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Author: Boccaccio, Giovanni, 1313-1375.
Title: Here begynnethe the boke calledde Iohn bochas descriuinge the falle of princis princessis [and] other nobles tra[n]slated i[n]to englissh by Iohn ludgate mo[n]ke of the monastery of seint edmu[n]des Bury ...
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Print source: Here begynnethe the boke calledde Iohn bochas descriuinge the falle of princis princessis [and] other nobles tra[n]slated i[n]to englissh by Iohn ludgate mo[n]ke of the monastery of seint edmu[n]des Bury ...
Boccaccio, Giovanni, 1313-1375., Lydgate, John, 1370?-1451?
[London: Printed by Richard Pynson, 1494 (27 Jan.)]
Alternate titles: De casibus virorum illustrium. English
Subject terms:
Kings and rulers -- Poetry -- Early works to 1800.
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A16251.0001.001
How to cite: For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents
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Prologus
book 1
¶An exclamacion of bochas ayen all proude men shewynge howe god may theym and their pride whā him best lift by many diuers meanes and wayes pu∣nysshe and chastise
Lenuoye
¶Howe many yeres was bitwixte Adam and Nembroth and bitwixte Nembroth and Cadmus and of other kynges
¶Of Oggigus kynge of Thebes
¶Of a greate flode in Tessalie
¶Of goodly Isis wife to Apys kynge of argyne slayne by his brother Dyffeus.
¶Of Grysiton that his membres cete for hungre
¶Lenuoye
¶Howe Iupiter rauysshyd Europe and howe Cadmus was sent to seke hir in diuers regions
Lenuoye
¶A processe of Oetes kynge of Colchos / Iason / Medee. Theseus Scilla Nisus and other mo
¶Lenuoye
Omne regnum in se diuisum desolabitur
Howe Atreus kynge of messene wrought ayenst his brother Thiestes slewe his thre chyldren dis∣mēbryd them pecys made Thieftes to ete of their flessh and drynke of their blode
Howe Atreus accusyd him self of murdre and his brother vpon auoutrye doon with Europa the quene
Lenuoy
Of duke Theseus and Adryane that saued his life in the Caue / and howe he like a forsworne man forsoke hir & weddyd faire phedra which afterward slough hir silfe
Lenuoye
¶Here bochas writeth ayenst theym that yeuethe hasty credence to liers and flaterers
Qui tangit picem et c̄.
¶M. de transformatis .i. bis vir
¶Ar mutat naturam
Lenuoye
¶Of quene Althea / and howe Hercules by wymē was brought to confusion
Lenuoye
A processe of Narcisus. Bible. Mirra. and of other their infortunes to bochas compleynynge
Ouidius xo. et xio. de transformatis
Lenuoy
owe Narcisus / Biblis / and mirra dyed at the yscheef
Ob quam cām secundas spreuit nupcias
Of Priamus kynge of Troye / And howe the Monke of Bury translatoure of this boke wrote a boke of the siege of troye callyd troye boke
Here spekith bochas the auctour of this boke ayenst the surquedous pride of theym that truste in richesse saynge these wordes vnto theym
Here also Iohn Bochos put a greate preisinge and a commendacion of suertie that stondith in pouertye vnder these wordes in sentence
Of mighty sampson which tolde his counseill to Dalida wherby he was deceyued.
Lenuoye
The excuse of bochas for his writynge ayenst mys∣gouernyd wymen in stede of lenuoye
Of myghty pirrus that slough pollicene which for his pride and auoutrye dyed in pouertie / slayne at the last by horestes
Of Machaire and his suster Canace
The lettre of compleynt of Canace to hir broder Machaire.
Howe Saul kinge of Ierusalem borne of lowe degre / as longe as he dred god was o¦bedient to him / and rulyd by good counseile had many greate disconfitures but at the last for is pride / presumpcion / and greate disobeisaunce he lost his crowne / and was slayne by Philistees
Nihil insolencius {quam} potens rusticus Incipit liber secundus
Lenuoye
Acommendacion of Bochas vpon the vertue of obedience
Howe kinge Roboam for gyuynge feith to yonge counseyle lost the beneuolence of his people and dyed a foole
Lenuoye
A chaptre descryuinge howe princes beynge hedeys of their comontees shulde haue noble chyualrie true Iuges their comontye to gouerne &c.
Howe Mucyus Sceuola slough an Innocent in stede of kinge Porcēna that laide siege to Rome.
