a great bond and league of ami tie the which Ptolomye afterward periurd ely forlook in recalling his former fauour from Alexander labouring by all possible meanes for to defeat him of his Kingdome and Alexander remayning for a time out of his Realme serued fit for the pur pose of Ptolomye for he leuyed a great Armye of men and iournyed into Siria where he was very honorably receiued into euery Cittie because it had beene so commaunded before by Alexander his trecherous treason was not suspected for be cause he was the Kings Father in law But Ptolomye whose going was only for that intent in euery Cittie left certayne well armed men to fortifye them for his practise And hauing subdued all the Citties on the Sea coasts ioyned in League with Demetrius and took Cleopatra his daugh ter from Alexander and gaue her to Demetrius raysing vp a slaunderous reporte of Alexander how that he sought all meanes to kill him When as his greedy and vnsatiable couetousnes was noted and espyed he departed to Antioche where he set two Crownes vpon his owne head the one of Egipt the other of Asia Alexander at that time making his aboad in the dominions of Cicilia hauing been ixcitated with the cruell attempt of his rather in law returned home making open warres against him But Ptolomye beeing more puisant in strength forced him for to flye into the Countrey of Arabia wheras the king of that land smot of his head and sent it vnto Ptolomye which was the thing he cheefly desired But small ioy had he therof for within three daies after he was slaine and after his death his men that were left in the Citties were all put to death VAINGLORY Vaunt not to much of that vvhich is but vayne And beare in minde thy state is heer vnsure It is not vvelth that can abridge thy payne Nor loftie looks thy vvelfare can procure Greeue not to see thy neighbour prosper vvell Let blinde Ambition rule thy hart no more Or seek not gainst the simple soule to svvell Regard to haue discretion good before Your happy helth shall aye increase the more THE COMPLAINT of King Ptolomye King of Egipt for his vnnaturall crueltie vsed tovvard the Famous ALEXANDER vvho vvas his Sonne in Lavv. Caput 9. NO greater Foe then gréedynes of minde No seruile life like to contemptuous pride No greater sinne then willing to bâ—… blinds No folly more then in vain hope to bide What more deceit then look thy Fréend in face And woork his death in most vngentle case For proof wherof I Ptolomye may serue Whose hauty hart and moste ambitious minde Procured mee from Princely rule to swerue And cruelly to stray from Natures kinde Wherfore my tale let peirce the flinty hart How like they fall in such vnlawful part My Daughter fair that Cleopatra hight To Alexander of illustrious fame In nuptiall band contented I did plight Til Enuie vile contempt did séek to frame My gréedy minde my honor soon let fall That in the end I lost both fame and all My former vow I wretch did clean reuoke Of faithful fréendship to my sonne in law Now perching pride had quickly strook the stroke Gainst verteous life wherof I had no awe But banishing all fauour from my hart Did seek to frame a moste vnlawful part My noble Sonne from Kingdome béeing gon Whose absence wrought the more for my intent I ruled at home and none but I alone Now thought I good my Sonne for to preuent And of his Kingdome clean him to bereaue By traitrous déeds I purposde to deceiue Then I likewise to all his Citties went Wherin I left of armed men good store That at such time as serude for mine intent I might obtain that long I wisht before Yet for his sake vnto his Citties all I was receiude with Fame imperiall More Traitour I that such a déed could frame Considering that I was receiude so wel And only hée did yéeld to mée such fame Gainst whom I did vnkindly so rebel Wel looue nor fauour could my minde intreat But enuiously I went about this feat When as I had eche Cittie fair subdude That on the seas did harbour there about By other shifts my fetches I renude And now I had an other plat drawen out Demetrius I did ioyne in league with mée And so to war til all consumde might bée My Daughter fair I took from rightful mate And to Demetrius did her giue againe Then had I raysde a slaunder vp of hate How Alexander sought to haue mée slaine And so through this such enuie vile I bred That Kingdomes twain I crowned on my hed O braue delight as braue as beaten Golde O happy life long looked for before I droue my Sonne into Arabian holde Wheras to make my honor larger more His hed was sent as present vnto mée Oh how I ioyd when I this sight did sée But yet this pomp to short a time did laâ—… Within thrée dayes I dyed in gréeuous case What vauntage then when honor all was past Did I obtaine in my new Kingly place My sonnes déer blood for vengeance stil dooth cry Gainst me a wretch that wrought this villany You Noble harts sée héere a pattern playne Of painted Pride contemning verteous life