daie When to theyr freindes lyke yromyse they do make In wealth and wo them neuer to forsake But now a daies I fere but few men do lyue That will vnto theyr freyndes such freinshyp gyue ¶ And thus concludinge my simple Preface Most hartely I pray the Readers all If in this booke parhaps by my trespasse Some thyng amysse to them doth befall Showe me my faulte and mende it I shall Desyrynge no man my worke to disdayne Though symple it be and done with small payne FINIS ¶ The famous Hystory of Alfagus and Archelaus Wherin is declared the true fygure of Amytye and Freindshyp Cap. i. IN Rome sumfyme a Knyghte dyd dwell Both noble wise and good Hys stocke of auncyente Romaynes were And not of Rascall blood Lypodus hyghte thys noble man for so mem dyd hym call Beloued he was of all folkes in the Cyttie great and small ¶ A Ladye had thys noble Knighte of worthy stocke and fame Betweene whom God a sonne dyd sende Alfagus was hys name Acomely Chylde and fayre he was as any man myght see In learnyng apte to euery thynge whych taught to hym myght bee ¶ This knight therfore when as his sonne to lawefull yeres ded growe He thought how he by vertuous trade myght make hym wysdome knowe But at the laste by musynge longe he vnderstood right well Of Carthagye that noble place much praise he harde men tell ¶ How that was cheefe and fountayne of all wisdome and all grace Next vnto God all prudence came and doctrine from that place And noble men from far aboute theyr Chyldren thether sent And Lypodus this knight therfore euen of the same intent ¶ His sonne Alfagus brought foorth with to Carthagye that hee Myght lerne good letters and also a Scholler there to bee And hosted him with one who was an auncyent man and wise A Senatour of the Cittie who good councell dyd deuyse ¶ Of Carthagie that noble place and Cyttie of great fame The cheifest ruler then was hee and Olympus was hys name Thys Olympus had a sonne also whom Archelaus men dyd call In euery parte both hande and face like Alfagus was hee all ¶ Theyr age was equall both as one agreeinge iust and ryght Theyr faces so proporshined both a lyke in all mens sight That no man coulde deserne the one and say this is the other They were not knoweÌ„ but by their names of father nor of mother ¶ And as these two yonge gentlemen agreid lyke in lymme Alfagus Archelaus vnto and Archelaus to him So in shorte space acquayntaunte grewe the one so to the other That inwarde loue oprest theyr hartes and eche one called brother ¶ Theyr willes and Appetites both in one so God had congulated That neuer since the worlde began like them was none created At one time they together went to study and to learnynge At one time they at meales also tooke both a lyke refresshynge ¶ They both delyted in one kynde of doctryne and therby They profyted and were therwith both learned equally And to conclude together they with learnynge so increased That in shorte tyme to them myght be in Carthage none compared ¶ At length deseast Olympus which was Archelaus father dere For whom Alfagus as well as hee dyd mourne with heauy chere But then Archelaus after that his father was deseased To all men knowen he was wyth goods and ryches much increased ¶ Wherfore to hym was profered ryche maryges many a won With maydens fayre and bryght but hee set not hys minde theron And he then beinge â—ype of yeres of parsonage with all Ryght well ve set in euery lymme a comely man and tall ¶ Wherfore his freindes and kynsmen all exhorted hym that hee After this counsaile set his mynde to wed some fayre Lady To the intente his lynage hee myght so increase ther by But this yonge man his hart had set so on Philosophy ¶ And on his freind Alfagus to his loue he set so suâ—e That if he shuld mary he thought it colde not styll indure But that he shuld leaue of from one and cleaue another to Wherfore longe tyme he did delaye the thinge with much a do ¶ And would not consent to theyr mynde for ought that they colde saye How be it still they woulde not rest to moue hym daye by daye To mary one that myght hym please and gyt some Childe her by Which myght inherit and haue his lande when he shuld chaunce to dye ¶ So at the last he graunted because hys freindes on hym so sore Euen by importunat callynge on styll dayly more and more And partly by the aduyce and mynde of Alfagus hys freind dere And by dysyre of many mo he drew theyr pourpose nere ¶ Consentynge for to mary one in whom he myght delyght And in all thinges vnto hys mynde ryght pleasaunt in hys syghtâ— Wyth whych wordes all hys freindes kyn was wondrous glad in hart And busyly for hym a none eche one dyd showe hys part ¶ And sought wheare they myght fynde a mayde for 〈◊〉 right faire and good Of like yeres vnto hym and of sowe worthy â—euse and blood So longe they sought that at the last a maybe they dyd espye Of parsonage maners and in age in excelent bewtie ¶ A comely damsell and a tall in equall stature pyght With eyes as graye as glas and skynne most lyke to snowe was whyte Of equall yeres shee was to him in vertuous maners taught Of noble blood full riche also no better myght be sought ¶ Thys Ladye thought they good for such a gentleman of kynde They thought her apte for hym and hee in her myght please hys mynde When Archelaus freyndes and eke the maydens freindes also Had talked all theyr minde and when eche one theyr wyls dyd knowe ¶ And on the couenauntes were agreed how the maryage should bee They gaue Archelaus chounsaile that the mayden he shuld see And ofte repayre to her so that he myght ryght well at ease Knowe with his hart if that shee wyth her beautie might hym please ¶ Archelaus goeth to see his Ladie Who pleaseth him right well Hee carieth Alfagus with him to see her who is so taken in her loue that hee lyeth sicke with intollerable paine Cap. ii AFter the counsayle of his freindes Archelaus did agree And went without delaye anone hys Ladye for to see Who in all partes hee found to bee so pleasaunt to hys mynde That if hee shoulde seeke all the worlde none better coulde her finde ¶ Nor to his hartes desyre hee thoughte myght be founde one so meete Wherfore anone with louynge wordes to her hee spake full sweete And sayde fayre Lady is your mynde to haue me for your make And can you fynde within your hart all other to forsake ¶ Saue onely I and cleaue to mee how say you Lady bryght Shee aunswered hym sayd for sooth all that is in my might I am content to do your mynde my hartes desyre is so And thus when they
