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.

¶ Here Bochas sittinge in his studie alone wryteth a greate processe howe Fortune lyke a Monstruous I∣mage hauynge an .C. handes, apeared vnto hym and spake, and Bochas vnto her: makynge by∣twene them both many great arguments and reasons of fortunes chaunces.

¶ The Fyrst Chapter.

IN hys studye alone as Bochas stode Hys pen in hande, of so∣dayne auenture To remēbre he thought it dyd hym good Howe that no man may him selfe assure In worldly thynges fully to recure Grace of fortune to make her to be stable Her dayly chaunges be so variable.

She braydeth euer on y^• chaūtipleure Now songe now wepyng, now wo now glad∣nesse, Nowe in myrth nowe paine to endure, Nowe lyght now heuy, nowe in swetnesse Nowe in trouble, nowe fre nowe in distresse, Shewyng to vs a maner resemblaunce No worldly welth hath here non assuraūce.

Whyle Bochas pēsyfe stode in hys lybrary Wyth chere oppressed, pale in hys vysage, Somdeale abashed, alone, and solitary, To hym appered a monstruous ymage Parted on twayne of colour and corage, Her ryght syde ful of sōmer floures, The tother oppressed w^t winter stormy shou∣res.

Bochas astoined full feareful to abrayde Whan he behelde the wonderful fygure Of fortune, thus to hym selfe he sayd: What may this meane is this a creature, Or a monstre transfourmed agayne nature, Whose brenning eyen spercle of their light As do the sterres the frosty wynter nyght?

And of her chere ful good hede he toke, Her face semyng cruel and terrible, And by disdayne manasing of loke, Her heare vntrussed, harde, sharpe & horyble, Frowarde of shape lothsome & odible An hundred handes she had of eche parte, In sondry wyse her gyftes to departe.

Some of her handes lyft vp men alofte To hye estate of worldly dignite, Another hande griped full vnsofte Which cast another in great aduersite, Gaue one rychesse an other pouerte, Gaue some also by reporte a good name, Noysed an other of sclaundre and dyffame.

Her habyte was of many folde colours Watchet blewe of fayned stedfastnesse, Her golde allayed lyke son in watry showres Meynt w^t grene for chaunge & doublenesse, A pretence reed, drede meynt wyth hardines, White for clennesse lyke sone for to faile Faint blake for mourning, russet for trauayle

Her colours meynt of wolles more than one Some whyle eclypsed, some while bryght, Dul as an asse whan men had haste to gone, And as a swalowe geryshe of her flyghte, Twene slowe & swifte, now croked nowe vp∣right, Nowe as a creple lowe corbed doun, Nowe as a dwery and nowe a chāpion.

Nowe a cowarde durst not come in prees, Nowe somwhyle hardy as a lyon, Nowe lyke Ector, nowe dredful Thersites, Nowe was she Cresus, nowe Agamēnon, Now Sardanapallus of condicion, Nowe was she mānishe, nowe was she femi∣nyne, Nowe coude she rayne & nowe falsly shyne.

Nowe a Mermayde angelyke of face, A taile behinde very serpentyne, Nowe de bonaire now frowarde to do grace, Nowe as a lambe tretable & benigne, Nowe lyke a wolfe of nature to maligne, Nowe Sirenes to synge folke a slepe Tyl Caribdis drowne thē in the depe.

Thus Bochas considringe her figure, Al her features in ordre he gan beholde, Her bredth her lēgthe, her shape & her stature An hundred handes & armes there he tolde, Wherof astoined his herte gan wexe colde: And amonge al her membres euerychone Hym sempte she had no fete vpon to gone.

And whyle that he considred al thys thynge Twene them as it were in a traunce, She sodainly towarde him loking He conceiued by her countenaunce Were it for yre were it for plesaunce, Outher for fauour outher for disdaine By the maner she woulde somwhat sayne.

Loking as coye as she had had disdaine Bochas (quod she) I knowe all thyne entent Howe thou trauailest, busiest the in vaine In thy study euer diligent, Nowe in the west nowe in the orient, To seche stories north and meridien Of worthy princes y^t here toforne haue ben.

Some dwelled vnder the pole artike By my fauour vp raysed to the sterres, Other vnder the pole A••tartyke Which in contrary fro vs so ferre is, Some encreced and set vp by the werres: Lyke as me lyst their triūphes tauaunce Frownig on other I brought thē to mischāce.

I se the busy remembring by Scripture Stories of princes in euery maner age, As my fauour foloweth their auenture, By humble style set in playne langage, Not made curious by none auauntage Of rethorikes, with muses for to striue, But in plaine four me their dedes to discriue.

In which processe thou doest great dyligence. As they deserue to yeue thē thanke or blame, Settest vp one in roiall excellence Within my house called the house of Fame, The golden trumpet w^t blastes of good name Enhaunceth on to ful hie parties, Wher Jupiter sytteth amōg the heuēly skies.

Another trūpet of sownes full vengeable Which bloweth vp at feastes funerall, Nothinge bright but of colour sable Ferre fro my fauour, deadly, and mortal, To plonge princes from their estate royall Whan I am wroth to make thē lowte lowe, Than of malice I do that trumpet blowe.

Thou hast written & set togyther in grose Lyke their desertes worldly mennes dedes, Nothing conceled nor vnder couert close, Spared the crownes nor their purple wedes, Nor goldē septers, but yaue thē their medes: Crowned one w^t laurer hye on hys head set, Other with peruinke made for the gybet.

Thus diuersly my giftes I depart, One accepte another is refused, Lyke hasardours my dyce I do ieoparte, One well furthered another is accused, My play is double my trust is euer abused, Though one to daye my fauour hath wonne, To morow againe I can eclipse his sonne.

Cause of my cōmyng plainly to declare By good auice, vnto thy presence, Is to shewe my maners and not spare, And my condicions breuely in sentence Preued of olde and newe experience: Plainly to shewe me lyst not for to rowne, To day I flater, to morowe I can frowne.

This houre I can shewe me merciable, And sodainly I can be dispitous, Now wel wylled, nowe hastely vengeable, Nowe sobre of chere, nowe hasty & furious, My play vncouth, my maners maruaylous Brayd on y^• wynde, nowe glad & now murne, Lyke a wedercock my face eche day I turne.

Wherin Bochas I tel the yet agayne Thou doest folly thy wyttes for to ply, All thy labour thou spyllest in vayne Gayne my maners so fully to reply, By thy writyng to fynde a remedy To interrupt in thy last dayes, My statutes, and my customable wayes,

Al the labour of Phylosophers olde Trauayle of Poetes my maners to depraue, Hath ben of yore to say lyke as they woulde, Ouer my fredom the souerainte to haue:

But of my lawes the liberte to saue Vpon my whele they shall them not defende, But whan me list than they shal discende.

Why shoulde men put me in blame To folowe the nature of my double play? With newe buddes dothe not Ver the same Whan primroses appere fresh and gay? To day they shewe to morowe gon away: Somer after of flours hath foyson Tyl Iune w^t sythes after mowe thē doun.

Nowe is the see calme and blaundyshyng, Nowe are the wyndes comfortable & styll, Nowe is Boreas sturdy in blowynge Which yonge shepe & blosomes greueth yl: Why also shoulde I not haue my wyl, To shewe my selfe now smothe, & after trou∣ble Syth to my kynde it longeth to be double?

No man so ferre is fall in wretchednesse But that he standeth in trust to ryse agayne, Nor none so depe plonged in distresse Nor with dispaire nor wāhope ouer layne, But that there is some hope left certaine To yeue him comforte, seruynge his entent, To be releued whan me lyst assent.

The erth is clad in motlayes whyte & rede, Whan Estas entreth with vyolettes sote, The greues are grene, & in euery mede The vawm fleteth which doth to herts bote: Angust passed, againe in to the rote By course of nature y^• vertue doth resorte, To reuolucion of kynde I me reporte.

Who should than debarre me to be double, Sith doublenesse longeth to me of right▪ Nowe lyke sōmer nowe with winter trouble, Now blinde of loke derke as y^• cloudy nyght, Nowe glad of there of herte mery & lyghte: They be but foles againe my myght to muse Or me atwite though I my power vse.

Selde or neuer I byde not in one poynt, Men must at lowpes take me as they fynde, And whan I stande furthest out of ioynt To set folkes backwarde farr behynde Than worldly men with their eyen blynd Sore complayne vpon my doublenesse, Call me than the frowarde false goddesse.

Thus by your wrytig & marueilous lāgage I am disclaundred of mutabilite, Wherof by ryght I catche great auauntage Syth doublenesse no sclaunder is to me, Whiche is a percel of my liberte: To be called by tytle of ryghtwysnesse Of chaunges newe lady and princesse.

Thus whan fortune had sayd her wyl Parcell declared of her gouernaunce, Made a stint and soberly stode styll, Jhon Bochas sate & herde al her dalyaunce, Feareful of chere, pale of countenaunce In order enprinted eche thynge y^t she sayde, Ful demure thus he dyd abrayde.

He toke vpon him vertue and corage Vpon a poynte for to abyde stable, Certes (quod he) lyke to thy vysage All worldly thiges be double & chaungeable, Yet for my parte by remembraunce notable, I shal perfourme southly if I conne, This litel boke that I haue begonne.

And lest my labour dye not nor appall Of this boke the tytle for to saue, Among myne other lytel workes all With letters large aboue vpō my graue This bookes name shall in stone be graue: Howe I John Bochas in especial Of worldly princes written haue the fall.

Of whyche emprise the cause to discriue Thys was first grounde, I wyl not deny, To eschewe slouth and vyces all my lyue, And specially the vyce of glottony, Which is norice vnto lechery: This was chefe cause why I vndertoke The compylacion of this lytle boke.

Yet by thy talkyng as I vnderstande Eche thing here of nature is chaungeable, After thy sentence both on see & lande, Yet coude I reken thynges that be stable As vertuous lyfe abydyng vnmutable, Set hole to godwarde of wyl & thought, Maugre thy power, & ne chaūgeth nought.

Thou mayst eke call vnto remembraunce Thinges made stable by grace whiche is de∣uyne Hast thou not herde y^• perseueraūce Of holy martirs whych lyst not to decline Fro Chrystes fayth tyl they dyd fyne? Thy whele in them had none interesse To make them vary fro their stablenesse.

A man that is enarmed in vertue

Againe thy myght to make resistence, And set his trust by grace in Christ Iesu And hath al hole his hertely aduertence Ou ryght wisnesse, force, and on prudence, With theyr suster called Attemperaunce, Hath a sauecondute againe thy variaunce.

They set no store by thy double whele, With supportacion of other ladyes thre Their trust stād not in plate, mayle, or stele, But in these vertues faythe hope & charite, Called vertues theologice: Watch wyth the fowre afore here specified Thy whele and the haue vtterly defied.

If I with wynges might flye to heauen, There shoulde I se thou hast nothyng adone With Jupiter, nor the planetes seuen, With Phebus, Mars, mercury, nor the mone But worldly foles erly late and sone Such as be blent or dyrked with lewdnesse, By false opinion call the a goddesse.

Giftes of grace, nor giftes of nature, Almesse dede done with humilite, Loue and cōpassion be ferre out of thy cure Semelinesse strength boūtye or beaute Vertuously vsed in their degre, Gaine non of these thy power may not stretch For who is vertuous lytel of thee doth retch.

Of thy condicions to set another prefe, Which foles vse in their aduersite For excusacion, as somtyme sayeth a thefe Whan he is hanged it was his destyne, A••witeth fortune of his iniquite, As she had power & domination To rule man by wyl againe reason.

For whych quod Jhon Bochas in party deso∣late To determin such heauenly hid fecrees, To tho that be deuines of estate I remit such vncouth priuitees: And w^t Poetes that be of lowe degrees I esche we to climbe to hye a loft Lest for presumpcion I shuld not fal soft.

But if I had hyd in my corage Such misteries of diuine prouidence, Without enuy I would in plaine langage Vttre them by writinge with huble reuer••ce: Predestynacion nouther prescience Not appertaine fortune vnto the And for my part I wyl excuse me.

And procede lyke as I vndertoke After that I tolde my matere Of fal of princes for to wryte a boke, But yet afore if thou wouldest here I desire of hole herte and entere To haue a copie of princes names al, Which fro thy whele thou hast made to fal.

Thy secre bosome is ful of stories Of sūdry princes how they their life haue lad Of their triumphes and victories Which olde Poetes and Philosophers sad In meter and prose compiled haue an rad, Song their laudes their fautes eke reserued, By remembraunce as they haue deserued,

Of which I haue put some in memory, Theron set my study and laboure So as I coude to their encrease of glory, Though of lāgage I had but smal fauour, Cause Caliope did me no socour, For which thou hast duringe al this while Rebuked me of my rude style.

Men would accoūpt it were a great dulnesse But if language conueied be by prudence, Out declared by sobre auysenesse, Vnder support fauoured by defence Of Tullius chefe prince of eloquence, Should more profite shortly to conclude, Than my style spoke in termes rude.

Yet ofte tyme it hath be felte and seyne Vnder huskes growyng on land erable Hath be founde and tried out good greine, Vnder rude leaues shakynge & vnstable Pulled fayre frute holesome & delytable: And semblably where rethorike hath failed, In blūte termes good coūsaile hath auayled.

Phylosophers of the golden ages, And Poetes that founde out freshe ditees, As king Amphion w^t his faire langages And w^t his harpig made folke of low degrees And laborers tenhabyte firste cytees: And so by musyke and Phylosophy Gan firste of commons noble policy.

The chefe of musike is melody & accorde, Well of Philosophy sprang out of prudence, By whych two meanes gan vnitye & acorde With politike vertue to haue their asistence, Wisemen to reigne, subiectes do reuerence: And by this grounde in stories men may se,

Were bylte the walles of Thebes the citie.

Accorde in musyke causeth the melody Where is discorde there is diuersite, And where is peace is prudent policy, In eche kingdome and euery great countre Strife first induced by thy duplicite: For which y^u maist as clerkes thee discryues, Be called lady of contekes and of striues.

Fyrst were founde out hateful deuysions By thy contriued false mutabilitees, Slaughter, debate, frowarde dyscencions, In regions, prouinces, and citees: Desolacions of townes and of countrees, Where of men had firste experience By thy chaungeable gery violence.

Thus by the opinion of thy whele double As fayre by nature as it was possible, Ouerthwertly thou broughtest mē in troble, Madest eche to other froward and odible, By thy traines vncouth and terrible, Lyke as a corser maketh coltes y^t be wylde, With spurre & whyp to be tame and mylde.

Thus by the tempest of thine aduersitees, To make men more tame of their corages, In their discordes twene kyngdoms & citees After the sharpenes of thy cruel rages, Onely by speche & meane of faire langages, Folke by thy fraude fro grace ferre exyled Were by faire speche to vnyte reconsiled.

People of Grece, of Rome, & of Cartage, Nexte in Itayle with many a region Were indused by swetnesse of faire langage To haue togither their conuersacion, To buylde castels and many a royal toun: What caused this to tell in briefe the fourme, But eloquence rude people to enfourine▪

Afore tyme they were but beastial Tyl they to reason by lawes were cōstrained, Vnder discrecion by statutes natural Fro wilful lustes by prudēce were restrained, By assent made one & togider enchayned In golden chaines of peace and vnite Thus gan the buylding of euery great cite.

But whan thou medlest to haue an entresse, They that were one to bring them at discorde To interrupt with thy doublenesse Citees & regions that were of one accorde: Lyke as thys boke can beare me wel recorde Fro the tyme that thou first began, Thy mutabilite hath stroyed many a man.

Thou causedst men to be obstynate In their corages, and incorrigible, Wilful, & froward, causeles at debate, Eche to other contrarious and odible, Them to refourme almost impossible, Tyl faire speche voidinge diuision Peace reconciled twene many a region.

For there is none so furious outrage Nor no matter so fer out of the way, But that by meane of gracious langage And faire speche, may a man conuay To al reason mekely for to obey: By an example whyche I reherce shal, Wele to purpose and historial.

The hardy knight the cruell Achylles Whan hateful ire assailed his corage, There was no meane w^t him to treat of pees, To styl the tempest of his dolefull rage, Saue onely this which dyd his ire aswage, By attemperaunce to obey to reason Whan of an harpe he heard the swete soun.

Which instrument by hys great swetnesse Put al rancour out of hys remembraunce, Wrested him againe to al gladnesse From him auoiding al rācoure & greuaunce: Semblably fayre speche and daliaunce Set men in rest in realmes here & yonder, By good langage that were ferre asonder.

With these wordes Bochas wext debonaire Towarde fortune as he cast his loke, Withdrewe his rancour and to speke faire Touching his labour y^t he vpon him toke Beseching her for to forther his boke, That his name which was but little knowe, By good report might be further blowe.

That his name might ferther sprede Which stode as yet shrouded in derknesse, By her fauour his name forth to lede His boke to forther do her businesse, By good reporte to yeue it a bryghtnesse, with laureate stremes shad forth to people al By foryetfulnesse that it neuer appall.

This was the hyl whych y^t Jhon Bochas Made vnto fortune with ful humble style, Whan fortune had conteiued al his caas

Soberly stoode and gan stynt a while, And glad of chere after she gan smyle On myne auctour, and with a freshe visage In sentence spake to him this langage.

