glorious champions two bretherin Scipion Africanus and Scipion Asian,
whiche alle their lyve daies emploied and besied hem in divers entreprises
of armees and batailes ayenst the Affricains, for the saufegarde and
defense of the comon wele of theire contre. And the saide Scipion Affrican
wilfully died in armes of chevalrie rathir than to lyve in servage and
distresse among his adversaries in Cartage.
{67}
How Scipion Asian, a noble conqueroure for the Romayns, yet in his age he
was envyed, accused to king Antiochus, [and] died pitouslie in prison for
his rewarde.
And notwithestanding after many triumphes and victories done by Scipion
Asian, that put in subjeccion the contre of Asie, and enriched gretlie the
tresoure of Rome thoroughe his conquestis, he was by envious peple accused
falsely to king Antiochus, that he hadde withehalde the tresoure of Rome,
and was condempned to prison, where he endid his daies.
[Sidenote: Lucius Paulus.]
How Lucius Paulus, a cenatoure, in defaute that his hoste wolde not doo by
counceile, he was slayne in bataile.
[Sidenote: Quod capitanei non debent renunciare concilia peritorum.]
Also Lucius Paulus, a noble consul Romayne, that spared not hym silfe to
die in bataile in Puylle withe .ccc. noble Romains that were assemblid
unwitting the saide Lucius Paulus, and alle for lak of counceile that the
saide .iij^c. nobles Romayns wolde not be governed by hym: he seeng anothir
consul Romayn toke the entreprise, was so overthrowen withe his felouship,
the saide Lucius Paulus avaunced hym wilfully among his adversaries withe
the residew of the Romains that [were] lefte, and there died withe them, to
th'entent that it shulde be noted and know that the saide entreprise was
not lost in his defaute.
[Sidenote: Marcus Marcellus.]
[Sidenote: Haniballe.]
How Marcus Marcellus, a consul that for the welfare of Rome, bethout avise,
went hastilie to bataile ayenst Haniballe of Cartage, and he being so sorie
for the dethe of so manlie a duke did hym to be buried in the most
worshipfulle wise.
Also it is [to be] remembrid of Marcus Marcellus, a consulle Romayne that
set noughte of dethe, for he upon a tyme, bethout gret {68} deliberacion or
advisement, desired to fight ayenst Haniballe prince of Cartage, assemblid
withe a gret power ayenst the Romains, whiche were feerse
[Here again a leaf of the Manuscript is lost.]
[Sidenote: Res publica.]
of man, his beeis for hony, his medewis purveied for sustenaunce of his
grete bestis, and every man after his degree to store hym silfe, that whan
ther falle by fortune of straunge wethirs, as thoroughe excessife moist,
colde, heet, mildewis, or by fortune of bataile and werre, the saide
countre, cite, towne, village, or menage so provided and stuffid before
shalle mow withe gret ease endure the persecucion of a scarsete or derthe
fallen [by] suche straunge menys. And aswelle the terme of Res publica,
whiche is in Englisshe tong clepid a comyn profit, it ought aswelle be
referred to the provision and wise gouvernaunce of a mesuage or a
householde as to the conduit and wise governaunce of a village, towne,
citee, countree, or region.
[The following addition is here made in the margin.]
Hyt ys to remembre thys caase of rebellyon of Parys felle in abcence of
Herry .v^{te}. kyng beyng in England wyth hys queene. And bethoute noote of
vaynglory, yff I do wryte of myne autor[158] I fynde by hys bokes of hys
purveours how yn every castelle, forteresse, and cyte or towne he wolde
hafe grete providence of vitaille of cornys, of larde, and beoffes, of
stokphyshe and saltfyshe owt of England commyng by shyppes. And that
policie was one of the grete causes that the regent of Fraunce and the
lordes of the kyng ys grete councelle lefft hym to hafe so many castells to
kepe that he ledd yerly .iij^c. sperys and the bowes. And also yn semblable
wyse purveyed yeerly for lyverey whyte and rede for hubes for hys
soudeours, and for armurs wepyns redye to a naked man that was hable to do
the kyng and the sayd regent service. And yt fille yn the .viij^{te}. yere
of Herry the .v^{the}., named kyng, when he was capteyn of the Bastyle of
Seynt Antonye of Parys, and Thomas Beauford, dux of Excestyr, {69} beyng
then capteyn of the cytee, hyt fortuned that for the arrestyng of the lord
Lyseladam, who[159] was yn so grete favour of the cyte that alle the comyns
of the seyd cyte [stode] sodanly to harneys and rebelled ayenst the duc of
Exetyr and ayenst hys armee and felyshyppe; so the duc for more suerte wyth
hys felyshype were coherced to take the Bastyle for her deffence. And at
hys commyng the chieff questyon he demaunded of the seyd Fastolf how welle
he was stored of greynes, of whete, of benys, pesyn, and aveyn for
horsmete, and of othyr vitaille; he seyd for half yere and more suffisaunt.
