pouder playnly to expresse Troubleth the ayre and maketh folkes blynd For whiche in spousayle coÌ„uenient to fynde Let estates of their byrthe honourable Voyde al rascaly and wedde their semblable But Amazias woulde not beware For no warnyng nor for no prophecy But styll in hart great hatred bare Agayne kyng Joas of malyce and enuy Into a felde brought all his chyualry Gadred them out bothe nere and farre Ayenst gods will on him to gyn a warre And king Joas full like a worthy knyght Into the felde fast gan him spede And all the knyghtes of Juda anone ryght With stroke of vengeaunce w t a sodain drede To bid them flye god wot it was no nede And Amazias for all his great pryde Stode destitute and no man by his syde With him was none left of all his meynie So god and Joas agaynst him wrought Of Jerusalem entred the citye And Amazie of force with him he brought And in the temple the treasure out he sought Golde and siluer and wholy their riches And to Samaria home he gan him dresse And Amazias he let out of pryson After all this and suffred him go fre To his mischefe and his confusion And he was deliuered from his captiuitie For slayne he was in Lachis the citye Among his frendes by dissimulation His death conspyred vnder full false treason The .xvii. Chapter ☞ How vpon Ozias succeadyng kyng nexte in Iuda god toke vengeaunce smote him with leprie AFter in Juda the mighty region Next Amazias Ozias gan succede Wonder manlye and famous of renoun In all his workes full prouident in dede And of his knighthode vaiquished as I rede The Palestines for all their great puissauÌ„ce With all Ambie he brought vnto vttraunce Builded townes and many a strong citye And vnto Egypt he his bondes set Made castels besydes the redde see And in his conquest whom that euer he met Of manly pryde he woulde let I meane all tho that were his aduersaries To his lordshyp to make them tributaries He did his labour also to repare Jerusalem after his ruyne The walles reared which on y â— soyle lay bare Made newe towers ryght as any lyne Fanes of golde their turretes to enlumine And to force them let workmen vndertake Square bastiles and bulwarkes to make He delited to make freshe gardeynes Diuers grayne and herbes for to knowe Reioysed to plante sundrye vynes To graffe trees and sedes for to sowe And straunge fruits maketh theÌ„ grow arow And w t him had his enemyes to encumber Thre hundred thousand manly men in nuÌ„ber His noble fame gan to sprede wyde And greatly dreade for his prowes Wherthrough his hart corrupted with pride Because onely of his great riches And frowardly he did his busines For to maligne in estate royall Agaynst the lorde whiche is immortall To god aboue he gan waxe obstynate That by processe full small he did winne And sauour caught in his royall estate To folow his father in vnthrifty synne That grace vertue from him did twynne In most shinyng of his magnificence Fortune proudly assayled his excellence Cast she would within a little while His surquedy and frowarde pride assayle And full vnwarely deceyue him and begyle To make his power to appall and fayle Whan that this kyng toke on the apparayle Of a bishop of very frowardnes And to the temple proudly gan him dresse Beyng in purpose on a solemne day To take his waye vp to the hye alter Falsly vsurpyng whosoeuer sayde nay To sacrifyce holdyng the censere Tofore the alter that shone of golde so clere For whiche offence the bible sayth the same Azarias the bishop did him blame Gan withstand him in the face anone Fourscore priestes beyng in presence Of the kynred discended of Aaron Whiche forbade him and made resistence That with his hande he should put incence Vpon the aulter against gods lawe Him chargyng boldly his presence to w tdraw But of despite he made them hold their pees In payne of death began them manace And sodaynly among all the prees An earthquaue fill in the same place And therwithall in the kinges face Of the sunne there smote a beame so bryght That all his face was scorched w t the light He wared a leper foule and right horible For his offence as god list ordayne To euery man of loke he was terrible And but fewe his mischiefe gan complaine And a great hill y e same hour carft on twayne Not farre aside from the towne without Cities destroying that stode rounde about On kyng Ozie god toke this vengeaunce For all his lordship and his magnificence To punishe his pride and frowarde puissauÌ„ce And brought him lowe for his great offence For his person was put out of presence Perpetually as holy writ can tell Farre from all people w t lepers for to dwell His fleshe was troubled with diuers passioÌ„s For his sickenes auoyded the citye In crye and sorowe and lamentacions His lise he lad in great aduersitie And so he dyed in sorowe and pouertie Simply buried for all his great myght Within an ylande that stode farre out of sight ¶ The .xviii. Chapter ¶ In exhortation to Prynces to be aduised to do agaynst Goddes preceptes LEt prynces all in their prouidence Be right wel ware any thing to attame Whiche vnto God should be offence Lest that the fyne conclude to their shame Let them thinke for all their noble fame But they repent god of his iustice Their froward pryde vnwarely will chastice Let them beware of malyce to presume Againe his churche to do oâ—â—encion For god of right all tyrantes will consume In full short tyme for their presumption Whiche will not suffer theyr dominacion To enterrupt for all their great myght Nor breke the frauÌ„ches of holy churche ryght To prudent prynces whiche can discerne Let kyng Ozias considryng his offence Be in your mynde a myrrour and lanterne To holy churche to do due reuerence And conceâ—ue in their magnificence God will of ryght be they neuer so sâ—â—â—ng Chastyce theyr malyce though he â—yde long ¶ The .xix. Chapter How kyng Oseas was taken by kyng Salmanazer and dyed in pryson THere was another that called was Osce Which whilom raygned as I affirme dare In Israell whom fortune by enuy Made him be take or he was ware Besyeged about of kyng Salmanas are And into Assirie vnder his daunger The bible telleth he was a prysoner His cityes and townes brought to destruction And all his people vnder longe seruage Were take and kept in stronge Babilon Suffred there great payne and domage And in pryson by furious outrage This sayd Oseas in chaynes bounde sore For sorowe dyed of hym write I no more The .xx. Chapter ¶ Howe Senacheryb kynge of Assirie slewe him selfe WIth these forsayde wofull kynges three Senacheryb of Assirye kyng Came to Bochas most vglye to se Full piteously his fate complaynyng And specially hys vnware chaungyng He gan bewayle oppressed in his thought From hye nobles how
