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 ...

Lenuoye.

THis tragedye yeueth a warnynge To all tho that haue domynacion Ouer the people prince duke or kinge To eschue rauyne and fals extorcion Byt theym considre howe by thocrasion Of foule pillage and frowarde tyrannye This seyd denys at myscheef must dye

First he compassed falsly ymagenynge To sle the Cetezeyns of his royall toun His brethren his cosyns his kinrede nat sparinge Brought all his blode to destruction In slaughter he had such dilectocion Reioysinge euer in murdre and robbrie Which caused him at missheef for to dye

To spoile temples was his reioysinge Toke all their tresours to his possession Tables of golde with stonys fresshe shynynge Eke fro other goddis the relyques he toke doun Where euer he rode in any region Whoos sacrilege and compassed felonye Caused him vnwarly at myscheef for to dye

In venus temple by recorde of writinge He dyd a foule frowarde abusion All gentyl wymen that cam there to offringe Theym he despoyled as made is mencion Lete theym be nakyd withoute excepcion For which diffame and greate vngentrie He banysshed was and dyd in myscheef dye

Noble princes remembre on this thinge Compassyd malyce and fals collusion Must haue euyl endinge and come to reknynge Fraude aye with fraude receyueth his guerdoun Haue this in mynde concludinge in reson That all tyrauntys pleynly to specefye Had here short lyfe or dyd at myscheef dye