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 ...

Here spekith bochas the auctour of this boke ayenst the surquedous pride of theym that truste in richesse saynge these wordes vnto theym

yE proude folkes that set youre affiaunce In strength / bewtye / or in high nōblesse If ye considre fortunys variaunce And coud a myrrour afore your ••yen dresse Of kinge priam and of his greate richesse To se howe he and his children all From their noblesse sodenly been fall

Ector of knighthode callyd sours and well Sad and demure and famous of prudence Paris also in bewtye dyd excelle And helenus also in {per}fight prouidence Troylus in armys had greate experience Also deyphebus preuyd manly in his fone Yit in the werre they were slayne euerychone

Had nat this kynge also as I can deuyse Noble Eccuba which that was the quene A doughter callyd Cassandra the wise Hir yonge sustre faire pollicene Alas alas what may all such pride mene For all be it their renoun spronge full ferre Yit are these wymen deuouryd in werre

Was he nat myghty and stronge in al thinges And had also of his aliaunce Right worthy princes and many riche kynges And nygh all asie vnder his obeisaunce Holde in his tyme moost famous of puissaunce Moost renomed of richesse and tresoures Till that fortune with hir sharpe shoures

Whan that he sat highest on his whele This blynde goddesse began him to assaile Hir frowarde malice he felt it full wele His golde his tresoure first it gan to faile And darken gan his riall appariale By which exaumple all proude men may se The vnsure trust the mutabylite

Which in this worlde is seen and founde all day In myddes of statys in their magnyficence Ebbe after flowe maketh no delay But halt hir cours there is no resistence The tyde abyde nat for no violence Eche man that standith of chaungis here in doute Must take his tourne as it cometh aboute

Lete priam be to you a clere myrroure Ye proude folkes that set your affiaunce In suche veynglorye which fadeth as a floure And hath of bewtye here none attendaunce The worlde to you cast a full bittre chaunce For whanne ye wene sit highest at full Than woll she rathest your bright fethers pull

Ye haue warnyngys for to take hede By ensaumple of other clere and right visible Howe worldly blis is medlyd all with drede And of your wittes and resons be sensible Thinge seen at the ••ye is nat incredible And all this doctrine is to you in veyne If in your tyme ye haue no chaungis seyne

Wherfore bochas vnto youre auayle Full prudently put you at this issue First of all he yeueth you this counsaile To leue your vices and take you to vertue And set your trust all hooly in Ihesu For he may best i•• myscheef helpe at nede Of worldly chaungis that ye thir nat drede