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 ...

Howe vicious Sardanapalle kinge of assirie brent him self and his tresoure

oF Assirie to rekyn kinges all Whiche had that londe vnder subiection Last of all was Sardanapalle Moost femynyne of condicion Wherfore fortune hath him throwe doun And compleynynge moost ougly of manere Next after dydo to bochas dyd appere

To vicious lust his life he dyd enclyne Amonge assiriens whan he his regne gan▪ Of fals vsage he was so femynyne That amonge wymen vpon the rocke he span In their habite disguysed from a man And of froward flesshly insolence Of all men he fled the presence

First this kynge chase to be his guyde Moder of vices callyd Idelnesse Which of custum eche vertue set aside In eche acourt where she is maistres Of sorowe and myscheef the first founderesse Which causyd only this sardanapall That to all goodnesse his wittes dyd appall

He fonde vp first riete and dri••••••enesse Callyd a fader of lust and lecherye Hatefull of herte he was to sobirnesse Cherisshinge surfetis watche and glotenye Callyd in his tyme a prince of baudrie▪ Fonde rere••opers and fethirbeddys soft Drinke late and chaunge his wynes oft

The aire of metys and of baudy cokys Which of custum all day roost and sede Sauour of spetys ladlys and flessh ho••ys He loued well and toke of theym greate hede And folke that dranke more than it was nede Smellynge of wyne for their greate excesse With theym to abyde was holy his gladnesse

H•• ••ought also it did him good To hau•• ••boute him with skyll and right Boistous bo••hers all bespreynt with blode And wa••ry fisshers abode euer in his sight Their cotys poudryd with sca••is siluer bright Dempte their odour duringe all his life Was to his ••orage best preseruatife

For there was no herbe spice gras ne ro••e To him so lusty as was the borde••house Nor gardeyn none so holsom nor so sote To his plesaunce nor so delicious As the presence of folkes lecherous And euer glad to speke of rebaudye And folke cherisshe that coude flatere and lye

Tyll at the last god of very right Displesed was with his condicions Bycause he was in euery mannys sight So femynyne in his affe••••ions And hooly yaue his inclynacions Duringe his life to euery vious thynge Terrible to here and namely of a kynge

But as bochas list to put in mynde Whan Arbachus a prince of grete renowne Sawe of this kynge the flesshly lustys blynde Made with the people of that r••gion Ageyns him a comuracion And to him sent for his mysgouernaunce Of high disdeyne a full pleyn diffiaunce

Bad him beware and proudly to him tolde That he him cast his vicious life to assaile And in all hast also that he wolde Within a feelde mete him in bataile Wherof astonyed his hert gan to faile Where amonge wymen he sat makynge gau••i•• No wight aboute but flateres and baudys

And vp he rose and gan him silf to auaunce No s••uf aboute him but sergeauntes riatous Toke the felde without gouernaunce No men of armys but folkes vicious Whoos aduersary callyd arbachus Made him proudly the felde to forsake That like a cowarde his castell he hath take

And for his herte frowardly gan faile Nat like a knight but like a losengoure His rich perre his roiall apparaile His golde his Iewels vessels and tresoure Was brought afore him doun of a toure Amyd of his palite and yaue his men in charge Of cole and fagot to make afire full large

In which he keft his tresoure and Iewels More bestiall than like a manly man And amyd his riche stones and vessels Into the fire furously he ran This triumphe Sardanapallus wan Which fire consumed for his finall mede Brent all to asshes amonge the coles rede

Tofore his deth bad men shulde write Vpon his graue the boke doo specifie With letters large this reason for to endyte My cursyd life my frowarde glotenye Myn Idelnesse myn hatefull lecherye Hath ausyd me with many fals desire My las•• daies to be consumpt with fire

This Epitaffe on his graue he sette To shewe howe he was in all his lyue Besy euer to hindre and to lette All maner vertue and ther ageyn to stryue Who foloweth his tra••e is neuer like to thryu•• For whiche ye princes se for youre auaile Vengeaunce ay f••loweth vices at the taile