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]

Octauus 〈…〉〈…〉 ••ure of Rome / and many other Emperours and nobles 〈…〉〈…〉 ••ly endyd (Book 8)

〈…〉〈…〉 This same tyraunt regnynge in his estate To all the cite was passynge odious Best and moost worthy he slough of the Senate And vnto all that were vertuous Mortall enmye and moste malicious And for slaughter of senatours in the toun Axed the tryumphe as made is mencion

Made amonge Iewes by full greate outrage Where as he had grettest suspicion To sle all tho that were of the lynage Of Dauyds kynrede of kinge Salamon Lest he were put out of domynacion Amonge Iewys this was his menynge Slough all tho that was borne to be kynge

Amyd the paleis as god wolde of right Punyssh a tiraunt and quyte him his mede This domician was slayn vpon a night His careyne after vnburied as I rede And comodus doth after him succede Which was all youe by flesshly appetite To leue all vertue and folowe his delyte

Theatre playes of custom he dyd vse As was the custum there and the vsage His lif in vices he falsly dyd abuse In lecherous lustys dispent all his yonge age To the romayns dyd full great damage For of the senate that were moost vertuous Were falsly sleyne by this Comodus

In his tyme by stroke of thondredent And fyry lightnynge that cam doun fro heuene The comon lybrarye was of the cyte brent With royall bokys of all the craftis seuene Bokes of poetys mo than I can neuene And Comodus breuely to termyne Was slayne and stranglyd by his concubyne

HElmus pertynax cam nex on the ringe Ordeyned after emperour of that toun Olde and vnw••ldy slayn in his gynnynge After whom 〈…〉〈…〉 By no title of succession But an Intrusoure one callyd Iulian Thestate vsurpynge to regne there began

But of the noble lynage affrican Borne in Tripolis a mighty greate cyte One Seuerus that was a knightly man Gadryd of romayns a wondre great meyne Both made stronge Iulian met and he At pount meleyn a cyte of Itaile And there was Iulyan slayne in batayle

Seuerus after entryd the empyre And toke vpon him the domynacion Vpon cristen of malice set afraye Began ageyn theym a persecucion Of tyrannye and fals ambycion But one of egipt called poscēnyus Ageyne Seuerus gan to werke thus

Gadryd meyne Seuerus for tassayle In purpose fully and theron dyd his peyne First with him to haue a great batayle Next of thempire the crowne for tatteyne

〈…〉〈…〉

〈…〉〈…〉 Right sad and wyse in that they had to do And were the first cristen of echon Emperours reknyd for there tofore was none

By poncyus the martyr as I rede In meya a famous greate cyte They were baptysed and afterwarde in dede Slayne in batayle for they list nat fle Tofore their deth both of assent parde Their tresoure hole that were Imperiall To cristys church I finde they gaue it all

The busshop Sixtus toke possession Vertuously assignyd it to laurence Therof to make distribucion To pore folke in their indigence For which dede by cruell violence The tiraunt decyus ageyne theym toke a stryf Caused holy laurence by brennynge lose his lyf

This same decius cursyd and cruell Caused the slaughter of these philippes tweyne And for he was subtill fals and fell By sleight and falshede he dyd his besy peyne To the empyre by force for to atteyne The vii tyraunt by persecucion Which ageyne cristen folke toke first occasion

Myn auctoure writeth tyme of this decius The holy hermyte exaumple of persightnesse By dayes olde called antonyus Lyued in desert ferre out in wyldernesse As an hermyte despysynge all richesse Lyued by frute and rotys as men tell And of {per}fection dranke water of the well

Vppon Decyus for his cursidnesse Ageyn cristen which gaue so herde sentence Thrugh rome & Itayle myn auctour berith witnesse In euery cite was greate pestilence That by the sodeyn dedly violence The hertys of men dependynge in a traunce To saue their lyues coude no cheuesaunce

Of this mater write nomore I can To this emperour I wyll resorte ageyn Speke of gallus and volucian That besy were their labour was in veyne Their tyme short as sūme bokys seyn For Martyn writeth and olde Croniculere In thempyre they regned but two yere

But both were slayne by the procuringe And by the purchace of one emelyne A romayn knight which by slye werkynge To occupye them pyre tho began By tyrannye the lordship there he wan Whoos lordship for hap and lacke of grace No lengre laste than two monethes space

This lytyll chapter as tofore is sene Rehercyd hath and tolde in wordys pleyn Of emperours almoost full fourtene And of all were gode none but tweyne Which to reherce I haue do my peyne And to procede forther as I began I must write of one valeryan

HIs sonne and he called gali••en To all cristen bare great enmyte Slough all tho their legende men may seen That seruyd crist in trouth and equyte Whos persecusion and hatefull cruelte Abatyd was as I can well reherce By one Sapor that was kinge of perce

By force of armes Sapor this mighty kynge Gan in asia and with his ofte cam doun By tygre Eufrates and knightly so rydynge Towarde the p•• 〈…〉〈…〉 To Con••asus nat ferre fro babylon And all surrie he proudly dyd assayle And Capadoce he wan eke by batayle

Whom for to mete cam valerian To Mesopotayne with many legion•• The werre was stronge but this knightly man This hardy Sapor with his chaumpions The felde hath wonne with all the legions Afore reherced and thrugh perce he lad Valeryan bounde with cheynes rounde and sad

He was by Sapor maugre his visage This Valerian so streytly brought to wra•• Lyke a prisonere bounde to seruage By obeisaunce that founde were no lak To knele on foure and to profre his bak Vnto Sapor whan him lift to ryde Therby to mounte for all his great pryde

This was the office of valerian By seruytute diuinge many ayere Wherfore he was called of many anan The assendynge flo•• in to the sadyll nere Which is in french callyd a mountwere This was his office to bowe doun his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Whan that kynge Sapor shulde worth on his hor••

This is the guyrdoun and fauoure of fortune Hir olde maner to princys and to kinges Hir double custome vsyd in comune By sodeyn chaunge of all worldly thinges After triumphes and their vp rysynges What foloweth after here wele tell I can I take recorde of valeryan

This lady fortune the blynde fell gaddesse To Valerian shewyd hir silf vnstable Taught him a lesson of the doublenesse To kinge Sapor she was fauorable But yit he was to cruell vengeable With his fete deuoyde of all fauoure To foile the bak of an emperoure

Of olde it hath be songe and cried loude Recorde on Cirus and many other mo Kynges of perce of custum haue be proude After punysshed and chastised eke also Princys of mercy shulde take hede herto After victorie in their estate notable To their prisoners for to be merciable

〈…〉〈…〉

It is fall ferre out of thy mynde The knightly dede of worthy publyus Of rome a capteyne ordeyned as I fynde To fight ageyn aristomochus Kynge of Asye of fortune it fell thus Whan the romayns dyd the feeld forsake This publyus amonge his fone was take

This noble prince stondynge in dredfull ••as His life his worship dependinge atwene tweyne In his hande holdinge a sturdy maas Smet out one of his eyen twyne Of him that led him that other for the peyne That he felt and the greate smerte Toke a dagger roue publyus to the herte

Which louyd more his worshyp than his lyf Chase rather to dye than lyue in seruage This conceyte had in his Imagy natyf And considred sith he was in age To saue his honoure it was more auauntage So to be slayne his worshyp to conserue Than like a best in pryson for to sterue

Fortune his chaptre of him it was nat rad As valerius maketh mencion After whoos conceyte no man in vertue sad Shulde nat longe 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 Their sacrifises and rite vp so doun Vnto ydoles of frowarde wilfullnesse That was of Egipte callyd cheef goddesse

Fauorable thou were in thy desire To suffre Iewys their saboot to obserue And Caldeis to worshyp the fyre And folke of Crete saturne to serue And cristen men thou madest falsly sterue Of whos lawe for thou dyd nat retche Thou dyed in prison at mischeef lyke a wretch

Howe Gallyen sonne of valerian was slayne

nExt in ordre to bochas tho cam doun Sonne of velerian one callyd gallien But for great horrible effusion Of cristen blode that men might seen Shed by valerian god wolde it shulde been Shewed openly to romayns by vengeaunce Of many a cuntre sodeyn disobeysaunce