Howe lucrece oppressed by Tarquyn slough hir self
Howe rome after was gouernyd / and virginea by hir fader slayne
Lenuoye
owe Ieroboam kinge of Israell for Idolatrie sobedience cam to a myscheuous ende
Howe zereas kinge of Ethiope was slayne in bataile
Howe Adab kinge of Ierusalem lost ceptre and crowne
Howe the vengeable prince zambrias set a toure on fyre and brent him silf
Of kinge Achab and Iezabell his wife
Of quene Gatholia for hir tirannie slayne
Lenuoye
Howe Dio quene of cartage slough hir silf for conseruacion of hir chastite
Lenuoye
Lenuoye direct to wydowes of the translaoure
Howe vicious Sardanapalle kinge of assirie brent him self and his tresoure
A commendacion of chas of veynes rehersynge names foūdyrs of diuers sciencys and cūnynges in repreef of Idelnesse
Lenuoye.
Howe amazias ī Iuda kinge for pride and presūp¦cion was venquesshed in batayle & after slayne
Howe vpon Iosias succedynge kinge next in Iuda toke vengeaunce smote him with lepre
An exortacion to princes to be auised to do ageyn goddes preceptes.
Howe kinge Ozie was takyn by kinge salmana¦zar and dyed in prison
Howe senacheryb kinge of assirie was slayne
Howe kinge sedechie for fals forsweringe was slayne and made blnde in prison
Lenuoye.
Howe kinge astryages laboured to disherite cirus But god suffred his malice nat to preuayle
Lenuoye.
Howe Candalus king of Lide was made cokwold and after slayne
Howe what thinge kinge Midas touchid was gold yit dyed he in miserye and wretchydnesse
Of balthasar kinge of babilone / and howe daniel expowned. Mane. Techel. Phares.
Lo Cresus and balthasar were venquesshed by cirus and the sonne of cresus slayne at the hūting of a bore
Howe the cruell tyraunt Cyrus delited eu slaughter and shedynge of blode & so endyd
Lenuoye.
Howe amilius for couetise slough his brother and Remus / and Romulus norisshed by a wuluesse
Howe mecyus kinge of albanoys beynge fals of his othe and assuraunce / was drawen into pecys
A Chaptre howe princes shulde of their othes and promises be true auoydinge all doublenesse / and decepcion
Of kinge hostilius that first weryd purpyll hewe consūpte with fuyleuene
Lenuoye.
book 3
Sequitur prologus libri tercii
A disputacion bytwene fortune and glad pouert.
Howe kinge hostilius worshippynge fals goddys was consumpte with fiery leuene
Howe anchus kinge of rome was murdrid by Lu¦cynyo by thassent of his wif
Howe Lucynyo that murdred anchus was after murdred
Lenuoye
Howe for the offence done to Lucrece by Tarquyn was neuer after crowned kinge in rome
The greuous compleynt of Lucrece vpon hir oppression
The compleynt of Bochas vpon the luxurye of princes as by exaumples of many diuers myschaū¦cys
Lenuoye.
Howe Cambyses assentynge to the murdre of his brother mergus / at the last slough him silf
Howe Oropastes occupyed the crowne of Perce by Iniust title was murdred
Howe Melciades duke of Athenys with smal noum¦bre venquesshyd i C M {per}ciens / and after by his co¦monte that ay of custum desireth a chaunge of pryn∣ces newe he was cheyned in prison and so dyed
Lenuoye
Howe xerses kinge of Perce for his rauyne / and couetise was dismembryd in smale peys
Of Duke palantes and Spartenois werred thm of Myssene for rauysshinge thir maydens
Of Ceson Quincius exiled and Gracus take prysonere
Here Bochas rehercith the tyrannye of Apius and falsnesse of Iuges
Lenuoye
Bochas ageyne the vntruth of Iuges
Here Bochas maketh an exclamacion of the extor¦cion of the officers of Rome
Of Alcibiades exiled and after brent in his bedde
Here Bochas maketh an exclamacion vpon the deth of Alcibiades
Lenuoye
Here bochas writeth ageyne the desires of people.
Here Iohn bochas speketh ageyne Idelnesse reher¦cinge howe sūme men haue ioye in one science and sūme in another
Howe malleus duke of cartage for oppression and tyrannye was hewen into pecys.
Lenuoye.
Howe the substaunce of the host of himilcho duke of cartage goynge to conquere Cicile dyed of pestylence and after him silf slayne
Howe Heynon duke of cartage was dismembred
Lenuoye.
