not to consent and take great counsell for the restoring of the king vnto his kingdome And at the last the king made such prouision of shippes and of warlyke armour with such a huge hoast of men as though they would haue eaten vp at on byt the whole countrey of the Raellyans and not by force of armes to haue conquered them The kinges prouision was an hoast of men of a hundred thousand and fiue thonsand Nauie of shippes And hauing landed they marched towardes the highe countrey of the Raellyans which when he drewe neare they deuyded the hoaste into thrâ—e partes The one part the king of the Trebonyans tooke charge of him selfe the other part he committnd to Hellepatrus and the other part to Hellidorus Thus their hoastes being deuided into three leuerall partes went thrée seuerall wayes and yet not farre one from another for as one of them went forwardes so the other hoast went crosse the one on the right syde the other on the left syde of the armye royall And thus marchingâ— forewardes they kylled man woman and chylde burnt and spoyled without any compassion The king of the Hircans hauing prouided also a great hoast of men almost double to the Trebonyans for that he had choose the best men both of the Hircans and also of the Raellyans Pytching from the Trebonyans in the dystaunce of ten myles notwithstanding the king of the Hircans being very fearefull both in that he had falsely vsurped the kingdome murthered Hellepatrus his wyfe and chyldren mayntained rebelles againste theyr soueraigne king doubted that the ende thereof woulde bee naught so that these armyes being in araye the king of the Hircans sent Harroldes to the hoasts of the Trebonyans with letters to vnderstande their quarrell whiche letters were in this maner WE vnderstade that you haue entred this lande you famous souldiours of the Trebonians and haue vtterly spoiled and vndone our borderers kylled them and burnt vp their houses goods we are verie sorie to geue such occasion of crueltie to any nation wee being heere but as guides helpers and succorors to this poore countrey whereas they were oppressed thorowe a wretched king one Hellepatrus who for his shamefull extorcion they haue banished If your tytle bee to the kingdome the people care not who bee their king so that they maie saufelye enioye their owne And wee Hircans that are their patrones and defendours wyll geue vp our right to any king that wyll sweare vnto vs righteously to gouerne them But thus much we craue of you that if your quarrel may be ended with quietnes to take your owne asking Aske what you wyll you shall haue it at our handes so that this seely countrey of the Raellyans maie be preserued AS soone as the Trebonyans had receaued these Letters and read them forthwith they hanged the Harroldes of the Hircans and most terribly put them to death Forthwith they hauing this deuyce in theyr heads practised that a huge hoaste of Elephantes shoulde bee put in harnesse and a great holow cowpe of yron hanged secreatelye about the neckes of the sayde Elephantes and to fyll the sayde hollowe cowpes full of â—ybble stones in the night vnawares were soddainly dryuen vppon the hoast of the Hircans for that they were all at rest suspecting nothing but looking the returne of the Harroldes were sodaynly rowsed with the noyse and force of the Elephantes With amazednesse taking them selues to flight were dispersed and slaine saue onely the king of the Hircans who was taken a lyue and brought vnto the king of the Trebonyans who tyed a great chaine round about his neck and sent him to Hellepatrus lâ—â— in the manner of a Dogge and byd the messengers tell Hellepatrus that hée had sent him the worme of the Hircans which dyd deuowre the fyrre trees of the Raellyans Forthwith these three hoasts marched forwardâ— and pursued vpon the dispersed Hircans slewe burned and spoyled in all quarters and places of the lande thorowout so that none went frée that if he stoode in the destaunce or rebelous disobedience of Hellepatrus theyr lawfull king but he was slayne and his goodes brunt When the king of the Trebonyans had purged the lande with kylling and burning thosâ— that were left alyue were myserably scourged with whyppes and the king of the Hircans himselfe was drawne thorow the lande lyke a dogge and most myserably whypped with roddes so in the â—nde of all these tormentes the sayde king of the Hircans was most myserablyâ— pryâ—ked to death with néedles Hellepatrus and the king of the Trebonyans went into the holye Alsephon and rendered humble thankes for their victory before the Image where alsó they saw the crowne of thystles hanging as gréene as euer it was in the begynning and the Scepter gallantly shyning These comfortes dyd put great ioye and comfort in the hartes 〈◊〉 Hellepatrus and his sonne nowe the king of the Trebonyans would not continew in that countrey but desired to returne homewarde notwithstanding Hellepatrus was very desyrous to haue had him tarryed styll and to haue made his habitation there The king of the Trebonyans wyâ—ed Hellepatrus to continew great sharpnesse towardes the Raellyans for so shoulde they best keepe them in order And so the king of