Sothly (quod she) I se the busines Of mortall men, howe curious y^t they be, Howe they study by greate auysenesse Of my secretes for to be priue: To knowe the conceites hyd within me, And my counsails, ye men do al your payne Albe that lightly ye may not therto attayne.

In this matter your wyt doth neuer faynt Ymaginyng my lykenesse in your mynde, Lyke your conceytes ye forge me & painte Somtyme a woman w^t winges set behinde, And portrayen me with eyen y^t ben blynde: Cause of al this brefely to expresse, Is your owne couetous blyndnesse.

Your appetites most straunge & dyuers And euer full of chaunge and doublenesse, Frowarde also malicious and peruers, By hastye clymbing to worship & riches, Alway voyde of trouth and stablenesse: Most presūptuous, serche out in al degrees, Falsly to attayne to worldly dignitees.

Bochas Bochas I perceiue euery thyng, And knowe full wele the great difference Hyd in thy selfe of wordes and thynkyng, Atwene them both the disconuenience: Hast thou not writen many great sentence In thy boke to sclaundre wyth my name, Of hole entent my maners to defame▪

Thou callest me stepmother most vnkynde, And somtyme a false enchauntresse, A mermaide with a taile behind, Of scorne somwhyle me namyng a goddesse, Somtyme a witch, somtyme a sorceresse, Fynder of murdre and of disceites al, Thus of malice mortal men me call.

Al this is done in dyspite of me By accusacion in many sondry wyse, Ye oft appeche my mutabilite Namely whā I your requestes do dispyse, For to accomplyshe your gredy couetise: Whan ye fayle ye lay on me the wyte Of your aduersitees, me falsly to atwite.

And thou of purpose for teslaundre me Hast writen vngoodly a cōtrarious fable, Howe I wrestled wyth glad pouerte, To whose party thou were fauourable, Settest me a backe, gayne me y^u were vengea∣ble Nowe of newe requirest my fauour The for to helpe and forther thy labour.

Ascaunce I am of maners most chaungeable, Of condicions very femynine, Now here now ther as y^e wynde vnstable, By thy discripcion and by thy doctrine, To euery chaunge redy to enclyne: As women ben yong and tēdre of age, Which of nature be diuers of corage.

But for to further in party thyne entent That of thy boke the processe may procede, By my fauour to the accomplishment I am wel wylled to helpe the in thy nede, Like thy desire the better thou shalt spede, Whan I am towarde with a benigne face To spede thy ioruey by support of my grace.

That thy name and also thy surname With Poetes and many an olde auctour, May be regestred in the house of Fame, By supportacion of my sodaine fauour, By assistence also of my socour Thy worke texplete the laurer for to wyn At Saturninus I wyl that thou begin.

The fyrst Chapiter.

¶ Here reherseth Fortune her condicions vn∣to Bochas, shewyng how many one she enhaunceth for a time, and anone after them sodainly ouerthro∣weth.

AMonge Romayns this said Sa∣turnyne Was outragious of condiciōs, Caused in Rome whā he gan ma∣lygne Great debates and great sedicions: And by hys frowarde conspiracions He was sharpe enemy agayne the prudēt iuge Called Metellus, deuoide of al refuge.

Fro the Capitole set with mighty hande Founde no socour Metellus in the toun, The same tyme thou shalt vnderstande Howe by my helpe and supportacion

One that was smal of reputacion Called Glaucus, in pouert brought lowe Made Consulere, the story is well knowe.

A seruaunt first and almost set at nought, And afterwarde I made him fortunate, Left neuer tyll I had hym brought By a prerogatife chose of the Senate, To be a pretour an office of estate, Which also wrought by conspiration To bryng Metellus to destruction.

Of whose assent there was also another Called Marius beyng the same yere Texplete this treason their sworne brother, which was also that tyme a Consulere: I fortune made them full good chere Lyke their desyres gaue them liberte, To banyshe Metellus out of their cite.

Of these thre Romains the first Saturnine, And Glaucus was called the seconde, And Marius layde out hoke and lyne As I haue tolde Metellus to confounde, To their purpose I was also founde Fauourable, to bryng them to mischefe As their story sheweth an open prefe.

They banyshed hym out of Rome toun, And Saturninus by hys subtell workyng Clambe vp fast of presumpcion To be called of Rome lorde and kyng, I gaue hym fauour by a maner false smiling Tyll at the last playnly to declare Of his distruction I brought him in y^• snare.

The Senatours knowyng the malyce Of Saturne which made a great gadryng Of sundry folke, castyng in his auyce By theyr fauour he might be called kyng, All this while of his vpclymbyng I shewed hym duryng a longe space, Him to disceyue a full benigne face.

Tyll Marius a mighty Consulere To withstande his presumption Rose with stronge hande, & with a knyghtly chere Beset hys palays about enuyron, Brake hys gates amyd of the toun: And Saturninus voyde of all fauour To the Capitoyle fled for succour.

He was forbarred by Marius of vitayle, The Capitoyle besieged rounde aboute, At the entryng was a stronge batayle On outher party slayne a great route: Thus of my fauour he gan stande in doute, Thus Saturninus brought in gret distresse His good acheted lost all his rychesse.

Experience full openly men leareth Suche as hyest thervpon ascende Lyke as the turne of my whele requireth Whan they lest wene, doun they shall discēde: They haue no power them selfe to defende Agayne my might, when they be ouerthrow What do I than but laughe & make amow.

Drusus also borne of great lynage And discended of full hye noblesse Vnto vertue contrary of his corage, Frowarde founde to all gentlenesse, Yet chose he was the story doth expresse Questour of Asye an offyce of hye degre, For his byrthe to gouerne that countre.

But oft tyme vertue nor gentlenesse Come nat to heires by succession, Exāple in Drusus the story bereth witnesse, Which bothe of corage and disposicion Was euer frowarde of condicion: For which let men deme as they must nedes, Nat after byrthe but after the dedes.

Vertues all in hym were set asyde, Slowe to be armed, hated chiualry, Most couetous, deynous, full of pryde, His dedes frowarde, full of trechery, To hie estate I dyd hym magnify: Yet al my giftes in hym ne might stretche, For here tofore thee he cōmeth like a wretche.

He dare for shame nat shewe his visage So farre disclaundred is his wretchednesse, His couetyse, and vicious outrage, Falsely caused by hys doublenesse: Maguldusa a prynce of great noblesse, Betrayshed was for mede to the kyng Called Boccus by Drusus false workyng.

What maner turmēt or what greuous payne Were cōpetent couenable or condigne To him that can outwarde flatter & fayne, And in his hert couertly mal••••••e▪ As Drusus dyd which shewed many signe To Maguldusa of loue and frendlyhede, Vnderneth false treason hydde in dede.

But Maguldusa lyke a manly knyght Gayne king Boccus hath hiselfe soccoured, Whan he by dome was iudged agayne ryght Of an olyphaunt for to be deuoured: Scaped frely, and after that laboured To acquite hym selfe through his hie renoun Slew false Drusus myd of Rome toun.

Bochas also men put the lacke in me That I was cause of the destruction By my contrarious mutabilyte Of the notable famous Scipion, Which in the tyme of Sensoryn Caton Gate the triumphe for many great victory, To put his name perpetually in memory.

For his merites chose a Consulere And chefe byshop to gouerne their cite, To all the Senate patron most entere, Most famous of name and dignite, Saued Romayns from all aduersite: Tyme whan the werre dredefull & dispytous Gan atwene Pompey and Cesar Julius.

Thus whan the sayde famous Scipion Was through my fauor acōpted most notable He fro my whele sodenly was throwe doun Which neuer in word nor dede was culpable: But the Romains malicious and vnstable, By theyr hangman first chayned in pryson, After racked, there gayned no raunson.

Thus he that had auayled them so ofte, To saue hym selfe founde succour on no syde: His dead body they henge it hye alofte For a spectacle longe there to abyde, Thus geryshly my gyftes I denyde Stoūdmeale nowe frende nowe aduersary, Rewarde good with guerdons ful contrary.

This was experte full well in Scipion, Gan with loye and ended in wretchednesse: Bochas remembre make hereof mencion And of Fanaticus how I of gentlenesse Made him ascende to notable hye prowesse, Yet bokes saye touchyng his kynrede Manly of person, a chorle borne in dede.

For my disporte with a glad vysage I set hym vp 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hye vpon my whele, Gaue hym lordshyp out of low seruage, To do him fauour it ly kedine full wele: Wherfore Bochas his story euery dele Note it well, and in especiall How he by sleyght came to estate royall.

By sleyghty fainyng to dyuers folke he tolde How that he spake w^t Scirra the goddesse, At euery houre playnly whan he wolde, Of presumption discriued her lykenesse: Sayde also how she of her goodnesse Had graunted him (hys stare to magnyfy) Duryng his life a spirite of prophesy.

And furthermore the people for to blynde He fantasied by a crafte vncouth Within a shale the story maketh mynde Of a nut to haue fyre in hys mouthe, Blew it sparkling north and southe: Affyrmed (wherwith folke were blent) It was a spirite to hym from heuen sent.

By which he wrought many great vertue, Gadred people tyll he had in dede Two thousande churles at hys retinue, Whiche afterwarde his purpose for to spede To syxty thousande encreaced as I rede: I suffred all, serued hym at the tyde Tyll all the courte grutched at hys pryde:

Though of byrthe he was but a vileyne Rose vp of nought by sodeyne auenture, My gery fauour made hym to be seyne Royal of porte, dyd hys busy cure To rayse hys baner ware a cote armure: And by gracious supportation, Brought great people to his subiection.

At the last my lust gan appall Towarde him not beynge fauourable, Down fro my whele anone I made him fal: For by Romains was sent a great constable Called Porpenna a prince full notable, Whiche fyll on him, venquisshed him anone, Slewe & outrayed his churles euerychone.

Him selfe was hanged vpon an hye gybet, Some of his meyny was cast in pryson, Thus to his pryde I gaue a great tripet, And fro my whele I cast him low doun In his moste hyest domynacion: Toke no hede, where he dyd laugh or mour∣ne For with no man, I do alway soiourne.

Bochas quod fortune, take good hede also Howe I can bothe further and disauayle, For ensample se howe Athenyo, That whylom was a shepherde in Itayle

A brigaunt after marchauntes to assayle Laye in wayte besyde a great mountayne, Of fugitiues he was made a captayne.

Slewe first his lorde a ryche Senatour, By violence brake many a stronge prison, And for a tyme I gaue hym great fauour To gather robbours about him enuyron: All the churles of that region He assembled through his iniquite, To holde a werre with Rome the cite.

Besieged castels brake doun mighty tours, Slewe and robbed about in eche countre, Spoyled palayses of worthy Senatours, Tytle had he none saue tytle of volunte: Toke vpon hym of pride and cruelte For to be clad in purple lyke a kyng, Bare a scepter amonge his men ridyng.

Vpon his head ordayned for the nones His golden heare tressed lyke an emperour, A ••oyfe enbrouded all of ryche stones, Me lyst to laughe that a false robbour By supportacion of my gery fauour Which last nat longe, for after in short whyle As is my custome I dyd hym begyle.

I suffred hym and made hym fayned chere As I haue doen to other mo full ofte, Tyll downe fro Rome was sent a Consulere Which toke him proudly, & henge him alofte, His churles slayne, & some of them nat softe In cheynes bounde, for shorte conclusion Were dempt by lawe to die in prison.

By whiche story Bochas thou mayst lere A great party of my condicion, But now in hast a story thou shalt here Howe in the yere fro the foundacion More than sixty .C. I meane of Rome toun, Was a gatheryng a great company Together sworne, by false conspyracy.

Them to withdraw fro the obeysance Of a Tribune called Clodoue, Which for knighthode had gouernaunce And was sent downe from Rome cyte With myghty hande to rule a great countre Called Champayne, and playnlye for to say The people there lyst hym nat obay.

Thre score and four were of them in numbre That named were chefe conspyratours, Whiche y^• cast thē their captayne to encōbre w^t multitude of theues & robbours: Whiche chase amonge thē to be their suppor∣tours Thre mighty captaynes, of which there was one Called Spartharcus chefest of echone.

Gadred churles made them selfe stronge, On an hye hyll toke their dwellyng place, Hauing no regarde were it right or wronge To spoyle the countre, beastes to enchace: I cherished them with a benigne face For a season, and gaue them liberte By false rauyne to robbe the countre.

What thing is more cruel in comparison, And more vengeable of wyll & nat of ryght Than whan a churle hath domination▪ Lacke of discretion blyndeth so the syght Of comuners for defaute of lyght, When they haue power coūtreis to gouerne, Fare lyke a beast that can nothyng discerne.

Gladiators folkes dyd them call, For their swordes wer with stele made fyne For to fight gayne wilde beastes all, As lyons, beares, bores, and wylde swyne: And the mountayne where they dyd lyne Called Venuse, and through their cruelte Slewe and robbed about in eche countre.

Spartharchus was their chefe captayne Brought vp of nought & borne of low degre, But Claudius a mighty stronge Romayne Was sent with power fro Rome the cite For to defende and saue the countre: The hyll besieged before them as he lay He was rebuked, beate, and driuen away.

Many of them that kept the mountayne Were hurte that day, the story telleth thus, Amōges which was slaine a great captayne That was felow vnto Spartharchus, As I fynde he hight Inomaus: For whose deth was take so great vēgeaūce, That all the countre felt therof greuaunce.

They of the mountayne all of one assent Without mercy or remission, Most vengeable haue robbed and brent All the countre about them enuyron, Tyll two Consulers came fro Rome doun: The first of them called Lentulus, Both put to flight by y^• sayd Spartharchus.

Wherof the romayns greatly dismayed, The Senatours of indignacion Bothe ashamed & in them selfe affrayed Sent one Crassus a great lorde of the toun, With the nombre of a legion: And whan y^t he on Spartharcus fyrste set Slewe of his men, sixe .M. whan they met.

And afterwarde besyde a great ryuer Called Salayre they had a great batayle, Where Spartharcus stode in great daunger For his chere and countenaunce gan fayle: Thurty thousande clad in plate & mayle Were slayne y^t day, there gayned no raunson All their capitayns assigned to prison.

Without all this as made is mencion Sixty thousande in the felde lay dede, And sixe thousande were sent to prison: The felde with bloude stayned & made rede, And fourscore .M. quakyng in their drede Were thylke day after the romayne gyse Take to mercy, receyued to fraunchyse.

And Spartharcus at mischefe put to flight, Whan I from him turned my visage He loste chere, he lost also his might Whan I appalled the fyne of his passage: And for he was a churle of his lynage, Of his encrees I lyked nothyng wele, Therfore vnwarly I cast him fro my whele.

Of my maners to make a greatter prefe There was another famous greate robbour Which through Spayne, was a disclaundred thefe And for he dred of iustice the rigour, Trusting he shulde fynde in me socour Called Vrinatus he Spayne anon forsoke, And to Rome the right way he toke.

Gadred meyny of his condyrion Of euery secte to make him selfe stronge, Theues and robbours of euery region, Many a churle was medied them amonge: His name tencreace were it right or wronge What euer he gate in cyte or village, With his soudyours he parted the pyllage.

Thus by my helpe he came to greate richesse, Which brought in pride and presumpcion, He nat prouyded of my doublenesse Gan to maligne agayne Rome toun: But by the prudence of last Scipion Sonne of Lepidus, makyng therof no boste, He slayne was by them he trusted moste.

By whiche ensample notable of remēbraūce Shewed heretofore John Bochas vnto the, Thou mayst know in party my puysaunce, My sodayne chaunges, my mutabylite: And for to auoyde all ambuguite To declare the summe of myne entent, Great Marius to thee I do present.

Blacke his wede and his habyte also His heed vnkempt, his lockes hore and gray, His loke downe cast in token of sorow & wo On his chekes the salte teares lay, Whiche bare recorde of his deadly affray: Wherfore Bochas do thy penne dresse To discryue his mortall heuynesse.

His robe stayned was with romayne blode, His sworde aye redy whet to do vengeaunce Lyke a tyraunt most furyous and wode, In slaughter & murdre set all his plesaunce: Yet nat forthy I gaue him gouernaunce, Ouer the people, rose on my whele vp fast But as vnwarely downe I dyd him cast.

Twene him & Scilla y^• woful deadly stryues At large herafter Bochas thou shalt wryte, How many romaynes lost by thē their liues I wyll also in ordre that thou endyte, And if I shall rebuke them and atwyte As I fro nought made them in honour shine, So I again warde made thē in mischef fine.

Forget nat also, the deadly pytous fate Of him that was so notable in his lyfe, I meane the great famous Mithridate Whose name is yet full couthe and ryfe, To whom I gaue a great prerogatyfe, Fourty wynter, the dede was well sene, Agayne Romayns the werre to sustene.

For whiche herafter I gyue it the in charge Of Mithridate, the story set alonge Whan thou haste leyser & a space large, Remember his conquest & his dedes stronge: And howe that I medled me amonge For al his noblesse and his felicite, To yeue him parte of great aduersite.

