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 ...

An Exclamacion of Bochas ageyn kynredes vnkinde.

gEyn kinredes and vnkinde alliaunces Bochas maketh here an exclamacion Vpon mordrede which w^t his ordynaūces Caused of arthur fynall distruccion The same eclipsinge of Brutus albion Nat withstandinge playnly to descryue He trusted him aboue all men alyu••

It is a merueyle and vncouth to deuyse By what occasion or by what corage That a man shulde in any maner wyse Be founde vnkinde vnto his lynage Hatefull to god that in any age Blode ageyn blode born of one kynrede Conspyre shulde of malyce and hatrede

In this mater it were but vayn to tarye The story knowe of arthur and mordrede By blode allyed in werkinge most contrarye Which made many breton knight to blede For by vsurpynge conspyrynge and falshede Of the sayde mordrede moost infortunate Caused all breteyn stonde desolate

First dissolate by abcens of their kynge Callde in his tyme of kynges most notable The desolacion of knightes abydinge Whilom in breteyn famous and honourable Bretheren echon of the rounde table The which by mordrede the fals forsworne knight Stode longe eclipsed and derkyd of his light

The light of noblesse that shone thrugh all breteyn By fals mordrede was dyrked of his bemys The monarchie departed was on tweyne That stode first one with his marciall stremes But afterwarde the brightnes of his bemys Drough to declyne by fals dyuision Which hath destroyed full many a region

All the processe vpon a duplycyte Playnly concludeth and that is blode vnkinde Adue welfare and all prosperite There pees and concorde be left behynde Trees may nat thryue departyd fro the rynde A pleyn exaumple in arthur and mordrede Who can conceyue and list the story rede