WHILOME, as olde bookis make[n So PH: make C.] mencion, when tholde when the. noble famovs Ia. The origin of the Dictators. Citie of Rome was [most] most] from PH, om. C. shyning in his felicite and flowring in his glory,—liche as it is remembered in bookis of olde antiquyte auncetrie PH.,—the prime temps of his fundacioun, whenne the wallis were reised on heithe bi the manly & prudent diligence of Remvs and Romvlus; fro þe which tyme þe Citie stood vnder governaunce of kyngis, tyl at the tyme Tarquyne soone of Tarquyne the prowde, for his outragious offence doone vnto Lucresse wife of þe worþy Senatour Colla∣tyne, . . . in pvnysshing of whiche trespace by the manly pursuite of Collatyns kynrede and ful assente of all the Senate the name of kyngis ceased in the Citie of Rome for evur more, and all the Roial stokke of þe forsaide Tarqvyne was proscripte & put in exile. And aftir bi prvdente advice of the Senate the Cite was gouverned be twoo Covncellours, and so contvnyd vnto the tyme that Pompye the proude was repaired hoome ageyne from the Conqveste of Thire, bi fors made subgette to thempyre of Rome, wher with grete worthines of fame he was receyved. So that ilke tyme thenn P: thilke H. for his grete noblesse he was chosen oon of the iij^e to gouverne the Citie; assigned other twoo tweyne PH. vnto hym ful renovnyd of knyghthood that is to seye ins. P., Julius Cesar and Marcus Crassus. And thoo this P: thus H. was the name of Counsellours tvrned vnto þe name of Dictatours, whiche was thilke tyme thenne P. a name of an office pertynent to prynces for gouvernaunce of other.

And for a special cavse and an entent ins. P. this office and this om. P. occupacioun bassente of all the hoole Senate was committed vnto thre and that was this ins. P.; leste yif that oon offendid, the oother tweyne two P. shulde be mighty and strong to correcte the iij^de him P.: and another cavse was this, while the whiles P. þat tweyne were occupied in Conqueste owtewardes, the iij^de shulde gouverne at hoome.

And thus all þe while they weren were C. of oon herte and of oon assente, and voide of variaunce withinne hemselfe, the noblesse of Rome flovred in prosperite; Ib. The causes of division. but als also PH. sone as fals covitise broughte Inne pride and vayne ambicion thenn ins. P., the contagious Serpent of Division eclipsed and appalled theire worthines; con∣cluding sothely as in sentence that every kingdome be division is conveied to his distruccion. For the om. PH. surqvidous of ins. P. pride [on the party] on the party of] so PH, om. C. of Iulius, and the contagius Covetise entremelled with envye on of P. the party of Pompye, made the famous Citie of Rome ful waste and wilde, not oonly of theire innvmerabill treasour, but cavsed hem also to be full barreigne and desolate of here menne, where whenn. toforne [as as of P: the C: of H. of] worthines of knighthood om. P. and of Cheualry they weren were PH. incomparabill. And finally the fals division amongs themmsilfe was more imp[o]rtabill impartabill C. vnto hem, and cavsed more rvyne of her tovnne, thanne when they had werre with all the worlde; lyche as this litil story compendiously shal devise.

And to conseive briefly þe proces of this matier;—Ye shal first first] om. P. vndirstande II. Caesar and Crassus. II b. þat Marcus Crassus was sente towardis the parties of the Northe with vj. legiones of knightes agenst the Kyng of Parthes; and þe manly man Sesar Iulius with other vj. legions of knightes was sent downe, passing the large & thidous the grete PH. bovndis of lumbardye, descending down by PH. bi the highe Alpies, and avaling bi the large plage of Germany & all al] of PH. Almaigne; til bi conqueste of his manly force and his mortal swerde he broughte all Fraunce to in PH. subieccioun, and all the boundes of Burgogne P inserts and of., Brabande, Flaundris, and Holande; til almost the space of his lustre was wasted oute. That is to saye,—ther was a space lymyted of by P. the Romaynes, whiche was called a by hem the lustre P. lustre, whiche is accompted þe space of v. yere; and who so evur om. P. passed the space by the occasion of any conqueste, and nat repaired at his tyme sett & lymyted of v. yere, he was anoon thenn add. P. foriuged, dempte, and nempned declared H, om. P. rebell, as plain enemy and rebell vnto the Citie of Rome.

And But P. this manly man Iulius, demyng in his opynyon that tyme loste, whanne fortvnes blavndisshing & favourable covntenaunce throughe the con∣tagion of his necligence & of slowthe was aftirward full froward to be recovered; wherfore of knighthoode and of manly prowes he set the Romayne estatutes statute PH. aside, and fully purposed in his knightly herte to passe þe bovndes of the space of his lustre, and taforce himself with his Chevalrye to wynne the bovndes of Bretaigne, and tovursayle by force the weste party of oure occian.

But for all his surqvedous pride he was twyous to tymes P. bette of at his arryvaile by the worthynes of the worshipfull Bretaonne Bretaigne P. kyng called Cassibolan. And pleinly [withouten favour] so PH, om. C. to declare & specifie the trouthe, he mighte nevur atteigne taryve at his luste, til this manly king Cassibolan & Androgius the Duce of Cornewaile A con∣temporary hand in P alters this word to Kent. felle at debate among hemselfe; wherby I ye P: may wel add. H. may conclude that whiles vnite & and good add. H. acorde Here begins MS. F., the text of which is followed to the end. stode vndefowled and vndividid in the bondis of Bretayne, þe myȝti and victorious add. H. conquerowre Iulius was vnable and impotente to venqvische hem. By whiche example ȝe may evidently consideren & seen þat devision, liche suche H: liche as it CP. as is specified toforne, is originall cause in prouynces & regions reignes P. of all destruciovn; for liche as hit is made mencion in the story whan Iulius bi þe fauowre of Androgenes Androglus CPH. recouered arivaille his aryvaille add. CP.; & within a litill space aftir Cassibelan the manly kynge full prowdely and knyȝtly met with him; atwene whome and thenn there was P. þer was full mortall a full mortaille batail and werre add. P. werre. But and PH. liche as hit is specially remembrid & recordid bi writynge of in wryting bi C. þe worþi clerke Eusebius, þat þilke om. P. fatall day whan Iulius and Cassibolan mettyn in the felde, þis forseide Cassibelan had a famous and a and a] om. C. passing manly man to his broþer, the whiche with his blody mortall swerde neuer sesid to sleen and oppresse þe prowde Romeyne knyȝtis so ferforþe þat þei fled and eschewed his swerde as the deþe eschwuede and fledd fro his swerd as deth P.; for wher as om. P. he wente þer was no resistence. And þis continued so longe þat þe Romeynes were impotent to resiste venqvesshe or resiste C: consent to resiste H: content to resiste P.. But O, alas, when he was weried of fiȝt, hit befille casuelly of Fortvne, whiche is ay ay PHC: a F. contrary and peruers, þat he of aventure mette with þis manly man Iulius; and bothe twoo, liche as made is mencioun, ferden as Tigres and lions, eueryche wowndinge other full [mortally] full sore P: full mortally to þe deþe HF. I follow C.; tille sodeynely, bi dis∣posicion of of PCH: or F. fate, Iulius with an vnware stroke of his dredefull swerde rofe him evyn atweyne. And albe hit so þe stori makith no mencion whate þis worþi knyȝt hiȝten; (I fynde none oþer name of him P reads at this point yet I fynd his name was knowen Nennius (this word inserted) thus that he was broþer &c. but þat he was broþer to þe noble Breton kynge Cassibelan); þe deþe of whome Bretons owȝte full well to compleyne. Bi þe occasion of whiche Iulius was made victorious, and Cassibilan browȝt vnto þe subieccion of þe Empire of Rome, and constreyned bi Cesar to paien for his trewage Triage P. þre þowsande pownde eueriche ȝere.