They of almayne the alpies dyd pas Vnto Rauenne a cyte of Itayle Gothes also proude of chere and face Had ageyn grekys many great batayle And they of Hungry armyd in plate and mayle With theym of denmark furious and cruell 〈◊〉〈◊〉 romayns 〈…〉〈…〉

To whos damage in this mene while Amonge romayns it is befall thus Wofull werrys which callyd been Cyuile Gan in the cyte cruell and despitous Firste whan they met was slayne Gemyu•• Whiche first toke on him in bokes as I rede Of hye corage to were purple wede

One postumyus a mighty stronge romayn Kept all gaule vndre subiection To their auayle after vnwarly slayne Amonge his knightes for all his hye renoun By a sodeyn vncouth dissencion Next victoryne hauynge the gouernaunce Of all Gaule was first slayne in fraunce

But Gallien of who•• I spak toforn Sonne and heire to valerian His dominacion of purpos he hath lorne In republica whan he began Lyke a contrarious and a frowarde man Wex lecherous and frowarde of lyuynge At mischeef slayne this was his endynge

Howe Quyntilyus was murdryd by wymen

NExt Gallien cam one quyntilius A man remembred of greate attem{per}••unce Brother of byrth to great Glaudyu•• Wyse and discrete in all his gouernaunce Who may of fortune eschue the chaunce To write his ende shortly in a clause Of wymen murdryd I can nat sey the cause

Of Aurelian in Denmark born

OF denmarke borne next cam Aurelian A worthy knight his enmyes to assayle Ageyne gothes a greate werre he began Gate victorye in many stronge bataile Whos noble conquest greatly dyd auayle To comon profite for all his werke parde Was to the encres of rome the cyte

He recured all the Septemptrion And westwarde had many great victorye Amonge other I fynde that he was one A••ed the tryumph to be 〈…〉〈…〉 But there was a thinge eclipsyd of his glorye Which hath the light of his knighthode withdrawe For he was enmye to criste and to his lawe

Of him bochas list nomore to write But in his boke goo forth as he began Of me remembrynge that called was Tacyte Which was successoure to Aurelian And after him succedyd Folorian Of which tweyne no remembraunce I fynde That is notable for to put in mynde

Howe Probus disconfited Romayns / and after was slayne

pRobus after regned full seuene yere And iiii monethis which by his hye renoun Geyne saturnynus with a knightly chere And brought him proudly to subiection Nat withstondynge ••hat be in rome toun Toke vpon him of wylfull tyrannye Hooly thempire for to rule and guye

Beside the cyte callyd agrypyne This seide probus geyn many proude romayne A batayle had list nat to declyne Mette protulus a mighty stronge capteyne With one Bonosus and both they were slayne And all their meyne of very force and might Slayne in the felde the remenaūt put to flight

After this bataile and this disconfiture Probus was lodgyd in Smyryue a great cite And there vnwarely of soden auenture Slayne in a toure that called was Ferre But a small ceson last his prosperite Which is fortune late noman in hir trust All worldly thinges chaungynge as she lust

Howe Clarus and his two sonnes were myscheuyd

〈…〉〈…〉

Howe the hardy quene zenobya faugh•• with Aurelean and was take

Myn auctoure here no lenger list soiourne Of these em{per}ours the falles for to wryte But in all hast he doth his stile tourne To zenobya his story to endyte But for chauncer dyd him so well acquite In his tragedyes hir pytous fall to entrete I will passe ouer rehersynge but the grete

In his boke of Cantirbury tales This soueraigne poete of brutus albyon Thrugh pylgrymes tolde by hylles and by valy•• Wherof zenobya is made mencion Of hir noblesse and hir hye renoun In a tragedye compendiously tolde all Hir marciall prowesse and hir pitous fall

Myn auctoure first affermeth howe that she Descendyd was to tell of hir lynage Borne of the stocke of worthy tholome Kynge of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 full notable in that age 〈…〉〈…〉 But for bicause of this horrible dede And for the murdre of kinge Odomate Dyed at mischeef and passyd into fate

By processe after zenobia the quene Toke hir two sonnes and proudly dyd them lede Tofore hir chare that men might them sene Howe they were borne as princys to succede Made theym like kinges clad in purple wede Them to diffende this mighty creature Hardy as lyon toke on hir armure

For all hir lordys and knightes she had sent Maugre the romayns proudly gan hye and spede All the partyes of the oriente To occupye and hir hoste so lede Of the Emperoure she stode no thinge in drede Callyd Aurelian met him in batayle With hir meynye proudly dyd assayle

On outher syde that day great blode was shedde The stroke of fortune withstant no creature The quene zeno bya was taken and forth ledde Faught first as longe as she might endure With riche stonys fret was hir armure With whom the emperoure so entringe rome toun Of tryumphe requeryd the guyrdoun

He dempt it was couenable and syttynge This emperoure this proude ••urelian To axe the tryumph it was so greate a thinge To take zenobya that such a werre began Geyne romaynes this marciall woman For I suppose of no woman borne Was neuer quene so hardy seen aforn

This hardy princesse for all hir cruelte Whos hye renowne thrugh al the worlde was knowe With stockes of golde was brought to the cite From hye estate in pouert plungyd lowe Awynde contrarye fortune hath so blowe That she alas hath pitously made fall Hir that in prowesse passyd wymen all

The tryumph youen to aurelian For the conquest he had vpon this quene Called zenobya cam dioclisian Borne in dalmacia his storye who list fene Out of his cuntre first he dyd flene Of garle••e and lekys as seith the croniculere Bycause that he was but a gardinere

Other mencion is none of his lynage Of his birth forsoke the region Left his craft of deluynge and cor••lage Gaue him to armys and by eleccion Chose to be emperour and regne in rome toun First into Gaule he sent a greate power And maximian he made his vicar

His vicar there had many great batayle Vpon such people that by rebeellion Gan frowardly and contrary to assayle To obey his lordshyp within that region Tyll Caramsynus by commission And an hardy knight vndre maxymyan Theym to chastise toke on him like a man

But by processe the storye doth deuyse His lordshyp there dyd great damage To comon profite so he by couetise The cuntre robbyd by full greate outrage And to him silf he toke all the pyllage And of prsumpcion ware the coloure Of rich purple like an emperour

This Caramsinus of Breteyns tweyne Proudly vsurped to be their gouernoure Lyke a rebell geyne rome dyd his peyne And besyed him by marciall laboure With many straunge foreyn soudioure Hauynge no tytle nor commission Continued longe in his rebellion

Wherof astonyed was dioclisian Seynge this mycheef dreedfull and perilous Ordeyned in haste that maximyan Was surnamed and called herculyus Made him emperour callyd augustus Which had afore nomore gouernaunce But gaule which nowe is called fraunce

Also moreouer this dioclisian Made in this while gouernours tweyne Constancyus and one maxymyan Surnamed Galerius constancius in certeyne In this while to wed did his peyne Doughter of maxymyan callyd herculyus Namyd Theodora myn auctour writeth thus

By theodora this constancius Had syxe children in true mariage Brother to Constantyne the cronycle telleth thus Which afterwarde whan he cam to age For his manhode and marciall corage Was chose and made lorde and gouernour Of all the worlde crownyd emperoure

Caramsynus which had full seuene yere Lyke as I tolde rebellyd breteyne Ageyn the romayns a great extorcionere A knight Alletus that dyd at him disdeyne Murdryd him and after dyd his peyne By force only and extorte tyrannye Fully thre yere his place to occupye

Tyll Asclepio was sent from Rome doun Slough alletus maugre all his might Brought all bretayne to subiection Of the romayns lyke as it was right And in this while lyke a manly knight For Italiens gan romayns disobey Constancius gan proudly them werreye

He first with them had a stronge batayle His meyne slayne and put to the flight Trustynge on fortune he gan them eft assayle And sixty thousande were slayne in that fight The felde was his thrugh fortunys might As she that coude dissymule for a while And afterwarde falsly him begyle

〈…〉〈…〉

Froward enmy he was to cristis lawe Many a martyr to dye for his sake Wext feble and olde and gan him withdrawe From occupacion his reste for to take His attorney maxymyan he doth make In his last age it is rehercyd thus Stode in great drede of constancius

