is thought to do nothinge of him selfe and therby in some mens iudgmentes hath before hād the thancke that he deserueth But if any such be that shal so discerne hereof I may accompt his iudgement like indifferent as is that mās that should iudge that he whych hath purged an ouergrowē felde of thornes stones hath also sowed y e same wyth corne shuld in y e end be no partaker of y e fruytes or increase therof And surelye who so euer shall take vpon hym thus to trauayle in others mens labores whether ye lyst to waye y e difficultie of the thing or the commoditye pleasure that shall ensewe to theym that be desirous to vnderstande the pryueties of our englishe tonge me thincketh such one worthy of his praise And that I may say my iudgemēt his trauayle ought not to be thought muche lesse then is his that writeth of his owne inuēcyō For if the one commend y e quickenes of y e witt thother declareth the ripenes of iudgement He hauyng a large fielde to discourse in thother cōpelled withī y e straight boūdes of y e writer The one may vse y e frugalitye of inuencion wytt thother must so moderate the same y t when he hath greatest neade therof yet may he not passe the lmittes Not one onely copye must be perused but many exāplars loked ouer therin he maye not chose such as lyketh his fantasye but y t which shal seme to come more nere to y e auctours meninge and maye most please and pleasure the readers So that therin he shall be compelled to put on as it were theyr fantasye and yet that so sparinglye y t he maye neither adde nor take awaye but where he shal be thereto ledd by certaine sure iudgmentes Al which thinges how easie they be who so list practise the same maye sone discerne Thus muche I haue thought good to set in wrytynge before this worke To thend the readers maye be admonyshed that this without other is the very trewe and sincere englishe historyan of the lamentable battels destinye and vtter euersion of the auncient and famouse Cytye of Troye and also to preuent the malice of suche as shal happlye accompte my trauayle herein rather rashe presumpcyon then anye vertuouse imitacion of wel doynge Finis 〈…〉 Robert Braham ¶ The prologue of the Translatour O Myghty mars that w t thy sterne lyght In armys hast the power and y e myght And named arte from easte tyl occident The myghty lorde the god Armipotent That with the shininge of thy stremes rede By influence dost the brydell lede Of chiualrie as soueraygne and patron Full hote and drye of complexion Irous woode and malencolyke And of nature brent and collerike Of colour shininge like the fiery glede Whose ferse lokes ben as ful of drede As is the leuene that alighteth lowe Downe by the skies from Iupiter his bowe So bene thy stremes passing dispyteous And to beholde so inly furious Thou causer art with thy fyrie beames Of werre and strife in many sūdrye realmes Whose lordshyp cheifest is in Capricorne But in the crabbe is thy power lorne And causer art of conteke and of strife Now for the loue of her Vlcanus wife With whom whilom y u were at mischiefe take So helpe me now onely for her sake And for the loue of thy Bellona That with the dwelleth beyonde Cirrha In Lybye londe vpon the sandes rede So be my helpe in this great nede To do succour my stile to dyrecte And of my penne the traces to correcte Whiche barrayne is of aureat lycoure But in thy grace I finde some succoure For to conuoy it with thine influence That stumbleth aye for fault of eloquence For to reherse or writen any worde Now helpe o mars y t art of knighthode lorde And hast of manhode the magnificence And other goddes y t arne of highe prudence This worke texplete that ye not refuse But maketh Clyo for to be my muse With her systren that on Pernasus dwelle In Cirrha by Helycon the welle Renning full cleare with stremes cristallyn And called is the fountayne Caballyn That springeth by touche of the Pegase Helpe me also o thou Callyope That were mother vnto him Orpheus Whose dytees weren so melodius That the werbles of his resowninge harpe Appeased all the wordes sherpe Bothe of Parchas and furyes infernall And Cerberus so cruell founde at all He coyed also bothe beast foule and tree Now of thy grace be helpyng vnto me And of thy golden dewe let the lycoure wete My dulled brest that with thy hony swete Sugrest the tunges of Rethoryciens And maystresse art to all musciens Now be mine helpe tenlumine w t thy worke Which am beset with cloudes dimme derke Of ignoraunce in making to procede To be to theym lustye that shall it reade And in herte I am so full of drede Whan prudent lysters hereto shall take hede Who as in makinge more skill can than I That they vouchesafe I pray full beningly Of theyr goodnesse to haue compassion Where as I erre in my translacion For god I take highly to witnesse That I this worke of hertie lowe humblesse Toke vpon me of good entencion Deuoyde of pride and al presumpcion For to obey withouten varyaunce My lordes biddynge fully and plesaunce Which hath desyre sothely for to sayne Of very knighthod to reporte agayne The worthinesse if so I shall not lye And eke the prowesse of olde cheualrye Bycause that he hath ioye and great deintye To reade in bokes of olde antiquitye To finde onely howe he may vertue sewe By theyr ample also and to eschewe The cursed vyce of slouthe