And in signe of this conqvest and famous victory, Iulius Cesar The seide Julius P. edefied in þis londe dyuerse Castelis & Citees, for a perpetuell memorye to putte his name in to . . . in] om. P. remembraunce, þat is for to seyne þe Castelles of Dovir, of Cantorbury, Row∣chestire, and þe towre of London, and [þe] þe] so PCH, om. F. castell and þe towne of Cesareisbury, takynge his name aftir Cesar, þe whiche is now Icalled Sawlisbury. And ouur more as seiþe myne auctowre doctour P. he edified Cesarischestre, þat now is callid Chichestre, and þe castell of Excestre.

And in þis mene while þat Cesar þis prowdely hadde hadd hadd P. hoolly & enterely þe II c. gouernaunce of Brutes Albion, his felow Marcus Crassus, of whome is made mencion toforne toforn is made CHP., was slayne in þe Este partie of the worlde, whilis he made moste cruell werre ageyne þe [fers] foreseide F. Others fers. peple of Parthes; and for his gredy vnstawncheable þruste of Covetise his enemyes slowe him in þis wise. Þei made did do C. milte golde, and all hote powred hit in his mowþe, seyenge to him in this wise: 'Aurum sitisti, aurum bibe'. 'Þu haste þrustid aftir golde all thi life, now drynke þi fill.' Lo here ye may considryn and se þe schorte and þe momenta[rie] momentance F sic: momentance H: momentanye P. I follow C, momentare sic. tyme, transitorie and not abidynge, of all þis werreowrs werres.. And as þe stori rehersith also, as for a more C. lamentable kalendes of more om. C. infortune infortunitee PH. þat aftir schulde folowe, Iulia þe noble wife of Pompeye, and om. C. dowȝter to of C. Cesar, deied of a childe berynge; for whiche cause Pompye pretende a colour to fynde a cause to reuoke Cesar ageyne to Rome bi assente of all þe Senate bi alle the assent of the Senat.; to þis fyne, þat he schulde come in his owne persone to avenge in all haste þe deþe of his felow Marcus Crassus toforeseide so vengeably slayne in his conquest: this same Pompey hauynge a secrete drede in his conseite owne herte and conseyte C., leste þat Iulius wexe so myȝti in his conqueste, that he hymself were not egall of power, nor able to resiste him in his repeire; and dredynge also in his imaginacioun lest þat Iulius wolde of pre∣sumpcious pride presumpcioun & pride C: presumpcioun pride H: presumpcyon only P. vsurpe by tiranie to take vppon him þe lordschip and þe domynacion of Rome. But þis manly man Cesar, aduertynge full prudently and aperceyuynge þe and . . . þe] om. C. fraudulent meouyng of Pompeye on þat one side, and þe compassid sleiȝte of þe Senat on þat oþer side, full avisely gafe answere ageyne, þat he wolde accomplissche and performe his conqueste, whiche he hadde bigonne gonne P., and þan mekely and humbely at theire requeste repeire home ageyne.

And in this wise enterid in þe Snake of Wantruste and of discorde, whiche causid eueryche to haue false suspecion of oþer; and þis began to [kyndill] kyndely F: kyndill C: kyndle HP. þe hote maliciows fire of envie, indvcynge in successiflyche werre and debate among hem selfe.

And hereuppon withowte more prolongynge prolowgynge sic C. Others as in text. or delay, to execute þere pur∣pose, III. Cae∣sar's recall. and evidently to schewe the fyne of þere entente, Pompey and þe Senat of one assente, withoute respite or dilacion any delaye or respite C. foriugged Cesar gilti, dissobeisaunt, rebell and traitour to Rome, & ȝafe vppon him a sentence diffynitife of exile and prescrip∣cion for euermore, withoute reuokynge or repeire, and fully executed þer venenis malice; Iulius all þis while tym P. beynge absente. But Iulius, not considerynge nor aduertynge om. P., nor hauynge noo maner evidence nor suspecion of the malicious and venemous conspiracie of Pompey and þe Senat senate that C., wro wt and purposid agayne hym agayne hym omitted in F., but all innocent & vnknowynge of here envious malyce, bi good avise and diligen[t] deligens sic F. deliberacion of entente, sente his Ambassatours, not onely to his sone in lawe Pompeye, but also well to all well to all] tall C. þe worþi cowrte of the Senat, and to all oþer noble Citisenis of þe towne, requerynge hem of equite þat for his meritorie IV. The Triumph requested. deserte, not to be contrari nor for none occasion of wilfulnes to denye him, his customable guerdon; þe whiche is dewe of olde antiquite to be ȝevyn to con∣querours, but þat þei wolde frely and wilfully vncompellid grawnten him and put hym in possession of þe palme and the Tryumphe, whiche he so longe bi knyȝtly labowre and manly deligens prowesse and diligence add. H. haþe for þe encresse and þe awmentacion of þe comyn profite of þe Empire of Rome traveilid [sore] sore HCP: for F..

