1. First, it must be plain and euident to the hearer, not obscure,
2. short and in as fewe wordes as it maie be, for soche amatter.
3. Probable, as not vnlike to be true.
4. In wordes fine and elegante.
¶ A narracion historicall, vpon Semiramis Queene of Babilon
how and after what sort she obtained the gouernment thereof.
[Sidenote: Tyme.
Persone.]
AFter the death of Ninus, somtime kyng of Ba-
bilon, his soonne Ninus also by name, was left
to succede hym, in all the Assirian Monarchie,
Semiramis wife to Ninus the firste, feared the
tender age of her sonne, wherupon she thought
[Sidenote: The cause.
The facte.]
that those mightie nacions and kyngdomes, would not obaie
so young and weake a Prince. Wherfore, she kept her sonne
from the gouernmente: and moste of all she feared, that thei
[Sidenote: The waie
how.]
would not obaie a woman, forthwith she fained her self, to be
the soonne of Ninus, and bicause she would not be knowen
to bee a woman, this Quene inuented a newe kinde of tire,
the whiche all the Babilonians that were men, vsed by her
commaundement. By this straunge disguised tire and appa-
rell, she not knowen to bee a woman, ruled as a man, for the
[Sidenote: The facte.
The place.]
space of twoo and fourtie yeres: she did marueilous actes, for
she enlarged the mightie kyngdome of Babilon, and builded
[Fol. xiij.r]
thesame citée. Many other regions subdued, and valiauntlie
ouerthrowen, she entered India, to the whiche neuer Prince
came, sauing Alexander the greate: she passed not onely men
in vertue, counsaill, and valiaunt stomacke, but also the fa-
mous counsailours of Assiria, might not contende with her
in Maiestie, pollicie, and roialnes. For, at what tyme as thei
knewe her a woman, thei enuied not her state, but maruei-
led at her wisedome, pollicie, and moderacion of life, at the
laste she desiryng the vnnaturall lust, and loue of her soonne
Ninus, was murthered of hym.
¶ A narracion historicall vpon kyng Ri-
chard the third, the cruell tiraunt[.]
[Sidenote: The persone[.]]
RIchard duke of Glocester, after the death of Ed-
ward the fowerth his brother king of England,
vsurped the croune, moste traiterouslie and wic-
kedlie: this kyng Richard was small of stature,
deformed, and ill shaped, his shoulders beared
not equalitee, a pulyng face, yet of countenaunce and looke
cruell, malicious, deceiptfull, bityng and chawing his nether
lippe: of minde vnquiet, pregnaunt of witte, quicke and liue-
ly, a worde and a blowe, wilie, deceiptfull, proude, arrogant
[Sidenote: The tyme.
The place.]
in life and cogitacion bloodie. The fowerth daie of Iulie, he
entered the tower of London, with Anne his wife, doughter
to Richard Erle of Warwick: and there in created Edward
his onely soonne, a child of ten yeres of age, Prince of Wa-
les. At thesame tyme, in thesame place, he created many no-
ble peres, to high prefermente of honour and estate, and im-
mediatly with feare and faint harte, bothe in himself, and his
[Sidenote: The horrible
murther of
king Richard[.]]
nobles and commons, was created king, alwaies a vnfortu-
nate and vnluckie creacion, the harts of the nobles and com-
mons thereto lackyng or faintyng, and no maruaile, he was
a cruell murtherer, a wretched caitiffe, a moste tragicall ty-
raunt, and blood succour, bothe of his nephewes, and brother
George Duke of Clarence, whom he caused to bee drouned
in a Butte of Malmsie, the staires sodainlie remoued, wher-
[Fol. xiij.v]
[Sidenote: The facte.]
on he stepped, the death of the lorde Riuers, with many other
nobles, compassed and wrought at the young Princes com-
myng out of Wales, the .xix. daie of Iuly, in the yere of our
lorde .1483. openly he toke vpon him to be king, who sekyng
hastely to clime, fell according to his desart, sodainly and in-
gloriously, whose Embassage for peace, Lewes the Frenche
king, for his mischeuous & bloodie slaughter, so moche abhor-
red, that he would neither sée the Embassador, nor heare the
Embassage: for he murthered his .ij. nephues, by the handes
[Sidenote: The tyme.
