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 the proude tyraunt Aman was hangyd and the Innocent preseruyd

THe horrible fall furious for to rede That foloweth after of the greate aman A ful fals tyraunt founde in thought & dede And was of byrth a macedonyan Which as the byble full wel reherce can Was cheef mayster who can well concerne With assuerus his people to gouerne

He was exalted hie in pryde To goddys people moost contrarious His hatefull venym he list nat for to hyde But lyke a tyraunt moost malicious Of wilfull rancoure fell and despitous Fully disposed and coude him nat withdrawe To destroye the iewes and their lawe

To his entent he gate auctoryte By his subtyl fals compassinge Sent oute lettres into eche cuntre Throughoute all perce by biddinge of the kinge That hye and lowe within the londe dwellynge No wight except that people all aboute Shulde vnto aman obeye knele and loute

This was the biddinge of kinge assuere Whan quene vasty was voyded for hir pryde And hester chosen a mayde moost entere Was brought to courte with the kinge to abide Which had in youth for to be hir guyde A worthy Iewe called mardoche Within Susus a large faire cite

By whoos counseyle euery thinge she wrought Passinge fayre and of greate mekenesse And whan the Eunukes to the kinge hir brought She was acceptyd for hir greate fairenesse Vnto his grace hir story bereth wytnesse And there cherisshed in especiall Aboue al the maydens in the court royall

And of al perce was she crowned quene A pes cōmaundyd through all tho regions Duringe the feest that men might sene The kinges nobley in citees and in touns And of this feest the rich roiall souns Cam to the erys of simple mardoche Which cam with other the maner for to se

Tofore the paleys as he dyd abyde With other Iewes in his cūpanye Of hap as he kest his ere aside He of two porters the counseyle dyd espye Howe they theym cast by fals expiracye To sle the kinge some day of that yere Lyke their entent whan they fonde best leysere

Whan mardocheus prudently gan fele The secret malice of theyr compassinge Of compassion he wolde it nat concele But made hester discure it to the kinge Whereof conuyct they were led to the hanginge As me semeth a competent guerdon For all that falsly Imagyne such treson

By which mene the seyde mardoche Was well accepted to kinge assuere Lykly also to stonde at lybertye Oute of the malice and fell daungere Of cursyd aman which make him no chere But compassed in full fell manere Him to destroye and Iewes all I fere

This mardocheus the byble tell can Withdrough him self to do reuerence Vnto this tyraunt the frowarde prince aman Lyke as the statute commaundyd in sentence Which thinge tauenge by frowarde violence This aman made of hatrede to be set Afore the pal••ys a myghty stronge gybet

But who that cast him to do vengeaunce And Innocentys for to oppresse with might And wif••ull malyce tagregge their greuaunce As god were blynde and had of theym noo sight Bu•• at the last he wyll of very right Punysshe the proude for furious violence The pore supporttinge for their longe pacience

As mardocheus by Innocent liuynge 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mene of hester and hir greate mekenesse Acceptyd was to assuere the kinge The lawe of Iewes set in more surenesse Frowarde aman for his cursednesse V••ngeable of pride the bible ye may se Was hye enhangyd vpon a galowe tre

Mardocheus of prudence and reson The furious daungere of aman set asyde Preseruyd his people fro distruction The tyraunt hangyd for his frowarde pride Thus can the lorde his iugementys diuide Whan he seeth tyme moost mighty and puissaunt Support the simple and punysshe the tyraunt