The drede of him sat so nye his herte And therupon toke such a fantasye Imagenynge he might nat sterte By fraude of him but that he shulde dye Almoste for fere fyll in a frensye Of which drede the boke maketh mencion He slough him silf by drinkynge of poyson

As I tolde erste in the occident Maxymyan called herculyus Regnyd as emperour and euer in his entent To pursue martirs he dyd ay his labours Of whos birth bochas founde non auctours This to say he coude neuer rede Where he was borne nor of what kinrede

He findeth nomore of this maxymyan Of his vsurpynge in especiall But that he was by dioclisyan 〈…〉〈…〉 But afterwarde he fyll in repentaunce And besy was as dyuerse seyn Thestate of emperoure to recure ageyne

Which for to acheue he dyd his diligence He was distourbyd by Galerius For his sonne that callyd was maxence Put in possession myn auctoure writeth thus To which thinge he gan wex enuyous And gan ordeyne menys in his thought To trouble him but it auayled nought

Whan his purpos might take none auayle Ageyne mexence as bochas doth descryue His doughter Fausta that knewe all his counceile Discured his purpose for which he fled blyue Into Gaule and durst no lengre stryue And by Constancius in Marcyle the cyte Slayne sodenly loste all his dignyte

Howe Galerius oppressed martyrs / and cristys feith / and myscheuously endyd

nExt tofore bochas cam Galerius A man disposyd to riot and outrage Euyll tetchid frowarde and vicious There is no storye y^e speketh of his lynage Yit was he set full hye vpon a stage Of worldly dignyte ros vp to hye estate Yit in his gynnynge he was nat fortunate

He was sent oute by dyoclysian And made emperoure by his auctorite Ageyn Narseus the proude knightly man Regnynge in {per}ce and lorde of that cuntre Which helde werre with rome the cyte For which galerius toke vpon him this empryse With mighty honde his pryde to chastyse

Galerius entryd into {per}ce londe Kynge Narseus met him of auenture Had a stronge bateyle faught honde for honde His fortune such he might nat endure On galerius fyll the disconfitre Clad in purple as made is mencion Of dioclisian receyued this guyrdon

At their metinge anone or they were ware Dioclisian made him to abide To his confusion syttynge in his chare To walke on fote by the charys syde With many a rebuke batyd was his pryde Galerius for the greate shame Gan seke a mene ageyn to gete his name

Cam for tassemble his olde soudyours Made his ordenaunce by diligent werkinge Chase oute the best prouyd werreours With a great hoste to perce he cam rydynge And oft there faught with the kynge That the perciens maugre all their might Were of Galerius that day put to flight

The felde was his gate their richesse Robbyd their tentys wan there great pyllage In this resort receyued in sothenesse In greate noblesse bycause of that viage Thus can fortune chaunge hir visage Of dioclisian where he stode in disdeyne With newe tryumphe resortyd is ageyn

This cloudy quene standeth euer in no certeyne Whoos double whele quauerith euer in doute Of whos fauoure noman hath be certeyne Though one haue grace another is put out Late euery man as it cometh aboute Take his tourne and neuer in hir assure Faylynge in armys is but auenture

Thus galerius after his batayle On perciens gan wex glorious Gouerned affryk and lordshyp of Itayle Thrughout the oriente he was victorious Tyll he for age gan wex tedious His last dayes malygned as men seith Of fals hatrede ageyn cristen feith

And him to helpe in these fals maters It is remembryd to his confusion In his empire he set two vikers Gaue them power in euery region The lawe of criste to oppresse and put doun To punyssh martirs and put theym to the deth And in this while full many one he sleth

By this seid cruell galerius Which of thempyre had all the gouernaunce Of cursyd herte and corage despytous By his vsurpyd Imperiall puissaunce Gaue auctoryte for to do vengeaunce Vnto tweyne Seuerus and maxence On all cristen by mortall violence

A certeyne space both of one accorde Thestate of Emperour chose was maxence Tyll Seuerus and he fyll at discorde And after by vengeable pestilence Within a cyte of noble premynence Called Rauenne Seuerus there was slayne Of which galerius god wote was nothinge fayne

For which in haste this galerius Him to supporte and stonde in his diffence Chase oute of Denmark a knight lueynyus To be emperour thrugh knightly excellence For to withstonde and fight ageyn maxence But maxence of romayn knightys all Was chosyn emperour and set vp in his stall

With which eleccion galerius wex wode Fyll in a manere frowarde frensie His entrayle brente corrupte was his blode And of his frowarde vengeable maledye In euery membre gan rote and putryfie Tyll all the ayer about him enuyron To all that felt it was v••nym and poyson

L••ke a la••ar corbed ••ak and 〈◊〉〈◊〉

〈…〉〈…〉

It was his Ioye for to shede hir blode Sent out lettres to dyuers regions Lyke a slye wolf rauynous and wode To sle martyrs by dyuers passions Lyke his desert receyued his guerdons Horrible deth dyd theym first confoūde With furies infernall lieth nowe in hell bounde

Howe Maxence the emperour enmy to cristis feith myscheuously endyd

AFter galerie cruell violence Geyn cristen blode as bochas here hath tolde With pitous chere the emperour maxence Cam tofore bochas of age nat full olde Famous in armys sturdye fressh and bolde Albe be entryd nat lyke an heritour Toke vpon him to regne as gouernoure

To cris•••• feith he was also enmy After sone he loste his gouernaunce Of infortune slayne sodenly 〈…〉〈…〉 vnwarly taketh vengeaunce

〈…〉〈…〉

This Lucynyus which falsly dyd erre Ageyn oure feith cristen men to assayle Geyne constantyne of newe he gan werre But of his purpos in soth he dyd fayle For he was twyse disconfyted in batayle By constantyne onys in hungrye Next in grece beside Eualye

Thus constantyne thrugh his hye renoun Gate nye grece and euerye great cuntre Albe l••••ynyus stode in rebellion Geyn constantyne both on londe and se But whan he sawe it wolde nonother be He might nat escape in no place Put holy him silf in constantyns grace

But constantyne for his hye rebellyon Gaue Iugement in hast that he be dede Leste in the cite were made diuision By luc••••yus wherof he stode in drede This same while as bochas toke hede There cam before him with chere full pitous Brethren tweyne Constantyne and Crispus

OF Constantyne and Crispus: and howe Dal¦macius was slayne

tO Constontyne of whom I spake toforn They were sonnes Constantyne & crispus The same tweyne of one modre borne Cam tofore bochas his booke rehercith thus With them cam eke lucinyus Sonne of lucinyus which in rome toun Afore was slayne for his rebellion

Constantyne his werrys to gouerne Made them vicars the silf same thre Echon right wys and coude well descerne What might auayle moost to their cyte To encres the profite of the comonte Their names tolde Constantyne and crispus Tofore remembryd with them lucinyus

While these thre vicars vndre themperour Gouernyd rome as knightes most famous In alisaundre rose vp a great errour By a fals preest called Arryu•• To oure beleue a thinge contrarious And for he dyd ageyne oure feyth so wirch By a decre was put out of the chirch

By assent at Bethenye full notable In Necea a famous greate cyte This errour was preuyd full dampnable Thre hundred busshoppes were presente there parde And eightene the Cronicle who list se And all these of one sentence Ilyke Preuyd Aruus a fals heretyke

This same tyme bokes specefye Howe Constantyne of hasty cruelte The saide vicars nygh of allye Feyned a cause to sle them all thre No cause rehersyd nor tolde of equyte Saue only this in which he gan procede To make his cosyn Dalmacius to succede

But his fauoure was nat fortunate Towarde dalmacius nor gracious in sentence Amonge whoos knightys fyll a sodeyn debate Constantyne there beynge presence Dalmacius without reuerence With sharpe swerdys to speke in wordos fewe Vnto the deth was woundyd and hewe

Of the brethren Constaūce and constancius / and 〈…〉〈…〉

THan cam Constaunce and Constancius Yonge brethern thus writeth myn auctoure To constantyne in tyme of arrius And eche of them by full great laboure Dyd his peyne to regne as Emperoure Tyll at the last breuely for to seye Euerich of them gan other to werreye

