The tragedies, gathered by Ihon Bochas, of all such princes as fell from theyr estates throughe the mutability of fortune since the creacion of Adam, vntil his time wherin may be seen what vices bring menne to destruccion, wyth notable warninges howe the like may be auoyded. Translated into Englysh by Iohn Lidgate, monke of Burye.

¶ The Prologue of the eyght Booke.

BOchas maketh here an exclamacion Agayn the iewes great vnkyndnesse, Brought bi the romains, their cite adoun Lyke as the story dyd here tofore expresse, They disparcled to liue in wretchednesse, By gods hand punished for theyr outrage, For euer to liue in tribute and seruage.

Folowyng myne auctor, I cast for to touch So as I can rehersyng the manere, Howe Iohn Bochas lying on his couche, Spake to himselfe, sayd as ye shall here: Why arte thou so dul of loke and chere? Lyke a man thy face beareth wytnesse, That him disposeth to lyue in ydlenesse.

Certes quod Iohn I take right good kepe, Of muche trauayle that the outrage Hath by longe slombre caste me in a slepe: My lymmes feble, croked, and faynt for age, Caste in a drede for dulnesse of corage: For to presume vpon me to take, Of the eyght boke an end for to make.

Thou wenyst perauenture in thine opinyon By this labour to get the a name, For to reherce the sodain falling doun, And by some newe processe for to attame, Of princes sitting hie in the house of fame, In diuers bokes where thou dost them fynd, Perpetually to put thy name in minde.

Thy dayes short put the in great drede, Of suche a labour to take the passage: The more feble the flower is the spede Thy sight darked, and thou arte fal in age. Among remembring thinke on this langage Whan men be buryed low in the earth doun, Saue of good liuing, farewell all guerdon.

Worldlye goodes shall passe right sone, Tresour, connyng, and al shal out of mynde: Frendship chasigeth, as doth y^• cloudy mone, At a strayte nede fewe frendes men do finde. But a good name, whan it is left behind, Passeth all ryches, if it be well deserued, And al golde, in cofer locked and conserued.

Of thy labour the fame shall were derke, Beware Bochas, and herof take good hede: Slouth snake to me, and bad me leue warke, For smal reward y^• shalt haue for thy mede. As by ensample, thou mayste of other rede, This was the langage, I had therof routhe, Atwene Iohn Bochas & this ladye Slouthe.

Bochas astonied gan down his heed decline, Vpon his pillowe hanging in a traunce, Stode in gret doute, coude not determyne Lyke a man hangynge in balauuce, To what partye he shulde hys pen auaunce: To procede as he vndertoke, Or leue the labour of his eyght boke.

Atwene twayne abyding thus a while, What was to do in doute he gan to flete: Halfe within and half ouer the stile, Coude not discerne to him what was moste mete▪ Tyll Fraunces Petrark▪ the laureate poete, Crowned wyth laurer, Grace was his gide, Came and set him downe by his beddes side.

And as Bochas out of hys slombre abrayde, And gan adawen somwhat of hys chere, And sawe Petrarke, lowly to him he sayd: Welcome mayster crowned wyth laurere, whiche haue Itayle, lyke a sonne clere, with poetry plainly to discriue, Most soueraynly enlumined by your liue.

I haue desyred as it is well couthe, Of rightfull herte by humble attendaunce, To do you worship fro my tendre youth, And so shall I euer voyde of all varyaunce, Duryng my lyfe: for trewly in substaunce, Ye haue ben lanterne lyght and dyrection, Aye to support myne occupation.

As in wrytyng bokes to compyle, Chefe ensample to my great auauntage: To refourme the rudenes of my stile, with aureat colours of your fresshe langage. But nowe for dulled by impotence of age, Of Deccepitus marked with many a signe, My labour vp of writing I resigne.

I cast me not forthe to procede, Stande at a bay fordriuen for werynes, Quod Fra. Petrark lese not thus thy mede, Yeue me no cause to report nor expresse, In thy last age, thou hast found a maistres, which the bridled in soth & that is routhe, And holdeth thyrein and she is called slouth.

An euident token of frowarde slogardye, Vpon thy bed thy limmes so to dresse, Ryse vp for shame, for I can well espy, Folke that can grone and fele no sycknesse, Their chamberlayne is called ydlenes: which layth thy pyllow at ••ue and morrowe, Voyd her from the and let her go with forow.

To all vertue froward and contrary Is ydlenesse, here in this present life: which hath the draw away fro thy lybrarye,

Wyll the not suffer to be contemplatyf••. For her condycion is to holde stryfe, With euery vertuous occupacion, which men shuld voyde of wysdom and resō.

In this mater what shuld I long tary? Thyslombre leaue and vp thine eine dresse, The boke I made of life solytarye, Remembre theron, the which in sykernes, Teacheth the way of vertuous busynes: By and by, who list rede euery lyne Of contemplacion moral and diuyne.

As I sayd erst yet lyft vp thy loke, Forsake thy bed, ryse vp anone for shame, Woldest y^• rest nowe vpon thy seuenth boke? And leaue the eight, in soth thou art to blame: Procede forth and get thy self a name. And with one thyng do thy self comforte, As thou deseruest, men after shal reporte,

Make a comparison twene derknes & lyght, Twene ydlenes and occupacion, Twene fayre dayes and the cloudy nighte: Twene a cowards prowesse and hye renoun, Twene vertuous speche & false detraction, And to conclude all vices to represse, Contrary to slouthe, is vertuous busynesse.

Vertuous busines (O Bochas take hede, Reneweth all thynges of olde antiquite: Maketh men to lyue after they be dead, Remember the nobles of many a great citye: And ne were writers al were gone parde, Wherfore Bochas syth y^• art nere the lande, Suffre not thy shyp to stomble on the sande.

I meane as thus the shyp of thy trauayle, Which hath passed the se of bokes seuen, Cast not ankre tyll thou haue good ••••••ayle, Let no tempest of thundre nor of ••eum Nor no wyndes of the cloudye heuen Nor no fals ••āglers of demers the will bliue, Depraue thy laboure and let thy ship to ariue.

Haste on thy way let grace crosse thy sayl, Fall on no lande of wilful neglygence: Let good wyll be chefe of thy counsayle, To gye thy rother set entyre diligence. If vitayle ••ayle and wine to thy dispence, yet at the last thynke forth y^• socour Some royal prince shal quite the thy labour.

Thinke by writing auctors did theyr payne To yeue princes theyr commendations, To Remu•• & Romulus called foūders twain Of Rome towne, and of two Scipions, The kinghthode, Prudence of two Catons, Of Iulius, Pompey, and Hanybal eke also, By ensample of whome, loke that thou do so.

Of Prophetes they wrote the prophesies, And the noblesse of olde Moyses: Of poetes the laure at poesies, The force of Sāpson, y^• strength of Hercules Of two grekes Pyrrus and Achylles, By their wryting bokes say the same, Vnto this day, yet endureth the name.

And he that can, and ceaseth for to wryte Notable ensamples of our predecessours, Of enuye men wyll him atwite, That he in gardayns let peryshe the holsome floures. In sondry wyse that might do great socours, Labour for other and spare not thy trauayle, For vertuous labor agayn slouth doth auaile▪

A thing remembred of antiquite, Is whan there is set a fayre ymage Of a prince, of hye or lowe degre, Or of a person a prynte of his visage, Gladdeth his frende quicketh his corage, And semblably by example men may fynde, Things forgotten by writing come to minde▪

And for to make our names perdurable, And our merites to put in memory, Vices to eschewe in vertue to be stable, That labour may of slouth haue the victorye, To clayme a see in the heuenly consistory, Dispyte of ydlenes and forthering of vertue, Fyne of our labour be yeue to Christ Iesu.

Whan Petrark had reherced this lesson. In rebuking of vicious ydelnes, Bochas supprised and moued of reason, Rose from his couche, and gan his pen dresse: well ouercame the impotent feblenes Of croked age, that Bochas vndertoke For to accomplyshe vp his eight boke.

I following after for dulled for rudenesse, More than thre score yeres set my date: Luste of youthe passed his freshnes, Colours of rethorike to helpe me translate, were faded away, I was borne in Lydgate, Wher Bacchus lycour doth full scarsly flete, My drye foule for to dewe and we••e.

Though passed age hath fordulled me, Tremblynge ioyntes let my hande to wryte. And fro me take all the subtylte Of curious makyng, in englyshe to endyte, yet in this labour truelyme to acquite, I shal procede as it is to me due, In these two bokes Bochas for to sue.

FINIS.

¶ The firste Chapter.

¶ Howe the proude tiraunte Domician Em∣peroure of Rome, and manye other Empe∣roures and Nobles, for their outrages and wretchednes, mischeuouslye ended.

BBrother to Titus sonne of Vaspacian, Came next iordre as writeth mine autour The proude ambicious called Domician, That was in Rome crowned Emperour: An extorcioner, and a false pillour, Proudly cōmaunded (in his estate vp stalled) Of all the worlde he shulde a God be called.

Thrugh hye presūpcion of him it is eke tolde, Nether of tymber koruin, nor of stone, Set vp images of syluer and of golde, In token there was no God but he alone: In to Pathmos he exyled eke saynt Iohn, And agayne cristen the seconde next Neron, That began first the persecucion.

This same tyraunt, reignyng in his estate, To all the citye was passinge odyous: Best and most worthy he s••ewe of the senate, And vnto all that were vertuous Mortall enemy, and moste malicious. And for slaughter of senatours in the toune, Asked the triumph as made is mencyon.

Made amonge iewes, by ful great outrage, where as he had greatest suspicion To slee al tho that were of the lynage, Of Dauids kinred, and of kinge Salomon, Least he were put out of dominacion: Amonge iewes this was hys meanynge, Slewe all tho that was borne to be kyng.

Amyd the palays as God wolde of right Punysh a tyraunt and quite him hys mede, This Domician was slayne vpon a nyght: His caraine after vnburyed as Irede. And Comodus doth after him succede, whiche was all yeue by fleshly appetite, To leaue all vertue, and folowe his delyte.

Theatre playes of custome he did vse As was the custome there and the vsage, His life in vices he falslye did abuse, In lecherous lustes spent al hys yonge age: To the romaynes did ful great domage, For of the senate that were moste vertuous, were falslye slayne by this Comodus.

In his time by stroke of thunder dente, And firye lightning y^• came down fro heuen, The common lybrary was of the cyte brente, Wyth royall bokes of all the craftes seuen, Bokes of poetes mo then I can neuyn: And Comodus breuely to termyne, was slayn and strangled by hys concubyne.

Helinus Pertynax came nexte on the ringe, Ordained after Emperour of that toun, Olde, and vnweldy, ••lame in his ginning: After whom the boke maketh mencion By no title of succession But an intrusour one called Iulyan, The state vsurping to reigne there began.

But of the noble lynage Affrican, Borne in Tripolis a mighty great citye, One Seuerus that was a knightly man, Gadred of romayns a wondre great meyne: Bothe made stronge, Iulian met and he At Pont miluin a citie of Itayle, And there was Iulyan slaine in batayl:

Seuerus after entred the empyre, And toke vpon him the dominacion: Vpon cristen of malice set a fyre, Began againe them a persecucion, Of tyrannye and false ambicion. But one of Egipt called Poscennius Againe Seuerus gan to worke thus.

Gadred meyny Seuerus for to assaile, In purpose fully and theron did hys payne, First with him to haue a great batayle, Next of thempyre the crowne for to attayne: But ye shal heare what fel on these twayne: On Poscennius fill the discomfiture, And Seuerus thempyre dothe recure.

In his purpose or he might auaile, with one Albinus that was a manly knyght, He had in Gaule a full great batayle, Full great bloudshed in that mortall fyght: Albinus slaine of very force and myght, Seuerus after entred in Bretayne, Caught sicknes and died of the paine.

After Seuerus next came Antonine, Of whom the frowarde disposicion As all auctours of him determine His busines and occupacion Set holy in fleshly dilectacion So false a lust his corage did assayle

Amonge Parthois flayne in batayle

Macrinus after tofore Bochas came down, Whylom a prefecte in Rome the cyte Of the pretoyr, and by inuasion Came to the imperiall famous dignitye, Occupyed a yere sate in hys imperyal se, Tyl fortune lyst hym so disgrade, Amonge his knightes flayne at Archelade.

Next came Aurelius surnamed Antonyne, A great rybaude passyng lecherous. Yet was he byshop as auctoures determine, In the temple of Heliogabalus: And in his time was one Sabellius A false heretike, of whom gan the names, Of a secte called Sabellianes.

This said Aurelius againe all nature, Of false presumpcion in bokes it is told, Wolde not purge his wombe by nature, But in vessels that were made of golde: And in dispyte, whan that he was old. Slaine of his knightes and not after longe, His carayne was thrown in a gonge.

After this proude foresayde Antonine In to thempyre by iust election, Of senatours as bokes determyne, Came Aurelius and for his hye renoune Surnamed Alisaunder, as made is menciō: Fought with Perciens like a manly knight, And there king Xerxes was put vnto flyght.

This Aurelius this proud knyghtly man, Whan he sate iudge in the consistory. There sate one with him called Vlpian, A great ciuilian, notable of memory: Of whome it is to his encreace of glory, Reported thus by great auctorite, He of digestes made bokes thre.

Full piteously this emperoure lost his lyfe, Casuelly as made is mencion, Among his knightes by a sodayne strife, Where he was slaine in that discencion: After whose ende for short conclusion Tofore Bochas the boke wel tel can Came Maximinus and with him Gordyan

Maximinus the cronicle both expres, Chose of his knightes and his soudiours, For his victorious marcyall hye prowesse, Done in Almayne, and amonge Emperours Set vp in Rome maugre the senatours: After strong enmy as mine autoure sayth With all his power vnto cristen fayth

He was enemy his life who list to sene To cristen clerkes of auctorite, And specially to olde Origene But in his moste furious cruelte, In Aquyleya a mighty stronge countre, Of a prefecte called Pupien he was slaine Of whose dethe cristen men were full fayne.

Next by the senate chosen was Gordyan, First agaynste Parthois he cast hi to werrey, Of Ianus temple (whan the werre began) He made the gates be opened wyth the keye: Whiche was a token as old e bokes seye, Tho gates opened to folkes nye and ferre, That w^t their fone y^• romayns wold werre.

With Parthois first this said Gordian To holde werre fast he gan him spede, And vpon them alway the felde he wan: After he sped him in to Perce and Mede, Alwaye victorious in batayle as I rede, Vpon Eufrates slayne as I fynde, By false treason y^• cronicle maketh mynde.

Next in ordre came Philip by his name, His sonne eke Philip came with him also, Myn auctour Bochas reherceth y^• same: The father, the sonne, baptised bothe two. Right sad and wyse in that they had to do, And were the first cristen of echone, Emperors rekened, for ther tofore was none

By Poncius the martyr as I rede, In Meya a famous great cyte, They were baptysed, & afterwarde in dede Slayne in batayle for they lyst not fle: Tofore their dethe bothe of assent parde, Their treasour hole that were imperiall, To christes church I fynde they gaue it all

The Bishop Sixtus toke possession, Vertuously assigned it to Laurence, Therof to make distribucion To poore folke in their indigence: For whiche dede by cruell violence, The tyraūt Decius agayn thē toke a stryfe, Caused holy Laurēce by brēning lose his life

This same Decius cursed and cruell, Caused y^• slaughter of these Philips twayn: And for he was subtell, false, and fell,

By sleight & falshed he dyd hys busy paine, To the empyre by force for to attayne: The seuenth tyraunt, by persecucion which agayn christen folk toke first occasion.

Myne auctour writeth time of this Deciue, The holy Hermyte example of perfytenesse, By dayes old called Antonyus, Liued in deserte ferre out in wildernes: As an Hermyte dispysing al ryches, Lyued by frute and rotes as men tell, And of perfection dranke water of the well.

Vpon Decius for his cursednes Again christen which gaue so hard sentence, Thrugh Rome & Itayle myne auctor bereth witnesse, In euery cyte was grete pestilēce: That by the sodaine deadly violence The hertes of men dependinge in a traunce, To saue their liues coude no cheuisaunce.

