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 ...

[illustration]

Incipit liber Sextus Here Bochas sittinge in his studye alone•• writeth a greate processe: howe Fortune lyke amonstruous Ima∣ge / Hauinge an hundryd handys appperyd vnto him and spake: and Bochas vnto hir: makinge bytwene them both many greate Argumentys: and resons of fortunes chauncys. (Book 6)

iN his studye alone as bochas stode His penne in honde of soden auenture To remembre he thought it dyd him goode Howe that no man may him silf assure In worldly thinges fully to recure Grace of fortune to make hir to be stable Hir dayly chaunges be so variable

She braydeth euer on the chaūtplure Nowe songe nowe wepyng nowe wo nowe gladnes Nowe in myrth nowe peyn to endure Nowe light nowe heuy nowe bytter nowe swetnes Nowe in trouble nowe fre nowe in distres Shewynge to vs a manere resemblaunce No wordly welth hath here non assuraunce

While bochas pensif stode sole in his librarye With chere oppressed pale in his visage Sumdell abasshed alone and solytarye To him appered a monstruous Image Parted on tweyne of colour and corage Hir right syde full of somer floures The tothyr oppressed with wynters stormy shoures

Bochas astonyed feerfull for to abrayde Whan he behelde the wonderfull fygure Of fortune thus to him silf he sayde What may this mene is this a creature Or a monstre transfourmed ageyns nature Whoos brennynge iyen sparklyng of their light As do sterres the frosty wynter night

And of hir chere full gode hede he toke Hir face semynge cruell and terryble And by disdeyne manasynge of loke Hir here vntrussyd harde sharpe and horryble Froward of shap lothsom and odyble An hundred handes she had of eche pa••t In sundry wyse hir gyftys to depart

Sūme of hir hondes lyst vp men alofte To hye estate of wordly dignite Another honde griped full vnsofte Which cast another in greate aduersite Gaue one richesse an other pouerte Gaue sūme also by report a gode name Noysed another of sclaundre and diffame

Hir habite was of manyfolde coloures Watchet blewe of feyned stedfastnesse Hir golde allayed like sonne in wattry shoures Meynt with light grene for chaunge and doblenesse A pretens red drede meynt with hardynesse White for clennes lyke sone for to fayle Feynt blacke for mournynge russet for trauayle

••yr coloures meynt of wollys more than one Sūme while eclypsyd sūme while she shone bright Dull as an asse whan men had haste to gone And as a swalowe gerissh of hir flight Twene sloughth & swyft nowe croked nowe vpright Nowe as a creple lowe coorbyd doun Nowe a duery nowe a chaumpion

Nowe a cowarde durst nat come in prees Nowe sumwhile hardy as a lyon Nowe lyke Ector nowe dredefull Thersites Nowe was she cresus nowe agamenon Sa•• danapallus of condicion Nowe was she mānyssh nowe was she femynyne Nowe coude she rayne nowe coude she falsly shyne

Nowe a mermeyde angilyk of face A tayle behynde very serpentyne Nowe debonaire nowe frowarde to do grace Nowe as a lambe tretable and benigne Nowe lyke a wulfe of nature to maligne Nowe sirenes to synge folke aslepe Tyll Caribdys drowne theym in the de••••e

Thus Iohn bochas considringe hir figure All hir fetures in ordre he gan beholde Hir brede hir lingth hir shap and hir stature An hundryd handys and armys there he tolde Wherof astonyed his hert gan wexe colde And amonge all hir membres euerichon He sempt she had no fete vp to gon

And while that he considred all this thinge Twene them as it were in a traunce She sodenly towarde him lokinge He conceyued by hir countenaunce Were it for Ire were it for plesaunce Outher for fauoure outher for disdeyne By the maner she wolde sumwhat feyne

Lokynge ascoyne as she had had disdeyne Bochas quod she I knowe all thyn entente Howe thou trauaylest besyest the in vayne In thy study euer diligent Nowe in the west nowe in the oryent To sech stories north and meredien Of worthy princes that here tofore haue ben

Sūme dwellyd vnder the pole artike By my fauour vpreysed to the sterrys Outher vndre the pool antartyke Which in contrarye fro vs so ferre is Sūme encresyd and set vp by the werrys Lyke as me list their triumphes to auaunce Frownynge on other I brought them to mischaunce

I se the besy remembrynge by scriptures Storyes of pryncis in euery maner age As my fauour folowed their auentures By humble style set in playne langage Nat made curious by none auauntage Of rethorikes with musys for to stryue But in pleyne fourme their dedys to descryue

In which proces thou doest great diligence As they deserue to yeue them thanke or blame Settyst vp one in royall excellence Within myn house called the house of fame The golden trumpet with blastys of gode name Enhaunceth one to full hye partyes Where Iupyter sitteth amonge the heuenly skyes

Another trumpet of sownys full vengeable Which bloweth vp at festys funerall Nothinge bright but of coloure sable Ferre fro my fauour dedly and mortall To plonge princis from their estate royall Whan I am wroth to make them lo••••e lowe Than of malyce I do that trumpet blowe

Thou hast wretyn and sette togedre in groos Lyke their deserte wordly mennys dedys Nothinge conceled nor vndre couert cloos Spared the crownes nor their purpul wedes Their golden scepters but youe to them ther medys Crowned one with laurer hye on his hede vp set Other with peruynke made for the gibet

Tus dyuersly my gyftes I departe One accepted another is refused Lyke haserdours my dees I do iuparte One well furthered another is accused My play is double my truste is euer abused Though one to day my fauour hath wonne Tomorowe ageyne I can eclipse his sonne

Cause of my cūmynge pleynly to declare By gode auys vnto thy presence Is to shewe my maners and nat spare And my condicions breuely in sentence Preuyd of olde and newe experience Pleynly to shewe me list nat for to rowne To day I flater tomorowe I can well frowne

This houre I can shewe me merciable And sodenly I can be dispytous Nowe well wylled hastely vengeable Nowe sobre of chere nowe hasty and furious My play vncouth my maners maruelous Brayde on the wynde nowe glad & nowe I mourne Lyke a wedre cok my fate eche day I tourne

Wherin Bochas I tell the yit agayne Thou doest foly thy wittys for to plye All thy labour thou spyllest in vayne Geyn my maners so fully to replye By thy writynge to finde a remedye To interupte in thy last dawes My statutys and my custūable lawes

All the laboure of philosophers olde Trauayle of poetys my maners to depraue Hath been of yore to seylyke as they wolde Ouer my fredom the souereynte to haue But of my lawes the lybertees to saue Vpon my whele they shall theym nat diffende But whan me lyst that they shall discende

Why shulde men put me in blame To folowe the nature of my double play With newe buddys doth nat ve•• the same Whan prymerose appere fresshe and gay To day they shewe tomorwe gon away Sūmer after of floures hath foyson Tyll Iune with sithes after mowe them doun

Nowe is the se calme and blaundisshinge Nowe are the wyndes confortable and styll Nowe is boreas sturdy in blowynge Which yonge shepe and blosmes greueth ill Why also shulde I nat haue my wyll To shewe misilf nowe smothe and after trouble Sith to my kynde it longeth to be double

Noman so ferre is fall in wretchidnesse But that he standeth in trust to ryse ageyne Nor none so depe plonged in distresse Nor with despeyre nor wanh••pe ouerleyne But that there is sūme hope left certeyne To yeue him confort seruynge his entent To be releuyd whan me lyst assent

The erthe is clad in motlayes white and rede Whan escas entre with violettes sote The greeuys grene and in euery meede The bawme fleteth which doth to hertys bote August passed ageyn in to the rote By cours of nature the vertue doth resorte To reuolucion to kinde I me report

Who shulde than debarre me to be double Sith doublenes longeth to me of right Nowe fressh with somer nowe w^t wynter trouble Nowe blinde of loke derke as the cloudy night Nowe glad of chere of herte mery and light They be but foles ageyn my might to muse Or me atwyte though I my power vse

Seeld or neuer I byde nat in one poynt Men must at lowpys take me as they finde And whan I stonde ferthest out of Ioynt To set folkes bakwarde ferre behynde Than wordly men with their iyen blynde Sore compleyne vpon my doublenesse Call me thanne the frowarde fals goddesse

Thus by your writynge and merueylous langage I am disclaundryd of mutabilite Wherof by right I catch a greate auauntage Sith doublenes no sclaundre is to me Which is a persell of my liberte To be called by title of rightwissnesse Of chaungys newe lady and princesse

Thus whan fortune had seyde hir wyll Parcell declared of hir gouernaunce Made a stynt and sobrely stode styll Iohn bochas sate and herde all hir dal••aunce Feerfull of chere pale of countenaunce In ordre enprentyd eche thinge that she sayde Full demurely thus he dyd abrayde

He toke vpon him vertue and corage Vpon a poynt for to abyde stable Certys quod he lyke to thy visage All wordly thinges be double and chaungeable Yit for my parte by remembraunce notable I shall {per}fourme sothly if I conne This lytell boke that I haue begonne

And lest my laboure dye nat nor appall Of this boke the tytle for to saue Amonge myn other lityll werkys all With lettris large aboue vpon my graue This bokes name shall in stone be graue Howe I Iohn bochas in especiall Of wordly princes wretyn haue the fall

Of whych emprise the cause to deseryue This was first grounde I wyll nat denye To eschewe slouth and vyses all my lyne And specially the vice of glotonye Which is norice vnto lecherye This was chef cause why I vndertoke The compylacion of this lytyll boke