But for to specifie and declare þe honour of Tryumphe whilom vsid in Rome to hem þat were victours. Firste ȝe schall vndirstonde þat Triumphus bi descripcion is as mochell to seyne in pleyne englisch, as a treble trefle P: trewe CH. gladnesse, or ellis a singulere excellens of Ioye in þre om. P. maner of om. CH. wise, ordeyned for victors victories C., whiche þorowȝe here hiȝe renovne and manly prowes hadde browȝte regions and Citeis be wey of wey of] om. C. knyȝtly conqueste to be soget and tributarie to þe Empire of Rome. And þe firste of þese iij worschippis done to a conquerrowre was þis: firste in his repeire to þe Citie, all the peplis pepull C: puple P: peuple H. of hiȝe estate and lowe schulde with grete Ioye & reuerence, in þer beste and richeste aray, mete him on þe waye; and and . . . furste] om. P. þis was þe furste. The seconde was þis: þat all þe prisonneres, and þey þat weren in captiuite, schulde shulde be . . . to goon H. fetrid and manaclid gone rownde abowte environ his chare, some toforne and somme behynde. And and] om. C. þe þirde worschip done vnto him done . . . him] om. P: hem C. was þis, þat he schulde be clad in a purpurat purpull C. mantell of Iubiter liche a as a add. C. god, and sitte with a crowne of lawrer vpon his hed in a riche chare of golde, and abowte his nekke in maner of a Cercle schulde environe abye aby P: be C: and be H. made of golde in similitude and likenes of a palme. And [if so were þat his conqveste was accomplisshed and perfourmed withoute swerde or sheding of blood thanne shulde the coroune of þe palme] F omits from And if so to þe palme, by a natural confusion with palme in the preceding clause. I insert from C with which the others agree. be forged withowte prikkes or spynis and ȝif so were þat his victori was fynisschid bi þe cruell fate of werre þan of custome his cercle or his pectorall was forgid full of scharpe prikyng þornes to declare and specifie þat þer is none conqueste acomplischid [fully] so CP: fulfilled F. to þe fyne bi [mediacioun] meditacion F. Other MSS. give as above. of werre withoute þat þer be [felt and found] so PH: felt and om. C: felde and formde F. therinne þe scharpe prikkynge thornes of aduersite and þat oþer [bi deth] bidith sic F! oþer bi pouerte. And þis riall and þis victorius chare toforeseide was drawe with fowre white stedis þorowe the moste riall stretis of þe Cite to þe chapitoile hauynge a septre in his honde full richely devisid and þervppon in signe of victori an Egle of golde.

But to schewe clerely þat all worldely glorie is transitori and not abidynge and evidently to declare þat in hiȝe estate is none assuraunce þere was set at þe backe of þis conquerour behyndyn in þe chare the moste vnlikly persone and þe moste wrecche þat in eny Cowntrey myȝt be fownde disfigured and Iclad in the moste vgly wise that eny man cowde devise and amyd all þe clamour and noyse of þe peple to exclude þe false surqvedie veyneglory and Idill laude this forseide wrecche schulde of custome & of consuetude smyte þe conqverroure euer in þe necke and uppon þe hed and stowndemele seyne vnto hym in greke þis worde Nothis politos ilitos P: zelitos C: iolitos H., whiche is as mochill to seyne in owre englische tonge as knowe þiselfe, which declarith and vnclosith vnto him þat he nor none oþer schulde for no suche worldely glorie be surquedous nor wex prowde. And þilke day hit was lefull without punyschynge to euery man of hiȝe estate and of lowe to seine to him þat was victour whate some euer Here F repeats a phrase from the line above, what some euery man of hiȝe estate. I follow C. he wolde, were it of honoure or of worschip, of reprefe or of schame, as this was admittid withowte vengeaunce for þis cause, þat he schulde truly consideren and aduerte þat þer is none erþely glorie þat fully may ben assured withowte the dawngere of Fortune.

And schortely to declare þe deference atwene Tryumphus and Tropheum, Triumphe is a full and a plener pleiner H: playn P. ouer comynge of Enemyes bi bataile, and Trophe is whan a man put his fomen for drede vnto flyȝte withowte stroke of swerde.

But towchynge þis honowre toforeseide whiche þat Iulius reqvired and askid V. The Triumph denied. of riȝte as for a guerdone whiche him þowȝt was meritorie and due vnto hym was due and meritorie to hym as bi righte hym thoughte C, others as in F.. Anonc þis foreseide Pompey with full assente of all þe Senate denyed all with o voyce his reqveste, and of one acorde answerde ageyne and seide him platly planly P. he schulde not be acceptid to no suche honoure, but pleynely bade hym knowe as for finall conclusion þat he had raþir deservid to be dede þan to haue eny suche worschipe, alleggynge ageyns him þat he was boþe a traitowre and a rebell to þe statutes of Rome. And whan þat Iulius clerely conceivid the schorte answere of þe Senat and of þis om. C. Pompye to foreseide om. C., þer kyndlyd a full hote brennynge om. C. fire of envie om. C. in his his] Iulis C. herte of þe om. C. fretynge hate specially þat he bare bare . . . breste] thoughte P. in his breste to bene avenged vppon Pompey. And lyche as Lucan rehersith in his poeticall boke þat the denyenge of þis worschip to þis Iulius was chefe grownde and occasion of all þe werre þat began in Rome, [root and also add. C. root and] om. F. I supply from PH. and] begynnyng also of þe contageous deuysion amonge hemselfe.

But so as Lucan likith to reherse & specyfie in his boke toforeseide amongis VI. The three causes of division. oþer causes þat he put he hem MS. in especiall writeth write MS. of þre, whiche were chiefe begynnyng and rote of devision amonge hem-selfe preuynge bi reson in þilke þre þat hit muste nedes bene þat þe felicite and þe prosperite of Rome muste abate and drawe to declyne, þe whiche þre that Lucan put bene þese.