and idelnesse So he enioyneth in verteous businesse In all y t longeth to manhode dare I sayne He busyeth him and therto is so fayne To haunte his bodye in playes marciall Through exercise to exclude slouthe in all After the doctrine of Vigecius Thus is he manfull and eke vertuous More passingly than I can of hym write I want conning his renowne to endite So much of manhode men may in him sene And for to witen whō that I would meane He eldest sonne is of the noble kinge Hēry y e fourth of knighthode well and spring In whom is shewed of what stock he grewe The rootis vertue thus can the sett renewe In euery parte the tarage is the same Lyke his father of maners and of name In sothfastnes and this no fable is Called Henry eke y e worthy prince of Wales ¶ To whom shall longe as by succession For to gouerne this Brutis albion Which hath me bydde the drery pyteous fate Of them of Troye in ynglyshe to translate The siege also and destruction Lyke as the latyn maketh mencion For to compile and after Guido make So I could and write it for his sake Bycause he would that both to highe lowe The noble storye openly were knowe And in our tunge about in euery age Written it were as well in our
to entreate Of all the werre and to tellen you the great THe time nigheth after this as yore The breme wynter with his trostê hore Gan to aswage of his bitter colde Whan Apollo passed was the holde Of the sygne that we call Aquarye And in the fyshe fer in Februarye Yronne was toward the Ariete And that season with his feynte heate On hylles high gan his beames smyte Makyng the snowe with fayre flakes white Into water kyndely to relente Whych from aboue to the valey wente That nere floudes of the sodayne thowe The grene mede gan to ouerflowe And the yse gan sâ—oundmele destyll Downe fro the hight the brokes for to fyll With fomy streames of the wawes smale By broke bankes as they did auale When lusty Vere with his yonge grene Yrecomforted by the sonne shene Which lytel and litel his hewes styl ameÌ„deth Ayein his sphere as Titan vp ascendeth Whan Marche approcheth brauÌ„ches ouer all Gan blowe out and Equinoctiall Of Vere is halowed the season amerous Whan the Grekes proude and couragious With hole the floure of the chiualrye Assembled were and hooly theyr nauye In the hauen that was most of fame And of Athenes that tyme bare the name Ygathered was by assent echone Towadre Troye to sayle and to gone So great a nomber that sith the world begaÌ„ Is remembred of no maner man That togyther in one companye Was met yfeare so passyng a nauye Of manly men who so lyst take hede In this storye as ye shall after rede And by and by to make descripcion ¶ Mine auctour telleth howe Agamemnon The worthi king an hondred shippê brought With worthy knightes stuffed as theÌ„ ought ¶ And Menelay on whom lay most y e charge Hath w t him brought syxty shippes large Out of his land that called is Sperten ¶ And from Boece ful of manly men Came fifty shippes y e story telleth thus With Prothenor and with Achelaus ¶ And from the land called Sithemenye Came syxty shippes in the companye Of the Duke that hyght Achalaphus With whoÌ„ was eke freshe and desyrous Helmyus the Erle the worthy knyght ¶ And fyfty shippes enarmed for to fyght With him brought the kyng Epistrophus Onely with helpe of king Thedius ¶ And Thelamon whom Ayax men call Ful renowmed for to reken all Hath fifty shippes brought to his Iourney From Salerne his royall chefe Citye With Earles Dukes many worthy knight Eueryche of theim in stele armed bryght ¶ And Duke Tenter with Amphiacus Earle Daryon and noble Theseus This ylke foure full worthy of renowne In this voyage came with Thelamowne ¶ And olde Nestor cruel of hert thought Out of Pylon hath fyfty shippes brought ¶ The kinge of Dyames y t full worthy was And eke the kinge that hight also Thoas Brought with theim in theyr companye An hundred shippes knightlye for to guye ¶ And Thelamou ycalled Pyleus That was in armes fell and dâ—spytous With him brought from his lande so ferre Sixe and thyrty shippes for the werre ¶ Amphymacus and kinge Polibete Thyrty shippes brought to the flete From Calcedoyne and MereoÌ„ the kinge With Ydameus had in theyr ledinge Foure score shippes with theym out of Crete ¶ And Vlixes with the grekes dyd mete with fyfty shyppes stuffed out of Trace Towardes Troye proudly for to pace ¶ Duke Mellens full of manly men Brought eke with hym great shyppes ten And moreouer the duke Prothecatus ¶ And the duke named Prothesylaus To the hauen that called was Athene Brought fyfty shyppê enarmed bright shene From Phylyarcha the stronge myghtye yle ¶ And Machaon as Guydo doth compyle With his brother Polydris also From their countrey Trycionyco Brought two and twenty shippes as I finde ¶ And from Phyces as it is had in mynde With Achilles came fyfty full by numbre ¶ And from Rhodon Troyans to encombre Came twenty shyppes w t kyng Thelapolus ¶ And with the duke that hyght Antipus Out of the lande that Hesyda men call Of whiche the folke be nyghe cherles all With sayle crossed agayne the bryght heauen In numbre came shyppes eke elleuen And with them was of name full famous The worthy duke called Amphymacus ¶ And Polibethes the stronge myghty kyng Fyfty shyppes brought at his coÌ„mynge Out of Richa the noble regiowne And with