¶Yit by thy talkinge as I vnderstande Eche thinge here of nature is chaungeable After thy sentence both on se and lande Yit coude I rekne thynges that be stable As vertuous lif abidinge vnmutable Set hole to godwarde of herte will and thought Maugre thy powere and ne chaungeth nought

Thou maist eke call vnto remembraunce Thinges made stable by grace which is dyuyne Hast thou nat herde the perseueraunce Of holy martres which list nat to declyne Fro cristys feith tyll he dyd fyne Thy whele in them h••d none interesse To make them vary fro their stablenesse

A man that is enarmed in vertue Ageyn thy myght to make resistence And set his trust by grace in cryst Ihū And hath all hole his hertely aduertence On rightwysnesse force and on prudence With their suster called attemperaunce Hath a saue condute ageyne thy variaunce

They set no store by thy double whele With supportacion of other ladyes thre Their trust stande nat in plate mayle or stele But in these vertues feith hope and charite Called vertues tholeogice Which with foure afore here specefyed Thy whele and the haue vtterly diffyed

If I with wynges might flye to heuyn There shulde I se thowe hast no thinge adone With Iupiter nor the planettys seuene With phebus mars mercurye nor the mone But worldly folys erly late and sone Such as be blente or dyrkyd with lewdnesse By fals opinyon call the a goddesse

Gyftys of grace nor giftys of nature Almes dede done with humylite Loue and compassion be ferre out of thy cure Semelynesse strength bountye or beutye Vertuously vsed in their degre Geyn none of these thy powere may nat stretch For who is vertuous lyte of the doth retch

Of thy condicions to set another preef Which folys vse in their aduersite For excusacion as sūtyme seith a theef Whan he is hangyd it was his destyne Atwyteth fortune his Iniquite As she had domynacion To rule man by wyll ageyn reson

For which Iohn bochas in party dissolate To determyne such heuynly hyd secrees To that be deuynes of estate I remyt such vncouth priuytees And poetys that be of lowe degrees I eschewe to clymbe to hye aloft Hest for presumpcion I shuld nat fall soft

But if I had hyd in my corage Such misteries of dyuyne prouydence Without enuye I wolde in pleyne langage Vttre them by wrytinge with humble reuerence Predestynacion nouther prescience Nat apperteyne fortune vnto the And for my parte I wyll excuse me

And procede lyke as I vndertoke After that I tolde my matere Of fall of princes for to wryte a boke But yit afore if thou woldest here I desire of hole herte and entere To haue a copye of princes names all Which fro thy whele thou hast made to fall

Thy secre bosom is full of storyes Of sundry princys howe they their lif haue lad Of their tryumphes and victoryes Which olde poetis and philosophers sad In metre and prose compyled haue and rad Songe their laudes their fatys eke reserued By remembraunce as they haue disserued

Of which I haue put sūme in memorye Theron set my studye and my laboure So as I coude to their encres of glorye Though of langage I had but small fauoure Cause caliope dyd me no socoure For which thou hast durynge all this while Rebuked me of my rude stile

Men wold accoumpte it were a greate dulnesse But if langage conueyed be by prudence Out declared by sobre auysenesse Vnder support fauoured by diffence Of tullius cheef prince of eloquence Shulde more profyte shortly to conclude Than my style spoke in termes rude

¶Yit oft tyme it hath be felt and seyne Vnder huskys growynge on londe Arable Hath be founde and tryed out gode greyne Vndre rude leuys shakynge and vnstable Pullyd faire frute holsom and delytable And semblably where rethorike hath fayled In blunte termys gode counsayle hath auayled

Philosophers of the golden ages And poetis that fonde oute fressh dyters As kinge amphion with his fayre langages And with his harpyng made folke of lowe degrees And laborers to enhabyte first cites And so by musyke and philosophie Gan first of comons noble policie

The cheef of musike is melodye and accorde Welle of philosophie sprange out of prudence By which two menys gan vnyte and accorde With politike vertue to haue their asistence Wise men to regne subiettis do reuerence And by this grounde in stories men may se Were bylte the walles of thebes cyte

Accorde in musyk causeth the melodye Where is discorde there is dyuersite And where is pes is prudent policye In eche kyngdom and euery great cuntre Stryf first inducyd by thy duplicite For which thou maist as clerkys the descryues Be called lady of contekys and of stryues

First were found out hatefull diuisions By thy contriued fals mutabylytes Slaughter debate frowarde discencions In regions prouyncis and cites Desolacions of townes and of cuntres Wherfore men had first experience By thy chaungeable gery violence

Thus by the oppynyon of thy whele moost double As fayre by nature as it was possible Ouerthwertly thou broughtest men in trouble Madest eche to other froward and odible By thy treynys vncouth and terrible Lyke a corsour maketh coltes that be wylde With spore and whyp to be tame and mylde

Thus by the tempest of thyn aduersitees To make men more tame of their corages In their discordes twene kyngdoms and cytes After the sharp of thy cruell rages Only by speche and mene of fayre langages Folke by thy fraude fro grace ferre exyled Were by fayre spech to vnite reconsyled

Peple of grece of rome and of cartage Next in Itayle with many a region Were indusyd by swetnesse of faire langage To haue togydre their conuersacion To bylde castelles and many royall toun What caused this to tell in breef the fourme But eloquence rude peple to enfourme

Afore tyme they were but bestyall Tyll they to reson by lawes were constreyned Vnder discrecion by statutis naturall Fro wylfull lustys by prudence were restreyned By assente made one and to gydre encheyned In golden cheynys of pees and vnite Thus gan the beeldynge of euery greate Cyte

But whan thou medlyst to haue an interesse They that were one to brynge them at discorde To interupte with thy doublenesse Cites regions that were of one accorde Lyke as this boke can bere me well recorde Fro the tyme that thou first began Thy mutabylite hath stroyed many a man

Thou causest men to be obstynat In their corages and incorigible Wilfull frowarde causeles at debat Eche to other contrarious and odible Them to refourme almoste impossible Tyll faire spech voydinge diuision Pes reconciled twene many a region

For there is none so furious outrage Nor no mater so ferre out of the wey But that by mene of gracious langage And faire spech may a man conuey To all reson mekely for to obey By an exaumple which I reherce shall Wele to purpos and is historyall

The hardy knight the cruell achilles Whan hatefull Ire assayled his corage There was no mene with him to trete of pes To styll the tempest of his doolfull rage Saue only this which dyd his Ire aswage By attempraunce to obeye to reson Whan of an harpe he herde the swete soū

Which instrument by his greate swetnesse Put all rancoure out of his remembraunce Wrested him ageyne to all gladnesse From him auoydinge all rancoure and greuaunce Semblably faire spech and daliaunce Set men in rest in realmys here and yonder By gode langage that were ferre asondre

With these wordys bochas wexe debonaire Towarde fortune as he cast his loke Withdrewe his rancoure and to speke fayre Touchinge his laboure which vpon him toke Besechinge hir for to furthre hys boke That his name which was lityll knowe By gode reporte might be ferther blowe

That his name might ferther sprede Which stode as yit shrowdyd in derknesse By hir fauour his name forth to lede His boke to furthre do hir besynesse By good roport to yeue it a brightnesse With laur••ate stremys shad forth to people all By foryetfulnesse that it neuer appalle

This was the bylle which that Iohn Bochas Made vnto fortune with full humble style Whan fortune had conceyued all his cas Sobyrly stode and gan stynt a while And glad of chere after she gan smyle On myn auctoure and with a fressh visage In sentence spake to him this langage

Hic loquitur Fortuna

SOthly quod she Ise thy besynesse Of mortall men howe coryous that they be Howe they studye by greate auysnesse Of my secretys for to be preue To knowe the conceytys hyd within me And my counseyles ye men do all youre peyne Albe that lightly ye may nat therto atteyne

In thys mater your with doth neuer feynt Imagenynge likenesse in youre mynde Lyke youre conceytis ye forge men and peynt Sumtyme a woman with wynges set behinde And portrayen me with iyen that been blinde Cause of all this breuely to expresse Is youre owne couetous blyndnesse

¶Your appetytis moost straunge and dyuers And full euer of chaunge and doublenesse Frowarde also malicious and {per}uers By hasty climbinge to worship and richesse Alweye voide of trouth and stablenesse Moost presumptuous serche oute in all degrees Falsly tatteyne to wordly dignitees

Bochas bochas I {per}ceyue euery thinge And knowe full wele the greate difference Hyd in thy silf of wordys and thinkynge Atwene theym both the disconuenience Hast thou nat wretyn many greate sentence In thy boke to sclaundre with my name Of hole entent my maners to diffame

Thou callest me step moder moost vnkinde And sumtyme a fals chaunteresse A mermayde with a tayle behinde Of scorne sumwhile me namynge a goddesse Sumtyme a witch sumtyme a sorceresse Fynder of murdre and of deceitys all Thus of malice mortall men me call

All this done in despight of me By accusacion in many sundry wyse Ye oft appech my mutabylite Namely whan I youre requestys do despise For to accomplissh youre gredy couetise Whan ye faile ye lay on me the wyte Of youre aduersitees me falsly to atwite

And thou of purpos for tesclaundre me Hast writen vngoodly a contrarious fable Howe I wrestlyd with glad pouerte To whoos party thou were fauourable Settyst me abak geyne me thou were vengeable Nowe of newe requeryst my fauoure The for to helpe and furthre thy laboure