Firste he seithe hit was necessarie and om. PH: Secund C. hit was consuetudinarie, and þe þirde was voluntarie. Firste, þat hit was necessarie he preuyth hit bi ensample of nature in þis wise, þat evenliche as Phebus þe sonne whan he arisith in þe Oryent and bi successife cours assendith into þe hieste poynt of þe mydday spere, ond þan of his kynde naturell muste descende and baþe his golde tressid hornes in þe westryne [wawes] so CH: welles P: walis F. and þan dymmen and durken owre Emysperie bi absence and hit P. of his liȝt. And also eke whan þe same golden wayne of Titan from þe Ariete is whirlid vp to þe hiȝeste towre of his assencioun into þe celestiall signe of þe Crabbe, and þan bi þe myȝti om. C. compellynge of natures riȝt he is constreyned compelled C. to discende downe and auale his chariet, Riȝt so semblablie þer is no wordely worschip so briȝte nor so ne C. clere schynyng in erþe but þat hit muste enclyne and avale downe as sone as he haþe atteyned þe hiest and þe moste famows poynt of his assencion. For liche as þe rage tharage C. of [þe þe om. MS. I supply from PCH.] haboundant flode whan hit haþe rawȝt his stordi sturdy PCH. wawes to þe hieste sodeynely þer folwith an ebbe and makith hym resorte ageyne, and In þe same wise whan eny temperall worldly C. prosperite is moste flowenge in felicite þan is a sodeyne ebbe of aduersite moste to be dradde. Eke in þe same wise as ȝe may clerely descernen and consideryn at þe Eye in trees and in erbes, þat whan þe vegitatife vertu bi þe comfortable influence of þe sonne is aftir þe colde wyntere in grene veer litill and litill ascendit into brawnches and bowes and causith hem to budde and blossome newe and in herbis makith a lusti fressche grenes newly to apere and bi processe of tyme with here holsome bawme apareilith hem with manyfolde colours of rede and white and grene, Þan anone aftir in dessence of Apollo þe sonne þilke same vertu fro þe crop avalith ageyne to daren to daren om. F: daren CP: duren H. in þe rote, riȝt so þer is none felicite so flowrynge nor so appareilid with blosomes and blomes of transitori riches but al sone as þe [schynyng]e MS. schynge sic. sonne of here his C. glorie schedith his bemes moste clere þat ful vnwarely or þei can aduerte or taken hede þey be robbid and reved of here lordeschip and plungid adowne oþir bi occasion of some aduersite Ibrowȝt and inducid in oþer bi sekenes or deþe. And þis towchynge þat þe firste cause is naturell and necessari þat all worldely pompe and pride schall passe, myne autoure Lucan haþe preuyd towched bi reason and proved C. bi reson. And towchynge þe second cavse, whiche is callid customable and consuetudinar[i]e MS. consuetudinare. Other MSS. as above., ȝe may consideren of reson that euer of custome hit fallith þat when þe blynde goddesse of variawnce Dam[e] MS. dam. Other MSS. dame. fortvne haþe enhansed a man hieste vpon hir whele, with a sodeyne sweihe swynge C: swygh P. sche plungeth hym downe. Evidente ensample ȝe maye take of kyngis and prynces þat haue bene toforne. And towchynge þe þirde cause of distruccion of þe Cite lucan likith to call hit in his poeticall mvses voluntarie, whiche is as mochell to seyne as cause rotid vpon wilfulnes withowte eny grownde fowndid vpon reson, for onely of volunte voluntarie will P. þei were so blyndid in þer hiȝe prosperite þat them liste not to knowe hem selfe but þowȝte hem so assured in here felicite þat þei myȝte not bi no collaterall occasion of aduersite be perturbed. And þis þorowȝe false surquedaunce þei were made so wilfull þat none liste to obeyen oþer. And so was browȝte obstinacie eueriche demynge him selfe egall to oþer. And this of con∣trarious discorde amonge hem selfe onely of volunte thei stode disseuered and devidid whiche was one of þe chefe occasion of distruccion. And for þis skele toforne fore P. declared lucan callith þis þirde cause voluntarie in [so moche] so moche] om. MS. F. I supply from C. as hit was falsly fowndid vpon wille, and þis of cause necessarie bi ensample of kynde, and bi þe seconde cause callid consuetudinarie schewed toforne bi ensample of custome, and bi þis laste þirde cause callid voluntarie rotid onely vpon wille.

The Romeynes amonge hemselfe stode in suche contrauercie þat þei dowtid VII. The Rubicon. to whiche partie þei schulde enclyne. And compendiously to declare how all þis causes of deuysion and how þe werre þe whiche of clerkis is callid Bellum Ciuile, as mochell whiche is alsmoche CP. to seyne in englische as werre amonge hem selfe. For þe clere com∣pendious processe of whiche, firste ȝe schall considre þat Iulius platly enformed of þe malicious conspiracie compassid and wrowȝte aȝens him anone as in his repeire owte of albion þat he was passid þe bowndes of Almaigne & had atteyned þe hiȝe alpies whiche bene of Autours callid þe colde frosty hillis and þe bowndis of lumbardye, and so holdynge his passage bi þe parties of assoine lyne riȝt till he aprochid þe rage flode and þe sturdy Ryvere callyd of lucan Rubicanis, Þere MS. F. þei. Other MSS. þere. aperid vnto him an olde Auncien lady triste and drery in a mantell of blake, wympled hir face toforne in full dolerous wise, þe tresses of here hedde for age full hore and white. And for constreynte of her hertely wo even vpon þe tyme whan the blake derke nyȝte had ouersprad ther MS. F ther. Other MSS. the. Emysperye with þe bordour of her owgly and her clowdie cope, This wofull ladye toforeseide bigan hir lamentable compleynt to Iulius in þis wise.

'O ȝe the PH. noble and worþi knyȝtis moste renomed of fame, alas whedir purpose ȝe with soo myȝti apparaile of Mars to procede, or where caste ȝe to f[i]cche MS. F. fecche. Others ficche. youre sturdy standartis or to displey your dredefull penouns and baners? O alas ageyns whome haue ȝe caste finally to execute þe mortale hate þat brennyth in yowre herte, or ageyne whome purpose ȝe in so cruell wise to preue yowre myȝt. Remembrith in your þowȝt þat ȝe bene withholde with þe Senat of Rome and yowre selfe accompted as for noble and full worþi knyȝtes of þe Cite, and Schewe not now yowre selfe enemyes to þe Empire bi whos worþynes aforetyme hit haþe be sustened and myȝtily suppowailled ageyns þe [assavtes] assentes MS. Others assavtes. of all here foon. O Alas aduertith and considerith in youre herte þe noble and þe prudente statutes of þe Polecie of Rome þe whiche full pleynely express þat hit is lefull to no MS. a. Others no. man armed to pas þe bondis of þis streme but ȝif he be mortall enmy and rebell to Rome. Alas ȝe þat haue be so longe frendis and so manly mayntened þe honour of þe Cite, withdrawe youre foote and hastith not to faste but, lete good deliberance deliberacion in other MSS. restreyne youre Reynes þat hasti wilfulnes lede yow nat to con∣fusion not onely of youreselfe but into þe originall ruyne of þe Cite bi þe habowndawnt schedynge of blod þat is likely to [sewe] sewe H: siwe P: shewe C: be sched F.. And subdenly whan þis ladye had brefely compendiously and brefly add. P. expressed þe somme of hir sentence withowte more abode sche disapered. This manly man and þis fortunate knyȝt Iulius, in partie dis∣amaied of þis vnkouth apparence restreyned his oste and made hem to picche here tentis endelonge þe stronde vpon þe hyndere parties of þe Ryuer; and in his vnkouth afraye he sodeynely abreide in þis wise. 'O þu myȝti Iubiter vndir whos demeyne Diete sic P. wlcanus forgith þe dredefull sownes of þe thondir and causith hertis to agrise with þe fire leuene, And O ȝe goddes and goddesses þat whilom hadde þe gouernance of oure worþi Awncestres in Troye the noble towne of Troye add. P., And ȝe noble goddes Romus and Romulus þe the most add. P. famovs fowndours and þe om. P. myȝti protectours and patrons of the Cite of Rome, I as an humble soget to yowre deitee full lowly beseche you and requyre yow of equite & riȝt to be wellwillid and favourable to promote my trewe querell and cause, And benygngly of your bownteuous goodnesse to fauowren and fortune þe hiȝe Emprise, þe whiche of iuste title I purpose fynally for life or deþe þorowȝe your fauowre to execute. And not as enemy nor rebell to Rome but as a trewe Citesyn and a previd knyȝt I caste me fully to perseuere, with condicion þat liche as I haue manly deservid I may be resceived, makynge a protestacion þat not as enemy but as ful frende and soget to Rome I woll be fownde stedefaste and trewe. Wherefore, ȝe myȝti and ȝe noble Senatowrs of Rome, I requere yow of riȝt þat ȝe noþynge arrette nor ascrive to my gilte that I come with stronge and myȝti honde þat I entre þe bondis of yowre Imperiall fraunchise, makynge a full protestacioun þat onely with a clene clere C. concience and not entrigued C. entrikied with none entente of Iuell menynge that I come to yow, of full purpose to be resceived as for youre frende and not youre foo. requirynge yow also to holdyn him whate so euer he be full enmy to your noble cite, þat of wille and entente labowrith to make discorde atwene vs tweyne, for so þat my meritorie gerdon whiche þat I haue in my conqueste Iustely deservid be not denyed me I am and euer will bene for life or deþe a trewe knyȝt to þe Cite of Rome add. C. to my livis ende.