The auctour ageyne couetous people
Lenuoye.
The auctour ageyne couetous people
Howe Enagora kinge of cipre was by Artaxe¦ses outrayed and put from his kingdom
Howe Theo kinge of egipt by artaxerses was dry¦uen from his kingdome and fled into Arabye
Howe Amynta of Mecedoyne kinge had by Erui his wife Alisaūdre / {per}dica / & philip yt were slayne
Howe the proude tyraunt Aman was hangyd and the Innocent preseruyd
Of the two brethern artaxerses and Cirus and Ar∣taxerses slough his children and concubynes and howe they ended
Lenuoye.
book 4
Incipit Prohemium Libri quarti
Incipit liber Quartus Howe marchus maulius wrought and dyd for Rome toune / And at the laste he was by the comons coste into Tibre and there drowned
Here bochas writeth in part ayenst such as can nat be content with suffisaunce but vsurpe to hygh dig¦nitees
Lenuoye
Howe Neptanabus kinge of Egipte was by xerses constreyned to fle his kingdome
Howe Pansonoy duke of Lacedemoyne was exiled by theym of athenys
Howe Heliarchus the tyraunt for extorcion and op∣pression was slayne by the knight Leonydes
Howe the vicious Denys kinge of Cecile slough his bretherne and kinrede & after exiled died at myschef
Lenuoye.
The auctour ageyne presumptuous people & pryn¦y holdinge theym silf goddis
Howe kinge pollicrate for extorcion and tyrannye was hangyd tyll euery ioynt went from other
Howe the tyraunt alisaundre llough his philosopre Calistenes with other for saynge truth
Lenuoye.
Howe Alisaundre kinge of Pyrothe auenturynge to passe the flode of Acheronte / there at his bak by his moost trusty was dedly woundyd
Howe Darie kinge of Perce and mede was out∣rayed by alisaundre kinge of macedoyne
Lenuoye.
Here bochas remembreth the batyles and losse of Realmeys of antiquyte / with the fallynge of dy∣uers nobles.
Howe Eumenydes was twyes outrayed by Antigo∣us / and at the last dyed in prison
Lenuoye
Howe quene Olimpiades for she delyted in vices / murdre and vengeaunce dyed at myscheef
Lenuoye.
Howe agathodes of lowe birth borne atteyned vnto royall dignite / endyd in pouerte and wretchidnesse.
Lenuoye
Howe Cassander slough the wif of Alisaundre / & Hercules hir sonne / And antipater slough his mo∣der and of other murders.
Of the two prefectis / Penestes and a Amanas
Howe sandrodoctus borne of lowe degre cherisshed robbours and theues
Howe Selenchus the mighty prince was slayne by the great tholome kynge of egypt
Howe the two sonnys of quene arcynoe were by ther moders brother traitourly slayne and she exiled
Lenuoye.
Howe Ceramius of macedoyne kinge that murdryd his cosyns was slayne in batayle by thē of fraunce
Howe the prince Belgius was disconfited / and brought vnto nought
Howe Duke Brennyus delitinge to robbe / and stele mischeuously endyd
Lenuoye.
Howe Pirrus kinge of pyrothe list nat lyue in pees but of pride and presumpcion in werre cam vnto myschaunce
Howe the tiraunt Aristotyn by trecherous werkinge set asyde the right lyne was crowned kinge of Epy∣rothes and after slayne
Howe quene Arcynoe for the auoutry done wt De∣metrius husbonde of hir doughter Beronyces en∣ded in sorowe.
Incipit liber quintus Here Bochas write ayenst theym that delite in beutye and semelynesse / callinge to purpos howe a man borne in Tuscan which excelled in beutye and fairnesse: and for his beutye shulde nat geue other occasion to synne he disfigured his visage and body with many a greate wounde and spot
Lenuoye.
Howe the two brethre Selench{us} & antioch{us} eche desy / rous to excelle other / fil at discorde endid in mischief
Howe the noble quene Leodomya was in the temple slayne: and vengeaunce take vpon him that slough hir.