called them Equois Like as I trow mine auctor saith the same Of horse most swyft they toke first the name And as it is remembred in sentence By their manhode and famous hardines Agayne Alexander they made strong defence On horsbacke through their great swiftnes Besyde the hyll playnly to expresse Whiche in cronicles is called Caucasus Thys people of Equois were vyctoryous To theyr nobles playnly as I fynde Nothyng in earth was more expedient In their coÌ„quest of Ethiope and Iude As horse most swyft seruyng their entente Therby conqueryng all the Oryent So great prowes was in their passage That Equois brought all Egypt to seruage Thus where euer Equois did abyde They gate great good to their possession And Graccus was their gouernour and gide Whiche by his strength and false suggestion Againe the Romayns fyll in great rebellion But to w t stand him they sent out anonryght Cincinatus proued a full good knyght He was well trusted and knowe in the toun And for his prudence chosen a Dictatour His lyuelode small and his possession Albe he was a worthy warriour Whiche hath vainquished by his knyghtly labour The said Graccus for all his worthy power And home to Rome brought him prysoner Cyncinatus in his chare was set Called Quincius for this great victory And most solemnely wyth Senatours met Which yaue to him for to encreace his glory Laude of tryumphe to put him in memory And Graccus after for his rebellion With chaynes bounde cast in darke pryson And there he dyed in full great mischefe After his conquestes first famous notable An euidence to vs and a great prefe How fortune is aye false and vnstable Euer double frowarde and deceyuable The fall of Graccus declare gan full wele That whylom sate so hygh vpon her whele ¶ The .xiiii. Chapter ¶ Here Bochas rehearseth the tyranny of Apyus and falsenes of iudges NOt w t standynge Bochas before hath tolde Of Apius the falsenes importable And his outrages surfetes many folde To be remembred hatefull and repreuable Yet as hym thought it was here coÌ„uenable To more rebuke and spottyng of his name New to rehearse his slaunder and defame The great offences of this Apius And oppression that he vpon him toke Made hym grow so inly couetous Through his rauyne y t all the people quoke As ye may se in the seconde boke Where myne auctour doth clerely specify His fraude in domes and his lechery Eke thys tyrant remembred ye may rede Chiefe iudge he was with other officers Called decemvir through his pryde in dede Agayn the custome of theim y â— were his feres He made be borne standerdes and baneres In otherwyse of hygh presumption Then vsed were beforne in Rome toun These iudges had a custome and manere Like their estates in theyr gouernaunce Eche after him to haue borne a bannere Where they went suche was their ordinauÌ„ce By twelue sergeauÌ„tes numbred in substauÌ„ce But Apius of pryde and great outrage Y chaunged hath that custome and vsage He fyrst ordeyned eche should in his place Of Decemvir haue a banner borne In their walkyng the people to manace An hundred men of armes them beforne And twenty ouer by a statute sworne Wherby the citye bare great coste in dede And all the people were put in feare drede To se the sargeauÌ„tes walke in plate mayle They thought it was a maueylous working Judges to go wyth suche apparayle In their proceadyng as eche had ben a kyng And whole the entent of Apius menyng Was that he should of power and myght Do what hym lyst were it wronge or ryght The ryghtfull punyshe and the gylty spare Fauour wronge for brybes and for mede The people oppressed stode in sorow and care Founde no succoure to helpe theÌ„ at their nede Lawe was there none for reasoÌ„ lay by drede Wyll was iudge and pleasaunce equitie And thus by maistry was gouerned the citye And as it is remembred by Bochas Apius was lecherous of nature And caught a quarel as ye haue herd the caas Agaynst Virginia a mayde clene and pure And for he should nothyng in her recute Touchyng his lust her father in that stryfe With a sharpe sworde made her lose her lyfe And for thys tyrant by false rybaudry Caused her death by hasty vyolence And for he should her beauty not maistry Diyng a mayde in her chaste innocence Therfore he was demed in sentence As is to fore made cleare mencion For to be chayned and dye in pryson Eke Decemvir lost their power And neuer in Rome after bare no name Nor of that sect was made none officer And among all Apius bare the blame Whose cryme rebouÌ„deth to his eternal shame As ye haue heard who that can discerne And thaÌ„ Tribunes were chose for to gouerne And in Bochas like as it is found The sayd iudges in mischefe did fyne While Apius lay in pryson bounde Exiled were all that other nyne The good the treasure of them their lyne Acheted was for short conclusion To coÌ„mon profite and encrease of the towne ¶ Lenuoy THis little tragedy dothe shortly deuyse What mischefe foloweth for the great vnright Vsed in iudges in many sundry wise For whan fauour blinded hath their syght And innocence is borne downe wyth myght In hys quarell pouerte may not procede Bicaue that trouth oppressed is with mede A iudge should of equitie despyse To take gyftes of any maner wyght And ready be all wronges to chastice From all gyftes turne away his syght His hondes close his eares stoppe aryght And be aye ware for frendshyp hate drede That trouth be not oppressed wyth mede The noble doctryne and vertuous emprise Of philosophers that had so great insyght Was to these iudges y â— prudent were wise For frende or foe their domes be so dyght Of ryght wisenes that the sunne bryght Eclypsed neuer lest men for their falsehede Report the right was put abacke for mede Noble prynces supportours of iustise Called lode starres to yeue the people lyght On Apius let iudges not practise Let trouthes laÌ„pe be clere both day nyght Your office paysed that longeth to a knyght Hold vp the balauÌ„ce of dome in your maÌ„hede That law in iudges be not corrupt with mede ¶ Bochas agaynst the vntruth of iudges SVyng vpon the death of â—pius And hys rebukes for hys greate outrage Bochas by writyng wext som â–ª what yrous Againe iudges false thought in his corage They should be sad and demure of age And their lyfe by vertue shoulde drawe To kepe the preceptes statutes of the lawe They ought of reason them selfe to habyle To haue science of phylosophy And know theyr textes of canon and ciuyle And therupon their wittes whole to apply For cunnyng iudges by prudent policy Cause ordinaunces in lawe comprehended Through rightful doom gretly to be coÌ„meÌ„ded Justice of lawe dothe realmes enlumine Susteineth trouth supporteth innocence Of rauynours boweth down the chyne Punysheth