And forþewith makynge no delay liche a lion not dismaied nor aferde, Firste of all in his owne persone passed þe ryuer, the whiche ryuer liche as lucan remembrith þilke same tyme at þe ageyns the C. comynge of Cesar ageyne his custumable cours was reised MS. resseyued. Other MSS. reised. on heiȝte into a grete flode, and all þe white snowes of þe Alpyes were resolued with þe bemes of Phebus, where þorowe þe rivers in þe valis were reised so hiȝe þat vnneþe eny myȝt passe ouer. But Iulius of none vnkowþe aventures afraied, but liche a manly man full well assured in hym selfe in þe presence of all the worthie knyȝtis seide in þis wise: 'Here I leve behynde all þe olde confideracions Other MSS. confederacies. made bitwixte Rome and me and here I leve all þe frend∣schip of olde antiquite and onely folowe þe tracis of fortune and of hole entente I begyn a riȝtfull werre, for cause onely þat bi mediacion of pees proferid on my side I may nat atteyne my title of riȝt.'

And anon withowte more dilacioun, evene om. H. vpon þe sprynge of þe day whiche of Clerkis is callid Aurora he vnwarely with all the worthye om. P: hoole C. multitude of his knyȝtes enterid into þe Cite of Lucan callid Arymynum, a Cite pertinent to Rome, and þer he toke firste possession of the Empyre none so hardie to resiste nor to withstonde þe furie of his swerde. And all þis while þe Romeyns stondynge in dowte to whiche partie þei schulde enclyne, oþer þe partie of Sesar or of Pompey, for of chierte þat þei had to here wivis and here childeryn and to þe olde statutes of þe Cite þei were fauowrable to Pompey, and of drede þei had of Cesaris swerde þei stode in so grete ambiguite þat þei cowde not deme whate was beste to do: Lo how þe mortale envie of tweyne was cause and occasion þat þilke noble worþi Cite whiche had all þe worlde in subieccion and was callid ladye and Emperes of all regions was browȝte vnto distruccioun vnto distruccion broughte H.. For in this ilke two began first began H. þe devision whiche neuer aftir myȝte perfitely be restorid nor reconsilid to vnyte, whereby as semyth vnto men þat all prudent prynces whiche haue gouernaunce in provynces and regions schulde take ensample whate harme and damage is and how finale a destruccion is to bene deuyded amonge hemselfe.

And for to ratefye bi more Autentike ensample how moche þat vnite more VIII. An exemplum from Valerius. availith þan deuysion, I woll schortely reherse an MS. F and. Others an. ensample whiche þat Valerie putte and is þis. This auctowre rehersith þat whilome whan þe Cite of Rome stode likely to haue be devided of a debate þat was newly begonne amonges hemselfe, ther was a wise philosophir amonge hem om. MS. Others supply. þe whiche of hiȝe discrecion considrid þe grete perell þat was likely to sewe, and þouȝte he wolde of wisedome voide þe grete myschefe þat myȝte sewe. in presence of all the Senate and lordes of þe Cite, he made brynge forþe an hors which had a longe þikke taile growen behynde PC om. þikke, behynde., and þan he commawndid þe myȝtieste champion of the towne renovn H. to sette on boþe hondes and asaye ȝif he myȝt bi force pull of þe hors taile at a pluk; but all be þat he plukkid to þe vtteriste of his myȝt hit wollde not availe. And anone þis Philosophir made calle to þe presence of þe Senate þe moste impotent man in þe Cite, a man vnweldye and crokid of age and þis Philosophir made þis olde manne to pluk one here aftir anoþer of þe hors taile till litill and litill bi proces þe taile was wastid clene away, and þe hors nakid and bare behynde. 'Beholde' quod the Philosophir þo 'þat whilis þe taile of þe hors was hoole and on in þe selfe, and eueryche here with othir vndevidid, þe myȝtiest champion of yowre Cite myȝt do þerto no damage. But also sone as eueriche here was devided and disseuered from oþer he þat was leste of powere amonge yow all lefte neuer till þe taile was consumed and browȝte to nowȝt. Bi whiche ensample,' quod þe Philosophere, 'prudently aduertith and wisely castith toforne þat also longe as ȝe bene one in yourselfe and of one herte þer is none so stronge nor soo myȝti that may availe bi force to atempte your worþines. But also sone amonge youre selfe as one be devided fro anoþir your enemyes, þowȝe þei bene full impotent of powere and of litill reputacion, þei schull bi proces pluk away þe faireste and þe moste schene feþeres of yowre worþines.' And bi þis ensample þis Philosophir felowschip P sic (!): om. C. toforeseide reconsilid Romeyns aȝene to vnite and voided awey devision amonge hemselfe.