had talked longe and eche theyr loue dyd knew ¶ Archelaus dyd returne agayne to Alfagus hys freinde No loue of Lady in the worlde myght take hym from hys mynde Yet often tymes when to study they together both dyd go Many times Archelaus when Alfagus dyd not know ¶ Stale secretly away and to hys Lady did resorte That he with her in pastyme good myght make some pleasaunt sport And not withstandyng the great loue whych to hys freynd he bare Yet ofte tymes to hys Lady he on this wyse dyd repayre ¶ But at the laste when shamefastnes surmounted in his brest Wythin his harte he coulde not haue at no tyme quiet rest Untyll hys secret iourneys were vnto Alfagus tolde Wherfore anone these wordes hee spake and said with courage bolde ¶ Dere freinde Alfagus so it is my freindes on mee did lye As you do knowe ryght well ynoughe to wed some fayre Ladie That so I myght increse the stocke of mee and of my father Howe be it god dooth knowe with yeâ— to â—yde yet had I rather ¶ What then it is so nowe that I haue chosen a Ladye bryght Who to my harte in all thynges is ryght pleasaunt in my sight And ofte tymes haue I stolne awaye from you vnknowne till nowe When as wee were at study both and ye wyst not hynge howe ¶ To goo and see her whom I loue shee doth mee so delyghte For wyth her beautie my whole harte is fyxed daye and nyght To morowe therfore will I go about this tyme and tyde And you with mee shall go that theare to gether wee maye abyde ¶ An houre or twayne and passe the tyme wyth some solace and playe Where as you maye beholde and sâ—e my Ladye freshe and gaye Alfagus answered hym and sayd I am ryght well content To go with you my freind I thinke the tyme no better spent ¶ And fayne I woulde beholde the mayd you playse so much to me For since you spake fyrst of her I haue longed her to see Thus when they talked had awhyle the nyght on them did drawe Wherfore to rest they went anon when best theyr tyme they sawe ¶ Thus when the darknes had his course and Phebus beames so bryght The restles Sonne I meane did shawe vppon the yearth same lyght The mornyng sonne with shininge beames all landes hath ouer spred And from the skyes the droppynge shade of nyght awaye was fled ¶ Alfagus rose and longed to see the mayden bryght of hewe Aryse vp Archelaus he sayde that I maye go with you To see her whom you praysed so my harte is very fayne Euen nowe anon Archylaus sayde wee will go thether both twayne ¶ Where with he rose and so they bothe anon to gether did go But how they sped if you wyll heare I wyll vnto you sho Forth goeth these two young gentlemen and when one houre was spent They came wheras the mayd dyd dwell and into the house they went. ¶ Who of the Damsell was anon receaued ioyfullye But as soone as Alfagus had vppon her set his eye Beholdynge her most comlye face with parsonage demure Adorned all in bewâ—ie and In espectable pure ¶ Her lyppes as red as anye Rose nothing there was aâ—ys With sober countenaunce myxed all with maydenlye shamefastnes Her taulke so sweete and pleasaunt was for Alfagus to beholde That with the syght of her anone hys sprytes were very colde ¶ Hys harte was persed thorow out blynde Copyds darte with all And wyth whych wound for deadly smart almost on sounde did fall So vâ—ment and so ferce his payne increased more and more Wyth styll beholdynge of that mayde which stood hys eyes before ¶ That nerther the great studye of Phylosophy nor yet The remembrauÌ„ce of his most dere freinde Archelaus any whyt Could once wythdrawe that vnkynde loue out of his harte and bresâ—e But more and more his payne dyd growe not knowynge what waye to rest ¶ But that of force hee must needes loue and that inordynatelye That Lady whych Archelaus his friende had chosen to marry All be it wyth incredyble paynes he kept hys thoughtes vnknowne Untyll they both returned were and to their lodgynges gone ¶ The myserable Alfagus then wyth wandrynge hymselfe a syde As though in secret studye hee intended to abydeâ— All tormented in sorowe and care wyth loue oppressed sore Uppon his bed hee layed him downe tormented more and more ¶ Rebukynge there him selfe of moste vnkynde and spytefull hate For with the syght of that fayre mayde whych hee had seene of late Hee had conspyred such great euyll agaynste hys freinde so dere Who had hym loued so wonderous well in faythfulnes many a yere ¶ Alas what euyll tyme quoth hee was it when I was borne Alas for coÌ„mynge to thys place why had I not forsworne Alas my father wherfore brought you mee here to thys place Why dyd you not keepe mee at home out of thys wretched case ¶ Alas that euer I dyd acquaynt my selfe wyth one so true As you my freind Archelaus are but I agayne to you Most lyke a brutyshe beast vnkynde from Nature gone awrye And haue deserued of your part great batred to imploye ¶ And with those wordes deepe sighes sore out from his harte hee sente That euer hee came to Athennes oft tymes hee dyd repent Thus styll in dollour and in care he tombled and he toste That lytle lacked it of his hart to be in peces