payne of lyfe That men of custome shoulde him call This worlds monarke not mortal nor passiâ—e Soune to Jupiter for a prerogatyfe Which had th earth as god most of puissaunce Conquered by swerde vnto his obeisaunce By full auyse purposed for the nones Of pompous outrage surquedous entent Full great treasure of gold precious stones Vnto the temple of Jupiter he sent That the bishops and priestes shoulde assent Hym to receyue at his home commyng Lyke as a god and no mortall thyng Thus by extort drede vsurped myght Was fyrst brought in false ydolatry Causyng prynces to receyue agayne ryght Godly reuerence of froward mawmetry But whan Calistenes this errour did espy In Alexander he busily did entende This false opinion to correct and amende Put fyue causes notable to rehearce This Calystenes in especiall Though he was king of Egipt Mede Perce He preued of reason he was a man mortall His byrthe eke earthy and not celestiall Father and mother as of theyr natures Borne for to dye like other creatures His father Philyp of Macedony kyng His mother called Olympyades Worldly folke and heauenly nothyng With kynges quenes vpset by hye encrees Yet agayne death they coulde haue no relees Lawes of nature maugre their wyll to obey Not lyke goddes but onely borne to dey Kynde made them subiect to sundry passions And many vncouthe diuers infirmities Now glad now heauy of condicions Folowyng the forme of their humanities But of their false vsurped deities I can not say saue drede and flattery Wrongly in earth dyd them deify Eke Alexander folowyng euer his lust For all his lordshyp and his great myght He suffred passions of honger and of thurst Now hole now sicke now heauy now lyght Whose enterchauÌ„gyng in euery mans syght Clearely sheweth as clarkes rehearce can He was no god but like a mortall man It fyll ones myne auctor dothe compyle In a great heate longe or he was olde He bathed him selfe in the floude of Nyle Where of fortune he sodaynely toke colde His pores opened on partes manifolde Lay long after his story beareth witnes Or he was cured of that great sickenes But at the last by craft of medicine Deliuered he was of that infirmitie Nothing amended by his power diuine By might of Juno nor Jupiters postye Nor by his owne vsurped deitie For by the passions whiche he did endure It shewed he was a deadly creature Of him also it is made mencion He had a custome to fall in dronkennes Through vynolence lost oft his reason Than of yre and furious hastines He woulde smyte and hurt in his wodenes Whyche tokens were playnly to termyne In his person not heuenly nor deuyne Whan the philosopher called Calystenes Gan fyrst consider all these condicions In Alexander he put him selfe in prees Voyde of dissimulyng and dylacions For to reforme suche false ambicions Of godly honor which men did on theÌ„ fayne And from all vyces his courage to restrayne In this purpose as any center stable He cast him fully of true entencion To correct all that was reprouable Vsed in his person or in his region Trouth gaue him hart lyke a champion To tell the kyng in his estate royall He was no god but a man mortall For whiche the kyng of indignacion Caught a quarell agayne Calystenes Put vpon hym vniustly false treason Onely to slea his master causeles And for to attaynt him afore all the prees Sayd how he had of hys iniquitie Conspyred agayne his royall maiestye And fayned also the selfe same tyme How he had made a conspyration Agayne his lorde by an horrible cryme Interrupting the religion Of his deuyne institution That in such case there was no better read But Calistenes by lawe must be dead And to prolonge of his death the payne Vpon a borde he was layed a longe Hys fete smytte of and hys handes twayne His eyen rent out wer not his paines stroÌ„g â–ª Thus can tyraÌ„tes whan they lyst do wrong Slea philosophers wythout any ruthe Whyche spared not for to say them truthe Thys cruel vengeauÌ„ce myght not suffise But Alexander more to encrease his wo Dyd cut his lyppes in full cruell wise His nose thyrles hys eares eke also And w t the body he bade men should go Tofore hys hoste as it is remembred To shewe the tronke how it was dismeÌ„bred In a caue depe and wonders lowe Solitary darked all the boundes After the paynes he made hym to be throwe The place stuffed w t wode barking houndes Of false entent to rende his bloudy woundes Tyll Lisymachus of great compassion To short his torment gaue hym poyson Who red euer of tormentes more terrible O Alexander thou oughtest be ashamed To slea thy clarke wyth paynes so horrible For thy vyces because he hath the blamed Thy royall name therby is defamed But euer tyrantes whan theÌ„ lyst be woode Of innocentes reioyce to shede the bloude Agaynst his knyght gentle Lisymachus Because he had of hym compassion Kyng Alexander was melancolious Wythout cause title or affection Let shut hym vp wyth a fierce Lyon Voyde of all helpe for to be succoured Of entencion he should be deuoured But Lisymachus quyt him lyke a knyght Agaynst thys Lyon in the same place Ran fiercely on him of hys martiall myght Out of hys head hys tonge he dyd out race Reconciled to the kynges grace Because that he so knyghtly hath him borne Better cherished than euer he was toforne Another knyght that called was Clytus â–ª Famous in armes for his chiualry One the greatest of the kynges house And most commended of prudent policy Most familier as bokes specify About the kyng as it was ofte preued To tempre his courage when he was greued The kyng and he walkyng hande in hande Within the palaice beyng in presence Princes and dukes of many diuers lande Where they began by notable eloquence RemeÌ„ber of armes the famous excellence Of conquerous and other knyghtes olde And euery man about his tale tolde Among whiche Clytus the gentle knyght Gan to coÌ„mende and greatly magnify Philyp of Macedon as him ought of right Bothe of his wisdome of his chiualry Tyll Alexander had therat enuy Gan disdayne of furtous cruelte That any should be coÌ„mended more than he Caught occasion ofyre and false hatrede Agayne his knyght y â— was to him most true With a sharpe swerd vnwarely made hi blede His hart bloude hote and redde of hue By his sides raylyng downe of newe Therby to preue this story tell can He was no god nor reasonable man Thus in prynces furious and cruell Men may clerely an euidence se How that lordshyp is not perpetuell But full of chaunge and mutabilite Of there now frendly now sodayn enmite Record on Clytus most in the kynges grace Vnwarely slayne and did no trespace Was he worthy to be deified This Alysander most double of his corage Or was he worthy to be stellified This furious prince for his fell outrage That slewe his frendes