Now compendiously to resorte aȝen to my matere liche as þe storie makith IX. The Signs of War. mencion. The Romeynes stondynge in grete contreuercie amonge hemselfe to whiche partie þei schulde drawe, þe goddes bi many signes of pro[nosti]cacion MS. provasta∣cion sic. Others as above. declared vnto hem þe grete myschefe þat was likly and very sembleable to folowe. For þer apperid vnto hem many vnkowþe ymages of sterres some in in . . . brighte om. in F. I supply from C with which PH agree. brennynge haburgeons of fuyre, and some with [brighte in . . . brighte om. in F. I supply from C with which PH agree. brondis in] here hondes castynge flawme environ, and somme with firye dartes and scharpe hokid arwis schetynge in þe eire. And in especiall þere aperid a large grete Comete MS. Comede. Others Comete., the stremes of whiche rawȝte here Radies þe fowre plages of þe firmamente, and þe sonne also sodeynely whan he schone moste briȝt in þe meridionall plage þe day [vnwarly] MS. vnwardly. Others vnwarly. turned into nyȝt, and þe pale mone ageyne þe comyn cours of kynde sodeynely was clypsid of here liȝt and ferþir þe dredefull Karibdis of þe see Cicillye was turned into blode, and all þe howndes beynge in the bondes of Rome lefte þe noise of here berkynge, and in signe and pronosticacion MS. provasta∣cion sic. Others as above. of grete sorowe þat was to om. C. comynge þei howlede and waymentid þat pite hit was to hire. Also [the] om. MS. Others supply. supersticious fire whiche contynuelly toforne was wonte to brenne in þe chaste temple of þe goddes callid Vesta, the flawme of þe same fire euer beynge briȝt vpon here Auteris, of the whiche fire bi olde tyme was profecied þat al so sone as hit devidid and departid on tweyne þat þe festis and þe solempnitees of Rome schulde cese, And liche as þe smokes of þe funerall fire of þe Theban MS. Theba sic. breþere MS. C inserts here from Chaucer Arcite and Pallamon. departed at thebes, riȝt so þe departynge of þe fire vpon here Autirs was a trewe signe and a verye prenostike of diuysion þat schulde folowe amonge hem selfe. Fynally to declare to euery region þat where as the fire of loue and perfite charite stonte departid and devided amonge hem selfe MS. selde sic., hit is a very trewe evidence and a prenosticacioun þat withowte remedie hit drawith to his destruccion. Also in evident tokyn of þe sodeyne myschefe of deuysion þat MS. omits. schulde folowen in Rome, þe fomynge wawes of the adiacente see were stownde∣mele [enhawnsed] MS. enhawsed sic. so hiȝe [that they surmounted thigheste] Omitted only in F. Athlantes hillis. Also eke þe riche ymagis of þe temples of Rome made of golde silvere and sondrie meteles so as þei stode in here riche tabernacles þei were seyne þilke tyme of devision full wofully compleynynge and wepynge so ferforþe þat þe teres of here eyen distillyd downe to þe erthe, to compleyne þe desolacion of þe Cite onely causid bi occasion of þer contagious devision oonly caused be theire occasion of outrageous division C. amonge hemselfe. Briddis also ageyne þe custome of here nature were seyne flyenge vpon nyȝtis, and bestis also weren herde spekyn and wemen browȝte forthe monstruous childeren. And all þis vnkowþe wondirs fillen but a litill toforne þis foreseide deuysion in þe noble Cite of Rome, for þe dredefull tyme aprochid full nere of þe whiche Sibille soo longe hadde profecied aforne whan sche sente þe schorte somme of hir sentence [to] MS. of. Others to. þe Senatures of Rome compendiously in þe Nombre of sixe lettirs, þre. R. R. R. & þre F. F. F., þe whiche weren fully prenosticacion provasticacion MS. and declaracion of sixe mischevis þat schulde of necessite fall to Rome com∣prehendith and includith in þis vj. lettirs specified in þis wise, Regna Rome Ruent Ferro Flamma Fame. Þis is to seyne þe Region of Rome bi þre þyngis schall be drawen too rvyne: Firste bi þe swerde of werre among hemselfe, and nexte bi fire and hungir, þe whiche tweyne myschevis so contagiously schal asaile þe Cite þat hit schall be verely vnpportable vnto hem. And grownde and Rote of all þis confusion [shall be amonge hem selfe bi discorde and diuision] shal . . . diuision om. MS. I supply from C, in which others agree.. Furþermore to declare sondrie pronosticacions þat fille in þere Cite, whan þe prestes made sacrifice to þer goddes hire firis sodeynely queynte. In the gravis and sepultures of dede men þer were hirde wofull and lamentable noyses and sownes whiche putte þe peple in passynge grete drede and afraye, and moreouer whan þe grettiste bisschope of here lawe hadde in þe Cerimonyall ritis Itake a bole, and constrayned hym tenclyne mekely his necke vnder þe Awtere of þe temple, and þere wassched and bathid his hornes in þe beste wyne þei kowde fynde and þan þei dempte hym able to be slayne for sacrifice, and þan whan þe prouost or þe preste of þe lawe þilke tyme called Arryns with a swerde dismembrid þis bole toforeseide, But in signe of þis lementable and þis wofull deuysion þat þis sacrifice was not acceptable to þe goddis the blode of þis beste whiche þat kyndely schulde haue be rede was blake as eny picche. And whan þe preste with a dedly pale chere was ferefull and aston[y]ed astoned F. Others as above. in his herte hopynge to fynde more fortunate tokenes in þe entrailles within, liche as myne auctowre makith mencioun þei were [horrible] MS. oreblye. I follow C. C alters the order here in severa phrases in the next three lines, but gives the same sense. PH agree with F. and stanke as eny careyne, in signe and evident tokene þat none oblacion noþer of bestes nor of blode is acceptable in þe siȝte of God, specially whan hit is offerid of hertis þat bene devidid. So þat I may Iustely conclude that deuision departith not onely man fro man but hit dis∣seuerith and departith a man from God, and whan þis foreseide Bole was þis dismembrid and departed I fynde þat he toke þe mawe and þe herte and partid hit on tweyne, þe to partie to Cesar and that oþer to Pompey. And whan they were boþe putte in þe fire of sacrifice þe partie of Pompey sodeynely qveynte, and þe partie of Iulius was with a briȝt and a om. MS. I supply from C. clere om. MS. I supply from C. flawme consumed in the fire in evidente [signe that in this mortal division] om. MS. I supply from C. Cesar schulde be victor and Pompey discomfited. And in this wise þe myschefe and þe ruyne was schewid and declared firste bi dyuerse figures and sondrie likenesses of sterres schewid in þe heuene, and nexte bi wondirfull monstres in þe erþe, and also be merveilous tokenes schewed in þer sacrifise of beestes [for I finde that whenne somme beestes were dismembred to here sacrifice] for . . . sacrifice om. F. I supply from C. F substitutes how. PH follow C. how they were fovnde withoute herte, to declaren bi open evidence to theire Cite how þe hertes of here goddes were finally turned fro hem. Also þe birdis and þe fowlis of þe eire came homely and not afraied fleenge into the Cite bi whiche signes þer clerkis þat bene callid Auguryes expowned hit to here confusion. And bi manyfolde mo signes þan I may or can declare þe Euercion of þe Cite full longe was schewed toforne of þis contagious devision.