the Trebonyans departed but most parte of the souldiours of the Trebonyans continewed within the lande of the Raellyans dyd inhabite there but alwayes such deuision was betwéen them and the Raellyans that not one of them coulde abyde another But as the king of the Trebonyans taking his iorney homewarde passing ouer the high hylles Arnolla his Charriot by great mysfortune breaking be him selfe also hauing a fore fall brake his necke King Hellepatrus vnderstanding hereof sent vnto those hylles where the dead coarse laye for it was but in the borders of the Raellyans to bring the dead carkase vnto him which presently as soone as it was brought â—e buryed it in the holy Alsephon and erected a sumptuous tombe ouer it with these Epigrams written ouer the same ¶ The knot is loosde by death Assured friend adew Oh fortunes cruell fate Such mischiefe to ensew The truest friend That liude in open sight That euer was In warre the noblest knight Oh faithfull friendshippes trust A king of worthie name That nowe is turnde to slymie dust Let praise blowe out thy fame A friende moste sure That neuer failde For to endure Thy friendshippe neuer quailde THis Hellepatrus the King being restored to his kingdome againe lyued very quietly and suffred both the Raellians and Trebonyans to inhabite together he droue the Hircans quite out of the lande and woulde not suffer so much as a lyttle childe to continue there the king perceyuing the fyckle alterations of Fortune dyd agrée verie quietly with his Lande the kinge grewe somewhat to age and vsed great company kéeping and geuen to excessiue dronkennesse and therefore he could not rule them with such puissancie as before he had done the king him selfe not onely became a great
Raellians vvith the Kinges consent sent Embassadors vvith ritche giftes vnto Delphicus Apollo fo 20. ¶ The crowne Garlande and the golden Scepter vvith the Oracle that they receiued by the Embassadours from Delphicus Apollo fo 21 ¶ The noble royall Coronation of Hellepatrus king of the Raellyans with the triumphant feates of chiualry and the kings Oration vnto his subiects fo 23. ¶ Howe the crowne Garlande and the Scepter were hanged vp in the holye Alsephon which was a prognostication of the fatall destruction of the kingdom of the Raellians fo 25. ¶ How Hellepatrus beginning to taxe his subiects they conspired treason confederated with the King of the Hircans and banished Hellepatrus from his owne countrey wife and children fo 26. ¶ Of the miserable death of Hellepatrus his vvife and children being left behind among the Raellians fo 27. ¶ How Hellepatrus with his sonne Hellidorus making their refuge vnto the land of the Trebonians for the space of sixe yeares were richly succoured Hellepatrus opening his griefes vnto the king of the Trebonians was promised to be restored home againe into his countrey fo 29 ¶ The vâ—age and behauiour of the two Kings in the time of their banishment fo 30. ¶ Howe the Kinge of the Trebonians vvith the most vvarlike prouision that euer vvas hard of restored Hellepatrus vnto his kingdome fo 31 ¶ Of the hanging of the two Harrroldes of the apprehending and taking of the King of the Hircans of his sore and terrible punishment because he vsurped the kingdome of the Raellians and lastly how he vvas miserably prickt to death vvith neadles fo 32. ¶ Of the establishinge of Hellepatrus againe into his kingdome fo 33. ¶ Of Hellepatrus quiet security being geuen to idolatry dronkennesse and lechery in his olde age vvas poisoned to death by a harlot fo 34 ¶ The noble Funerall of Hellepatrus vvith the Ascalons Oration of the mortalitie of mans life fo 36 ¶ The burning and straunge fire that vvas seene in the Alsephon vvith a crying voyce the night before his Coronation fo 37. ¶ Howe Hellidorus neuer laughinge in his life succeeded his Father Hellepatrus in the gouernment of the lande of the Raellians the manner of his Coronation vvith his sharpe Oration to his subiectes fo 38. ¶ Howe Hellidorus reuenged his fathers death fol. 41. ¶ Howe Hellidorus continuing his idolatry there arose a Prophete among the Raellians vvhich not onely cried out against the present Idolatry of the king and his subiectes but made an Oration vppon the terrible iudgements of the hiest goueruaunce and howe the Prophete vvith the true zeale of vertue brake their Asse of adamant stone fo 43 ¶ The cyuile death and punishment 〈◊〉 the King vsed vppon his subiectes for vvithholding awaie the deedes and writinges vvhich specified how the Lande vvas holden vvhich vvas purchased of their forefathers from the Assyrians fo 44. ¶ Howe Hellydorus lusting after mariage vvith shamful concupiscense vvas blinded vvith an harlot vvith the Kinges amorous vvanton Letters and the harlots aunswer againe ib ¶ Howe the Ascalon rayling against the Prophete vvith many peruerse perswasions continued the Kings blindnes in idolatry fol. 49. ¶ Of the death of the Prophet fo 50. ¶ A persecution thorow the Lande of the Raellians for beleeuing the Prophetes doctrine ib. ¶ Howe the Ascalon vvith the consent of a vvitch conspiring together did steale awaie the Garlande and the Scepter out of the Alsephon vvhich being the