Sée héere a gulf of Enuye and Disdayne A mortall foe that still procured strife Sée héere the wight whose folly made him fall In séeking that which did return his thrall Sée what I gaynd for gréedines of minde Sée how the Lord did pay me for my payne In that I went so farre from Natures kinde As woork the meanes to cause my sonne be slayn Whose guiltlesse death beholde I now lament Desiring pardon for my life mispent Learne now therfore like Enuy to eschew Least that your selues doo fall into like snare Dout not but you shall finde the end to true Therfore in time I wish you to beware So are you sure the daunger to preuent Of such a sinne as I poore wretch am shent FINIS The Induction IEZABEL espoused to king Achab pricked her husband forward vnto all wickednes and Idolatrie and also caused the Prophets of the Lord to be slayne and was cheefe cause that Naboth was stoned to death therby to enioy his Uiniard But when she had intelligence of the comming of Iebu she tricked her self vp in her flaunting fines looked out at her windowe as he came in at the gate to whom she sayd in this maner Had Zimei peace which slew his maistere meaning Could a Traitour or any that presumeth against his superiour haue good successe in his enterprise After which woords she was throwen out at the windowe with such great violence that her bones were all brused in peeces and so tramped on with horses that when they came to take her vp to bury her no more was found then her scull her feet the palmes of her hands Heerin was Elias Prophecie brought to passe when he said That Dogs shall eat the flesh
mée and mine for to resist with 〈◊〉 With Cannon cracks â–ª the 〈◊〉 then began Eche one to showe him self a martiall man. On each side then began the bloody blowes Assault assault the Captaines cry amain The Ensignes spred the battels force forshoweâ—… The horsmen they the ranks haue broke in twain the hurling shaâ—…ts and â—…ery balles dâ—… flye With such a force as darkned is the skye My men although they were the greater part A number slaine the rest began to faint The other side are Uictors by desart then dark annoy my courage did attaint I had the wurst I thought it best to flye Without I would before myne enmyes dye Then fled I thence and glad my life to saue For God was angry with my vnkinde act Considering I my Fathers crown did craue And entred féeld which was a bloody fact For this my déed reuengement soone hée sent to make mée knowe my hart was wicked bent For in my flight my heare caught on a 〈◊〉 Out of my saddle it did take mée quite And there I hung most woful for to sée And could no way redresse my heauy plight A guerdon iust thus fel vnto my share Because against my Sire I would prepare Then knew I wel my hainous great offence Had brought mée to my due deserued hire Which from the heauens was sent for recompence Because so hye in hart I did aspire Then wished I all were to doo again â–ª Because as now I felt therof the paâ—… So long I hong in this my doleful pain That Ioab did at last retire that way When hée mée saw incenst with ire amain At mée hée ran perforce and did mée sâ—…ay This sharp reuenge from heauen on mée fel to teach mée gainst my Father to rebel Sée gallant Brutes by mée a pattern plain Of hauty hart aspiring to renown Who did attempt my Fathers right to gain And would haue robde him of his stately crown But loe what guerdon dooth on mée betide To pay mée home for my excessiue pride Content your selues therfore with mean estate Kéep that which Iustice dooth to you allowe Take héed by mée remember this my fate Perforst the wrath of God on mée to bow Wherfore beware this filthy vice preuent Least as I am like case you may be shent FINIS The Intduction TRIPHON a man of great reputation who assisted Alexander in fight against the noble King Ptololomye when this Alexander was de parted his life by subtle sleights and craftie conceits found such meanes that he got the yung Antiochus the only heire to this King Alexander from the Arabian Emascuel who nourisht him vp in vertuous educations to obtain the crown after his Fathers death And when he had obtained the yung King vnder his iurisdiction he began to compact 〈◊〉 against him which he could not fully compasse so long as Ionathas whome the King had made high Preest enioyed his life wherfore to preuent the same he sought which way he might slay Ionathas and beeing at Bethsan where Ionathas met with him accompayned with fortye thousaÌ„d men was greatly discouraged because the force of Ionathas was so great and therfore to coullour the matter he commaunded his Armie to yeeld as due renerence vnto Ionathas in all respects as to him self And beeing met togither quoth Triphon in dissembling sorte vpon what occasion compellest thou these thy People to take such tedious trauail consdering wee be at peace and no warres is between thee mee return them home again reseruing those whome thou pleasest to haue to