brast ¶ But vnto no man durst he once dysclose his secret sore So that at length most greuous paines increased more and more And forced him would hee or not styll on his bed to lye Receauyng nought wherwith he myght haue him sustuyned bye ¶ No sleape at all nor rest hee tooke no sustinaunce nor foode He would receaue wherwith hee might haue done his bodye good That hee so feble was and faynt so weake of lyâ—â—â—e wyth all That in his legges his bodye to beare no strengthe there was at all ¶ Archelaus goeth to see Alfagus who lyeth sucke for loue to whome Alfagus conâ—esseth all the cause of hys sycknes greatly reyronynge hym selfe of vnkyndnes Cap. iii. TO Archelaus was folde a non parte of Alfagus care How he full sicke to bed was gone and almost in dispayre Wyth whych wordes he was sore abusht and went forthwith to see How his deere freinde Alfagus dyd and what his payne myght bee ¶ But when he did approch the place where as Alfagus laye Beholdynge there his most dere friende in such paynefull araye The red Rose collours in his face which was wont to appeere All tourned into sallow paie with wan and heauye cheere ¶ His red lyppes pale and almost blacke his eye lyds suncke full low That skarce beholâ—yng in his face he coulde his vissage know He myght from wepyng scarce refrayne the teaes â—y force out braste But then remembrynge hym agayne refrayned at the laste ¶ Feare leaste he thoughte suche sorowfull sight might most his freind anoy Wherfore
hee tourned backe agayne hys countenaunce vnto ioye Comfortynge hys dere freind in all that euer hee myght do Desyrynge hym and sayd howe came thys great dysease in you ¶ And why haue you byn so vnkynde not shewynge mee att all Of this dysease which vnto you of late tyme dyd â—efall But thus vnkyndly and vnwyse to seeke your owne decaye When as I myght by knowyng therof haue sought some helpe and waye ¶ If any thynge for syluer or golde to helpe you myght be bought I woulde not staye my selfe till all thys regyon I had sought And though that it shoulde coste mee all the substaunce I coulde make Yet woulde I thynke it well bestowed to spende it for your sake ¶ With which woordes then the mortall sighes tenued more and more Within Alfagus harte and he began to weepe full sore So that abundauntlie the teares downe from his eyes did fall And many a sorowfull syghe hee sent out from his harte with all ¶ The which when Archelaus saw he coulde no more forbeare But was resolued to teares a non his harte all fyxed in care And sayd Alfagus most dere friend do not your mynde delaye But shewe me all and euerye deale most hartely I you pray ¶ Alas whye are you so vnkynde that you will not disclose Your secret sicknes vnto mee when as I did suppose You would not haue kept backe from mee no secrete thyng at all For I woulde haue hid nought from you what soeuer myght befall ¶ Therfore I pray you let me know what greuous payne you haue That I may seeke some helpe with haste you from the death to saue For nothyng is to me so dere nor precious in my syght But for youâ— sake hee wyll anon depart with it forth ryght ¶ Although myne owne lyfe I should lose It would I not delay But runne and go all that I myght for your helpe nyght and day The whyth woordes when Alfagus harde and sawe the mone and greefe Which his deere friende â—…laus made to seeke for his releefe ¶ All â—…yng and in shamefast wyse by force as then constrayned Unto his friend his tale he tolde and in this wyse complayned My most deere friend and faythfull mate leaâ—e of your faythfull mynde Call backe agayne the wordes you spake some helpe for mee to fynde ¶ And rather slaye mee where I lye drawe out your knyfe therfore Dyspatch my dayes that I may see the â—eâ—ght of heauen nomore Most myserable wretch and Traytorfalce to you my feiende am I And of all men vppon the Earth most worthye for to dye ¶ For lyke as god by hys great power hath formed vs as one All lyke in euerye forme and part for men to looke vppon So hath he made ouâ— myndes agree in euery thynge alyke For looke what one of vs would haue the other therto doth seeke ¶ Our myndes and apetytes are as one they dyffer nought at all I thynke that neuer wyth no men lyke friend shyppe dyd befall And now so soone alas I say so soone this loue is gone Good friend shyppe is excluded and of reason there is none ¶ No doctryne doth anayle nor man in wysdome may not truste Nor no fydelytye in a friende in this case maye be iuste Yea Archelaus the great truste Whych you on me dyd laye Hath caused me for to conspyre agaynste you nowe this daye ¶ Alas agaynste you my deere friend to do thys thyng vnâ—yght How haue I â—en intaâ—gâ—ed with some foule â—…ous spryght What thyng was in your mynde alas when wysdome was awaye Why tolde you mee of that fayre mayde which is so freshe and gay ¶ And you haue chosen her to wyfe alas why did you se Why had you not left me at home but let me wyth you go Ahlas I saye where was your wyt remembrynge not at all The great fragillitie of our loue and Natures bonde wyth all ¶ What neede you haue regarde of me what pleasure you dyd fynde In the beholdynge of her whome you loued in your mynde Why would you haue me se her whom your selfe could not beholde But with the beutie of her face your loue to her had tolde ¶ Your mynde was fyxed and your harte was rauyshed her to see And yet for that in all this thynge you had no mynde of mee Alas why dyd you so forget and coulde not thynke vppon That both our wills and apetytes hath byn alwayes as one ¶ For alwayes that which in your eyes was pleasaunt for to see Hath alwayes byn in euery parte in lyke sarte vnto mee What neede more wordes Archelaus for your truste in me I saye Hath caused me with vnkynd loue to be intrapt this daye ¶ The