Next in ordre after her owne choys Fortune vntrusty vpon eche party, To John Bochas bothe conuayed fro Par∣thoys Stronge Herodes, reignyng in Parthy,

Lo John (quod she) take hede of this story: All his kinred yf it be well out sought Wer by Scithiēs chased & brought to nought

And yet for al my mutabylite Some of them whyle they stode dispayred I restored vnto their dignite: Vnto which whan they were repayred, This Herodes was hindred and apayred By chaunges, for his hatefull pride, Whan he lest wende vn warely set asyde.

Suyng after within a lytle whyle This geryshe lady of condicion, Gan an yll laughing falsely for to smyle Lokyng on Bochas brought with her doun A mighty prince which in Rome toun Had in his dayes notable price and fame, All be that she expressed nat his name.

Bochas than his head gan downe declyne Seyng that prynce of face disfigured, Of suspection gan to ymagyne: Whan he his mynde fully hath recured By certayne tokens & sygnes well assured, It was Pompey surquedous of estate Which with Cesar so longe was at debate.

Disconsolate through his vnhappye caas, His face soyled with water of the see, Tyme whan Fotynus and cruel Achyllas Drowned hys body of furyous enmyte, His face disfigured at the solempnyte With smokes blake deadly and mortall, Called of clerkes the feast funerall.

Codrus caused the corps was brent And consumed into ashes deed, To Cesar after his head was borne and sent Vpon a pole, hys story who lyst rede: After all this Bochas toke good hede How fortune by a maner mockery In scorne of hym, gan thus to specify.

Vp to the heauen after his deuyse I gan enhaunce and encrease hys glory, By my fauour I gaue hym many a pryse Conquest of kynges w^t many great victory, And more to put his noblesse in memory, By my support through his chiualry With Cesar Julius to holde champarty.

And while that I my fauour dyd applye Towarde him his victories to assure, His fame arose tyll that in Thessalye I gan withdraw his party to succoure, Sufferyng his enemies make discomfiture Vpon this Pompey, hyndred in my syght When to Lesbos at mischefe toke hys flyght.

By the seruauntes of yonge Tholome Reygning in Egypt, Pompey in his drede Was take & slayne, he founde no helpe in me, I gaue him vp and so he lost his hede: Yet of my chaunges no man taketh hede, Nor how vnsurely I cast my dredefull loke, Saue thou art busy to set them in thy boke.

Bochas astonied parcell of her presence, Bothe of chere, face, and countenaunce, And this whyle hauyng his aduertence Thought he sawe a maner resemblaunce Of a person which stode in great greuaunce: Tyll at last fortune cast her syght Towarde Bochas, and tolde what he hyght.

This is (quod she) playnly to termine The famous man prynce of eloquence That gaue to Latynes y^• scole & the doctrine Of Rethorike, as well of that science: For whiche I wyll thou doe thy diligence To write with other of thys Tullius, All the case, and gyn at Marius.

These wordes sayde fortune made an ende, She bete her ••ynges and toke her to flyght, I can nat se what way she dyd wende Saue Bochas telleth like an angell bryght At her departyng she shewed a great lyght: But assone as she gan disapere, He toke his penne and wrote as ye shal here.

The .ii. Chapter.

¶ Howe Gayus Marius of lowe byrth borne, came to hie estate, whiche blent with couetise, after many great batayls dyed at myschefe.

HEre Bochas gynneth to tell of the man Called in hys tyme Gayus Marius, Borne at Aprina a castell of Tuscan, Sonne of a carpenter the storye telleth thus Pursued armes manly and vertuous: Through all Rome nor in that countre,

Was there no man holde so stronge as he.

Discyplyne and great subtylite He had also as bokes specify, Prudence, manhode, and habylite Bothe in armes and in chyualry, Moste famous holde towarde the party w^tin a while, myne auctour saythe certayne, Chose a Tribune, and a great capitayne.

But fro the gynnyng of his tendre age As histories put in remembraunce, He was pricked so sore in his corage By a gredy fret, of longe contynuaunce, Neuer to staunche with none habundaunce: The worlde, nor fortune w^t all their richesse, Suffyled nat to appease his gredynesse.

Entring a temple he founde a diuynour, Counsayled him there by his diuynayle To entre Rome, and holde there soiour, By good auice, and knightly apparayle: Made him promyse that he shoulde nat fayle To attayne by fauour of the commonte, To great office and state in the cyte.

Fauour of commons brought hi to hie estate, By them receyued vnto dignyte Of Consulere, albe that the Senate Had disdayne of his felicite, Bycause he was borne of lowe degre: Graunted to him after by the toun To conquere realmes by a commissyon.

He gate the prouince, through his hie renoun Of Numedy, as he dyd them assayle, And toke the kyng of that region Called Jugurtha, proudly in batayle: For whiche emprise by marcial apparayle He gate y^e triumphe, through y^• town ryding, Bycause onely for taking of that king.

And for he was a person so notable For many a famous sodayne victory, Namely in conquest preued profitable To all the cōmons, as put is in memory, And for thencreace of his renome & glory By the opinyon hole of the cyte In his hande lay all their prosperite.

Agayne a people y^• called was Cymbroys Thē to conquere frō Rome he was sent doun Also agaynst the boystous Tigurnoys Gadred together of many nacion, All them he brought to subiection, Like as Romains had afore desyred, Because thei had againe their town cōspired.

They toke vpon them of false presumption To passe all the mountaines of Itayle, First discomfited as made is mencion Thre Romayne dukes felly in batayle, Fourscore thousand clad in plate and mayle Slayne of Romayns y^• story is well knowe, Vnder the Alpes at mischefe ouerthrowe.

This Marius of marciall auenture In Germany had a great batayle, With Tewtobochus a gyaunt of stature, Put first to flyght with al his apparayle: For Marius dyd hym so sore assayle At the chace proudly borne to grounde, Maugre his might take & in chaynes boūde.

Marius after with his hoste hym drewe Towarde y^e people of Cimbroys for to fight, Two hundred people I fynde of thē he slewe, Eight thousand take, thre .M. put to flight: Kyng Bolerus a full famous knight. Slayne in the felde for all his great pryde, Agayne Marius lyke as he dyd ryde.

That day of Cibroyes was al y^e people slaine, The women after he lyst nat to reserue, Yet they profered & wolde haue ben ful faine Their chastite deuoutly to obserue, In the temple of Vesta for to serue: But their request for he lyst nat here, With him they fought echone slayne yfere.

Except some whan they sawe none other Remedy, of purpose they were set Eueriche of them to slee & murder other: And some thought also it was bet To hange them selfe vpon an hye gybet, Than to abyde of Marius the outrage Perpetually to lyue in seruage.

Thus Marius of thre nacions Through hys conquest accōplyshed y^• victory, With prisoners of sundry regions Entred Rome to his encreace of glory, With speciall laudes notable of memory: First the triumphe, a guerdon singulere, He tymes syxe was chosen a Consulere.

Thus fortune was to him fauourable To set him vp in worldly dignities

For a season, but for she was chaungeable Amonge her gyftes, and great prosperitees, She gaue him parte of great aduersytees: And specially the tyme accompted, than Twene him & Scilla whan the werre gan.

Lucius Scilla abyding in Champayne Marius at Rome tho present, Whan the deuysion gan atwene thē twayne Eche to other contrary of entent, Melancolous and impacient, Whiche of both (the story wel conceyued) To gouerne, should sonest be receyued.

All sodaynly were it right or wronge Toward Rome takinge his passage, Agayne Marius to make him selfe stronge Gan slee and burne, and of great outrage Wylfull, and hasty, furyous of corage For sodaine comming and vnware violence, Agayne him found no resystence.

Two mighty batayls he dyd with him lede, Entryng the cite gan through y^• wal myne, Wyth one bataile fast gan him spede To passe the gate called Aquylyne, That other gate named was Colyne: At whose entring by recorde of the boke, Scilla by strength the capitoyle toke:

But whan Marius had knowlegyng That Scilla had so great power & might, Without arest or lenger abydyng In to a maryshe, Gayus anonright With all his people toke sodainly his flyght: Fet out by strength, coude hym nat defende, Scilla after to prison dyd him sende.

Thus the prowesse for a whyle slept Of Marius lying in pryson, Scilla that tyme the capitoyle kept Wherby all Rome stode in subiection: And of hatred in haste he sent down A sturdy chorle to Marius in his drede Whyle he lay bounde to smyte of his heade.

This chorle wel compacte of braune & bones Set of purpose Marius for to oppresse, For his strength ordayned for the nones: To the prison the chorle gan him fast dresse Where Marius was fettred in distresse, Fully in purpose without more delay To behead him in prison there he lay.

Losing hym first lying on his couche And Marius rose vp lyke a man, The chorle fearfull to ••inite him or to touche, And Marius full proudly tho began To entre a place beside of a woman, Founde an asse there of auenture Vpon whose backe the see he gan recure.

Towarde Affrike there he fonde passage, By enprisoning though he were wext faynt Yet there abode styl in his corage Hye worthynesse, with prudence meynt: Which in his person were nat queynt Agayne the malyce to make a countertayle Of proude Scilla, the malyce efte tassayle.

Of Itayle rode through the countre, Toke his voyage through Rome tou, n Wyth four batayls entred the cyte, Sixe hundred knightes by computacion Slaine in the felde as made is mencion: Where men may se, who lyste loke aferre What domage diuysion dothe in werre.

First by the manhode of this Marius In this diuysion the story who lyst rede, The great Consull called Octauius Loste his head and his lyfe in dede, Vpon a pole while it dyd blede: Was cruelly presented of entent Before the iudges, sytting in iugement.

Of whose death some of them were fayne, Some sory of loue as they were bounde, And in this werre Merula was slayne Priest in the temple, lyke as it is founde, Of Jupiter, with many mortal wounde: The romayne slayne y^• called was Crassus, With fyre consumed was proude Catullus.

All his enemyes Marius dydencombre Which agayne him by conspyracion Were assented with a ful great nombre In their auise for to haue put him doun, Take from him his dominacion: But he abode the turment and the shoures, Strong to cōdempne al his cōspyratours

Sixe times aforne rehersed here Of condicion though he were dispytous, He was chosen so oft consulere Tyll fortune gan wexe enuyous, Agayne this sayd cruell Marius Which made the Senate w^t al the chyualry

To grutche agayne his hatefull tyranny.

In this time the story maketh mynde Damasippus a Pretor of the toun Frendly to Marius & helpyng as I fynde, Vnder a shadowe of deception Vnto their cite for to do treason, Causyng four Romayns come in fere Tofore Marius a certayne day tapere.

And their names to put in memory Sceuola, Carto, and Domicius, The fourth of them as sayth the story Called in Rome the wyse Antistius, Together assembled tofore Marius: He of rancour agayne iudgement or lawe, Made thē be slayn, & through the cite drawe.

Their bodies after were in Tybre cast By cruelte of the sayde Marius, All this while the cruell werre last Twene him and Scilla, tyl duke Cōpaneus Came to the party hardy and dispitous To helpe Scilla their baners first displayed, Wherof all Rome was sodaynly affrayed.

At the gate that called was Collatyne Marius and Scilla had a great batayle, Four score thousand the numbre to termyne On Marius side slayne, it is no fayle: Scilla victorious with marcial apparayle Entring the towne agayne his othe parde, Thre thousand citezius slew of that cite.

Of folke disarmed and naked in the towne They nouther spared olde nor yonge of age, The cruell murdrers walkynge vp & downe By Scilla sent in that mortall rage: Tyll Catullus a prynce fall in age Sayde vnto Scilla we can no difference Twene rebellion nor atwene innocence.

We murder and slee without exception Bothe hie and low holdyng no manere, Againe all knighthode to myne opinion We do procede in our conquest here, Our title is lost the triumphe to requere Of hie prowesse, whan we can nat obserue No difference to slee nor to reserue.

And in this while of hatefull cruelte Scilla contriued letters diffamable, Wherby fiue hundred out of that cite Were falsly banished citezins notable, Agayns them he was so vntreatable All their goodes atche••ed in that rage, Of auaryce and of false pyllage.

Another romayne named Marius Brother to Marius of whō tofore I tolde, For drede of Scilla fled and toke an hous Which vnto Gotes was set vp for a folde, Founde and rent out in his dayes olde, With cordes draw no rescue might him saue, Of cruell vengeaunce to Catullus graue.

Where Scilla made by cruell iudgement With a sharpe sworde forged forto byte, After time his eyen were out rent Bothe at ones his handes of to smyte: His head of smit, no ran̄som might hi quyte, Set on a pole it woulde be none other, And of dispight sent vnto hys brother

To Marius of whome I spake nowe right, The great duke so mighty and so huge: Which had afore take him to the flight For feare of Scilla in that mortal deluge, Into a citie to finde there refuge, Called Preneste ther standing in gret drede, Namely when he behelde his brothers hede.

Forasmuch as he no succour fonde Dispayred this was hys purpose, To slee him selfe with his owne honde In thilke place where he was kept close, Drewe out hys sworde and vp anone he rose Cōstrained his seruaūt in that sodain affray, Smit of his head the selfe same day.

Men say howe death is fyne of all mischefe, Ende of aduersite that dothe wretches tary, Fortune here maketh another prefe In Marius howe she her course gan vary, By an euidence hateful and contrary, To shew her malyce and vngoodlyheed Agayne this duke, alas, whan he was deed.

This froward lady of malyce most vēgeable Whan her lyst furiously to raue, And shew her selfe cruell and vnstable, To none estate she lyst no regarde haue: Caused Marius to be take out of his graue By cruell Scilla, in story it is founde, His vgly carayne smyt on peeces rounde.

And after more to shew hys cruelte Marius shoulde haue no burying place,

Cast his carayne of cankred enmyte Into Tybre there was none other grace: Lo thus can fortune for her folke purchace, By whiche example touchyng Marius, Of worldly chaunges Bochas writeth thus.

Maketh in this chapter a discription First what thing is very gentlenesse, To set a prefe and a probacion Nothyng attayneth vnto hie noblenesse But the clere shinyng of vertuous clennesse: Which may nat shew i hie nor low parage, But where it groweth out of a pure corage.

Worldly power, oppression, tyranny, Erthly treasure, golde, stones nor rychesse. Be no meanes vnto gentry But if vertue rule their hye prowesse: For where vyces haue entresse In hie byrthe, meane, or low kynrede, Deme no man gentle but onely by his dede.

In royall places of stone & metall wrought With galaryes or stately cloysters rounde, Gentilnesse nor noblesse is nat sought, Nor in selers nor in vautes rounde, But onely there wher vertue doth habounde: Curyous clothes nor great possessions Maketh nat a man gengle, but condycions.

Phylosophers conclude in their entent And all these worthy famous olde auctours No man may que the in his testament Gentilnesse vnto his successours, Of wycked wede come no holsome flours: Concluding thus of good men & of shrewes, Call eche man gentle after his good thewes.

Duke Marius of whom I spake toforne Of nature (the story beareth wytnesse) As by discent poore and nedy borne, By disposycyon of coragyous noblesse Had in his persō wyt, strength, & hardynesse: Vnder all this there dyd his herte myne A worme of auaryce his worshyp to decline.

What vayleth plenty, y^• neuer may suffyse: Or what the flode that stauncheth no thurst: Or what an appetyte which euer doth aryse Alway to eate, and euer to eate hath lust: Of cankred hungre so fretyng is the rust That the riuer of Tantalus in his rage Of gredy etykes the fret may nat asswage.

Of Marius ye haue herd the ende His woful fall and his vnhappy caas, In to fate, howe he dyd wende: Nowe wyl I folow myne auctor Bochas, Howe vnto him thre Cleopatras With loke downe cast, wofull face & chere, All atones dyd to him appere.

The fyrst of them by processe of writing Had thre husbandes, Bochas doth expresse, Wedded in youth to Alisaundre the kyng, Called zebenna a prince of great noblesse: After that for her great fayrenesse, She wedded was vnto Demetrius, And last of all to kyng Antyochus.

Of her three husbandes woful auenture, And of her sonnes great vnkyndnesse Bochas afore hath done his busy cure Curyously the maner to expresse, Which to reherce agayne were ydelnesse, Syth all the processe here tofore is founde, Of the first, and eke of the secounde

Which wedded was to kyng Tholome Lyke as afore eke made is mencion, Bothe of their ioye and their aduersyte, The first slayne by drinkyng of poyson, And the seconde to her confusion By Euergetes were she wo or fayne, Was with her chylde serued y^• was slayne.

The thyrde wedded was to kyng Crispus Slayne in a temple by full great outrage, For drede and shame gan wexe furious To saue her selfe knewe none auauntage, Saue she enbraced of Jupiter an ymage: In the story as here tofore is founde, Or she was dead suffred many a wounde

❧ The .iii. Chapter.

❧ Howe king Mithridate bode .vii. yere in wyldernes, had great turmentes bothe on sea and lande, by his blode broughte to vttraunce, slewe himselfe with a sworde.

I Wyll passe ouer these Cleopatras three, Forth procede to the hasty fate Sone execute by Parcas cruelte

Vpon the duke called Mithridate, First reherce the great vnkyndlye hate Of them that were his tutours as I rede, Him to destroy by assent of his kynrede.