attend and to waight vpon thee and so walk with me to Ptolomais for I wil frankly bestowe it vpon the beside diuers other strong fortified holdes and for no cause els come I and so I wil depart Ionathas reposing confidence in the disseÌ„bling tale of Triphon commaunded his Army to depart then went with Triphon to Ptolomais where as soone as Ionathas with his men were entred the Cittie the gates were fast shut and Ionathas put in Prison and all his men slain Then afterward departed Triphon in to the land of Iuda leading Ionathas with him as prisoner and hauing intelligence that Simon the Bro ther of Ionathas stood vp in resistaÌ„ce against him in flattering sort he sent woord to Simon that the cause why he kept Ionathas in warde was but for certaine money due by him in the King's account and if so he would send an huÌ„dred talents of Siluer and also the two sonnes of Ionathas for surety in their fathers behalf Ionathas should return home again But Simon wel perceiued the craftie deceit of Triphon and yet douting least he should become a greater enemy to the people of Israel and that they should an other day reporte that because no money was sent by Simon his Brother Ionathas was dead did send him bothe money and the two Children This fel right euen as Triphon did wish for and would not release Ionathas but soone after put bothe him and his Children to death and now at last beginneth he to bring about his long and ancient grudge toward the yung King for as he walked abrode to disporte with him traiterously did murder him and so obtained the realme crowning him self King of Asia did much hurt in the land But in the end this Triphon became so hated of all men that when Antiochus Sonne vnto Demetrius came against him the moste of his men returned and hee beeing so per secuted by Antiochus that he took ship on sea after which he was neuer seen CRVELTIE Content thy self to liue in quiet stay Remember sti the end ere thou begin Vaunt not to much of thy poor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pray Except thou â—…nk that thou 〈◊〉 â—…uer siâ—… Let CRVELTIE in thee be cleane supprest Think that thou canst not alvvay Victor bee In thyne affayres respect thy quiet rest Esteeme thy Freend that vvell dooth councell thee THE COMPLAINT of Triphon for his crueltie committed against the yung King ANTIOCHVS vvhome hee cruelly murdered as hee vvalked to disporte him and for his cruel putting to death IONATHAS and histvvo Children through vvhich hee crovvned himself King of ASIA Caput 2. IF loftie looks might gain immortall Fame Or double dealing merit woorthy prayse Then Triphon I by right deserue the same Because long time I sought it many waies But if that Vertue vaunteth for her fée Destance then is open come to mée Promotion stil did prick my hart on hye With whole desire to gain a Princes place For by deceit I thought to mount the sâ—…ye But at the last deceit did 〈◊〉 deface Deceit they say so long may vsed â—…ée â–ª That at the length his Maister shame wil hée For so by mée the proof appéereth plain When Alexander shrined was in graue Antiochus his Sonne I did obtain Thinking by him that I the Crown might haue But Ionathas did make mée stil to doubt Wherfore for him I brought a fetch about When hée mée â—…t with fortie thousand Men A mightie hoast that
made mée for to quake A subtle shift to gloze that matter then Dissembling I this drift did vnder take And set my tung a philed phrase to frame That no suspect there might be found of blamâ—… I promised him ful many a gentle gift So that at length his men hée sent away I séeing I so fine had playd this drift This Ionathas for Prisoner I did stay And at the last went out through Iuda Land That they abroad my fame might vnderstand To Simon who my prisoners Brother was I message sent declaring that the cause Why I retaind his Brother in this casse Was for due det claimd by the Princes lawes And if that hée would séek to set him frée His Children hée with spéed should send to mée Of Siluer eke an hundred talents more To mée should come els would I kéep him stil My wish was sent of mony I had store And eke his Children resting at my wil. Whome afterwarde to death I did commit That so therby my purpose might fall fit Then I of Asia was proclaimed King This was the wish I looked for so long But Fortune fel reuengement sharp did wring And made mée for to sing an other song Demetrius Sonne Antiochus by name Pursued mée fast to woork my open shame And to my ships perforce made mée to flye Els had I death sustayned at his hand But ne the lesse on seas I wretch did dye Deseruing wursse if that my fault were scand But God this sharp reuenge on mée did taite A guerdon 〈◊〉 for treason I did maite Flye Flye therfore take warning by my fall Let this my deed take place within your brest To make you flye the suddain sweetned gall Which in the end prouoketh your vnrest Fye on all treason woe vnto the day When first I