raynes and pleasaunt beames most fayre ensuyng from her eyne Whom you haue chosen for to loue hath pearst thys hart of myne Yea the remembraunce of her and her vertues manyfold Hath strouken me with a deadlye wound and made my hart full colde ¶ So that I do desyre nought els but lyke an vnkynd wretche I myght departe out of this lyfe this myserye to dispatche As one not worthye to haue lyfe and felowshyp wyth you My most deere friende which alway hath ben vnto me so true ¶ But I haue ben to you vnkynde alas why should I lyue And with those wordes out from his harte full heauye syghes dyd gyue Desolued all with teares great store which from his eyes did runne Con â—…dyng these his wordes in care as he had them begunne ¶ Archelaus accuseth hym selfe of Follye He renounceth hys tâ—… that he hath in the Lady to Alfagus and showeth him the way howe hee shall haue her to hys wyfe vnwares to all his friendes Cap. iiii WHen Alfagus made an ende and had confessed all How with the syght of y faire mayd what payne dyd hym befall Hys deere friend Archelaus then as nothyng discontente Nor yet astoyned at the thynge in which his friende was be â—te ¶ But with a merye countinaunce Alfagus did imbrace He kyssed hym and on this wyse his woordes foorthwith did place Why friende Alfagus at your harte is this same all the greefe And had you thought within your harte there could be no reliefe ¶ Alas whye were you so vnkynde that ye would not declare The cause of thys your payne to me but in your hatte it bare Alas why keepe you of so long and would not let me kno Why werâ— you so vnkynde to keepe your secret mynd mee fro ¶ I do confesse my folly here wherwith I am attaynte You haue disclosed my fond wyt to me in your complaynt For shewynge vnto you the mayde wom I chose to my wyfe I dyd remember nothyng in the nature of our lyfe ¶ Nor how our myndes and apetytes in all thynges doth agree Nor yet the vnytie of our hartes remembred was of mee Wherfore it is no man but I which hath done all this ill Surelye I can not well excuse my selfe by reasons skyll ¶ For who of ryght can
mynde that when this thynge is done And that you do enioy the mayde by me as now begonne ¶ I shall deryded bee of all the foalke that shall it know And all my kynted wyth dispyte theyr Irefull hate wyll show In seekyng all the meanes they can me to expulce and dryue Out of this Cytye in short tyme a bannyshed lyfe to lyue ¶ And thynke me to be suche a one as hath done great out rage By geuyng of a great reproche vnto my parentage But god shall worke his wyll therin my mynde is fully bente To do the thyng that I haue sayde is all my whole intent ¶ I force not for the furyous rage of anye spytefull foe Ne yet what payne I do abyde by Fortunes frownyng blow So that you my friend Archelaus may lyue in fortunes grace And haue felyrytie to increace your honoure with solace ¶ Archelaus marriethe the Ladye for Alfagus Alfagus coÌ„firmeth matrymonye and lyeth with her all the night Archelaus defireth al hys frendes to gyue eare to the Oracion which Alfa gus would make Cappit v. WYth this Alfagus turnde himselfe as one awakte from sleepe And thought hee had but seene a dreame more cares on him to heape And doubtyng whether he had harde Archelaus speake or no Or seene a vision in his mynde deuysed to be so ¶ As he before had harde his friende with frendly wordes declare But lookynge vp with stedfaste eyes ryght well perceaued tharâ— Hys friende Archelaus standyng by with teares lamentyng styll Left Fortune by her fatall wheele hys hole deuyce should spyll ¶ The wofull Alfagus set hym vp not knowyng what to saye But comfortyng his most dere friende in all that euer he maye Thankyng hym then for his kynde wordes which were incompetable Refusyng it syth that he sayd I am so â—aryable ¶ More better were it that there shoulde a hondred suche as I Lyke vnkynde wretches to be slayne or some euell death to dye Then that so noble a man as you should sustayne any ill Or that reproche or dammage should come anye wayes you till ¶ But then Archelaus in his armes his freind Alfagus tooke Comfortyng hym all that he myght with many a merye looke And therwith all dyd swere and eke protest as not dysmayd That with glad harte al things should bee as he before had sayd ¶ He sweetlye kyssed him also and sayd my friend most dere All thynges shal be accomplysht well therfore be of good chere Alfagus then perceauyng that all thynges were fyrme and sure And that no fayned friendshyp did his faythfull friend alure ¶ He set him vp wyth ioyfull harte ryght in his bed as he Had felt before no payne at all but wakt from sleepe to be The quicke blood in his vyssage then began for to restore Suche coloure as by nature he receaued had before ¶ And after hee had well sustayned wyth some good drynke and meate His feeble bodye which before had no desyre to eate In fewe dayes was brought agayne vnto his woonted state Lyke to Archelaus in all thynges his faythfull freinde and mate ¶ The daye of maryage did approche ech one with busye care Did seeke for such thynges as should neede the weddyng to prepare Archelaus was deuysyng styll the best and surest way How he his friend Alfagus myght is to his roâ—me conuaye ¶ Now thought be this now thought hee that as fancie did him guyd At length he found the secrâ—test feat that els be myght prouyde And shewed Alfagus all the thyng in what place hee should stande Take heede therfore quoth he that you be reddye at my hande At nyght when wee to bed shall go within the chamber dore Behinde the cloth there is a hole where you may be full sure And before wee to bed moste come I will conuaye you thatâ— So that when I shall come and brynge with me the maybe so fayre ¶ You shall come forth behynde my backe and I