Of this mater write nomorc I can, To this emperour I wyll resorte agayne, Speke of Gallus and Volucian, That busy were their laboure was in vaine, Their time short as some bokes saine, For Martyn writeth an olde cronyculere, In thempyre they reigned but two yere.

But bothe were slayne by the procuring, And by the purchace of one Emelyan, A romayne knight whiche by slye workinge, To occupye thempyre tho began: By tyrannye the Lordshyp there he wan. Whose lordship for hap and lacke of grace, No lenger last then two monthes space.

This lytell chapter as tofore is sene, Reherced hath and tolde in wordes playne, Of emperours almost full fourtene, And of all were good none but twayne: whiche to reherce I haue do my paine, And to procede further as I began, I must wryte of one Valeryan.

HIs sonne and he called Galiene To all christen bare great enmyte. Slew al tho their legend men mai sene, That serued Christ in trouth and equytie: whose persecusion and hateful crueite Abated was, as I can well reherce, By one Sapor that was kyng of Perce.

By force of armes Sapor this mighty king, Gan in Asia and with his host came doun, By tygre, Eufrates, & knightly so rydyng Towarde the partyes of Septemtryo••▪ To Caucasus not ferre fro Babylon And all Surrye he proudlye dyd assayle, And Capadoce he wan eke by batayle.

Whom for to mete came Vale rian, To Mesopotayme with many legions: The werre was strōg, but this knightly man This hardy Sapor with his champions The felde hath wonne with all the legions Afore reherced, and through Perce he lad Valerian boūde with chaynes roūd and sad.

He was by Sapor maugre hys vysage▪ This Valeriā so straytly brought to wrake, Lyke a prisoner bounde to seruage, By obeysaunce that founde were no lacke, To knele on foure and profre his backe, Vnto Sapor whan hym list to ride, Therby to mounte for al his great pryde

This was the offyce of Valerian By seruitude duryng many a yere, Wherfore he was called of many a man, The assendyng stocke in to the sadyll nere: Whiche is in frenche called a mountuere, This was his office to bowe doun his corse, Whan y^• king Sapor shulde light on horse.

This is the guerdon & fauour of fortune, Her olde maner to princes and to kynges, Her double custome vsed in commune, By sodayne chaunge of all worldly thynges: After triumphes and their vprisinges, What foloweth after here well tell I can, I take recorde of Valeryan.

Thys Lady fortune the blynde fell goddes To Valerian shewed herselfe vnstable, Taught him a lesson of the doublenes, To kyng Sapor she was fauourable, But yet he was to cruell and vengeable. Wyth his fete deuoyde of all fauoure, To foyle the backe of an emperour.

Of olde it hathe be songe and cried loude, Recorde on Cyrus, and many other mo, Kinges of Perce of custome haue be proude, After punyshed and chastised eke also, Princes of mercy shulde take hede therto. After victory in their estate notable, To their prisoners for to be merciable,

Myne autor Bochas in this mater tel can, Rebuke tyrauntes that were by dayes old, Turneth his side speketh to Valerian, Where be thy rubies & saphires set in golde? Theryche peerles and rynges manifolde? That y^• were wont to weare vpon thy hōds? Now as a wretch art boūd in forayn bondes.

where thou were wonte of furyous crueltie, Clad in purple within Rome toune, To Christ contrary in thyne imperyall se, Gaue dome on martyrs to suffre passion: Nowe lyest thou bound fettred in preson, To kyng Sapor constrayned to enclyne, whan he lyst ryde bothe necke and chine.

Thus art thou fall in thine imperial stage, Thinke on fortune & haue her in memory, She hath the cast in thraldom and seruage: And eclypsed all thine olde glory. where thou sate whilom in the consistorye As an emperour and a mighty iudge, Lyest bound in chayns & knowest no refuge.

It is fall ferre out of thy mynde The knightly dede of worthy ••ublyus, Of Rome a captayne ordayned as I finde, To fyght agayne Aristomachus, Kyng of Asye, of fortune it fell thus: whan the romayns dyd the felde forsake, This Publius amonge his fone was take.

This noble prince standing in dredeful cace, His lyfe & worshyp dependyng atwen twayn, In his hande holding a sturdy mace, Smyt out one of his eyen twayne, Of him that led him, that other for the payne That he felte and the great smerte, Toke a dagger & roue Publyus to the herte.

which loued more his worship thā his lyfe, Chase rather to dye than liue in seruage, This conceite he had in his imaginatife, And considred sythe he was in age, To saue his honoure it was more auaūtage, So to be slayne his worshyp to conserue, Than lyke a beast in prison for to sterue.

Fortune his chaptre of him it was not rad, As Valerius maketh mencion, After whose conceyte no man in vertue sad Shulde not longe languy she in prison: But rather chose lyke his opinion Of manly force and knightly excellence, The dethe endure of longe abstynence.

As whylom dyd the princesse Agripine, whan she in prison lay fettred and bound, Of her fre choyce she felt great pyne, Of hungre and thurst in story it is found: That she lay pale & grofe vpon the grounde. Maugre Tibery and let her gost so wende, Out of her bodye this was her fatall ende.

Thou stode ferre of all suche fantasy, I speke of the (O thou Valerian) Thy cruell herte of false malencolye, Made whylom dye many a christen man And martyr, syth Christes faythe began: Which for mankynde dyed vpon the Rode There for tacquyte hym lyste shed hys blode.

Agayne his lawe thou were impacient, And importune by persecucion, Thou dydest fauour & suffre in thine entent▪ That Egipciens dyd their oblacion, Their sacryfices and ryte vp so doun, Vnto ydols of frowarde wylfulnesse, That was of Egipt called chefe goddesse.

Fauourable thou were in thy desire, To suffre Iewes their sabote to obserue: And Caldeis to worshyp the fyre, And folke of Crete Saturne to serue, And cristen men thou madest falsly sterue Of whose lawe for thou dyd not retche, Thou died in presō at mischefe like a wretch.

The .ii. Chapter.

¶ Howe Gallyen sonne of Valeri∣an was slayne.

NExt in ordre to Bochas tho cāe doun, Sonne of Valerian one called Gallien But for great horrible effusion Of christen bloud that men might sene, Shed by Valerian, God wold it shulde bene Shewed openly to romains by vengaunce, Of manye a countre sodaine dis obeysaunce.

They of Almayne the Alpes dyd pace, Vnto Rauenne a cite of Itaile, Gothes also proude of chere and face, Had agayne grekes many a great batayle: And they of Hūgry armed in plate & mayle, wyth them of Denmarke furious and cruell, Agayne romayns wexte of assent rebell.

To whose domage in this meane whyle, Amonge romayns, it is befall thus: wofull werres whiche called bene ciuile, Gan in the cyte cruell and dispiteous. First whan they met was slayne Gemyus which first toke on him in bokes as I rede Of hye corage to we are purple wede.

One Posthumus a mighty strong romayne, Kept all Gaule vnder subiection To their auayle, after vnwarly slaine, Among his knightes for al his hye renoun, By a sodayne vncouthe discencion: Next Victoryne hauing the gouernaunce, Of al Gaule was first slayne in Fraunce.

But Gallien of whom I spake toforne, Sonne and heyre to Valerian, His Domination of purpose he hath lorne In Republica whan he began, Lyke a contrarious and a frowarde man, wext lecherous and obstinate of liuinge, At mischefe slayne▪ this was hys endynge.

The .iii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Quintilius was mur∣dred by women.

NExt Gallien came one Quintilius, A man remembred of great attēperaūce Brother of byrth to great Glaudius, wise and discrete in al hys gouernaunce. who may of fortune eschue the chaunce? To wryte his ende shortlye in a clause Of women murdred I can not say the cause.

The .iiii. Chapiter.

Of Aurielan in Denmarke borne.

OF Denmarke born next came Aurelian, A worthy knight his enemies to assaile: Again Gothes a great warre he began, Gate victory in many stronge batayle. whose noble conquest greatly dyd auayle To comon profyt, for al his worke parde, was to the encreace of Rome the cyte.

He recured all the Septemtrion, And west warde had many a great victory: Amonge other I fynde that he was one, Asked the triumphe to be put in memorye. But there was a thing eclipsed his glorye. which did y^• light of his knightho•• withdraw, For he was enemy to Christ and to hys lawe, Of him Bochas lyst no more to wryte, But in his boke go forthe as he began, Of one remēbring that called was Tacyte whych was successour to Aurelian, And after him suceeded Folorian Of which twayne no remembraūce I fynde That is notable to put in mynde.

The .v. Chapter.

Howe Probus discomfited romayns and after was flayne.

Probus after raygned full seuen yere And four monthes, which by his hye renoun, Gain went Saturninus w^t a knightli chere, Brought him proudly to subiection, Not withstandyng that he in Rome toun Toke vpon hym of wylfull tyranny, Holy thempyre for to rule and gye.

Besyde the cyte called Agrypyne. This sayd Probus gayne many romayne, A batayle had, lyst not to declyne: Met Portulus a mighty stronge captayne Wyth one Bonosus & both they were slaine, And all their meyny of very force and might, Slaynm y^• felde the remnaūt put to slyghte.

After this batayle and this discomfyture, Probus was lodgedi Smyrmie a gret cyte, And there vnwarely of sodayne auenture, Slayne in a tour that called was Ferre, But a small season last his prosperite. Siche is fortune let no man in her trust; All worldly thynges chaungyng as she lust.

The .vi. Chapter.

¶ Howe Carus and his two sonnes were mischeued.

TOfore Bochas Carus next came doun, with his two sonnes Numeria & Carine And as I find he was borne in Narbon: But whan that he most clerely dyd shyne, By his knighthode, plainly to termine, In his empyre he gate cyties twayne, Chole & Thessiphontin Parthia w^t gret pay∣ne

Besyde Tygre a famous swyfte ryuere He pight his tentes, cast him there abide: A sodayne lightning his face came so nere, Smyt all to pouder for all his great pryde, And Numerian that stode by hys syde, Had a marke that was sent fro heuyn, Lost bothe his eyen, with the firy leuyn.

His other sonne Carinus a good knight, In Dalmacia had all the gouernaunce: And for that he gouerned not a righte, He was cast downe & lost all his puissaunce, Vicious lyfe cometh alway to mischaunce. Sepcius chose Dalmacia for to gye, Amonge his knightes murdred of enuy.

The vii. Chapter.

¶ How the hardy Quene zenobia fought with Aurelian, and was take

MIne auctor here no lēger lyst soiourne, Of these ēperours y^• falles for to write, But in al haste he doth his stile tourne, To zenobya hir story to endyte: But for Chaucer dyd him so well acquite In his tragedyes her pyteous fal to entreat, I wyll passe ouer rehersyng but the great.

In his bokes of Caunterbury tales This souerayne poete of Brutes Albyon, Thrugh pilgrimes tolde by hilles and vales, where, of zenobya is made mencion, Of her noblesse and her hye renoun, In a tragedye compendyouslye tolde al, Her marcial prowesse, and her pyteous fall.

Mine auctour first affyrmeth howe that she, Discended was to tell of herlynage, Borne of the stocke of worthye Tholome, Kyng of Egypt, full notable in that age: And this zenobya experte in all langage, wyse of counsayle and of great prudence, Passed all other in fame of eloquence.

Amonge she was armed in plate & mayle, Of Palmyrences wedded to the kyng, Called Odenatus prudent in batayle She was also by recorde of writyng. Hardy and stronge her lordship defendinge, Maugre al tho with her cheualry, Agaynst all them that wrongly toke party.

By Odenatus she had sonnes twayne Heremanus called was that one, And Tymolaus of beautye souerayne, After whose byrthe their father gan anone To occupy the prouynces euerychone Of Perce & Mede, by proces made thē ••••ene. Of zenobya the hardy wyse Quene

whyle Odenatus wext glorious In his conquest thrughout Perce & Mede, Slayne he was by one Mionius, Whiche to the kyng was cosyn as I rede: But for bycause of this horrible dede, And for the murdre of king Odenate, He dyed at mischefe, and passed into fate.

By processe after zenobya the quene, Toke her two sōnes & proudly dyd thē lede, Tofore her chare, the men might them sene, How they were borne as princes to succede: Made them like kinges clad in purple wede, Them to defende this mightye creature, Hardy as Lyon toke on her armure.

For al her Lordes and knights she had sent Maugre the romains proudly gan herspede All the parties of the Oriente To occupye, and her hoste so lede: Of themperour she stode nothyng in drede Called Aurelian met him in batayle, With her meyny proudly did assayle.

On outher syde y^t day great bloud was shed: The stroke of fortune withstāt no creature, The quene zenobia was taken & forthe led, Fought first as longe as she might endure, With rich stones fret was hir armure, w^t whom themperour so entrig Rome toun, Of triumphe required the guerdon.

He dempt it was couenable and sittinge, This Emperour this proud Aurelian, To aske the triumph it was so great a thing, To take zenobia that such a werre began, Gayne romayns, this marcial woman For I suppose of no woman borne, Was neuer quene so hardy sene aforne.

This hardy princesse for al hir crueltye, whose renome thrugh the world was know, With stockes of golde was brought to y^• citi, From hye estate in pouerte plunged lowe. A wynde contrary fortune hath so blow, That she, alas, hath pitoufly made fal, Her in that prowesse passed wemen al.

The triumphe yeuen to Aurelian, For the conquest he had vpon this quene, Called zenobya, came Dyoclisian, Borne in Dalmacia his story who lyst sene: Out of his countre first he dyd flene, Of garlyke & lekes as saythe the cronycler••▪ Bycause that he was but a gardinere.

Other mencion is none of his linage, Of his byrthe forsoke the region, Left his craft of deluyng and cortlage, Gaue him to armes and by election, Chose to be emperor & regne in Rome toun, First into Gaule he sent a great power, And Maximian he made his vicar.

His vicar there had many a great batayle, Vpon suche people that by rebellion, Gan frowardly and contrary to assaile, To obey his lordship within that region. Tyll Carausius by commission And an hardy knight vndre Maxymyan, Them to chastise toke on him lyke a man.

But by processe the story doth deuise His lordshyp there dyd great domage, To common profit, so he by couetyse The countre robbed by full greate outrage: And to him selfe he toke all the pyllage, And of presumpcion ware the colour Of ryche purple like an emperoure.

This Carasius of Bretayns twayne Proudly vsurped to be their gouernour, Lyke a rebell agayne Rome dyd his payne, And busyed him by marciall laboure, with many a straunge forayne soudyoure: Hauynge no title nor commyssion, Contynued longe in hys rebellyon.

Wherof astonied was Dioclisian, Seyng this mischefe dredful and perillous: Ordayned in haste that Maximian, Was surnamed and called Herculius, Made hym emperour called Agustus, Whiche had a fore no more gouernaunce, But Gaule whiche now is called Fraunce.

Also more ouer this Dioclisian Made in thys whyle gouernours twayne, Constancius and one Maximian, Surnamed Galerius Cōstancius i certayn: In this whyle to wedde he dyd his payne, Doughter of Maximian called Herculius, Named the odora myn auctor writeth thus.

By Theodora this Constancius Had sixe children in trewe mariage, Broder to Cōstātyne y^• cronicle telleth thus, Whiche afterwarde when he came to age, For his manhode and marciall corage, Was chose and made Lord and gouernour, Of all the worlde, and crowned emperoure.

Carausius which had ful seuen yere Lyke as I tolde rebelled in Bretayne, Agaynst the romayns, a great extorcionere: A knighte Allectus that did at hym disdayne Murdred him, and after did his payne, By force only and extort tyranny, Fully thre yeres his place to occupye.

Tyll Asclepio was sent from Rome doun, Slewe Allectus maugre all his myght▪ Brought all Bretayne to subiection, Of the romayns, lyke as it was ryght. And in this while like a manly knight. For Italiens gan romayns disobey, Constancius gan proudly them werrey.

He first wyth them had a stronge batayle, His meyay slayne and put to the flighte: Trustyng on fortune he gan thē efte assayle, And sixty thousand were slayne in the fight, The felde was his thrugh fortunes might, As she that coude dissymule for a whyle, And afterwarde falsly him begyle.