sought this moste accursed way Wel since I haue so slyly falne in snare And haue to mée incurrde an endlesse pain You gallant wights I wish you to beware Betime see you from wiâ—… 〈◊〉 refrayne So of my woe for euer you shall misse And for my gréef shall reign in lasting blisse FINIS The Induction ACHAB King of Israel espoused Iezabel Daughter of King Ethbael of the Sidonites by meanes of the which Sezabel he fel into all straunge Idolatry and ex treame persecutioÌ„s for which offence hee receiued such a plague of God that in three yeers should no raine nor dewe fal from heaueÌ„ on the earth wherby ensued a great death bothe of men and beasts that a number dyed through his wicked offence This King as reporte is made in the sacred Scriptures was so wicked that euen it was his whole delight to doo lewdly contrary to his duty and yet God suffered him to obtain a vaitant victory ouer Benhadab the Sirian King who retayned in his company xxxii Kings twise hee harmed him by great and blody skirmishes but the third time he was forced to come prostrate before this Achab â–ª who for all his crueltie yet pit tied the case of Benhadab and making a bond with him gaue him licence to departe now for the mercy showne to this wicked Benhadab whome God had cursed and brought into the subiection of Achab to the intent he should be slain GOD was very wrathful against Achab â–ª promising his ruinate distruction for the same Shortly after this greedy Gainer not satisfied with his owne kingdome and signories with his battels spoyles and wunderful victoryes which God had suffered him to conquer but the guiltlesse and inocent Naboth hee forced to bee cruelly murdered for naught but for a Uiniard pertaining vnto this silly wight whose innoceÌ„t death such vengeance obtained in the sight of God that the Prophet Elia brought him message that where the Dogges had licked the Blood of Naboth in the same place should they lick his also And the God to him his posterity would do aâ—… had doon to the house of Ieroboam and Baasa These fearful threatnings sent from GOD so terrified Achab that with repentaunce he humbled him self in sorowing Sackcloth which did mooue the Lord to permit his plague farther of But this his repentaunce was but plaine dissimulation to winne the harts of men wherfore he refused the councel of Micheas the true Prophet of GOD and reposed confidence in foure hundred false Prophets and after their councel took his iour ney to Ramoth where beeing in Battell with the Sirians an Arrowe pearced into him sitting in his Chariot of which wound he died And then his Chariot going toward the Poole of Samaria to be washed the Dogs licked vp his blood So was the promise of the LORD fulfilled vpon this wicked and cruell King for his great trangression WICKEDNES VVhile time thou hast remember life misspent In all thy thoughts respect a Christian care Consider still the end ere thou attempt Knovve that thy sinnes innumerable are Examin vvell therfore eche fault amisse Dread that the LORD vvill angrye vvith thee bee Novv seek therfore to gaine the lasting blisse Erect thy hart that men good vvoorks may see So then to all thy life shall vvitnesse be THE COMPLAINT of King Achab King of Israel for his wicked life led in IDOLATRIE and cruell Persecutions and for sparing the life of the vvicked BENHADAB King of Siria vvhom GOD had deliuered into his hands only to put to death Also for his procuring the poore NA BOTH to be cruelly murdered therby toget his Viniard by the counsel of IEZABEL his Queene vvhose blood the Dogs licked vp on the ground and also his ovvne blood in the Battell fought at RAMOTH according to the vvoord of the LORD Caput 3. LAsciuious life deserueth like rewarde And disobedience must haue punishment Where falshod rules the trueth cannot be heard The rod must come to force them to repent Where man disdaynes to stand of God in aw Reuengement néeds must come by Iustice law Where Crueltie dooth harboure in the brest And Rigor puts poore séely soules to paine Where feare of God is vtterly supprest And eke the minde addicted to disdaine The sharpned swoord dooth hang abooue his head If God so please to strike him present dead For proofe wherof I Achab may suffise Whos 's wayward wil from Wisdomes wayes was bent I lawlesse liued my God I did despise In Idols I did fix my whole delight That Iezabel whome I did take to Wife Maintaind mée stil in this my lothsome life For mine offence no raine for thrée yéeres space Fel on the earth all barren was and dry So that by this a murrain came a pace That man and beast a multitude did dye The Prophet I Elia did disdain Auouching hée was cause of all my pain But moste of all that wicked cursed King Dispisde of God for wickednes of life God did vouchsafe into my hands to bring That so I might abridge him with my knife But for because hée homage did to mée I sau'd his life and so did set him frée But yet alas poore silly Naboths death