The maner
how.]
of one Iames Tirrell, & .ij. vilaines more associate with him
the Lieutenaunt refusyng so horrible a fact. This was doen
he takyng his waie & progresse to Glocester, whereof he was
before tymes Duke: the murther perpetrated, he doubed the
good squire knight. Yet to kepe close this horrible murther,
he caused a fame and rumour to be spread abrode, in all par-
tes of the realme, that these twoo childre[n] died sodainly, there-
[Sidenote: The cause.]
by thinkyng the hartes of all people, to bee quietlie setteled,
no heire male lefte a liue of kyng Edwardes children. His
mischief was soche, that God shortened his vsurped raigne:
he was al together in feare and dread, for he being feared and
dreaded of other, did also feare & dread, neuer quiete of minde
faint harted, his bloodie conscience by outward signes, conde[m]-
pned hym: his iyes in euery place whirlyng and caste about,
[Sidenote: The state of
a wicked ma[n].]
his hand moche on his Dagger, the infernall furies tormen-
ted him by night, visions and horrible dreames, drawed him
from his bedde, his vnquiet life shewed the state of his consci-
ence, his close murther was vttered, fro[m] the hartes of the sub-
iectes: thei called hym openlie, with horrible titles and na-
mes, a horrible murtherer, and excecrable tiraunt. The peo-
[Sidenote: A dolefull
state of a
quene.]
ple sorowed the death of these twoo babes, the Queene, kyng
Edwardes wife, beeyng in Sanctuarie, was bestraught of
witte and sences, sounyng and falling doune to the grounde
as dedde, the Quéene after reuiued, knéeled doune, and cal-
led on God, to take vengaunce on this murtherer. The con-
science of the people was so wounded, of the tolleracion of the
[Fol. xiiij.r]
[Sidenote: The wicked
facte of kyng
Richard, a
horror and
dread to the
commons.]
facte, that when any blustryng winde, or perilous thonder, or
dreadfull tempest happened: with one voice thei cried out and
quaked, least God would take vengauce of them, for it is al-
waies séen the horrible life of wicked gouernors, bringeth to
ruin their kyngdom and people, & also wicked people, the like
daungers to the kyngdome and Prince: well he and his sup-
porters with the Duke of Buckyngham, died shamefullie.
[Sidenote: God permit
meanes, to
pull doune
tyrauntes.]
The knotte of mariage promised, betwene Henrie Erle of
Richemonde, and Elizabeth doughter to kyng Edward the
fowerth: caused diuerse nobles to aide and associate this erle,
fledde out of this lande with all power, to the attainmente of
the kyngdome by his wife. At Nottyngham newes came to
kyng Richard, that the Erle of Richmonde, with a small co[m]-
paignie of nobles and other, was arriued in Wales, forthe-
with exploratours and spies were sent, who shewed the Erle
[Sidenote: Lichefelde.
Leicester.]
to be encamped, at the toune of Litchfield, forthwith all pre-
paracion of warre, was set forthe to Leicester on euery side,
the Nobles and commons shranke from kyng Richarde, his
[Sidenote: Bosworthe[.]]
power more and more weakened. By a village called Bos-
worthe, in a greate plaine, méete for twoo battailes: by Lei-
cester this field was pitched, wherin king Richard manfully
fightyng hande to hande, with the Erle of Richmonde, was
[Sidenote: Kyng Ri-
chard killed
in Bosworth
fielde.]
slaine, his bodie caried shamefullie, to the toune of Leicester
naked, without honor, as he deserued, trussed on a horse, be-
hinde a Purseuaunte of Armes, like a hogge or a Calfe, his
hedde and his armes hangyng on the one side, and his legges
on the other side: caried through mire and durte, to the graie
Friers churche, to all men a spectacle, and oprobrie of tiran-
nie this was the cruell tirauntes ende.