As skauns I am of maners moost chaungeable Of condicions very femynyne Nowe here nowe there as the wynde vnstable By thy descripcion and by thy doctryne To euery chaunge redy to enclyne As wymen been yonge and tendre of age Which of nature be diuers of corage

But for to furthre in {per}tye thyn entent That of thy boke the processe may procede By my fauoure to the accomplisshment I am well wyllyd to helpe the in thy nede Lyke thy desyre the better thou shalt spede Whan I am towarde with a benygne face To spede thy iourney by supporte of my grace

That thy name and also thy surname With poetys and notable olde auctours May be regest••yd in the hous of fame By supportacion of my sodeyn fauours By assistence also of my socours Thy werke texplete the laurer for to wynne At Saturnynus I wyll that thou begynne

Here reherceth Fortune hir condicions vnto bochas shewynge howe many one she enhaunced for a tyme / and anone after theym sodeynly ouerthroweth

AMonge Romayns this seyde saturnyne Was outragious of condicion Caused in rome whan he gan maligne Greate debatys and greate sedicious And by his frowarde conspiracions He was sharpe enmy ageyne the prudent iuge Called metellus deuoyde of all refuge

Fro the capitoyle set with mighty hande Fonde no socoure metellus in the toun The same tyme thou shalt vnderstande Howe by myn helpe and supportacion One that was smal of reputacion Called Glabeya in pouert brought lowe Made consulere the story is well knowe

A seruaunt first and almoost sette at nought And afterwarde I made him fortunate Left neuer tyll I had him brought By a prerogatyf chose of the senate To be a pretoure an office of estate Which also wrought by conspiracion To bringe metellus to destruction

Of whoos assent there was also another Called marrius beynge the same yere Texplete thys treson their owne sworne brother Which was also that tyme a consulere I fortune made them full gode chere Lyke their desyres gaue them liberte To banissh metellus out of their cite

Of these thre romayns the first saturnyne And glaucia was called the seconde And marrius layde out hoke and lyne As I haue tolde metellus to confounde To their purpos I was also founde Fauourable to brynge them to mischeef As their storye sheweth an opyn preef

They banysshed him out of rome toun And saturnynus by his subtyll werkynge Clambe vp fast of presumpcion To be called of rome lorde and kinge I gaue him fauour by a manere fals smylynge Tyll at the last playnly to declare Of his destruction I brought him in the snare

The senatours knowynge the malyce Of Saturne which made a greate gad rynge Of sundry folke castynge in his auyce By their fauoure he might be called kinge All this while of his vp clymbynge I shewed him durynge a longe space Him to desceyue a benygne face

Tyll marryus a mighty consulere To withstonde his presumpcion Rose with stronghande and with aknightly chere Beset his pal••ys aboute enuyron Brake his gatys amyd of the toun And saturnynus voide of all fauour To the capytoyle fled for socoure

He was forbarred by marrius of vitayle The Capitoile beseged rounde aboute At the entringe was a stronge bataile On outher {per}tye slayne a great route Thus of my fauour he gan stonde in donte Thus saturnynys brought in great distresse His gode achetyd lost all his richesse

Experience full openly men bereth Such as hyest therupon ascende Lyke as the tourne of my whele requireth Whan they leest wene doun they shall descende They haue no power them silf to diffende Ageyne my might whan they been ouerthrowe What do I than but laugh and make a mowe

••rusus also borne of great lynage And descendyd of full hye noblesse Vnto vertue contrarye of his corage Frowarde founde to all gentylnesse Yit chose he was the storye doth expresse Questoure of asya an office of degre For his byrth to gouerne that cuntre

But oft tyme vertue nor gentylnesse Come nat to heires by succession Exaumple in Drusus the story bereth wytnesse Which both of corage and disposicion Was euer frowarde of condicion For which let men deme as they must nedys Nat after birth but after the dedys

Vertues all in him were set aside Slowe to be armed hated chiualrie Moost couetous deynous full of pryde His dedys frowarde full of trecherie To hye estate I dyd him magnefie Yit all my giftys in him ne might stre••ch For here tofore the he cometh like a wretch

He dare for shame nat shewe his visage So ferre disclaundryd is his wretchydnesse Whos couetyse and vicious outrage Falsly caused by his doublenesse Maguldusa a prince of greate noblesse Betrasshed was for mede to the kinge Called boccus by drusus fals werkynge

What manere torment or what greuous peyne Were competent couenable or condigne To him that can outwarde flater and feyne And in his herte couertly maligne As drusus dyd which shewed many signe To Maguldusa of loue and frendlihede Vnderneth fals treson hyd in dede

But maguldusa lyke a manly knight Geyn kynge boccus hath him silf socoured Whan he by dome was Iuged ageyne right Of an olifaunt for to be deuoured Scaped frely and after that laboured To acquyte him silf through his hye renoun Slough fals Drusus myd of rome toun

Bochas also men put the lak in me That I was cause of the destruction By my contrarious mutabylite Of the notable famous scipion Which in the tyme of cynsoryn caton Gate the triumphe for many greate victorye To put his name perpetually in memorye

For his merytes chose a consulere And cheef busshop to gouerne their cyte To all the Senate patron moost entere Moste famous of name and dignite Saued romayns from all aduersite Tyme whan the werre dredfull and dispitous Gan atwene Pompeye and cesar Iulius

Thus whan the seid famous scipion Was thrugh my fauour acounted moste notable He fro my whele sodenly was throwe doun Which neuer in worde nor dede was culpable But the romayns malicious and vnstable By their hangman first cheyned in prison After racked there geyned no raunson

Thus he that had auayled them so oft To saue him silf fonde socoure on no side His dede bodye they henge it hye aloft For a spectacle longe there to abyde Thus gerisshly my giftys I dyuyde Stoundmele nowe frend nowe aduersarye Rewarde gode with guyrdons full contrarye

This was experte full well in scipion Gan with Ioye and endyd in wretchydnesse Bochas remembre make herof mencion And of fanatichus howe I of gentylnesse Made him affende to notable hye prowesse Yit bokes sey touchinge his kinrede Manly of {per}sone a churle borne in dede

For my desporte with a glad visage I set him vp full hye vpon my whele Gaue him lordship out of lowe seruage To do him fauour it lyked me full well Wherfore bochas his storye euery dele Note it well and in especiall Howe he by sleight cam to estate royall

By sleighty feynynge to dyuerse folke he tolde Howe that he spake with scirra the goddesse At euery houre pleynly whan he wolde Of presumpcion descryued hir lykenesse Seyde also howe she of hir goodnesse Had graunted him his state to magnefye Durynge his lyf a spirite of prophesye

And forthermore the peple for to blynde He fantasied by a craft vncouth Within a shale the storye maketh mynde Of a notte to haue fyre in his mouth Blewe it sparklinge north and south Affermyd wherwith folke were blente It was a spyryte to him from heuyn sente

By which he wrought many great vertue Gadred peple tyll he had in dede Two thousand churles at his retynue Which afterwarde his purpose for to spede To sixty thousande encreced as I rede I suffred all seruyd him at the tyde Tyll all the court grutchyd at his pryde

Though of birth he was but a vyleyne Roos vp of nought by sodeyne auenture My gery fauour made him to be seyne Royall of porte dyd his besy cure To reyse his banere ware a cote armure And by gracious supportacion Brought great people to his subiection

At the taste my lust gan appall Towarde him nat beynge fauoure Doun fro my whele anone I made him fall For by romayns was sent a great constable Called porpenna a prince full notable Which fyll on him venquesshyd him anone Slough and outrayed his churles euerychon

Him silf was hanged vpon an hye gibet Sūme of his meny was cast in prison Thus to his pryde I gaue a greate tripet And fro my whele I cast him lowe doun In his moste hyest domynacion Toke none hede where he dyd laugh or mourne For with noman I do alwey soiourne

Bochas quod fortune take gode hede also Howe I can both further and disauayle For exaumple se howe athenyo That whilom was a sheperd in Itayle A brygaunt after marchauntys to assayle Laye in awayte besyde a great mounteyne Of fugetyues he was made a capteyne

Slough first his lorde a rich Senatoure By violence brake many a stronge prison And for a tyme I gaue him great fauoure To gadre robbours about him enuiron All the churlys of that region He assemblyd through his Iniquite To holde a werre with rome the cite

Beseged castelles brake doun mighty toures Slough and robbed aboute in eche cuntre Spoyled paleys of worthy Senatoures Tytle had he none sauf tytle of volunte Toke vpon him of pryde and cruelte For to be clad in purple lyke a kinge Bare a sceptre amonge his men ridynge

Vpon his hede ordeynyd for the nonys His golde heer tressyd lyke an emperoure A coyf enbrouded all of rich stones Me list to laugh that a fals robbour By supportacion of my gery fauoure Which tast nat longe for after in shorte whyle As is my custom I dyd him begyle

I suffred him made him feyned chere As I haue to other mo done full oft Tyll doun fro rome was sente a consulere Which toke him proudly and henge alofte His churles slayne and sūme of them nat soft In cheynes bounde for short conclusion Were dempt by lawe to dye in prison

By which storye bochas thou mayst lere A great party of my condicion But nowe in hast a story thou shalt here Howe in the yere for the fundacion More thā sixt•• hundred I mene of rome toun Was agaderinge a greate cumpanye Togedre sworne by fals conspiracye