will slyp awaye So no man shall â—spâ—e the sleyght because that your araye Is lyke to myne in euery thynge your vyssage eke also Resembleth myne so that the mayde of this can nothynge â—â—o ¶ Be of good cheere Archelaus sayd my friende Alfagus now Leaue studyeng in all other thynges and thynke on nought but how you maye accomplyshe your desyre be of good cheere therfore The daye is come that now from death to lyfe I muste restore ¶ The day was come and then anon the Ladye freshe and gaye Archelaus tooke and to the chuâ—the her lead without delay Acompanyed with his friendes and hers ryght honorable to beholde The couenauntes were agâ—eâ—id vppon and eche theyr mynde had tolde ¶ Unto the other and anon when all thynges els was done They hasted home where as the feast wyth great ioye was begonne That daye they passed with much myrth and sportes in sundrye wyse Ech man a sundrye game and playe for pastyme dyd deuise ¶ Betweene Archelaus and the mayde such entertaynement grewe That all men theare had great delyte their louely lookes to â—ewe Praysyng greatlye Gods good gyfte syth Nature did agree To gyue them beautie vertue and the arte of curtesye ¶ Which were ryght exceleÌ„t in thes twayn excelling others farre That in the Cytie of eche sorte before tymes wededd ware What shall I say the daye was spent and Phebus beames so bryght Descended downe into the west where hidden was his lyght ¶ The twyncklyng stars by wonted course appeared in the lâ—ye And euery man and woman faste vnto their rest did byâ— Archelaus and the mayden then acompaned with her kyn were brought vnto theyr chamber doore and as they entred in ¶ Alfagus hydden in the wall ryght well did them beholde And fearyng least he myght not speede hys harte was very colde But then Archelaus thynkyng on his friend Alfagus case Deuysynge how or by what meanes he might come in his place ¶ Dismissed all the foalke awaye and thankt them for theyr payne And sayd I wyth my ladye nowe must taulke a worde or twayne Gyue place to vs now at this tyme most hartely I you praye To morrow wyll we passe the tyme with more disport and playe ¶ Eche one departed them anon no wyght was left behinde But euen Archelaus and the mayde eche one to saye their mynde Alfagus lyuyng still in hope thought euery mynute a yeare Archelaus carefull was also that Alfagus myght appeare ¶ Howbeit he with ardent loue desired her to haue Aboue all worldlye treasures but his friendes lyfe then to saue He had most ardent care of all fayre mayde therfore sayd he A little whyle I must departe I praye you tarrye me ¶ And made as though to ease him selfe vnto the stoole he went He to Alfagus tooke his waye nought els was his intent Alfagus ioyfull for to see his friende Archelaus cheare Wythout delaye came foorth anon all frustrate was his care ¶ Archelaus stoode in Alfagus place and Alfagus foorth did go Unto the mayd the whych as then
That by so good lucke should escape his vyolent mynde and wyll When wyth his owne hands he did thinke his innocent blood to spyll ¶ By lawe now shall I dye quoth hee ryght glad I am therfore Good freindes make haste dyspatche my dayes that I may see no more The lyght of Sonne ne yet of skye which on the earth doth showe Theyr glystryng lyght gladsome heate on trees on earth belowe ¶ The mournyng feyldes by lymbo lake I woulde approche to see With those whom loue they re deathe dyd force that place is best for mee The offycers marueiled greatly then to see hym so content To take his death with spedy haste intreatyng as he went. ¶ That thay wolde not delaye the tyme wherfore was tolde anon Unto the Senate with reporte the deede of such a one Who as you harde before was slayne and that in such a place Was found a man in Carthage borne suspected in that case ¶ And how they founde the blood dye knyfe in his hande being styll And that it semed to be hee the whych the man dyd kyll Wherfore foorth with they dyd commaunde to brynge him to the barre Because that time in Judgement seate the counsell setten were ¶ Alfagus was cheife counceller then or in lyke dygnitie Syttyng in his royall seate wyth great felycitiy Archelaus then moste myserable man vnto the barre was brought With byls and staues most lyke a theefe and innocent was of thought ¶ Of whom it was demaunded then if he the man dyd slaye That was found dead as ye haue harde which he dyd not denaye But in moste sorowfull maner did his fortune cursse and â—an Sayeng he was in all the worlde the moste vnfortunatest man. ¶ O myserable wretche quoth hee what curssed starre dyd raygne When I my fatall thred of lyfe by nature did obtayne I woulde to god Lachesys had my fatall thred vntayed Before I knew that vnkynde wretche whych hath me now vpbrayed ¶ Thus syghyng in his harte be sayd but no man could espye For whom he sorrowed in such sorte in care and and mysery At length one dyd demaund of hym in what place he was borne And howe he traueyled had so farre with cotes so rent and torne ¶ In Carthagye good syr he sayde my mother dyd me bare And in my youthfull tyme and dayes full well I lyued thare But fortune with her fatall wheele my good lucke dyd enuye And therwith on Alfagus hee dyd caste a sorowfull eye ¶ With indignation much and braste into great syghes wyth all Wherby aboundantly the feares downe from his eyes dyd fall Whych when Alfagus did beholde esspyeng eke also A marke vppon his vysage whyche of certayne hee did kno ¶ It was Archelaus his deere freinde consyderyng therwythall That by some euyll aduenture hee into that case dyd fall Sodenly from his seate hee rose and kneeled on his knee Before the iudges all and sayde my Lordes gyue eare to mee ¶ This man my selfe I slewe quoth he of olde rancour and hate The which renewed was by vs of malyce