And hyt comforted gretly the prince. Then the duc made redy the ordenaunce
wyth shot of grete gonnys amongys the rebells and shot of arowes myghtelye,
that they kept her loggeyns. And the Frenshe kyng and the quene beyng yn
the cytee, helde ayenst the rebellys, so yn short tyme the burgeyses wer
constreyned to submytt them and put hem yn the duc ys grace.
[Sidenote: De magnificencia felicitatis cultoribus terrarum adhibenda,
specialiter Cyro regi.]
Caton magnifiethe that prince that cherisshith and favourithe erthe
tiliers.
[Sidenote: Socrates.]
[Sidenote: De quodam Lysander ph'o.]
[Sidenote: De Ciro rege Persarum.]
[Sidenote: Tullius.]
And as Caton writithe that it is one of the principalle dedis of a prince
to maynteyne, kepe, and avaunce labourage of the londe, and of all tho that
bee laboureris of the londe, whiche men soo cherisshed most of verray
necessite cause a roiaume, countree, or cite to be plenteous, riche, and
well at ease. And the philosophur Socrates writithe that Cirus king of
Perse was excellent in wit, glorious in seignorie terrien; in the daies
[of] whiche Cirus one Lisander, of the cite of Lacedemone in Grece, a man
halden of gret vertew and noblesse, came owt of ferre contrees to see the
saide king Cirus, being in the cite of Sardes, and presented hym withe
clothis of golde, juellis, and othir ricchesses sent by the citezeins of
Lacedemonois; the whiche king Cirus received the saide Li[gh]ander full
worshiplie in his palais, and, for the grettist ricchesse roialle and
pleasure that the said {70} king Cirus had to doo hym worship and pleasure
and chier, he broughte the saide Lisander to see his gardins and herbers,
whiche gardins were so proporcionallie in a convenient distaunce sett and
planted withe treis of verdure of divers fructis, the gardyns so welle
aleyed to walke upon, and rengid withe beddis bering fulle many straunge
and divers herbis, and the herbers of so soote smyllis of flouris and
herbis of divers colours, that it was the joieust and plesaunt sighte that
ever the saide citesyn Lisander had see beforne. And the saide Cirus saide
unto Lisander that he had devised and ordeined the herbers to be compassed,
rengid, and made, and many of the treis planted it withe his owne hande.
And the saide Lisander, beholding the gret beaute, semlinesse of his
parson, [and] the riche clothis he ware of tissue and precious stones, he
saide that fortune and felicite mondeyne was joyned and knyt withe his
vertue and noblesse roiall, forasmoche as the saide Cirus emploied and
intentife[160] besynesse in tymes oportune in tilieng, ering, and labourage
of his londis to bere corne and fruit, whiche is the principalle partie of
beneurte and felicite mondeyne, that is to wete the naturelle richesse of
worldlie joie. Also Tullius writithe that Valerius Corvinus, an auncien
citesyn Romayne, did his gret peyne and diligence to laboure londes and
make it riche withe labourage and tilieng upon the londe for the comon wele
of the cite of Rome, that in tyme and yeris of scarsete the garners in Rome
shulde be alway furnisshed and stuffid withe greyn, that a meane price of
corne shulde be alway hadde.
[Sidenote: De re publica.]
How the noble cenatours of Rome avaunced here parsones in gret perille and
jubardie ayenst theire adversaries for the comon welfare of the Romains.