Them to withdrawe fro the presence Of a tribune called Lodonce Which for knighthode had gouernaunce And was sent doun from rome cyte With mighty honde to rule a great cuntre Called chaumpayne and pleynly for to seye The peple there lyst him nat obeye

This score and foure were of theym in noumbre That named were cheef conspyratours Which that cast them their capteyn to encoumbre With multitude of theuys and robbours Which chase amonge theym to be their supportours 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mighty capteyns of which there was one Called spartharchus chefest of echon

Gadred churles made them silf stronge On an hye hyll toke their dwellynge place Hauynge no rewarde were it right or wronge To spoyle the cuntre bestys to enchace I cherisshed them with a benigne face For a ceson and gaue them liberte By fals rauyne to robbe the cuntre

What thinge more cruell in comparison And more vengeable of wyll and nat of right Than whan a chorle hath domynacion Lak of discrecion blindeth so the sight Of cōmuners for defaute of light Whan they haue power cuntrees to gouerne Fare lyke a beste can nothinge discerne

Gladiatores folkys dyd them call For their swerdys were with steele made fyne For to fight geyn wylde bestys all As lyons beerys bores wylde swyne And the mounteyne where they dyd lyne Called venuse and through their cruelte Slough and robbyd about in eche cuntre

Spartharchus was their cheef capteyne Brought vp nought and borne of lowe degre But Claudius a mighty stronge romayn Was sent with power fro rome the cite For to diffende and saue the cuntre The hyll besegynge afore them as he lay He was rebuked bete and dryuen away

Many of them that kept the mounteyne Were hurte that day the storye telleth thus Amonges which was slayne a greate capteyne That was felawe vnto Spartharchus As I fynde he hight ynomaus For whoos deth was take so great vengeaunce That all the cuntre felt therof greuaunce

They of the mounteyne all of one assent Without mercy or remission Moost vengeable haue robbyd and brent All the cuntre aboute them enuyron Tyll two consulers fro rome doun The first of them called lentulus Both put to flight the seid spartharchus

Wherof the romayns greatly dismayed The Senatours of indignacion Both asshamed and in them silf affrayed Sent one crassus a great lorde of the toun With the noumbre of a Legion And whan that he on Spartharchus first set Slough of his men six thousande whan they met

And afterwarde besyde a great riuere Called Salaire they had a greate batayle Where Spartharchus stode in greate daungere For his chere and countenaunce gan fayle Thretty thousande clad in plate and mayle Were slayne that day there geyned no raunson All their capteyns assigned to pryson

Without all this as made is mencion Sixty thousande in the felde lay dede And sixe thousand were sent to prison The feeld with blode steyned and made red And foure thousande quakynge in their drede Were thilke day after the romayns guyse Take to mercy receyued to fraunchise

And Spartharchus at myscheef put to flight Whan I from him turned my visage He loste chere he lost also his might Whan I appalled the fyne of his passage And for he was a churle of his lynage Of his encres I lyked no thynge wele Therfore vnwarly I cast him fro my whele

Of manerys to make a gretter preef There was another famous greate robboure Which through Spayne was a disclaundryd theef And for he dred of iustyce the rigour Trustynge he shulde fynde in me socoure Called vrinatus he spayne anone forsoke And to rome the right wey he toke

Gadred meyne of his condicion Of euery sect to make him silf stronge Theuys robboures of euery region Many a churle was medled them amonge His name to encres were it right or wronge What euer he gat in cite or village With his soudyours he parted the pyllage

Thus by myn helpe he cam to gre richesse Which brought in pride and presumpcion He nat prouided of my doublenesse Gan to maligne ageyn rome toun But by the prudence of last Scipion Sonne of ••epidus makinge therof no boost He sleyn was by them he trusted moost

By which exaumple notable of remembraunce Shewed here tofore Iohn bochas vnto the Thou maist knowe in party my puissaunce My sodeyn chaungis my mutabylite And for to auoyde all ambyguite To declare the sūme of myn entent Greate marrius to the I do present

Blak his wede and his habyte also His hede vnkempt his lockes hor and gray His loke doun cast in tokne of sorowe and wo On his chekys the salt terys lay Which bare recorde of his dedly affray Wherfore bochas do thy penne dresse So descryue his mortall heuynesse

His robe steyned was with romayne blode His swerde ay redy whet to do vengeaunce Lyke a tyraunt moste furious and wode In slaughtre and murdre set all his plesaunce Yit nat for thy I gaue him gouernaunce Ouer the peple roos on my whele vp fast But as vnwarly doun I dyd him cast

Twene him and scilla the wofull dedly stryues At large herafter bochas thou shalt write Howe many romayns lost by them their lyues I wyll also in ordre that thou endite And if I shall rebuke them and atwyte As I fro nought made them in honoure shyne So I ageynwarde made them in mischeef fyne

Forgetnat also the dedly pitous fate Of him that was so notable in his lyf I mene the great famous metridate Whoos name is yit full ••outh and rife To whom I gaue a greate prerogatife Fourty wynter the dede was well seen Ageyn romayns the werre to sustene

For which herafter I gyue it the in charge Of Metridate the story set alonge Whan thou haste leyser and a space large Remembre his conquest and his dedys stronge And howe that I medlyd me amonge For all his noblesse and his felicite To yeue him parte of great aduersite

Next in ordre after hir owne chois Fortune vntrusty vpon eche party To Iohn bochas hath conueyed fro parthoys Stronge Herodes regnynge in parthye Loo Iohn quod she take hede of this storye All his kinrede if it be well out sought Were by Scithyens chasyd and brought to nought

And yit for all my mutabylyte Sūme of them which they stode despeyred I restored vnto their dignite Vnto which whan they were repeyred This herodes was hyndred and appeyred By chaunges for his hatefull pryde Whan he leest wende vnwarly set asyde

Suynge after within a lytyll while This gerissh lady of condicion Gan an ill laughynge falsly for to smyle Lokynge on bochas brought with hir doun Amighty prince which in rome toun Had in his dayes notable pris and fame Albe that she oppressed nat his name

Bochas than his hede gan doun declyne Seynge that prince of face disfigured Of susspection gan to ymagyne Whan he his mynde fully hath recured By certeyne toknys and signes well assured It was pompeie surquedous of estate Which with Cesar so longe was at debate

Disconsolate through his vnhappy caas His face soyled with water of the se Tyme whan fostynus and cruell achi••las Drownyd his body of furious enmyte His face disfigured at the solempnyte With smokys blake dedly and mortall Call••d of clerkes the feest funerall

Codrus caused the corps was brent And consumed in to asshes dede To cesar after his hede was borne and sent Vpon o pole his storye who list rede After all this bochas toke gode hede ••owe fortune by a manere mockerye In s••orne of him gan thus to specefie

Vpon the heuene after his deuys I gan enhaunce and encrece his glorye By my fauoure I gaue him many a prys Conquest of kynges w^t many great victorye And more to put his nobles in memorye By my supporte thrugh his chiualrye With cesar Iulius to holde chaumpartye

And while that I my fauoure dyd applye Towarde him his victoryes to assure His fame aroos tyll that in Thesalie I gan withdrawe his party to socoure Suffringe his enmyes make disconfiture Vpon this pompeye hindred in my sight Whan to Lesbos at mischeef toke his flight

By the seruauntes of yonge tholome Regnynge in egypt pompeye in his drede Was take and slayne he fond no help in me I gaue him vp and so he loste his hede Yit of my chaunges noman taketh hede Nor howe vnsuerly I cast my dredefull loke Saue thou art besy to set theym in thy boke

Bochas astoned {per}cell of hir presence Both of chere face and countenaunce And this while hauynge his aduertence Thought he sawe a maner resemblaunce Of a persone which stode in great greuaunce Tyll at laste fortune cast hir sight Toward bochas and told what he hight

This is quod she pleynly to termyne The famous man prince of eloquence That gaue to latynes the scole and the doctryne Of rethoryk as welle of that science For which I wyll thou do thy diligence To write with other of this tullyus All the case and gyn at marrius

These wordys seyde fortune made an ende She bete hir wynges and toke hir to the flight I cannat se what way she dyd wende Saue Bochas telleth lyke an aūgell bright At hir departinge she shewyd a great light But assone as she gan disapere He toke his penne wrote as ye shall here

Howe Gayus Marryus of lowe byrth borne cā to hye estate / which blent with couetise after ma∣ny greate batayles dyed at myscheef

HEre bochas gynneth to tell of the man Called in his tyme Gayus marrius Borne at aprina a castell of tuscan Sonne of a Carpentere the story telleth thus Pursued armys manly and vertuous Through all rome nor in that cuntre Was there no man holde so stronge as he

Dysciplyne and greate subtylte He had also as bokys specefye Prudence manhode and habylyte Both in armes and in chiualrye Moost famous holde towarde the {per}tye Within a while myn auctoure seith certeyne Chose a tribune and a great capteyne

But fro the gynnynge of his tendre age As Istoryes put in remembraunce He was pricked so sore in his corage By a gredy fret of longe contynuaunce Neuer to staunch with none habundaunce The worlde nor fortune with all their great richesse Suffysed nat to appese his gredynesse

Entringe a temple he fonde a deuynour Counsayled there by his dyuynaile Tentre rome and holde their soiour By gode auys and knightly apparayle Made him promys that he shall nat fayle Tatteyne by fauoure of the comonte To great offyce and state in the cite