¶ A narracion historicall, of the commyng
of Iulius Cesar into Britaine.
[Sidenote: The tyme.
The persone.]
WHen Iulius Cesar had ended his mightie and huge
battailes, about the flood Rhene, he marched into the
regio[n] of Fraunce: at thesame time repairing with a
freshe multitude, his Legio[n]s, but the chief cause of his warre
[Fol. xiiij.v]
in Fraunce was, that of long time, he was moued in minde,
[Sidenote: The cause.
The fame
and glorie of
Britaine.]
to see this noble Islande of Britain, whose fame for nobilitée
was knowen and bruted, not onelie in Rome, but also in the
vttermoste la[n]des. Iulius Cesar was wroth with the[m], because
in his warre sturred in Fraunce, the fearce Britaines aided
the Fenche men, and did mightilie encounter battaill with
the Romaines: whose prowes and valiaunt fight, slaked the
proude and loftie stomackes of the Romaines, and droue the[m]
[Sidenote: The prowes
of Iulius
Cesar.]
to diuerse hasardes of battaill. But Cesar as a noble warrier
preferryng nobilitee, and worthinesse of fame, before money
or cowardly quietnes: ceased not to enter on y^e fearce Britai-
nes, and thereto prepared his Shippes, the Winter tyme fo-
lowyng, that assone as oportunitee of the yere serued, to passe
[Sidenote: The maner
how.
Cesars com-
municacion
with the mar[-]
chauntes, as
concernyng
the lande of
Britaine.]
with all power against them. In the meane tyme, Cesar in-
quired of the Marchauntes, who with marchaundise had ac-
cesse to the Islande: as concernyng the qua[n]titée and bignes of
it, the fashion and maner of the people, their lawes, their or-
der, and kinde of gouernmente. As these thynges were in all
poinctes, vnknowen to Cesar, so also the Marchau[n]tes knewe
[Sidenote: The ware &
politike go-
uernement of
y^e Britaines.
Aliaunce in
tyme traite-
rous.]
no more tha[n] the places bordring on the sea side. For, the Bri-
taines fearing the traiterous and dissembled hartes of aliau[n]-
ces, politikelie repelled them: for, no straunger was suffered
to enter from his Shippe, on the lande, but their marchaun-
dice were sold at the sea side. All nacions sought to this land,
the felicitee of it was so greate, whereupon the Grekes kno-
wyng and tastyng the commoditée of this Islande, called it by
[Sidenote: Britain som-
tyme called of
the Grekes
Olbion, not
Albion.]
a Greke name _Olbion_, whiche signifieth a happie and fortu-
nate countrie, though of some called _Albion_, tyme chaunged
the firste letter, as at this daie, London is called for the toune
of kyng Lud. Cesar thereupon before he would marche with
[Sidenote: Caius Uo-
lusenus, Em[-]
bassadour to
Britaine.]
his armie, to the people of Britain, he sent Caius Uolusenus
a noble man of Rome, a valiaunte and hardie Capitaine, as
Embassadour to the Britaines, who as he thoughte by his
Embassage, should knowe the fashion of the Island, the ma-
ner of the people, their gouernemente. But as it seemeth, the
[Fol. xv.r]
Embassadour was not welcome. For, he durste not enter fro[m]
his Ship, to dooe his maisters Embassage, Cesar knewe no-
[Sidenote: Comas A-
trebas, seco[n]de
Embassador
from Cesar.]
thing by him. Yet Cesar was not so contented, but sent an o-
ther Embassadour, a man of more power, stomack, and more
hardie, Comas Atrebas by name, who would enter as an
Embassadour, to accomplish the will & expectacion of Cesar,
Comas Atrebas was so welcome, that the Britains cast him
in prison: Embassages was not common emong theim, nor
the curteous vsage of Embassadours knowen. Al these thin-
ges, made Cesar more wrothe, to assaie the vncourtous Bris[-]
[Sidenote: Cassibelane
king of Lon-
don, at the a-
riue of Cesar[.]