this kyng full worthy of renowne Was Latnisus the duke eke as I rede ¶ And as I fynde the noble Diomede Of shyppes great I saye no small barge Hath w t him brought fro Calidonye Arge Fourescore in numbre sothly this no tale ¶ And Thelemus and myghty Euryale Two manly men and in armes sage With Dyomede came in this voyage ¶ And Polyphebus brought shippes seuen And Phyneus the hardy kynge enleuen ¶ And Prothoylus as I can specifye Brought fyfty shyppes vnto this nauye Fro Demenesa the myghtye regyon ¶ And Carpenor as made is mencion Brought fyfty eke from Capadye his couÌ„trey A great prouynce of whiche king was he ¶ Tricorius of Beysa lorde and kynge Brought two and twenty eke in his coÌ„myng And fynally if I shall not lye Full many shyppe was in this nauye Mo than Guydo maketh rehersayle Towarde Troye with grekes for to sayle For as Homer in his discrypcion Of grekes shyppes maketh mencion Shortly affyrmyng y e man was neuer borne That such a nombre of shippes sawe toforne Countyng the shyppes that Palamydes Brought with him their nombre to encrease That whan these lordes aforsayd euerychone Kynges dukes and erles all in one Assembled were without any wene Afore the hauen that called is Athene THe famous kynge great Agamenowne So wyse so worthy of so hye renown As he that was Prynce and gouernour Of grekes hooste anone dyd his labour His busy cure and waker dylygence By hyghe aduyse and inwarde prouydence To deliberate wisely in this nede What were to do or that he procede In this matter castyng vp and downe And reuoluynge of hygh discreciowne That he may so begyn that the ende Conclude well that wylfulnesse ne shende Hooly their purpose through no rakelnesse Ne through none haste without auysenesse So that they may afore so wysely see That fynally they in felicitye Accomplyshe may their purpose in certayne ¶ And so this king vpon a large playne Out of the Citie lyttle from the stronde With his lordes wyll for nothyng wonde To haue counsaile this wyse Agamenon Makyng anone a conuocacyon Of suche as were more great inspeciall He syttyng fyrste in his see royall And his lordes eueryche in his see Lyke as they were of hye or lowe degree And all Tumulte stynted and scylence Was through y e prese to gyne hym audyence Whan he anone in full sobre wyse Began his tale as I shall deuyse SYres quod he I praye you taketh hede That be so noble and so renowmede Both of wysedome and of worthinesse Of manhode eke and of hyghe prowesse That of knyghthode the reporte the fame Thrughout y e world rebouÌ„deth to your name
gouernaunce With thre thousand knightes yonge of age Flourynge in force hardy of courage Suche as he was of custome wont to lede To whom Hector of very brotherhead Full goodly spake and sayd at his partynge Brother quod he my herte is so louynge Towardes the of very kyndnesse That though I haue in party gret gladnesse Of thy manhode that so ferre is kouthe And the knyghthode of thy grene youthe Yet doubtlesse I in my fantasye Ful ofte a daye stande in iupardye Of pensyfehead and in busye drede Whan I remembre vpon thy manhead Lest thy courage be to vyolent Of thy lyfe to be neglygent Thy selfe to put to ferre in aduenture Of surquidrye so moche to assure In thy force knightly to a sterte Euery peryll in thy manfull herte Hauynge regarde in suche mortall stryfe Of wylfulnesse nouther to death nor life Nor aduertence to thy sauacyowne But as fortune turneth vp and downe Her whele meuable hye and after lowe In Martes Ire as the wynde doth blowe Whiche causeth me ful ofte syghe and thincke And to wake whan that I shulde wynke Reuoluynge aye thy hasty wylfulnesse But gentyll brother for any hardynesse Thus ylke daye vpon euery syde I praye the so wysely to prouyde For hate or yre thy foes pursuynge Not to excede more than is settynge But let prudence kepe the in a mene And wysdome eke holde agayne the reyne Of thy herte and thy fyerse courage That fyred haue thy grene tendre age Deuoyde of drede eche peryll to endure That our ennemyes of thy mysauenture Reioyce not myne owne brother dere And myghty Mars I praye of herte entere Thus euery day on the Troyans grounde From their handes the to kepe sounde Lyke as I wolde that he dyd do me ¶ To whom anone with all humilite In manly wise this yonge lusty knight This worthy Troylus in herte freshe light Answered agayn and sayd with glad cheare Mine owne lorde and my brother deare And god tofore I fully shall obeye And all fullfyll what you lyst to seye Now vnto me of your gentilnesse And not decline through none recklesnesse In any poynt from your commaundemente But with hole herte in all my best entente I shall take hede and playnly do none other Than ye haue sayd mine owne lord bother So lothe me were offende you or greue And in this wise he lowly toke his leue And forth he rode so lyke a manly knyght That to beholde it was a noble syght Amonge his men he haueth hym so wele Thre thousande knightes armed all in stele Enuyron rode with Troylus into fyelde And as that day he beareth in his shielde Passant of golde thre Lyons rychely The champe of asure wrought full craftly And by the gate he yssued out anone And with him ladde his knyghtes euerychon To the grekes holdyng the next waye ¶ And Hector hasteth all that euer he may Prudently his wardes to ordeyne And to the