I wyll passe ouer as brefely as I can, Set a syde all forayne incidentes: Resorte agayne to Dioclisian, Which at Alisaūdre proudly pytched his ten∣tes. The captaine slewe, gaue commaund emēts To his knightes to do their auauntage, With the cite by robbynge and pyllage.

Can agayne christen great persecucion, Vsed this tyranny in the Orient, By his bydding Maximian came doun, Towarde the parties of the Occident: Bothe these tyrauntes wrought by assent, Vnder whose sworde many martyr deyes, Slayn in Octodorū the legion of Thebeies

At Verolamye a famous olde cyte Saynt Albou slaine, his legend doth so tell: And in Rome by furious crueltye, The pope slayne that called was Marcel, By their statutes and by their domes fell Churches were brent, in townes and cyties, Lost their fraunchise and al their liberties.

Frowarde enemy he was to Christes lawe, Made many a martyr to dye for his sake: Wext feble and olde, and gan him withdraw, From occupacion his rest for to take,

His attorney Maxymyan he dothe make, In his last age it is reherced thus, Stode in great drede of Constantius.

The drede of him sate so nye his hearte, And thervpon toke suche a fantasy, Imagining he might not start, By fraud of him but that he shuld dye, Almoste for fere fyll in a frensye: Of which drede the boke maketh mencion He slewe him selfe by drinkyng of poison.

As I tolde erst in the Occident, Maximian called Herculius, Reygned as Emperour, & euer in hys entent To pursue martyrs he was aye laborus: Of whose byrth Bochas foūd no auctoures. This to saye he coude neuer rede, Where he was borne nor of what kynrede.

He findeth no more of this Maximian Of his vsurpynge in esspeciall, But that he was by Dioclisian Set in dignite called imperiall: Famous in armes prudent and marcial, Daunted al tho that did againe him striue, Slewe Gencyans called in nomber fiue

Rode in Affrike lyke a conquerour, Broughte to subiections the sturdy nacions, Fortune that time did him such fauoure: Gate Sarmatoise with other regions, with other cities and many riche towns, By his conquest of new that he hath won, Through y^• world his name shone like y^• son.

He was cheryshed in armes from hys youth, And did greate emprises for Rome the cytie: Yet Dioclisian as it is well couthe, Counsayled him resigne his dignitie, But he was lothe to forsake hys see, Syth he was Lord and gouerned al, For to renounce his state imperiall.

But by assent of Dioclisian, As he him selfe had left the gouernaunce, Euen so thys Maxymyan, Discharged him self of his royal puissaunce. But afterwarde he fyll in repentaunce, And busy was as dyuers bokes sayne, The state of Emperour to recure agayne.

Which for to acheue he dyd his diligence, He was distourbed by Galerius: For his sonne that called was Maxence Put in possession, myn auctour writeth thus, To which thing he gan wexe enuyous, And gan ordeyne meanes in hys thought, To trouble him but it auailed nought.

Whan his purpose myght take none auayle, Againe Maxence as Bochas doth discryue, His daughter Fausta that knew his coūsail, Discured his purpose, for which he fled bliue Into Gaule, and durst no lenger striue: And by Constantius in Marcile the cite, Slayne sodenlye, lost al his dignite.

The .viii. Chapter.

Howe Galerius oppressed martyrs and Chri∣stes fayth, and myscheuously ended.

NExt tofore Bochas came Galerius, A man disposed to ryot and outrage, Euel teached, frowarde, and vicious, There is no story that speketh of hys lynage: Yet was he set ful hye vpon the stage, Of worldly dignyte, rose vp to hye estate, Yet in his ginning he was not fortunate,

He was sent out by Dioclisian, And made emperour by hys auctorite: Agayne Narseus the proud knightly man, Reignyng in Perce and Lord of that coūtre, Whiche helde werre with Rome the cyte. For which Galerius toke on him this emprise wyth myghtye hande hys pryde to chastyse.

Galerius entred into Derce lande, Kinge Narseus met him of auenture, Had a strong batayle, fought hand for hande, His fortune such he might not endure. On Galerius fyll the discomfyture, Clad in purple as made is mencyon, Of Dioclisian receyued hys guerdon.

At their meting anone or they were ware, Dioclisian made him to abide, To his confusyon, sytting in his chare To walke on fote by the chares syde, Wyth many a rebuke abated was his pryde: Galerius for the great shame, Gan seke a meane agayne to get hys name.

Came for to assemble hys old soudiours, Made for his ordinaūce by diligent workig: Chase out the best proued warryours, With a great hoste to Perce he came ryding:

and ofte there fought with the king, That the perciens maugre al theyr myght, Were of Galerius that dai put to flight.

The felde was his, he gate greate riches, Robbed their tentes, and wan there pillage, In this resort receiued in sothnes, In great nobles because of that voyage: Thus can fortune chaunge her vysage, Of Dioclisian where he stode in disdaine, wyth newe tryumphe resorted is agayne.

This cloudy quene stādeth neuer in certain, whose double whele quauereth euer in dout: Of whyse fauour no man hath be certayne, Though one haue grace another is put out. Let euerye man as it cometh about, Take his tourne, and neuer in her assure Faylynge in armes is but auenture.

Thus Galerius after hys batayle, On Perciens gan wexe gloryous, Gouerned Affrike and lordshyp of Itayle, Throughout the Orient he was victorious, Tyll he for age gan wexe tedious, His last dayes maligned as men saith, Of false hatred agayne christen fayth.

And him to healpe in these false maters, It is remembred, to his confusion In his empyre he set two vicats, Gaue them power in euery region, The lawe of Christ to oppres and put downe, To punyshe matters, and put them to deathe. And in this whyle ful manye one he fleeth.

By this sayd truell Galerius, which of thempyre had al the gouernaunce, Of cursed hart and corage dispiteous, By his vsurped imperyal puissaunce, Gaue auctorite for to do vengaunce, Vnto twaine Seuerus and Maxence. On al cristen by mortal vyolence.

A certayne space bothe of one accorde To the state of emperour chose was Maxēce, Tyl Seuerus and he fell at dyscorde, And after by vengable pestylence, within a city of noble preeminence, Called Rauenue, Seuerus ther was flayne. Of whiche Galerius was nothynge faine.

For whyche in haste thys Galerius Him to support, and stand in hys defence, Chase out of Denmarke a knight Lucinius To be emperour through knightly excellēce. For to withstand and fight agayn Maxence. But Maxence of romayne knightes all, was chosen emperour and set vp in his stall.

with which election Galerius wext wode, Fil in a maner of froward frensy: His entraile brent corrupt was his bloude, And of his froward vengable malady, In euery membre gan rotte and putrifye, Tyll the eyre aboute him enuiron, To al that felt it was venim and poison.

Like a Lazar corbed backe and chine, In this while on cristen most vengeable, To him auailed no maner medicyne But there was in Christes faythful stable, That spake vnto him w^t langage ful notable In wordes fewe concludinge in substaunce, The gret Jupiter, hath take on y^• vēgaunce.

And euermore for shorte conclusion, with a bolde spyrite to him gan abrayde: It is nat Jupiter worshipped in thys towne, In the capitoyle set, sothly as I sayd, But Jupiter that was borne of a mayde▪ which list not suffer of that thou dost endure, That anye medecynes shulde therecure.

Lyke atyraunt by vengaunce furious, At mischefe dieth as bokes tell, Perpetually with cruell Cerberus Vpon the whele of Ixion to dwell, For His demerites wyth tantalus in hell, There to receiue his finall guerdon, which coude on martyrs haue no compassion

It was hys ioy for to shed their bloud, Sent out letters to diuers regions, Like a slye wolf rauynous and wode, To slee martirs by diuers passyons: Lyke his desert receiued his guerdons, Horrible death did them first confounde, with furies infernall lyeth in hell bounde.

The .ix. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Maxence the emperour enemy to Christes faithe mischeuously ended.

After Galerisu cruell vyolence, Gayne christen blode as Bochas hath tolde, with piteous there the Emperour Maxence, Came tofore Bochas of age not ful olde,

Famous in armes, sturdy, freshe, and bolde. Albe he entred notlike an heritoure, Coke vpon him to reigne as gouernoure.

To Christes fayth he was also enemy. After sone he lost his gouernaunce. Of infortune slayne sodainly: God on tyraūtes vnwarely taketh vengasice, Of whose burying was made no remēbraūce For he was nat receiued of the ground But caste in Tibre like a rotten hounds.

The .x. Chapiter.

Howe Lucinius enemy to Chri∣stes faythe was slayne.

Next tofore Bochas came Lucynius, A knighte of Denmarke borne of good lyne: whiche had an ennemy the boke saith thus▪ An hardy knighte called Maximine, Chose a captaine w^t the mperour Cōstantyne. To the faith of Christ he bare gret enmyte. Slayne anone after in Trace the cyte.

Of whose death Lucinius was glad, Gan agayne christen persecucion, In his procedyng sodainly wext mad, which commaunded of false presumpcyon, whan he began to do execucion, That nochristen nowhere him beside, By no condicion shulde in his house abide.

This Lucinius which falsly did erre Againe our faith christen men to assasle, Gaine Constantine of newe he gan warre: But of his purpose in sothe he did fail, For he was twise discomfited in batayle, By Constantine ones in Hungrye, Next in Grece besyde Eualye.

Thus Cōstantyne through his hye renoune, Gate nye Gcece and euerye great countre Alde Lucinius flode in rebellion Gayne Constantine, both on land and sea: But when he sawe it wolde none otherbe, He might not escape in no place, Put holy him selfe in Constantyns grace.

But Constantine for his hie rebellion, Gaue iudgement in hast that he be dead: Leaste in the citie were made diuision By Lucinius, wherof he stode in drede. This same while as Bochas toke hede, There came before him w^t chere ful piteous▪ Brethern twayne Constantine and Crispus.

The .xi. Chapter.

Of Constantyne and Crispus: and howe Damalcus was slayne.

To cōstantine of whom I spake toforne, They were sonnes Cōstantine and Crispus: The same twayne of one mother borne, Cāe tofore Bochas his boke reherceth thus. with them came eke Lucinius Sonne of Lucinius, which in Rome toun, Afore was slayne for hys rebellyon.

Constantine his werres to gouerne, Made them vicars the self same thre: Echone rightwise and coude wel discerne What mighte auaile moste to their citye, To encrese the profit of the commonte. Their names tolde Cōstantine and Crispus. Tofore remembred, with them Lucinius.

while these thre vicars vnder the emperour. Gouerned Rome as Knightes most famous, In Alisaundre rose vp a great errour, By a false preest called Arryus; To our beleue a thing contrarious: And for he did again our fayth so wyrche. By a decre was put out of the chyrche.

By assent at Bithinye, full notable In Nicea a famous great citye, This errour was proued ful dampnable, Thre .C. bishops were present there parde, And eightene the cronicle who list se, And all these of one sentence ••like, Preued Arrius a false heretike.

This same time bokes doth specifye, Howe Constantine of hasty crueltye, The sayd vicars nigh of alye, Fayned a cause to slee them all thre, No cause rehersed nor told of equitye: Saue only this, in which he gan procede. To make his cosyn Dalmacius to succede.

But his fauour was not fortunate Towarde Dalmacius, nor gracious in sen∣tence Among whose knightes fell a sodeyn debate, Constantine there being in presence, Dalmacius withoute reuerence, with sharp swordes, to speke in wordes fewe▪ Vnto the death was wounded and phewe.

The .xii. chapter.

¶ Of the brethern Constaunce & Constan∣cius and how Magnentius and De¦cius murdred them selfe.

THan came Constaunce & Constancius yong brethren, thus writeth min autour. To Constantine in time of Arrius, And eche of them by ful great labour, Did his payne to reygne as emperoure: Tyl at the last breuely for to say, Eueryche of the in gan other to werrey.

This said Constaunce is entred Perce land Nyne times he fought agayne Sapore, The same king as ye shal vnderstand That with romaynes had foughten afore But finally Constaunce hath him so bore To holde the felde he might not endure, For vppon him fyll the discomfiture.

His fortune gan chaunge anonryght Whan that he left to be vertuous, He was in Spain slain like a knighte, In a castel strong called Maxencius, Than was none left but Constancius, The romaine knights destitute euerichone Chase them an emperoure one Vetramone.

This Vetramone was ferre ronne in age, Barraine of wit and coud no letture, Nor in knighthode had no great corage, Nor was not able to study in scripture: Nor like anemperour no while to endure, For which Cōstācius of whom I spake now late With this Vetramone cast hi to debate

This Vetramone hath left his estate, List not werrey againe Constancius, Forsoke the felde loued no debate, But of Spaine, min auctour writeth thus, As I wrote late, how that Magnencius, Gayne Cōstācius w^t sword spere and shielde Presumed proudly for to holde a field.

To great domage and hindring of the toun. For many romayns thilke day was dede, Besyde a cite which called was Leon. Tyl at the last of very coward drede, Magnencius which captain was and head, Agayne Constantius hath the felde forsake, Lo howe fortune can her chaunges make.

Magnencius for very sorow and shame, Bode no lenger but gate him a sharp knyfe, Sole b•• him selfe wherein he was to blame, Roue thrugh his herte and so lost his life: His brother Decius partable of the strife About his necke cast a mighty corde, And hynge him self bokes so record.

Constancius thase after him, Gallus His vncles brother to gouerne Fraunce, Was a false tyraunt cruell and outragious, Sone after slayne for his misgouernaunce. Another vicar for his disobeysaunce, Called Syluanus by iudgment was slayne. For which in Fraūce many a man was fayn.

The .xiii. chapter.

Howe Constantine baptised by Sil∣uester was recured of his lepre.

OF this mater stynt I will a while And folowing min own straūg opinion, Fro Constancius turn away my style, And to his father make a digression, Cause Bochas maketh short mencion, Of Cōstantine which by record of clerkes, Was so notable found in al his werkes.

This mightyprince was borne in Bretayne, So as the Brute plainly doth vs lere: His holy mother was called Helayn, He in his dayes most knightly and entere. Of mercial actes he knew al the manere, Chosen emperour for his hye nobles, Fyl in to lepre cronicles doth expresse.

His sore so greuous that no medicine Might auayle his sicknesse to recure, He was coūsayled to make a great pyscyne With innocentblud of children y^• wer pure, Make him cleane of that he did endure: Thrugh Itayle children anon were sought, And to the palais by their mothers broughte.

It was great routhe to beholde and se, Of tender mothers to here the sobbing, By furious constraint of their aduersiti, Their clothes to rent be dewed with weping: The straunge noise of their hidous cryinge, Assended vp in their piteous clamour, Came to the eares of the emperour.

Of which noise themperour was agrysed, Whan he knewe grounde and occasion Of this mater, afore tolde and deuysed, This noble prince gan haue compassion:

And for to stynt the lamentacion Of all the women there beyng in presence Of mercifull pity hath graūted his sentēce.

This glorious, this gracious emperour, Is clombe of mercy so hye vpon the stayre, Spared nouther vitayle nor his treasour, Nor his langour that did him so appayre, with full glad there made them to repayre, where they came sory to Rome the cyte, They haue retourned glad to their countrie

Royall compassion did in his herte mine, Chase to be sicke rather then bloud to shede: His brest enlumined by grace that is deuine, Which fro the heauen did vpon him sprede; He wold not suffre innocentes to blede. Preseruing pity and mercy more than right, He was visited vpon the next night,

Peter and Paule to him did appere, Sent from the Lord as heuenly messāgers, Bad Constantine be of good chere, For he that sitteth aboue the nine speres, The Lord of Lords, the lord of lengest yeres Wyll that thou haue it wel in minde, In mount Sarapty y^• shalt thy leche fynde.

God of his grace list the to visite. To shed bloud, because that thou dost spare, He hath vs sent thy labour for to quite, Tidinges brought of helth and thy welfare, Pope Siluester to the shal declare, As we haue told, be ryghtwel assured, Of thy sicknes how thou shalt be recured.

To mount Sarapty in al hast that thousēd, Suffre Siluestre to come to thy presence: Sought and found breuely to make an end, Receiued after due reuerence, Did his deuoyre of entyre diligence, Like as the life of Siluester hathe deuysed, By grace made hole whan he was baptysed.