â—oâ—titude and magnanimitie of the King and the kingdome being now lost the King vvas married vnto that harlotte Sebona fo 53. ¶ The mariage of the King vnto Sebona the Asealons Oration vpon the mariage daie in the praise of the Queene fo 54. ¶ Howe King Hellydorus in the morning after he had lyen vvith the Queene looking forth of his vvindowe dyd behold an Asse eate Thystles according to the olde Prophesies of the Raellyans neuer in his lyfe before dyd laugh fell nowe to a laughter and vvas turned to an asse fol. 56. ¶ Howe the King of the Assyrians after King Hellidorus vvas turned to an asse dyd conquere the Lande of the Raellyans and put Queene Sebona and the Ascalou to death vvith pricking them vvith neadles fol. 58. ¶ The Kinge of the Assyrians ryding a hunting in a thicked of thornes his houndes vverried Hellidorus the king being in the fourme of an Asse to death fo 59 ¶ The vvords that King Hellidorus spake being in the fourme of an Asse at the verie instaunt of death fo 60. ¶ Of the noble renowned sumptuous Sepulcher vvith the Epigrams that the Assyrians buylded in the vvyldernesse ouer the carkase of King Hellidorus ib. FINIS ⧠Howe the Raellyans began their fyrst estate and of their great Idolatrie to the Asse of Adamant in the holie Alsephon c. VVHereas the Raellyans inhabyting in a certayne desert grounde of the Assyrians exiled for theyr disobedience dissent of not puttinge on the naturall lawes and ciuile ordinaunces of the Scithians were from their originall and natyue countrey quite dryuen out For as the Scythians were a plaine people ignoraunt and altogether vnskylfull of the pompous magnyficent constitucions of other princes so were they wholly directed in the footesteppes of vertue after the documentes of nature they lyued in the most playnest simplicitie of this lyfe they were people that although of small vnderstanding of the eternall gouernaunce yet theyr lyues and good manners were not the worst they had in contempt the deuice of noueltyes As they began with good order so they continued and so they ended Theyr cloathing was of beastes skinnes theyr dyet of the naturall fruites which the earth brought forth by course of kinde Among these Scithians there were som obstinate and vnruly people and such whiche woulde not put on so harde and straite kinde of lyfe were contented rather then to endure the same to become banished men forlorne of theyr owne countrey and to seeke theyr habitation else where There was a certaine wyldernesse called Ramanna which was a waste grounde vnhabited belonging to the Assyrians with the east bordering vpon Aries vpon the south Carmanill vpon the west the Medes vpon the north the Hircans These Raellyans were contented at the first to become tributaries to the Assyrians not onely to inhabite that grounde but also to plant the same with all manner of fruitefull encrease But after good space of tyme the Raellyans growing to great wealth and secure pleasure of all prosperous felycitie were able to traffique prouision of marchandyze to all countreys rounde about them dyd buye and freelye purchase the priuiledge of their countrey and lande of the Assyrians which they the rather compassed to bring to passe for that the Assyrians repined at theyr wallowing in wealth and great happinesse which the Raellyans grewe vnto as also because the Assyrians beganne to extort and with cruell vexation to oppresse them practysed the spaedier to auoyde such inconuenience which might ensue
inuaded his owne countrey with such terrors that those which woulde not obey him were slaine and executed to a most shamefull tyrannous death Some of them were put to fyne some of them put to perpetuall imprisonment some of them bondsâ—aues and dyd serue in the kinges Garison When in this maner the king had pacified his lande with sworde and fyre and with the cruellest terror that euer was hearde of He then assuring him selfe to be most saufest was most in ieopardie for those whiche were most earnest to make him king vnto those was hée a more sharper enemie then vnto the rest The cause hereof was for that they being so earnest to haue a king not that they fauoured any one man to bee theyr king but for that euery man hoped after the kingdome him selfe the king perceyuing euery mannes greedy desyre gaue but certayne outward thankes vnto them but dyd attribute the successe of his good lucke vnto Ladie Fortune and that holy Image For as the King perceaued howe his people hated him so he dyd not squenche their hatered with lenitie or by any execrable méekenesse but with more greater vengeaunce and crueller tyrannie The people had him in suche horrible disdayne that whereas they hauing not delyuered theyr wrytinges and auncient monumentes of recorde which was betwéene their fathers and the Assyrians when they purchased the lande so they practised with the King of the Hircans that if hée woulde make warres vppon theyr king they woulde not onely assist him but also they woulde delyuer vp into his handes the monumentes and wrytinges of the free purchase of the lande which was betwéene their fathers and the Assyrians The King of the Hircans woulde presently haue had the