Fauour of comons brought him to hye estate By theym receyued vnto the dignyte Of consulere albe that the Senate Had disdeyne of his felicite Bycause he was borne of lowe degre Grauntyd to him after by the toun To conquere realmys by a cōmissyon

He gate the prouince through his hye renoun Of Numedie as he dyd them assayle And toke the kinge of that region Callyd Iugurta proudly in batayle For which empryse by marciall apparayle He gate the triumphe through the toun rydynge Bycause only for takinge of that kinge

And for he was a {per}sone so notable For many famous sodeyn great victorie Namely in conquest preued profytable To all the comon as put is in memorye And for thencres of his renoun and glorye By thoppynion hole of the cite In his honde lay all their prosperite

Ageyne a peple that called was Lembroys Them to conquere from rome he was sent doun Also ageyn the boystous tigurnoys Gadred to gydre of many nacion All them he brought to subiection Lyke as romayns had afore desired Bycause they had ageyn their toun conspired

They toke vpon them of fals presumpcion To passe all the mounteynes of Itayle First disconfited as made is mencion Thre romayn dukes felly in batayle Foure score thousande clad in plate and mayle Slayne of romayns the story is well knowe Vnder thalpies at myscheef ouerthrowe

This marrius of marciall auenture In germanye had a great batayle With Tewtobochus a geaunt of stature Put first to flight with all his apparayle For marrius dyd him so sore assayle At the chas proudly borne to grounde Maugre his might take and in cheynes bounde

Marrius after with his hoste him drough Towarde the people of cunbrois for to fight Two hundred people I finde of them he slough Eight thousande take thre thousand put to flight Kynge bolerus a full famous knight Slayne in the felde for all his great pryde Ageyne marius like as he dyd ryde

That day of Cymbroyes was all the people slayne The wymen after he list nat to reserue Yit they profryd and wolde haue been full fayne Their chastite deuoutly to obserue In the temple of vesta for to serue But their request for he list nat here With him they faught echon slayne I fere

Except sūme whan they sawe none other Remedye of purpoos they were set Euerich of theym to sle and murdre other And sūme thought also it was bet To hange them silf vpon an hye gibet Than to abyde of marrius the outrage Perpetuelly to lyue in seruage

Thus marrius of thre nacions Through his conquest complisshed the victorye With prisoners of sundry regions Entryd rome to his encres of glorye With speciall laudys notable of memorye First the triumphe a guyrdon singulere He tymes six was chose a consulere

Thus fortune was to him fauourable To set him vp in wordly dignitees For a ceson but for he was chaungeable Amonge hir gyftes and great prosperitees She gaue him part of great aduersitees And specially the tyme accoumpted than Twene him and scilla whan the werre gan

Lucius scilla abydynge in chaumpeyne Marrius at rome tho present Whan the diuision gan atwene theym twayne Eche to other contrarye of entente Malencolious and impaciente Which of both thestory well conceyued To gou••rne shulde sonest be receyued

All sodenly where it were right or wronge Towarde rome takynge his passage Ageyn marrius to make him silf stronge Gan sle and bren ne and of great outrage Wylfull hasty furious of corage For sodeyne comynge and vnware violence Ageyn him fonde no resistence

Two mighty batayles he dyd with him lede Entringe the cyte gan through the wall myne With one batayle fast gan him spede To passe the gate called aquylyne That other gate named was Colyne At whoos entrynge by recorde of the boke Scilla by strength the capitoyle toke

But whan marrius had knowlegynge That Scilla had so greate power and might Without a rest or lenger abydynge In to a marys gayus anon right With all his people toke sodenly his flight Fit out by strength coude him nat diffende Scilla after to prison dyd him sende

Thus the prowesse for a while slept Of marrius lyinge in prison Scilla that tyme the capytoyle kept Wherby all rome stode in subiection And of hatrede in haste he sent doun A sturdy chorle to marrius in his drede While he lay bounde to smyte of his hode

This chorle well compact of braune & of bonys Sette of purpose marrius for to oppresse For his strength ordeyned for the nonys To the prison the churle gan fast him dresse Where marrius was fettred in distresse Fully in purpose without more delay To behede him in prison there he lay

Losinge him first lyinge on his couch And marrius rose vp like a man The chorle feerfull to smyt or to touch And marrius full proudly tho began To entre a place beside of a woman Founde an asse ther of auenture Vpon whoos backe the se he gan recure

Towarde affrik there he fonde passage By ••nprysonynge though he were wexe feynt Yit there abode styll in his corage Hye worthynes with prudence meynt Which in his persone were nat ••ueynt Ageyne the malyce to make a countertayle Of proude Scilla the malyce eft tassayle

Of Itayle rode through the cuntre Toke his viage through rome toun With foure bateyles entred the cite Six hundred knightes by computacion Slayne in the feelde as made is mencion Where men may se who lyfte loke aferre What damage diuysion doth in werre

First by the manhode of this marrius In this diuision the story who list rede The great consull called octauius Loste his hede and his lyf in dede Vpon a pole which it dyd blede Was cruelly presentyd of entent Tofore the Iuges syttynge in iugement

Of whoos deth sūme of them were fayn Sūme sory of loue as they were bounde And in this werre merula was slayne Preest in the temple like as it is found Of Iupiter with many mortall wounde The romayn slayne that called was crassus With fyre consumed was proude catulus

All his enmyes marrius dyd encoumbre Which ageyne him by conspiracyon Were assented with a full great noumbre In their auyse for to haue put him doun Take from him his domynacion But he abode the turment and the shoures Stronge to condempne all his conspiratours

Syx tymes aforne rehersed here Of condicion though he were desp••tous He was chosyn so oft consulere Tyll fortune gan wex enuyous Ageyn this seid cruell marrius Which made the Senate with all the chyualrye To g••••tch ageyne his hatefull tyrannye

In this tyme the story maketh mynde Damasippus a pr••tor of the toun Frendly to marryus and helpynge as I fynde Vnder a shadowe of decepcion Vnto their cite for to do treson Causynge foure romayns come in ••••re Tofore marrius a certeyne day to appere

And their names to put in memorye Sceuola carto and Domycyus The fourth of them as seith the storie Called in rome the wyse antistius Togedre assembled tofore marrius He of rancoure ageyne iugement or lawe Made them be slayne and through the cyte drawe

Their bodyes after were in tybre cast By cruelte of the sayde marrius All this while the cruell werre last Twene him and scilla tyll duke campanyus Cam to the partye hardy and dispytous To helpe Scilla their baners first displayed Wherof all rome was sodenly affrayed

Atte gate that called was collyne Marrie and scilla had a great batayle Foure score thousande the noumbre to termyne On marrius side slayne it is no fayle Scilla victorious with marciall apparayle Entrynge the toun ageyn his oth parde Thre thousand citesyns slough at that cyte

Of folke disarmyd and nakyd in the toun They nouther spared olde nor yonge of age The cruell murdres walkynge vp and doun By Scilla sent in that mortall rage Tyll Cattallus a prince fall in age Seide vnto scilla we can no difference Twene rebellion nor atwene Innocence

We murdre and sle without excepcion Both hye and lowe holdynge no manere Ageyn all knighthode to myn oppinyon We do procede in our conquest here Oure title is lost the tryumph to requere Of hye prowesse whan we can nat obserue No difference to sle nor to reserue

And in this while of hatefull cruelte Scilla contreuyd lettres diffamable Wherby fyue hundryd oute of that cite Were falsly banisshed citesyns notable Ageyns them he was so vntretable All their godys achetyd in that rage Of auarice and of fals pillage

Another romayne named marrius Brother to marrius of whom tofore I tolde For drede of Scilla fled and toke an hous Which vnto gote was set vp for a folde Founde and rent out in his dayes olde With cordes drawe no rescus might him saue Of cruell vengeaunce to catallus graue

Where scilla made by cruell Iugement With a sharpe swerde forgyd for to byte After tyme his iyen were out rent Both at onys his handes of to smyte His hede of smet no raunson might him quyte Set on a pole it wolde be none other And of despight sent vnto his brother

To great marrius of whom I spake nowe right The great duke so mighty and so huge Which had afore take him to the flight For fere of scilla in that mortall deluge In to a cite to fynde there refuge Called preueste there stondynge in great drede Namely whan he behelde his brothers hede

For as moch as he no socoure fonde Disespeyred this was his purpos To sle him silf with his owne honde In thylke place where he was kept clos Drewe oute a swerde and vp anone aros Constreyned his seruaunt in that soden affray Smyte of his hede the silf same day

Men sey howe deth is fyne of all myscheef Ende of aduersite that doth wretchys tarye Fortune here maketh another preef In marrius howe she hir cours gan varie By an euydence hatefull and contrarye To shewe hir malyce and vngoodliheded Ageyn this duke alas whan he was dede

This frowarde lady of malyce moste vengeable Whan hir lyst furiously to raue And shewe hir silf cruell and vnstable To none estate she list no rewarde haue Caused marrius be take out of his graue By cruell scilla in story it is founde His ougly careyn smet on pecys rounde

And after more to shewe his cruelte Marrius shulde haue no burienge place Cast his careyn of cankryd enmyte Into tybre there was none other grace Loo thus can fortune for hir folke purchace By which exaumple touchinge marrius Of wordly chaunges bochas writeth thus

Maketh in this chaptre a descrypcion First what thinge is very gentylnesse To set a preef and a probacion Nothinge atteyneth vnto hye noblesse But the clere shynynge of vertuous clennesse Which may nat shewe in hye nor lowe parage But where it groweth out of a pure corage