This seid constaunce is entryd perce londe Nyne tymes he faught ageyne Sapore The same kinge as ye shall vnderstonde That with romayns had foughten afore But fynally constaunce hath him so bore To holde the feelde he might nat endure For vpon him fyll the disconfiture

His fortune gan chaunge anon right Whan that he left to be vertuous He was in spayne slayne lyke a knight In Castrell tonge called maxencius Than was none left but Constancius The romayn knightes destitute euerychone Chase theym an Emperoure vetramone

This vetramone was ferre ronne in age Bareyn of wyt coude no lettrure Nor in knighthode had no great corage Nor was nat able to studye in scripture Nor like an emperoure no while to endure For Constancyus of whom I spake nowe late With this vetramone cast him to debate

This vetramone hath left his estate Lyst nat werreye ageyne Constancyus Forsoke the feelde louyd no debate But of spayne myn auctoure writeth thus As I wrote late howe that magnencius Geyne Constancyus with swerde spere and sheelde Presumed proudly for to holde a feelde

To great damage and hyndrynge of the toun For many romayne thilke day was dede Byside a cite which callyd was Leon Tyll at the last of very cowarde drede Magnencius which capteyn was and hede Ageyn constancius hath the felde forsake Loo howe fortune can hir chaungys make

Magnencyus for very sorowe and shame 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no lenare but gate him a sharpe knyf

〈…〉〈…〉

Howe Constantyne baptized by Syluestre was ••ured of his lepre

OF this matere stynte I wyll awhyle And folowyng myn owne straūge opinion Fro Constancyus turne away my style To his fader make a digression Cause bochas maketh shorte mencion Of constantyne which by recorde of clerkys Was so notable founde in all his werkes

This mighty prince was borne in Brytayne So as the brute pleynly doth vs lere His holy modre called was helayne He in his dayes moost knightly and entere Of marciall actys he knewe all the matere Chosyn emperour for his hye noblesse Fyll to lepre cronycules doth expresse

Hys sore so greuous that no medycyne Might aua••le his lykenesse to recure H•• ••ounseyled to make a great pystyne With Innocentes of chyldre that were pure 〈…〉〈…〉 of that he dyd endur•• 〈…〉〈…〉 With full glad chere made theym to repayre Where they cam sory to rome the cyte They haue retourned glad to their cuntre

Royall compassion dyd in his herte myne Chase to be seke rather than blode to shede His breste enlumyned by grace which is diuyne Which fro the heuene dyd vpon him sprede He wolde nat suffre Innocentis to blede Preseruynge pite and mercy more than right He was visited vpon the next night

PEtyr and poule to him dyd appere Sent from the lorde as heuenely messanger•• Bad constantyne be of gode chere For he that sytteth aboue the nyne speres The lorde of lordys the lorde of lengest yeres Will that thou haue it well in mynde In mounte Sarapty thou shalte thy leche fynde

God of his grace list the to visite To shede blode by cause that thou doest spare He hath vs sente thy laboure for to quite Tydynges brought of helth and thy welfare Pope siluestre to the shall declare ••s we haue tolde be rightwell assured Of thy sikenesse howe thou shalt be recured

To mounte Serap••y in all haste that thou sende Suffre Siluestre to ••ūme to thy presence Sought and founde breuely to make an ende Receyued after due reuerence Dyd his deuoure of entere diligence Lyke as the lyf of Siluestre hath deuysed By grace made hole whan he was baptised

Hys flessh his synewes made sodenly white By theyse wasshynge in that pystyne Of holy baptym welle of moste delyte Where the holy goost dyd him enlumyne Enfourmynge after by techinge of doctryne Of siluestre lyke as myn auctoure seith Of all artycles that longe vnto our feith

The fonte was made of porphirie stone Which was after by cost of Constantyne With a rounde bye that dyd aboute gone Of golde and perre and stonys that were fyne Myd of the fonte rightup as a lyne Vpon a piler of golde a lampe bryght Full of fyne baw•••••• that brent all the nigh••t

〈…〉〈…〉 ••hat euer•• were of hye or lowe de••re That blasphemed the name of Iesu By dome shulde haue of deth a pleyn Issu

The thrid day in euery mannye sight By a decre confermyd and made stronge To euery cristen who that dyd vnright By oppression to collaterall wronge It shulde nat be taryed ouer longe Who were conuicte or gylty shall nat chese By lawe ordeyned half his gode to l••s••

The fourth day amonge romayns all This preuilege pronouncyd in the toun Youe to the pope syttynge in pet••ys stall As soueraigne hede in euery region To haue the rule and Iurisdic••on Of prcestys all alone in all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Of temporall lordys lyke as hat•• the kynge

To the church he graunted grea•• fraunchys•• The fifte day and specially lyber••e If a felon in any maner wyse To fynde socoure thedre dyd fle Within the boundes of daungere to go 〈◊〉〈◊〉 To be assured and haue therof fu•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 From execucion of any tempo••

〈…〉〈…〉

His crowne toke and knelynge thus he seide With wepynge ••yen and voys lamentable le And for sobbinge as he might abrayde O blessyd Iesu o lord moost mercyable Late my terys to the be acceptable Receyue my prayer my request nat refuse As man moost synfull I may me nat excuse

I o••••upyed thestate of the emperoure Of thy martyrs I shad the holy blode Spared no seyntys in my cruell errour The to pursue moost furious and wode Nowe blyssed Ihesu moste gracious and gode Peysyd and considred myn importable offence I am nat worthy to come in thy presence

Do•• for to entre into this holy place Vpon this grounde vnable for to dwelle To opne myn iyen or to lift vp my face But of thy mercy so thou nat me repelle As man moost synfull I come vnto the welle Thy well of grace mercy and pyte For to ••e wasshed of myn unquite

T•• exaumple 〈◊〉〈◊〉 open he hath shewed 〈…〉〈…〉 of mekenesse layde asyde 〈…〉〈…〉 with ter••s o•• bedewed

〈…〉〈…〉

This mercurius as bokys determyne In Cesarya a mighty stronge cyte•• Within the cuntre called palestyne Buryed afore ros vp at this ••orne Out of his graue a straunge thinge to se An hors brought to him arayed in his armure Which hynge tofore besyde his sepulture

The same armure was nat sene that night Nor in the morowe at his graue founde Tyll mydday houre that phebus shone full bright Whan mercurius gaue him his fatall wounde

〈…〉〈…〉

〈…〉〈…〉 Both at ones but ye shall vnderstonde Th••o••ose was s•••••• out to assayle The saide Feryne and slough him in batayle

Oh which feryne by full cruell hate In that cuntre presumptuously regnynge Smet of his hede and set it on the gate Of Cesaria this was the endinge Which by intrusion afore was crownyd kinge In mauritaygne oppressynge them by drede As ye haue herde of which he loste his hede

〈…〉〈…〉

〈…〉〈…〉 The great ydols and all such maumentrye And full deuoutly gan churches edefye And in this while as fortune dyd ordeyne One maxymus was vyker breteyne

An hardy knight albe that he dyd varye From his promyse made by sacremente In bretayne lyst no lenger tarye But into Gaule of herte and hole entent Geyn gracian he sodenly is wente And as it fyll set by their both auyse They had a batayle nat ferre oute of parise

This Gracian was there put to flight By the prowesse of a proude capteyne Callyd merobandus an hardy knight Which with his power hath so ouerlayne That gracian was constrayned in certayne Whan his power might nat auayle Geyn maximus to fle oute of Itayle

This maximus of pryde gan desyre In his herte by fals ambucion To regne alone and of the hole empyre In his handes to haue possession

〈…〉〈…〉

〈…〉〈…〉 And as thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whilom Isr••ell Geyn pharaoys mighty stronge puissaunce And from the lyons delyuered danyell And saued Suzanne in hir mortall greuaunce Saue me this day fro sorowe and mischaunce In this mischeef to graunte me this issu To escape from daungere by grace of the Iesu

This blessyd name by interpretacion Is to say moste mighty sauyoure There is no drede nor dubytacion That Iesus is in all wordly laboure To all that trust him victorius protectoure Nowe blyssed iesu pauyse of my diffence Make me to escape myn enmyes violence

Late myn enmyes that so great boost do blowe Though their power be dredefull and terrible That they may by experience knowe There is no thinge to the Impossible Thou two and thre and one indiuysible Though I with me haue but fewe men Saue me this day iesu fro deth amen