Which of purpose dyd hys death prouide By many vncouth straunge occasion, In his tender youth first they made him ride Vpon an horse wylder than a lyon, Of purpose onely for his distruction: But al be so that he was yonge of age, The horse he ruled in all his most rage.

Nat of doctrine but euen of nature He was disposed connyngly to ryde, Ouer him the maystry to recure Maugre the horse of wyt he was his gyde: What way he toke forwarde or asyde He daunted him, y^• where so euer he rode Bridled him and on his backe he bode.

His owne kyn and his next alyes Most laboured to bryng hym to mischefe With venomous drynke, set on hym espyes At good leyser as doth a couerte thefe, Of their fell poyson for to make a prefe, In their entent this is well couthe, Him to murder in hys tender youthe.

But whan y^t he apperceyued their treason, To saue him selfe made great ordinaunce, Anone as he gan haue suspection Of theyr vnkindly hatefull purueyaunce, For remedies made cheuisaunce: Was prouided their malyce to decline By many notable proued medicine.

And their malyce prudently to eschue Is remembred whyle he was yonge of age, With certayne frendes which y^• dyd hym sue He disposed of custome hys corage To hunt and chase beastes most sauage: Vnder that colour he dyd it for a wyle, Ferre fro his countre tabsent him for a whyle

Of one corage, one heart and one chere Suffred manly, toke none heuynesse, In desertes space of seuen yere Amonge hye hylles bode in wyldernesse, Set in Asia, the story beareth witnesse: Founde no lodgyng trasyng the countrees, Saue in cauernes, & great holowe trees.

The boke remembreth how that his diet Were beastes wylde enchased w^t great might Fled ydienesse eschewed all quiete, And lytle slepe su••••ised him at nyght: By exercise his body was made ••yght There was nouther, whan hym lyst pursue, Harte nor hynde y^• myght his hande eschue.

He nouther drad tygers nor lyons, He was so swifte, tho they dyd hym assayle: Lyke of strength to olde champions No wylde beast of great nor smale entayle Tescape his hande might not countreuayle: If he were ware, early outher late, So great swiftnesse had this Mithridate.

Amonge he had in armes exercyse, Amonge to tournay and ren on horsebacke, All dilicate fare he dyd also dispyse Of gredy excesse in him there was no lacke: A nighter tyme his slepe full oft he brake Stoundmeale the houres for to marke, In the daunyng rose vp or the larke.

The space accomplished fully of seuen yere He is repayred home to hys countre, Shewed hym selfe of manhode and of chere Full like a knight, his story who lyst se: Wherof his enemies astonied be, Caught of hys cōming in hert a maner drede Supposyng afore that he was dede.

In whose absence his wyfe Leodyces Conceyued a childe (as made is mencion) For the diffame shoulde nat come in prees Him for to murder she sought occasion, Fully in purpose to slee hym by poyson: Of which defautes her lorde was nat fayne, Knowing the trouth made her to be slayne.

Toke on him after many knightly dede First to conquere all Paflago••ye By the helpe of worthy Nychomede That tyme called kyng of Bithinye, Togyther assured to be of one alye: In losse or lucre fortune to be theyr gyde And therto sworne neuer to deuyde.

To Mithridate Legates were downe sent Fro the Romains, him lowly requiryng That he woulde lyke to their entent, Paflago••ye restore to their kyng, Which he had wonne the cite assaylyng: But he lyst nat aduertise their prayere,

Nor on no parties their requestes here.

He dred nat their thretes nor manaces, Gate proudly after the lande of Galathye In his conquest wan many other places, Capadoce toke to hys partye, Slew their kyng of hatred and enuye, Ariarectes a full manly man, And in this wyse his conquest he began.

Agayn thassuraūce twene him & Nichomede All sodaynly he gan fall at debate, Thought he wolde warrey hym in dede Because that he pompous and elate, In Capadoce toke on hym thestate To reygne as kyng agayns his entent, He nouther being of counsayle nor assent.

Yet Nychomede or they gan debate Had longe afore to his owne encrees The suster wedded of y^e Mithridate, Whan they as brethren lyued in rest & pees: And she also was called Leodices, Hauyng two sonues borne for to succede After discease of the sayde Nychomede.

And by processe these sayde children twayne In Capadoce by helpe of Mithridate, Claymed a tytle iustly for to attayne Vnto the crowne, their father died but late: For which they gan felly to debate, Tyll Mithridate falsly gan contriue His two neuewes vngoodly to depriue.

All Capadoce he toke into hys hande, His owne sonne he hath crowned kyng, Capadociens by assent of al the lande Gan disobey of purpose his workyng: Whan the Romains considred all thys thyng Artaberzanes in hast they sent doun Gayne Mithridate to kepe that region.

The sonne of whō fro thē they haue refused, Out of their kyngdome gan him to enchace, For they sēpte their fraunchyse was abused To see a foraine occupie that place: Mithridate gan newly them manace, And toke with him to sustayne his partye Tygranes the kyng of Armenye.

Artabarzanes that was fro Rome sent To Capadoce, to helpe them and counsayle, Of Mithridate knowyng the entente Howe he came downe proudly hym tassayle, With Tygranes, set in the first batayle: Of Capadoce that al the region Was brought that day to theyr subiection.

Thus Mithridate hauyng his entent In short time countreys conqueryng, Was mightiest prince of all the orient, And in tho dayes one the greatest kyng: And as it is remembred by writyng He delyted most in astronomye, In sortilege, and in sorcerye.

And with all these he dyd hys busy cure For to lerne vncouth conclusyons, And secretes sought out by nature, Knewe the langages of diuers regions, Of two and twenty sundry nacious: And helde women many more than one, Loued Hipsycrata aboue them euerychone.

To the Romains this manly Mithridate As bokes olde recorde of hym and sayne, Vpon a day of very cruell hate Through all Asya he bad that eche Romayne Shoulde of his men mercilesse be slayne: Twenty thousande he slewe eke on a day Of Romain marchātes, durst no mā say nay.

To him he drewe diuers nacions To encreace his party by puissaunce, Kymbrois, Gallois, with other regions, Bostornois toke to his aliaunce, With straūge people made his acquaintaūce: Where that euer he rode nye or ferre With them of Rome for to holde werre.

In Grece also he gate manye an yle, All Cyclades to his subiection, Conquered so that within a whyle Of Athenes he gate the famous toun: But when Romains knewe his entencion They sent Scilla in a furious hete With Mithridate in Grece for to mete.

Archelaus which that was constable Leading the host of kyng Mithridate, Gan agayne Scilla trustynge he was able, Maugre the Romains with him to debate: As they met in their furious hate, Beside Orthonia of Grece a great towne, Of Archelaus y^• party was brought downe.

There gan Scilla to be victorious Gayne Mithridate, and by great violence

Gate al Ephesie a kyngdome ful famous, Rode through Asye, founde no resistence: By his knighthode and manly prouidence Capadoce, and Bithinye eke also To Romain handes he gate them bothe two.

When Mithridate perceyued hath this thinge How the cōquest of Scilla toke encrees, Anone he cast without longe tariynge For a tyme with him to haue a pees, Of hie wisdome he was nat retcheles To dissimule tyll he founde time and space In double fortune to finde better grace.

Abode his tyme, kept hym selfe close, Tyll he founde layser lyke hys opinion, In this while of auenture arose Within Rome a great discencion, Twene two Consules being in that toun: Which to appease by hys auctorite, Scilla came vp agayne to the cite.

When Mithridate his absence dyd espy, To his purpose founde oportunite, Gadred people and with his chiualry A siege layde vnto Cyzite the cite Of all Asye moste of auctorite: Tyll Lucullus a myghty Consulere To breke the siege approche gan full nere.

Mithridate had on fyue captayns Tofore the towne made a discomfiture, Of hie dispyte he had to Romayns: But Lucullus the damages to recure, To enclose his enemies dyd hys busy cure, To his mynours gaue anone in charge About the siege to make a diche full large.

They within had knowledgyng By certayn tokens of all theyr gouernaunce, Whervpon they made no tariyng To cast a way for their delyueraunce: Mithridate seyng their ordinaunce Of hie prudence to escape away besyde, And at the siege lyst no lenger abyde.

Lucullus then the myghty Consuler Pursued after, slew of hys meyne Such a multitude that Asopus the ryuer Was made with blode lyke the reed se, w^t winde & tempest fordriuen also was he: And when he saw no succour in the lande, To shyp he went w^t strong and mighty hand.

He founde fortune cruell aduersary On lande and se this worthy Mithridate, And Neptunus made the see contrary Agayns him his puyssaunce to abate: What shall men call it, influence or fate: So sodaynly a prynce of hye renowne Fro hye noblesse to be plounged downe.

For any mischefe he kept aye one visage This Mithridate, and lothe was for to plye, Or for to bowe, so stronge was hys corage: But efte agayne goth with hys chiualry Towarde Adrastus an hyll of Armeny, Where as Pompey beset hym enuyron, Sent fro Rome to his distruction.

Mithridate makyng his lodgyng place Vnder that hyll, when it drew to nyght The troubly heuen w^t thūdring gan manace, The firy leuyn dyrked hath hys syght, The cloudy moue eclipsed of her lyght Astonied hym by vnware violence, That he stode confuse of all prouydence.

He was by tempest and vnware derkenesse Almost made wery of hys wofull lyfe, Yet I fynde of very kyndnesse Hipsicrata whiche that was hys wyfe, Nouther for werre nor no mortall stryfe Left him neuer, disguysed of vysage Folowed him arayed as a page.

Yet in hys most mortall heuynesse Whan cloudy fortune gan him most manace, Of his corage the naturall quickenesse Appaled nat, nor remeued from his place, So hie prowesse dyd hys heart enbrace: Nat dispayred for no sodayne fall, Of condicion he was so marciall.

In token wherof he standyng at mischefe Chaunged nouther chere nor countenaunce, An euidence and a full great prefe Of manly force and heartely assuraunce, Defiyng fortune with all her varyaunce, Whan that he founde to hys distruction Of dispayre greatest occasion.

With hym he had a baylife as I fynde Called Castor, whiche of condicion Was to his lorde false and eke vnkynde, And conspired agayne him false treason: In token wherof vp to Rome toun Hys lordes children yonge & tender of age

••yke a thefe, he sent them in hostage.

One of his sonnes he murdred by treason, Which Mithridate toke ful sore at herte, Another sonne as made is mencion False to his father, which whā he did aduerte The vnkyndnesse made him sore smerte: For of all vyces shortly to conclude, ••orst of al is hatefull ingratitude.

This same childe of whom I make mynde Called Pharnax, whych agayne nature To his father traytour and vnkynde, And his purpose agayne hym to recure, In al hast dyd his busy cure For to accomplyshe his purpose in party, Drewe to him hole his fathers chyualry.

By sleight & mede whā he was made strong, He besieged his father rounde aboute, Vnto nature me semeth he dyd wrong To put his father in so great a dout: Kyndnesse was ferre shyt wythout, Whan the sonne wyth hate set a fyre, Agayne his father falsly dyd conspyre.

Wyth multitude his father was constrayned Maugre hys myght in to a toure to flee, Hys sonne vnkynde hath at him disdained, And yet for al his straunge aduersite Of his corage the magnanimite In his person stode hole, lyst not vary Though fortune was to hym contrary.

Yet myne auctour Bocas beareth recorde That Mithrydate if it would haue be, Requyred his sonne to be at accord, And set asyde al olde contrariouste: But he vnkynde indurate was parde, Euer frowarde, malycious of corage, So disposed from his tendre age.

So that the kyng Mithrydate alas, Was ouercome by vnkyndenesse, That neuer afore in no maner caas Stode dismayed: but of hye prowesse Kept aye one face all passions to represse, This vertue force by marcial doctrine For none aduersite suffred hym declyne.

Ende of his werres & his mortall stryues Of his debates and discencions, Hys concubines, his daughters, & hys wiues By meane onely of certayne pocions Slewe them al, by drinkynge of poysons: For he not woulde, the cause to dyscriue, After his death they shoulde byde on lyue.

Hys owne death of mortall fell rygour Compassed afore thus he gan deuyse, Made a french knyght y^• was a soudiour With a sharpe sworde in ful cruel wyse To ren him through, wherby the fraūchyse Conserued was, his purpose to fulfyl He woulde not dye but by his owne wyll.

Lo here the ende of kyng Mithridate, Let princes all of his deth take hede Howe rechelesly he passed in to fate, And by assent made his herte blede: And Bochas here who lyst hys boke to rede Playnly rehersynge but in wordes fewe, To worldely princes doth his cōceyte shewe.

¶ Lenuoye.

MYghty prynces lyfte vp your corrages Towarde heauen doo youre hertes dresse, Of your memory turne vp the vysages Wher ioy is euer, peace, concorde, & gladnesse, True armonye, & celestiall swetnes: Counterpayse in your remembraunce Worldly chaunges, fortunes variaunce.

Aduertise the mortal fell outrages Of blody werres impossible to repres, Whyle false enuy wyth his furious rages In sondry realmes hath so great entres, Slaughter, murdre, deuision, falsenes Which conscience haue brought to vttraūce Through soden chaunge of worldly variaūce

Reken vp princes that sate hye on stages What was the fyne of their royall noblesse: Or of tirauntes reken vp the blody wages: Sodaine slaughter guerdoned their wode∣nes: Mithridate can beare hereof wytnes, By blode vnkynde brought vnto vttraūce, Through soden chaūge of worldly variaunce.

Prynces remembre vpon the golden age Whan Saturne ruled y^• worlde in rightwis∣nes, Next Jupiter for peoples auaūtage The silueren worlde conserued in clennes, Which Mars hath nowe turned to felnes, Made it steelen w^t sworde dagger & launce,

Through soden chaūge of worldly variaūce.

Of Mithridate regestre the vyages, Conspired poysons taffray his prowesse, On land and see tempestious passages, By cōstraynt bode .vii. yere in wildernesse, Of his wandrynge payse the vnsykernes, Hys ende myschefe, knewe no auoydaunce Gayn worldly chaūge nor fortūes variaūce.

If neglygēce haue brought you in rerages Towarde God, or he reken in streyghtnesse Let reason medle for you to lay hostages Compassyon, mercy, partynge of almesse, Towarde heuen to support your feblenesse, Whan your merites shal paise in balaunce Of worldly chaūges & fortunes variaunce.

Deth spareth nother hye nor lowe lynages, Haue mynde heron for any rechelesnes, Transitory be here your pylgrimages Set with brigāts vnwarely you toppresse: But of prudence by great auysenesse, Wyth prouydence preserue your puyssaunce, Gayn worldly chaūge & fortunes variaunce.

☞ The .iiii. chapter.

❧ Howe Eucratydes kynge of Sythie was slayne by Demetrius, and after his carayne cast to houndes.

NExt in ordre to Bochas dyd apere A woful prince that put hym selfe in prees, Reignyng in Sithia, his story doth vs lere, The name of whom was Eucratides: But to disturbe his quiet and his pees Agayne him plainly as I fynde Came Demetryus, y^• myghty kyng of Inde.

Of whom the power and the vyolence To Eucratides was very importable, Besieged first, and for lacke of defence Take at mischefe, his fone not mercyable For Demetrius was on hym so vengeable, Whan he was slayne w^tin his owne boūdes, Made the carayne be cast out to y^• houndes.

Not wythstandinge he was a worthy kynge Borne of hye blode such was his auenture, Demetrius sonne aboue al erthly thynge Hated hym, by recorde of Scripture, Of rancoure denyed hys sepulture: And for the matter is hateful and contrary, On his story I wyll no lenger tary.

The .v. Chapter.

¶ Howe Herodes kyng of Parthoys werred wyth Romains, whych after his sonne and heyre was slayne, made hys bastarde sonne kynge y^t anon after slewe his father.

TO Arthabanus whilō of Parthois kynge I purpose my style to transporte, A full olde prince, had in his liuing Sonnes twayne bokes so reporte, Which in his age dyd him most comforte: Mithridate was the eldest brother, And herodes called was that other.

Mithridate by reason of hys age, Hys father dead dyd after him succede, Which banished was for tiranny & outrage, Afterwarde for mischefe and for nede In to Babylon he toke his flyght for drede: The people anone after his partyng Of Indignacion made hys brother kynge.

Thus came Herodes to estate royal, Pursued hys brother in to Babilon, Layde a siege rounde aboute the wall, They to him yelded vp the toun: Thus was hys brother brought to cōfusion Afore the castell wythout lenger date, Made smyte of the head of Mithridate,

In Parthois after he toke possession. Thus yong Herodes of voiūte and pride Gan a werre agayne them of Rome toun, Whom to w^tstande they lyst not longe abyde The cōsull Crassus cam down to theyr syde, Cōmaūded was short processe for to make Toward Parthois hys voiage for to take.

Crassus lyst not to entre in that reme Left Parthois the story dothe deuyse, Toke his waye towarde Jerusalem To take there a solempne empryse, In the temple, onely of couetise, Toke there agayne the tytle of ryghtwysnes Vp al their treasour & their great ryches.

By which he gate in diuers regions Great multitude to hold vp his party, Led wyth hym eleuen legyons:

Towarde Parthois fast gan him hye: By hys letters proudly gan defy The sayd Herodes, & wyth great apparayle. Myd his countre profred him battayle.