His flesh, his synewes made sodenly white, By thrise washynge in that pystyne, Of holy baptym, welle of most delyte, where the holy gost did him enlumine, Enfourming after by teching of doctryne Of Siluestre like as myne auctour saithe, Of all artycles that longe vnto our faythe.

The font was made of Porphyrie stone, which was after by cost of Constantine with a round bye that did aboute gone, Of golde and perre & stones that were fyne, Myd of the font right vp as alyne, Vpon a piller of golde a lampe bright, Full of fyne bawme that brent all the nighte,

A lambe of golde he did also prouide, Set vpon this fonte vpon a smal pyllere: which like a condyte vpon eueryside, Shad out water as any cristal clere: On whose right side an ymage moste entere was richly forged of our sauyour, All of pure gold that cost great treasour.

And on this lambe on the otherside An ymage set longe to endure, Of Baptist John with letters for to abide, Graue curiously and this was the scripture: Ecce agnus dei that did for man endure On good friday offred vp his blode, To saue mankynde died vpon the rode.

He let also make a great censere All of golde, fret with perles fine: which by night as Phebus in his spere. Thrugh al y^• church most freshly did shine▪ There fourty stones Jacinctine. Appollos tēple, min auctor writeth the same, was hallowed newe in saynt Peters name.

The romayn tēples that werbuilded of olde, He hath fordone withal their maumetry: Their false goddes of syluer and of gold. He hath to broke in eche partye. This goodly prince of gostly policy, Set newe statutes of great vertue, To be obserued in the name of Christ Jesu.

The first lawe as I reherse can In ordre set with ful great reuerence, That Christ Jesu was sothfast god and m•• Lord of Lordes, lord of most excellence, which hath this daye of his beniuolence, Cured my lepre as ye haue herde deuised, By blessed Siluestre whan I was baptysed,

This gracious Lord my souerain lord Jesu, From bence forthe for shorte conclusion, I wyl that he as Lord most of vertue, Of faythfull herte and hole affection, Be worshipped in euery region: No man so hardy my byddyng to disdayne, Least he suffre death or els greuous paine.

Folowing the day called the secound,

This Constantine hath ordayned a decre, That who that euer in towne were founde Or els where aboute in the countre, What euer he were of hye or lowe degre, That blasphemed the name of Jesu, By dome shuld haue of dethe a plain issue.

The thyrd day in euery mannes sight By a decre, confyrmed and made stronge To euery christen, who that did vnright, By oppression to collaterall wronge, It shuld notbe taryed ouer longe: Who were conuicte or gilty shal not these, By lawe ordained halfe his good to lese.

The fourthe day amonge romayns al, This priueledge pronounced in the toun: Yeue to the pope sytting in Peters stall, As souerayne head in euery region To haue the rule and iurisdiccion, Of preestes all alone in al thyng, Of temporal Lordes like as hath the kynge.

To the church he graunted great fraunchyse The fyfth day, and specially lyberte: If a felon in any maner wise, To finde socoure thider did fle, within the bounds of danger to go fre, To be assured and haue therof full refuge From execucion of any temporall iudge.

No man presume within no cytye, The sixt day, he gaue this sentence. No man so hardy of hye or lowe degre To buylde no church but he haue licence Of the Bishop beyng in presence: This to say that he in his estate, By the pope afore be approbate.

The seuenth day this law he did eke make Of all possessions which be royall, The tenth parte yerely shall be take, By iudges handes in party and in all. Which treasour they deliuer shall As the statute doth plainly specify, Hole and entere churches to edify,

The eight day mekely he did him quite with great reuerence and humble affection, Whan he did of al his clothes white, And came him selfe on pilgrimage doune: Tofore saint Peter of great deuocion, Notwithstanding his roial excellence, Made his confession in open audience.

His crowne toke and knelyng thus he sayde, With weping eyen and voyce lamentable, And for sobbyng as he might abrayde, O blessed Jesu, O Lord most merciable, Let my teares to the be acceptable, Receiue my prayer my request not refuse, As man most synfull I may me not excuse.

I occupied the state of the emperour, Of thy martyrs I shed the holy bloud, Spared no sayntes in my cruel erroure, Them to pursue moste furious and wode: Now blessed Jesu moste gratious and good, Peysed and consydred myn immortal offēce, I am not worthy to come in thy presence.

Nor for to entre in to this holy place, Vpon this ground vnable for to dwell, To open mine eyen or to lyft vp my face, But of thy mercy so thou me not repell As man most sinful I come vnto the well: Thy well of grace, of mercy and pite, For to be washen of mine iniquity.

This example openly he hath shewed, His state imperiall of mekeneslaid aside: His purpyl garment with teares al be dewed, Swerd or septer ne horse vpon to ride, There was none nor baners splayde wyde, Of marcial triumphes was no token found, But crying mercy, the inperor layon ground.

The peoples gladnes was medled w^t wepig, And their weping was medled with gladnes: To se an emperour and so noble a kyng, Of his fre choyse to shew so great mekenes, Thus entremedled was ioy and heuines, Heuynes ferre passed old vengaunce, With new reioising of ghostly repentaunce▪

This soy was lake a feast funeral, In folke of custome that do their busy cure, To bring a corse which of custome shal Haue al the rightes of his sepulture: And in this time of sodayne auenture To life againe restored be his bones, Causing his frendes to laugh & wepe atones

Semblably dependyng atwene twayne, The people wept, and ther with reioising, To se the emperour so pitously complayne, For his trespace mercy requiring: Of ioy and sorow a gracious medlyng, That day was sene gladnes meynt w^t mone,

with wepyng, laughter, & all in one persone,

After all this he digged vp him selue, Stones twelue where he was knelyng: And put them in coffins twelue, On the .xii. Apostles deuoutly remembrynge, Compassed a ground large for buildinge, Besyde his palays cast theron to wyrche, In Christes name to set vp there a chirch.

The place of olde called Lateranence, Buylded and edifyed in the apostels name: Constantinus bare al the dispence, Ordained a law, mine autour saith the same If any poore, naked, blynde or lame, Receiue wold the faith of Christ Jesu, He shuld bi statute be take to this issue

In his promyse if he were found true, were not fayned nor no faytoure, He shuld first be spoyled and clad new, By the costage of the emperour: Twenty shillings receyue to his socour, Of which receyte nothyng was withdrawe, By statute kept, and holde as for a lawe.

It were to longe to put in memory His hye prowesse and his notable dedes: And to reherce euery great victory, which that he had with hostes that he ledes. And to remembre al his gracious spedes, The surplusage who lyst comprehend, Let them of Syluestre rede the legend.

Amonge other touching his vision, which he had, in cronicles men may lere. whan he slept in his royall dongeon, How Christ to him graciously did appere, Shewed him a crosse, & sayd as ye shal here: Be not aferde vpon thy fone to fall, For in this signe, thou shalt ouercome thē al.

By which visiō he was made fullight, Thrugh gods grace and heuenly influence: First in his baner y^• shone so clere & bryghte, The crosse was betē chefe tokē of his defēce Slew the tyran̄t that called was Maxence. After whose death thrugh his hye renoun, Of all the mpyre he toke possession.

In whiche estate he mayntayned the ryghte, Vpon al poore hauyng compassion: During his time hold the best knyght, That any where was in any region. Of Christes faythe the imperyal champion, Through his noble knightly magnificence, To all christen protector and diffence.

After his name which neuer shal appal Chaunged in Grece the name of Bisance▪ Constantinople he did it after call: And on a stede of brasse (as men may se) Manacyng the turkes of the countre, He sytteth armed a great sweard in his hād, Them to chastise that rebel in that land.

Reioyse ye folkes that borne be in Bretayne▪ Called otherwise Brutus Albion, That had a prince so notable a souerayne, Brought forth and fostred in your region: That whylom had the domynacion, As chefe monarche, prince and president, Ouer all the world, from Est to occident.

Tyme of his dethe that moneth of the yere, Phebus not sene, withdrew hys feruēt hete: Was eclipsed, and might not appere. And longe before shewed a great Comete, Alway encreasyng drewe towarde the cete, Of Nychomede, shone early and eke late, Where in his palayes he passed into fate.

The .xiiii. Chapter.

¶ Howe Julyan Apostata enemy to Chri∣stes fayth by false illusions was cho∣sen emperour, and after slaine.

AFfter the dethe of this marciall man, I meane this worthy noble Constātine, Commeth the Apostata cursed Julian, which by discent to Constantyne was cosyn: Hys gynnyng cursed had a cursed fyne, Entred relygion as bokes specify, Vndre a colour of false ypocrisy

It hath ben sayd of antiquitie, where there is a dissimuled holinesse, It is called double iniquitie, Fye on all such fayned perfitenesse, For simulacion couered with doublenes, And false semblaunt with a sour face, Of all sectes, furthest stant out of grace.

A certayne space as made is mencion▪ To al perfection he did him self apply: Tyll he wext wery of his profession, Forsoke his ordre by apostasye, And first he gaue him to nygromancy,

Double apostata as mine autour sayth, First to his ordre, and after to our faithe.

By ordinaunce of Constancius, This sayd Julyan rote of ypocrisye, Of gouernaunce froward and vicious, was sent to Gaule with great cheualrye, As vicar chosen the countre for to gye: Gate him fauour, and falsly gan conspire, To haue possession of the hole empyre.

And for he was not likely to attayne To that estate he did his heart apply Another meane plainlye to ordayne, wicked spyrites to make of his alye: Became aprentis to learne sorcerie, To haue experience by inuocacions, To cal spyrites with his coniuracions.

By false illusyons in the peoples syght, wicked spyrites had so great fauour, A crown of laurer vpon his heed a light: Made folke to deme by full false errour, It came by myracle to chose him emperoure. whiche in trouthe as in existence, was but iutrusion and fayned apparence.

with them he had his conuersacion, Spared not to do them sacrifice, with eyremonyes and false oblacion, And to be emperour he rose in this wyse. The state receiued firste he gan deuise Agayne grekes out of his countre ferre, To make him strong, w^t them to haue werre.

The fiende a whyle was to him fauourable, Gaue him entrye and possession, And made him promise for to abide stable, In his Lordship and dominacion: To haue this world vnder subiection, Of which be hest he stode in perilous caas, Folowyng the opinion of Pictagoras.

Pyctagoras had this opinion, whan men dyed anone after than, There was made a translacion Of his spyrite into another man: A maner likenes the Byble tell can, The double spyrite of grace and prophecy, To Helisius graunted by Hely.

Hereon concluding like his opinion, As Pyctagoras affyrmed in sentence, He that had ful possession Of such a sprite in very existence, Shuld haue the same wisdom and science, The disposicion after him as blyue, Which had the spirite that was here aliue.

Of gouernaunce, and also of nature, Resemble him of maners and liuing: And thus by fraude Pluto did his cure, To make Julyan trust in euery thynge. He had by byrthe the spyrite of the kyng, Called Alysandre, by whych he shuld wyn This world by conquest, when he lyst begyn.

Thus gan he fo••e and fail in fantasy, To trust on Pluto and goddes infernal, They shuld enhaunce him by his cheualry, For to possede and reioice al Sworde, seipter, crowne, and state imperial: Passe Alysandre in honour and in glory, And him excel in triumphal victorie.

He trusted Sathan bi whō he was disceiued To Christes faith became mortall enemy: Where that euer he hathe perceyued Crosse or crucifixe, he brake them vengably. By false langage he caused traitourly Christ Jesu be called Galilee, And of dispyte somtime of Nazaree.

Agayne our faithe this tyrant wext so wode. Againe Christ had so great hatred, Slew many a martyr & fasly shed their blud, An ydolater, and regenate in dede: Held mortall war with thē of Perce & Mede, Comyng to Perce first he gan debate Gayne Sapor, of whom I spake but late.

Of Parthois also he entred thrugh the reem Where he fonde no maner resistence, And as he came by Jerusalem, The Jewes anone he gaue licence To buylde the temple with great diligence, In dispyte of purpose to do shame To Christes church bilt a new in his name.

In this while he caught a great corage In a Theatre made brode in the toun, To wylde beastes cruell and sauage Of sayntes bloud to make oblacion, They to deuoure men of religion: And al christen of purpose to distroy His lust was set, and al his worldly ioye.

By an heraude that did his host conuey.

Of very purpose to bring them in a trayne, By strāge deserts found out a froward way, The heate importable dyd him so constrayne Brent thrugh the harneyse, felt so great pain, The drye sandes, the ayre infect with hete, Made many a man in hast their lyfe to lete.

This froward tyrant knowing no remedy, Of cursed heart gan Christ Jesu blaspheme, And of malycious hatred and enuy, Wode and furious, as it did seme, Gan curse the lord that al y^e world shal deme, Christ Jesu, which of longe pacience List not by vengaunce his malice recōpence.

And more cruell was there neuer none, Nor more vengable not Cerberus in hel, Mortal enemy to good men euerychone, Whose blasphemies and rebukes fell Byrehersayle if I shulde them tel▪ I am afrayd the venomous violence, Shuld enfect the ayre wyth the pestylence.

He cast out dartes more bytter then is gall, Of blasphemy, and infernal langage, And in this whyle among his princes all, A knight vnknowe angelyke of vysage, Freshly armed to punyshe his outrage, With a sharp spere thrugh euery vayne, Of thys tyrant roue the hart on twayne.

Bathed in his bloud this tyrant fyll lowe, To God and man frowarde and odious, Thoughe y^• time the knight was not know, Yet some men sayne it was Marcurius, Which by the praier of Basilius This tirant slewe as cronicles doth vs lere, By a myracle of Christes mother dere.

This Mercurius as bokes determyne, In Cesaria a mighty stronge citie Within the countre called Palestine, Buryed afore, rose vp at this iournee Out of his graue, a strange thinge to se, An horse brought to hi arayed in his armure, Whiche hyng tofore beside his sepulture.

The same armure was not sene that nyght, Nor on the morowe at his graue founde, Tyl midday that Phebus shone fulbryghte whan Mercurius gaue him his fatal wound His blasphemy for euer to confound: preue, whiche thinge accomplyshed thys myracle to He and his armure were there againe at eue.

Of his blasphemy this was the soden wrake ••hiche the tyrant receyued for his mede, The last worde, I fynde that he spake, Was: thou Galylee hast ouercome in dede, Toke the bloude that he did blede This deuyllyshe man dying in dispayre, Dispyte of Jesu cast it in the ayre.

His body slayne and his skyn was take, Tawed▪ after the precept and bidding, Souple and tendre as they coude it make, Saporbadde so that was of Perce king, That men therof might haue knowlegyng: Early on the morowe and at eue late, He did it nayle vpon his palays gate.

And to a cyte that called was Kayre, As cronycles make rehersayle, This Apostata wolde ofte a day repayre, To a woman which had in her entrayle Spyrites closed, to make his diuinayle, In whose wombe barain and out of grace, Of wicked spirites was the dwellyng place.

This sayd woman was a creature The which afore by cursed Julyan, By his lyfe his purpose to recure, In sacrifice was offred to Sathan: And so as he with cursednes began, Such was his ende, as al bokes tell, whose soul with Pluto is buryed depe in hel.

With this tyrant Bochas gan wexe wroth For his most odious fell outrage, And to reherce in partie he was lothe The blasphemies of hys fell langage: For nouther furye, nor infernal rage May be compared with poison fret within, To the false venyme of this horrible synne.

It is contrary to all good thewes And tofore God moste abhominable, Hatefull to all saue to cursed shrewes, For of all vyces very imcomparable Moste contagious, and most delectable, The mouth enfect of such infernal hounds, Which euery day sle Christ with new woūds.

For obstynate of purpose for the nones, Of disposicion furyous and wode, Not afraide to swere goddes bones, with horrible other, as body, flesh, and bloud, The Lord dismēbring most gracius & good. His fete, hādes, armes, face and heed,

Reno him of new as they wolde haue him, deed.

This blessed Lord which is immortall Though they be dedly they would him slee a∣geyn, They be erthly, he is celestial, In froward wise they ben ouerseyne: Discrecion fayleth, their reason is in vayne: All suche blasphemy, for shorte conclusyon, Procedeth of pride and false ambycion.

