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 after many greate conquestys of duke Pom∣peye beganne greate werre betwene him and Iulyus Thre hundred thousande were slayne and at the last the hede of pompeye smetyn of

tHis pompeius of whom the name is couth Wys and worthy and famous of prowesse Toke vpon him in his tendre youth After his fadre by fortunat duresse Called pompeye the story bereth wytnesse Distrussyd was by sodeyn deth comynge The storye seith thrugh thundrynge and lightnynge

His host destroyed by the violence Of vnware tempest lyke as seyth the boke Forty thousande slayne in that pestylence For fere the remenaunt the felde anon forsoke Tyll yonge pompeie of corage on him toke In his begynnynge proudly to procede Full lyke a knight his fadres host to lede

Rome that tyme by their dissencions Amonge them silf nye brought to ruyne By the froward fals dyuysions Twene Marye and Scylla breuely to termyne Tyll that a newe sonne gan to shyne Of worthinesse which shad his light In manly pompe ye the noble famous knight

This seyde pompeye this noble knightly man At his begynnynge through his chiualrye The proude capteyne slough whan he began Which of marrius helde vp the partye Called Brutus which in Lumbardye Was by pompeie through knightly gouernaunce With all his hoste brought vnto mischaunce

In his begynnynge pompeye eke also To set romayns in rest and quiete One that was called Gueeus carbo He slough him knightly whan he dyd him mete Which in Scicile proudly helde his fete And all the cuntrees aboute him enuyron Pompeie made them subget to rome toun

After all this pompeius on the se With many a shyp stuffed with vitayle Towarde affrik made a great arme And there in haste after his arriuayle With domicyus had a great batayle Brought the cuntre through his hye renoun To be to rome vnder subiection

He pursued the great mighty kynge Called Iertha to marrius fauourable And had also his royall abidynge In Numedye a cuntre full notable Ageyn pompei his powere was nat able For at a castell as they met in fight He slough kinge Iertha full like a manly knight

This in breef tyme holdynge his passage Fro comon profyte as made is mencion By his wysdom and knightly hye corage Brought all affrik to subiection Which stode afore in rebellyon To the romayns but all their sturdinesse The seid pompeie dyd in hast redresse

The gretest enmye ageyne rome toun Thylke dayes was one Sertorius And of fortune which is nowe vp nowe doun On pompeie onys was victorious But after sone of him it hapnyd thus Amonge his meyne fallynge at debate He slayne was in his moost hye estate

After the deth of thys Sertorius Cam Porpenna pompeie for tasseyle And as they met anon pompeius Full lyke a knight slough him in batayle Which victorye greatly dyd auayle To the romayns after by gouernaunce He brought spayne to their obeysaunce

By auctoryte youe by the senate This noble pompeye for vayle of the cyte Vpon the se wolde suffre no pirat Where euer he cam fro him they dyd fle For with his shippis he scored so the se And bare him there so manly with his honde That maugre them he brought them to the londe

All these pyrates and these fals robbour•• I gadred oute were of the regyon▪ Callyd Scicile which lyke to rauynours Made ageyn rome a conspiracion Robbyd spoyled seylynge vp and doun Romayne marchauntys and peple of eche cuntre That none was hardy to passe by the se

After pompeie hath made these to obeye That pyrat none durst theron abyde He by the Senat was sent out to werrey Towarde the oryent his knightys by his syde And where so euer that he dyd abyde Myn auctour write by influence of heuyn His conquest was swift as fire or leuene

And to encres of his eternall glorye Perpetually to gete him a name His laude and renoun to put in memorye He byldyd a cite in asia of greate fame Called Nychopoly bochas seith the same Twene two flodys that one araxases And that other was called cufrates

He byldyd this cyte only of entent That romayn knightys that were fall in age And such as were in the werrys spente Shulde of custom haue their herbergage In that cyte alwey and nat fayle Beddynge clothys spendynge and vitayle