Cassibelane
a worthie
Prince.]
taines. In those daies Cassibelan was kyng of London, this
Cassibelan was a prince of high wisedom, of manly stomacke
and valiaunt in fight: and for power and valiauntnesse, was
chosen of the Britaines, chief gouernour and kyng. Dissen-
cion and cruell warre was emong the[m], through the diuersitie
of diuers kinges in the lande. The Troinouau[n]tes enuied the
[Sidenote: Imanue[n]cius[.]]
state of Cassibelan, bicause Immanuencius, who was kyng
of London, before Cassibelan, was put to death, by the coun-
sail of Cassibelan. The sonne of Immanuencius, hearing of
the commyng of Cesar, did flie traiterouslie to Cesar: The
Troinouauntes fauoured Immanue[n]cius part, & thereupon
[Sidenote: The Troy-
nouauntes by
treason let in
Cesar.]
promised, as moste vile traitours to their countrie, an ente-
ryng to Cesar, seruice and homage, who through a self will,
and priuate fauour of one, sought the ruine of their countrie,
and in the ende, their own destruccion. But Cassibelan gaue
many ouerthrowes to Cesar, and so mightelie encountred
with hym, so inuincible was the parte of Cassibelane: but by
treason of the Troinouauntes, not by manhod of Cesars po-
wer, enteryng was giuen. What house can stande, where-
[Sidenote: Treason a
confusion to
the mightiest
dominions.]
in discord broile? What small power, is not able to enter the
mightiest dominions or regions: to ouercome the strongeste
fortresse, treason open the gate, treason giuyng passage. Al-
though Cesar by treason entered, so Cesar writeth. Yet the
fame of Cesar was more commended, for his enterprise into
Britain, and victorie: then of all his Conquest, either against
[Fol. xv.v]
[Sidenote: A sente[n]ce gra[-]
uen of Bri-
taine, in the
commendaci-
on of Cesar.]
Pompey, or with any other nacion. For in a Piller at Rome
this sentence was engrauen: Of all the dominions, Citees,
and Regions, subdued by Cesar, his warre atte[m]pted against
the fearce Britaines, passeth all other. After this sort Cesar
entred our Islande of Britaine by treason.
¶ A narracion iudiciall, out of Theusidides,
vpon the facte of Themistocles.
THe Athenians brought vnder the thraldome of
the Lacedemonians, soughte meanes to growe
mightie, and to pull them from the yoke, vnder
the Lacedemonians. Lacedemonia was a citee
enuironed with walles. Athenes at thesame
tyme without walles: whereby their state was more feeble,
and power weakened. Themistocles a noble Sage, and a
worthie pere of Athens: gaue the Athenia[n]s counsaile to wall
their citée stro[n]gly, and so forthwith to be lordes and rulers by
them selues, after their owne facion gouerning. In finishing
this enterprise, in all poinctes, policie, and wittie conuei-
aunce wanted not. The Lacedemonians harde of the pur-
pose of the Athenians, & sent Embassadours, to knowe their
doynges, and so to hinder them. Themistocles gaue counsaill
to the Athenians, to kepe in safe custodie, the Embassadours
of Lacedemonia, vntill soche tyme, as he from the Embas-
sage was retourned fro[m] Lacedemonia. The Lacedemonians
hearyng of the commyng of Themistocles, thought little of
the walle buildyng at Athens. Themistocles was long loo-
ked for of the[m], because Themistocles lingered in his Embas-
sage, that or the matter were throughly knowen: the walle
of Athens should be builded. The slowe commyng of The-
mistocles, was blamed of the Lacedemonians: but Themi-
stocles excused hymself, partly infirmitie of bodie, lettyng
his commyng, and the expectacion of other, accompaignied
with hym in this Embassage. The walle ended, necessitie
not artificiall workemanship finishing it, with al hast it was
ended: then Themistocles entered the Senate of Lacedemo-
[Fol. xvj.r]
nia, and saied: the walle whom ye sought to let, is builded at
Athens, ye Lacedemonians, that wee maie be more strong.