But schortely tentrete the substawnce of þe storye, vpon þe tyme þat Cesar X. The Wars. with stronge honde aproched þe bondes of Rome, aftir whan he had wonne þe Citee of Arymye & had had] om, H. also conquered Ravenne, and Pompey for ferde was fledde towardes þe parties of grece to make himselfe stronge. Thei of Rome hadde schortly determyned in sentence þat Cesar schulde not entre þe Cite but so were þat his hole retinue were lefte behynde. But whan þei knewe and sawe hym so passyngly myȝti & stronge mighty and passing stronge tho C. þei gan to quake to quaked P. in þer hertes, and namely whan þei weren destitute of an hed of whiche some of the Dukes of Pompey drowe hem towarde þe partie of Ytaille to a Cite whiche was whilome that whilom was H. called dirachyum. And euer þis worþi knyȝt Iulius with his cheualrye pursued aftir and all þat with∣stode he slowe, and þe remenaunt he put manlye manly om. P. to the fliȝt, and day be day þe powere of Cesar gan multeplye and encrese, and magrey all his enemyes of very force he entrede þe Cite, & liche as some Autours expresse whan þe Romeyns for drede were redy to haue resseyved him bi þe gatis he of indignacioun and disdeyne made breke þe wallys wal H: to breke the walle C. & prowdely entered as a conquerowre & Iuste∣fied þe Romeynes at his liste, and hoolly vndevided toke on him þe gouernaunce not onely of þe Cite but of all þe hole Empire, and and thanne C. magrey þe Senat he brake þe brasyn dores of here tresor tresorye C. and bi violens toke and rawȝt hit away and plentiously departed amonge his kniȝtes.

And in þe mene while full many kniȝtis of þe Este partie of þe worlde came & assembled tofore þe fore seide Cite callid D— add. PH: thoo called Dirachon C. Dirachyum of entente to sustene þe partie of Pompey ageyne Iulius. And also sone as þer was made relacion to Cesar of þis grete assemble he made none delay but with all his powere passede bi a con∣tre whiche [of] my auctour is called Epirum Epiron C., and so he entrede into þe costes of Thesalye of grete Tessalye C. where as he fownde Pompey batailed batailled H: enbattelled C: enbatailled P. aȝenste hym with foure skore Cohortes and eiȝte eche C sic. departed into þre twoo. wardes. Now to declare and to know C. þe nombre and þe multitude om. P. of a Cohorte, ȝe schall vndirstonde þat þer be two maner Cohortes þe more and þe lasse & þe more bi discripcioun of Auctours conteynyth fyve hunderid & þe lasse þre hunderid & . . . hunderid] om. C. the lasse CC P.. There weren also in þe party of Pompey fourtye þowsande of fotemen Salsmen. and in þe lefte whynge þer were beside all þis sixe hunderede knyghtis on hors backe and in þe riȝt whynge þer were five hunderede amonge þe whiche as vyncent in his merowre historiall makith mynde þer were many kynges and prynces & many oþer worþi Senatours and knyghtis of Rome þe whiche came in defence of Pompey, and liche as it is remembrid also Cesar had fowre skore of Cohortes devided and departed in þre wardes and with þis he had þritty þowsande of fotemen withowte passynge grete nombre of worþi knyȝtis on horse backe. And in þis mortale bataile all þe partie of Pompey was put to fliȝt & slawen of them was slayn P. on his side xij þowsande, and of worþi leders which be called Centauryenes slayne þrittye and þre. And Pompey fledde oute of the felde and for his refuge toke a schippe, & bi þe bondis of Asye he passed þorowȝe throughoute C. Tire & arrivede in Egipte, and þer anone at his arryvaille bi þe comawndement of Tholome kynge of Egipte he was beheueded onely for love and om. P. fauowre om. P. of Cesar. And [fro] fro HCP: for F. þilke victorie þis foreseide Cesar hastede to þe parties of Syrie towarde þe myȝti Cite of Alisaundre & þer Tholome kynge of Alisawndre helde a bataille with Cesar bothe one londe and watere. In whiche were slayne two and twenti þowsande in þe felde & xij. hundered schippis discomfited and dreynte, and Tholome þe kynge as he wolde haue fledde owte of schippe and come to londe for haste he fille into þe see and was drowned and as his bodye was caste to londe he was knowen and discerned bi a gilte haberion, the whiche haberion and that Cesare C. haberion] om. P. Cesar made to be sente to þe Cite of Alisawndere for drede of the whiche þei Alisawndere ȝelde þe Cite vp to hym.

Than he repeired ageyne in to Egipte and bi occasion of þe deþe of Tholome þe kynge he gafe þe Ceptre and þe regalie and hole þe þe] om. H: hoole and the C: þe olde gouernance P. governaunce of Egipte to þe quene Cleopatre Cleopatrace C.. And so aftir þe conqueste of many oþir prouynces and londes he repeired ageyne þe seconde tyme vnto Rome, and þer he toke vpon him two offices boþe þat is to sey add. P. of counsell and dictator.

And fro thens he wente to þe conqueste of Affrike and gan a newe werre in especiall ageyne all þe aliaunce and þe blode of Pompey, and slewe all þe Dukks þat weren so were. enclyned or favowrable to þe partie of Pompey, amongis whiche were slayne þre myȝti prynces Faustus Rausius H. Cilla & Postumus Pompus C., and Pompeya þe dowȝtir of Pompey Iuged to be dede, and fro þilke parties he entrede with myȝti and with stronge honde in to Spayne, And þer so as Suetonye writith as wrightynge witnesseth C. he toke vpon hym powere to resceyve þe tribute whiche on þe partie of Spayne was dewe to Rome. And so as þis auctowre makith mynde he in his conqueste procedede so ferre þat he came to þe pillers of Gades, and þer he entrede into þe temple of þe stronge myȝti champion called Hercules, and whan he behelde in þe same temple a riche ymage of golde set vp for a memoriall of kynge Alisawndre, anone þis Cesar gan to sigh and compleyne compleyned H. in hymselfe þat he neuer myȝt atteyne in his conquest to disserue so victorious a palme of worþynes as in here tyme dede Alisawndre and hercules. And þus ful for P. truste and heuy he yssynge owte of þe temple of hercules fully purposed him in his corage knyȝtly to take vpon hym of knyȝtly corage some newe Emprices of hiȝe prowes. whiles þat he was þis suppreised [in] in] so CHP: om. F. his besy þowȝte þe nexte nyȝt sewenge he had a wonderfull avision whiche was þis: hit sempte vnto hym in his slepe þat he medled fleschely with his owne moder. Of þe whiche dreme he full gretely afraied and horribelye agresid, he made call to his presence his wise Philosophers and dyuynours to yiue a pleyne & a clere inter∣pretacioun vpon his dreme. And þei anone concluded in sentence þat hit was an evidente signe þat he schulde be fully fully] om. P. put in possession to haue þe Imperiall domynacion of all þe worlde, for þis prudent philosofers vndirstode noþynge bi þe fleschely coniunccion he had with his modir but a knotte of aliaunce performed vp vp] om. C. atwene þe erþe and hym, vndirstondynge in þer exposicion þat bi þat he schulde atteyne to be lorde & Emperour ovir all parties of þe erþe, and þis in all haste aftir þe myȝti conqueste of Affrike, he repeired ageyne to Rome and was made Emperour of all þe worlde so fer forþe enhaunsed on heiȝte þat þe sonne of his worþines was ronne so ferre vp in his spere þat hit atteyned the hiest prikke of his exaltiacion, so þat of necessite he muste discende, for as þe storie makith mencion he percevered not in his Empire fully þe space of a v. CPH. ȝere.