〈…〉〈…〉 Fyll a myracle to his auauntage By sodeyne tempestys of windes hayle and reyne Troublyd all tho that syegyd the mountayne

Vlcanus which is cheef smyth of heuene Geyn arbag••st gan him redy make To bende his gonnes with thundre and with leuene And golus his wyndes gan awake Oute of the cauernes hydous browne and blake All of assent by sturdy vyolence With theodocius to stonde at diffence

Ageyne Eugenyus and arbagast his brodre Their peple and they departed here and yondre With winde and myst that none of theym sawe other By vnware vengeaunce of tempest and of thondre Their sperys braste their sheldes roue asondre Eugenyus take after loste his hede Arbagast slough him silf for drede

Thus can the lorde of his eternall might Chastyse tyrauntes and their malyce represse Sauyd theodosye his owne chosyn knight Who trusteth him of {per}fyte stablenesse

〈…〉〈…〉

〈…〉〈…〉 iT is remembryd of antiquyte In the byble after no•••• flode Howe by discente of his sonnes thre Of their lynage playnly and their blode All kinredes dilated been abrode And myn auctoure as it is made mynde Of Iaphet vii nacions he dyd fynde

The peple first of gaule and galathe Of magoth Gothes and folkes of Itayle Tyre Sithia with many great cuntre Stondynge in asya as by rehersayle But in Eurape stant trace it is no fayle Gothes Sithiens of purpos dyd ordeyne Amonge theym silf gouernours tweyne

Knyghtes gentylmen chase alericus To be their prince and haue the soueraynte ••here the comons chase Radagasus The Gothes first for greate suerte ••ith kynge aleryk entrynge the cite In to rome to fynde there socoure That tyme honorius beynge there emperoure

〈…〉〈…〉 But fortune thought all other wy•••• Lyke hir maners to do most damage Whan she to men sheweth fressh hir visage

Hyr condicions be nat alwey one Stoūdm••le of custome she can varye For she was first frowarde to styllycon And to radagasus eft ageyn contrarye In one poy••t she lyst neuer tarye To Radagasus hir fauoure dyd fayle By stillycon he venquysshed in batayle

All his pryde might nat make him spede For fortune lyst so for him ordeyne That he was f••yne at so streyte anede To fle for socoure to an hye mountayne Of all vitayle naked and barayne Where for hungre he felt so greate greef Nigh all his people dyed at myscheef

Of all socoure destitute and barayne Sawe no remedye toke him to the flight By the romayns he was so ouerleyne Take at myscheef and maugre his might

〈…〉〈…〉

〈…〉〈…〉 Cam attalus and one eraclian For no prowesse but to their greate repreef Remembryd here their story tell can Ageyne romayns whan the rebell gan By honorius afore made offycers And of the empyre callyd cheef vykers

First Attalus for his tyrannye Whan he in gaule was made gouernoure Went in to spayne with a great companye Dyd his peyne and fraudolent laboure By fals sleyght to be made emperoure Take and bounde exiled for falsnesse His hande smet of endyd in wretchydnesse

Of Eraclyan the ende was almoost lyke Yit was he promotyd to greate pros{per}te Made gouernoure and lorde of affryk Of consulere ros to the dignyte Rode through Libye and many great cuntre With thre thousande shippes gan to sayle And with vii hundred to aryue in Itayle

〈…〉〈…〉

A go••e processe why Rome was destroyed and for the same or lyke cause many other realmes

OF many myscheues afore here reherced Sūme drawe alonge and sūme shortly told And howe fortune hath hir whele reuerced By tragedyes remembryd many folde Tofore by bochas of princys yonge and olde In the eight boke rehercyd the processe Echon almoste endyd in wretchydnesse

Namely of them that dyd moste desyre By wronge title theym silf to magnefye To haue lordship and gouerne thempire The state imperiall proudly to occupye Which estate pleynly to specefye As ferre as phebus doth in his spere shyne Amonge all lordshippes is brought vnto ruyne

Fro myn auctoure me list nat discorde To tell the grounde why rome cam to nought By an exaumple I cast me to recorde What was cheef cause if it be well oute sought 〈…〉〈…〉 So as a fader that is naturall Or like a moder which kindly is bounde To fostre their children in especiall Right so a kynge in his estate royall Shulde of his office diligently entende His true lieges to cherissh and defende

By good exaumple his subgettys to enlumyne For temporall realmes shulde as I fynde Resemble the kyngdom which is dyuyne By lawe of god and lawe eke of nature That Res publica longe tyme may endure Voyde of discorde and fals duplicite Of one body in longe prosperyte

Nouther ther regne nor domynacion Haue of theym silf none other assuraunce The estate of kinges gan by {per}myssion Of goddys grace and of his purueyaunce By vertuous lyf and morall gouernaunce Longe to contynue both in pees and werre Lyke their desertes and punyssheth whan they erre

〈…〉〈…〉 ••••re in his domys be nat parciall To pore do almes to vertuous liberall

In his araye shewe him lyke a kynge▪ From o••ter princys by a maner apparence So that men preise by vertuous lyuynge More than his clothinge ferre from his presence And late him thynke in his aduertence Truste theron verely certeyne As he gouerneth men wyll report and seyne

Late him also for his greate auaile ••aue such about him to be in presence Notable princes to be of counsayle Such as tofore haue had experience Twene gode and euyll to knowe the difference And sixe thinges hatefull of newe and olde To banyssh them out in haste from his housholde

First theym that loue to lyue in Idelnesse As such as loue nouther god ne drede Couetous peple that pore folke oppresse And them also that do thinge for mede 〈…〉〈…〉 Whan by fals treson solde was palladyon Rome and cartage in the same wyse Destroyed were for shorte conclusion Amonge theym silf for their diuysion Rekne other realmes that ben of late date And of diuysions in fraunce that fyll but late

All these defautys reherced here breuely Outesought the rote and weyed in balaunce Cheef occasion to tell by and by Hath ben in princes that haue had gouernaunce And specially to put in remembraunce For an exaumple telleth as cometh to mynde Of Odoacer the storye as I fynde

Borne in pruce and hardy of corage At his gynnynge him silf to magnefye Though no mencion be made of his lynage Hauynge no title but theft and robbrye His conquest gan nought of blode and auncetrye Gadryd peple of sundry regions Entryd Itayle with many nacions

〈…〉〈…〉 Gan werke ageyne him in hope it shulde auayle And therupon the lordshyp of Itayle He gaue of purpos his power cōmyttynge To Theodorik that was of Gothes kinge

So that Theodoryk in hope to haue victorye Ageyne Odoacer gan make resistence Of his name to put in memorye Toke vpon him by knightly excellence For the romayns to stonde in diffence Met him proudly with his chiualrye Besyde a ryuere that callyd was Sourye

With their batayles to gedre whan they met Besyde Leglere that stondeth in lumbardye With rounde sperys and sharpe swerdys whet Odoacer for all his tyrannye Was put to flight disconfited his partye And fortune that best chaunge and varye At vnset houre was to him contrarye

Hym and his power the romayns haue defied He brent her vynes and toures enuyron Bycause the entre was to him denyed And to Rauenne he is descendyd doun 〈…〉〈…〉

〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 ••ere he made 〈…〉〈…〉

Howe Symak and Boys his sonne in lawe were banysshed and after Iuged to dye

AFter these mischeuys symak gan him drawe Towarde Bochas with a full pitous face Boys cam wyth him y^t was hys son in lawe Which amonge romayns greatly stode in grace But in this matere breuely for to pace The seid boys only for his trouth Exyled was alas it was greate routh

For comon profite he was vnto the toun In maters that grounded were of right Very protectoure and stedfast chaumpion Ageyne two tyrauntys which of force and might Had in the porayll oppressyd many awight By exaccions and pyllages gonne of newe Vpon the comons full fals and eke vntrewe

Theodoryk of Gothes lorde and kinge Toke vpon him by fal•• intrusion To regne in rome the peple oppressynge By his prouostes two as made is mencion Dyd in the cyte great oppression Confederat as brother vnto brother Coniugast and trygwyll was that other