now of late This man is gyltlesse of the thynge he is a straunger here For in the eyes of all men nowe ryght well it may appeete ¶ That he is desperate in his mynde and careth not for to dye And to abreue his sorowes hee doth not the facte denie He doth confesse the fact wherof he is moste innocent And so to fynysh his sorowfull dayes that is his hole intent ¶ Wherfore the sentence gyne on mee accordyng to my deede And haue accordyng to the lawe some shamefull death with speede Archelaus then perceauyng that contrary to his expectatyon His freind Alfagus did begin to make there such relacion ¶ And how he offered for to dye some shamefull death and so Delyuer hym from the death to whiche full lyke he was to go He more importunatlye dyd crye for iudgement to be done And that they would proceede on hym lyke as they had begonne ¶ For I am be withouten fayle that dyd thys man dystroye And as he walked by the waye withouten companye I dyd suppose to haue of hym some Juels ryche and sayre And started sadeynly from a bushe before that hee was ware ¶ Geuyng hym his deadly wound wherby I myght at ease Sâ—rche him well in euery place to do euen as I please But when I had destroyed hym so it dyd me not auayle For there no ryches coulde I fynde my purpose I dyd fayle ¶ And beyng then ryght sore in feare least any shoulde espye This cruell deede that I had done full faste I dyd me hye Into the barne where I was founde to reste me for a whyle But I had watched longe before and sleepe did me begyle ¶ So that before I was a ware full faste on sleepe I laye And had the knyfe styll in my hande the which that man dyd slaye The officers will confesse it so I muste needes dye therfore And thus he called for his death on them still more and more ¶ Alfagus dyd deny those wordes and sayde he dyd but fayne He doth inuent these wordes quoth hee the man he hath not slayne For if that he had done the deede hee would haue fled awaye And not haue tarryed in the place wher as he did him slaye ¶ Sum other thynge was in hys mynde when he did drawe hys knyfe By desperate minde perhappes he thought to haue tyd his owne lyfe Is that a weapon lyke to fyght or kyll a man wyth all No no my Lordes it is not so the knyfe is very small ¶ And he is lyke a Palmer poore which beggeth by the waye Not lyke a Ruffen you may see his coates are nothyng gay It was euen I that slewe the man the cause I tolde before Of olde hate which betweene vs was and kept so long in store ¶ For as in that place all alone a huntynge I dyd ryde By euell aduenture in the waye the man there I espyed And thynkyng that no bertter tyme I myght auenged bee But then when as we were alone and no man els to see ¶ I drewe my sworde without delaye and vnto him I sayde Thou vyâ—layne nowe to fynde the here I am ryght well apayde And therwithall on hym I layd without respect or care That so denly his deadly wounde he had or I was ware ¶ Which when I sawe out of the waye I drewe hym by and by I tooke my horse in all the haste and homwardes faste did flye This thyng is true whych I haue sayde the lawe now let me haue Why do ye deferre of so longe no man my lyfe maye saue ¶ Archelaus sayd it was not so but he the man dyd slaye Alfagus dyd withstand it tho and did hym styll denaye Thus argued they longe tyme for death who myght the other saue Aboundaytly theyr teares they shed with wishyng for theyr graue ¶ Wherat the Senat and people all was wonderouslye abasht Not knowing what the thing might mean but stoode full sore
agast ¶ The murtherer beinge mooued wyth pyttie declareth the trueth Alfagus taketh Archelaus home to his house much sorowful for his aduenture The people reioyce that the trueth is knowen and the murtherer is set at lybertie Cap. ix NOw he which was the theefe in deede and murthered had the man Dyd here this thing in the prease amonge the folke dyd stand Who then perceyuyng in his harte the marueylous great contencion Of these two persons which was nought but of theyr owne inuencion ¶ He knew they were full innocente in that which they dyd saye yet one to saue the others lyfe would not the deede denaye And that it was proceded of a freindship most incomparable By ardent loue on both sydes set so fyrme and eke vnuaryable ¶ Most veymently prouoked he was the truth for to dysclose So through the prease he breaketh fast and to the barre he gose Before the Senate and people all whereas without delaye His voyce hee lyfted vp on hye and vnto them dyd saye ¶ Ryght noble fathers wyse and sage to you it is well knowen That I am nowe and hath ben eâ—e full many years a gone A comon Barator and a theefe and eke is knowen to you Alfagus is of noble bloode and of excelent vertue ¶ Approued alwayes for a man both noble wyse and sage ¶ Discended as you know ryght well of great and hygh lynage And neuer towardes man nor wyfe malycyous was his mynde By anye outward sygne at all that euer wit coulde fynde ¶ This other stranger eke also doth seeme a man to be Of sober lyfe hauyng hys harte full of symplycytie And that is more desperate of mynde for some great greuous payne Which he hath taken in him selfe by fortunes frownyng brayne ¶ And euydently vnto your eyes ryght well it may appeare As also it doth vnto all the people that he here Moste reuerent fathers in this thynge my harte doth now relent For vnto you I do confesse these are both innocente ¶ I am the parson which dyd slaye and murther eke the man Whych was found dead now of late with colour pale and wan I robbed hym of all his goulde and syluer euery deale As I was wonte with others moâ— when as I wente to steale ¶ And in the barne I entred then whych stood but there harde bye Thys straunger flat vppon the grounde full faste on sleepe did lye Hauyng by hym a naked knyfe