Then the Lacedemonians could saie nothyng to it, though
thei enuied the Athenians state, the walle was builded, and
leste thei should shewe violence or crueltie on Themistocles,
their Embassabours were at Athens in custodie, whereby
Themistocles came safe from his Embassage, and the Athe-
nians made strong by their walle: this was politikely dooen
of Themistocles.
¶ A narracion Poeticall vpon a Rose.
WHo so doeth maruaile at the beautée and good-
ly colour of the redde Rose, he must consider the
blood, that came out of Uenus the Goddes foot.
The Goddes Uenus, as foolishe Poetes dooe
feigne, beyng the aucthour of Loue: loued Ado-
nis the soonne of Cynara kyng of Cypres. But Mars called
the God of battaile, loued Uenus, beyng nothyng loued of
Uenus: but Mars loued Uenus as feruently, as Uenus lo-
ued Adonis. Mars beyng a God, loued Uenus a goddes, but
Uenus onely was inflamed with the loue of Adonis, a mor-
tall man. Their loue was feruent, and exremely set on fire
in bothe, but their kinde and nature were contrary, wherev-
pon Mars beyng in gelousie, sought meanes to destroie, faire
amiable, and beautifull Adonis, thinkyng by his death, the
loue of Uenus to be slaked: Adonis and Mars fell to fighting
Uenus as a louer, ranne to helpe Adonis her louer, and by
chaunce she fell into a Rose bushe, and pricked with it her
foote, the blood then ran out of her tender foote, did colour the
Rose redde: wherevpon the Rose beyng white before, is v-
pon that cause chaunged into redde.
[¶] _Chria._
_CHria_, this profitable exercise of _Rhetorike_, is for the
porfite of it so called: it is a rehersall in fewe wordes,
of any ones fact, or of the saiyng of any man, vpo[n] the
[Fol. xvj.v]
whiche an oracion maie be made. As for example, Isocrates
did say, that the roote of learnng was bitter, but the fruictes
pleasaunt: and vpon this one sentence, you maie dilate a am-
ple and great oracion, obseruyng these notes folowyng. The
saiyng dooeth containe so greate matter, and minister soche
plentie of argumente.
Aucthors intreatyng of this exercise, doe note three sortes
to bee of theim, one of theim a _Chria verball_, that is to saie, a
profitable exercise, vpon the saiyng of any man, onely con-
teinyng the wordes of the aucthour, as the sentence before.
The seconde is, conteinyng the facte or deede of the per-
sone: As Diogines beyng asked of Alexander the Greate, if
he lacked any thyng, that he was able to giue hym, thinkyng
his demau[n]de vnder his power, for Diogenes was at thesame
tyme warmyng hymself in the beames of the Sunne: Dio-
genes aunswered, ye take awaie that, that ye are not able to
giue, meanyng that Alexander by his bodie, shadowed hym,
and tooke awaie that, whiche was not in his power to giue,
Alexander tourned hymself to his men, and saied, if I were
not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.
The thirde is a _Chria_ mixt, bothe _verball_ and notyng the
facte, as Diogenes seyng a boie wanton & dissolute, did strike
his teacher with a staffe, vtteryng these woordes: why dooest
thou teache thy scholer so dissolutlie.
You shall learne to make this exercise, obseruyng these
notes.
Firste, you shall praise the aucthour, who wrote the sen-
tence, waighing his life, if his life be vnknowen, and not easie
to finde his sentence or sentences: for godlie preceptes will
minister matter of praise, as if these saiynges bee recited, thei
are sufficient of them selues, to praise the aucthour.
Then in the seconde place, expounde the meanyng of the
aucthour in that saiyng.
Then shewe the cause, why he spake this sentence.
Then compare the matter, by a contrary.
[Fol. xvij.r]
Then frame a similitude of thesame.
Shewe the like example of some, that spake the like, or
did the like.