Howe cleomens kynge of macedoyne was slayne with his wyf and chyldren
Of kinge Nero Cornelye and Haniball
Of the Duke zantipas cast into the se
How Marchus regulus of his fre wyll dyed for the comon wele
Lenuoye
Howe Tholome kinge of Egipt callyd Phylopater slough fader and moder and his wif in lecherie spente his life and mischeuously endyd
Howe Abithomarus and Viridomarus Dukys of fraūce after greate bataylss by romayns slayne
Howe Siphax of Munedye kinge was take and dyed in prison
Howe Nabyn hauyng no title but by tyrannye to¦ke on him to be kinge of macedoyne was slayne
Here Bochas reherceth the mortall werrys betwene Romayns and Affricans
Howe kynge perseus by romayns outrayed and after take.
Howe the people af Achaia with their cheef cyte Corinthe by romaynes was destroyed
Howe greate antiochus vsinge riot and vicious lyuynge by Marchus actilius was outrayed and dyed sodenly
Lenuoye
Howe Ieronimus kinge of Ciracuse was slayne / howe Scipio affrican that laboured for comon we¦le of romayns was exiled by them & so dyed
Howe Scipio Asian lorde of Asye that labored euer for the comon wele was murdred
Howe the duke philopomones was take put in pry∣son after dranke poyson and so dyed.
Of the thred Scipion Nasica that euer wrought moch for the comonte.
Lenuoye
Howe duke Hanyball after many victorious de∣dys murdred him silf with poyson.
Lenuoye.
Howe Prusias kynge of bethenye betrayed Hany∣ball and wolde haue disheryted his sonne and heyre went abeggynge in straunge londys.
Howe Persa of macedoyne kynge that enpoysoned his brother was by Emylyus outrayed and dyed in pryson.
Howe Amonyus a Prince of antyoch delytynge in pyllage and robbrye / with other vicious lyuyn∣ge / fledde in womans clothinge / after takyn and slayne.
Howe Andriscus of lowe birth borne hauynge no tytle of macedoyne kynge▪ was take and dyed in prison
Howe alisaundre ballas kynge of surrie for extorci¦on pride & vnkyndnesse dyed at mischeef.
Lenuoye
Here bochas writeth of the Rebellions / and Se∣dycions in Rome betwene Tribunys & Comons.
Howe the wyf of hastruball brente hir silf and hir children.
Of Machabeus Ioathas take by the kynge of Surrie
Howe Demetrius the seconde loste at the laste his hede.
Howe zebenna kynge of surre by intrusion entryn had mischeuous endynge.
Howe Bitynctus kinge of auergnatus / by the Ro¦mayns was taken and dyed in pryson
Howe the tyraunt Euergetes weddyd quene Cle¦opatras slough hir eldest sonne / exiled his wyfe weddyd hir doughter
Howe Iugurta of by intrusion of Munedy Kynge slough rightful heiris & after himsilf was drownyd
Lenuoye.
Incipit liber Sextus Here Bochas sittinge in his studye alone writeth a greate processe: howe Fortune lyke amonstruous Ima∣ge / Hauinge an hundryd handys appperyd vnto him and spake: and Bochas vnto hir: makinge bytwene them both many greate Argumentys: and resons of fortunes chauncys.
Hic loquitur Fortuna
Here reherceth Fortune hir condicions vnto bochas shewynge howe many one she enhaunced for a tyme / and anone after theym sodeynly ouerthroweth
Howe Gayus Marryus of lowe byrth borne cā to hye estate / which blent with couetise after ma∣ny greate batayles dyed at myscheef
Howe kinge metrydate boode vii yere in wyldernesse had greate turmentys both on see and londe / by hys blode brought to vntraunce slough him silfe with a swerde.
Lenuoye.
Howe Encratydes kinge of Sithye was slayne by Demetrys: and after his careyn cast to hounds
Howe Herodes kinge of Parthos werred with Ro∣mayns: which after his sonne and heire was slayne: made his bastarde sonne kinge: That anone after slough his fader
Howe Fymbria a consull of rome slough him silf.
OF Albynius that was slayne with stonys
Howe adriane borne of lowe degre falsly vsurped to be kynge of rome which with his chorles was after brent.
Howe Synthonyus kynge of trace that moch coue¦tyd all forwent and dyed in pouerte
Here bochas in {per}ty maketh a descripcion of the king¦dom of Trace and passeth ouer lightly vnto the accō¦plysshment of his boke
Howe after many greate conquestys of duke Pom∣peye beganne greate werre betwene him and Iulyus Thre hundred thousande were slayne and at the last the hede of pompeye smetyn of
Lenuoye.