Howe with a smale sodayne infirmite When deth age lyst she we theyr presence Disdayne al freshnes with vnware violence Agayne whose might there is no other grace Processe of yeres all beaute doth deface Though Demetrius was fayre vpon to se As ye haue herde rehearsed in sentence Gayne law and ryght he loued Arcynoe Thoccasion founde by her false insolence Bycause reason made no resistence Nat aduertyng how euery hour and space Processe of yeres all beaute doth difface Full horrible was their iniquite And tofore god hatefull their offence For through false lust and sensualite Lost was the bridell of inwarde prouidence Sharpe mortal sworde made y e recompence Drowned in teres whan she dyd hi embrace With blody woundes disfigured all hys face O noble prynces let thys story be A clere myrrour to your magnificence Therein considred the false fragilite Of worldly fayrnes which is but apparence And transitory but so be that prudence Gouerne the passage vicious lust to enchace Processe of yeres all beaute dothe difface The .ii. Chapter ¶ Howe the two brethren Seleuchus and Autiochus eche desyrous to excell other fyll at discorde and ended in mischefe THere is no man that can in story rede Of more mischefe nor of more debate Than of debate that is atwene kinrede Twene blode blod gayne kide infortunate Namely in persons whiche ben of hye estate As it fyll ones the story beareth recorde Atwene two brethren that were at discorde That one Seleuchus Antiochus the other As the story hereafter shall deuy se Eche desyrous for to excell other In worldly worshyp wonderly they were wyse And both blent by worldly couetyse For to clymbe vp to hye estate Whiche caused them to be at debate Both mighty kinges Bochas maketh mâ—cioÌ„ And of one wombe sothlye they were borne Vnder a cursed fell constellacion Of frowarde sede may grow no good corne And through couetyse bothe they were lorne And distroyed by the mortall werre That was atwene them in Asie nye ferre It is to me verye contagyous To rede the batayles and discencions The false promyses of Antiochus With the disceytes and conspirations Bretherne of byrth and of condicions Contrarious wayes euer they dyd wende Frowardly they began so made an ende Their mother was called Leodices And in Asya Seleuchus was reignyng Euer in werre coude nat lyue in pees And in Surry Antiochus was kyng And among robbers they made theyr ending Where euer they fought in wronge or ryght Neuer they bode but toke them to flyght Though Seleuchus was at his gynnyng Shynyng in glory and in hye prowesse And of Asya he was lorde and kyng With great diffame was derked his noblesse Bycause that he of great vnkyndnesse Ful falsely slewe without iudgement Hys yonger brother that was innocent And by the byddyng of Leodices Which was his mother of hatefull cruelte Falsely to murdre the quene Beronices Wife to the kyng called Tholome Reygnyng in Egipt but it stode so that he For all his power fayled of hys pray Bycause that she was ware fled away Yet afterwarde of olde hate and enuy This Seleuchus by full false treason Murdred Beronices by conspiracy Her sonne also as made is mencion The sclaundre arose through many a region And was reported vnto hys diffame Wherthrough he lost his worship his name And on thys murder auenged for to be For the horrible great abusion The kyng of Egypt the sayde Tholome Gan make him strong came w t people doun But for there was so great discention Through al his land the story saith certayne He was constrained to returne home agayne Seleuchus than made a stronge armee Gathered shyppes stuffed them w t vytayle Towarde Asye he taken hath the see But suche tempest gan hys people assayle That hertes and power of them gan fayle w t thundring lightning veÌ„geably distrained To take the land of nede he was constrained The people of Asye seyng thys mischefe Had of Seleuchus great compassion And their succour to set at a prefe They hym receyued into that region Though it stode as made is mencion That aforetyme for hys cruell dede They had his person in full great hatrede And for he fonde fortune fauourable Nat considryng her mutabilite He cast of rancour for to be vengeable And gyn a werre agayne Tholome His men outrayed he was constrayned to fle Knewe no refute nor succour of none other But for great mischefe sent to hys brother I meane hys brother called Antiochus Behestyng him for to crowne hym kyng Of all Asye hys story telleth thus Toke truse thys whyle by subtyll false workyng With Tholome for ten yere enduryng And when his brother came with his powere Falsed his promise double of hert and chere Thus of newe they fyll at debate Eche gan other myghtely werray False couetise to encreace theyr estate Caused that nouther lyst other to obay Met in a felde there is no more to say Fought haÌ„de for hande their hostes both two Seleuchus fled as he was wente to do Thus a false werre of hatred fraternall Agayne nature set them at discorde Eche busy was in especiall As their story remembreth by recorde Neuer their lyfe to be at one accorde But whaÌ„ Seleuchus was put thus to flight The people of Surry gan deme anonryght That he that day was outher take or dede And Gallougreis a people of great poste Of Couetyse gan hast them in great spede To entre Asye and spoyle all that countre To Antiochus they had eke enmyte That he was fayne for hys fauacion To pay to them a full great raunsom Their heart was yeue onely to pyllage Takyng of hym of golde a great quantite And he seyng of robbyng the outrage Drew to the pyllours one of them was he And through al Asye they robbed eche couÌ„tre For Seleuchus they gan so purchace That he nat durst abide in no place Than Antiochus drewe to Tholome Voyde of saueconduyte or any assuraunce Though y t atwene them was great enmyte For a season as made is remembraunce To haue founde succour in his gret greuauÌ„ce But all for nought for in conclusion Tholome hym toke and cast in derke prison There constrayned of necessite Knowyng no meane to make his raunson By a woman that lyued in pouerte He was holpe out of that derke prison Lo here of fortune a false condicion That coude make a kyng without pere Of a woman to stande in daungere To proude folke this maye be a myrour To se a prynce thus sodaynly brought lowe That shone in ryches lyke an emperour Which of disdayne lyst no man to knowe Now is he cast nowe is he ouerthrowe Now hath he cause to plain wepe mourne Knowyng no frende for succour him to turne He was aferde to holde hys passage By hye wayes or for to come in syght Fyll amonge theues they by great outrage All mercylesse slew hym anone ryght And his brother for all his great myght