noble worthy bretherne twayne To kyng Hupon and Andelius Assygned he the story telleth thus The fourth warde to guye and to wysse And in the lande that called was Larysse The brethern two there had reigned longe And this Hupon was passyngly stronge And of stature lyke a chaumpyowne And saue Hector in all Troye towne Was none to hym egall as of myght More delyuer nor a better knight And on his foen passyng despytous Whiche with his brother Andelyus Foure thousande knyghtes hadde for to lede And seuen thousande sothly as I rede And to them lyke as wryte Guydo Worthy Hector assygned hath also One of his brothern called Dimarchus A noble knight in armes ryght famous And had in manhode passyng excellence And of Hector they taken haue lycence And rode their waye amonge all the prese Through the gate of Dardanides ¶ The fyfte warde to haue at his ledyng Was by Hector commytted to the kyng That of Cesoyne lorde and prynce was And to his brother called Pollidamas These Cysones were of hye stature And might in armes passyngly endure Vpon whom full many man behelde And their kyng bare nothynge in his shyelde But a fyelde of Gules as I fynde Of other sygne Guydo maketh no minde And forth he rode a full sterne pase This noble kynge and Pollydamas Whan they had of Hector lene take Whiche euer in one full busye was to make The syxth warde with all his diligence And to the kyng called Pretemense That was full worthy both in werre peace ¶ And to a duke that hyght Sterepes Whyche was also full worthy of his honde He toke the folke of Poenye lande Them to gouerne in the fyelde that day The whiche people hath in custome aye Without plate hawberion or mayle On swyfte horse their fomen for to assayle With mighty bowes arrowes sharpe groūd Through an harneys mortally to wounde And with this folke of Hector eke also Deyphobus assygned was to go In the fyelde to guyde them and to lede And on their waye they faste gan theim spede But or they passe by Dardanydes Full discretely Hector for them chese Panysers cladde in mayle and plate Them commaundyng at yssuyng of the gate And with the archers in to fyelde to gone And many worthy well armed euerychone To awayte on them that they were not lore For this folke that I of spake tofore Of Poenye hadden none armure But prudent Hector for to make them sure Out of Agrest the myghty regyowne Hath chosen out full worthy of renowne The best knightes of them euerychon ¶ And with the kynges Esdras and Phylon Assygned them for to taken hede To the fotemen when that they haue nede The whiche Phylon ordeyned full rychely Rode in a chere all of Yuery Of whyche the wheles wrought full curious Were of a tree ycalled Hebanus The whiche tree groweth ferre in Inde Blacke of hewe and also as I fynde When it is korne this tree wyll were anone Of his nature harde as any stone Whan it is graue eyther rounde or square And of pure golde roued was this chare Fret with perle and many ryche stones That suche an other I trowe now there none is In all this worlde if I shall not fayne And it was ladde of mighty knightes twaine Men of armes within eke and without Armed in stele rydyng rounde aboute These worthy kynges Esdras and Phylon And Hector hath called to hym anone One of his brethern what so that be falle To be guyde and leder of them all The name of whom was Pytagoras ¶ And to the great Troyon Eneas Of whom tofore made is mencion Hector by good deliberation The seuenth warde assygned hath to kepe And vpon stedes lusty for to lepe Of suche as were vsed moche to ryde Full manly knightes to haue by his syde Whiche with Ewpheny vnto Troye towne Come so ferre from their regyowne To succour them and that for Hectors sake And when they had of hym leue take They rode full proudely forth with Eneas Out at the gate a wonder knightly
after that whan they were set yfeare Lyke theyr degree anone in aduenture ¶ Whyle Vlixes full of eloquence Gan his tale prudently deuyse ¶ To Achylles saying in this wise ¶ Syr Achylles moste renowned of glorye Throughout the worlde to be in memorye And of his knyghthode very shoures and wel Displease it not now that I shall tell To your noble famous excellence Nor to your eares let be none offence That I shall say but of goodlyhead Pacyently that ye wyll take hede To my wordes sayd of herte and thought I you ensure for I fayne noughte This to saye yf ye remembre wel The fyrst cause and purpose euery dell Of the grekes yf ye haue mencyon Was fully sette by one entencyon As well of you as of vs pardye Whan we come fyrst to this citye Kynges prynces I except none Of whiche in soth to recken euerychone Your selfe was to speake in speciall One of the fyrst and moste pryncypall Assented full how Troye the Cite Through our manhode destroyed shulde be Perpetually brought vnto ruyne But nowe of newe I note what doth enclyne Your worthynesse sodeynly to varye And to our purpose for to be contrarye ¶ Consyder fyrst of you that be so sage The wronges done and the great damage In grekes lande of them of the towne Conspyryng aye to our destructiowne If ye aduerte wysely in your thought That slayne haue and to an ende brought Full many worthy syth gone full yore And of treasour that no man may restore Dispoyled vs and brought in great distresse Our goodes raught our golde our rychesse â–ª Our shyppes