It semeth to me they haue foul fayled Of kyndnes, to do him reuerence which for their loue vpon the crosse was nay∣led, To pay the raunsome for mans offence, Suffred death with humble pacyence, False rebukyng, spyttyng in hys vysage, To bring mankynde vnto his heritage.

False surquedy that doth the heartes reyse Of such blasphemers, as was this Julian, whose great empyre might not counterpeise Again the Lord which is both God and man: The original ground of pride was Sathan, Prince vnder him most infortunate, was this Apostata, reignyng in his estate.

What was thende of this tyrant horrible? This cruell felon hatefull to euery wyght? By sodayne myracle to al his hoste visible, There dyd appere a very heuenly knyght, Most freshly armed, angelyke of sighte, With a sharpe speere sitting on his stede, Made the tyrant his hert bloude to blede.

His false goddes might him not auaile, His frowarde off rynge done to maumetry, Nor al his proude imperyall apparayle, His inuocacions, nor hateful sorcerye: For this apostata that dyd his faythe denye, Amonge his knightes slayn by death sodain, His soule in hell with sathan in great payne.

The xv. chapter

¶ Howe themperoure Valence slewe Here∣mites shed christen blud▪ distroyed chur∣ches, and after was brent.

BOchas in hast doth hys style dresse Next, to the mperour y^e called was Valēce, Rehersyng first the perfyte holynesse Of Heremytes, that did their dilygence To lyue in penaunce and in abstynence, Forsoke the worlde: and for Christes sake, In to desert they haue the way take▪

In this world here they lyst no lengar tarye, Dyuers and double of trust no certayne, Ferre in Egypte to liue solitary, Depe in desertes, of folke not to be sayne: The soyle was drye, of vitayle ful barayne, The frutelesse trees vp seared by the rote, For Christes loue they thoght y^e life most so••e

This sayd Valence of malice frowardly, To this Heremites y^• liued in gret penaunce, Causelesse with full great enuy Troubled them, and did thē great greuaūce, Lyke a tyraunte set al in vengaunce: Distroyd churches with people that he ladde, And where he went christen bloud he shadde.

This mean while by robbyng and rauyne, In Mauritayne which is a great countre, There was a prince that called was Faryne, And in Cesaria a famous great cyte, For his extorcion and his cruelte, He toke vpon him proudly there reignynge, Maugre romayns to be crowned kinge.

Theodose the fyrst a manly man Was sent out his malice to withstand, By the bidding of Valencian, Which that time the mpyre had in hand, Bothe atones: but ye shal vnderstande Theodose was sent out to assayle The sayd Farine, and slewe him in batayle.

Of whiche Faryne by full cruel hate In that countre presumptuously reignynge, Smote of his heed, and sate it on the gate Of Cesaria this was the endyng: Which by intrusiō afore was crowned king, In Mauritayne oppressing them by drede, As ye haue herde for which he lost his heade.

In this mater Bochas doth not soiourne, By no attendaunce nor long diligence, But of purpose dothe agayn retourne To the mperour, that called was Valence: Which as I told did so great offence The holy church, of froward cursednes, Slewal Hermites that bode in wildernes.

God wolde not suffre he shuld long endure, Graunteth no tyraunt here longlyfe: For by some mischefe, or sodaine auenture, They dye by murdre, with dagger, swerde, or knife The Gotheyes whilom gan a stryfe, For his outrage and great oppressyon,

They agayne romains fyll in rebellion.

A prince of his called Maximus Distressed them by so great tyranny, And was vpon them so contrarious That they gadred all the cheualry, And wext so strong vpon their partie, That by their manhode it fel of auenture, They on Valence made a disconsiture.

Spared not by robbynge and pillage, Slough and brent many a stately place, Cyties, townes, and many a small village, That were famous within the lād of Trace: But furiously thei met him in the face, Where like a coward he turned his visage, To saue his life, lay hyd in Cartage.

Thus finally this emperour Valence As ye haue heard fayled of his entent, The Gothes folowed by cruel violence, As wylde beastes al of one assent, The house and him to ashes they haue brent: Lo here the fyne, ye princes take hede, Of tyrantes, that saintes bloud do shed.

The .xvi. Chapter.

¶ Of kynge Amacisius and howe Gracian and Theodosy distroied temples of fals gods & how Graciā was put to flight

AFter Valence to God contraryous, In al his workes most froward of liuēg, Tofore Bochas came Amacisius, Which of Gothes was whilom Lord & kyng. Of his great age piteously complaining, Inflate and dole lyst make no delayes, Slew him self to short his greuous dayes.

Then came downe the brother of Valence, The mighty emperour called Gracian, Whiche afore had had experyence First with his vncle Valentinyan In the Empyre, as bokes tell can: And afterward Theodosy and he, Had gouernaunce of Rome the cyte.

Theodosy and Gracien of assent Distroyed temples as in that partie: Of false goddes also they haue downe rente The great ydols, and all such maumetrye, And full deuoutly gan churches edifye. And in this whyle as fortune dyd ordayne, One Maximus was vicar in Bretayne.

An hardy knight, albe that he did vary From his promise made by sacrament, In Bretayne list no lengar tary▪ But into Gaule of hert and hole entent Gayne Gracian he sodenly is went And as it fyll set by their bothe auyse, They had a batayle not far fro Parise.

This Gracien was there put to flight By the prowes of a proud captayne, Called Merobandus an hardy knight, Which with his power hath so ouerlayne, That Gracian was constrained in certaine Whan his power myght not auayle: Gayne Maximus, to flye out of Itayle.

This Maximus of pride gan desire In his hert by false ambycion, To reigne alone, and of the hole Empyre In his handes to haue possession: But in what wyse fortune threw him doune With such other as be in nombre fiue, In this chapter, Bochas doth discriue.

Against this same tyrant Maximus When that he had slain Gracian, The noble Emperour Theodosius To venge his death, a warre in hast he gan: Because also that Valentinian was wrongly banished thrugh the cruelte Of Gracian, farre from his countre.

with Maximus to holde vp his partie was Andragacian a ful notable knight, which was made prince of his chiualrye, That toke vpon him of very force and might To kepe y^• mountains that no maner wight with Theodose armed in plate and mayle, No man shuld ouer the Alpes of Itayle.

Theodose made a great armye, By grace of God, and marcial corage, Layde a siege to Aygle a great cyte, And wan the towne maugre his visage: Toke the tyrant, and for his great outrage Berafte him fyrst his royall garnement, And slewe him after by rightfull iudgement.

whan Adragracian knewe that Maximus That was his Lord was slayne in such wise, Anone for sorowe the storie telleth thus, He drowned him self, as Bochas doth deuise Thus can fortune make men aryse▪ And to the estate of Emperours attaine,

with vnware stroke gyue him a fal agayne.

This Maximus of whom I spake tofore, Before his dethe made an ordinaunce That his sonne which called was Victore, Shuld after him gouern Gaule & Fraunce: whome Arbogastes had in gouernaunce, A great constable with Valentinian, Slewe this Victore to reigne whan he begā.

The .xvii. Chapter.

¶ A goodlye processe howe Theodosye wyth prayer and smal nombre, gate the victory,

VVhan Valentinian with great apparayl, By Arbogastes toke possessyon Of Lombardy, and of al Itayle, Brought al that land to subiection, Than with his power he came to Gaul doun: There receyued with great solempnyte, At Vienne, a famous old cyte.

Arbogastes of whom I spake but late, His chefe constable as ye haue heard deuyse, Of his Lord by full cruel hate The dethe conspired, of false couetise: Therby supposyng that he shuld aryse Vnto thestate to be chose Emperour, whan he were deed, lyke a false traytour.

Vp in a towre he heng him traytourly, To more sclandring & hindring of his name, Reported outward, and said cursedly This Arbogastes to hide his own shame His souerayne Lord to put in more blame, Stiffely affirming a thing that was false, Howe he hym selfe hyng vp by the halse.

Thus lyke a murdrer and a false traytour, And of condicions hateful and odious, Labored sore to be made Emperour: That he alone with Eugenius, Might exclude Theodosius. First to let him he shuld in no partye Passe thrugh Itayle, nor thrugh Lombardy.

Sette spyes to bring him in a trayne, which that time as they vnderstode, Like a iust prince did his busye paine As he that thought nothing but gode, In the hylles of Lombardy abode: whom Arbogastes of furious outrage; Cast him to trouble and stoppe his passage.

He and Eugenius beyng of assent Theodosy mortally to assayle, which whan he knew their mening fradulēt, Albe that he had but scarce vitaile, On euerye cost he set with a batayle: And of his knightes forsake in manere, He left all thinge, and toke him to prayer.

with him was lefte but a smal meyne True and faithful in their affection, And first of al he fil down on his kne, And to Jesu gan make his orison: O Lorde (quod he) thine eares enclyne doun, And of thy mercyful gracious goodnesse, Deliuer me out of my mortal distresse.

Consider and se howe that I am thy knight, Whiche ofte sith thrugh my fragilite, With fleshly lustes blynded in my sight, A thousand times haue trespased to the: But gracious Jesu of mercy and pite, To my request beningly take hede, Me to socour in this great nede.

My trust is holy plainly to conclude, Thou shalt forther and fortune my viage, With fewe folke agayne great multitude: To make me haue gracious passage, After the Prouerbe of new and olde langage How that thou maist & canst thy power shew. Gayne multitude, victory with a fewe.

And as thou saued whilom Israell Agayne Pharaos mighty puissaunce, And from the lyon deliuered Daniell, And saued Susanna in her mortal greuaūce Saue me this day fro sorow and mischaūce: In this mischefe to graunt me this issue, To escape from daunger by grace of y^• Jesu.

This blessed name by interpretacion Is to saye, most mighty Sauiour, There is no drede nor dubitacion, That Jesus is in al worldly labour, To all that trust him victorious protectour: Now blessed Jesu pauise of my defence, Make me tescape mine enemyes vyolence.

Let myn enemies that so great bost doblow, Though their power be dredful and terrible, That they may by experience knowe There is nothinge to the impossible, Thou two and thre and be indiuisible, Though I with me haue but a few men, Saueme this day Jesu fro dethe, amen,

The day gan clere the son gan shine bryghte, whan Theodosy deuoutly lay knelynge, And by grace ad awne gan his syght, Fro cloudy wawes of long pitous weping: His chefe hope was in the heuenly kyng Jesu his captayne, in whose holy name, That day he escaped fro mischefe and shame

The holy crosse was bette in his armure, Borne as chefe standerd tofore in his bataile, God made him stronge in the field to endure, Hardy as lyon his enemies to assayle: Jesus his champion, his plate & eke his mail, Jesu alone set in his memory, By whome that day he had the victory.

There was a knight prince of the chiualry Of Arbogaste and Eugenius, which gouerned al hole their partie Arcibio called manly and vertuous, whiche goodly came to Theodosius, Did him reuerence and with glad cheare Saued him that day fro mischefe & dangere.

whan Theodosius on his enemies gan set, Lyke a knyght not tournynge his visage, And bothe battailes togither when they met, Of Theodosy to explete the passage, Fyll a myracle to his auauntage: By sodayn tempest of wynde hayle and tain, Troubled all tho that sieged the mountayne.

Vulcanus which is chefe smyth of heuen, Gayne Arbogaste gan him redy make, To bend his gūns w^t thūder and with leuyn, And Eolus his wyndes gan awake, Out of the cauernes hidous brown & blacke, All of assent by sturdy violence, With Theodosius to stand at defence,

Againe Eugenius and Arbogast his brother, Their people and they departed here & yōder With winde and mist y^• non of the saw other, By vnware vengaunce of tēpest & of thūder: Their speres brast, their shields roue a sōdre. Eugenius take after and lost his hed, And Arbogast slough him selfe for drede.

Thus gan the Lord of his eternal might, Chastice tyrantes and their malice represse, Saued Theodosy hys owne chosen knyght, who trusteth him of parfite stablenes Gothe fre fro daunger, escapeth fro duresse, Bokes record howe Theodosius, Was in his time called Catholicus.

The cace was this as I reherce can, In Thessalonyca a famous great cyte Being Bishop saint Ambrose in Millan, Certayne Jewes for to do equite And sytte in dome hauyng auctorite, Notwithstanding their commission, Were slayn by commons, entryng the toun.

Therof the Emperour was nothynge faine, But commaunded of hasty wilfulnes whan he knew the iudges so were slayn, That his knightes shuld them thider dresse: Entred the cyte by cruell sturdinesse, With swerde, pollax, & daggers sharpe whet Indifferently to sle al that they met.

By whose biddinge the cite to encombre, That day was slaine many an innocent, Fyue thousand deed remembring in nombre, Murdred in host without iudgement, By them that were in to the cite sent: But whan Ambrose herd of this cruell dede, Like a iust prelate thus he gan procede.

Ye haue herde how this vengaunce gan By Theodosy, to chastice the cyte, The same emperour came after to Myllan, Wolde haue entred at a sole mpnite The cathedrall church in his most royalte, Byshoppe Ambrose at the porche him met, And of purpose manly him with set.

Quod the bis shop I counsayl the wythdraw, In to this churche thou haue none entre, Thou hast offended God and eke his law, Be not so hardy nor bolde I charge the, To sette thy fote nor entre in no degree, Because thou art a cruel homicide, That maugre thy might thou shalt abide.

Vnto thy palaes home agayne retourne, This eyght monthes loke thou be not sein, Passe not thy bonds, do mekely there soiorn, For trust me wel, and be rightwel certayne, All such murdrers god hath them in disdain: Blode falsly shed, haue this in remembraūce, Calleth day and night to him to do vēgasice,

Against the, for this great offence Innocentes bloude shed agayn right, By iust auctorie I giue this sentence: This eight monthes accompted day & nyght▪

To entre the church y^• shalt not com in sight: Reason shal hold so iust the balaunce, Tyl thou haue fully accōplished thy penaūce.

what I haue said take therof good hede, For this time thou gettest no more of me, withdraw thy hād innocentes blode to shede, For any rancour or hasty cruelte: Than beholde the great humilitie Of the Emperour, and consydre wele For it wolde haue peersed a hert of stele.

with heed enclyned no word he spake again, Fyll in wepinge, w^t subbyng vnstaunehable, His purple wede bedewed as with rayne, Returning home with chere most lamētable: So continued in his purpose stable, with al the tokens of faithfull repentaunce, In lowly wyse accomplished hys penaunce.

He gaue ensample to princes euery chone In case semblable that worke of wylfulnes To execusion to procede anon: Mentain their errour & froward cursednes, Defēd their trespas meintein their wodnes, Farre out of ioint if it shalbe declared, To Theodosy for to be compared.

To the earth he mekely did obey, Goddes knight did lowly his penaunce: Where there be some that wrongly it warrei, Holde ther again by froward maintenance. Touching this mater set here in remēbrāce, As mendeserue let euery wight take hede, He that seeth al, quiteth them their mede.

Theodosius list nothyng abredge To short the yard of his correction, Forsoke the platte, of rigour toke the edge, Mekely to suffre his castygacion: To bowe his chine was no rebellion, By meke confession knowing his trespace, By saynt Ambrose restored agayne to grace.

Vertuous princes may ensample take Of Theodosy how they the lord shal queme, He nat froward amendes for to make His ceptre, his swerde, and his diademe Subiect to Ambrose what him list deme, Obeied al thing, and for his great offence To holy churche to make recompence.

He knew that God was his souerayn Lorde, To holy church how greatly he was bound▪ Grutched neuer in wyll, thought nor word Holy on Christ his empyre for to found. where vertu reigneth vertu will ay rebound, And for this prince obeyed to al vertue, Hath now his mede aboue with Christ Jesu.

The .xviii. Chapter.

¶ Howe knightes and gentilmen, chase Ale¦rike king: and the commons chase Radaga∣sus whyche ended in myschefe.

IT is remembred of antiquite In the Byble, after Noes floud Howe by discent of his sonnes thre Of their linege plainly and theyr bloud, All kinreddes dylated ben abrode, And myne authour as it is made mynde, Of Japhet seuen nacions he did finde.