The next morowe whā Crassus toke y^• felde, To him was brought of blacke a cote armure Which whan his knightes auisedly beheld Dempt it a token of discomfiture, For in contrary Romayns do their cure Whan their capitaine shal fighte or be hed, His cote armur is outher white or red.

Another token frowarde to beholde, The fyrst Egle beate in his banere Also soone as men dyd it vnfold, Contrariously he tourned loke and chere, The back to Crassus folke sawe y^t stode nere: A pronostyke to Romayns ful certaine Howe fortune to them was that daye againe.

By the flud passinge of Eufrates, w^t vnware tempestes hys standerdes echone In to the ryuer were cast amonge the prees, To reken them all vpryght stode not one: Wherof astoyned they wold no further gone, These pronostykes made them so afrayed Lyke men in hert dispaired and dismaied.

Of these tokens Crassus was recheles The pronostykes also he dyd dyspyse, Toke vpon him to passe Eufrates To entre Parthoys onely for couetise: To whom Herodes sendeth in thys wyse That hys commynge was more for pyllage Than for knyghthode, manhode, or corage.

Al the power of Parthoys tho came downe With many Prefecte & men of great courage, Agayne Crassus & them of Rome towne, Which as I tolde abode on their pyllage, That turned after to their great domage: The sonne of Crassus slayne in that fray, His father take, and al vpon a daye.

His head smyt of, in whom was no defence, But disconfyted wyth many a legion, The heade of Crassus brought to the presence Of Herodes within his royal toun, Whych hath comaunded golde to be broughte doune To be molte there as he lay dead, And to powre thereof full hys head.

This thinge was done for a mockery, In signe onely (the storye doth deuyse) That golde nor treasour vpon no party Staunche myght his thrust of couetyse: Suche gredines eche man should dispyse, For auaryce of custome in eche place Of hye prowes doth the prise difface.

Herodes after dyd serche all the wardes Through al the felde vpon Crassus syde, Toke the penons, baners, & standardes, And in his tempels large, longe, and wyde Let hange them vp of surquedy and pride, In signe onely and eke for a memory He of Romains hath get the victory.

With whiche he lyst not onely be content Wenyng his fortune shoulde abyde stable, In to Surry he hath hys sonne sēt Called Pachorus, made him a constable Of that region, with him to be partable Of al treasours and mouables y^• he founde Whereuer he rode throughout al lond.

This Pachorus by hys chyualry Encrease gan in his tendre age, Wherof Herodes his father had enuy Fearful it shoulde tourne to his domage, Lest he would by tytle of heritage Maugre him at hys agayne commynge, Take vpon him of Parthoys to be king.

Than Pachorus was called home agayne Out of Surrye, where in conclusion Al that he had wrought was in vayne, Bycause one Cassius fro Rome was come Slewe al the people in the region Whych appertayued to Pachorus, as I find, doun, Without capitaine for they were left behynde.

To withstande this Romayne Cassius Herodes hath his sonne sent agayne, Whych anone after, the story telleth thus, Amyd the felde vnhappely was slayne: To trust fortune it is a thynge but vayne, Whiche of custome to day is fauourable And to morowe geryshly chaungeable.

Of Pachorus dethe whan the noise arose And the distressynge of his chyualry, And to Herodes abydyng in Parthois Tyding was brought, farde as he would die, Of hertely sorow fyl in to a frensy: Heyre was none left of the royall lynes

Saue thurty bastardes borne of concubines.

Thus Herodes was cast in great sickenes, Hys sonnes deth was to hym importable, Hys worldly ioy was gon & his gladnes: Fortune cōtrary which neuer can be stable, Age fylon, hys lyfe was not durable, And of one thyng most he dyd hym drede Cause he had none heire to succede.

Whyche woulde not suffre him lyue in pees, Tyll at the last he caught a fantasy Chase a bastarde called Pharactes, Bycause he was famous in chyualry, Gaue him the crowne and the regaly, Which anone after breuely to conclude Slewe Herodes of ingratitude.

The .vi Chapiter.

☞ Howe Fimbria a Consull of Rome slewe him selfe

AFter to Bochas by processe of this boke Foure myghty princes notable of estate Towarde him thei cast chere & loke Lyke vnto folke that were infortunate, With whom fortune had ben at debate: For by their maner, as it sempt wele, They were at mischiefe fall fro her whele.

First Fymbria a romayne consulere Sent by the romayns to a great cite Called Nichomede, came as a messangere To helpe Flaccus slayne by great aduersite, As he entred in to that countre: After whose dethe his party to auaunce Of Flaccus meyny toke the gouernaunce

Of presumption without auctorite This Fymbria by dyligent labour Full ferre aboue his state and his degree Toke vpon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by fortunes false fauour To be called capitaine and Emprour, Through al that countre bokes specify: Of whose presumpcion Scilla had enuy.

Pursued him through many a greate citye, To a castel made him take hys flyght, Where Fymbria of great necessite Constrained was maugre all hys myght, Dyspayred, for sake of euery maner wyght, To slee hym selfe, the storye telleth thus, Wythin the temple of Esculapius.

The .vii. chapter.

¶ Of Albinius that was slayne with stones.

ANother Consull stoode in case sembla∣ble In his tyme called Albinius, Whose hareful pride was abhominable To al folkes lothsome and odious, Whiche lyke a rebel wode and furious Agayne Romayns ofter than ones Whan he lest wende, slayne was w^t stones.

The .viii. chapter.

How Adriane borne of lowe degre falsly v∣surped to be kyng of Rome, whyche w^t his chorles was after brent.

NExt cam Adrian which rose to hie e∣state Fyrst in Rome, borne of lowe degre Chosen & sent by the whole Senate To gouerne of Affrike the countre: Where of hys owne pompous auctorite. Toke vpon him by subtel false workynge, Maugre Romayns ther to be crowned king

Whom to support, shortly to conclude, Was a great numbre of the cōmonte Of chorles gadred, a confuse multitude, Title was none nor grounde but volunte: Gentlemen than beyng in that countre All of assent and one opinion, Assembled them to his distruction.

At Vtices a large great cyte, Hym and his churles beset rounde aboute, Of woode and fagot with large quantite In cōpas wise closed him without: Gadred with him of vylayns a great rout, Layd on fyre that with flames rede Echone consumed in to ashes deade.

The .ix. chapter.

Howe Sinthonius kinge of Trace y^t much coueted, al forwet, & died in pouerte.

NExt Adrian came Sinthonius Tofore Bocas w^t teres spreint his face

As the story reherseth vnto vs In hys tyme he was kynge of Trace, Fal sodainly from fortunes grace Cast downe lowe from his estate royal, Which came to Bochas to complayne his fal.

Whose purpose was, if it woulde haue be, Seuen realmes to haue cōquered w^t his hād, That were subget to Rome the cytie, And all seuen were of grekes lande: Who al coueteth ye shal vnderstande He al forgothe, ful wel affyrme I dare, At vnset houre wherof eche man beware.

Long or his conquest was brought to a prefe From her whele fortune cast hym doun, The pretor Sēcius brought him to mischiefe, Dyed in pouerte as made is mencion: And Bochas here maketh a digression Compendiously within a lytell space, To discriue the region of Trace.

The .x. Chapter.

¶ Here Bochas in partye maketh a dys∣cripcion of the kyngdome of Trace, and passeth ouer lyghtlye vn∣to the accōplyshment of his boke.

TRace whylom a countre of greate fame And contayneth a ful large space, And of Tyras it toke fyrst y^• name, Son of Japhet, and so was called Trace Whyche many a daye dwelled in that place Towarde Septemtrion, plenteous of good Besyde Dynoe the large famous flode.

Southward Trace renneth the flode Egee, Macedone standeth in the Occydent, And the kyngdome called Propontide Stant in Trace towarde the Oryent, Where great plente of blod was shed & spente Whan Sencius through his hye prowesse Kyng Adrian there manly dyd oppresse.

Ebrus in Trace is the chefe citie As myne auctour maketh mencion, I cast not long to tary, but in breuite To make of Trace a discripcion, And to procede in my translacion After myne auctor, which wryteth a lōg pro∣ces Of great Pompeye & his worthynes.

The .xi Chapiter.

¶ Howe after many great conquestes of Duke Pompeye great warre began bytwene hym and Julyus, in whiche thre hūdred thousād were slaine, & at the last the head of Pōpeye smytten of.

THys Pompeius of whom the name is couth, Wise and worthy & famous of pro∣wesse, Toke vpō hym in his tendre youth After his father by fortunate duresse, Called Pōpeye, the story beareth wytnesse, Distressed was by sodaine deth, commynge As sayeth y^• story through thūdre & lyghtning.

His host dystroyed by the violence Of vnware tempest, lyke as saith the boke, Fourty thousand slayne in that pestilence, For feare the remenaunt the felde forsoke, Til yonge Pōpeye of corage on him toke In his beginning proudely to procede, Ful lyke a knyght his fathers host to lede.

Rome that tyme by theyr dyscencions Among them selfe, nye brought to ruyne, By the frowarde false diuysions Twene Marius & Silla brefely to termine, Tyl that a new sonne gan to shyne Of worthynes, which shad his light In manly Pompeye the famous knyght.

This sayde Pompeye thys knyghtly man At his begynnyng through hys chyualrye The proude captayne slough whan he began Whych of Marius helde vp the party, Called Brutus, which in Lombardy Was by Pōpey thrugh knightly gouernaūce, With al hys host brought to mischaunce.

In hys begynning Pompey eke also To set Romaynes in rest & quiete, One that was called Gneus Carbo He slew him knyghtly whan he did him mete, Whych in Cicyle proudly helde his sete: And all the countres about him enuyron Pompey made thē subiect to Rome toun.

After al this Pompeyus on the see Wyth many a shyp stuffed with vytaile Towarde Affrike made a great armee,

And there in hast after his arriuaile With Domicius had a great battayle: Brought the coūtre throughe his hye renoun To be to Rome vnder subiection.

He pursued the great myghty kynge Called Jertha, to Marius honorable, And had also hys royall abydynge In Numidy a countre full notable: Againe Pompey hys power was not able, For at a Castel as they met in fyght He slewe kynge Jertha lyke a māly knyght.

Thus in brefe tyme holdyng his passage, For cōmon profyte, as made is mencion, By hys wisedome and knightly hye corage Brought al Affrike to subiection, Which stode afore in rebellion To the Romayns: but all their sturdines The sayd Pompey dyd in haste redresse.

The greatest enemy agayne Rome toun Thylke dayes was one Sertorius, And of fortune, whych is nowe vp now doun On Pompeye ones was victorious: But after soone of hym it happed thus, Among his meyny fallynge at debate He slayne was in hys most hye estate.

After the deth of thys Sertorius Came Porpenna Pompeye to assayle, And as they mette anone Pompeius Ful lyke a knyght slewe him in battaile: Which victory greatly dyd auayle To the Romains, after by gouernaunce He brought Spayne to their obeysaunce.

By auctorite gyue by the Senate This Noble Pompeye for vayle of the cite Vpon the sea would suffer no Pyrate, Where euer he came fro hym they dyd flee: For wyth his shyppes he scoured so the see And bare hym there so māly with hys hande, That maugre thē he brought thē to the land.

Al the pyrates and these false robbours I gadred out were of the region. Called Sylla, whych lyke to rauinours Made agayne Rome a conspiracion, Robbed and spoyled saylyng vp and doun Romayne marchātes, & people of ech countre, That none was so hardy to passe by the see.

After Pompey had made the see to obey That Pyrate none durst theron abyde, He by the Senate was sent out to warrey Towarde thorient, his knightes by his syde: And where soeuer that he dyd abyde Mine auctour writeth by influence of heauē, His conquest was swifte as fyre or leuin.

And to the encrease of his eternal glorye Perpetually to get hym a name, Hys laude and renome to put in memorye, He buylded a cite in Asia of great fame, Called Nichopoly, Bochas sayeth the same: Twene two flodes, that one Araxases And that other was called Eufrates.

He buylded this cite onely of entent That Romayne knyghtes y^t were fall in age, And such as were in the warres spent Shoulde of custome haue their herbergage (Thys was the custome and vsage In that cite alway, and not fayle) Beddyng and clothes spendyng & vytayle.

Pompeye after rode in to Armeny Rebell to Rome, where Tigranes was king, Fought w^t him there, & through his chyualry Disconfyted hym, there was none abidynge: Where Tigranes hym selfe submyttynge Vnto Pompeye, wyth euery circumstaunce Euer to abyde vnder hys obeysaunce.

Than in al haste Pompey gan hym hye To ryde to Asia, where lyke a manly knyght He gate the kyngdome called Albanye, Whych toke his name who so loke aryght Of whytnes, for euery maner wyght That there is borne by recorde of writynge, White as snowe hath his heer shynyng.

There ben houndes marueilous of nature For tassaile bulles and lyons, No wylde beast may agayne them endure So Pompeye by many regions Rode thrugh Armeny with hys champions: Where growen herbes y^• may neuer faynt What euer colour man lyst wyth thē paynt.

Conquered realmes aboute in euery coost, Of Hiberie he gate the region, And Arsaces the kynge wyth al hys host Disconfited, as made is mencion, With his power to Surry he came doun: Than to Fenice a kyngdome of great fame, Whyche of Fenix whylome toke his name.

Brought al these countrees to subieccion, Of Sidonye, the myghty strong cyte Of Iturie, he toke possessyon, Chrugh Araby, he came downe to Jude, Whyche of Jewes was sometime the coūtre: Of Libanus he passed the mountaine Where Ceders growe as authours sayne.

Sent tofore him entring in that realme One Gabinius a myghty stronge constable, Reignyng that tyme in Jerusalem Aristobolus a prince ful notable: And for the temple was strong & pregnable. Layde a siege about in bred and length Space of thre monthes, gate it so by strength

Three .M. Jewes vnder y^e wall were founde Dead at the assaut, whych made resistence, The wal after beaten downe to grounde: Pompey than by sturdy violence Is entred in, without reuerence Sancta sanctorum men that place call Made by Hyrcanus hyest preist of all.

The great byshoppe Aristobolus Sent to Rome in myghty cheynes boūde, Towarde Septētrion I fynde wrytten thus Gate .vii. kingdōs with citees walled roūde, Rebel to Rome, he dyd them confounde Wyth myghty swerde, gate all the countre Fro Caucasus downe to the reed see.

In his conquest it sempt verily As the goddes had done theyr cure, And that fortune was wyth them eke busy: This mighty Pompey prince of Assure What euer hym list by conquest to recure, In Spayne he gate whan they were rebels Thre .C. cytees and .lx. stronge castels.

Harde to remembre his conquestes echone, Al the prowesses of thys knyghtly man, Towarde the partie of Septentrion A thousande castels I fynde that he wan, Sixe hundred mo fro tyme that be began Eight and thirty citees out of dout With mighty walles closed rounde aboute.

Peyse his dedes his conquestes marciall, Thrise Consul chose for his encrees, Rede ye shall fynde howe he was egall To Alysandre, or to Hercules, Where that euer he put hym selfe in prees Al came to hande, concludyng (ye maye se) To commen profite of Rome the cyte.

His marcial dedes to put in remembraunce One was chose to do his diligence, To enacte his conquestes in substaunce, And his knighthode to singuler excellence, And Trifanes famous of eloquence Assigned was vnto that labour, Toke his guerdon of the common treasour.

Pompey of Rome was chefe gouernour, Cesar absente in Gaule a far countre, Which time Pompey stode in great fauour Both of Fortune and Rome the citye, Somwhat made blynde of hys prosperite: Purposyng in his clymbing not stable He would haue none y^• were to hym sēblable.

Vnto purpose was sayd ful yore agone, Howe that loue, nouther hye lordshyppe, (Prefe hath bene made in many mo than one) Nouther of thē would haue no felowshyppe, Eche by his own would hys partie kepe In these two cases brother vnto brother Fayleth at a poynt eche wyll put out other.

To Pompey resortynge nowe agayne He toke on him al the gouernaile Of y^• Romains, as ye haue herde me sayne, Both of estates, commons, and porayle: And for his parte al that myght auaile In makinge lawes, statutes, or decre Al vp engrosed by hys aucthoritie.

Folke this while which that had enuy Towarde Cesar in his long absence, Let make a lawe by conspiracy And a statute concluding in sentence Without excepcion fauoure or reuerenc•• No man should by wil of the Senate, In his absence be chose to none estate.

Nor be admitted by no procuratoure To haue aucthorite of dignite or office, In court of Tribune nor of Senatoure To be promoted, this was theyr aduice Wer he neuer so manly nor so wise, This lawe ordained by folke enuious For hyndring onely of Cesar Julius.

Whan Julius knewe their false working, Fro Gaule sent vp to the cite Al the Senate requiring by wrytyng, To graunt him by their auctorite

Of triumphe the notable dignite, To haue also the offyce and estate Called in Rome the second Consulate.

For hym allegyng many a great vyctorye In diuers countrees done for the cite, Many conquestes notable of memorye Wrought by the knyghthode of his equite: Requiringe them guerdoned for to be. But contrary vnto his entent They denied him al by one assent.

Which was chefe grounde rote & occasion That brought in fyrst the controuersye, Ciuil discordes, and frowarde deuision, Whan euery man drought to hys partie Of olde hatered to kyndel newe enuy, Causing princes Julius and Pomey To theyr confucion eche other to warrey.