brent through their cruelte And to all this alas ye lyste not se Now that they be whiche may not be delayed Through your manhode fynally outtrayed Sith ye haue slaine their hope their suffisauÌ„ce ¶ Hector in whom was all their affyaunce Fully their truste and diffence also ¶ And Deyphobus also is a go And lykely are more to be apeyred Fro day to day and fynally dispeyred So frowardly fortune on them loureth And now your honour your fame flouteth In his worshyp and your high renowne Atteyned hath the exaltaciowne And hyghest prycke of fortunes whele It were great wronge and ye loke wele Of wylfulnes for to be vnkynde To her that ye so frendly to you fynde Or to be frowarde whyle she is benynge By influence graciously to assygne Her spoukes meue vnto your pleasaunce And hap to tourne w t plente on your chaunce After whose helpe you nedeth not to calle ¶ Wherfore alas why wyll ye suffer palle Your noble fame of very wylfulnesse Whyle it is hyest in his worthynesse Your knyghtly prudence it shulde not asterte Of whiche thynge euery gentyll herte Shulde haue routhe and compassyon Wherfore we praye of â—iscrecyon That ye you shape this purpose to amende And that ye wolde of herte condiscende With vs to stonde knyghtly in this werre By your manhode that is spoke of so ferre That your renowne to the worlde ende Reported be where so that men wende Perpetually by freshenesse of hewe Day by day to encrease newe That the tryumphe of this hygh victorye Be put in storye and eke in memorye And so enprynted that foryetfulnesse No power haue by malys to oppresse Your fame in knyghthode derke or difface That shyneth yet so clere in many place Without Eclypsyng sothly this no lesse Whiche to conserne ye be now reckelesse Of wylfulnesse to cloude so the lyght Of your renowne y e whylom shone so bryght Your myghty hande of manhode to w tdrawe Consyder fyrst how grekes are yslawe Tofore your tent w t mortal woundes wyde Through out the fyelde vpon euery syde And haue disdayne onely for lacke of routhe Alas the whyle for a lyttle slouthe To ley to honde in their mischyefe at all That whylom were their stroÌ„ge mighty wall Their chiefe diffence and their champiowne Souerayne helpe and protectiowne For whom ye haue so ofte shedde your bloud Agayne their foen with them whan he stode Full myghtely their enmyes to assayle Without whom they lyttell may auayle In very soth ne none of vs echone But ye of knyghthode lyste with vs to gone Agayne Troyans as ye were wont to do And is our trust and fynall hope also That ye shall helpe and our socour be ¶ And hereupon we praye you that ye Saye your aduyce and your full wyll ¶ And than anone the hardy fyerse Achylle Whan Vlixes concluded had his tale Sith a face for anger dead and pale Sayde euen thus all openly and playne Sir Vlixes if so ryght as ye sayne And haue declared in conclusyon That our purpose and entensyon Was fynally to brenne and destroye This royall citie that is called Troye I holde in soth me lyketh not to lye That our entent was grounded on folye To put vs all through indiscrecion Of reckleshede and hasty mocyon Of lyfe and death in suche ieopardye And specyally in all the Chiualrye Of grekes lande for so smale a thynge So many prynce and so many worthy kyng That haue ieoparted their body their good Yloste their lyfe and yspent their bloud Which might haue be ful well at home iÌ„ peace ¶ And is not nowe the kyng Pallamydes Yslawe also as who sayth but of newe That was so wise so manly and so trewe Of whom the lyfe was of more pryce alone Than the cause for whiche that we echone Be gathered here who so loke a ryght And of grekes many a noble knyght That haue be slayne both of the worthyest The worlde to seke and the manlyest For out of euery lande and regyowne On grekes partye and with them of y e towne Of chyualry knighthod y e soueraine floure To wynne in arme worshippe and honour Assembled be and come fro so ferre Of whiche in soth by duresse of this werre Full many one in the fyelde is dead And veryly without any drede There shall well mo if the werre laste Fro euery day the numbre lasseth faste Of worthy knyghtes dede without routh That I dare saye and conclude of trouth In this rage furyous and wood Full lykely is that all the gentyl bloude Through out this worlde shall destroyed be And rural folke and that were great pyty Shall haue lordshyp and hooly gouernaunce And Churles eke with sorowe mischaunce In euery londe shall lordes be alone Whan gentyll men slayne be echone ¶ Is not Hector that was so noble a knight That was this worldes very sonne and light Of manhode floure slayne pyteously In this werte in soth and so myghty I. Parauenture whiche may not attayne To his noblesse if I shall not fayne For by what way shall we the death eschewe With all our myght if we it pursewe Fro day to daye whyle that we lye here Therfore shortely me for to requere Touchynge the werre outher for to praye Is but in veyne and herken what I saye I wyll not purpose in this werre or stryfe For to ieoparte any more my lyfe