Worldly powere oppression tyrannye Erthely tresour golde stonys nor richesse Be no menys vnto gentrye But if vertue rule their hye prowesse For where vices haue interesse In hye birth mene or lowe kinrede Deme no man gentyll but only by his dede

In royall palasis of stone and metall wrought With galaryes or statly ••loistres rounde Gentylnesse nor noblesse is not soughte Nor in selers nor in voughtys rounde But only there where vertue doth habounde Corious clothes nor great possessions Maketh nat a man gentyll but condicions

Philosophers conclude in their entent And all these worthy famous olde auctours Noman may queth in his testament Gentylnesse vnto his s••••••ssours Of wyckyd wede come none holsum floures Concludynge thus of gode men and of shrewys Call eche man gentyll after his gode thewys

Duke marrius of whom I spak toforne Of nature the story bereth witnesse As by discent pore and nedy borne By disposicion of coragious noblesse Had in his persone wyt strength hardynesse Vnder all this there dyd his herte myne A worme of auarice his worship to declyne

What vayleth plente that neuer may suffyse Or what the flode that stauncheth no thurst Or what an appetyte which euer doth arise All way to ete and euer to ete hath luste Of cankred hungre so fretynge is the ruste That the ryuer of tantalus in his rage Of gredy etikys the fret may nat asswage

Of marrius ye haue herde the ende His woofull fall and his vnhappy cas In to fate howe he dyd wende Nowe wyll I folowe myn auctour Iohn bochas Howe vnto him thre cleopatras With loke doun cast wofull face and chere All at onys dyd to him appere

The first of them by proces of writynge Had thre husbondys bochas doth expresse Weddyd in youth to alisaundre the kinge Called zebenna a prince of great noblesse After that for hir great fayrnesse She weddyd was vnto demetrius And last of all to kinge antiochus

Of hir thre husbondys wofull auenture And of hir sonnys great vnkyndnesse Bochas afore hath done his besy cure Ceriously the maner to expresse Which to reherce ageyn were Idlenesse Sith all the processe here tofore is founde Of the first and eke of the secounde

Which weddyd was to kinge tholome Lyke as a fore eke made is mencion Both of their ioye and their aduersite The first slayne by drinkynge of poyson And the seconde to hir confusion By euergetes were she wo orfeyn Was with hir childe serued that was sleyn

The thryd weddyd was to kinge Grispus Slayne in a temple by full greate outrage For drede and shame gan wexe furious To saue hir silf knewe none auauntage Saue she enbracyd of Iupiter an Image In the story as here tofore is founde Or she was dede suffred many a wounde

Howe kinge metrydate boode vii yere in wyldernesse had greate turmentys both on see and londe / by hys blode brought to vntraunce slough him silfe with a swerde.

i wyll passe ouer these cleopatras thre Furth procede to the hasty fate Sone execute by {per}cas cruelte Vpon the duke called metrydate First reherce the great vnkyndly hate Of them that were his tutours as I rede Him to destroye by assent of his kinrede

Which of purpos dyd his deth prouyde By many vncouth straunge occasion In tendre youth first they made him ride Vpon an horse wylder than a lyon Of purpos only for his destruccion But albe so that he was yonge of age The horse he rulyd in all his moste rage

Nat of doctryne but only of nature He was disposed cūnyngly to ryde Ouer him the maystry to recure Maugre the horse of wyt he was his guyde What way he toke frowarde or asyde He dauntyd him that where so euer he rode Brydlyd him and on his bak he bode

His owne kyn and his next alyes Moste laboured to brynge him to mischeef With venymous drinke set on him espyes At gode leiser as doth a couert theef Of their fell poyson for to make a preef In their entent this is well couth Him to murdre in his tendre youth

But whan that he apperceyued their treson To saue him silf made great ordynaunce Anon as he gan haue suspecion Of their vnkindly hatefull purueaunce For remedyes made cheuysaunce Was prouyded their malice to declyne By many notable prouyd medecyne

And their malice prudently to eschue Is remembred while he was yonge of age With certeyne frendys which that dyd him sue He disposed of custum his corage To hunte and chace beestys moost sauage Vnder that coloure he dyd it for a wyle Ferre fro his cuntre absente him for awhile

Of one corage one herte and one chere Suffred manly toke none heuynesse In desertys space of seuene yere Amonge hye hyllys bode in wyldrenesse Set in asia the storye berith wytnesse Fonde no lodgynge trasynge the cuntrees Saue in kauernys and greate holowe trees

The boke remembreth howe that his dyete Were beestys wylde enchaced with greate might Fled Idelnesse eschued all quiete And yltyll slepe suffised him at night By excercise his body was made light There was nouther whan him list pursue Herte nor hynde that might his honde eschue

He nouther drad tygres nor lyons He was so swyst though they dyd him assayle Lyke of strength to old champions No wylde beste of great nor small entrayle To escape his honde might nat countreuayle If he were ware erly outher late So greate swyftnesse had ••••tridate

Amonge he had in armys excercise Amonge to tournay and ren on horsbacke All delycate fare he dyd also despyse Of gredy excesse in him there was no lak A nightertyme his slepe full oft he brake Stoundemele the houres for to marke In the dawnynge ros vp or the larke

The space accomplisshed fully of seuene yere He is repayred home to his cuntre Shewyd him silf of manhode and of chere Full like a knight his story who list se Wherof hys enmyes astonyed be Caught of his cūmynge in herte a manere drede Supposynge afore that he was dede

In whoos absence his wif leodices Conueyed a childe as made is mencion For the diffame shulde nat cūme in prees Him for to murdre she sought occasion Fully in purpos to sle him by poyson Of which diffautys hir lorde was no thinge fayne Knowynge the trouth made hir to be slayne

Toke on him after many knightly dede First to conquere all Pafflogonye By the helpe of worthy Nychomede That tyme called kynge of bythynye Togydre assured to be of one alye In losse or lucre fortune to be their guyde And therto sworne neuer to deuyde

To metridate legates were doun sente Fro the romayns him lowly requeringe That he wolde lyke to their entent Pafflogonye restore to their kinge Which he had wonne the cite assaylyng But he list nat aduertyse their prayere Nor on no {per}tyes their requestys here

He dred nat their thretys nor manacys Gate proudly after the londe of Galathye In his conquestys wan many other ••lacys Capadoce toke to his partye Slough their kinge of hatrede and enuye Ariarectes a full manly man And in this wyse his conquest he began

Ageyn thassuraunce twene him and nichomede All sodenly he gan fall at debate Thought he wolde warreye him in dede Bycause that he pompous and ••late In capadoce toke on him thestate To regne as kinge ageyns his entent He nouther beynge of counseyle nor assent

¶Yit nichomede or they gan debate Had longe afore to his owne encres The suster weddyd of that Metridate Whan they as brethren lyuyd in rest and pes And she also was called leodyces Hauynge two sonnys borne for to succede After disses of seyde Nychomede

And by processe these seyde chyldren tweyne In capadoce by helpe of metridate Cleymed a tytle iustly for to atteyne Vnto the crowne their fader dyed but late For which they gan felly to debate Tyll metridate falsly gan contriue His two neuewes vngoodly to depriue

All Capadoce he toke into his honde His owne sonne he hath crownyd kinge Capadociens by assente of all the londe Gan disobeye of purpose his werkynge Whan the romayns considred all this thinge A••••obarzenes in hast they sent doun Geyn metridate to kepe that region

The sonne of whom fro them they haue refused Out of their kingdome gan him to enchace For they sempt their fraunchise was abused To se a foreyn occupye that place Metridate gan newely them manace And toke with theym to susteyne his {per}tye Tygranes the kinge of armenye

Arriobarzenes that was fro rome sent To capadoce to help them and counsayle Of metridate knowynge the entent Howe he cam doun proudly him tassayle With digranes set in the first batayle Of capadoce that all the region Was brought that day to their subiection

Thus metridate heuynge his entent In short tyme cuntres conquerynge Was mightyest prince of all the orient And in tho dayes one the grettest kinge And as it is remembryd by writinge He delyted moste in astronomye In sortilege and in sorcerye

And with all these he dyd his besy cure For to lerne vncouth conclusions And secretys sought out by nature Knewe the langages of dyuerse regions Of two and twenty sundry nacions And helde wymen many more than one Loued hipsicrata aboue them euerichone

To the romayns this manly metridate As bokes olde recorde of him and sayne Vpon a day of very cruell hate Thrugh all as••e he bad that ech romayne Shulde of his men mercyles be slayne Twenty thousande he slough eke on a day Of romayn marchauntys durst no man sey nay

To him he drough dyuers nacions To encres his partye by puissaunce Kymbroys Gallois with other regions Bostornois toke to his alliaunce With straunge peple made his acqueintaunce Where that euer he rode nye or ferre With theym of rome for to holde werre

In grece also he gate many an yle All ••••clades to his subiection Conquered so that within a while Of athenys he gate the famous toun But whan romayns knewe his entencion They sente scilla in a furious hete With metridate in grece for to mete

Achelaus which that was cunstable Ledynge the ost of kinge metridate Gan ageyn scilla trustynge he was able Maugre romayns with him to debate As they met in their furious hate Besyde Orthonya of grece a greate toun Of achelaus the partye was brought doun