same wrytinges but they woulde not agrée therevnto before he had ouercome and vanquished theyr king by battayle thorowe the great secreate suite of the Raellyans the King of the Hircans was content to satisfyâ— theyr desyre and appoynted an hoast of twentie thousande soldiours to inuade the lande of the Raellyans but the people had so condicioned with the King that all those Raellyans which woulde submytte themselues vnto the Hircans and be content to go in battayle against theyr King shoulde be in saufetie both of their lyues landes and goodes So the King of the Hircans hauing landed his great armie of men in the lande of the Raellyans the Raellyans for the most parte made theyr refuge vnto him and submytted them selues and offered not onely theyr bodyes but their landes and goodes and all that euer they had to be at his commaundement Hellepatrus king of the Raellyans séeing his woful misery draw on his people forsaking him his owne housholde seruauntes denying him his estate to bée the most myserablest of all men aÌ„nd that speedily his enemies drawing on had no other helpe for him selfe but to flye and to become a straunger in another lande forthwith fled into the lande of the Trebonians where he dwelt for the space of fiue yeares In the meane whyle the lande of the Raellyans was gouerned by the king of the Hircans and as the Raellyans lyued as they lysted them selues to be at free lybertye so they proued within that space to be verie riche and welthie and began to abound againe withall maner of plentifull pleasures The king when he fled tooke Hellidorus his sonne with him and lefte Abdona his wife and other children in the lande of the Raellyans which after the departing of Hellepatrus most miserably the Hircans tormented Abdona the Queene and her children in most terriblye burning them to death This banishment dyd not so muche vexe the king as the death and losse of his wyfe with the resydue of his children whereas naturall affection dyd moue him to sorrowe so the remembraunce of reuenge dyd comfort him on the contrary Nature and reuenge working together practised many wayes yet no better way woulde serue his turne then to open his griefe vnto the king of the Trebonians the king of the Trebonians being at mortall detestation with the king of the Hircans declared vnto the king howe the Elders and commens of his lande had chose him king and confirmed the same with as strong and forceable auchority as might be deuised it was also ratified before a blessed Image in his lande which theyr fathers brought from the lande of Scithia howe with an Oracle from Delphicus Apollo the maner of his Coronation was appointed And that both the Scepter and Crowne of his kingdome were hanged vp in the holye Alsephon before the blessed Image which they durst not for feare of eternall plagues once diminish the same And as he thought the strength of his kingdome dyd consist both in the Scepter and also in the Crowne garlande of thystles After they had made mee theyr king and also royally put mee in anthoritie and also had crowned and soueraigned mee with the aforesayde Crowne and Scepter I afterwardes but demaunding their obedience which was due vnto mee and that they woulde geue mee such ryghtes and possessions vnto my imperiall Crowne as they promysed they not onely denyed mée of the one but they rebelled against mée for the other and practising with the king of the Hircans haue dryuen mee from my kingdome and spoyled mée of my landes and goodes and most greeuouslye haue bereft mee of my wyfe and chyldren for most trayterously haue they put them to death ¶ The supplycation of Hellepatrus vnto the king of the Trebonyans O Noble King that beareth the armes of defence looke vppon my innocencie beholde my pittifull complaynâ— see the wretchednesse of my griefe nothing doth rewe my harte to such a terrour and grieuous horrour as this wicked murthering of my wyfe and children ⧠The King of the Trebonians aunswered his pittyfull complaynt in this maner Dareth that wicked worme of the Hircans Feede on the firre trees of the Raellyans I Wyll surelye cleare and purge thy lande and restore thée to as muche pleasure as euer thou haddest in thy lyfe before yea and muche more and I am glad that so good occasion is offered mée against that wynding Snake of the Hircans Hellepatrus and Hellidorus his sonne were succoured and very richly mayntained among the Trebonyans And as Hellepatrus dyd geue him selfe to great excessyue drinking among the Trebonyans so the Trebonyans were a very inordinate people in drynking Hellydorus although geuing him selfe to an accustomed order of myldnesse for that he in all his lyfe neuer laughed so he practised him self to the great actiuitie of the Trebonyans for the Trebonyans were verye actiue and nymble people in the feates of Armes most strongly woulde they fight when they were excessiuely ouercome with drynking But the king of the Trebonians and the people practised many pleasant deuises to moue Hellydorus to laughter but such was his myldnes that it coulde neuer be brought to passe Whylst the Raellyans pleasure increased and their estate beganne to be sure againe Hellepatrus and the king of the Trebonyans ceased