wounde A sworde he hente and mortally yrous Woulde tho haue ronne on Thelagonius Of hygh despyte auenged for to be ¶ But Vlixes of fatherly pytye Made his men holde and restrayne And amyd of all his greuous payne By his prudence and that was done anone He made his sonnes for to be all one ¶ And gaue in charge vnto Thelamon Of enterenesse and affection And of hole herte fayned neuer adele All his life loued his brother wele To parte with him treasour golde and good As to the next borne of all his bloud And tho in sothe it was no longer taryed That Vlixes full royally was caryed Of all Achaya to the chyefe cyte Where after that he liued dayes thre Without more and tho gaue vp the goost I can not saye playnly to what cost After this lyfe that his soule is gone But in a tumbe of metall and of stone The body was closed and yshet And after that there made was no let That Thelamon wyth great solempnytye Ycrowned was in his fathers see Sworde and Sceptre delyuered to his hand Of all Achaya a ryche and worthy lande Ryght habundaunt of treasour and of golde And Thelagon wyth hym there abode A yeare complete well cheryshed in his syght And of his brother toke ordre of a knygt And for him list no longer there abyde The kynge for him wysely gan prouyde That he with golde and of treasure plente Repeyred is home to his countre ¶ And his mother of age wexen sadde Of his repeyre passyngly was gladde As she that sawe by her sorcerye He scaped was many ieopardye Many peryll and many great dystresse And after that she fell into sycknesse And her dette yelde as vnto nature The whych escape maye no maner creature In all this worlde that is here lyuynge After whose death her son was crowned king Of Aulydos the meruaylous countre As I haue tolde enclosed with a sea Amonge rockes where many shippes drowne And sixtye yere there he bare his crowne This manly man this Thelagonins And his brother Thelamonius Reygned also in his regyon Seuentye wynter as made is mencyon And after that they made a royall ende And both two to Iubiter they wende To reygne there amonge the sterres bryght BVt now the lanterne and the clere lyght Is wasted out of Frygyus Darete Whylom of Troye wryter and Poete Guyde haue I none further for to passe For euen here in this selfe place He fytched hath the boundes of his style At the syege he present all the whyle And aye in one wyth them did abyde Dites the Greke on the tother syde And both two as in theyr wrytynge Ne varye not but in a lytell thynge Touchynge matter as in specyall That is notable or hystoryall I do no force of incydentes smale Of whych in sothe is but lytell tale ¶ Saue this Dites maketh mencyon Of the nombre slayne tofore the towne Lastynge the syege afferminge out of dreade Eyghte hundred thousande six weren deade On Grekes syde vp ryght in the fyelde And as Dares also there behelde On Troye partye in the werre kene Six hundred thousande seuentye and syxtene Were slayne there in Guydo ye maye se With theym that came in helpe to the Citye Fro many coste and many regyowne In diffence and rescues of the towne ¶ And full ten yere so as I can caste And sixe monthes the mighty syege did laste Or it was gette Dares wryte him selfe And ouermore complete dayes twelue Or Grekes had full possessyon By false engyne of the Greke Synon Lyke as tofore rehersed was but late I haue no more of latyn to translate After Dytes Dares nor Guydo And me to adde any more therto Than myn Auctours specyfye and sayne The occupacyon sothly were in vayne And lyke a maner of presumpcyon The tyme complete of this translatyon By iuste reckenynge and accountes clere Was a thousande and foure hundred yeare And twentye nere I knowe it out of dread After that christe receyued our manhead Of her that was emperesse and quene Of heauen and hell and a mayde cleane The eyghte yeare by iuste computacyon Sewynge next the coronacyon Of him that is most gracyous in workynge Henry the fyfthe the noble worthy kinge And protectour of brutes albyon And called is through his high renowne Through his prowesse and his chyualrye Also ferre as passeth anye cloude or skye Of Normandye the mighty conquerour For through his knighthod his high labour Maugre all tho that list him to withsayne He conquered hath his herytage agayne And by his myghty prudent gouernaunce Recured eke hys tytle vnto Fraunce ¶ That who so lyst loke and doe vnfolde The pee de Grewe of these cronicles olde And sercheth bokes ywryt longe toforne He shall fynde that he is iustly borne To reygne in Fraunce by lineall dyscente ¶ And onwarde nowe he is ordeined regent Of thylke lande durynge his fathers lyfe Of his goodnesse to voyden werre stryfe He to reioyse without more delay Septre and crowne after the kinges day As it is clerely in conclusion Enrolled vp in the conuencyon ¶ And than I hope the tyme fortunat ¶ Of the olde world called Aureat Resorte shall by influence of grace That cruell Mars shall no more manace With his lokes furious and wodde By false aspectes for to shede bloude Atwene the folkes of these realmes twayne Which euery wyght iustly ought complayne ¶ But as I truste in myne opynion Thys worthy kynge of wysdome reason And of knighthode shall so doe hys payne To make one that longe hathe betwayne I meane as thus that England and FrauÌ„ce May be all one withouten varyaunce Out of hertes olde rancour to enchace By influence of his mighty grace That called is of clerkes douteles The soueraygne lord and the prince of peace So that I hope his grace now shall reygne So set a peace atwene these realmes twayne For in hys power