wherwith the better to speede I put it in the dead mans wounde to hyde my wycked deede ¶ Which beyng all be rayed with blood I made no staye ne let But to this straunger came agayne and in his hande it set Which thyng when I had done I made no staye ne let at all I hyed me fast awaye and thought no harme coulde me befall ¶ To this mans charge I knew right well all men the deede woulde laye And now I do perceiue ryght well he doth it not denaye But pytie so hath moued my harte that needes I must confesse This facte to saue this innocent man and seeke myne owne dystresse ¶ Thys was my whole deuyce in deede your iudgement to with stande But now I do commit my lyfe euen here into your hande Rather then this noble man Alfagus should be slayne Or that this innocent straungers lyfe would ende with greife and payne ¶ Wherat the Senate and people all such great comforte did take That with the noyse of ioyfull hartes the whole courte they dyd shake Alfagus ran to Archelaus then and in his armes him caught O my moste faythfull freind he sayed why hast thou eâ—e thus sought â–ª ¶ O why hath fortune delt with thee so cruelly in dispyte Why wouldste thou sende no worde to me to helpe thee in thy ryght ¶ How could you to this Citie come and would not seeke for mee Why did you thinke I woulde dyspyse you in your myserye ¶ No no Archelaus in this worlde god let me neuer lyue If for your safegarde all my goods and lyfe I woulde not gyue Declare to mee your great myshap and how it came to passe That you are brought to this distresse with carefull payne alas ¶ And therwithall downe from hys eyes the salte teares fell so faste That vnneth coulde hee speake a worde but if his harte should braste Archelaus shed muche teares also for ioye his freinde to see Imbracyng kyssyng and thankyng hym wyth great fydelytie ¶ And sayd my louyng freinde when I vnto your house shall come I will declare my whole estate to you both all and some Through all the Citie publyshed was this freindshyp moste incomperable Of Alfagus and Archelaus which to them was most commendable ¶ And so extolled and magnyfied them euen all the realme throughout That by the mouthes of euery man theyr fame was spred about Fynally at the instance of Alfagus and also The sute of all the people made vnto the Senate tho ¶ The theefe was pardoned of his facte and freely sent awaye With charge nomore to do the lyke to no man nyght nor daye Alfagus Archelaus lead vnto his house anon And ryche aparell on his backe he caused to do on ¶ Unto Andrmyca of all men most welcome then was hee Shee kyssed and imbraced hym with much fayre curtesye And sayde my louynge freind most deare what spytefull foes did raygne To brynge you in such myserye by force and great disdayne ¶ But be you of good comfort syth God hath you hyther sent And all the goodes shal be as yours which God to vs hath lent Yea quoth Alfagus with my harte I wyshe it should be so If that ye wyll abyde wyth mee and no more homewardes go ¶ But Archelaus my deare freind fayne woulde I here you tell The cause whye from your countrey so your foes dyd you expell ¶ Archelaus showethe Alfagus all hys troubles and myserye who sorowfully lamented hys case And hauyng prouyded a great Army went with Archelaus to Carthage where he flew and ponished all hys foes settyng hys freind in quyet rest returneth againe to Roome Cap. x. O My dere freind Archelaus sayde I will to you declare How that dyspytefully my â—oes oppressed me with care When that your Ladye Andromyca and you departed was From Carthegy where manye yeres in pastyme we dyd passe ¶ Your Ladyes kyn and myne also conspyred such dysdayne That all the meanes wayes they sought how that I myght be slayne But when they culd fynd nought that way to do mee such outrage They sought another kinde of trade theyr malyce to aswage ¶ And fyrste expulsed me from the seate where counsell I dyd gyue But thinkyng that was not yâ—onghe so well to let me lyue Prohybetid from mee then all honest companye And yet not bâ—yng so content theyr wrath to pacefye Adiudged me not worthy to enioye my fathers lande Ne nothyng els which as you know dyd fall into my hande For why sayd they he dooth disdaine his fathers parentage And will not bee aruled
by our counsell wyse and sage ¶ But leaueth of the Ladie whom for him with care we sought With shame he hath begyled vs Alfagus hath her cought My goods and landes all that I had they tooke from me therfore No not a garment for my backe they woulde to mee restore ¶ But almost naked lyke a man whome fortune dyd dyspyse They draue me from the Citie in the moste dyspytefull wyse And no man coulde I fynde that once woulde seeke my helpe or ayde For those in whom I trusted moste hath cheifly me vpbrayde ¶ Then wandred I vp and downe w care and mysery sore opprest To begge my bread constraynde I was no place I founde of rest At length through trauelyng long with paine I came thys Cytie to And ioyfull was my harte as then in hope to speke with you ¶ But when I came your palyce nye beholdynge it so gaye I was ashamed to approche and to my selfe did saye I will abyde without the gates and tarrye for a space Perhaps I shall or it be longe beholde by fortunes grace ¶ My freinde Alfagus come this waye so then hee shall mee see And as I was deuysyng thus the best waye that myght bee I did espye you come and eke your Ladye in your hande Whych made my harte full glad and I vppon my feete did stande ¶ That so you myght beholde me as ye passed by the waye But as you passed by and sawe me clad in such araye No mynde on mee ye had at all whych made mee to surmyse That for my poore estate I had you dyd me now dyspyse ¶ And in a sounde for care I fell opprest wyth mortall woo But beyng then reuyâ—ed agayne I thought