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 Lucynyo that murdred anchus was after murdred

tHus fro the whele of fortune he is fall Lucynyo in rome is crowned kinge And the romayns after dyd him call Tarquyn the olde by recorde of writynge Which hath ateyned by fraudolent werkynge And by his subtyll forgyd eloquence Vnto thestate of roiall excellence

He first ordeyned in his estate roiall Turneis iustes in castellys and citees And other playes called marciall With many famous greate solempnytees Sessions for statys and degrees This tarquyn eke was first that dyd his peyne In opyn stretys tauernes to ordeyne

Eke to preserue his cite oute of doubte If their ennemyes lyst theym to assayle He was the first that walled rome aboute With myghty toures vnlykly for to fayle And had also many stronge batayle With Sabynes in their rebellyon And made theym subget vnto rome toun

But for he was assented to depryue Worthy anchus from his estate roiall And after that toke tanquyld vnto wyue Which slough hir lorde by treason ful mortall God wolde of right that he shuld haue a fall The lorde wyll nat which euery thinge may see Suffre murdre longe to be secre

For Lucynyo for his greate offence Touchinge the murdre of kynge anchus Islayne was by sodeyn vyolence Of two shipperdys the story telleth thus Which of entent were contrarious Atwene them silf by a fayned strif To finde a weye to reue him of his life

For while the kinge sate in iugement Vpon their quarel for to do iustise Full sodenly they beynge of assent Fyll vpon him in full cruell wise And with an axe the story doth deuise One of theym or any man toke hede On two {per}tyes roof the kinges hede

This thinge was done by the procurynge Of two childre sonnes to anchus Which were exiled by false compassinge Of lucynyo ageyne theym moost yrous To him their presence was so odious But they them shope though they were oute of sight Their faders deth to auenge if they myyht

For of nature blode wyll auengyd be To recompence the wronge of his kinrede In this chaptre like as ye may se Blode shed for blode thus both dyd blede By which example lete princes take hede Howe murdre done for supplantacion Requyreth vengeaunce for his fynall guyrdon

Lenuoye

THis tragedie by clere inspeccion Openly declareth in substaunce Howe slaughter of princes causeth subucion Of realmys cytees put oute of ordenaunce Of mortall werre longe contynuaunce Blode by supplantynge shed of kinges tweyne By exaumple here shewed fals murdre to restreyne

The fyne declarynge of murdre and fals treson The dede horrible cryeth ay vengeaunce To god aboue to cast his ••yen doun To punyssh this synne through his mighty puissaūce For it is modre of myscheef and myschaunce Wherfore ye princys do sum lawe ordeyne Within youre boūdis thre vices to restreyne

The vice of sclaundre murdre and poyson Where euer these thre haue aqueyntaunce They bringe in sorowe and desolacion Put at a preef by newe remembraunce Of falshede vsed vndre faire countenaunce Wherfore ye princes do youre besy peyne Within youre boundys these vices to restreyne

God defende this noble region With these thre vices to haue allyaunce For sleaundre firste deuoureth high renoun And sleeth gode fame throug fals dalliaunce Harme done to late foloweth repentaunce Wherfore ye princes doo a lawe ordeyne To punyssh their malice fals tunges to restreyne

God hath of murdre abhominacion And fals poyson doth to him displesaunce There is no peyne in comparison Condigne to murdre peysyd in balaunce Wherfore ye princes make an ordenaunce Within youre boundes of some preuy peyne By due punysshinge fals murdre to restreyne

O noble princes prouide of reason Ageyne these vices to make purueaunce Of rigoure shewe due execucion With your laboure and hertely instaunce Let deth be guerdon for their fynall penaunce To warne all other by constreynt of their payne From these thre vices their corages to restreyne