The people fyrste of Gaule and Galathe, Of Magoth, Gothes and folke of Itayle, Tyre, Cithia, with many a great countre, Standing in Asia, as by rehersayle: But in Europe stant Trace, it is no fayle: Gothes & Cithiens, of purpose did ordaine▪ Among them selfe gouernours twayne.

Knyghtes and gentelmen chase Alericus, To be their prince and haue the souerayntie, Where the commons chase Radagasus, The Gothes fyrst for greate suerte With king Alerike entring the cyte, In to Rome to finde there socour, That time Honorius being their emperoure

By graunt of whome al the hole countre Gaue to Alerike, Gaule Spayn and Fraūce, There to abide and thereto holde his see, Gothes spaynolfes vnder his obeisaunce, Takyng on hym al the gouernaunce: Tyl Stillicon out of the Occident, To mete with him was from Rome sent.

That time Honorius beyng Emperoure Stillicon gan Alerike enchace, With many a sturdy proud soudioure, For to fight they chose haue their place: But Aleryke stode so in the grace Of fortune that by very might Stillicon he put vnto the flyght.

Radagasus and Alerike of assent Haue concluded, and full accorded be, Thrugh Itaile for to make their went

Toward Rome, and to entre that cyte, Maugre romains to haue the souerainte: Tofore their entring gan the town manace, The name of Rome to chaunge and difface.

The towne for euermore to do a shame Their purpose was, as ye haue heard deuise: Fyrst of al to chaunge the townes name, Dempt them selfe able to that emprise. But for tune thought all otherwyse, Like her maners to do most domage, Whan she to men sheweth fresh her vysage.

Her condicions be not alway one, Stondmele of custome she can vary, For she was fyrst froward to Stilicon, And to Radagasus efte agayne contrary In one poynt she list neuer tarye: To Radagasus her fauoure did fayle, By Stillicon he vanquished in batayle.

All his pride might not make him spede, For fortune lyst so for him ordaine That he was fayne at so strayt a nede, To fl ye for socour to an hye mountayne, Of all vitaile naked and baraine: Weere for hunger he felt so great greefe, Nigh al his people dyed at mischefe.

Of all socour destitute and baraine, Sawe no remedy toke him to flyght: By the romayns he was so ouerlaine, Take at mischefe, and maugre his might In chaynes bound, & dampned anone ryght For to be deed, his people as it is tolde Many one slayne, some take and some sold.

There was none prouder nor more su••q̄dus In thylke dayes plainly to discryue, Then was this said king Radagasus, Which toke on him with romains to stryue: His ••ower short was ouerturned bliue. For fortune of malice had a lust, To ••••e this tirant with hunger & with thrust.

Among other proud princes all Reioised him selfe by a maner vainglory, Because that men in countres did him cal King of Gothes, short is the memorye Of him rehersed or written in history, To gyue ensample in dede men maye finde, The name of tyrantes is sone out of minde.

The .xix. Chapter.

¶ Howe Ruffyn chamberlayne with Theo∣dosy vsurped to be Emperour, and ther∣fore by Honorious dampned and his heade smyt of.

HIe climing vp hath oft an vnware fal, And specially whan it is sodaine, Fro low degre to estate imperyall Whan false ambicion the ladder doth ordain. By vsurpacion presumptuously to attayne, Abou•• the skyes with his heade to perce, Fro whens he come were shame to reherce.

I meane as thus al such hasty climbing, Of them that list not them self to know, And haue forget the groūd of their ginning, By froward fame with worldly winds blow▪ To reise their name aboue sagitaris bowe: Recorde of Ruffin which proudly gan desire By false intrusion to occupi the ••pite.

Which Rufin was whilom chamberlayn With Theodosy, and holde a manly knight, Yet in one thing he was ••oule ouersaine, By couetise blynded in his syght, To spēd his labour that had no title of right: By the emperour Honorius he was sent For to gouerne all the Orieate.

By processe Ruffin was made vike••e, Called after the vikarimperial Toke vpon him holye and entere By authorite chefe and principall, Him selfe alone for to gouerne all: And most able thus he did deme, Before all other to weare a diedeme.

Of him selfe so much he did make In porte, and therto most ambicious At Constantinople he was vnwarely take, First bound in chaynes, after serued thus By true iudgment of Honorius: His hed smot of, and his righthand in dede: This was his ende, no more of him Irede.

The .xx Chapter.

¶ Howe Stillyon and other of like condicon ended in mischefe,

AFter whose dethe to Bochas came one Such other like of condicion, Afore remembred called Stillion, Purposed him to haue possession Of the Empyre hole, thus he thought,

And by what mene, y^• way his fader sought.

Compendiously to tell of these twayne, Fro diuers countrees towarde Septētrion To gather people did theyr busy payne, Of many dyuers straunge nacion: Againe Honorius they came togyder doun, And as they met fortune made them fayle, Bothe atones slaine were in batayle.

Their ginning cursed had a cursed fyne. After whose death I rede of other twayne, Of one Constance, his father Constantyne, Which Constantine toke on him certayne To reigne in Gaule, and after dyd ordayne In that countre to be gouernour, There to continue, as lorde and Emperoure.

His sonne Constaunce caught a deuocion, Of conscience, and forthwith anonright Was shaue a monke, & made his profession: His father after of very force and might, Let take hī out, gaue hī thorder of a knight, Bothe of assent gan make them selfe strong, Toppres the countre & do the people wrong.

This said Constaunce as mine auctor saith, Was confederate of hatefull cruelte With one Hēricius, assuraūce made of faith, As brethern sworne for more authorite, And for to make the nombre vp of thre Constantyne was sworne with them also, To be al one in what they had to do.

These saide thre sworne, and ioyned thus, Conquered in Spayne many a great cyte: But in this whyle this said Henricius Traytour false, and full of duplicite, His felowe slought againe his othe pardye: Thus was Constaūce through false collusiō, Of Henricius murdred by trayson.

Henricius lyued nat but a whyle, By his owne knightes he slaine was also: Fraude for fraude, disceit is quyt with gyle, It foloweth euer and gladly cometh therto. Men receiue their guerdon as they do, Let men alway haue this in remembraunce, Murdre of custome wyll ende w^t mischaūce.

Among suche other thus endinge in mischefe Came Attalus and one Eraclyan, For no prowes but to their great reprefe, Remembred here, their storie tell can, Agayne Romanes whan they rebell gan, By Honorius afore made officers, And of the Empyre called chefe vykars.

First Attalus for his tyranny Whan he in Gaule was made gouernour, Went in to Spaine with a great company, Dyd his payne and fraudulent labour, By false sleight to be made Emperour: Take, and bounde exiled for falsnesse, His hande smyt of, ended in wretchednesse.

Of Eraclian the ende was almost lyke, Yet was he promoted to great prosperite, Made gouernour and lorde of Affrike, Of Consulere rose to the dignite: Rode through Libi, and many a gret coūtre, With thre thousande shippes gan to sayle, And with seuin hundred to ariue in Itayle.

So many shyppes neuer afore were seine, Like as it is accompted by wryting, His nauy passed the nauy in certayne Of mighty zerxses that was of Perce king, Or Alisandre: but yet in his cōming Toward Itaile, whan he should aryue, The sea & fortune gan againe him stryue.

At his arriuaile he had a sodaine drede, Cause Honorius had sent downe a capitain, Constancius called, gouernoure and bede Of all the Romains, to mete him on y^e plain: For whiche Eraclian tourned is again, As I fynde gan take his passage, Towarde the cite, that called is Cartage.

Thus fortune lyst her power shewe Or he came fully to that noble towne, With sharpe swerdes he was all to hewe, Among his knights through false collusion, As they fil at a discencion: Of intrucion fyrst gan the quarell, Again Romains, whan he gan rebell.

❧ The .xxi. Chapter.

¶ A goodly processe why Rome was distroi∣ed, and for the same or lyke cause many other realmes.

OF many mischeues before rehersed Some drawe a longe, and some shortly tolde, And howe fortune hath her whele reuersed, By tragedies remembred manyfolde, Tofore by Bochas of princes yonge & olde,

In the eight boke rehersed the processe, Echone almost ended in wretchednesse.

Namely of them that dyd moste desyre By wrong titel them selfe to magnify, To haue lordshyp and gouerne thempyre, The state imperial proudly to occupy: Whiche estate plainly to specifye, As farre as Phebus doth in his spere shyne, Among all lordships is brought to ruyne.

Fro mine authour I lyst nat discorde, To tel y^• ground why Rome came to nought, By an example I cast me to recorde What was chefe cause if it be wel out soght By a storie that came vnto my thought Of John Bochas, whiche ye shal here That full notably is rehersed here.

Which ensample and storie rehersing, Ceriously folowing myne authour Odoacer whylom a famous king, A kyng by name and a great gouernour, But of his condicions a rauinous robbour, Out of that countre were mercy and pite Banished for euer with trouth & equite.

In that region where mercy is nat vsed, And trouthe oppressed is with tyranny, And right wysenesse by power is refused, False extorcion subporteth robbrye, And sensualyte may haue the maistry All of reason, be tokens at a prefe, Which many lande haue brought to mischef.

There is no realme that may stāde in surete Ferme nor stable in very existence. Nor continue in long prosperyte, But if the trone of knightly excellence, Be supported with iustice and prudence, In him that shall as egal iudge stand, Twene riche & poore with sceptre in hand.

A clere ensample this matter for to grounde: So as a father that is naturall Or like a mother which kindly is bounde, To foster her children in especiall: Right so a king in his estate royall, Should of his office diligently entende, His true lieges to cheryshe and defende.

By good ensāple his subiectes tenlumine, Tēporal realmes should (as saith scripture) Resemble the kingdome which is diuine, By lawe of god and lawe eke of nature, That Res publica long time may endure, Voide of discorde and false duplicite, Of one body in longe prosperite.

Nouther their reigne nor dominacion Haue of them selfe none other assuraunce, The estate of kinges gan by permission Of goddes grace, and of his purueyaunce, By vertuous life and moral gouernaunce Long to continue bothe in peace & warre, Like their desertes to punish whā they erre.

They should be the myrrour and the lyght, Transcēde all other by vertuous excellence, As examplers of equite and right, So by discrecion of natural prouidence, To tempre their rigour w^t mercy & clemence▪ What shal fal afore cast al thinges, As appertaineth to princes and to kinges.

Thinges passed to haue in remembraunce, Conserue wisely thinges in presence, For thinges to come afore make ordinaunce, Folowe the traces of vertuous continence, Againe all vices to make resistence, By the vertue of magnanimite, Whiche is appropred to imperial maieste.

Brother to force authors say echone, Which conserueth the royal dignite, In suche a meane stable as any stone, Nat ouerglad for no prosperite, Nor ouer sad for none aduersite, For life nor death hygh corage to remue, To god and man to yelde thē that is due.

Gayne fleshly lustes arme thē in sobrenesse, Voyde all surfettes and froward glotony, Gredy appetites by measure to represse, Out of his house auoide all ribaudy, Rowners, flattrers, and such as can lie: Ware in his domes he be nat perciall, To poore do almesse, to vertuous be liberal.

In his array shewe him like a king, From other princes by a maner apparence: So that men prayse hys vertuous lyuing, More than his clothing, far frō his presence. And let him thinke in his aduertence, Trust theron verely certayne, As he gouerneth men wyl reporte & sayne.

Let him also for his great aueile.

Haue such about him to be in presence, As notable princes to be of his counsayle, Suche as to fore haue had experience Twene good & euill, to know the difference: And sixe thinges hatefull of newe and olde, To banish them out in hast frō his houshold.

Fyrst them that loue to liue in ydelnesse, All suche as loue nouther god ne drede, Couetous people that poore folke oppresse, And them also that do all for mede, And simulacion cladde in double wede: And such as can for their auauntages, Out of one hode shewe two visages.

Let him also voyde out at his gate Ryotous people, y^• loue to watche al night: And them also that vse to drinke late, And lie a bedde till their diner be dight, And suche as lyst nat of god to haue a syght, And recheles folke that list nat here masse, T••uoyde his court & let thē lightly passe.

For which defautes rehersed here toforne, Nat onely Rome but many a great countre Haue be distroied, & many a kingdom lorne, In olde cronicles as ye may rede and se: False ambicion and froward duplicite, Hath many a realme & many a lād encloied, And ben cause why they haue be distroied.

Jerusalem was whilom transmygrate, Their true prophetes for they had in dispite: And Balthasar was eke infortunate For he in Babilone folowed al his delyte: Dary in Perce had but small respyte, Sodainly slaine and murdred by treason, The same of Alysādre whan he drāke poison.

Discorde in Troy grounded in couetyse Whan by false traison solde was Palladion, Rome and Cartage in the same wyse Distroied were, for shorte conclusion, Among them selfe for their deuisyon: Reken other realmes that be of later date, And of deuisions in Fraūce y^• was but late.

Al these defautes rehersed here breuely Out sought the rote, and weied in balaunce, Chefe occasion to tell by and by Hath ben ī princes, y^• haue had gouernaunce: And specially to put in remembraunce, For an example telleth as cometh to mynde, Of Odoacer the storie as I fynde.

Borne in Pruce and hardy of corage, At his beginning him selfe to magnify Though no mencion be made of his ••mage, Hauing no titell, but thefte and robbery, His cōquest gan nought of blode & aūcetry, But gadred people of sondry regions, Entred Itayle with many nacions.

With his soudiours fyrst he gan assayle, With a multitude entryng anon right, Kingdoms of Hūgry, & countreis of Itayle, Met in his passage a Romayne knight Called Horestes, in stele armed bright: The felde was take and put in ieoparty, Horestes fledde for socour to Pauy.

Straitly besieged and the towne won, Founde for the time none other cheuesaunce, The next morow at rising of the son, Bounde in cheynes, tencrees his greuaunce, Sent to a cite that called was Plesaunce: Againe whom Odoacer was so fel, Let him be slayne by iudgement full cruell.

After whose death by sodayne violence, Odoacer is passed through Itaile, Entred Rome found no resistence, Zeno the Emperour durst him nat assayle, For there was none to giue him batayle: So that by force and rauinous working Of all Itaile he was crowned king.

Had all Rome vnder subiection, Fortune a while lyst him nat fayle: Zeno therof had indygnacion, Gan worke againe him in hope it shoulde a∣uayle And therupon the lordshyppe of Itaile, He gaue of purpose, his power committing To Theodorike, that was of Gothes kyng.

So y^• Theodorike in hope to haue vyctorie Againe Odoacer, gan make resistence, Of his name to put in memorie Toke vpon him by knightly excellence For the Romains to stand in diffence: Met him proudly with his chiualry, Beside a riuer that called was Soury.

With their batails togider whan they met, Beside Leglere that standeth in Lōbardy, With rounde speres & sharpe swerdes whet, Odoacer for al his tyranny Was put to flight, disconfyted his party: And fortune that best can chaunge and vary,

At vnset hour was to him contrary.

Him & his power the Romains haue defied, He brent their vines and toures enuy ron, Bycause thentre was to him denied, And to Rauenne he is discended down: But maugre him he was take in the toun, By Theodorike, lette eche man take hede, Odoacer he commaunded to be dede.

Myne authour Bochas of entencion, For the time as came to remembraunce, Towarde Romains maketh a digression To them recording the great variaunce The vnware chaunges, the gery coūtenaūce Of Fortunes false transmutacion, These same wordes rehersing to the toun:

REmembre o Rome & call ayen to minde The daies passed of thy felicite, Thy marcial cōquestes, thy triūphs left behinde, Thy great victories most of auctorite: Thy famous lawes song in eche countre, Which through y^e world by report did shyne, Now all atones is tourned to ruyne.

From Est to west thy lordshyp did attayne, Aboue all powers most excellent & royall, But nowe from Rome into Almaine The estate translated which is imperiall, Name of thy Senatours, name in especiall, The golden letters darked and diffaced, And from remembraunce almost out raced.

Cyte of cities whilom most glorious, That most freshly floured in chiualry, To whiche the alpies & mountains most fa∣mous Were subiecte of all Lombardy Til that discorde, diuision, and enuy Amōg your selfe hath clipsed y^• brightnesse By a false serpēt, brought in by doublenesse.

