Howe for oure feyth by full greate violence Dyuers sayntes haue suffred great penaunce Stable of their chere visage and countenaunce Neuer to vary for none auenture Lyke cristys champyons {per}petually to endure

Whoos fundacion by notable prouydence Grounded on criste their soules to auaunce Graue in their hertes and in their conscience Voydynge all trouble of worldly perturbaunce Chaunges of fortune with hir double chaunce Loued god and dred aboue eche creature In hope with him {per}petually to endure