Pompeye after rode into armenye Rebell to rome where Tigranes was kinge Faught with him there and thrugh his chiualrye Disconfyted him there was none abydynge Where Tigranes him silf submyttynge Vnto pompeye with euery circumstaunce Euer to abyde vndre his obeysaunce

Than in all haste pompey gan him hye To ride in asia where lyke a manly knight He gate the kingdom called Albanye Which toke his name who so loke aright Of whitnesse for euery manere wight That there is borne by recorde of wrytinge Whyte as snowe hath his here shynynge

There been houndys meruelous of nature For tassayle bolys and lyons No wylde beest may ageyn him dure So pompeye by many regyons Rode thrugh armenye with his chaumpions Where growen herbys that may neuer f••ynte What euer colour men list with them peynte

Conqueryd realmys aboute in euery coost Of hiberye he gate the region And artaces the kynge with all his ofte Disconfited as made is mencion With his power to Surrye he cam doun Than to fenyce a kyngdom of great fame Which of fe••••x whilom toke his name

Brought all these cuntrees to subiection Of Cydonye the mighty stronge cite Of Iturie he toke possession Through arabye he cam doun to Inde Which of Iewes was sumtyme the cuntre Of lybanus he passed the mounteyne Where cedres growe as auctours seyn

Sent tofore him entrynge in that reame One Gabynus amighty stronge cunstable Regnynge that tyme in Ierusaleme Aristobolus a prince full notable And for the temple was stronge and premyable Layde a syege aboute in brede and lengeth Space of thre menethys gate it so by strength

Thre thousand Iewys vndre the wall were founde Dede at the assaute which made resistence The wall after betyn doun to grounde Pompey after by sturdy violence Is entred in without reuerence Sancta sanctorum men that place call Made Hircanius hyest preest of all

The great bisshop Aristob••lus Sent to rome in mighty cheynys bounde Towarde septentrion I fynde writen thus Gate seuene kingdomes with citees walled rounde Rebell to rome he dyd theym confounde With mighty swerde gate all the cuntre Fro cancasus doun to the rede se

In his conquest it sempt verely As the goddys had done their cure And that fortune was with them eke besy This mighty pompeie prince of assure What euer him list by conquest to rec••••e In spayne he gate whan they were rebels Thre hundred cytees and sixty stronge castels

Harde to remembre his conquestys euerychon All the prowessys of this knightly man Towarde the party of Septemtrion A thousande castels I fynde that he wan Six hundred mo fro tyme that he began Eight and thretty citees oute of doute With mighty wallys closyd rounde aboute

Peyse his dedys his conquestys marciall Thryse consull chose for his encrees Rede ye shall finde howe he was egall To alisaundre or to hercules Where that euer he put him silf in pres All cam to hande concludynge ye may se To comon profite of rome the cyte

His marciall dedys to put in remembraunce One was chose to do his diligence To enacte his conquest in substaunce And his knighthode to singuler excellence And triffanes famous of eloquence Assigned was vnto that laboure Toke his guerdon of their comon tresoure

Pompey of rome was cheef gouernour Cesar absent in Gaule a fer cuntre Which tyme pompeie stode in great fauour•• Both of fortune and rome the cite Sumwhat made blynde of his pros{per}yte Purposinge in his clymbynge nat stable He wolde haue none that were to him semblable

Vnto purpos was sayde full yore agoon Howe that loue nouther hye lordship Preef hath be made in many mo than oon Nouther of them wolde haue no felawshipe Eche by his one wolde his party kepe In these two cas brother vnto brother Fayleth at a poynt eche wyll put out other

To pompeie resortynge nowe ageyn He toke on him all the gouernayle Of the romayns as ye haue herde me seyne Both of estatis comons and porayle And for his parte all that might auayle In makynge lawes statute or decre All vp engrossed by his auctoryte