There gan Scilla to be victorious Geyne metridate and by greate violence Gate all ephese a kyngdom full famous Rode through asie fonde no resistence By his knighthode and manly prouydence Capadoce Bithynye eke also To romayn handes he gate them both two

Whan metridate perceyued hath this thinge Howe the conquest of Scilla toke encres Anone he cast without longe taryinge For a tyme with him to haue a pes Of hye wysdom he was nat recheles To dissymule tyll he fonde tyme and space In fortune to fynde better grace

Abode his tyme kept him silf clos Tyll he fonde leyser lyke his opinyon In this while of auenture aros Within rome a greate discencion Twene two consulers beynge in that toun Which to appesse by his auctoryte Scilla cam vp ageyne to the cyte

Whan Metridate his absence dyd espye To his purpos founde oportunyte Gadred people and with his chiualrye A siege layde vnto Cyzite the cyte Of all asye moost of auctoryte Tyll Lucullus a mighty consulere To breke the syege aproch gan full nere

Metridate had on fyue capteyns Tofore the toun made a disconfiture Of hye despyte he had to romayns But Lucullus the damages to recure Tenclose his ennemyes dyd his besy cure To his mynours gaue anone in charge Aboute the syege to make a dych full large

They within had knowlegynge By certeyne toknes of all their gouernaunce Wherupon they made a tariynge To cast away for their delyueraunce Metridate seynge their ordynaunce Of hye prudence escapyd awey beside And at the sige lyst no lenger abide

Lucullus than the mighty consulere Pursued after slough of his meyne Such multitude that Asopus the ryuere Was made with blode lyke the rede se With wynde and tempest fordryuē also was he And whan he sawe no socoure in the londe To ship he went with strong and mighty honde

He fonde fortune cruell aduersarye On londe and se this worthy metridate And neptunus made the se contrarye Ageyns him his puissaunce tabate What shall men calle it influence or fate So sodenly a prince of hye renoun Fro hye noblesse to be plonged doun

For any myscheef he kept ay one visage This metridate and loth was for to plye Or for to bowe so stronge was his corage But eft ageyn goth with his chiualrye Towarde adastrus an hyll of armenye Where as pompeye beset him enuyron Sent fro rome to his destruction

Metridate makynge his lodgynge place Vnder that hyll whan it drewe to night The troubly heuene with thundringe gan manace The fyry leuyn dyrkyd hath his sight The cloudy mone eclipsyd of hir light Astonyed him by vnware violence That he stode confus of all prouidence

He was by tempest and vnware dyrknesse Almoste made wery of his wofull lyf Yit I finde of very kindnesse Hipsitraca which that was his wif Nouther for werre nor no mortall stryf Left him neuer disgysed of visage Folowed him arayed as a page

¶Yit in his moost mortall heuynesse Whan cloudy fortune gan him moost manace Of his corage the naturall quiknesse Appalled nat nor remeuyd from his place So hye prowesse dyd his herte enbrace Nat dispeyred for no soden fall Of condicion he was so marciall

In tokne wherof he stondinge at myscheef Chaunged nouther chere nor countenaunce An euidence and a full great preef Of manly force and hertly assuraunce Defiynge fortune with all hir variaunce Whan that he fonde to his destruction Of disespeyre grettest occasion

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

With him he had a balyf as I fynde Called Castor which of condicion Was to his lorde fals and eke vnkynde And conspired ageyn him fals treson In tokne wherof vp to rome toun His lordys children yonge and tendre of age Lyke a thef he sent them in hostage

One of his sonnys he murdred by treson Which metridate toke full fore at herte Another sonne as made is mencion Fals to his fadre which whan he dyd aduerte The vnkyndnes made him sore smerte For of all vices shortly to conclude Worst of all is Ingratitude

This same childe of whom I make mynde Called pharnax which ageyn nature To his fader traytour and vnkynde And his purpos ageyne him to recure In all haste dyd his besy cure For to accomplyssh his purpos in partye Drough to him hole his saders chyualrye

By sleight and mede whan he was made stronge H•• besegyd his fadre rounde aboute Vnto nature me semeth he dyd wronge To put his fader in so great adoute Kyndnesse was fer shet without Whan the sonne with hate set afyre Ageyn his fadre list falsly to conspyre

With multitude his fader was constreyned Maugre his might into a toure to fle His sonne vnkynde hath at him disdeyned And yit for all his straunge aduersite Of his corage the magnanymyte In his psone stode hole lyst nat varye Though fortune was to him contrarye

¶Yit myn auctour bochas berith recorde That metridate if it wolde haue be Requeryd his sonne to be at acorde And set asyde all olde contrariouste But he vnkynde indurat was parde Euer frowarde malicious of corage So disposed from his tendre age

So that the kynge metridate alas Was ouercūme by vnkyndnesse That neuer afore in nomaner cas Stode dismayed but of hye prowesse Kept ay one face all passions to represse This vertu force by marciall doctrine For none aduersite suffred him declyne

Ende of his werrys and his mortall stryues Of his debates and discencions His concubynes his doughters and his wyues By mene only of certeyn pocions Slough them all by drynkinge of poysons For he nat wolde the cause to descryue After his deth they shulde byde on lyue

Hys owne deth of mortall fell rigoure Compassed afore thus he gan deuyse Made a french knight that was a soudiour With a sharpe swerde in full cruell wyse To renne him thrugh wherby the fraunchise Conserued was his purpos to fulfyll He wolde nat dye but by his owne wyll

Lo here the ende of kynge metridate Late princys all of his deth take hede Howe rechelesly he passed into fate And by assent made his herte blede And bochas here who list his boke to rede Pleynly rehersinge but in wordys fewe To wordly princys doth his conceite shewe

Lenuoye.

MIghty princys lyft vp youre corages Towarde heuene do your hertys dresse Of your memou•• turne vp the visages Where ioye is euer pes concorde and gladnesse True armonye celestyall swetnesse Counterpeyse in youre remembraunce Worldly chaunges fortunes variaunce

Aduertyse the mortall fell outrages Of blody werrys impossible to represse While fals enuye with his furious ragys In sundry realmes hath so great intresse Slaughtre murdre diuysion falsnesse Which conscience haue brought to vttraūce Through sodeyn chaunge of wordly variaunce

Rekne vp princys that sate hye on stagys What was the fyne of theyr royall noblesse Or of tyrauntes rekne vp the blody wagis Soden slaughter guyrdoned their wodnesse Metrydate can bere herof witnesse By blode vnkinde brought vnto ••ttraunce Thrugh soden chaunge of worldly variauce

Princis remembre vpon the golden ages Whan Saturne ruled the worlde in rightwysnesse Next Iupiter for peplys auauntage The sylueren worlde conserued in clennesse Which mars hath nowe turned to felnesse Made it steelen with swerde dagger and launce Through sodeyn chaunge of wordly variaunce

Of Metridate regestre the viages Conspyred poysons taffray his hye prowesse On londe and se tempestuous passages By constreynt bode seuene yere in wyldernesse Of his wandrynge peyse thunsycrenesse His ende in mischeef knewe non auoydaunce Geyne wordly chaunge nor fortunes variaunce

If negligence haue brought you in rerages Towarde god or he rekne in streightnesse Lat reson medle for you to ley hostages Compassion mercy partynge of all almesse Towarde heuene to support your feblenesse Whan your merytes shall peyse in balaunce Of worldly chaunges and fortunes variaunce

Deth spareth nouther hye blode nor hye lynages Haue mynde heron for any rechelesnesse Transitoire be here your pylgrymages Set with brygauntys vnwarly you to oppresse But of prudence by greate auysenesse With prouydence preserue youre puissaunce Geyn wordly chaunge and fortunes variaunce

Howe Encratydes kinge of Sithye was slayne by Demetry••s: and after his careyn cast to hound••s

NExt in ordre to bochas dyd apere A wofull prince that put him silf in pres Regnynge in Sithia his story doth vs lere The name of whom was Encratides But to dysturbe his quiete and his pes Ageyn him pleynly as I fynde Cam demetrius the mighty kinge of••ynde

Of whom the power and the violence To Encratydes was very importable Besyegyd first and for lacke of diffence Take at myscheef his fone nat mercyable For demetrius was on him so vengeable Whan he was slayne within his owne boundes Made the careyn be cast out to the houndes

Nat withstandynge he was a worthy kinge Born of hye blode such was his auenture Demetrius sone aboue all erthly thinge Hatyd him by recorde of scripture Of rancoure denyed his sepulture And for the mater is hatefull and contrarye On his storye I wyll no lengre tarye

Howe Herodes kinge of Parthos werred with Ro∣mayns: which after his sonne and heire was slayne: made his bastarde sonne kinge: That anone after slough his fader

tO Arthanabus whilom of parthos kynge I purpos my style to transporte A full olde prince had in his lyuynge Sonnes tweyne bokes so reporte Which in his age dyd him moost confort Metridate was the eldest brother And Herodes called was that other

Metridate by reson of his age His fader dede dyd after him succede Which banysshed was for tyrannye and outrage Afterwarde for mischef and for nede In to babylon he toke his flight for drede The peple anone after his partynge Of Indignacion made his brother kinge

Thus cam herodes to estate royall Pursued his brodre in to babylon Leyde a siege rounde aboute the wall They to him yeldyd vp the toun Thus was his brother brought to confusion Afore the castell without lengre date Made smyte of the hede of metrydate