The triumphe denied to Cesar Fraude of Pōpey made him therof fayle, Of whose disceite Julius was ware, Made him redy wyth many a strong battaile, Passed ouer the Aipes of Itayle, Fully in purpose playnely if he might With the Romains and Pōpey for to fight.

Thus gan the warres atwene these princes twayne, Pōpey chose for partie of the toun To be their duke and captayne souerayne Agayne Cesar as made is mencion: And thus alas the desolacion Sued of the cite by many a strange signe, With vncouth tokēs whan they gan maligne.

At the ginnyng of these woful warres In the heuyn were sene dredful sightes, Sparclyng brōdes, comets vncouth starres, Flame of fyre, w^t many fearfull lyghtes, Lyke lampes brēning al the longe nightes: Castynge of speres and dartes in the aire, Wherby Romayns fylin great dispayre.

From the partye of Septentrion Towarde Rome came full great lyghtninge. At noone sene starres, lyke blode the son shon, The Mone eclypsed terrible in shewyng, The mount Ethna fearfully brennyng From hys cauernes cast vp flames rede Toward Itaile, whych set thē in great drede

But of Caribdes a danger in the see Wawes terrible boyled vp lyke blode, From the rockes that in Cicile be Was herd hou••••ng of hoūdes that were wode: Vesta the goddesse in Rome where she stode Myd her tēple, was al wyth teares spreynt, Whā the heuēly fyres were afore her queint.

Afore the goddesse at the auter principle Was fire perpetuall brennyng day & nyght, Tyl warres ciuyle hateful and terrible Gan amōg Romayns in the cōtagious fight: Than of vengeaūce anon was queit y^• lyght Tofore Vesta, the fyre partynge on twayne Of diuision a token ful certayne.

Erthe quaues sodayne and terrible Ouertourned castels vp so doune, Wyth flodes rage, hydous and horrible Neptunus dyd great distruction, Drowned vyllagest and many a mansion, Reuersed in temples of golde al their vessels, Threwe doun baners, stāderdes, and pensels

Gayne these sygnes was founde none arest, The vnware mischefe coude no mā declyne, Lyons & wolues came doun fro the forest Wyth many other beastes sauagyne: Wylde beastes, and serpentes of rauyne Came to the cite, and some agayne kynde Spake as do men in Bochas as I fynde.

Dyuers foules which of their nature Haue in custome to flye but a nyght, Afore these warres dyd hem selfe assure At midday, whan Phebus is most bryght, Through their cite for to take their flyght: Women with chylde (the story lyst not fayn) Brought forth some that had heades twaine.

Tofore these warres that called were ciuyle, Senatours beyng in Rome town Came to the woman that called was Sibile, Vnto her made thys question. To declare by short conclusion Among their other questions al, Of their cite what fortune shoulde be fall.

To whom she gaue an answere full obscure Wherupon she made them sore muse, Toke them sixe letters set in playne scripture, Which in no wyse they myght not refuse: For false rightes that they dyd vse Lyke the thre letters twyse set in numbre Who Vnderstādeth they shall y^• toun encōbre.

Thre R R R fyrst she set on a rowe And thre F F F in order fast by, Long tyme after or they coude knowe The exposicion thereof openly, Tyl their diuinours gan serche subtelly To fynde out lyke to their entent, By the sixe letters what Sibylement.

Of this worde regnum the fyrst letter is R So is the capitall of Rome the citye, Who loketh a ryght the thirde is not ferre, This worde ruet gynneth wyth R parde, Of whiche wordes whan they ioyned be The sentence concludeth in meanyng Of their cite the ruinous fallynge

Touchyng thre F F F who can aduertise, Of this worde Ferro F goth toforne, And the chefe letter of Fame to deuyse Is F also, the processe wel forthe borne The same of Flāma by whyche y^e towne was lorne: Of which reasons make a coniūction, Causyng of Rome finall distruction.

Fyre, swerd, & hunger caused by the warres, Desyre of clymbyng, frowarde ambicion Sheweyng of cometes, & vncouth sterres With pronostikes of their descrecion, Worst of al wilful deuision, Among them selfe by vnware vyolence, Of letters syxe accomplished the sentence.

The swerde of Cesar werres of Pompey, Twene these twayne lastyng a great whyle, Made many a Romayne and Italien to dey By the battayls that called were Ciuyle: With prophecies remembred of Sibile As the writyng ful wel reherce can, Of the olde Poete that called was Lucan.

In Martes temple on heith where he stode And Bellona the goddes dispitous, The preestes cried & offred vp their blode, With lamentacion lyke folke furious, Cause of tokens fel and contrarious Whych that were shewed in that sentuary, How their gods to Romains were cōtrarye.

Among deade bones that lay in their graues Were voyces herd lyke woodmen in their ra∣ges, Crye of gostes in cauernes & in caues Herde in feldes, pathes and passages, Laborers fled home to their vyllages: Serpentes and adders scaled syluer bryghte Were ouer Rome sene flying al the nyght.

Another token pitous for to here Which astonied many a proude Romayne, Dead bodies dyd in the feldes appere Whiche in battayle had afore be slayne, Fro their tombes risyng where they layne: Whiche in the warres wofull and dispitous Were slayne by Sylla & proude Marius.

It was eke tolde by their diuinours Howe Pompeyus was lyke to haue a fall, And howe thestate of Romayne Emperours With theyr triumphes that be imperiall At Julius fyrst nowe begyn shall, And after him thestate shal forth procede By election or in Linial kinrede.

To withstande the power of Cesar Which towarde Rome toke hys waye ryght Pōpey was sent, wise, manly & ryghte ware, But whan he herde tel of the myght Of Julius, he toke hym to flyght: Eke all the Senatours wyth hym dyd flee, Towarde Epyre, in Grece a stronge cite.

Pompey was holde famous in chiualry, Cesar but yong and hardy for tassayle, Vpon the plaines of Grece and Thessaly Pompey and he had a great battaile, Gayne Julius swerde no Romaine might a∣uaile, Cōstrained of force y^• felde to forsake Toward Egipt they haue the way take.

Pōpey thorugh Cipre came to Tholome, By a great water at Paphus dyd ariue, On the stronde there he dyd se A stately place, and vp he went bliue, The name of which plainly to discriue Cacobasyle the countre dyd it cal, Of whych name the fortune is thus fal.

The name tokeneth of frowarde ariuaile, Sownyng in great, vnhappy auenture, By which the trust of Pompey dyd fayle, Fyl in dispeyre and myght it not recure: Forsoke that yle & dyd hys busye cure, To take a shyppe so by the see sayling Towarde Egipt, where Tholome was king.

Of trust he fledde to this Tholome In hope he shoulde fynde in hym socour, Fayre chere shewed vnder duplicite Fayled at the poynt, gaue him faint fauour,

Albe Pompey by his frendly labour Crowned hym kyng in Egipt as I fynde, To whome agayne he was false & vnkynde.

To mete Pompey he let stuffe a barge By a maner pretence of frendlyhede, Gaue his meyny that were there in charge To murdre Pōpey, behight thē gret mede, Tweyne there were y^• bare to him haterede, And in the vessel with sharpe swerdes whet, Or he was ware of his head they smet.

That one of them was called Achylas And his felowe named was Fotyne Toke vp the head of that prince alas, Famous in knighthode borne of gentell line: Among Romains, as authours determine, Holde in hys tyme, if men do hym ryght, Through al the worlde one the best knyght.

Thus erthly princes w^t at their pōpus fame Which ouer the world yeueth so gret a soun, Of slauter and murdre they toke firste their name, By false rauyn and extorcion: Clambe so vp fyrst to dominacion, Brēnyng of countreis conquest by vyolence, Set them in chaires of worldly excellence

In this batayle that called was ciuile, Holde atwene Pompey & Cesar Julius, Thre hundred .M. slayne within a whyle, Thre thousande take the story telleth thus: Without princes not able and glorious As kynges and pretours reckned al atones, Tribunes, Consuls, and Centuriones.

Phebus on y^• soil might not his bemes spred, Nor on the groūde shewe out his clere lyght, Men that were slayne laye so thicke on brede That of the earth no man had a syght, Wolues, beares, & rauinous foules of flight Came great plente to fede there eche day Besyde the ryuer of Nile where they lay.

Gobbets of fleshe whych foules dyd arace Fro dead bodies borne vp in the ayre, Fyl fro the clawes vpon Julius face Amydde the felde, where he had repaire, Made his visage blody and not fayre: Albe that he to his encrees of glorye, Had thylke day of Romayns the vyctory:

The head of Pōpey brought w^t his stately rig Off••••d vp to Julyus hye presence He by compassyon the murdre aduertisyng Of his innate imperyal excellence Brast out to wepe, and in his aduertence Thought it pyte a price of so great myght, Shuld so be slayn, y^• was so good a knight.

The corse abode without a sepulture Tyll one Codrus of compassyon After the batayle and disconfyture, Besought hym of great affection To hyde the trunke lowe in the sādes doun, Sought tymbre & there he fonde but small, To do exequies with fyres funerall.

Nowe sith thys prince came to suche mischefe Murdred & slayne by Tholome the kyng, Here of her power fortune hath made a prefe What trust there is in any worldly thynge: After his deth wanted he not buryeng? This proude Pōpey so famus of his hande, Of fyshe deuoured as he lay on quicsande.

What shall men set by power or noblesse? Of slyding goodes, or any worldly glory? Which to restrayne may be no syckernes, Fortune and the worlde is so transitory, Though Mars to day gyue a man victorye Parcase to morowe vnwarely he shal dey, I take recorde of Cesar and Pompey.

Sith al stant vnder daunger of Fortune Ye worldly men do your loke vp dresse To thilke place where ioy doth aye cōtune, The blynde lady hath there none entresse: Set pride asyde take you to mekenesse, To sue vertue do truely your labour Gaine al pompe make Pōpey your myrrour.

¶ Lenuoy.

THys tragedy of Duke Pompey Declareth in grosse the chefe occasion Why he and Cesar gan fyrst warrey, Eche againe other, through vayne ambicion To haue lordshyppe and dominacion Ouer y^e Romains, by fauer, fraude, or mighte Possession take, no force of wrong nor ryght.

To trouthes partie pride is loth to obey, Extort power doth great distruction Wyse policye al out of the waye,

Prudent counsaile age with discrecion Lost their liberte of free eleccion, Who was most stronge with him helde euery wyght, Possession take no force of wronge nor right.

Such deuision made many man to dey, Brought the cyte to desolacion, With two princes fortune lyst to pley, Till from her whele she cast thē both doun: Subtel disceit, fraude, and collusion By ambicious climbinge blent their syght, Possession take, no force of wronge nor right.

Noble princes remembre what I saye, Peyse this story wythin youre reason, Of false surmoūting auarice beareth the key, Recorde of Cesar & Pompey of Rome toun: Whose wylfull warres & hateful discencion Geueth clere warning to you & euery wyght, No claime is worth without title of ryght.

The .xii. chapter.

¶ Howe victorious Julius Cesar brente the vessels of Tholome, slough Achilas that woulde haue murdred hym: and after great victories was murdred with him selfe bodkins by Brutus Cassius.

AFter the woful complaynte lamentable Of Pompeyes deth, pitous for to here, Warres remēbred w^t tresōs importable, Compassed fraudes faced with fayre chere, Conspired murdre, rehersed the manere How kinge Tholome fraudulent of courage, The dethe conspired of Pompey fall in age.

The processe tolde I holde it were but vayne Thereof to wryte a newe tragedy, Thing ones sayde to reherce agayne It were but ydel as for that partie, But howe Cesar went out of Thessaly Came to Alisandre to lodge him in that place, I will remēber with supporte of youre grace.

He lodged was in the paleys royall, Where he was busy by diligent labour Through that region in temples royal To spoile goddes, and haue al their treasour, Where he was mocked and founde no fauour: For Achilas whych that slewe Pompey, Cast him with Cesar proudly to warrey.

His purpose was to fall vpon Cesar (As of nature was hys condicion Falsely to murdre men or they were ware) By some sleight to fynde occasion To distroy Julius by treason, And to accomplyshe hys purpose in party Had twenty thousande in hys company.

This Achilas false, cruel, and disceyuable, Cast him disceyue Cesar if he myght▪ Of the Egipciens leader and constable With the Romayns purposeth for to fyghte: But whan Cesar therof had a fyghte, He is discended▪ and fast by the see Brent al the nauy of kynge Tholome.

All the vessels were driuen vp wyth a flode To great domage of the sayd Tholome, Julius brent them euyn there he stode And a great parte besyde of the cite, And there was brent, which was great pite, The famous lybrary in Egipt of the kyng Full .xl. thousande volumes there lying.

In which thing Bochas reherseth in sentence Howe Tholome was greatly commendable That through his busy royall prouidence Made him selfe a librarye so notable: For to al clerkes in study that were able Of seuen sciences, the story bereth mynde, Lyke their desire myght bokes fynde.

After this fyre in Farus the countre The Egipciens had a great battaile, Wher Cesar was of great necessite That day constrained whan y^e felde can fayle Toke a barge from Egypt for to saile: But so great prees folowed at his backe, Almost the vessel was lyke to go to wracke.

Cesar armed with letters in his hande, Put his person that daye in a venture, Two hundred paas he manly swam to lande, And cōnyngly to lande he doth recure, Notwithstandyng his heuy great armure: But yet tofore or Cesar toke the see He in the felde had take Tholome.

And Achilas the murdrer of Pompey, With al his felowes that were of assent, Were slayne that daye there went non away:

Many Egipcien the same tyme brent, Cesar of mercy for Tholome hath sent To Alysandre, sent hym home of newe Charging he should to Romaynes be trew.

But whan he was deliuered from prison Of Egipciens in Alysandre the cite From euery coast gadred great foyson, Againe Julius came downe with his meyne: But yet for all hys hasty cruelte Such resistence Cesar gan to make That .xx. M. that day were slayne & take.

Sixtie galeys not farre fro the lande Twelue .M. men comynge to Tholome Echone were yelded, and brought to hande Of Julius hys prisoners to be: Than Tholomeus busied hym to flee To the water, where maugre al hys myght He drowned was in his hasty flyght.

He knowen was by his rich haburion Of golde and stele it was entremayled, By Cesar sent vnto the royall toun, Which for dyffence was strongly enbattailed Buccles of golde richely enamayled, Which tokens anone as they haue seyne Despeired to Cesar sent ageyne.

Of thē to Cesar was made fayth & homage, The reaim of Egipt brought to subiection, Tyl he of grace and merciful corage To Cleopatra gaue all that region Longyng to her by succession, By tytel of ryght that tyme & none other Because onely Tholome was her brother.

Kyng Lagus whylom in his testament Father to Cleopatra and to Tholome, Tofore his deth by great auisement Clerely euacted his last volunte That hys kingdome departed should be, Halfe to Tholome as his bequeth was, That other halfe to quene Cleopatras.

She by her brother was holde in prison To kepe her wrongly from her heritage, Whereof Cesar had compassion Purposed him to reforme her domage, And whyle that he helde there his hostage Of equite, of lawe, and of reason Of al Egipt gaue her possession.

Than came Juba of Libye lorde & kynge Sower of stryues and discencion, Proude, hye of porte, & cruell in workinge, Whiche in especial had indignacion Vnto the worthy last Scipion, Cause he was chose lyke as bokes sey, To succede next Consul to Pompey.

Thys Juba bare to hym great hatrede, Sought a quarel againe hym for a thyng Cause that he was cladde in purple wede, For him allegyng howe onely y^• clothynge No maner estate shoulde vse but a kynge: Ment for hym selfe syttyng in royall trone He wold as kyng that colour weare alone.

Here myne authour maketh a digression Puttynge ensample of Almayne the countre, Sayth that there is none other nacion Touchyng array that is so dysguyse In waste of cloth and superfluyte, Rehersyng here in full playne langage In many wise such wast doth great damage.

It causeth pride and ambicion Agayne the vertue of humilite, To Lechery it gyueth occasion Which is contrary vnto chastite, Wast of array sette folke in pouerte, Causeth also such costage spent in vayne, Of other poore to haue ful great disdayne.

Where superfluite is vsed of array Ryote foloweth, proude port and ydelnes, With wast of tyme driue forth the day: Late drinkyng, watch, surfet, & dronkenes, Engendreth feuers and many greate excesse: Thus euery surfet englued is to other, And one mysrule bryngeth in another.

God suffreth wele there be a difference Touchynge aray as men ben of degre, Hye estates that stande in excellence Must be preferred of reason men maye se, As cloth of golde stones of pyrre Was for prīces with other fresh clothinges, But specially purple was for kynges.

Thus was there set of hye discrecion Aray accordyng to prynces hie nobles, And for other estates lower downe Lyke their degrees, twene pouert & riches An order kept from scarsyte and exces: A meane prouided atwene hie and lowe Lyke to him selfe eche man may be knowe.

But kyng Juba insolent and madde Of surquedy caught an opinion That none but he in purple should be clad, Causyng debate twene hym and Scipion: Yet were they partie bothe with Rome toun Agayne Cesar, and drewe towarde Pompey For which at myschefe bothe they dyd dey.