dronkard but also polluted with great lecherie of all women he loued the straunge women of Trebonia for they were very bewtiful women so also were they of light conuersation Thus the king being bothe drowned in dronkennesse ouerwhelmed with lecherie indoted with olde age these thrée enemies were more crueller then all the hoast of the Hircans For as the king had béene bannished from his countreye and nowe restored againe so now drowned in dronkennesse ouerwhelmed with lecherie indoted with olde age being banished from all perfect vnderstanding there was no hope to restore him to the perfection of his flagrant fourmer florishing wittes againe The people of the Raellyans perceauing the kinges myserable estate the wyues of the Raellyans desiring carnall copulation with the Trebonyans secréetely in the night as they laye together dyd kyll the Trebonians and by secreate meanes vnknowne to the king dyd weaken and infeeble the Garyson and soldiours of the Trebonyans which dyd there continew such was the wickednes of these women that one bewtifull fayre Dame practysing with the rest howe and by what meanes they might quite ouerthrowe the Trebonyans and roote them out who shewing her selfe very laciuious wanton in the manner of a nyce harlotte at a banquet in the presence of the king with many songes and whoorishe dittyes thorowe which the king was delyghted not onelye with that maner of pleasure but also with the bewtie of the woman for as the king was verye desirous to heare the woman singe so at the great request of the King shee song this Dittye as followeth and also dyd delyuer vnto the King to drinke a cup full of poyson ¶ Our wyse and noble king In warre a famous knight His sturdie strength to passe did bring To winne his proper right So worthie a man as nouer was seene The hardiest knight that euer hath beene The dayntiest dishe that man doth loue Or Venus in her shoppe doeth sell Of all sweete meate that comes aboue Hellepatrus such flesh loues well This readie cuppe of pleasaunt wine VVith loue shall bleare your wanton eyne The death of Hellepatrus the King. THe King receauing the cup and drinking presently fell downe dead and swelled so much that his skyn brake and his fleshe stancke so vehemently that hee was lyke to haue poysoned all the people rounde about him there creapte and crawled out of the fleshe of Hellepatrus great wormes with blacke beads his tongue hanged out of his mouth his eyes started out of his head be was most myserable to beholde After he was embawmed with many swéete Odiferous spyces and thereby the strength of his corruptions stayed then was he intombed in Leade and brought into the holye Alsephon where he was layde with these Poesies written vppon his Tombe ouer him ¶ The glistering gallaunt flower gaie VVhen vvinter comes it fades avvaie This life that honours great haue gotte So svviftlie comes and goe by lotte O death vvhich cut this royall king VVhose life such cruell feare did bring VVho hath obeyed this earth and claie VVhen death did come thou didst obeie The honours great vvhere pompe doth rest So lodgde vvithin thy graue The slimie vvormes did build their neast Thy kinglie fleshe to haue In vvars abrode to serue thou hadst goodskil At home in peace thou wast a staye to holde vp orders styl These lynes vpon thy rombe shall stande That praise maie shevâ— vvith glistring fame Thou ruldste this noble Lande THe coarse being layde in the graue with great mourning and lamentable sounding of Trumpettes with solempnitie accustomable in the death of a King the Ascalon of the holye Alsephon dyd make the funerall Oration vnto Hellydorus the yonge Prince and the people after this manner The funerall Oration THis daie we being al assembled hither to finishe a noble and worthie remembraunce of our King vvhich before this Image vvhat I speake necessarie to profite your mindes vvith the exercise of vertue it is the testimony of the life of this Kinge heere departed and also of the vnfaynednesse of a good hart in mee the mortalitie of mannes lyfe is plainlie seene that although we florishe with neuer so much renowne the glory of this lyfe being bewtified with many great giftes of worldly pleasures yet you may perceiue the fynal ende hereof is losse both of these pleasures and also of this life you maâ—e also perceaue although we striue to clyme either to a higher estate of life or to continue in one estate it selfe howe or in what sort so euer we lyue whether wee striue for more or whether wee content our selues with lesse death is the ende of all contentions en 〈…〉 es displeasure yea the wrath of a King is confounded by death our good and euyll life is set forth by death the one of them is the starre light of vertue the other is the shadowe of corruption and vice VVhat haue wee to trust vnto whilst we liâ—e heere some saie riches honours kingdomes power and soueraigntie But I saie our vertuous life being the demerites of goodnesse in this life are the felycities and ioyfull happinesse that wee finde in another life wee haue sorrowes and paines in this life but for our good actions euerlasting renowne in another