[Sidenote: Lucius Brutus.]
[Sidenote: Lucius Romanus.]
[Sidenote: Non est laudendum secundum legem Christianorum.]
And the saide famous clerk Tullius, in the .5. disc' of the saide booke,
puttithe in remembraunce whiche of the noble and famous {71} dukis,
princes, and cenatours of Romains abandonned her bodies and goodis, only
putting them to the uttermost jubardy in the feelde ayenst theire
adversaries, for the avauncement and keping in prosperite, worship, and
welfare of Rome. Among whiche, one of the saide Romains was Lucius Brutus,
that whan Arnus, a leder of peple, assemblid a gret oost ayenst the Romains
to have discomfit hem and put hem in servage out of her fraunchise, the
saide noble Lucius, being then governoure of the ooste of Romains, thought
rathir to die upon the said Arnus, so that he mighte subdew hym, rathir
than the saide citee shulde stande in servage. He mounted upon his hors,
and leide his spere in the rest, and withe a mightie courage renne feerslie
upon the saide Arnus being in the myddille of his oost, and fortuned by
chaunce that bothe of hem wounded[161] othir to dethe. And whan it was
undrestonde in the hooste that the saide Arnus, capitalle adversarie to
Romains, was dede, his gret oost departed out of their feelde, whiche had
not soo done had not bene by mightie aventure the wilfulle dethe of the
saide Lucius Brutus.
How a prince, be he made regent, governoure, or duke[162], chieveteyne,
lieutenaunt, capetaine, conestable, or marchalle, make alwaie just paiment
to her soudeours, for eschewing of gret inconvenientis might falle.
[Sidenote: Autor. Notandum est super omnia effectus istius articuli, quoad
execucionem justicii.]
[Sidenote: Notandum est de ordinaria solucione Joh'is ducis Bedfordie.]
[Sidenote: Concidera.]
[Sidenote: Nota multiplicacionem officiariorum.]
And overmore, most highe and excellent prince, of youre benigne grace and
providence, if it please youre highenesse to have consideracion, in way of
justice and keping, to remedie one singuler offence and damage to youre
liege people, the whiche by Goddis law, and by law of reason and nature, is
the contrarie of it righte dampnable,[163] and which grevous offence, as it
is voised accustumablie, rennythe and hathe be more usid under [tho that
oughte be[164]] youre obeisaunce in Fraunce and Normandie than in othir
straunge regions: and to {72} every welle advised man it is easy to
undrestande that it is a thing that may welle bene amendid and correctid,
and to be a gret mene to the recuvere of youre londes in the saide adverse
partie; that is to say, that shalle be men of soude and of armes, as well
tho that [shalle be[165]] undre youre lieutenauntis as the chiefteins and
capetains, may be duely paide of her wages by the monithe, [lyke as Johan
regent of Fraunce payd,[165]] or by quarter, bethout any rewarde [of
curtesyie of colour[166]] gyven, bribe, defalcacion, or abreggement, or
undew assignacion not levable assigned or made unto them, aswelle in this
londe as in Normandie, to deceyve hem, or cause hem be empoverisshed in
straunge contreis, as it hathe be accustumed late in the saide contreis.
And that suche paymentis be made content bethout delaie or nede of[167]
long and grete pursute, upon suche a resonable peyne as the cause shalle
require it. And that none of youre officers roialle, nethir hir debitees or
commissioneris, shalle darre doo the contrarie to take no bribe, rewarde,
or defalke the kingis wagis; wherbie youre souldeours shalle not have cause
to oppresse and charge youre obeissauntis and youre peple in taking theire
vitaile bethout paieng therfor, whiche gret part of theym in defaut of due
payment hathe ben accustumed, by .x. or .xij. yere day contynued, or the
saide londes were lost, uncorrectid ne punisshid, [as] turned to the gret
undoing of youre saide obeisauntes, and one othir of gret causis that they
have turned their hertis frome us, breking theire allegeaunce by manere of
cohercion for suche rapyn, oppressions, and extorcions. And also the
officers than being nedithe not to have so many lieutenauntis or undre
officers as they have hadde, whiche wastithe and destroiethe youre saide
peple by undew charges to enriche hemsilfe; and many of the officers have
be but esy vaileable to the defense of youre countre, thoroughe negligence
of exersising of armes for theire defense and proteccion in tyme of
necessite. For it was never seen that any countre, cite, or towne did
encrece welle wherover many nedeles officers and governours that onlie
wolde have a renomme, and {73} undre that colour be a extorcioner, piller,
or briboure, was reignyng and ruling over theym.