Folke this while which that had enuye Towarde cesar in his longe absence Lete make a lawe by conspiracye And a statute concludinge in sentence Without excepcion fauour or reuerence No man shulde by wyll of the senat In his absence be chose to none estate

Nor be admyttyd by no procuratoure To haue auctorite of dignite nor offyre In court of tribune nor of senatour To be promotyd thys was their aduys Were he neuer so manly nor so wys This lawe ordeyned by folke enuyous For hyndrynge only of cesar Iulius

Whan Iulius knewe all their fals werkinge Fro gaule sent vp to the cyte All the senat requerynge by writynge To graunt him by their auctorite Of tryumphe the notable dignite To haue also thoffys and estate Called in rome the seconde consulate

For him alledgynge many great victorye In dyuers cuntrees done for the cyte Many conquest notable of memorye Wrought by his knighthode for which of equite Requerynge them guirdoned for to be But contrarye vnto his entente Denyed him all by one assente

Which was cheef grounde rote and occasion That brought in first the contr••uersye Ciuyly discordys frowarde diuision Whan euery man drough to his partye Of olde hatrede to kyndle newe enuye Causinge princis Iulius and Pompeye To their confusion eche other to werrey

The triumphe denyed to cesar Fraude of pompeye made him therof faile Of whoos deceyte Iulius was war Made him redy with many stronge batayle Passed ouer the alpies of Itayle Fully in purpos playnly if he might With the romayns and pompeye for to fight

Thus gan the werres atwene these princys tweyne Pompeie chose for partye of the toun To be their duke and capteyn souereyn Ageyne Cesar as made is mencion And thus alas the disolacion Sued of the cite by many straunge signe With vncouth toknys whan they gan maligne

At the gynnynge of these wofull werrys In the heuen were sene dredfull sightys Sparklynge brondes cometis vncouth sterris With flame of fire many feerfull lightys Lyke lampys brennynge all the longe nighty•• Castynge of sperys dartys in the ayre Wherby romayns fill in great dispayre

From the partye of Septemtrion Towarde rome cam full greate lightnynge At noone seen sterrys lyke blode the sonne shone The moone eclipsyd terrible in shewynge The mounte Ethna feerfull brennynge From his cauernys castup flamys rede Towarde Itayle which set them in right greate drede

But of caribdys a daunger of the se Wawys terrible boyled vp lyke blode From the rokkys that in Scicile be Was herde howlynge of houndys that were wode Vesta the goddesse in rome where she stode Myd hir temple was all with terys spreynt Whan the heuenly fyres were afore hir queynt

Afore the goddesse at the aulter principall Was fyre perpetuell brennynge day and night Tyll werrys Cyuile hatefull and terrible Gan amonge romayns in the contagious fight Than of vengeaunce anon was queynt the light Tofore vesta the fyre partynge on tweyne Of dyuision a tokne full certeyne

Erth quaues soden and terrible Ouertourned castels vp so doun With rage flodys hydous and horrible Neptunus dyd greate destruction Drowned villages and many mancion Reuersyd in templys of golde all their vessels Threwe doun baners standardys and pensels

Geyne these signes was found none arest The vnware mischeef coude no man declyne Lyons wolues cam doun fro the foreste With many other beestys sauagyne Wylde bestys and serpentys of rauyne Cam to the cyte and sūme ageyne kinde Spake as do men in bochas thus I fynde

Dyuerse folkes which of their nature 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in custom to fle but a night Afore these werrys dyd him silf assure Euene at mydday whan phebus is moost bright Thrugh then cite for to take their flight Wymen with chylde the storye list nat feyne Brought forth sūme that had hedys tweyne

Tofore these werrys that called were Cyuile Senatours beynge in rome toun C••m to the woman that called was cibyle Vnto h••r made this questyon To declare by short conclusion Amonge their other questions all Of their cite what fortune shulde befall