Compendyously this mater to declare To saue the camon stode in diffence For lif nor deth he lift nat for to spare To withstonde of tyrauntes the sentence Kynge theodoryk of cruell violence Banysshed him by hatefull tyrannye He and his fadre to abyde in pauye

Afterwarde theodoryk of hatrede Lyke a fals tyraunte of malyce and enuye Gaue Iugement that both two were dede But touchinge Boys as bokes specefie Wrote dyuers bokes of philosophie Of the trynyte maters that were diuyne Martryd for crist and called seueryne

Of kynge arthur and his conq••estys and of the commodytees of Englonde and he was destroyed by his cosyn mordrede.

wAs euer prince might him silf assure Of fortune the fauoure to restreyne Lyke his desyre his grace to recure To abyde stable and stonde at certeyne Amonge all other rekne arthure of Breteyne Which in his tyme was holde of euery wight The wysest prince and the beste knight

To whom bochas gan his style dresse In this chaptre to remembre blyue His greate conquest and his high noblesse With singulere dedys that he wrought his lyue And firste he gy••neth breuely to descryue The sight of breteyne and of that cuntre Which is enclosed with a large se

Set ferre westwarde as ye shall vndrestonde Hauynge in spayne set in the opposyte Of a small angle callyd Inglonde Fraunce aboute him d••scriuynge thus his sight With many a ryuere plesaunt and delyte Bot he bathes and welles there be founde Dyuerse mynes of metalles full habounde

Aboute which renneth the occian Right plentuous of all maner of vitayle The name of which at brutus first began London hath shyppes by the se to sayle Bachus at wynchestre greatly doth auayle Worcetre 〈◊〉〈◊〉 frutes haboundeth at the full Herfo•• ••ith bestys Catiswolde with wull

Bath h•••• bathes holsom for medecyne Yorke mighty tymbre for greate auauntage Cornwell myners in to myne Salesburye bestys full sauage Whete mylke hony plente for euery age Kent and cantyrburye hath great commodyte Of sundry fisshes there takyn in the se

Bochas reherceth there is eke in breteyne Founde of get a full precious stone Blacke of coloure and vertuous in certeyne For sekenes many more than one Poudre of which wyll discure anone If it be dronke though it be secre Of maydnehede broke chastyte

There been of peerles founde in muskyll shelles 〈…〉〈…〉 that haue moost whitnesse

〈…〉〈…〉

I••••onde Gaule norweye scotlonde and fraunce As martys sone to the werrys mete Wrought by counseyle and by ordynaunce Of prudent merlyn called his prophete And as I finde he lete make a sete Amonge his brytons moost famous and notable Thrugh all the worlde called the rounde table

Moost worthy knightes proued of their honde ••haosen oute by arthur this ordre was begonne Their famous noblesse thrugh euery cristen londe Shone by reporte as doth the mydday sonne To famuos palayes the renoun is vp ronne ••tatutes set by vertuous ordenaunce Vnder profession of marcyall gouernaunce

The first statute in the regestre founde Fro which they shulde nat declyne of right 〈◊〉〈◊〉 full assuraunce of othe and custome bounde Ay to be armyd in plate forged bright Excepte a space to rest them on the night 〈◊〉〈◊〉 auenture and their tyme spende ••••••••••full quarell to sustene and diffende

The ••ebler partye if he had right To their power manly to supporte 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that they were requeryd of any right 〈◊〉〈◊〉 disconsolate to bere vp and conforte 〈…〉〈…〉 Woūdyd peple that languyssh and endure Which pro republica manly spent their blode The statute bounde to do such folkes gode

To put theym silf neuer in auenture But for maters that were iuste and trewe Afore prouyded that they stode sure The grounde well knowe were it of olde or newe And after that the mater whan they knewe To procede knightly and nat fayne As right requerid their quarell to darreyne

A clerke there was to cronycle their dedes By purceuauntes made to him reporte Of their exployte and their gode spedes Rad and songe to folke gaue great conforte These famous knightes makynge their resort At high festes eueryche took his sete Lyke to their estate as was to them mete

One was wylde called the see perilous As Sank Ryall doth pleynly determyne None to entre but the moost vertuous Of god prouyded to be a pure virgyne Borne of dissente to accomplyssh and to fyne He alone as cheef and souereyne All auentures of wales and Breteyne

〈…〉〈…〉 As a bright sonne set myd the sterres 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stode arthur notable and glorious Lyke f••essh febus cast his light aferres In pees lyke Argus moste marciall in werres As Ector hardy lyke vlixes tretable Callyd amonge cristen kinge moste honorable

His royall court he dyd so ordeyne Thrugh ech cuntre so ferre sprad out the light Who that euer cam thydre to compleyne By wronge oppressed and requyred of right In his diffence he shulde fynde a knight To him assigned fynally to entende By marciall dome his quarell to diffende

If it fell so that any straunge knight Sought auentures and thydre cam fro ferre To do armys his request made of right His chalenge sene were it of pees or werre Was accept to the court cam nerre Lyke as he cam with manyor alone They were delyuered forsake was neuer none

There was the scole of marcyall doctryne For yonge knightes to lerne all the gyse In tendre age to lerne full disciplyne On hors and fote by notable exercise Thinge take in youth doth helpe in many wise And ydlenesse in grene yeres gonne Of all vertues clypsith the clere son

Wydowes maydyns oppressyd folke also Of extort wronges wrought by tyrannye In that cuntre what nacion cam therto Receyued were there lyst no man denye Of their complayntes founde redy remedye Made no delay but forth anon right Theym to diffende assignyd was a knight

Eke by their ordre they bounde were of trouth By assuraunce and by oth sworne In their emprises let for no slouth Pleynly to tell howe they haue theym born Their auenture of thynges done beforne Right as it fyll spare in no manere To tell ech thinge vnto their registrere

Thinge openly don or thinge that was secre Of auenture as bytwene tweyne Or any quarell take of volunte Truely reporte and platly nat to feyne Them to be sworne the statute dyd ordeyne Nat conseled of worshyp nor of shame To be regestryd reporte the silf same

And to conclude the statute hath vs leryd Euery quarell groundyd on honestye In that court what knight was requeryd In the diffence of trouth and equite Falshede excluded and duplycite Shall ay be redy to sustene that partye His lyf his bodye to put in Iupartye

Thus in bretayn shone the clere light Of chyualrye and of hye prowesse Which thrugh the world shad his bemys bright Well of worshyp condute of all nobles Imperiall courte all wronges to represse Hede springe of honoure of largesse cheef sisterne Myrroure of manhode of noblesse the lanterne

¶Yit was there seyne neuer so bryght a sonne The somerys day in the mydday spere So fresshly shyne but sūme skyes donne Might percas curtayne his bemys clere Oft it fayleth whan fortune maketh best chere And falsly smyleth in hir double wede Folke seyn expert than is she moost to drede

Thus whan the name of the worthy kinge Was ferthest sprad by reporte of memorye In euery realme his nobles moost shynynge All his emprises concludinge on victorye This double goddesse enuyed at his glorye And cast menys by sūme maner trayne To clypse the light of knyghthode in bretayne

Thus while arthure stode moost honorable In his estate flouringe in his age Amonge his knightes of the round table Hyest of prynces on fortunes stage The Romayns sent to him for truage Gan make a cleyme frowarde and outragious Takynge their tytle of Cesar Iulius

The same tyme this mighty kynge arthur Conquered had Gaule and also fraunce Outrayed Frolle lyke a coqueroure Brought parys vndre obeysaunce Toke them to grace and with his ordynaunce Gate all Aungoy / Angorys / and Gascoyne Peytowe / Nauerne / Barry / and burgoyne

Cesyd nat but dyd his besy payne 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 Gate all the londe of peyters and toureyne Their cytees yolde to him they dyd homage To be rebell they founde none auauntage Soiourned in fraunce as seith the cronyclere Helde possession the space of nyne yere

Helde a feest full solempne at parys All the cuntrees which he gate in fraunce Lyke a prince full prudent and wys Which had of fredom full royall suffisaunce Of all his conquest the cuntrees in substaunce For his princis and barons so prouyded Lyke their desertes he hath them dyuyded