In parthos after he toke possession Thus yonge herodes of volunte and pride Gan a werre ageyn them of rome toun Whom to withstande they list nat longe abyde The consull Crassus cam doun to their syde Cōmaunded was shorte processe for to make Towarde parthois his viage for to ta••e

Crassus list nat tentre in that reame Left parthos the story doth deuyse Toke his way towarde Ierusalem To take there a solempne empryse In the temple only of couetise Toke ther ageyne the title of rightwisnesse Vp all their tresour and their great richesse

By which he gate in dyuerse regions Greate multytude to holde vp his {per}tye Led with him eleuene legions Towarde parthoys faste gan him hye By his lettres proudly gan diffye The seide Herodes and with greate apparayle Myd his cuntre profryd him batayle

The next morowe whan crassus toke the felde To him was brought of blacke a cote a••mure Which whan his knightis auisely behelde Dempt it a tokne of disconfiture For in contraire romayns do their cure Whan their capteyn shall feight or the hede His cote armure is outher white or rede

A Nother tokne frowarde to beholde The first Egle bete in his banere Also sone as men dyd it vnfolde Contrariously he turnyd loke and chere The bak to Cras••us folke sawe that stode nere A pronostyk to romayns full certeyne Howe fortune to them was that day ageyne

By the flode passynge of Eustrates With vnware tempestes his standardis euerichone In to the ryuere were caste amonge the prees To rekne them all vpright stode nat one Wherof astonyed they wolde no ferther gone These pronostikes made theym so afrayed Lyke men in herte dispeyred and dismayed

Of these toknes crassus was recheles The pronostikes also he dyd despise Toke vpon him to passe Eufrates To entre parthoys only for couetyse To whom herodes sendeth in this ••ase That his comynge was more for pillage Than for knighthode manhode or corage

All the power of parthoys tho cam doun With many prefect and many greate cunstable Ageyne crassus and them of rome toun Which as I tolde abode on their pillage That turned after to their great damage The sonne of Crassus slayne in that fray His fader take and all vpon a day

His hedesmyt of in whom was no diffence And disconfyted with many legion The hede of crassus brought to the presence Of herodes within his royall toun Which hath commaunded golde to be brought doun To be molte there as he lay dede And to poure therof full his hede

This thinge was done for a mockerye In sygne only the storye doth deuyse That golde nor tresour vpon no partye Staunche might his thurst of couetise Such gredynesse eche man shulde despise For auaryce of custum in eche place Of hye prowesse doth the pris difface

Herodes after dyd serch all the wardys Thrugh all the feeld vpon Crassus side Toke the penouns baners and standardys And in his temples large longe and wyde Lete hang•• theym vp of surquedye and pryde In signe only and eke for a memorye He of romayns hath gete the victorye

With which he lyst nat only be content Wenynge his fortune shuld abyde stable In to surrye he hath his sonne sent Called pachorus made him a cōstable Of that region with him to be {per}table Of all tresours and meobles that he fonde Whereuer that he rode throughout all the londe

This parchorus by his chiualrye Encres gan in his tendre age Wherof herodes his fader had enuye Feerfull it shulde turne to his damage Lest he wolde by tytle of heritage Maugre him at his ageyn comynge Take vpon him of parthos to be kinge

Than pachorus was called home ageyn And of surrye where in conclusion All that he had wrought was in veyn Bycause one Cassus fro rome was come doun Slough all the peple in that region Which apperteyned to pachorus as I fynde Without capteyn for they were left behinde

To witstande this romayn Cassius Herodes hath his sonne sent ageyn Which anon after the story telleth thus Amyd the feeld vnhappyly was slayne To trust fortune it is a thinge but veyne Which of custum to day is fauorable And to morowe gerysshly chaungeable

Of pachorus deth whan the noyse aros And the distrussynge of his chyualrye And to herodes abydynge in parthos Tydynge was brought ferde as he wolde dye Of hertely sorowe fyll into frensye Heire was none left of the royall lynes Saue thrytty basterdes borne of concubynes

Thus herodes was cast in gret sekenesse His sonnes deth was to him Importable His wordly Ioye was gone and his gladnesse Fortune contrarye which neuer can be stable Age fyll on his lyf was nat durable And of one thinge moost he dyd him drede Cause he had none heire to succede

Which wolde nat suffre him lyue in pes Tyll at the laste he caught a fantasye Chase a bastard called pharactes Bycause he was famous in chyualrye Gaue him the crowne and the regalye Which anon after bruely to conclude Slough herodes of Ingratitud••

Howe Fymbria a consull of rome slough him silf.

AFter to bochas by processe of the boke Foure myghty princys notable of estate Towarde him they cast chere and loke Lyke vnto folke that were infortunate With whom fortune had been at debate For by their maner as it sempt wele They were at mischeef fall fro hir whele

First Fymbria a romayn consulere Sent by the romayns to a greate cyte Called nichomede cam as a messangere To helpe flactus slayn by great aduersite As he entred into that cuntre After whoos deth his {per}ty to auaunce Of flaccus meyne toke the gouernaunce

Of presumpcion without auctorite This Fymbry•• by dyligent laboure Full ferre aboue his state and his degre Toke vpon him by fortunes fals fauoure To be called capteyne and emperoure Thrugh all that cuntre bokys specefie Of whoos presumpcion Scilla had enuye

Pursued him through many great cite To a castell made him take his flight Where Fymbrya of greate necessyte Constreyned was maugre all his might Disespeyred forsake of euery wyght To sle him silf the storye telleth thus Within the temple of Esculapius

OF Albynius that was slayne with stonys

ANother consull stode in cas sem lable In his tyme called albynyus Whoos hatefull pride was abhomynable To all folkys lothsum and odious Which lyke a rebell wode and furious Ageyn romayns oftner than onys Whan he lest wende slayne was with stonys

Howe adriane borne of lowe degre falsly vsurped to be kynge of rome which with his chorles was after brent.

nExt Adryan which ros to hye estate In his tyme called Albynius First in rome borne of lowe degre To gouerne of affryk the cuntre Wherof his owne pompous auctorite Toke vpon him by subtyll fals werkynge Maugre romayns there to be crownyd kinge

Whom to support shortly to conclude Was a greate noumbre of the comonte Of chorls gadred a confus multitude Tytle was non nor grounde but volūte Gentyll men than beynge in that cuntre All of assent and one oppynyon Assemblyd them to his destruction

At vtices a large great cite Him and his churles beset rounde aboute Of wode and fagot with large quantyte In cumpas wyse closyd him without Gadred with him of vyleyns a great rout Layde on fyre that with flamys rede Echon consumed into asshes dede

Howe Synthonyus kynge of trace that moch coue¦tyd all forwent and dyed in pouerte

nExt Adrian cam Synthony••s Tofore bochas with terys spreynt his face As the storye rehersith vnto vs In his tyme he was kynge of trace F••ll sodenly from fortunes grace Cast doun lowe from his estate royall Which cam to bochas to compleyn his fall

Whos purpos was if it wolde haue be Seuene realmys to haue conquered with his honde That were subget to rome the cyte And all seuyn were of grekys londe Who all couetyth ye shall vnderstonde He all forgoth full well afferme I dare At vnset hour wherof eche man beware

Longe or his conquest was brought to apreef From hir whele fortune cast him doun The pretor Sencius brought him to mischeef Dyed in pouerte as made is mencion And Bochas here make a digression Compendiously within a lityll space To descriue the region of trace

Here bochas in {per}ty maketh a descripcion of the king¦dom of Trace and passeth ouer lightly vnto the accō¦plysshment of his boke

TRace whilom a cuntre of great fame And conteyneth a ful large space And of tyras it toke first the name Sonne of Iaphet and so was called trace Which many a day dwelled in that place Towarde Septemptrion plenteous of gode Besyde Dynoe the large famous flode

Southwarde trace renneth the flode Egee Macedoyne standeth in the occident And the kingdom called Perpontidee Stant in trace towarde the orient Where great plente of blode was shed and spent Whan Sencius thrugh his hye prowesse Kynge Adrian there manly dyd oppresse

Ebrus in trace is the chef rite As myn auctour maketh mencion I castnat to tary in this matere To make of trace a discripcion But to procede in my translacion Folowe myn auctoure which wryteth a longe {pro}cesse Of greate Pompeye and his worthynesse

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

Howe victorious Iulius Cesar brent the vessels of Tholome: slough achillas that wolde haue mur¦dryd him: and after greate victoryes him silfe was murdryd with bo••dekens by brutus Cassius

AFter the wofull compleynt lamentable Of pompeis deth pytous for to here Werres remembred with tresons importable Compassed fraudes fraced with faire chere Conspired murdre reherced the manere Howe kinge tholome fraudolent of corage The deth conspyred of pompeie fall in age

The processe tolde I holde it were but veyn Therof to write a newe tragedye Thinge onys seyde it to reherce ageyne It were but idle as for that partye But howe cesar went out of thessalie Cam to alisaundre to lodge him in that place I wyll remembre with support of your grace

He lodgyd was in the paleis royall Where he was besy by dyligent laboure Through that region in temples royall To spoyle goddys and haue all their tresoure Where he was mockyd fonde there no fauoure For achillas which that slough pompeie Cast him with cesar proudly to werreye

His purpos was to fall vpon cesar As of nature was his condicion Falsly to murdre men or they were war By some sleight to fynde occasion To destroye Iulius by treson And to accomplissh his purpos in partye Had twenty thousande in his cumpany

〈…〉〈…〉