sothly standeth all ¶ And allyaunce of the blode royall That is knet vp by bonde of mariage Of werre shall voyde away the rage To make peace with bryght bemes shyne ¶ And one that is called Katheryne And named is right good and fayre also Shal be a mene atwyxt bothe two Of grace emprynted in her womanhede That to complayne we shal haue no nede ¶ And as I hope her gracyous aryuayle Into thys lande shall so much auayle That ioye honour and prosperytye Without trouble of all aduersytye Repeyre shall and all hertye pleasaunce Plentye welfare and fulsome habundaunce Peace and quyet both to nigh and ferre Without strife debate or any werre Myschiefe pouerte nede â–ª nor indigence With full ceassinge of death and pestylence Sothly I hope all this ye shall sene Come into lande with that noble quene That we shall saye of herte and feyne nought Blessed be she that all this hath vs broughte And he y t hath through might of his working Of his knighthod concluded all this thyng And such meruayles iÌ„ armê done
through the worlde doth shyne And that all other in manhode doest excelle Egall of meryt to the worthyes nyne And borne also by ryght discent of lyne As veray heyre by tytle to attayne To beare y e crowne of worthy realmes twain ¶ And also fer as Phebus in his sphere Fro East to West throweth out his beames bright And as Lucyna w t a shrouded chere â–ª Goeth compasse rounde with her pale light Thou art yreckened for the best knight To be registred worthy as of name In highest place set of the house of fame ¶ To holde a palme of knighthod in thy haÌ„d For worthinesse and for hygh victorye As thou that arte drade on sea and lande And euermore w t lande honour and glorye For iust conquest to be put in memorye With a crowne made of laurer grene Vpon thy head tofore that famous quene ¶ Whilom ordeyned onely for conquerours Stable of herte with longe contynuaunce And gaue not vp till they were victoures Emprises take for no sodayne chaunce Whose name ay floureth w t newe remeÌ„brauÌ„ce And fadeth not of yeares yore agone Amonges which thou mayst be set for one ¶ For through the world in many regyon Reported is with fame that flyeth wyde That naturally thy condicion On thinge begonne is knightly to abyde And for the tyme manly set asyde Rest and ease with coste theron be spente Til thou haue wonne the fine of thin entente ¶ Most circumspect and passinge auisee And al thy workes conueyed w t high prudeÌ„ce Sad and demure like to Iosuee Agayne whose swerde there gayneth no resysteÌ„ce And hast also of heauenly influence With Salamon wisely to discerne Onely by grace thy people to gouerne ¶ Mercy eke ment with thy magnificence On all oppressed for to haue pyte And of rebelles by manly violence Abate thou canst the great cruelte And so with Dauid hast kingly pyte And highe prowesse with Sesar Iulyus That in his tyme was most victorious ¶ And manly holdest in thy handes two Who can beholde by clere inspection The sword of knighthod thy Sceptre also The tone to bringe to subiectyon Hertes made proude by false rebellyon And with the sceptre to rule at the best Thy trewe people that can liue in rest ¶ Now y u y t hast vertue manhode and grace Attemperaunce fredome and bounte Lowly I praye to the with dreadfull face Disdayne the not benignely for to se Vpon this boke rudely made by me To fyne onely to argue thine highnesse And rewe of mercy vpon my simplesse ¶ And in thy noble kingly aduertenee Consydre the my soueraygne lord most deare Of thine innate famous sapyence That christ Iesu receyued with good cheare The two minutes yeue of herte entere By the widowe which of wil and thought Gaue all her good and kepte her selfe ryghte nought By which example so that it not offende Thrugh mine vnconning to thy high noblesse Let your good will my litell gifte amende And of thy mercy and renowmed goodnesse Take no disdayne of my bareyne rudenesse And in making al though I haue no muse Let trewe meninge the surplus all excuse More then good herte hath no maner wight For to present eyther to god or man And for my parte to the as it is ryght That gyue I hoole as fer forth as I can Aye to perseuer fro tyme that I began With will and thought for thine estate to pray Which to conserue thus finally I saye ¶ Fyrste of almighty god y e wrathe to queme With all that maye be to his plesaunce And to thy crowne and to thy diademe Grace and good eure with long continuauÌ„ce And of thy lyeges faythfull obeysaunce And the vertue that man maye specifye I praye god graunt vnto thy regallye Explicit liber quintus et vltimus Lenuoye GO litell boke put the in the grace Of him that is y e most of excellence And be not hardye aye where to shewe thy face Without supporte of his magnificence And who so euer in the shall finde offence Be not to bolde for no presumpcion Thy selfe tenarme aye in pacience And the submitte to theyr correction Verba translatoris ad librum suum ANd for y e arte enlimmed w t no floures Of Rethorike but all w t white blacke Therfore thou must nedely abide the shoures Of them that list to set on the alacke And when thou arte most likly go to wracke Agaynst them thine errour not diffende But humbly tho withdrawe the go abacke Requiring them that they thy amisse amende FINIS ¶ Here begynneth the table HOwe the kinge of Thesalye named