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 Persa of macedoyne kynge that enpoysoned his brother was by Emylyus outrayed and dyed in pryson.

BEspreynt with terys pitously wepinge As Bochas sat in his stody alone Next cam Persa of Macedoyne kinge And mortally he gan sigh and grone And furiously for to make his mone That he whilom was of so great renoun Constreyned after to dye in prison

This seyde Persa of nature was frowarde Euyll disposyd eke of his condicion Though he of byrth was but a basterde He compassyd by fals collusion After his fader to haue possession As myn auctoure remembreth by writynge Of macedoyn to be crouned kynge

His fader philip the story telleth thus Had a sonne which was yonge of age Wys and redy called demetrius Borne and begete truly in mariage But Persa cast by furious outrage Him to destroye and murdre by poyson He of that kyngdom to haue possession

Falsly compassyd to his auauntage In his entent demetrius to depryue Of macedoyne which was his heritage And therupon he lettres gan contryue To preue him traytour whyle he was alyue Wherof kinge philip greatly was anoyed That he and persa shulde be destroyed

By demetrius that thought no damage Ment no harme in his opynyon Yit his fader suspecious of corage And Persa gaue him fals informacion Made him be slayn by drynkynge of poyson Vpon a day a thinge abhomynable Sittinge at mete at his faders table

Kynge philip after whan he knewe the trouth Had of his deth great compassion But all to late and that was great routh Which caused after his owne destruction For sorowe dyed and of presumpcion Persa after falsly vsurpynge In macedoyne was crownyd kinge

With dyuerse cuntrees made his alyaunce In grece and trace gate frendys nere and ferre And of pryde and wylfull gouernaunce Cast with romayns for to holde werre Vngrace and youth made him for to erre Tyll a consull sent fro rome toun Brought this persa vnto destruction

Called Emelius was this consulere Sent ageyne Persa to haue a great batayle Seynge his doughter heuy of hir chere Whan he went out his enmyes to assayle Made vnto hir this vncouth apposayle Why wepe ye so what thinge doth you agreue At my departynge takynge of me leue

Fadre quod she and ye take hede A whelpe I had that dyd great plesaunce Cylled persa the which rightnowe is dede And this cheef cause only of my greuaunce Hir fadre than gan chaunge countenaunce This as tokne to myn encres of glorye That I of {per}sa shall haue the victorye

〈◊〉〈◊〉 macedoyne he and persa mette And quyt him there lyke a manly knight Conquer••th the londe none might him wi••hset And manly put persa to the flight After to trace he toke the way right Of which conquest shorte processe to make With his two sonnes {per}sa was there take

••milius after this victorye Ask••th the triumphe to his guerdoun And as it is remembred in his storye Persa foloweth after his chare through rome toun Condempned after to dye in pryson The which deth he dyd well deserue For he by poyson made his brother sterue

Thus can fortune erly and eke late Doun from hir whele and hye stage Of proude princes the surquedye abate Whan to hir lust she seth moost auauntage She frowardly can tourne hir visage And sodenly thestate of theym consume Aboue their offyce that wrongly lyst presume

Amonges which a kinge of Israell Ageyne the precept and lawe of moyses Called Ozias the byble can well tell Of presumpcion wylfull and recheles To sacrifise put him silf in pres Lyke a bisshop in the temple arrayed But or he passyd greatly he was affrayed

Loste his spech smet with meselrye Durynge his lyf loo here a great vengeaunce Of his crowne and his regalye Impotent to vse the gouernaunce Peryll for pryde and disobeysaunce For lyst nat mekely the lawe obeye For which at myscheef he dyd a lepre deye