To his Senescall that callyd was kay Aungoyne and mayne he gaue all the partye To his butler was made no delaye Called bedwere he gaue Normandye To a baron nye cosyn of allye A manly knight which named was berell Gaue the duchye of burgoyne euerydell

Thus he departyd lordshippes of that londe There he thought was moost expedient Sūme he reserued in his owne honde Ageyn to bretayne retourned of entente Sent out writtes helde a greate {per}lement After which he made a feest anone In the cuntre called glowmorgon

At a great cite called carlion As is remembryd by writynges Cam many a prince and many a fressh baron In noumbre I fynde that there were x kynges Redy to obey arthur in al thynges Present also as was wele sene There of erles rekened full thrittene

All the knightes of the round table Feste of pentecoste as fest principall Many estates famous and honorable Of princes barons born of the blode royall Were present there and in especiall All that were by othe and promyse bounde To brotherhede of the table rounde

And i•• fell so while that kinge arthure As apperteyned sat in his estate There cam xii sent doun by great loboure Of olde men chosen of the Senat Sad of their port demure and tem•••••••••• R••••hely 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of ••oke and of visage Gray heryd sempt of right great age

First cūnyngly as they ought it due Cause of their comynge and pleynly what it ment First of assente the kynge they dyd salue Next after that they tolde who them sent And their lettres mekely they present Concludinge thus to speke in breef langage Howe the romayns axe of him truage

Customed of olde sith goon many a day Whan that Cesar conqueryd first breteyn The kinge requeringe to make theym no delay Arthur abode list no thynge to seyn But all the court gan at them disdeyn The proude bretons of cruell hasty blode Wold haue theym slayn euene there they stode

Nay quod arthur to all his offycers Within oure courte they shall haue no damage They entryd been and come as massengers And men also greatly fall in age Lete make there with a glad visage Toke his counsayle with such as were moste wyse With this answere sayde in curteys wyse

¶Youre lettres red and playnly vnderstonde The tenure hole remembryd in this place Touchynge the charge that ye haue take on honde To yeue answere reherced in short space By worde and writinge ye greatly me manace Howe ye purpose with many stronge batayle Passe the mountaynes me felly for to assayle

It nedith nat such conquest to alledge Ageyn Brytons of none olde truage Of youre cūmynge doun youre way I shal abrydge With goddes grace short your passage Make you no delay but with my baronage Passe the se without longe taryinge To mete romaynes at their doun comynge

This was the answere youe to the messangers At their departynge bare with theym greate riches He bad also vnto his officers Ageyn to rome anon they gan them dres Playnly reportynge the plenteous larges Of worthy arthure considred all thinges Of cristendom he passyd all other kinges

Arth•• 〈…〉〈…〉 Of marciall prowes to lucius they tolde And howe that he all other dyd excelle In chiualrye with whom they were witholde The chosy•• knightes both yonge and olde In all europe who can consydre aright Of all nobles the torches be there light

He cast him nat to paye no truage Sayd of the romayns he helde no londe Which •••• diffende he wyll make his passage Of youre cleymes to breke atwo the bonde And knightly preue with his honde Ye haue no tytle ye nor youre cite Ageyn the breton•• which euer haue stonde fre

With 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the kingdoms subget to rome toun Kynges princes abo••e the hye mountayns With lucyus they be d••scendyd doun To mete bretons vpon the large playnes Arthures comynge greatly he disdeynes Bycause he had playnly to discryue In multytude of peple such fyue

At southhampton arthur toke the se With all his knightes of the rounde table Behinde he left to gouerne the cuntre His cosyn mordrede vntrusty and vnstable And at a preef fals and disceyuable To whom arthur of trust toke all his londe The crowne except which he kept in his honde

Fro Southampton Arthur gan to sayle With all the worthy lordes of bretayne At barflue fonde gode aryuayle He and his princys their passage dyd ordeyne Thurgh Normandye / Fraūce / and eke burgoyne Vp to a cite called augustence Where he first fonde of lucius the presence

So large a feeld nor such a multitude Of men of armys assemblyd in a pleyne Vpon a day shortly to conclude Togydre assemblyd afore was neuer seyne Lucyus had on his partye certeyne Estwarde the worlde all the chyualrie Brought by the mountayns dounward germanye

Their wardys set in eche a great batayle With their capteyne to gouerne and to guye Arthur with bretons the romayns dyd assayle Fond•• many ••••ca••yus vpon that partye Th•• 〈…〉〈…〉 A•• he of arthur the prowes doth descryue He slough that day of sarazyns kynges fyue

The great slaughter the effusion of blo That was that day on outher partye Eche ageyne other that furious were and wode Lyke for the felde as fortune list prouyde That if I shulde longe theron abyde To write the deth the slaughter and the manere Touchinge the feeld were tedious to here

To conclude and l••ue the surplusage In that batayle dede was many a knight The consull Lucyus slayne in that rage The proude Romayns by force put to flyght Of gentylnes arthur anon right Lete the body of lucius be caried Ageyn to rome it was no lenger taryed

The worthy princys and lordes that were dede And manly knightes abydynge with arthur Lyke a kynge solempnely toke hede That they were buryed by dyligent loboure And in this while lyke a fals traitoure His cosyn mordrede dyd his besy peyne To take from him the kingdom of breteyn

So as the story playnly maketh mynde Mordrede falsly to his auauntage Entretyd them that were left behynde ••ndre coloure of fraudolent langage Gaue them great fredom and they dyd him homage That by his fals conspyracion Brought all bretayn in to rebellion

By faire behestis and many frendly signe Drough the peple to him in sondry wyse Shewyd him outwarde goodly and benygne Gaue lybertees and many great fraunchyse To make bretons their souereyn lorde despise And puruyaunce he gan make blyue To kepe the portes he shulde nat aryue

Whan kynge arthur had knowlegynge Of this fals treson and all the purueaunce That mordrede made he like a manly man & kinge Left burgoyne and all the londe of fraunce Cast on mordrede for to do vengeaunce Toke the se with great apparaile Cast at Sandwitch to make his arryuayle

Mordrede was redy with knightys a great noumbre 〈…〉〈…〉 ••he playn In purpos fully arthur to encombre At which arryuayle slayne was Gaweyne Cosyn to arthur a noble knight certeyne Eke Agnysell was slayn on the stronde Kynge of Scottys or he cam to londe

Maugre mordrede arthur dyd arryue The grounde recured lyke a manly knight For fere of whom anon after blyue The seyd mordrede toke him to the flight Toward london toke his wey right The gates shet and kept was the cite Ageyn mordrede he might haue none entre

In all hast to Cornwayle he fled The swerde of arthur he durst nat abyde Lest he shulde lay his lyf to wed Yit for him silf thus he gan prouyde With multitude gadred on his side Put lif and deth that day on auenture That day to dye or the feeld recure

In fortune there may be no certayn Vpon whos whele all bro••lenes is founded Mordrede that day in the felde was slayn And noble arthur to the deth was wounded By the which the feeld of bretons was confounde Of so greate slaughter and good knightes lo ••n Vpon a day men haue nat sene beforn

After the batayle arthur for a while To staunch his woundes and hurtys to recure Borne in a letre cam to an Ile Called aualon and there of auenture As the sayd gaufryde recordeth by scripture Howe kinge arthur floure of chyualrye F•••• with his knightes and lyueth yit in fairye

Thus of bretayn translated was the sonne Vp to the riche sterry bright dongeon Astronomers well reherce konne Called arthures constellocyon Where he syt crouned in the heuenly mancion Amyd the paleys of stones cristallyne Tolde amonge cristen of the worthy nyne

This erroure abydeth yit amonge britons Which founded is vpon the prophesye Of olde marlyn lyke their opynyon He as a kinge is crownyd in fairie With s••••••tr•• and swerde and with his regalye Shall resorte as lorde and soueraygne Out of fayre and regne in bretayne

And repayre ageyne the rounde table By prophesye of merlyn set the date Amonge princys kynge incomperable His sete ageyn to carlyon to translate The par••••as sustern sponne so his fate His Epitaphie recordeth so certeyn Here lyeth kynge arthur that shall regne ageyn

Vnto bochas I wyll retourne ageyn Afore reherced parcell of his prowesse Theron to abyde me list nomore soiourne But to remembre the great vnkyndnesse The conspiracion the treson the falsnesse Done to kinge arthure by his cosyn mordrede Make a Lenuoy that men all may it rede

Lenuoye.