Called Cleopatra as made is mencion And all his labour in conclusion Was onely this in Bochas as I rede All the kyngdomes aboute hym to possede Who all coueteth sometyme all dothe lese One agayne all selde hath soueraynte And for Ballas frowardly gan chese To holde werre with kyng Tholome And with the foresayde worthy kynges thre All of assent haue suche wayes sought That by theyr workyng he came to nought Fyrst Tholome fro hym toke hys wyfe Cleopatra and toke her in mariage To one Demetry causyng full great stryfe For he that tyme was but yonge of age But Ballas after by full great outrage With all his power gathered nye and ferre Gayne Demetry gan to holde werre Togyther they met proudlye in batayle Ballas constrayned cowardly to fle And when he sawe hys power dyd fayle In Arabye a myghty stronge countre â—abydus a prynce of great poste Toke hym by force quakyng in hys drede To kyng Tholome sent anone his hede Men may two thinges consider in this caas Pryde punyshed and vnkyndnesse And presumpcion in this man Ballas Without tytle or clayme of ryghtwysnesse Made kyng of Surry set i gret worthinesse What was his ende ye get no more of me Hys heed smyt of and sent to Tholome Lenuoye THys tragedye dothe naturally complayne Vpon thys vyce called vnkyndnesse Which to punyshe is tourment none ne payne Rygour condigne flagell nor duresse Emprisoning nor none earthly distresse That may suffise brifely to conclude Againe the vice of ingratitude All creatures on this vice complaine Lawe nature decrees rightwisnesse This monster in kinde dothe y â— light distaine Of euery vertne derketh the brightnesse Alisander can beare hereof witnesse Whiche to his furthers he of his tetches rude Shewed againe warde great ingratitude Of Cerberus th infernall treble chayne Nor of Tantalus hungre nor thrustinesse Of Ixion or Ticius bothe twayne Reken the turment remeÌ„bre the sharpnesse All to litell to chastise or redresse The hatefull vice of them that can delude Their frendes olde by false ingratitude Noble princes which in your demayne Haue gouernaunce of all worldly rychesse Gayne folke vnkynde loke that ye dudayne Suffre them nat to haue none entresse For to aproche to your hye noblesse For there is no vice more hatefull to conclude Than is the vyce of ingratitude The .xxvi Chapter ⧠Here Bochas wryteth of the rebellyons and sedicions in Rome betwene Tribunes and the commons FOlowyng myne auctour in storyes merueylous I must now write y â— stroÌ„g rebellions Of Gayus first and of Tiberius And of the great hatefull secious Meued in Rome twene tribunes coÌ„mons And by their stryues how they gan conspyre For to attayne falsly to the empyre The yere syxe hundred by computacion Gayus Graccus made tribune in that age After the cities first foundacion Which turned after to full great domage Of common profit for by their mortall rage Tumulte and noyse of commons in the toun Caused a great part of their destruction For in departyng of champayne heritage Atwene the worthy and pore of the cite By egall portions Graccus w t faire langage Had greatly meued all their commonte By whiche occasion in story men maye se Another Graccus called the seconde Was slayne in Rome low laide in grounde After the deth of Graccus as I rede Was chosen a tribune called Munycius Whiche fordyd the lawes all in dede Of olde Graccus called Gayus But he that was named Tyberius With helpe of Flaccus Tribunes of estate In the Capitoyle began a great debate They were supported by the commonte By voyce of people y â— word of no man know For Graccus party hye vpon a tre A trumpet stode and proudly gan to blowe Which slayne was fro the tre doun throw By which slawter y â— boke maketh rehersaile Flaccus wext feble his party gan to fayle For drede he fled into the teritory Of Janus temple ran vp to a tour Whan Tyberius as put is in memory Sawe in the cite he had no fauour Dispayred knewe no better succour Sworde set at brest in presence of Myncrue Fully purposed afore her for to sterue There stode one by drew his hand a backe Fro that purpose made him to declyne Thus Graccus party goth dai by dai to wrake And Flaccus toke the temple of Lucyne His son his frendes almost all his lyne Thei kept theÌ„ stroÌ„g but maugre their defeÌ„ce They were there slayne by sturdy violence While Graccus frendes fought for his party And he him selfe constrayned was of drede He gan to pray a boy of hys company To take a sword and smyte of hys hede Set on a speare with the bloude made rede Sent it his mother complayning in her tene Into her castel that called was Missene Named Cornelya his mother was in dede Whylom doughter to great Scipion Her châ—oren all slayne as I rede And Graccus goodes acheted to the toun Therof after made a diuision By iudgement thorughout the cite Where most was nede among the commonte Of Graccus syde fiue huÌ„dred slaine twaine Vpon an hyll called Auentyne And Oppinius a consull dyd his payne Of their conspiring y â— grouÌ„d to serche mine And Flaccus party to bryng to ruyne He slew two thousand by hasty iudgement Amonge which was many an innocent The .xxvii. chapter ☞ How the wyfe of Hastruball brent her selfe and her chyldren HEre John Bochas lyst in especiall To remembre howe Cartage newe agayne Distroyed was and how Hastruball Came to mischefe y â— trouth was well sayne Which to reherce of new it were but vayne Sythe here tofore is made clere mencion Bothe of their brennyng their destruccion Saue here he telleth how Hastrubals wyfe Onely to eschewe to lyue in seruage Chase with her children for to lese her lyfe And wylfully of furious corage She and her sonnes tender and yonge of age Amonge the flames and the coles reed Consumed was into ashes deed Dydo the first that bylte that cite And made tours and the stronge wall Which was betrayshed also of Ene Afore remembred the fires funerall And after longe the wyfe of Hastruball Chase rather to dye with her childreÌ„ twaine Than amonge Romayns for to liue in paine The .xxviii. chapter ☞ Of Machabeus Jonathas take by the kynge of Surry IN order suyng vnto John Bochas There appeared an heuy man of syght Machabeus y â— worthy Jonathas Whiche occupied for wisdome for myght Office of prynce priesthod and of knyght By title of Juda of werres toke thempryse By clayme of Leuy as priest dyd sacrifise The lawe of Jewes manly to defende With all the lande of promyssion This Jonathas ful knyghtly dyd entende Agayne all enemies about them enuyron Tyll of Surry the false kyng Tryphon By traynes coÌ„passed promise falsely holde Toke Jonathas of whoÌ„ right now I tolde In Machabeorum is reherced all Of his knighthode and of his worthynesse With all the treasons in especiall Wrought by Tryphon