Whan Juba felte him selfe of no powere Agayne Cesar to holde champarty, For sorow he lost countenaunce and chere Of his disdaine and melancoly, Called one Peitrin a knight of his aly: Made thē by assent y^• they were bothe faine Felly to fight tyll one of them was slayne.

Againe nature was this straunge fight, Eche to slee other and knewe no cause why, But for king Juba was an hardy knight He slewe his felowe and abode proudly, And rather chase to die wylfully Of hie dispyte and of proude corage, Than vnder Cesar to liue in seruage.

Made call a man whome he loued wele Gaue vnto him golde and great guerdon To take a swerde forged of fyne stele And make therof no lengar delacion, But he should for short conclusion Take vpon him, & haue no feare nor drede, Without tarying to smite of his heade.

Thus king Juba rather chase to dey Than lenger liue in subiection Vnder Cesar, he loued so well Pompey. Than next to Bochas as made is mencyon Came Aristobolus w^t face & loke cast doun, Which was to Rome afore as I haue tolde Sent by Pompey to be kept in holde.

Which after was delyuered from prison By helpe of Cesar in full hasty wyse, Standing in hope of his region To be restored vnto the fraunchyse, Where Hyrcanus as ye haue herde the gyse Preferred was to his great hindring, By Pompey of Jewes crowned king.

Whiche Aristobolus hopeth to recure Cast meanes there to reigne againe, Wrought thereon, dyd his busy cure, Whose hasty laboure was but spent ī vaine, Fyll in the handes of a proude capteine Which that whilom was lōginge to Pōpey, And he with poison vnwarely made him dey.

The .xiii. Chapter.

¶ How the last Scipiō Consulere of Rome, for he lyst nat to liue in seruage of Julius, rofe hym selfe to the hearte.

NExt came the last worthy Scipion Whiche after Pompey was made Consulere, With whome Juba was at dis∣cension For wearing purple as was tolde well ere: And afterwarde fyl in great feare whan Cesar had within Libye lande Outrayed thē with strong & mighty hande.

Wherby Scipion gan fall in dispeyre, Lost his chere as man disconsolate, With thre romains gan make his repeyre Dansippus, Plectorie and Torquate, Goyng to shyppe the time infortunate: Towarde Spayne, the tēpest gan thē driue, That they in Affrike vnwarely dyd ariue.

Scipion seing this wofull case sodayne Howe he was brought vnwarly to mischefe▪ For Scicius a mighty stronge captaine Being a Pyrate and of the sea a thefe Whiche is a name of full great reprefe, The same Pyrate longyng to Cesare Fyll on Scipion or that he was ware.

Beyng in purpose toke him prisonere, Within his shyppe tofore his ariuaile, For which alas dul gan his chere His countenaunce appall, and eke fayle, To fynd comfort no man coude him coūsaile: Pulled out a swerd whan he might nat stert, And rofe him selfe euyn to the hert.

This was thende at last of Scipion, Leauer he had at mischefe so to dey Than vnder Cesar lye fettred in prison, Or to his lordshippe in any wyse obey: To Bochas next him came Pompey Sonne and heyre to great Pompeyus, Contrary also to Cesar Julius.

Had bretherne and susterne mo than one And many another of their aliaunce, And of assent they cast them euerichone

Their fathers deth hauing in remembraūce, Vpon Celar to take therof vengeaunce: Eke vpon Tholome which by collusyon Slough their father by full false trayson.

The eldest brother called eke Pompey Being in Spaine with ful great apparayle, Cast him of newe Cesar to warrey, And his people proudly to assayle: And as I fynde there was a great batayle, In which Pompey the eldest son of thre By Julius men constrained was to flee.

He fonde no socour nor receit him to saue Of his life he standing in great drede Knowyng no refute fled in to a caue, Tescape away knew no better rede, Where he was slaine to Cesar brought hyshede: Sent forth in scorne anon to Hispalee, Which in Spayne is a full great cyte.

Thus by processe al holy the kinrede Of Pompeius for short conclusion, By Cesar was and by his men in dede Without mercy brought to distruction: Thus gan en••reas the fame and renoun Of Julius conquestes, on sea & eke on land, Whose mortal swerd might no man w^t stand.

First in Libie, Spaine, and eke Itayle Thexperience of his royal puissaunce, In Germany by many strong bataile, His power preued ofte times in Fraunce, Brought all these kingdoms to y^e obeisaunce Of the romains, peised al this thing and sein Touching his guerdō his labor was in vein.

Toward Rome making his repeyre By him appeaced ciuil discencions, Of Throne imperial climbing in the eyre For the conquest of. xiii, regions Of the triumphe required the guerdons: Which to recure his force hath applied, Albe the Senate his request hath denied.

And his name more to magnifye, To shewe the glory of his hie noblesse To the Capitole fast he gan him hie, As Emperour his domes there to dresse: That day began with ioy and gladnesse The eue nothing according w^t the morowe, Thentring gladde thende care & sorowe.

Calphurnia whiche that was his wy••e Had a dreme the same night beforne, Tokyns shewed of the same funerall strife Howe that her lorde was like to be lorne By conspiracy compassed and sworne, If he that day without auisement In the Capitole satte in iugement.

She dremed alas as she laye and slept That her lorde through girt w^t many a woūde Lay in her lappe, and she the body kept Of womanhede like as she was bounde: But wo alas to true her dreme was founde, The next morowe no lenger made delay Of his periody was hys fatall day.

A poore man called Tongilius Whiche secretly the traison did espy, Let write a letter, toke it to Julius, The case declaring of their conspiracy, Which to rede Cesar lyst nat apply: But wo alas ambicious negligence Caused his murdre by vnware violence.

Cesar sitting amydde the consystorie In his estate most imperiall, After many conquestes and victorie Fortune awayting to giue hym a fall, With bodkyns persinge as a nall, He murdred was w^t many a mortal woūd, Lo how false trust in worldly pōpe is found.

¶ Lenuoye.

THroughe all this booke rede eche tragedy Afore rehersed and put in remem∣braunce, Is none more wofull to my fantasy Than is the fall of Cesar in substaunce: Which in his hyest imperiall puissaunce Whan he wende haue be most glorious, Was murdred at Rome, by Brutus Cassius.

This marcial prince ridig through Lōbardy Eche countre yelded & brought to obeisaūce, Passyng the Alpes rode through Germany, To subiection brought the realme of Frāce, Gate Brutes Albion by long continuaūce, Two lustres passed, this manly Julius

And murdred at Rome by Brutus Cassius.

Among the Senat was the conspiracy All of assent and of one accordaunce, Whose triumphe they proudely gan deny But maugre them was kept thobseruaunce, His chare of golde with stedes of plesaunce Conueied through Rome this prince most pōpus The murdre folowig by Brutus Cassius

Reken his conquestes reken his chiualry, With a counterpeis of worldly variaunce, Fortunes chaunges for his purparty Way all togyder cast them in balaunce Set to of Cesar the mischeuable chaunce: With his periody sodayne and enuious, Murdred at Rome by Brutus Cassius.

Bokes all and Cronicles specifye By influence of heuinly purueiaunce, Mars and Jupiter their fauour did apply With gladaspectes his noblesse to enhaunce, Mars gaue him man, Jupiter gouernaunce, Among princes holde one the most famous And murdred at Rome by Brutus Cassius.

Beholde of Alysandre the great monarchy Which all the world had vnder obeysaunce, The prowesse of Hector medled with gentry, Of Achilles the melancolike vengeaunce, Reken of echone the quauering assuraunce: Among remembring the fyne of Julius, Murdred at Rome by Brutus Cassius:

Princes consydre in marciall policy Is nouther trust, faithe, nor affiaunce, All stande in chaunge w^t twicling of an eye, Vp towarde heuin set your attendaunce: The worlde vnsure & all worldly plesaunce, Lordship abydeth nat recorde on Julius, Murdred at Rome by Brutus Cassius.

❧ The .xiiii. Chapter.

❧ Howe Octauian succeded next, and howe the murdrers of Julius died at myschefe.

AFter the dethe of this manly man, This noble Prince, this famous Em∣peroure, His worthy neuewe called Octanian To reigne in Rome was next his successour, Which did his deuoyre by diligent labour To punysh all tho of nature as he ought, By rightfull dome y^• the murdre wrought.

Chefe conspiratour was Brutus Cassius Which of this murdre made all thordinaunce, Another Brute surnamed Decius Was one also conspyryng the vengeaunce Wrought on Cesar, he after slaine in France: Here mē may se what coastes y^• men wende, How murdre alway requyreth an yll ende.

Within the space almost of thre yere Distroied were all the conspiratours By sodaine dethe, & some stode in daungere To be banished or exyled as traitours: And as it is cronicled by aucthours, Space of thre yere tekened one by one Dyed at myschefe the murdrers echone.

To murdre a prince it is a pitious thing, God of his right will take therof vēgeaunce, Namely an Emperour so famous in ech thig Which all the world had in gouernaunce: Reken his cōquestes digne of remembraunce All peysed in one Bochas beareth wytnesse In hie estate is littell sykernesse.

☞ The .xv. Chapter.

¶Howe Tullius was two tymes exyled and at the last slayne by Pompi∣lius.

MYne auctoure here writeth no longe processe Of Julius death complaining but a whyle, To write of Tully in hast he gan him dresse Compendiously his life for to compile, Complaining, fyrst saith his barayne style Is insufficient to write as men may sene Of so notable a rethoriciene.

Lampe and lanterne of Romayne oratours Among them called prince of eloquence, On Pernaso he gathered vp the flours This rethoricien most of excellence, Whose merytes truely to recompence The muses nyne me thought as I toke hede, A crowne oflaurer set vpon his head.

Bochas astonied gan in him selfe conclude His boke, abashed, dull of his corage, Thought his termes & reasons were to rude And that he lacked conning and langage Wherby he should to his auauntage Though he labored wryting all his liue, Of Tullius the merites to discriue.

Wherof supprised he caught a fantasy Within him selfe remembring anonright Though it so fall somtime a cloudye skye Be chased with wynde afore the son bright, Yet in effect it leseth nat his light: So Bochas dempte that his dul writing Eclypsed nat of Tullius the shining,

With rude langage a man may well reporte The laude of triūphs & cōquestes maruelus, Which thing remembring gretly gā confort The herte of Bochas, & to him selfe said thus Two colours sene that be contrarious As white and blacke it may be none other, Eche in his kinde she weth more for other.

In Phebus presens starres lese their light, Clere at midday appereth nat Lucine, The fame of Tulli whilom shone so bright Prince of fayre speche father of y^• doctrine, Whose bright bemes vnto this houre shine: Sothly quod Bochas of whō whā I endite My hande I fele quaking while I write.

But for to giue folke occasion Which in rethorike haue more experience Than haue I, and more inspection In the colours and crafte of eloquence Them texite to do their diligence, Vnto my writing whan they may attende Of compassion my rudenesse to amende.

Vnto him selfe hauing this langage Bochas to write gan his pen dresse, Vnder supporte afforced his corage To remembee thexcellent noblesse Of this oratour, which with the swetnesse Of his ditees abrode as they haue shyned, Hath this worlde moste clerely enlumined.

This Tullius this singuler famous man Fyrste to remembre of his natiuite Borne at Arpinas, a cite of Tuscan Of blode royal discended who lyst se: Grekyshe bokes of olde antiquite Made of rethorike, & in their vulgar song He translated in to the latin tong.

In tendre youth his countre he forsoke And fro Tuscan his passage he gan dresse, Towarde Rome the right way he toke Entring the citie the renomed noblesse Hydde in his person she wed the brightnesse Of diuers vertues, time while he abode, That like the son hys fame sprede abrode.

For his vertues made a citezaine The good reporte of him shone so clere, Like as he had be borne a romaine In their fauour his name was so entere: Among them chose for a Consulere, Agayne the cite time of his Consulate Whan Cateline was with them at debate.

By the prudence of this Tullius And his manhode rekened bothe in fere, Catelina most cruel and yrous Frowarde of porte, & frowarde of his chere, Busy euer to finde out the manere Howe he might by any token or signe Agayne the citie couertly maligne.

Sixe hūdred yere fourscore tolde and nine Rekened of Rome fro the foundacion This cruel tyrant this proude Cateline Made with other a coniuracion, Againe franchises and fredame of the toun, First discured as bokes tell can In the parties and boundes of Tuscan

The purpose holy of this Cateline Imagined on false couetyse, Was to bryng Rome vnto ruine, And therupon in many sondry wise Found out meanes, and waies gan deuise To his entent by diligent labour, In the cite to gette him great fauour.

But finally his coniuracion Discured was by one Quincius, Which was afore false vnto the toun Told at the case vnto Tullius, By whose prudence & working marueilus By helpe of Antony that was his felawe The coniuracion was broken and w^tdrawe.

By wytte of Tulli all the coniuratours Espied were and brought vnto mischaunce, Their names red tofore the Senatours. Of their falshead tolde all the gouernaunce,

Manly ordained through his purueiaunce With al his people as made is mencion, Catelina departed from the toun

With Antony the said Cateline Besyde Pistoy had a great bataile, Slaine in the felde he myght nat decline For he abode whan the felde gan fayle: Power of one littel may aueile, Namely whan falshed of malice & of pride Againe trouth dare the bront abyde.

There was another called Lentulus Of his felowes that named was Fabine, The third of them eke called Cetegus All assented and sworne to Cateline Strangled in prison, at mischefe did fyne: Cause Tullius did execucion Tulliane was called the prisone.

Thus coude he punishe traitors of the toun, Outray their enemies of manhod & prudence, Called of their cite gouernour & patron Sent from aboue to be their defence, Their champion most digne of reuerence, Chose of their goddes their cite for to gye By two prerogatiues knighthode, & clergy.

Lyke the sonne he did them enlumyne By hie prowes of knightly excellence, And through the world his bemes dyd shyne Of his rethorike and of his eloquence: In whiche he had so great experience By circūstaunces that nothyng did lacke, He transcended Plocius and Gracke.

Of oratours it is put in memorye This Tullius through his hie renoun Of all echone the honour and the glorie Was giue to him, as made is mencion: Surmounted al and in conclusion The golden trumpe of the house of Fame Through the world blew abrode his name.

He knewe secretes of philosophy, Came to Athens to scole for doctrine, Where he profited so greatly in clergy In all sciences heuenly and diuyne That he was called as aucthors determyne, Amonge Romayns of very due right, Of eloquence the lanterne and the light.

It is remembred among oratours Howe Tullius pleted causes twayne In the romaine courte afore the Senatours The cause defending by langage souerain Of two accused againe them that did playn On their defautes, them sauyng fro mischefe The court escapyng fro dangere & reprefe.

These causes twayne he pleted in latin With so excellent flouring fayre langage, With such reasons concluded at the fine That he by wysedome caught thauauntage In his maters, with all the surplusage That might aueile vnto his partie What he said there coud no man denie.

Among Grekes at Athens the cite So great he was of reputacion, So famous holde of auctorite To be compared by their opinion To the Philosopher that called was Platō, To whose cradell bees dyd abrayde And hony sote they on his lyppes layde.

Apronostike like as bokes tell Plato should by famous excellence Of rethorike be very sours and well, For his langage myrrour of eloquence: Yet the Grekes recorden in sentence Howe Tullius in party and in all, Was vnto Plato in rethorike egall.

Through his langage this said Tullius Reconciled by his sote orisons To the lordshyp and grace of Julius Princes and kinges of diuers regions, That suspecte stode by accusacions: Bicause they did Julius disobey Wer enclined with romains to Pompey.

He coude appease by his prudent langage Folkes that stode in discencion, By crafte he had a speciall auauntage Fauour synguler in pronunciacion: In his demenyng great prudence and reasō, For the pronounsing of matters in substaūce His thanke receiueth by chere & countenāce.

To a gladde mater longeth a gladde chere, Men treat of wysdom w^t wordes of sadnesse Pleintes requyre after the matere Greuous or morall, a chere of heuines, Lyke as the cause outher the proces Gyueth occasion to hinder or to spede, The doctrine in Tullius men may rede.

The name of Tulli was couth in many pla∣ce, His eloquence in euery lande was ryfe, His langage made him stand in grace And be preferred during al his life, Maried he was & had a right fayre wyfe, Children many, seruauntes yong and olde And as I finde he helde a good houshoulde.

De Officiis he wrote bokes thre, De Amicitia I fynde how he wrote one, Of age another notable for to se, Of morall vertue they treated euerychone: And as Vyncent wrote full yore agone In his myrrour called Hystoriall, Nombre of his bokes be there remēbred all.

He wrote also the dreme of Scipion, Of rethorike compiled bokes twayne And twayne he wrote of diuinacion, Of titell of land to write he did his paine, A large boke of glorie that is vaine, Dere Publica and he saith him selue Of his oracions he wrote bokes twelue.

And of his dities that called be morall Is remembred notably in dede In the said myrrour Historiall, And yet this said Tullius as I rede Myd his worshyps stode alway in drede Of fortune, for in conclusion He by enuy was banished Rome toun.

Beyng in exile this famous Tullius At Campania in Atiue the cite, Receiued he was of one Plaucius A man that time of great authorite, And while that he abode in that countre Sleping a night the boke maketh mencion, How that he had a wonders vision.