THis tragedye of arthur here folowynge Byd princes all beware of fals treson For in all erth is none so {per}ilous thinge As trust of feyth where is decepcion Hyd vndre curteyn of fals collusion For which men shulde I holde the counsayle gode Beware aforne euer of vnkynde blode

The worlde diuers fortune ay chaungeable In euery cuntre and euery region In a strayte nede fewe frendes abydynge Longe abstynence causeth dissencion And if princes by fals dyuysion Nigh of allye shewe two faces in an hode Late men beware euer of vnkynde blode

Who was more hardy of princes here regnynge Or more famous of marcyall renoun Than whilom was his enmyes outraynge Arthur cheef sonne of brutus albyon But for all that the disposycion Of fate and fortune moost furious and wode Causyd his destruction by vnkinde blode

What more contrarious to nature in shewynge Than fayre pretence double of entencion Great allyaunces frowardly werkinge Hid vndre floures a serpent cast poison Bright siluer scalyd damageth the dragon Ech worme some partye tar••ageth of his brode And what more {per}ilous ••han vnkynde blode

Noble princys on arthur remembrynge Deme the day of phebus goynge doun All is nat golde that is clere shynynge Afore prouyded of youre inwarde reson Fals vndermynynge and supplantacion Remembrynge aye with arthur howe it stode By conspyracion of vnkynde blode

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

Of Geseuye kinge of Venandre / and of thre o¦ther kinges / and howe they were destroyed.

AFter all these straunge vncouth thynges Tofore Iohn bochas as made is mencion There cam tofore him foure mighty kynges For to compleyn their desolacion First Ges••uye kynge of the region Called venandre in werres full contrayre Vnto a prince callyd belisayre

And to this saide noble belysayre Full renomed that tyme in chiualrye The Kynge of gothes was also aduersarye And both atonys of hatrede and enuye Assentyd fully to holde champertye Geyn belisaire which thrugh his hye renoun Toke them both and cast them in prison

There is nomore of theym in bochas founde But after theym in ordre by writinge Cam amarales with many blody wounde Which in his tyme was of mawres kynge Without cause or title of any thinge Vpon Iane Sangwyn gan werrey ageyn right Which thrugh all affryk was one the best knight

The sayde Iane armyd in plate and mayle Met amarales in Affrik on a sonde And helde with him a mighty stronge batayle And lyke a knight slough him with his honde Droue all his peple proudly fro that londe And in my boke there is none other mynde To be remembred of him that I can finde

Than synduall of breton lorde and kynge Tofore bochas put him silf in prees Gan shewe his mischeef pitously wepinge Whan he helde werre wylfull and recheles Ageyn a prince called Narsates A romayne knight fers hardy and right stronge In his diffence whan men wolde do him wronge

This Narsates of cas or auenture Though he in dede was a manly knight He fayled membres in soth of engend••ure His aduarsaries echon he put to the flight Toke their kinge and furthwith anon right As the cronycle pleynly doth recorde On hye galowes he henge him with a corde

Of Narsates after this victorye Kynge Totila had full greate dysdeyne With a great oste moste pompous in his glorye Cam vpon him and met him in a playne With multitude though he were ouerleyne Torninge Totyla which many man behelde Of narsates was slayn in the felde

In ordre next Bochas doth write Of Gepedoys howe kinge Trusmonde Required him that he wolde endyte The great aduersytees in which he dyd habounde And of his doughter callyd Rosamonde The vnhappy chaunce to make and discryue To whom fortune was contrarye all hir lyue

Albonyus kynge of lumbardye With many a londe helde in subiection Conquered Beeme / Prage / and Hungerye The londe of Gepedoys with many a region Faught with their kynge as made is mencion Slough in batayle the sayde Trusmonde Weddyd after his doughter rosamonde

••yn auctoure greatly commendeth the beaute And writeth also she was but yonge of age Whoos story first whan I dyd see Howe vngracious also was hir mariage I gan wex pale in my visage Greatly astonyed confus of very shame To write the story in hindringe of hir name

I wyll forbere and lightly passe here The surplusage lightly ouerpasse For by and by to tell all the manere Of felonyes that dyd in hertys brace 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shulde blot this boke and eke difface For which I caste truly and nat fayle Touchinge hir storye to make rehersayle

Howe Albonyus was murdryd by his wyfe and howe she after most vicious was mur∣d••yd also.

Kynge Albonoys as ye shall vnderstonde After many conquest and victorye Which he had both in see and londe To put his triumphes in memorye Lete crye a feest to his encres of glorye At which feste solempne and princypall So as he sat in his estate royall

Parcell for pryde parcell for gladnesse The quene present the sayde Rosamonde Take and supprysed he was with dronkenesse Of mighty wynes which that day dyd habounde Sent a Gobelet of golde as it is founde Vnto the quene with licoure full plesaunt Bad to hir fadre she shulde drynke a taunte

She dempt it was a maner mokerye First hir name and worship to confounde To byd hir drinke ataunt for hir partye To hir fadre this sayde trusmonde Slayn aforn with many blody wounde By Albanyus thrugh his vnhappy chaunce Of which rebuke she cast to do vengeaunce

She bare the rancoure full longe in hir entente Which day by day gan renewe and encrees A certeyn squyer she made of hir assent To accomplissh she wolde neuer cees And on another squyer she gan prees Called perdyus accordyd all in one This fals murdre to execute anone

The day was set while he laye a slepe Fyll vpon him with sharpe swerdes grounde Hir lorde was slayne alas he toke no kepe Or he dyed of fortune he hath founde A speres hede to a tronchon bounde Him silf defendynde in that mortall stryf But slayne he was by treson of his wyf

After this murdre to escape fro daungere This Rosamonde fled away by night With hir wente melchys hir squyere Toke a shyp sayled by sterre light To Rauenne they toke the way right Lad with theym for refute and socour Of albonyus all the hole tresoure

After she was weddyd to melchis Man of this worlde stode moost in hir grace Hir loue appalled set of him no prys For she nat coude be contente in one place Hir ioye was euer newe thinge to purchace To assay many neuer plesed with one Tyll by experyence she preuyd had echone

Prouost of rauenne and cheef gouernoure For the excellence of hir great beaute Aboue all wymen loued hir {per}amoure Whan she entred first that cyte And thrugh hir fraude and duplicite She cast murdre in hir frowarde auys Hir newe husbonde that callyd was melchys

The hote somer in lusty fressh may The same melchis for hete and werynesse Him silf to bath went a certeyne day Caught a greate thurst of fayntnes in sothnesse And rosamonde of infernall falsnesse Toke a gobelet with lycoure great foyson Gaue him drinke wyne medlyd with poyson

He dranke vp half and therwithall he gan Breest and bely to swell and to aryse Intoxigat wex dedely pale and wan And whan he dyd hir treson aduertise He made hir drinke in the same wyse Maugre hir wyll she might it nat restrayne Guyrdon for murdre they dyed both tweyne

In this chaptre but lytell frute I fynde Saue only this to put in remembraunce That shulde call ageyn to mynde Murdre afore god requireth ay vengeaunce This funerall story weyed in balaunce Wrought by melchis compassyd first and founde By fals treson of cursed rosamonde

Slough first hir lorde albonyus as I sayde Tweyne of hir squyers dyd execucion Out of his slepe whan he dyd abrayde Lete countrey 〈…〉〈…〉 Ech murdryd other by drynkynge of poyson Melchis dranke first and next dranke Rosamonde At theym it gan and to theym it dyd rebounde

Countrepeysyd one murdre for an other Albonyus slayne by rosamonde his wyf By assent of melchys and after eche to other The poyson partyd there gan a fatall stryf Murdre quyt for murdre they both loste their lyf Who with falsnes full well afferme I dare Shall with falness•• be quyt or he be ware

As they departyd such part ageyne they toke As men deserue such shall be their mede This frowarde storye ende of the eyght boke Of Rosamonde and melchis wrought in dede For short conclusion byddeth men take hede They shall ageynwarde resceyue such mesoure As they mesure vnto their neightboure

Explicit Liber Octauus.