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.

¶ Lenuoy.

ROme remember of thy foundacion, And of what people thou toke thy be∣ginnynge: Thy buildyng gan of false dissencion, Of slaughter, murdre, & outragious robbing Yeuyng to vs a maner knowlegyng A false beginnyng auctours determine, Shall by processe come vnto ruyne.

Where be thy ēperors most souerain of renoun Kinges exiled for outragious liuyng? Thy Senatours with worthy Scipton, Poetes olde thy tryumphes rehearsyng? Thy laureat knightes most stately ridyng In high honour▪ for al their noble line, Is by longprocesse brought to ruyne.

Where is now Cesar that toke possession First of the empyre the tryumphe vsurpynge? Or where is Lucan that maketh mencion, Of all his conquest, by serious writyng? Octauian most solemnely raignyng? Where is become their lordshypor their lyne, Processe of yeres hath brought it to ruyne.

Where is Tullius chefe lanterne of thy toun, In rethorike all other surmountyng? Morall Senec or prudent sadde Caton Thy common profite alwaye preferryng? Or rightful Traian most iustly in his deining Whiche on no party list not to declyne, But long processe hath brought all to ruyne.

Where is the temple of thy protection Made by Virgill, most curious of buyldyng? Ymages erect of euery region Whan any lande was founde rebellyng Toward that part a smal bell heard ringing, To that prouynce the ymage did enclyne, Which by long processe was brought to ruyne

Where is also the great extorcion Of consules and prefectes oppressyng? Of Dictatours the false collusion? Of Decemuir the frowarde disceyuyng? The great outrage in their liuyng? Of all echeone the odious rauine, Hath by processe them brought vnto ruyne.

Where is become thy dominacion, Thy great tributes, thy treasures shynyng, The worlde all whole in thy subiection, Thy sword of vēgeaunce al people manacing Euer gready to encrese in thy gettyng Nothing by grace whiche that is diuine, Which hath the brought by processe to ruyne.

In thy most hyghest exaltation, Thy proude tyrantes prouinces conquering, To god contrary by long rebellion, Goddes, goddesses, falsely obeiyng, Aboue the starres by surquedous climbyng: Till vengeaunce thy nobles did vntwyne, With new complaintes to shewe thy ruyne.

Lay downe thy pride and thy presumption, Thy pompous bost, thy lordships encreasing, Confesse thine outrage & lay thy boast adoun, All false Gods playnly defiyng, Lift vp thine hart vnto the heauenly kyng, Whiche w^t his bloude thy sorowes for to fyne, Hath made thy raunsum to saue the fro ruyne

From olde Saturne drawe thine affection, His golden worlde fully despisyng, And from Jupiter make a digression, His silueren tyme hartely dispraysyng: Resort agayne w^t will and whole meanyng, To him that is lorde of the orders nyne,

Whiche mekely dyed to saue the fro ruyne.

Though Mars be myghty in his assencion, By influence victories disposyng, And bright Phebus yeueth consolation To worldly princes their nobles auaunsing: Forsake their rightes and thy false offryng: And to that lorde bowe downe thy chyne, Whiche shed his bloude to saue the fro ruyne.

Winged Mercury chiefe lorde and patrone Of eloquence and of fayre speakyng, Forsake his seruice in thine opinion, And serue the lorde that gouerneth all thyng, The sterred heauen the spheres eke meuyng, Whiche for thy sake was crowned w^t a spine, His hart eke pearced to saue the fro tuyne.

Cast vp of Venus the false derision Her fiery brande her flatteries renuyng, Of Diana the transmutacions, Nowe bryght, nowe pale▪ nowe clere, nowe drepyng Of blynde Cupide the fraudulent mockyng Of Jun••, Bachus, Proserpina, and Lucine, For none but Christ may saue the fro ruyne.

Voyde of Cirses the beastiall poyson, Of Cyrenes the furious chauntynge: Let not Medusa do the no treason And fro Gorgones turne thy lokyng. And let Sinderesis haue the in kepyng, That Christ Jesu may be thy medicyne, Agayne suche raskayle to saue the fro ruyne.

Of false ydols make abiuracion, To Similachres do no worshyppyng: Make thy resort to Christes passion, Whiche may by mercy redresse thyne erryng, And by his grace repare thy fallyng: So thou obey his vertuous disciplyne Trust that he shall restore thy ruyne.

His mercy is surmountyng of foyson, Euer encreaseth without amenusyng, Aye at full cche time and eche ceason, And neuer waneth by none eclypsyng: Whan men list make deuoutly their rekening To leaue their sinne & come to his doctrine, He ready is to kepe them from ruyne.

O Rome, Rome, all olde abusion Of ceremonies falsly disusyng, Lay them aside, and in conclusion Crye god mercy thy trespace repentyng, Trust he will not refuse thy askyng, The to receyue to laboure in his vine, Eternally to saue the from ruyne.

O noble prynces of high discrecion, Sithe in this worlde is none abidyng, Peyse conscience against wil and reason, While ye haue leasure of hart ymaginyng, Ye beare not hence but your deseruyng: Let this conceite aye in your thoughts mine, By example of Rome, how all goth to ruyne.