Howe victorious Iulius Cesar brent the vessels of Tholome: slough achillas that wolde haue mur¦dryd him: and after greate victoryes him silfe was murdryd with bodekens by brutus Cassius
Incipit Liber Of Antonye son and heire to greate Antonye: An
Octauus ure of Rome / and many other Emperours and nobles ly endyd
Howe Gallyen sonne of valerian was slayne
Howe Quyntilyus was murdryd by wymen
Of Aurelian in Denmark born
Howe Probus disconfited Romayns / and after was slayne
Howe Clarus and his two sonnes were myscheuyd
Howe the hardy quene zenobya faugh with Aurelean and was take
Howe Galerius oppressed martyrs / and cristys feith / and myscheuously endyd
Howe Maxence the emperour enmy to cristis feith myscheuously endyd
OF Constantyne and Crispus: and howe Dal¦macius was slayne
Of the brethren Constaūce and constancius / and
Howe Constantyne baptized by Syluestre was ured of his lepre
A goe processe why Rome was destroyed and for the same or lyke cause many other realmes
Howe Symak and Boys his sonne in lawe were banysshed and after Iuged to dye
Of kynge arthur and his conqestys and of the commodytees of Englonde and he was destroyed by his cosyn mordrede.
Lenuoye.
An Exclamacion of Bochas ageyn kynredes vnkinde.
Of Geseuye kinge of Venandre / and of thre o¦ther kinges / and howe they were destroyed.
Howe Albonyus was murdryd by his wyfe and howe she after most vicious was mur∣dyd also.
Incipit Liber Nonus Howe the emperour Mauricius / his wif and his children were slayne at Calcedonie
Of machomete the fals prophete and howe he beynge dronke was deuoured amonge swyne.
Howe Brounchilde quene of fraunce slough hir kyn / brought the Londe in dyuysyon / and after was hangyd / and hewen in pecys smale
Lenuoye.
Bochas marueyleth of the malice and cruelte of rounchilde writeth thus
Howe Eraclius the Emperoure susteyned here∣sye / fyll in to dropsye / and sekenesse vncurable / and so dyed.
Howe Constantyne the son of Eraclyus sup¦portynge errour / and heresye / was murdred in a stewe
Howe Gisulphus was slayn and his wyf endyd mischeuously in lecherye.
Of Iustynyan the fals extorcyoner / exyled by patricyan / after both nose and iyen but from his hede.
Howe Philyp the empeorour dyed at myscheef.
Howe Anastace was compelled to leue the Empyre to be a preste and lyue in pouerte.
Howe the hede of Lupus kynge of lumbardye was smet of by Grymaldus.
Howe the hede of Alexyus was smet of by com∣perton
Howe Aryperton was drowned with his richesse.
Howe dediere by pope adrian and Charles of fraū∣ce was put to flight and dyed at mischeef.
Of pope Iohn a woman with childe and put doun.
Bochas counseyleth pryncys to remembre on Arnolde.
Of Charles of Loreyn confoūdyd with hungre.
Howe kinge Salamon whilom Kynge of Hun∣gery was put to flight
Howe Petro kinge of hūgery was slayne
Howe Dyogenes the Emperoure was taken / and his iyen put oute.
Howe Robert Duke of Normandye faught with the Turkes / was named to the crowne of Ieru∣salem / and dyed at myscheef.
Howe Iocelyne prince of Rage for pryde slouthe and lecherye dyed in pouerte.
Howe the emperoure Androuycus slough all that were of the blode royall cherisshed vicio{us} peple and after was hanged.
Lenuoye.
Of Isacyus made blynde and taken at myscheef
Of herry the eldest sonne of Fredryk the seconde mischeuyd by his fadre.
A comendacion of bochas of such as be kynde to their kynrede.
Howe Manfroye kynge of poyle was slayn.
Howe Encys kinge of Sardany died in pryson.
How manymettus and Argones dyed at myscheef
Howe Charles kynge of Ierusalem / and of Cecile for auaryce and auoutrye died at myscheef.
Lenuoye.
Of Hugolyne Erle of Pyse / slayne in pryson.
Howe ppe Boneface the viii was take by the lyna¦ge de Columpnys / ete his hondys and dyde in prison
Howe the ordre of Templers was foundyd / and with other of the ordre brent.
Bochas here cōmendeth Theodorus with other two philosophers for their pacience notably·
Bochas here commendeth humylite
Howe philyp la Bele kynge of fraunce was slayn with a wyld bore and of his thre sonnes and their weddynge.
Howe duke Gaulter of Florence for his tyrannye / Lecherye and couetyse endyd in mischeef