And for to reherse compendiously þe prodigies and þe wondirfull signes þat XI. The signs of Caesar's fall. fille aforne his deþe hit is remembred þat þe same ȝere of Julius deþe in þe yle of Capwe was fownden bi quareiours of þe countree a riche towmbe of stone; & þerin was fownde a litill tablet of golde grauen with Grekisse lettirs, seyenge in þis wise: 'Whaneuer hit falle þat þe towmbe of Capis be opened and þat his bonys be vnclosed þat ȝere schall þe worþi conquerowre Iulius Cesar be mordrid in þe Capitolie at Rome bi false conspiracie of hem þat he trusteth moste' most to add. P.. Now was þis foresaide Capis a worþi man & of grete auctorite and þe firste fowndowre and begynnere of þe Countre of Capwe, þe cowntrey named was named P. aftir him. And liche as þe lettirs in greke specified om. P. hit befille. And þe seconde signe and prodigie þat fille tofore þe deþe of Cesar was þis: vpon þe same nyȝt toforne þat he was slayne in þe morowe þis Iulius had a reuelacion, semynge vnto hym in his slepe þat he was whynged like an egle & how he toke his fliȝt so hie þat he sorede above þe skyes and aproched to þe celestiall see of Iubitere and fille adowne vpon þe riȝt honde of þis god. Anoþer prodigie þer fille also his noble wife Calaphurmya a litill tofore the deþe of hir lorde hadde a dreme semynge in hir slepe þat þe hiest pynacle of þe imperiall paleis sodeynely fill downe adowne., and þer vp anone all þe wyndowes of þe chambre where sche slepe withoute honde of eny man sturdely brake a two þe barres of yren and opened, of whiche noise afraied in hir slepe [sche abrayde] sche abrayde] so C: abrayde H: abrayded P: om. F Trev. and Rog. and of hir femynyne drede full sore siȝed in hir herte as sche þat cowde not conceyve whate hit mente. Also as Vincent in his historiall merowre makith mencion an hundred daies toforne his piteous mordre In þe large market∣place of Rome where as þe statute and þe grete Image of Cesar stode vpon an heiȝe pilere, þe name of Cesar with lettirs of golde grauved above his hed, the tyme of day whan þe wedir and þe attempre ayre was moste clere and still with a sodeyne stroke of þe fire fire] om. PHC. leuene leme. the firste lettre of his name C was smete away declarynge bi þis pronosticall signe þat liche as þe lettre C in nombre betokeneth an hundered and was also moste craftely wrouȝt and graued as for þe chefe capitall lettre of his name, to schewe openly þat þe racynge away of his lettre bi violens of þe levene, þat he þat was hed of þe erþe schulde shulde be Trev. Rog. within þe space of an hundirde daies next sewynge be vengeably mordered in Rome. Also, þe same daye of his mordir as he wente moste riall in his imperiall araye towarde þe consistorie a pore man called Tongilius toke him lettirs of all þe purposid conspiracie bi þe Senat vpon his deþe, but for he was neccligent to rede þe lettris and vnclos hem þe vengeable mordre was execute vpon him bi whiche example lete no man be slowe nor neccligente to make delaye to rede his lettirs leste aftir for his necclygence hit turne hym to grete damage whiche aftir may aftir is not H. not liȝtly liȝtly] om. P. be recured remedyed ne recovred C..

The The] om. HCP. chefe causere and werkere of þis mordre was Brutus Cassius, associed XII. Cae∣sar's fall. vnto hym two hundred and sixty of þe Senat, all alle they C. hauynge boidekyns hid in here sleues, and as hit in storie remembrith is in story remembrid HPC. he had fowre and twenty dedely wowndes as he sate in the Capitolye, and as seiþe myne auctour he neuer in all his smerte made neiþer crye nor noise excepte onely a lamentable and dolorous siȝe like a man þat with sodeyne sorowe were afraied. so þat towchynge þe vengeable maner of his piteous this petitous H. mordre I may conclude with hym þat was flowre of poetis in owre englisshe tonge & þe firste þat euer enluminede owre langage with flowres of Rethorike and of of] om. C Rog. elloquence, I mene my maistere Chaucere whiche compendiously wrote þe deþe of þis myȝti Emperour seyenge in þis wise:

This bi recorde of my wise prudente maistere to foreseide, þe frowarde and XIII. The Exordium. þe contrarious ladye Dame Fortune þe blynde and þe peruerse goddes with hir gery and vnware violence sparith noþer Emperour nor kynge to plonge him downe sodeynely fro þe hiest prikke of hir vnstable whele. Alas lete euery man lifte vp his hertis eye and prudently aduerten þe mutabilite and þe sodeyne change of þis false worlde. And lete þe wise gouernours gouernance C. of euery londe Region and londe C. and region make a merowre in here mynde of þis manly man man] om. C. Iulius, and consideren in þer hertis þe contagious damages & þe importable harmes of devision, and lete hem seen avisely and take example how þe ambicious pride of Iulius, and þe fretynge envie of Pompeyus, and þe vnstawncheable gredy covetise of Marcus Crassus were chefe and primordiall cause firste of here owne distruccion execute and complissched bi cruell deþe, and not onely þat þese þre foreseide iij. HPC. abhomynable vices were cause of here owne deþe but occasion of many a þowsande oþer mo þan I can tell, the Thus the, Trev. Rog. cite of Rome not onely made bare and bareyne of þer olde richesis and spoiled of here tresowre on þe too side, but destitute and desolate bi om. P. deþe om. P. of here kniȝthod on þe toþer side; whiche me semyth owȝte Inow suffise to exemplifie whate hit is to begynne a werre, & specially to considre C ends after this word: in theire hertis themportable harmes of division. The foreseide division so to schewe I have remembred this litill translacion, the moneth of decembre the first yere of oure souvereigne lorde that now ys. King Henry the vj^te. A Lenvoye lidgate J. b. Here endeth the cronycule of Julius Caesar Emperour of Rome tyme, specifying cause of the ruyne and destruccion of the same, and translated by me, Danne John Lidgate, monke of Bury seint Edmund the yer of our lord god m^l iiij^c. þe irrecuperable harmes of division. and for þis skille moste especially in especiall P. bi commaundemente of my moste worschipfull maistere & souereyne & souereyne om. HPC Rog. Trev., I toke vpon me þis litill and þis compendious translacion, & & . . . plesaunce] om. P: to put it P. of entente to don him plesaunce & . . . plesaunce] om. P: to put it P. after my litill connyng I haue hit put in remembrawnce.