vpon him of surquedous outrage Without title byrthe or lynage To succede by fraude and false labour Among Romains to reigne as emperour He was vngracious sitting in that estate In mischefe spent his dayes euerychoue With lyce and wormes made infortunate Through skyn and fleshe fret vnto the bone Craft of medicine nor socour was ther none So depe he was fret in his entrayle Died ▪ in distresse no leche might auayle ¶ Here Bochas counsayleth princes to remembre on Arnolde MYne auctour Bochas stynte here a while Sharped his penne of entenciō Gan for anger to transporte his style To write of tyrauntes the transgression More wode and fell than any Scorpion Them counsailing whan they be most bolde For to remembre of this proude Arnolde He ne was nat in his pride assayled With wolues Tigres nor Lions With rauynous Beares nor wilde bores trauayled Nouther with other mighty champions Which haue conquered many regions But with wormes engendred of his kynde The said Arnolde was murdred as I fynde In suche disioynt the said Arnolde stode With lice and wormes fret againe nature That was so nie borne of Charles blode Impotent the paine to endure Whiche was in sothe an vncouth auenture That a prince might nat be socoured Of smale wormes for to be deuoured A greate ensample who lyst considre and see To princes all for to abate their pride Let them consydre theyr fragylite To se an emperour to abide Thassaute of wormes and ley ▪ their boste asyde In this Arnolde wysely aduertyse How god hath power their pompe to chastise ▪ Death of Arnolde did my pen encombre For the great abhomynacion Than to Bochas came the twelft in nombre Called Pope Jhon as made is mencion Entring by fraude and false election To goddes lawe frowarde and contrary Nar like a pastour but lyke a marcenarye Called aforne he was Octauian Nothing resembling Peters gouernaunce Fro the time in Rome that he began To sit as Pope he gaue his attendaunce To folow his lust and his fleshly plesaunce In hauking and hunting stode his felicite And amonge women conuersaunt to be Vnto surfete ryot and glotony He gaue him wholy and toke of it no kepe Greatly disclaundred he was of lechery Kept in his court without shame or drede A nombre of women in cronicle as I rede Two cardinals of purpose did entende His vicious life to correckre and amend And of entent these Cardinals two The churche esclan̄dred cast them to redresse Made letters sent them to Orcho Duke of Saxon that he should him dresse Toward Rome and of hie noblesse On holy churche to haue compassion Make of this mischefe iust reformacion This Pope Jhon whan he hath perceiued Of these Cardinals the maner of writing And howe the duke y ◠letters hath receiued He to do vengeaunce made not taryeng Bode no lenger this iudgement yeuing Cut of the nose felly of that one Hand of y ◠other and both were called John The emperour did his letters sende To this Pope of hole affection Of his defautes he should him amende But there was found no correction For which he was deposed and put doun By Cardynals for his cursidnesse Me list nomore to write of his wretchidnes For his defautes his gret ontrage This John put downe as ye haue herde deuise Mine auctour after caught a great corage Seing this mischefe in many londry wyse In holy churche which that dyd aryse Among prelates cast him selfe blyue Their defautes openly to discryne Of their pride and presumpcion And while he gan studie in this matter He gan rembre anone in his reason Vpon a verse written in y t Sautere Touche nat my prophetes ne nigh thē nat to nere Nor againe thē beware in dede and thought In no wyse that ye maligne nought For this cause as ye shall vnderstande Touching this matter plainly as I rede Mine auctour gan withdraw his hande Left his purpose and forth gan procede To whose presence or that he toke hede Came a prince duke Charles of Lorayne Him besought to write his greuous payne ⧠The .xv. Chapter ☞ Of Charles of Lorayne confounded with hunger THis Duke of Lorayne as ye shall conceiue Had werre with y ◠king of Fraūce Called Hugh Capet and as I apperceyue An archebyshop to do the king plesaunce Of hatred made his ordinaunce Agayne this duke a wayte vpon him set That he him toke a bedde whan he slept The said byshop gan falsly vndermyne This worthy duke by full false treason Which as I fynde was called Anceline And he was bishop that time of Leon Which by fraude and false collusion Toke this prince y t was duke of Loraine And to the king he brought him by a traine By whome he was deliuered to prison To Orliaunce and with chaynes bounde What was his ende was made no mencion But in a pyt horryble and profounde Mischefe with hunger did him so confounde That I suppose this duke of Loraine Consumed was for constraint of his paine The xvi Chapiter ¶ Howe king Salamon whylom king of Hungery was put to flight AFter to Bochas there came doun Princes four and eche for his party Their grefes tolde and fyrst Salamon That whylom reigned in Hungry Bothe fole and cowarde bokes specify Voyde of reason noysed of ygnoraunce And at a point coude no purueiaunce Fortune also did at him disdayne For he was nouther manly nor coragious Again whom were worthy knightes twain Herta was one with Laodislaus Famous in armes notable and vertuous Bothe at ones on Salomon came doun And made him flye out of his region Through his vnhappy frowarde cowardise There was in him founde no defence Flight was his shelde list in no wyse Gaine his enemies make no resistence Fayled herte to come to presence To saue his lande he drede him selfe so sore Of whom Bochas writ in his boke no more The .xvii. Chapter ¶ Howe Petro kyng of Hungery was slayne AN other kynge put here in remembraūce Called Petro reygning in hungry For his defautes agayne the kynge of Fraunce Y called Charles of malice and foly By indignacion this was his turmentry His eyen put out ther was no better socour And after slaine by dome of the emperour The .xviii. Chapter ⧠Howe Diogenes the Emperour was taken and his eyen put out AFter to Bochas there came twain on the ryng Duke of Sweue formest as I rede Againe themperour fyrst malicyously working Henry the emperour reigning tho in dede But for his malice this was his fatal mede Banyshed to dwel amonge beastes sauage Slaine in a forest for his great outrage Whan Constantine departed from thys lyfe Whiche of all Grece was lorde gouernour By mariage of her that was his wife A knight Diogenes was made emperour Fortune to him did so great fauour Constantinople holding in his hande As souerayne prince of al grekes lande Yet ther were some that grutched theragain And had of him great indignacion The king of Perce