To whom she gaue an answere full obscure Wherupon she made theym sore muse Toke them sixe lettres set in pleyn scripture Which in no wyse they might nat refuse For fals rightes that they dyd vse Lyke the thre lettres twyes set in noumbre Who vnderstondeth they shall the toun encoumbre

Thre R R R firste she set on a rowe And thre F F F in ordre fast by Longe tyme after or they coude knowe The exposicion therof opynly Tyll their diuynours gan serche subtylly To finde oute lyke to their entent By the syx lettres what Cybile ment

O of this worde regnum the first lettre is R So is the capytall of rome the cite Who loke aright the thryd is nat fer This worde Ruet gynneth with R parde Of which wordys whan they ioyned be The sentence concludeth in menynge Of their cyte the Ruyno us fallinge

Touchinge thre F F F who can aduertise Of this worde ferro F goth toforne And the cheef lettre of fames to deuyse Is F also the processe well forth borne The same of Flamma by which the toun was lorne Of which resons make a coniunction Causynge of rome fyn all distruction

Fyre swerde and hungre caused by the werrys Desire of clymbynge froward ambicion Shewynge of cometis and of vncouth sterris With pronostekys of their desercion Worst of all wilfull dyuision Amonge theym silf by vnware violence Of lettres sixe accomplisshed the sentence

The swerde of Cesar werrys of pompeye Twene these tweyne lastynge a great while Made many romayne and Italien to dye By the batayles that called were Cyuile With prophecies remembryd of Cybile As the writynge full well reherce can Of the olde poete that called was lucan

In martys temple on heith where he stode And bellona the goddesse despitous The prestys cryed and offred vp their blode With lamentacion lyke folke furious Cause of toknes fell and contrarious Which that were shewed in that sentuary Howe their goddys to romayns were contrarye

Monge dede bonys that lay in their grauis Were voycis herde lyke woodmen in their ragi•• Cry of goostys in kauernys and ka••ys Herde in feldys pathis and passages Laborers fled home to their villages Serpentys adders scalyd siluer bright Were ouer rome seyne flyenge all the night

Another tokne pytous for to here Which astonyed many proude romayn Dede bodyes dyd in the feelde appere Which in batayle had afore be slayne Fro their toumbes arysynge where they layn Which in the werres wofull and dispitous Were slayne by Scilla and proude ma••tius

It was eke tolde by their dyuynours Howe pompeyus was lyke to haue a fall And howe thestate of romayn emperours With their triumphes that be Imperiall At Iuluis first begynne shall And after him thestate shall forth procede By election or lynyall kynrede

To withstonde the power of cesar Which towarde rome toke his wey right Pompeye was sent wis manly and right war But whan he herde tell of the might Of Iulius he toke him to the flight Eke all the senatours with him dyd fle Towarde Epyre in grece a stronge cyte

Pompeie was olde famous in chiualrye Cesar but yonge hardy for to assayle Vpon the pleyns of grece and thessalye Pompeye and he had a greate batayle Geyn Iulius swerde no romayn might auayle Constreyned of force the felde to forsake Towarde Egipt they haue the wey take

Pompeye through cypre cam to Tholome By a greate water at paphus dyd arryue On the stronde there he dyd se A stately place and vp he went blyue The name of which pleinly to descryue Cacobasile the cuntre dyd it call Of which name the fortune is thus fall

The name tokneth of frowarde arriuayle Sownynge in grete vnhappy auenture By which the trust of pompeye dyd fayle Fyll in despeire might it nat recure Forsoke that Ile dyd his besy cure To take a ship so by the se saylynge Towarde Egipt where tholome was kinge

Of trust he fled to this tholome In hope he sholde fynde in him socoure Fayre chere shewed vndre duplicite Fayled at the poynt gaue him feynt fauoure Albe pompeye by his frendly laboure Crowned him kynge in Egipt as I fynde To whom ageyn he was fals and vnkynde

