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 ...

Of kinge hostilius that first weryd purpyll hewe consūpte with fuyleuene

wHat shulde I more of deceyte endite Touchinge the fraude of kinge mecius For I me cast nowe finally to write The fatall ende of kinge hostilius Which was the first as saith valerius In rome cite that auctours knewe Amonge kinges that weryd purpyll hewe

But after all his tryumphall noblesse And many vncouth knightly high emprise Fortune tappalle the pris of his prowesse Made him to be in full frowarde wise Recheles and slowe to do sacrifise To Iubiter for which sent from heuene He was consumpte with sodeyn firy leuene

Here men may se the reuolucions Of fortunes double purueaunce Howe the moost mighty of romayn champions Haue sodenly be brought vnto myschaunce And their outrages to put in remembraunce Greate conquest turned to woo fro ioye For a rebuke I sende theym this lenuoye

Lenuoye.

ROme remembre of thy fundacion And of what peple thou toke thy begynnīge Thy byldinge gan of fals dissencion Of slaughter murdre and outrayous robbinge Yeuynge to vs a maner knowlegynge A fals begynnynge auctours determyne Shall by processe come vnto ruyne

Where be thy emperours moost souereyne of renoun Kinges exyled for outrayous lyuynge Thy senatours with worthy Scip••on Poetes olde thy triumphes rehersynge Thy laureat knightes moost statly there rydynge Is by longe processe brought vnto ruyne

Where is nowe Cesar that toke possession First of the empire the tryumphe vsurpinge Or where is lucan that maketh mencion Of all his conquest by cerious writynge Octauyan moost solemply regnynge Where is bycome their lordship or their lyne Processe of yerys hath brought it to ruyne

Where is tullius cheef lanterne of thy toun In rethoryke all other surmountynge Morall Senec or prudent sad Caton Thy comon profit alwey preferringe Or rightfull traian moost iustly in his demynge Which on no party lyftnat to declyne But longe processe hath brought all to ruyne

Where is the temple of thy proteccion Made by virgil moost corious of bildinge Images erect of euery regyon Whan any lande was founde rebellynge Toward that parte a small bell herde ryngynge To that prouince the ymage dyd enclyne Which by longe proces was brought to ruyne

Where is also the greate extorcion Of consuleris and prefectys opprossynge Of dictatours the fals collusion Of decemvir the frowarde deceyuynge Of all echon the odious rauyne Hath by processe the brought vnto ruyne

Where is bycome thy dominacion Thy greate trybutys thy tresours shynynge The worlde all hole in thy subieccion Thy swerde of vengeaunce all people manacynge Euer gredy to encrece in thy ge••ynge ••o thinge by grace which that is dyuyne Which hath the brought by processe to ruyne

In thy moost highest exaltacion Thy proude tyrauntys prouyncis conquerynge To god contrarye by longe rebellyon Goddys goddessis falsly obeynge Aboue the sic••rys by surquedous clymbynge ••yll vengeaunce thy noblesse dyd vntwyne With newe compleyntis to shewe thy ruyne

〈◊〉〈◊〉 doun thy pryde and thy presūpcion 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pompous boost thy lordshipes encresynge 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thyn outrage and lay thy boost adoun 〈◊〉〈◊〉 false goddis playnly desyenge 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thyn herte vnto that heuenly kinge Which with his blode thy sorowes for to fyne Hath made thy raunson to saue the fro ruyne

From olde saturne drawe thyne affeccion His golden worlde fully despisinge And from Iupiter make a digression His silue••en tyme hertely despreisinge Resorte ageyne with will and hole menynge To him that is lorde of the ordres nyne Which mekely dyed to saue the fro ruyne

Though mars be myghty in his assencion By influence victories disposynge And bright phebus yeueth consolacion To worldly princes their noblesse auaunsynge Forsake their rightis and thy fals offrynge And to that lorde bowe doun thy chyne Which shed his blode to saue the fro ruyne

Venged mercurye cheef lorde and patron Of eloquence and of fayre spekinge Forsake his seruice in thyn opinyon And serue thy lorde that gouerneth all thinge The sterryd heuyn the speres eke meuynge Which for thy sake was crownyd with a spyne His herte eke perced to saue the fro ruyne

Castup of venus the fals derision Hir firy bronde hir flateries renewynge Of diana the transmutacion Nowe bright nowe pale nowe clere nowe drepinge Of blinde cupide the fraudolent mockinge Of Iuno bachus proserpina Lucyne For none but crist may saue the fro ruyne

Voyde of Cirses the bestyall poison Of cirenes the furious chauntynge Let nat Medusa do the no treason And fro gorgones tourne thy lokynge And let Sinderesis haue the in kepinge That crist iesu may be thy medecyne Ageyne such raskail to saue the fro ruyne

Of fals ydolis make abiuracion To similacres do no worshippinge Make thy resort to cristis passion Which may by mercy redresse thyn errynge And by his grace repare thy fallynge So thou obey his vertuous disciplyne Trust that he shall restore thy ruyne

His mercy is surmountynge of foyson Euer encreceth without amenusynge Ay at full eche tyme and eche ceson And neuer waneth by none eclipsynge Whan men list make deuoutly their rekenynge To leue their synne and come to his doctryne He redy is to kepe theym from ruyne

O Rome rome all olde abusion Of Cerimonies falsly disusinge Ley theym aside and in conclusion Cry god mercy thy trespacis repentynge Trust he wilnat refuse thy axynge The to receyue to laboure in his vyne Eternally to saue the from ruyne

O noble princes of high discrecion Sithe in this worlde is none abidinge Peyse coscience ageyne wyll and reason While ye haue leyser of herte ymagenynge Ye bere nat hens but youre deseruynge Let this conceyte ay in youre thoughtes myne Bexaumple of rome howe all goth to ruyne