life Then let vs lyue well that wee maie dye well our good death sheweth our good life our good life is the vnspeakeable treasure that vve are rewarded with In this life vve haue sicknesse in another life health in this life sorrowe in another life ioye in this life daunger of many worldly misfortunes but in another life the rewarde of many fortunes O howe happie is death this kingdome hath beene translated vnto this King by worldlie fortune you might perceaue how sinylinglie fortune dealth vvith him In the beginning vvhat a heape of myseries and troubles shee brought vppon his headde shee bannished him from his countreie and kingdome And contrarie to the expectation of all the Raellyans restored him home againe to his kingdome shee hath preserued him vntyll this instaunt VVhat a horrible fact a vvicked vvoman by murthersome practise hath committed Shall I tell vvhether Fortune knewe of any of these euentes or no I shoulde but trouble your myndes and vexe your hartes in speaking And winne no commoditie vnto my selfe but hatered of his posterytie towardes mee for euer vvherfore in these iudiciall causes I vvyll vse silence and saie nothinge but onelie this O yonge Prince Hellydorus in thee is perceaued great towardnesse of vvitte and learning and surelie the Gods haue hydde in thy noble stomacke some maruaylous secreate vvhich is not for mee to intreate of for vvhich neither I'or any man lyuinge coulde euer in thy lyfe tyme perceaue thee laughe or shewe any token of gesture tending therevnto might I tell the opinion of some men who saie that vvhereas any man hauing any speciall gifte no man hauing the lyke that man is eyther loued or feared for the same I hope vppon the best that all the people of
with him saue his Phisitions and such Gentlemen that were of his priuie chamber After his health was recouered and beganne to be strong againe the reremembraunce of the murthering of his Father coulde not be put awaye so the offence was neyther forgeuen nor forgotten For as he had the woman in holde which had so shamefully commytted this murther So he vppon the recouery of his health fell to the examination of this naughty woman And she vpon her strayght imprisonment and strayghter examination apprehended the chiefest of the Elders of the land with theyr wiues which when the king had fullye knowne and with perfect instructiō was acquainted with theyr murthersome practises dyd not incontinently sende for them by his men of warre fearing least they hauing any ynkling hereof would flie into another Lande for no man was priuie to the examynares confession saue onely Hellidorus him selfe dyd after a curteous manner in the waye of friendshippe sende for them and theyr wiues one after another to come and speake with him which so soone as any of them made their appearaunce were presently sent vnto prison without further examination And thus he dealt with all of them one after another vntyll he had apprehended euerie one of them when these deuises were accomplished the king vppon very prudent pollycie sent for all the nearest kindred and friends of these murtherers and talked vnto them after this sort ¶ The Kinges vvordes vnto the murtherers kyndred and friendes MY friendes and subiectes I thought it good and necessarye to sende for you being Raellyans and wyse men and as I hope trustie subiectes Such reports haue beene geuen out of your obedience whiche moueth mee to presume of that good fame and honest report that is spred in all places of this Lande of your true and iust dealinges towardes this Imperyall Crowne For which cause I am perswaded that not for the dearest kyndred or friendes that you haue among the Raellyane wyll aducnture your lyues landes and goodes for theyr sakes If in treasons towardes this Crowne there were any such of your kyndred and friendes to be founde guiltie would take theyr parts Or that their deathes should cause any sorrowe to pearce your haries they being perfectlye knowne and once founde Traytours You knowe my father your late king of famous memorie was most trayterously murthered and shamefully put to death doo you not think it was plaine and presumptuous treason yea such a murther is not to be suffered among common persons much lesse in a King doo you not thinke the doers hereof are worthy to suffer the strayghtest death that maye be deuised And the people aunswered O Noble King if their kindred vvere neuer so deare vnto vs vvee vvoulde doo the best that lyeth in vs not onelie to apprehende them but also to put them to death HEllidorus spake againe indéede they are not onely of your neare kyndred but also of your very friends and such which you of all men and women haue had in greatest acceptation And I of my owne prudencie haue apprehended them alreadie which if they can cleare them selues from that which they be apprehended of they shall be as free as euer they were And also I wyll recompence them for theyr vniuste imprisonment Wherefore for that they are your kyndred friends you shall be assistants in iudgement with mée when they are arraygned to be guiltie of this murther or no These men durst not deny the King his request they were verye sorye that