Kinges and princes were to the tributary, Of all prosperite so fulsome was the flode: Among yourselfe till ye began to vary, The world throughout to you subiecte stode, Tyll ye gan shew two faces in one hode: What folowed after, fortune hath so prouided Ye came to nought whan ye gan be deuided.

Vnpurueyed of prudent Senatours, Thy marchandise tourned to pouerte, Of knighthod naked, barayne of soudiours, Disconsolate stant all the cōmonte: Towres and walles broke of the cite, That whilom was a paradise of delyte, Nowe all the worlde hath the but in dispite.

Cause to conclude of al thy wretchednesse Is false ambicion, pride, and lechery, Diuision, and malicious doublenesse: Rancour, hatred, couetise, and enuy, Which set aside all good policie, In brefe rehersed for short conclusion Haue be chefe grounde of thy distruction.

The .xxii. Chapter.

☞ Howe the kinges Trabstila & Busarus were brought vnto subiection and made tributares to Theodorike.

AFter these mischeues told of Rōe toun Came Trabstila king of Gepidois, With other twaine as made is mēciō Busarus, that was king of Bulgarois, With Philitheus reigning in Ragois: All these thre brefely for to saine, Came all atones to Bochas to complayne.

Their realmes standing toward Septētriō, And to remembre of the fyrst twayne, Were brought atones to subiection By Theodorike, that dyd his busy payne Them to conquere & proudly did ordayne That they were neuer so hardy to rebell, Agayne Romains to take no quarell.

To Theodorike they were made tributary, Most wretchedly bound in seruage: Neuer so hardy after for to vary, In paine of death during al their age, Of seruitude lo here the surplusage, Of al wretches most wretched they be foūd, That to thraldom constrained be & bounde.

Tresour of tresours if it be well sought Is vertuous fredome with large lyberte, With worldly goodes it may nat be bought, With royal rubies, gold, stones, nor pyrre, For it transcendeth, and hath the soueraynte Aboue all richesse that be in erthe found, A man at large frely to stande vnbound.

The .xxiii. Chapiter.

How Philitheus lost his kingdome and of Marcian and Leo.

NExt these two in ordre ye may se, To John Bochas gan shew his pre sēce The third king, called Philithe

Which by fortunes sodaine violence, Lost his kingdome by cruel sentence Of Odoacer, the tyraunt mercylesse, Lost his life, and came no more in presse.

The sodaine chaūges to rede whan I begā, And saw the whele so oft turne vp so downe, Of fortune there came one Marcian, Of whome is made none other mencion Saue only by a coniuracion He murdred was, being innocent, Amōg his knightes which slew him of asset.

Than tofore Bochas to shewe his presence, There came one that called was Leon, Which caught a titell by no violence, But made his clayme by iust succession: After his father and toke possession, Which of Leon myne auctor saith the same, Beyng Emperour, bare the same name.

This yong Leon again all truth and ryght, By tyranny as made is mencion, Through cruell zeno y^• was a good knyght, Was put out of his possession: Constrayned to liue in religion, But to what order that he dyd wende I fynde nat, but there he made his ende.

The .xxiiii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Simacke and Boes his sonne in lawe were banished, and after iud∣ged to die.

AFter these mischeues Simak gan hym drawe Toward Bochas, with a ful pitous face Boes came with him, y^• was his son in lawe, Which among Romains gretly stodi grace: But in this matere brefely for to pace, The said Boes onely for his trouthe, Exiled was, alas it was great routhe.

For cōmon profite, he was vnto the toun In matters that grounded were of right, Very protectour, and stedfast champion Againe two tirātes, whiche of force & might Had in the porail oppressed many a wight, By exactions and pyllage gun of newe, Vpon the cōmens, full false and eke vntrew.

Theodorike of Gothes lorde and king, Toke vpon him by false intrusyon To reigne in Rome, the people oppressing By his prouostes two, as made is mencyon, Did in the citie great oppression, Confederate as brother vnto brother, Coniugast, and Triguill was that other.

Compendiously this matter to declare, To saue the commons stode in defence For life nor death he lyst nat for to spare, To withstand of tyrantes the sentence: King Theodorike of cruell violence, Banished him by hatefull tyranny, He and his father to abyde in Pauy.

Afterward Theodorike of cruell haterede, Like a false tyrant, of malice and enuy Gaue iudgement that both two were dede: But touching Boes as bokes specify, Wrote diuers bokes of Philosophy, Of the Trinyte matters that were diuine, Martyred for Christe, and called Seuerine.

The .xxv. Chapter.

¶ Of king Arthur & his cōquestes, and of the commodities of England, & how he was distroied by his cosin Mordrede.

WAs neuer prīce might him self assure Of fortune the fauour to restrayne? Like his desyre his grace to recure To abide stable, and stand at certaine? Among all other reken Arthur of Bretaynē Which in his time was hold of euery wight, The wysest prince and the best knyght.

To whom Bochas gan his style dresse In this chaptre, to remembre bliue His great conquest and his highe noblesse, With singler dedes that he wrought i his liue And first he ginneth breuely to discryue The site of Britaine, and of that countre, Whiche is enclosed with a large see.

Set farre westward as ye shal vnderstand, Hauing Spayne set in the opposite Of a small Angle called Englande: Fran̄ce about hi discryuing thus his sight, With many a riuere plesaunt of delite, Bothe bathes and welles there be founde, Diuers mynes of metalles full habounde.

Aboute whiche ronneth the Occian Right plentuous of all maner of vitaile,

The name of which at Brutus fyrst began, London hath shyppes by the sea to sayle: Bachus at Wynchester gretly doth auaile, Worcestre with frutes haboundeth at the ful, Herford with beastes, Cotswolde with wul.

Bathe hot bathes holsome for medicine, Yorke mighty timbre for great auauntage, Corn wall mynes wherin to myne, Salisbury beastes full sauage: Whete, mylke, & hony, plente for euery age, Kent and Canterbury hath great cōmodite Of sondrie fyshes, there taken in the see.

Bochas reherseth there is eke in Bretayne Founde of Gete a full precious stone Blacke of colour, and vertuous in certayne For sickenesses many mo than one: The poudre of whiche wyll difcure anone, If it be dronke (though it be secre) Of maydenhede broken chastite.

Ther ben of peerles founde in muskil shelles, And the best that haue most whitenesse: And as the boke of Brutus also telles, How king Arthure to speke of worthynesse, Passed all kinges in marciall prowesse: Touchyng his line, his royall kynrede Who that lyst se in Brutus he may rede.

His father called Vter Pendragon A manly knight and famous of corage, Right notable in his actes euerychon: Arthur but yonge and tendre of age, By full assent of all his baronage, By succession crowned anonright, Called of Europe the moste famous knight.

Curteys, large, and manly of dispence, Myrrour called of lyberalite, Hardy, stronge, and of great prouidence, And of his knightly magnanimite He droue Saxons out of his countre: Conquered by prowesse of his mighty hand, Orcadoys, Denmarke, and Holande.

Irland, Gaule, Norway, Scotlād, & fran̄ce, As Martes son to the werres mete: Wrought by counsaile and by ordinaunce Of prudent Marlyn, called his prophete: And as I fynde, he let make a sete Among his Britōs, most famous & notable, Through all the worlde called y^• roūde table.

Most worthy knightes proued of their hand Chosen out by Arthur, this order was begō, Their famous nobles through euery land Shone by reporte, as doth the midday sonne, To Fames palays the renome is vp ronne, Statutes set, by vertuous ordinaunce Vnder profession of marciall gouernaunce.

The first statute in the regestre founde, Fro which they should na•• decline of right, By full assuraunce of othe & custome bounde Aye to be armed in plate forged bright, Except a space to reste them on the night, Seke auentures, and their time spende, Rightful quarell to sustene and defende.

The sebler partye, if he had right, By theyr power manly to supporte If that they were required of any wight, Folke disconsolate to beare vp & comforte: At all times men may of him reporte No maner wyse they do no vtolence, And again tiraūtes make knightly resistece.

That widowes & maidens suffre no domage By false oppression, and hateful cruelte, Restore children to their true heritage, Wrongly exiled folke to their countre: And for holy churches liberte Redy euer to make them selfe stronge, Rather to die than suffer them haue wronge.

For cōmon profyte as chosen champyons, Pro Republica defending their countre, Shewe aye them selfe hardy as lyons Honoure to encrece, chastise dishoneste, Releue al them that suffre aduersite: Religious folke haue them in reuerence, Pylgrimes receiue y^• faile of their dispence.

Called armes seuen dedes of mercy, Buryed soudiours that fayle sepulture, Folke in prison deliuere them graciously, Suche as poore be their raunsome to recure, Wounded people that languyshe & endure Which pro republica māly spent their blood, By statute bounde to do suche folkes good.

To put them selfe neuer in auenture But for matters that were iust and trewe, Afore prouided that they stode sure The ground wel know, were it olde or newe: And after that the matter whan they knewe, To procede knightly and nat fayne,

As ryght required theyr quarel to darrayn.

A clerke there was to cronicle theyr dedes By purciuauntes made to him reporte, Of their exployte and their good spedes, Rad & songe to folke gaue great comforte: These famous knightes making their resorte At hygh feastes, eueriche toke his sete, Lyke to their estate, as was to them mete.

One was voyde called the see perilous, As Sanke royall doth playnly determyne, None to entre but the most vertuous Of god prouided to be a pure vyrgine, Borne of discente to accomplyshe & to fyne He alone, as chefe and souerayne All auentures of Wales and Bretayne.

Amonge al kynges renomed most famous, As a bryght sonne set amyd the sterres: So stode Arthur notable and glorious, Lyke freshe Phebus cast his lyghte aferres, In peace like Argus most marcial in werres As Ector hardy, lyke Vlixes tretable, Called amōge christen, king most honorable.

His roial courte he dyd so ordayne Through eche coūtre so fer spred out the light Who that euer came thider to complaine By wronge oppressed, & required of right, In his defence he shulde fynde a knyght To hym assigned, finally to entende, By marciall dome his quarell to defende.

If it fell so that any straunge knyght Sought auentures, & thyder came fro ferre, To do armes his request made of right, His chalenge sene were it of peace or werre Was accept, to the courte came nerre: Lyke as he came wyth many or alone, They were deliuered, forsake was neuer nōe.

There was the schole of marcial doctrine, For yonge knyghtes to lerne al the gyse, In tendre age to lerne ful disciplyne, On horse and fote, by notable exercyse: Thing take in youth doth helpe in many wise And ydelnes in grene yeres gonne, Of al vertues clypseth the clere sonne.

Wydowes & maidens oppressed folke also, Of extorte wronges wrought by tiranny, In that countre what nacion came therto, Receyued were, there lyst no man denye, Of their complayntes founde sone remedy: Made no delay but forth anone ryght, Them to defende assigned was a knyght.

Eke by their order they bounde were of troth By assuraunce and by othe sworne, In their emprises let for no slothe Playnely to tell howe they haue them borne: Their auenture of thinges done beforne, Right as it fyll, & spare in no manere To tel eche thinge vnto theyr regystrere.

Thynge openly done or thinge that was secre Of auenture as bytwene twayne, Or any quarel take of volunte Trewly reporte, and platly not to fayne: Them to be sworne the statute dyd ordayne, Not conceled of worshyp nor of shame To be regestred, reporte the selfe same.

And to conclude the statute hath vs leared Euery quarel grounded on honeste, In that courte what knyght was requyred In the diffence of trouth and equyte, Falshed excluded and duplicite, Shall aye be redy to sustayne that party, His lyfe and hys body to put in ieoparty.

Thus in Bretayne shone y^• clere light Of chiualrye and of hie prowesse, Which through the world shad his beames bright, Wel of worshyp, condite of al noblesse, Imperial courte all wronges to represse, Head sprīg of honor, of largise chefe cesterne, Myrrour of māhod, of noblesse the lanterne.

Yet was there sene neuer so bryght a sonne The sommers day in the mydday spere, So freshly shyne, but some skyes donne Might percase curtaine his beames clere: Oft it falleth whā fortune maketh best there, And falsly smyleth in her double wede, Folke sene expert than is she most to drede.

Thus whan the name of the worthy kyng Was ferthest sprade by reporte of memory, In euery realme his noblesse most shinynge, All his emprises concluding on victory: This double goddesse enuied at his glory, And cast meanes by som maner traine, To clipse the light of knighthode in Britaine.

Thus whyle Arthure stode most honorable In his estate, flouringe in his age,

Among his knightes of the rounde table, Hyest of princes on fortunes stage, The Romains sent to him for truage, Gan make a claime frowarde & outragious, Takyng their title of Cesar Julius.

The same time this mighty kyng Arthur Conquered had Gaule, and also Fraunce, Outrayed Frolle lyke a conquerour, Brought Paris vnder obeysaunce: Toke them to grace & with hys ordinaunce Gate al Anioue, Angory, and Gascoine, Poitowe, Nauerne, Berry, & Burgoyne.

Cesed not but dyd his busy payne, Most lyke a knight helde forth hys passage, Gate all the lande of Poyters & Tourayne, Their cite yolde to hym they did homage: To be rebell they founde none auanutage, Soiourned in Fraunce as sayth y^• Cronicler, Helde possession the space of nyne yere.

Helde a feast full solempne at Paryse, All the countreis whyth he gate in Fraunce, Lyke a prince full prudent and rightwyse, Which had of fredome full royall suffisaunce: Of all his cōquest the countreis in substaunce For his princes and barons so prouided, Lyke their desertes he hath them deuided.

To his Seneschal that called was Kay Anioue and Mayne he gaue all the party, To his butler was made no delay Called Bedwere he gaue Normandye, To a baron nye cosyn of alye A manly knight which named was Berell, Gaue the duchy of Burgoyne euery del.

Thus he departed lordeshyppes of that lande There he thought was most expedient, Some he reserued in hys owne hande, Againe to Britayne retourned of entent: Sent out letters helde a greate parliament, After which he made a feast anon, In the countre called Gloumorgon.

At a great cite called Carlion, As is remembred by olde wrytinges, Came many a prince & many a freshe baron In nombre I fynde, there were .x. kynges, Redy to obey Arthur in al thynges: Present also as was wele sene, There was of erles rekened full thurtene.

Al the knightes of the rounde table Feast of Pentecost as feest principall, Many estates famous and honorable, Of princes barons borne of the blode royal Were present there, and in especiall All that were by othe and promyse bounde, To y^• brotherhede of the table rounde.

And it fell so whyle that kyng Arthur As appertayned sate in hys estate, There came .xii. sent downe by great laboure Of olde men, chosen of the Senate, Sad of their porte, demure and temperate, Richely clad, of loke and of vysage, Gray heared, sempt of right great age.

First connyngly as they thought it due, Cause of their cōmyng & playnly their entent Fyrst of assent the kyng they dyd salue, Next after that they tolde who them sent, And their letters mekely they present: Concludyng thus, to speke in brefe langage, Howe the Romains aske of hym truage.

Customed of olde syth gone many a day Whan that Cesar conquered first Britayne, The kynge requiring to make thē no delay. Arthur abode, lyst nothinge to sayne, But all the courte gan at them dysdayne, The proude Britons of cruel hasty blode, Wolde haue slayne thē euyn there they stode.

Nay quod Arthur to al his officers, Within our courte they shal haue no domage, They entred bene and come as messangers, And men also greatly fal in age, Let make them chere wyth a glad visage: Toke his coūsaile with such as wer most wise, With this answere sayde in curteyse wyse.

Your letters red and plainly vnderstande, The tenure hole remembred in this place, Touching y^• charge that ye haue take on hāde To yeue answere, reherced in short space, By worde & writyng ye greatly me manace, How ye purpose wyth many strong battayle, Passe the moūtains me felly for to assayle.

It nedeth not such conquest to alledge Agayne Britons, of none olde truage, Of your coming down y^• way I shal abredge, Wyth goddes grace short your passage: Make you no delay but with my baronage Passe the see, without long tariyng,

To mete Romaines at their downe cōmyng.