To mete pompeye he lete stuf a barge By a maner pretence of frendlyhede Gaue his menye that were there in charge To mordre pompeie byhight them a great mede Tweyne there were that bare to him hatrede And in the vessell with sharpe swerdys whet Or he was ware of his hede they smet

That one of theym was callyd achyllas And his felowe named was fotyne Toke vp the hede of that prince alas Famous in knighthode borne of gentyl lyne Amonge romayns as auctours determyne Bolde in his tyme if men do him right Through all the worlde one the best knight

Thus erthely princys with al their pompous fame Which through all the worlde yeueth so greate a soun Of slaughtre and mordre they toke first their name By fals rauyne and extorcion Clambe vp first so to domynacion Brennynge of cuntrees conquest by violence Set them in chayres of worldly excellence

In this batayle that called was ciuyle Holde atwene pompeye and cesar Iulius Thre hundryd thousand slayne within a whyle Thre thousande take the storye telleth thus Without princis notable and glorious As kinges pretours reknyd all atonys Trybunys consulys and centuryonys

Phebus on the soyle might nat his bemys sprede Nor on the grounde shewe out his clere light Men that were slayne lay so thycke on brede That of the erth noman had a sight Wulues berys rauynous foules of flight Cam great plente to fede them there eche day Besyde the ryuere of Nyle where they lay

Gobettys of flessh which foulys dyd arare Fro dede bodyes borne vp in the ayre Fyll fro their clees vpon Iulius face Amyd the feeld where he had repayre Made his visage blody and nat fayre Albe that he to his encreas of glorye Had thilke day of romayns the victorye

The hede of pompeye brought with his statly ring Offred vp to Iulius hye presence He by compassion the murdre aduertysynge Of his Innat imperiall excellence Brast out to wepe and in his aduertence Thought greate pyte a prince of so great might Shulde so be slayne that was so gode a knight

The coors abode withoute sepulture Tyll one Codrus of compassion After the batayle and disconfiture Besought him of great affection To hyde the Trunke lowe in the sondys doun Sought tymber and there he fonde but small To do exequies with fyres funerall

Nowe sith this prince cam to such mischeef Murdryd and slayne by tholome the kynge Here of hir power fortune hath made a preef What trust there is in any wordly thinge After his deth wantyd he nat buryenge This proude pompeie so famous of his honde Of fyssh deuoured as he lay on quyksonde

What shall men set by power or noblesse Of slydinge godys or any wordly glorye Which to restreyne may be no syerenesse Fortune and the worlde is transitorye Though mars to day yeue a man victorye Parcas tomorowe vnwarly he shall deie I take recorde of Cesar and pompeye

Sith all stant vnder daungere of fortune y•• wordly men do your loke vp dresse To thilke place where ioye doth ay co••••une The blynde lady hath there none interesse Se•• pride asyde take you to mekenesse To 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vertue do truly your laboure ••••yn worldly pompe make pompeie your mirroure

Lenuoye.

THis tragedye of the duke pompeye Declareth in gros the cheef occasion Why he and cesar gan first werreie Eche ageyn other through vayn ambycion To haue lordshyp and domynacion Ouer the romayns by fauoure fraude or might Possession take no force of wronge nor right

To trouthis party pryde is loth to obeye Extort power doth greate destruction Wys policie all out of the weye Prudente counsayle age with discrecion Loste their lyberte of fre election Who was moost stronge with him helde euery wight Possession take no force of wronge nor right

Such diuysion made many man to deye Brought the cite to disolacion With two princys fortune lyst to pley•• Tyll from hir whele she cast theym both doun Subtyll diceit fraude and collusion By ambycious clymbynge blent their both light Possession take no force of wronge nor right

Noble princys remembre what I seye Peyse this storye within in your reson Of fals surmountynge auaryce berith the keye Recorde of Cesar pompeye of rome toun Whoos wylfull werrys hatefull discencion Yeueth clere warnynge to you and euery wight No clayme is worth without tytle of right