they shoulde be vrged therevnto partly because some of thē were not scarce cleare from the murther other some hanged backe for kyndred sake other some for ignorant simplicitie not knowing what belonged to such a soddaine prouocation woulde gladly haue reuolted not onelye their promise if they durst but also to haue dispatched them seines quite from the matter it selfe But such was the pollicie of the King that the death of so many of the best woulde séeme more terrible to the rest he lesse grudged at them therin for that they were condempned and adiudged by their owne kyndred surely surely there laye as much secreate mischiefe in the hartes of these theyr kindred towardes the King as in the murtherers them selues but they durst not vtter it this woman that was principall vnto this murther was first brought before the King and the Elders and her examination being read the other forthwith were sent for one after another the matter being nearely systed and thorowly tried to the vttermost they were al found guiltie and adiudged to dye for the murthering of king Hellepatrus This was the death of the wicked woman from the toes of her féete vnto her sholder partes one ioynt was cut péecemeale one from another There was two thousande men and women of the Raellyans that were put to death in another maner as this Whoate ouens were heated for the same purpose and the men were put therin there were neare adioyning whoate furnaces of boyling leade wherin the graue women were cast a most lamentable ruth in the presence of many wéeping eyes were skalded to death This terrible iustice of the King dyd stryke suche a horror in the hartes of his subiectes that they not onely feared the kinges presence but also they were in doubte to speake of him thus the king thorowe extremitie obtayned quietnesse and thorowe wisedome and pollicie ruled his kingdome he kepte them in such obeence awe that of all Princes that were then lyuing Hellidorus was of his people most feared ¶ How the King put many to death for concealing the vvrytinges that were betweene their forefathers and the Assyrians when the Lande was firste purchased And also of a Prophete that ryseth among the Raellyans and cryeth out of their Idolatrous Image the Asse in which was all their trust The saide Prophete is put to death by Hellydorus the King. HEllidorus hauing squenched the naturall reuenge of his fathers death established his kingdom subdued his people to great feare then they began by lyttle and lyttle to inquyre after the monumentes and wrytinges that were betweene their forefathers and the Assyrians for the purchasing of that lande The secreate inquisitours of the King handeled the matter in such sorte from one to another vntyll the matter was apparant where and in whose custodie the wrytinges remayned As many suffered death for concealing the matter so many suffered death for the conuaying of them and he in whose custodie they were founde suffered a most straunge and strayght death Thus as the King coulde gette nothing at their handes thorowe gentlenesse so he had what he woulde thorowe croaked crucluesse And lastlye they so muche obeyed and reuerently f 〈…〉 ed him that Hellydorus could not so soone be named among them but they would make lowe courtesie and lowe submyssion of theyr bodyes the King being bothe in riches and Royall pompe with great soueraigne feare in so much that he thought him selfe the saufest king that lyued In the myddest
heate of veration was kyndled in his harte that inwardlie he chafed at the Prophet and at the last brake forth in these wordes Thou hast the name of a Prophete such a bolde talker as thou art with busying thy selfe in such thinges as doo not belong vnto thée maye worke thy owne wee thou thinkest to wynne credite and get honour in this countrey among the Raellyans thou art deceaued in thy owne thought but take héede lest thou wyn the displeasure wrath of a king and so death vnto that wretched writhen carcase of thine For although thou caÌ„st boldly pratle vnto mée yet I doo not beléeue thy doctrine nor relygion so neyther wyll I condempne it before the Ascalon of the holy Alsephon disputeth with thée who is better seene in such matters then my selfe Forthwith the king commaunded the Prophet to be brought into the Alsephon where the Ascalon and the Prophete in the presence of the king and the people talked together ¶ The Ascalon spake vnto the Prophete after this sort PErceyuing the great sedition that is sowen in this Realme by a false Prophete the sectes scysmes increased that not only it behoueth our soueraigne Lord the King to looke vnto him selfe but it standeth vpon my office and duety to confute such falsities and opinions in the honour and glory of this holy Image which our fathers brought from the land of Scithia and hath preserued our countrey and people with the fruitefull increase of all plenteousnesse this is necessarye to the people to be spoken to take héede of such lying fellowes which vndercreepe our gouernance for whosoeuer speaketh against this holye Image speaketh against the king himselfe and whosoeuer toucheth the soueraygnty of the king is a traitour and worthy to dye