foorthwyth to gooâ— Moste lyke a beast about the worlde to wander vp and downe And drewe my knyfe to slaye my selfe wher as nowe I was founde ¶ But god withstood that cruell deede so I on sleepe dyd fall And helde the knyfe styll whych I thought to slaye my selfe with all O freynd Archelaus Alfagus sayde my harte may not endure To heare the wofull state you had my death it wyll procure ¶ I am the cheifest cause of thys alas why dyd I so O spytefull eyes where was your syght when as you could not know My deere freinde standynge in the waye in hope to haue releefe Alas alas vnto my harte how terryble is the greefe ¶ But when Archelaus sawe hys freinde Alfagus to relent And inwardly with doulfull teares his neclygence repente Moste louyngly imbraced hym and sayde my freynde be styll Leaue of your sorowfull syghes ye make your vysage for to spyll ¶ The thyngs which nowe are past gone no man may call agayne Why hurte you now your selfe therfore and weepe with greuous payne I knowe ryght well no faulte in you in this thynge was at all But my owne neclygence causeth moste of this vnluckye fall ¶ For if my wyt had byn so good when as you paste me bye To haue declared what I was and eke my myserie I had not felte the halfe of this whych now I dyd sustayne But syth the thynge is paste of it to talke it is but vayne ¶ My freind Archelaus Alfagus sayde to god gyue prayse alwaye Who hath you helped in your cares vnto this present daye And looke what thynge there lyeth in mee demaunde and you shall haue My lyfe and goods I will not spare you my freinde for to saue ¶ If that you wyll abyde in Roome and dwell here styll with mee My house my goods my landes and all euen as your owne shall bee In felowwyp we will remayne as longe we wonted were To ryde and go both daye and nyght for you I will not spare ¶ My leuyng freind Archelaus sayde I thanke you hartelye For this your kyndnes to me shewed of my parte vnworthye But I intende to go agayne my countrey to beholde If of your helpe and ayde therin to craue I myght be bolde ¶ All that is myne Alfagus sayde as I haue tolde before Ye may coÌ„maunde now at this tyme and shall do euer more And sith it is your mynde to go into your owne countree You shall haue all the ayde and helpe that can be made by mee ¶ In haste I will prouyde therfore an Armye fearce and stoute Whom I to Carthage wyll conducte to hunte those rebells oute Not one of them there shall escape vnponyshed for the thynge So that all Carthage rounde aboute of theyr desarte shall rynge ¶ The Senate by aucthorytie then theyr Romayne Hoste dyd call And twenty thousand men in raye they set both stronge and tall Whych were on horsebacke poynted well for to resyste their foo And eke as many foote men stood in redynes to goo ¶ Alfagus tooke his leaue then of Andromyca his Ladye And Archelaus he dyd conducte strayght vnto Carthagye Where as by force of powre he slewe and ponyshed those that he Myght here or learne by any meane Archelaus foes to be ¶ And those also which dyd dysdayne â–ª to helpe him in his neede Alfagus ponyshed sundry wyse accordynge to theyr meede And set hys freind Archelaus cheefe in dygnytye to raygne Aboue those which in Carthagye the Citie dyd mayntayne ¶ Restorynge to hym all the lande and goods he had before Agmented by the death of them which hated hym before Now when Alfagus had done thys and set in quyet peace Hys deere freinde Archelaus whom wyth goods he did increase ¶ He made the Senatours all to sweare obedyence for to gyue To his freynde Archelaus whylste he theare on earth dyd lyue And no man for to be so boulde hys counsell to dyspyse But take hym as he is a man both noble sage and wyse ¶ Thys done and all thynge set at reste the beste waye that myght bee He sayde freynd Archelaus nowe come take your leaue of mee For I must needes to Roome agayne myne armye to conuaye And you I shall not see no more agayne thys many a daye ¶ O freind Alfagus Archelaus sayde great kyndnes you haue showed On mee and I may thynke my loue on you right well bestowed I gyue you harty thankes therfore no better mendes I make But looke what lyeth in me to do I am redye for your sake ¶ Sease of those wordes Alfagus sayde my louynge freinde moste dere And better then your selfe let mee not to your eyes appeare For thankynge mee in thys my payne now taken for your sake Is nothyng but as vnto you a symylytude I shall make ¶ Which is euen as though my left hande my ryght hand thankes shoulde gyue For sekyng helpe when it was hurte the wounde for to relyue Wee are as one you knowe ryght well and euer more will bee And looke what anye man doth for you he doth it eke for me ¶ For if one member the bodye to ayde doth seeke with all indeuer To finde some redye for to heale and cure hys payne for euer Doth he ought but his duty then euen so my freynde haue I And still do whyle my life doth last though for you I shulde dye ¶ In deede quoth Archelaus then of ryght it shoulde be so And syth it is your mynde so soone to Roome wardes ye will go The gods conduct you on your waye accordyngeto your mynde And sende you quyet passage that no daunger you may fynde ¶ Commend me to your Ladye fayre and thus I take my leaue With that he caste his armes abrode hys freinde for to receaue He kyssed him sweetlye then and sayde farewell my hartes delyght Farewell my louyng frende on whom I thynke both daye and nyght ¶ Alfagus kyssed hym also with the lyke salutacyon And saide the hoste is redy I haue no longer delyberacion But must nedes now departe from you the Gods ye helpe and guyde And ther with all amongst the route vppon hys horse dyd ryde ¶ Who in short space to Rome was brought with great magnyfycye And was receyued ioyously of And dromyca his Lady ¶ Finis ê™ E. Jenynges