He thought thus as he laie sleping In a desert and great wildernesse, Finding no pathe but to and fro romyng Howe he mette cladde in great richesse Gaius Marius, a prince of great noblesse, Askyng Tulli with a sadde countenaunce What was chefe and cause of his greuaunce.

Whan Tullius had him the cause tolde Of his disease and his mortal wo, Marius with his hande set on him holde To a ••ergiaunt assigned him right tho: And in all hast bad him he should go To conuey him do his bu sy cure In all hast possyble to his sepulture.

Where he should haue tidinges of plesaunce Of his repeyre in to Rome towne, Be alleyed of his olde greuaunce This was thende of his auision The next morow as made is mencion There was hold to Tullius great aueile Tofore Jupiter in Rome a great counsayle.

Within the temple buylded by Marius, The Senatours accorded were certaine To reconsile this prudent Tullius Out of his exile to call him home againe: After receiued as lord and soueraine Of eloquence, by assent of the Senate, Fully restored vnto his fyrst estate.

This thinge was don whan y^• Rome toun Was at grettest strife twene Cesar & Pōpey, And for Tullius drue him to Caton With Pompeius, Cesar to warrey, And of Julius the partie disobey, Out of Rome Tullius dyde him hie Fledde with Pompey in to Thessalie.

Cesar after of his free mocion Whan he stode hiest in his glorie, Hym reconsyled againe to Rome town, Vpon Pompey accomplished the victorie: But Julius slaine in the consistorie By sixty Senatours being of assent Tullius againe was in to exile sent.

And in a cite called Fariman Tullius his exile dyd endure, For Antonius was to him enemy than Bycause that he percase of auenture Compiled had an inuectife scripture Agayne Antony rehersing all the caas Of his defautes, and of Cleopatras.

Thus of enuy and of mortall haterede His deth compassed by Antonius, And afterward execute in dede By procuring of one Pompilius, Gate a cōmission, the storie telleth thus Of false malice and forthe anone went he In to Gayre of Compayne the cite.

And by the vertue of his commission Taking of Antony licence and liberte, Chefe rethorician that euer was in the toun Among Romains to worshyp the cite,

Was slaine, alas, of hate and enmyte By Pompilius rote of all falshead, Profering him selfe to smite of his head.

Tullius afore had be his defence Fro the galowes and his dethe eke let Which had deserued for his great offence To haue ben banged vpon an hie gybet: Who saueth a thefe whan the rope is knet About his necke, as olde clerkes write With some false turne y^e bribour wil hi quite.

Lo here the vice of ingratitude By experience brought fully to a prefe, Who in his hert treason doth enclude Cast for good wyl to do a man reprefe, What is the guerdon for to saue a thefe•• Whan he is escaped loke and ye shall fynde, Of his nature euer to be vnkinde.

This Pompilius traitour most odible To shewe him selfe false, cruell & vēgeable, Toward Tully did a thing horrible, Whan he was dead this br••bour most culpa¦ble Smit of his right hād, to heare abominable, With which hande he lerning on him toke To write of vertues many a famous boke.

The hande, the head, of noble Tullius Which euery man of right ought complaine, Were take and brought by Pompilius Vpon a stake set vp both twayne, There to abide where it did shyne or rayne With wynde & weder tyll they were defyed, In token al fauour was to him denied.

❧ The .xvi. Chapter

* A chapiter againe ianglers and dyffa∣mers of rethorike.

BOchas complaining in hys studye alone The death of Tulli and the wofull fall, Grudging in hert made a pitous mone The folke rebuking in especiall Which of nature be boystous and rurall, And hardy ben for they no conning haue Craft of rethorike to hindre and depraue.

Clerkes olde did greatly magnifie This noble science that were expert & wyse Called it parte of philosophy, And said also in their prudent auise There be thre partes as tresours of gret prise Compiled in bokes and of olde prouided, In to which Philosophie is deuided.

The first of them called is Morall Which directeth a man to good thewes, And the second called Natural Telleth the kinde of goodmen and shrewes, And the thirde racionall well shewes What men shal voide and what thing vnder∣fong, And to that partie Rethorike doth belong.

By Tullius, as authours determine, Of his person rehersing in substaunce Traunslated was fro Greke into Latine Craft of rethorike, and for the abundance Of eloquence stuffed with plesaunce, All oratours remembred him toforne Was there none like nor after him yet borne.

Bochas also saithe in his writinges And preueth wele by reason and sentence, To an oratour longeth four thinges, First natural wyt, practike, with science, Vertuous life, chefe grounde of eloquence: Of porte a••d maner that he be tretable, These meanes had, mine auctor hold hi able.

In his writing and in his scriptures Bochas wele parceiueth it must nedes ben Howe y^• of right there long fiue armures To euery notable rethoricien, Sette here in order who list them sene Whiche he calleth rehersing in sentence, The fiue baners longing to eloquence.

The fyrst of them called Inuencion By whiche a man dothe in his hert finde A secrete grounde founded on reason With circc̄staunces y^t nought be left behinde, Fro poynt to poynte imprinted in his minde, Touching y^• matter y^e substaunce & the great Of whiche he cast notably tentreat.

Another armure in order the seconde Of right is called Disposicion, As of a matter whan the grounde is founde That euery thing by iust deuision Be voide of al foreine digression: So disposed touching time and space Fro superfluite kepe his due place.

The third armure named in sentence Is Elocucion with wordes many or fewe, Matters conueyed by iust conuenience

Diposed in order cōuenably to shewe: Like a caruer that fyrst doth tymbre hewe Sqware and compasse cast fetures & vysage, With caruing tole maketh vp a fayre ymage.

Pronunciacion is the fourth armure Necessary to euery oratour, In such case whan craft vnto nature Joyned is by diligent labour, With elocucion, and that there be fauour In declaring with euery circumstaunce, Folowing the mater in chere & countenaunce

An heuy mater requireth an heuy chere, To a gladde matter longeth well gladnesse, Man in pronounsing must folow the matere Olde oratours can beare herof wytnesse: A furious complaint vttred in distresse This was y^e maner as poetes do discriue, In his tragedies whan Senec was a liue.

The fifte armure called Remembraunce With quicke memorie by prouidence to se So auisely to groce vp in substaunce Holy his maters that nought forgoten be, Lest forgetfulnesse derke nat the liberte Of clere report, eche thing to haue in mynde, That in pronounsing nothing be left behind.

Afore prouided so that forgetfulnesse Be no hindrer to inuencion, And in proceding no foreyne rechelesnesse Trouble nat the order of disposicion: And for taccomplishe all vp with reason That pronounsing by clere remembraunce Be well fauoured with chere & countenaūce.

These said thinges be inly necessary To euery prudent notable oratour, Nat to hasty nor ouerlong to tary But to conuey his processe by measure: In chere according stant all the fauor, For in pronounsing who lacketh chere or face Of Tullius schole standeth far out of grace.

All erthely bestes be muet of nature Saue onely man, which hath auauntage By a prerogatiue aboue eche creature, To vtter his conceite onely by langage: The soule by grace represseth all outrage, Namely whan reason hath the soueraynte To bridel passions of sensualite.

Kinde vnto man hath giuen eloquence A thing conuenable en especial, Whan that it is conueied by prudence To talke of matters that be natural. And secretes hyd aboue celestiall Doth entreat of sonne, mone & starres, Thin••••uent power sent of pees and warres.

God of all this hath graunted knowleging Onely to man by wysedom and reason, And through langage giue to him shewyng Outwarde to make declaracion Of the heuenly course and sondrie mocion: Diuers chaunges and plainly to diffine The reuolucion of the spheres nyne.

Men by langage shewe out their ententes, The naturall meuing and mutacions, Accorde and discorde of the four elamentes, Kyndly variaunce of four complexions, The generacion and the corrupcions Of erthely thinges, contrary eche to other, Corrupcion of one engendring of another.

This is the power and the precellence Which is giue to man reasonable, That by langage and by eloquence A man is taught in vertue to be stable: Of soule eternall of body corrumpable, Taught with his tong while he is aline Of his defautes howe he shall him shryue.

Bochas eke telleth touching rethorike There be two maners, one is of nature Lerned in youth which doth one speke lyke As he hereth or lerneth by scripture: Craft of rethorike is giue to no creature Saue to man which by great diligence, By study cometh to craft of eloquence.

Crafte of langage and of prudent speche Causeth prechours by spyrituall doctrine Vertuously the people for to teche Howe they shall liue by moral discipline, Langage techeth men to plant wine Enformeth folke to worshyp holy churche, The artificer truely for to wurche.

Yet there be some y^• plainly teche and pr••che Haue of langage this opinion God hath nat most regard vnto speche But to the heart and to the affection Best gan guerdon the inwarde intencion Of euery man, nat after the visage But like the meuing of their inward corage.

To our langage is great diuersite Whan men shew theffect of their mening Beit of ioye or of aduersite Chere for taccorde therwith in vttring, Nowe debonayre som while rebuking, And in rehersing like chere alway tapply Be it of rudenesse be it of curtesy.

Of discrecion sette a difference In his pronounsinge to perce or vndermine, To drawe the iudge vnto his sentence Or to his purpose to make him to encline: Se wheder he be melancolike or benigne, Or his matere be vttred or vnclosed Consider afore howe that he is disposed.

Peised all this thing by a rethoricien With other thiges which apperteine of right To craft of speche, he must conceiue and sene Maters of substaunce & matters y^• be light, Dispose him selfe tentreate euery wight, Like to purpose and fine of his matiere, As for the time rethorike dothe require.

As by ensample myne auctor dothe recorde Men set at warre in hert farre a sonder The rethoricien to make them for taccorde Must seche wayes & meanes here & yonder, Of olde rancour tappeise y^e boystous thunder By wise examples & prouerbes pertinent Tenduce the parties to be of one assent.

A man also that stant in heuinesse Dispeired and disconsolate, The rethoricien must do his busynesse The grounde considred & felt of his estate, The cause serched why he stant dissolate, Which to reforme by diligent labour Is the true office of euery oratour.

Of rethoriciens whilom that were olde The sugred langage & vertuous daliaūce By good ensample & prouerbes y^• they tolde Wordes pesible enbelished with plesaunce Appesed of tyrantes the great vēgeaunce, Sette aside their furious sentence By vertue onely of prudent eloquence.

And contrary plainly to conclude Men se all day by clere experience Folke vnauised, and hasty foles rude And braynlesse people of wylfull negligence, Bycause they were barraine of eloquence Vttryng their speche, as naked men & bare For lacke of rethorike their matter to declare.

By clere exāple, as purple (who taketh hede) Lōgeth to kinges in storie ye may finde, With clothes of golde and riche veluet wede Fret with Rubies and other stones Inde, Saphirs, emeraudes, peerles of their kynde As all these thinges appropred be of right Plesaunt obiectes to a mannes sight:

So the langage of rethoriciens Is a gladde obiecte to mannes audience, With song melodious of musiciens Whiche doth great cōfort to euery presence: As by example Amphion w^t song & eloquence Buylded the walles of Thebes the cite, He had of rethorike so great subtilite.

In his langage there was so gret plesaunce Finding therby so inly great profite, That all the countre came to his obeysaunce To here him speke they had so great delite: The people enuyron had such an appetite In his person in peace and in bataile, Here me may se what rethorike doth aueile.

☞ The .xvii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Sextus warreied againe Tri∣umuir, and of the death of great An∣tonie and Cleopatras.

FOlowing thorder of Bochas in his boke Wyth penne in hande as he caste vp his eie, Tofore him came pale of chere & loke A mighty prince sonne vnto Pompeye Called Sextus, whiche as bokes saye Delyted hym wyth a greate nauee: Lyke a Pyrate to robbe on the see.

To his father contrary in suche caas, For euery Pyrate of custome he dyd hate: Vpon the sea whose vsage was Against theim proudelye to debate, Pursued them early and eke late,

Where this Sextus to his great reprie••e Was on the sea a robbour and a thefe.

The sclaundre of him gan to sprede farre, Reported was in many a farre countre, With Triumuir this Sextus gan a war, Which is an office and a dignite By the Romains cōmytted vnto thre, Notable estates, those for chiualry Thempire all hole to gouerne and to gye.

The fyrst of them named Lepidus, And the seconde called Octauian The third in nombre was Antonius, Again which thre Sextus this proud man Of surquedy a newe warre began, Afore by Julius for his rebellion Banished for euer out of Rome toun.

Triumuir of politike gouernaunce Well auised afore in their reasons, Treating for peace by notable purueiaunce With proude Sextus vnder condicions, Write and enacte in their conuencious, But anone after list no while tary, He to his promise was froward & contrary.

For his conuycte outragious falsnesse, And on the sea for his robbery Bochas of him writeth no long processe, Hauing disdaine his name to magnify For he to vertue list nothing apply: The different cause which is in the state Atwene knighthode and life of a pyrate.

With fugitiue theues and robbours And men exiled out of Rome toun, Banished people, false conspyratours, With other conuicte of murdre and trayson, He toke all such vnder protection: And one Moena a churle of his certaine Of fourty shyppes he made him capitain.

The said churle vnwarely tho began To folow the nature of his condicion, Alied him selfe with Octauian Againe his lorde, of full false traison With all his nauy & shyppes he came doun, Spared nat to mete of very pride With Menecratus y^t was on Sextus side.

But al so soone as the bataile began And the parties togider shoulde gone, All the vesselles of Octauian With sodaine tēpest were drowned echone, Beside a castell buylt of lime and stone Called Nauleton, where yet to gret reprefe Sextus fled & was brought to mischefe.

Went in to Grece to make him strong agein To holde a batayle with Antonius Take in his cōming by strength of a capitcin Longing to Antonie called Phurnius Whilom nephue to Cesar Julius, And or duke Sextus might farther wende He slaine was and made there his ende.

Of Triumuir in thempyre as I tolde There was a capitaine called Lepidus, Whiche by his office like as he was holde Right busy was, the boke reherseth thus, To reconsile the proude Antonius To the grace of great Octauian, Eche thing forgiue wherof the war began.

And to conclude shortly who list se Fortune a whyle was to him gracious, Thempyre all whole gouerned by these three Lordshyp of Affrike had Lepidus, By which he wext proude and contrarius, To him assigned vnder commissions Fully the nombre of twenty legions.

Wherof in herthe caught such a pride Causing by processe his distruction, Surquedy a while was his gide Fro his estate till he was fall doun, Namely whan he of false presumpcion Toke vpon him of malice to warrey The said Octauian, and gan him disobey.

Whan Octauian his malice dyd se That he gan waxe sodainly contrary, He threw him downe from his dignite Cast him in exile, list no lengar tary: Lo how Fortune gan sodainly vary To make him that had gouernaunce Of all Affryke, to come to mischaunce.

Another prince Cesar Lucius Exiled was from Rome the cite By his vncle the said Antonius, Of wylfulnesse and hasty cruelte: For in that time, as men may rede and se, Contriued causes were founde vp of malice Texile princes notable holde and wyse.

Some bycause they helde with Cesar,

Other for Pompey y^• helde on that partie, Some for their good afore or they wer ware Some for suspection, some for enuy, Some for they coude nat flatter nor lie: Some for vertues which was great routhe Bycause they were so stable in their trouthe.

In this trouble dredefull and odious As is rehersed, in order ye may rede, The noble knight Paulus Lucius Exiled was of malice and hatered Folowing vpon the great horrible dede The pitous death and the hatefull caas Of great Antonie and Cleopatras.

The tragedy of these ylke twaine For me as nowe shalbe set asyde, Cause Chaucer chefe poete of Britaine Seing their hertes coude nat deuide In his boke the legende of Cupide Remembring there, as one they did endure, So were they buryed in one sepulture.

Thing ones said by labour of Chaucer Were presumpcion me to make againe, Whose making was so notable and enteer Right compendious & notable in certayne, Which to reherce the labour were in vayne▪ Bochas remembring how Cleopatras Caused Antonie howe he distroied was.

Her Auarice was so importable, He supprised with her great fayrnesse Folowing her lustes foule & abhominable, She desyring to haue be empresse And he alas of frowarde wylfulnesse To please her, vnhappely began To warrey the great Octauian

Frowarde ambicion set his hert on fyre To climbe vp to the imperiall sea, To haue possession of the hole empyre, Toke vpon him if it wolde haue be To reigne alone in Rome the cite, Cleopatras to foster her in pride Tytell of Octauian for to set asyde.

With multytude of many legions As I haue tolde, againe Octauian To him accroched of diuers regions Great multytude of many manly man, First on the sea to warre he began Where he was maugre all his might To his confusion vnwarely put to flight.

Dispeyred fled home to his countre, Knowing no helpe nor meane to recure But to thencreas of his aduersite, Whan that he sawe his woful auenture Gaine Octauian he might nat endure, With a sharpe swerde his danger to diuert Him selfe he rofe vnwarely to the hert.

Of whose dethe the quene Cleopatras Toke a sorow very importable, Bicause there was no recure in the caas Thought of his wo she would be partable, Whose fatall ende piteous and lamentable Slough eke her selfe loue so did her raue, After they both were buried in one graue

❧ Thus endeth the sixt boke and here after foloweth the seuenth.