This was the answer youe to the messāgers, At their departing bare w^t them great riches, As he bade also vnto his officers: Agayne to Rome anone they gan thē dresse, Plainly reporting the plentuous largesse Of worthy Arthure, considred all thynges Of christendome he passed al other kinges.

Arthurs courte was the sours and well Of marciall prowes, to Lucius they tolde, And howe that he al other dyd excel In chyualry, wyth whom they were w^thold: The chosen knyghtes both yonge & olde In all Europe who can considre arighte, Of all noblesse the torches be there lyghte.

He cast him not to paye no truage, Sayde of the Romaynes he helde no londe, Which to defende he wyl make his passage Of your claymes to breake a two the bonde, And knyghtly preue with his honde Ye haue no tytle, ye, nor your cite Agayne Britons, whych euer haue stand fre.

With y^• al the kingdoms subiect to Rome toun Kynges Princes aboue the hie mountaines, With Lucius they be discended downe, To mete Britons vpon the large playnes: Arthurs comming greatly he disdains, Bycause he had plainely to dyscriue, In multitude of people such fyue.

At Southhamptō Arthur toke the see With all his knightes of the rounde table, Behinde he left to gouerne the countre His cosin Mordrede, vntrusty & vnstable, And at a prefe false and disceyuable: To whom Arthur of trust toke al his lande, The crowne except, whych he kept in hande.

Fro Southhampton Arthur gan to sayle With all his worthy lordes of Britaine, At Harflue fonde good ariuaile, He & his princes their passage dyd ordaine Thrugh Normādy, Fraūce, & eke Burgoine: Vp to a cyte called Augustence, Wher he first fonde of Lucius the presence.

So large a felde nor such a multitude Of men of armes, assembled in a plaine, Vpon a day shortly to conclude Togider assemble afore was neuer seine: Lucius had on his party certaine Eastwarde the worlde all the chiualtye, Brought by y^• moūtains down to Germany.

Their wardes set in ech a great battaile, With their capitaine to gouerne & to gye: Arthur w^t britons the Romains did auaile, Fond many Sarazins vpō that party: The Briton Gaulfride doth plainly specify, As he of Arthur the prowes doth discriue, He flewe that day of Sarazins kynges fyue.

The great slaughter, the effusion of bloude That was that day on outher syde, Eche againe other y^• furious were & wode, Lyke for the felde as fortune lyst prouide, That if I shoulde longe theron abyde, To write the deth, the slaughter & manere, Touching the felde were tedious to here.

To conclude and leaue the surplusage, In that battayle dead was manye a knight, The Cōsul Lucius slaine in that rage, The proude Romains by force put to flighte, Of gentilnes Arthur anone ryght Let the body of Lucius be caried, Againe to Rome, it was no lenger taried.

The worthy princes & lords that were dead, And manly knightes abidynge wyth Arthur Like a king solempnly toke hede That they were buried by diligēt labour: And in this whyle lyke a false traitour, His cosyn Mordrede dyd his busy paine, To take from him the kyngdom of Britayne.

So as the story plainly maketh minde, Mordrede falsly to his auauntage Entreted them that were left behynde Vnder colour of fraudulent langage, Gaue thē gret fredōe, & they did him homage: That by his false conspiracion, Brought al Britaine in to rebellion.

By faire behestes and many frendly signe Drewe the people to hym in sondry wyse, Shewed him outwarde goodly & benygne, Gaue lybertees and many great fraunchyse, To make Britōs their soueraine lord dispise: And purueiaunce he gan make blyue To kepe the portes, he shoulde not ariue.

Whan king Arthur had knowledgyng Of this false treason, and al the purueyaūce:

That Mordrede made, he lyke a manly king Left Burgoyne and al the lande of Fraunce, Cast on Mordrede for to do vengeaunce: Toke the see wyth great apparayle, Cast at Sandwiche to make his ariuaile.

Mordred was redy w^t knightes a gret nōbre, Made a strōg felde to mete him on the plaine, In purpose fully Arthur to encombre: At which arriuayle slayne was Gawayne, Cosyn to Arthur, a noble knight certaine: Eke Aguisel was slayne on the stronde, Kyng of Scottes or he came to londe.

Maugre Mordrede Arthur dyd arryue, The grounde recured lyke a manly knighte, For feare of whom anone after blyue The sayde Mordred toke hym to the flyghte, And towarde London toke hys way ryghte, The gates shyt and kept was the cite Againe Mordred, he myght haue none entre.

In al haste to Cornwayle he fled, The sworde of Arthur he durst not abyde, Lest he shoulde lay his life to wed: Yet for him selfe thus he gan prouide, With multitude gathered on his syde Put life and dethe that day in auenture, There to dye, or the felde recure.

In fortune there may be no certayne, Vpon whose whele al brotilnesse is founded, Mordred tharday in the felde was slayne, And noble Arthur to the deth was wounded: By which the felde of britons was confo••ded Of so great slaughter & good knightes lorne, Vpon a day men haue not sene beforne.

After the battaile Arthur for a whyle To staunche his woūdes & hurtes to recure, Borne in a lytter came to an yle Called Aualon, & there of auenture As the sayd Gaulfride recordeth by scripture, How kyng Arthur flour of chiualrye, Was fet w^t his knightes & liueth yet in fairy.

Thus of Britayne translated was that sonne Vp to the ryche sterry bryghte dongeon, Astronomers wel reherce konne. Called Arthurs constellacion, Wher he sit crowned in the heuenly mancion, Amyd the palaies of stones cristalline, Tolde among christen of the worthies nyne.

This errour abideth yet among Brytons, Which founded is vpon the prophesye Of olde Marlyn, lyke their opinion, He as a kyng is crowned in fairye, With sceptre & sworde and with his regalye, Shal resort as lorde and soueraine, Out of fairy and reigne in Britayne.

And repaire againe the rounde table, By prophesy of Merlyn set the date Among princes kyng incomparable, His sete agayne to Carlion to translate: The parchas susterne spon so hys fate, His Epitaphe recordeth so certayne, Here lieth king Arthur y^t shal raigne agayne.

Vnto Bocas I wyl agayne retourne, Afore rehersed parcel of hys prowesse, Theron to abyde me lyst no more soiourne, But to remembre the great vnkyndnesse, The conspiracion, the treason, and falsnes, Done to king Arthur, by his cosyn Mordred, Make a Lenuoy that al men may it rede.

¶ Lenuoye.

THis tragedy of Arthur here folowing, Byddeth Prynces all beware of false treason: For in erth is none so perillous thynge As trust of fayeth where is decepcion, Hyd vnder curtayne of false collusion, For which mē shuld I holde the coūcel good, Beware afore euer of vnkinde blode.

The world diuers, fortune aye chaungeable, In euery countre and euery region In a straite nede fewe frendes abyde stable, Long absence causeth discencion: And if princes by false diuision, Nygh of alye shewe two faces in one hode, Let men beware euer of vnkynde blode.

Who was more hardy of princes here reignig Or more famous of marciall renoun, Thā whilom was his enemies outrainge, Arthur, chefe sonne of Brutus albion? But for al that the disposicion Of fate and fortune most furious & wode, Caused his distruccion by vnkynde blode.

What more cōtrarious to nature in shewinge Than fayre pretence double of entencion,

Great aliaunces frowardly workyng Hid vnder floures a serpent cast poison, Bryght siluer scaled domageth the dragon, Eche worme sōe party tarageth of his brode, And what more perilous than vnkinde blod?

Noble princes on Arthur remembringe, Deme the day of Phebus going doun, Al is not golde that is clere shininge, Afore prouided of your inwarde reason, False vndermining and supplantacion: Remembring aye with Arthur how it stode, By conspiracion of vnkynde blode.

☞ An exclamacion of Bochas agayne kynredes vn∣kynde.

AGayne kynredes and vnkynde alyaun∣ces, Bochas maketh here an exclamacion, Vpon Mordrede whyche wyth hys or∣dinaunces Caused of Arthur finall distruccion, The fame eclypsinge of Brutus albyon: Not wyth standyng plainly to discriue, He trusted him aboue al men alyue.

It is a meruayle and vncouth to deuyse By what occasion, or by what corrage That a man shoulde in any maner wyse, Be founde vnkinde vnto his linage, Hateful to god, that in any age Blode agayne blode borne of one kynred, Conspire should of malice and hatrede.

In this matter it were but vayne to tary, The story knowe of Arthur and Mordrede By blode alied in workyng most contrary Which made many a Briton knyght to blede: For by vsurpyng conspiracion & falshede Of the sayd Mordrede most infortunate, Caused al Britayne to stande desolate.

Fyrst desolate by absence of their kynge, Called in his tyme of kynges most notable, The desolacion of knyghtes abydynge Whilome in Britaine, famous & honorable, Brethern echone of the rounde table: Which by Mordred y^• false for sworn knight, Stode longe eclipsed & dyrked of his lyghte.

The light of noblesse y^• shone in Britaine By false Mordred was dirked of his bemes, The monarchye departed was on twayne That stode first one with his marcial strems: But afterward the brightnes of hys beames Drough to decline, by false diuision Which hath distroied ful many a region.

Al the processe vpon a duplicite Plainely concludeth, & that is blode vnkynd, Adue welfare and all prosperite Where peace and concorde is left behynde, Trees may not thriue departed fro the rinde, A plaine example in Arthur & Mordrede Who can conceyue and list the story rede.

The .xxvi. Chapter.

¶ Of Gisiuill kynge of Venandre and of three other kinges, and howe they were distroied.

AFter all these straunge vncouthe thynges Tofore Jhon Bochas as made is mencion, There came foure myghtye kyn∣ges, For to complayne their desolacion: Fyrst Gisiuill kyng of the region, Called Venandre, in werres ful contraire, Vnto a prince called Belisaire.

And to this saide noble Belisaire Full renomed that tyme in chiualry, The kyng of Gothes was also aduersayre: And both atones of hatred and enuy, Assented fully to holde champerty Gayne Belisaire, which throughe his hie re∣noun. Toke thē both & cast thē in prison.

There is no more of thē in Bochas founde, But after them in order by writyng Came Amarales wyth many blody wound, Which in his tyme was of Mawres kynge, Without cause or title of any thynge Vpon Jane Sanguin gan werray agayne right, Which through Affrik was one y^• best knight.

The sayde Jane armed in plate and mayle Met Amarales in Affrike on a sande, And helde with him a mighty strong bataile, And lyke a knight slewe hym wyth his hand: Droue al his people proudly fr•• that lande,

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And in my boke there is none other mynde, To be remembred o•• him that I can fynde.

Than Synduall of Bretaine lorde & kyng Tofore Bochas put him selfe in prees, Gan shewe his mischefe pitiously wepyng, Whan he helde werre wylfull & recheles Agayne a prince, called Narsates: A Romayne knight feirse, hardy, & stronge, In his defence whā men wold do hun wrōg.

This Narsates, of case or auenture, Though he in dede was a manly knyght, He fayled membres in sothe of engendrure, His aduersaries echon he put to flight: Toke their king & forthwith anone ryght As the cronicle playnly doth recorde, Hye on a galowes he hinge him with a corde.

Of Narsates after this victory, Kyng Totila had full great disdaine, With a great host most pōpous in his glory, Came vpon him, and met hym in a playne, With multitude though he were ouerlayne, Turnyng Totila which many man behelde, Of Narsates was slayne in the felde.

In order next Bochas doth write Of Gepidoys, howe king Trusmonde Required him that he woulde endite The gret aduersites in which he dyd haboūd, And of his doughter called Rosamounde, The vnhappy chaunce to make & discryue: To whom fortune was contrary al her lyue.

Albuinus king of Lombardy Which many a laude helde in subiection, Conquered Beme, Prage and Hungery, The land of Gepedois with manye a region: Fought with their king as made is mencion, Slewe in battaile the said Trusmonde, Wedded after his doughter Rosamonde.

Myne auctour gretly comendeth her beaute, And wryteth also she was but young of age, Whose story first whan I dyd se, Howe vngracious also was her mariage, I gan were pale and dead in my visage Greatly astoined confuse of very shame To write the story, in hindring of her name.

I wyll forbeare and lightly passe here, The surplusage lightlye ouerpasse For by and by to tel all the manere Of felonies that dyd in hertes brace, It shoulde blot this boke, and eke deface: For which I cast truely and not fayle Touching her story, to make rehersaile.

The .xxvii. Chapter

☞ Howe Albuinus was murdred by hys wife, and howe she moste vycious was after murdred also.

KInge Albuinus as ye shall vnder∣stande, After many a conquest and victorye Whyche he hadde bothe on see and lande, To put his triumphes in memory Let crye a feast, to his encrese of glory, At whiche feest solempne and principall, So as he sate in his estate royall,

Parcell for pride, parcel for gladnesse, The quene present the sayd Rosamonde, Take & supprised he was wyth dronkenes, Of stronge wynes, whych y^t day did habo••d: Sent a Goblet of golde as it is founde, Vnto the quene with licour full pleasaunt, Bad to her father she shoulde drinke a taunt.

She dempt it was a maner mokery, First her name and worshyp to confounde, To byd her drinke ataunt for her party To her father, this sayd Trusmounde, Slaine afore wyth many blody wounde, By Albuinus through his vnhappy chaunce, Of whych rebuke she cast to do vengeaunce.

She bare the rancour ful long in her entent, Whiche day by day gan renewe & encrease: A certayne squier she made of her assent It to accomply she she woulde neuer cease. And on another squier she gan preace, Called Perdius, accorded all in one, This false murdre to execute anone.

The daye was set, whyle he lay a slepe Fyll vpon him w^t sharpe swordes grounde, Her lorde was slayne alas he toke no kepe: Or he died of fortune he hath founde A speares head to a tronchon bounde,

Him selfe defending in that mortall strife, But slaine he was by treason of his wife.

After this murdre to escape fro daunger, This Rosamonde fled awaye by night, With her went Melchis her squier, Toke a shyp sayled by sterre light: To Rauenne they toke the waye ryghte, Led with them for refute and socour, Of Albuinus al the hole treasour,

After she was wedded to Melchise, Man of this worlde stode most in her grace, Her loue appalled, set of him no prise, For she not coude be content in one place, Her ioye was euer newe thing to purchace: To assaye many neuer pleased with one, Tyll by experience she preued had echone.

Prouost of Rauenne and chefe gouernour For the excellence of her great beaute, Aboue al women loued her peramour, Whan she entred fyrst that cite: And through her fraude and duplicite She cast to murdre, in her frowarde auyce, Her newe husband that called was Melchis.

The hote sommer in lusty freshe May, The same Melchis for hete and werines Him selfe to bathe went a certayne day, Caught a great thurst of very fayntnes, And Rosamonde of infernall falsnes, Toke a goblet with licour great fo••son, Gaue him to drinke wine medled with poisō.

He dranke vp halfe and therwithal he gan, Brest and belly to swell and to aryse, Intoxicate wext deadely pale and wan: And whan he dyd her treason aduertise, He made her drinke in the same wise. Maugre her wyll she might it not restrayne, Guerdon for murder, they died bothe twayne.

In this chapter but litle fruite I fynde, Saue onely thys, to put in remembraunce That folke shoulde call agayne to mynde Murdre afore god requyreth aye vēgeaunce: This funeral story wayed in balaunce, Wrought by Melchis compassed and founde, By false treason of cursed Rosamounde.

Slewe first her lorde Albuinus as I sayde, Two of her squiers dyd execucion Out of his slepe whan he dyd abrayde: Let counterpayse what was her guerdon, Ech murdred other by drinking of poison, Melchis drank first, & next drāk Rosamoūde, At them it gan & to thē it dyd rebounde.

Counterpaysed one murder for an other, Albuinus slayne by Rosamounde hys wyfe, By assent of Melchis, & after eche to other The poison parted, there gan a fatall strife: Murder for murder, they both lost their life. Who vseth falsnes ful wel affirme I dare, Shal with falsnes be quit or he be ware.

As they departed, such part againe they toke, As men deserue suche shall be their mede, This frowarde storye ende of the eight boke, Of Rosamonde & Melchis wrought in dede, For short conclusion byddeth men take hede: They shall agayne receiue such measour, As they measure vnto their neighbour.

☞ Thus endeth the eyght boke and herafter foloweth the nynthe.