Pelleus loste all his men by dyuyne punishement who after by his praiers obteyned others Ca. i. ¶ Howe Eson the kinge for that he was olde and myghte no longer welde the gouernayle caused to crowne his brother Pelleus Ca. ii ¶ Howe Pelleus fearynge to be deposed by his brothers sonne Iason a worthy and valiaunt yonge knight counsayled him to vndertake the peryllous and almost inuincible conquest of the golden flese at Colchos who by his perswasion vndertoke the same Ca. iii. ¶ Howe Iason in his expedicion towardes Colchos casually with his felowshippe arryued in the territoryes of Troye meaninge onelye there for a whyle to refreshe and reste theym Ca. iiii ¶ How Lamedon kyng of Troye sent to Iason commaundinge him and his felowshyppe forthwyth to departe the confynes of his couÌ„treyth and of theyr aunswere sente ayen to the kynge· Ca. v. ¶ How Iason through the only helpe of Medea Oetes doughter the kynge of Colchos enamored of him he achieued the conquest of the golden flese Ca. vi ¶ How Iason after this conquest wyth Medea and his felowshyppe retourned agayne into Thesalye Ca. vii ¶ Howe Iason Hercules and all the prynces of Grece assembled to aduenge the vncurtesye done to theim by Lamendon in this expedycyon towardes Colchos Ca. viii ¶ Of the battayle betwixt the Grecians and the Troyans wherin the Troians were dyscomfyted theyr kinge slayne and after theyr Citye taken rased and destroyed Ca. ix ¶ The Translatour complaineth the misfortune of the Troyans in the losse of theyr Cite lyuely describinge the tykle estate of Fortunes gouernance beginning in the same chappiter his secounde boke persewynge the matter of the sayd historye Ca. x. ¶ Howe Pryam sonne to Lamedon and succedinge his father buylded the Citye agayne Ca. xi ¶ How king PriaÌ„ send Anthenor into Grece to haue restored ayen his sister Exion Ca. xii ¶ How Priam the kinge sent Parys Deiphobus and others the worthyes of Troye into Grece to aduenge the rauishinge of his sister Exion how they before theyr retourne rauyshed the faire Heleine wife to Menelaus and brought her to Troye Ca. xiii ¶ Howe Parys was receyued in Troye at his retourne and of his mariage to Helcyne Capitulo xiiii ¶ Howe the Grekes assembled to be aduenged of the Troyans for the rauyshynge of Heleyne Ca. xv ¶ The descripcion of Pryam his sonnes and doughters of the aryual of y e Grekes tofore the temple of Diane the goddesse Ca. xvi ¶ How Achilles and Patroclus were sent to Delos to receyue answere of god Apollo how they shuld spede ayenst the Troyans Ca. xvii ¶ Howe the Grekes nauye retourning from Athenes were distressed by tempest and howe they toke a castell of the Troyans called Saranaba Ca. xviii ¶ Howe Agamenon assembled counsayle of the nobles of Grece and determined and sent Vlixes and Diomede in embassade to kynge Priam. Ca. xix ¶ Howe Agamenon sent Achilles and Thelephus into the Ilande of Messa for vytayles and how they slewe the kyng and after ordeyned Thelephus the kinge there Ca. xx ¶ Howe the Grekes landed tofore Troye where they were stoutly fought with all Capitulo xxi ¶ Of the fyrst battayl wherin Hector shewed him selfe in valyauncye tofore all other Capitulo xxii ¶ How the Grekes thrugh theyr suite obteyned of kinge Priam a trewse for eyght wekes and of theyr battayles after the trewse ended Capitulo xxiii ¶ How the Troyans toke kinge Thoas prisoner and led him captiue to Troye Ca. xxiiii ¶ How duringe a trewse of .iii. monthes Hector walked into the Grekes hoost and of the talke had betwixt Achilles him Ca. xxv ¶ Of theyr battayles after that trewse the descripsyon of the Palleys of ylyon of a great pestylence in the Grekes hooste whereby they were enforced to seke for trewse whych vpon theyr suyte they obtayned for thirtye dayes Capitulo xxvi ¶ Howe Andromecha was by a dreame forwarned of the deathe of her husbande Hector if he the day folowyng entred the fyelde wherof she admonyshed him and he therto hauing no respect was the next day slayn of Achilles Capitulo xxvii ¶ The complaynte of Lydgate for the death of Hector Ca. xxviii ¶ How the grekes deposinge Agamenon ordayned Pallamydes the generall of theyr armye Capitulo xxix ¶ How kynge Priam in pâ—rsonne issued into battayle for thaduenge of Hectors deathe where he dyd ryght valyauntly Ca. xxx ¶ Howe Achylles slewe the worthy Troylus vnknightly after trayled his body throughe the fyelde tyed to his horse Ca. xxxi ¶ Howe Parys slewe Achilles and Archylogus Duke Nestors sonne in the temple of Apollo Ca. xxxii ¶ Howe Parys and Thelamon Ayax slewe eche other in the fyelde Ca. xxxiii ¶ How Pantasylla quene of Amazonis comminge in ayde of the Troyans was slayne by Pirrhus Achilles sonne Ca. xxxiiii ¶ Howe the Grekes made an horse of brasse wherin was men of armes and vnder colour of peace brought it into Troye by the whyche it was vtterly destroyed for euer Ca. xxxv How the Grekes retourned into Grece after the distruction and howe they were peryshed almost all in the sea and after they that escaped dyed mischeuously Ca. xxxvi ¶ How the translatour wryteth the stocke of Pirrhus by lyne all discente and howe his father hight Pelleus and his graundemother called Thetydes xxxviii The ende of the table ¶ Imprinted at London in Fletestrete at the sygne of the Princes armes by Thomas Marshe Anno. do M.D.L.V.