by succession Named Albanois princes of great nobles And by discent the story beareth wytnes From kyng Prochas recorde on bokes olde Came these .ii. brethren Rea their suster told Numitor slayne as made is mencion The kyngdom occupied by Amulius And Rea entred in to religion For to be wympled in that holy house Sacred to Vesta wyth virgyns glorious There for to abyde be contemplatife With other maydens duryng al her lyfe And thys was done whyle she was yonge of age By her brother of false entencion That she shoulde haue no maner heritage Nor clayme no title in that region Of her kynred by none occasion But stande professed in virginitye To fore Vesta and liue in chastitie Yet not withstanding her virginal clennesse She hath conceyued by natural myracle Gan to encrease in her holynes Whose wombe arose in kiÌ„de was no obstacle Agayne such bolnyng auayleth no triacle But the goddes for her so dyd ordayne That she at ones had sonnes twayne The temple of Vesta stode in wildernesse Where Rea had holy the gouernaunce Of priestly honour done to the goddesse Wyth many straunge vncouth obseruauÌ„ce But by her brothers mortall ordinaunce Her yong sonnes might not be socoured But cast out to beastes to be deuoured But a she wolfe whych whelped had late To yeue theÌ„ soke dyd her businesse By god ordained or by some heauenly fate TheÌ„ to conserue fro deth in their distres For holy write plainly beareth wytnes God can defende as it is well couth Children froÌ„ mischefe in their tendre youth But in this whyle this sayd Amulius That was their vncle as made is mencion Agayne his suster frowarde and furious Made her be shyt in a ful derke prison And there complaynyng the distruction Of her two children borne to her reprefe For very sorow dyed at great myschefe These sayde chyldren deuoyde of al refuse Besyde a riuer lay pitiously crying From al socoure naked and destitute Except a wolues vpon them waityng At whose wombe ful style they lay soukyng Vnto nature a thyng contrarious Children to souke on beastes rauenous But he that is lorde of euery creature Ryght as hym lyst can both saue spyl And beastes which ben rage of their nature He can aduert make them lye ful styl Tigres lions obedient at his wil The same lorde hath made a fel wâ—lâ—esse Vnto twey children her bigges for to dresse And whyle thys wolues had theÌ„ in depose Ther came an herde called Faustulus Behelde their soukyng saw theÌ„ lye ful close Whych sheperde was of kyng Amulius Caught vp these chyldreÌ„ the story telleth thus And brought theÌ„ forth with great diligence Vnto his wyfe that called was Laurence And she for loue dyd her busy payne Them to fostre tyl they came of age Gaue them souke of her brestes swayne Fro day to daye of hert and hole corage And they were called as in that langage After the storye that one of them Remus And the seconde was named Romulus Of whych brethern brefely to termyne The towne of Rome toke original Of false disclaundre fyrst began that lyne The rote out sought ful vicious fouÌ„de at all Clerely remeÌ„bred for a memorial Their begynning grewe of such incoÌ„tinence As clerkes call Incestus in sentence Incestus is a thyng not fayre nor good After that bokes wel deuise conne As trespassyng wyth kyn or wyth blode Or frowarde medlyng w t her that is a nonne And thus the line of Rome was begon For slaughter murder and false robbry Was chefe begynnynge of al their auncetry Of Couetyse they toke their auauntage Lyggers of waies and robbers openly Murdrers also of their owne linage And stronge theues gate to their company Spoiled al tho that past them forby Vnder shadowe of kepinge their beastayle Al maner people they proudly dyd assaile To â—lee marchauÌ„tes they had no conscience And for to murdre folke of euery age Women to oppresse of force and vyolence In al that countre this was their vsage Where they abode ther was no sure passage And these two brethern lyke as it is founde Fonde first y â— maner of speares sharpe groude Aspeare in greke called is quiris And for that cause the sayd Romulus As bokes say and sothely so it is He afterwarde was called Quirinus Which w t his brother y â— called was Remus Was in al thyng confederate partable That tofore god was vicious dampnable And as it was accordynge to their life For lacke of vertue they fyll in great diffame And atwene theÌ„ ther was an vncouth stryte Which of both should yeue the name Vnto the citie atwene ernest and game After theyr names Rome to be called Thus fyll the case afore or it was walled And therupon ful longe lasted their striues Which should of them haue dominacion Shewing their titles and prerogatyues Who should of them yeue name to the toun And reigne as kyng in that region There was no reason who shuld go beforne Bycause they were both at once borne But to fynishe their fraternal dyscorde They haue prouyded atwene theÌ„ anon ryght Thus condiscendyng to put theÌ„ at accorde Nouther by force oppressyon nor myght That whych of them sawe greatest flyght Of byrdes flyeng high vpon an hyl Should name the citye at his owne wyl Of this accorde for to be wytnesse They w t them lad a ful great multitude Therof to yeue a dome of rightwisnesse Both of wyse and of people rude Al at ones thys mater to conclude And to an hyl called Auentyne They ben asâ—ended this matter for to fine And byrdes syxe to Remus dyd appere By augury as they gan procede Called vultures ful fierce in their manere But in numbre the double dyd excede That Romulus sawe whan he toke hede Wherof ther fyll a great contrauersy Which of theÌ„ shoulde preuayle on his party Thus first of al Remus had a syght Of sixe birdes called Vultures And for to auaunce prefer hys right He ful proudely put him selfe in prees But Romulus was not recheles His brothers clayme playnly to entrouble Afforced hys title with the numbre double Yet of his purpose one of theÌ„ must fayle Though it so be that they euer striue But Romulus gan finally preuaile And to the citye he forth went blyue And as auctours lyst echone discryue And in their bokes as they reherce al After his name Rome he dyd it cal And al foreins to exclude out And agayne theÌ„ to make stronge defence Fyrst he began to wal it rounde aboute And made a lawe ful dredful in sentence Who clymeth the wal by any violence Outward or inwarde there is no more to sey By statute made he must nedes dey This was enacte by ful plaine ordinauÌ„ce In paine of deth which no man breke shal But so befyll Remus of ignoraunce Which of the statute knewe nothynge atal Of auenture went ouer the wal For whiche a knyght ordained in certayne The saide Remus hath with a pykeis slayn His brother