Aâ—ter many of these thundring wordes of 〈…〉 e Ascalon the Prophet beganne to speake the king commaunded to stop his mouth and the more the king cryed stop stop stop so the Prophet cryed the more O wrathfull vengeaunce that wyll shortly be due vnto the Raellyans and with mighty force the Prophete ran vnto the Image the Asse and forceable vpon a soddaine brake it to many péeces The king foaming roaring crying hold him hold him commaunded the Prophete to be tyed and bound for that as he sayde he was some mad fellow out of his wyts But the people in the lyke maner were at such contention that one was ready to kyll another some belde vpon the relygion of the Image some helde vppon the doctrine of the Prophete none of them all loued the king except the Ascalon whose commodytie consisted vppon the sacrifice of the Alsephon The king and his garyson without further iudgement dyd cutte the innocent Prophete to a thousand peeces and such was the wickednesse of this tyrannous murther that he which might haue a hacke at the innocent fleshe of this holy Prophete thought he dyd good seruyce to that idolatrous Image and theyr tyraÌ„nous king Euen presently vpon the death of the Prophete there arose lyghtnings tempestes the fruites of the earth were burnt with wylde fyre A great famine did arise thorow out the land many people thorow the scarcesity thereof myserably without compassion dyed Shortlye after these verations and troubles as the Prophetes death not being forgotten so many continued stedfast and beleeued on his doctrine for which doctrine the king vsed great persecutioÌ„ thorowout the whole Lande The death of the Martyrs were in this maner theyr skynnes were flaine from theyr fleshe they most quietly patiently forsaking this lyfe After the ende of this cruell tyrannous persecution he thynking his Lande quite purged ryd from the blemishes of the Prophetes doctrine for that some of them were subdued by death some by banishment and some by conuersion so thinking his kingdome to be established more surer then euer it was before grew to his old security wickednesse of life deuowred in tyraÌ„ny and drouned in idolatry for that be peeced the broken idolatrous Asse again to worship thorow which idolatry he was poysoned in the filthy stinch of al horrible vices and corruption that in steede of innocency cruell tyrannye and all oppression were planted in his haâ—te Here is shewed how the King fell in loue with one Sebona a harlotte married her and was turned to an Asse and how the Assirians did repossed the Land of the Raellians by conquest AFter the King wasin his olde custom of idolatry all other corruptions the lande pacified and prefixed in the wicked obedience of that peeced God the broken Asse the King also in doting in loue was led with variable affections led with the nordinate lust of bewty hunting in the wicked concupiscence of diuerse women was rauished with the special delectation of one woman wheras the fine amorous Ladies of the Raellyans perceauing the Kings lasciuious inclinatioÌ„ deuised with them selues howe they might best set out themselues in sale before the King Some with gallant imbrothered garments and the costly silke of the Hircans woulde shew them selues with the flying wantoÌ„ countenances of Louers to catche snare the King with their abhominable delites some with daunsing some with singing pleasant Ditties So that sundry women had sundry delytes one contrary to another whose sundry contraryeties ouercasted the king with contrary impolutions Sebona a bewtifull dame the comlyest creature that euer lyued eyther among the Hircans eyther among the Trebonyans or Raellyans the acceptablest of all Notwithstanding she had bene the most whore shamelesse harlot that euer raigned this Sebona for bewty gorgeous apparell sweete smelles singing daunsing with al the deuises of a louer most delited the kinges fantasie This Sebona in respect of all other women was a bright burning starre in the dark clowdes of Cupids thuÌ„dring tempests the king neyther respecting honesty vertue or immaculate virginity which are the bandes and knots of true mariage would in al haste chose this filthy whore Sebona to be his wife wheras shee thorow the counsel of some certain of her friends was perswaded to present her selfe very lytle in the kings presence Her bewty would appeare the brighter the kinges loue the whotter and their purposes brought to passe the sooner The King languishing in the heauy agonies of loue wrote vnto Sebon a after this manner The Kinges letters to Sebona O Sebona the worthy Louer of the Raellyans which with the arrowe of thy beutie hast shotte and wouÌ„ded my desire that al comforts eyther of my kingdome coÌ„mon vvelth riches possessions renown soueraigntie do not so much pleasure or comfort mee as thy beutie I that did conquer am now conquered my selfe I that did worship an holy Image do now vvorship beutiful Sebona I that did rule a kingdome am now ruled by a vvoman I that did subiect my people and Land am now brought in subiection my selfe O pitifull Sebona the Phisition of my diseases the comfort of all my troubles the ease of all my griefes vnderstand my sorrowes