lyst not in no maner wyse Againe the lawe to be fauourable But assented parcel for couetyse Vpon Remus to be more vengeable Of thys entent to make his reigne stable That he alone myght gouerne non other By no clayme brought in by his brother And that the people shuld thē more delite There to abyde and haue possession As olde auctours of Romulus do write Within the boundes of the same toun That he deuised by great prouision In compas rounde so croniclers compyle A teritory that called was Asyle This Asylum by Romulus deuised Was a place of refuge and socours Like a theatre with liberties fraunchised For to receiue all forayne trespasours Theues murdrers wayliggers robbours By great resort within the walles wide To foster all brybers y ◠durst no where abide And with fled people fro diuers regions The citye gan to encrease and multiplye And banished folke of straunge nacions To finde refuge thither gan them hye And thus by processe gan their chiualry First through tyrantes retcheles of workyng Till all the world obeyed their biddyng Of wilfull force without title of right They brought all people vnder subiection A claime they made by violence and might And toke no hede of trouth nor reason And the first auctour of their foundation Was Romulus that gathered all this route Within the citye and walled it about And many day as made is mencion He had this citye in his gouernaunce And was the first kyng crowned in that toun And raigned there by continuaunce Full many yeres till the variaunce Of fortune through her false enuye In Campania made him for to dye Vpon a day whan it gan thunder loude His name foreuer to be more magnified Some bokes saye he was rapt in a cloude High vp in heauen to be stellified With other Gods stately deified There to be stalled by Jupiters syde Like for his knightes as Mars list prouide Lo here of panyms a false opinion To Christes lawe contrary and odious That tyrantes should by false oppression Be called goddes or named glorious Whiche by their liue were founde vycious For this playne trouth I dare it well tell They rather ben fiendes ful depe in hell For but in earth their dominacion Conueyed be by vertuous nobles And that their power and hygh renoun Be set on trouth and rightwisenes Like their estates in prince or princesse I dare affirme of them bothe twayne For vycious liuinge they must endure payne But whan they ben faythfull of entent Right and trouth iustly to maintayne And in their royall power be not blent Wronges redressyng and pore folke sustene And so contune with conscience so clene Such life more rath than pompe of warres Shal make thē raigne in heuē aboue y ◠stars For whiche let princes vnderstand atones And worldly princesses w t all their riches That their high hornes fret w t riche stoues To heauen their passage dothe not dresse But vertuous life chatitye and mekenes Whan they list pride out of their hart arace That causeth thē in heauen to winne a place There is no more straunge abusion Ne tofore god greater ydolatry Than whan princes list catche affection Creatures falsly to deifye By collusion brought in by sorcery Now god defende all princes well disposed With suche false craft neuer to be enoysed And their eyen by none illusions Be not avieugled neither with hoke nor line Nor by no boytes of false inspections Wrought by Cyrenes by drinke or medicine Whiche of their nature resemble to a shrine Through riches outward beauty soueraine And who loke inwarde be like to a caraine God of his grace amende all suche outrage In noble princes saue thē from such werre And them enlumine disposyng their courage In suche false worshyp they no more ne erre Like to Argus that they sene a ferre That no false fagyng cause thē to be blynde Gods nor goddesses to worship againe kynd And though y t Romains did worship honor To Romulus by a constraynt drede Let no man take example of their errour But to the lorde whose sides were made rede To saue mankinde and on a crosse was deed Let men to hym in chefe their loue obserue Which can thē quite better than they deferue ¶ The .xxix. Chapter ☞ Howe Mecius kyng of Albanoys beynge false of his othe and assuraunce was drawen into pieces NExt Romulus w t teares al bespraint Vnto John Bochas appered Mecius Of chere and loke of his port faynte His fall declaryng frowarde dispitous And he was called eke Sufficius Lowe of byrthe and simple in vpgrowyng Of Albanoys tyll fortune made him kyng Again whose pride the Romains gan warrey Full mightely oppressyng his countree And for kyng Mecius list them not obey They cast them fully auenged for to be Because his byrthe was but of lowe degre And was risen vp vnto estate royall They thē purpose to yeue him a sodayne fall Hasty clymbyng of pouert set on hight Whan wronge title maketh him to ascende With vnware peyse of his owne might A sodaine fall maketh him to discende Whan he list not of surquedy entende Fro whence he came nor him selfe to knowe Till god fortune his pōpe hath ouerthrow For this Mecius of presumption Thought again Romayns his pride might auaile Gan warre againe thē by rebellion Was not fearfull their nobles to assayle Till on a day was signed a battaile Bothe their hostes within a felde to mete To take their part be it soure or swete That tyme in Rome raigned Hostilius A manly man and a ful worthy knyght Twene him concluded and kyng Mecius They twayne to mete in stele armed bryght For bothe battayles to trye out the ryght By iust accorde and therin not vary The party vaynquished to be tributary And wholy put him in subiection Without entreatyng or any more delay And finally for short conclusion Kyng Hostilius the triumphe wan that day That Albanoys coulde not say nay But that Romayns as put is in memory By singuler battayle had wonne the victory Thus had Romayns first possession Of Albanoys to obey them and to drede Mecius yelded and sworne to the toun Neuer to rebell for fauoure ne for mede But for he was double founde in dede Of his assuraunce and false to their citie He was chastised anone as ye shall se. Agaynst Fidinates a countrey of Itaile King Hostilius for their rebellion Cast he woulde mete them in battayle For common profite and for diffension Bothe of his citye and of his royall toun And for to afforce his party in workynge Of Albanoys he sent vnto the kynge To come in haste with his whole chyualry And tary not in no maner wise But make him stronge to sustaine his party Like his behest as ye haue hearde deuise But kyng Mecius full falsly gan practice A sleighty treason and a couert wyle Agaynst his promise the Romayns to begyle Yet he outwarde pretendyng to be true Came to the felde with ae full