[Sidenote: Exclamacio.]
[Sidenote: De lamentabili oppressione subditorum nostrorum in Frauncia.]
[Sidenote: Alia exclamacio soldariorum ultimo in Normannia commorancium.]
[Sidenote: Deploracio miseriae.]
O mighetie king, and ye noble lordes of this roiaume, if ye were wele
advertised and enfourmed of the gret persecucions, by way of suche
oppressions and tirannyes, ravynes, and crueltees, that many of suche
officers have suffred to be done unponisshed to the pore comons, laborers,
paissauntes of the saide duchie of Normandie, it is verailie to deme that
certe[gh] ye of noble condicions, naturally pitous, wolde not have suffred
suche grevous inconvenientis to be redressid and amendid long or the said
intrusion fille, and the regalite of justice had be in tho daies in youre
possession. For often tymes suche as have pretendid theym officers wastid
of youre [predecessour[168]] is livelode more than nedithe, and often tymes
suffred them to be manassed [and] beten, and mischieved theire bestis withe
theire wepyns, that they were nighe out of theire wittis for sorow, and so
enforced for duresse to forsake youre title and youre lawes, and but esilie
relevyd and socoured. And therto they have ben so often surcharged
grevouslie withe paieng of tasques, tailis, subsides, and imposicions
beside theire rentis, paieng to the somme righte importable sommes, paide
to your predecessours for youre demains, and to theire landlordis that
halden of you, and many of theym duelling upon the marches patised to youre
adverse partie also to dwelle in rest, and this innumerable charges and
divers tormentis have ben done to theym to theire uttermost undoing. He
allas! and yet seeing they bene christen men, and lyvyng under youre
obeissaunce, lawes-yovyng, and yeldyng to youre lawes as trew Englisshe men
done, by whome also we lyve and be susteyned, and youre werre the bettir
born out and mainteyned, why shulde it here after be suffred that suche
tormentrie and cruelte shulde be shewed unto theym? O God! whiche art most
mercifulle and highest juge, soverein, and just, how maist thow long suffre
this regnyng without the {74} stroke of vengeaunce and ponisshement commyng
upon the depryvyng or yelding up of that dukedom?
[Sidenote: Nota tria.]
[Sidenote: Prima.]
[Sidenote: .ij^{a}.]
[Sidenote: .iij. causa.]
[Sidenote: Conciderandum est super omnia.]
Late it be noted and construed what gret inconvenientis have folow herof.
There may be undrestonde to folow .iij. thingis inespecialle of gret
hurtis. One is the ire of God and his rod of vengeaunce fallen now upon us
by his dyvyne punisshement [of God,[169]] aswelle in suffring oure saide
adversaries to have the overhande upon us, as in destroieng of oure lordis
by sodeyn fortunes [of dyvysyons[169]] in this lande the saide yere and
season, the yere of Crist .M^liiij^cl. that youre [grete[169]] adversarie
made his intrusion in the saide Normandy, for pite of his peple so
oppressid, hiring theire clamours and cries and theire curses. The second
is theire rebellion, as thoroughe theire wanhope, havyng no trust of hastie
socoure and relief of an armee to come in tyme covenable, be turned awaie
frome her ligeaunce and obedience to youre adverse partie, seeing theym
thus ungoodelie entretid under tho whiche were comytted to kepe, defende,
and maynteyn them. The .iij^{de}. is famyn of vitaile and penurie of money,
and lak of provision of artillerie and stuffe of ordenaunce, whiche youre
saide obeissauntis for faute of these were constreined to flee to youre
adverse partie, and to leve rathir theire natife contree, orellis to die
for famyn and povertee.
[Sidenote: Ecclesia honoranda.]
[Sidenote: Nota bene.]
[Sidenote: Hospitalitas in ecclesia est preferranda.]
[Sidenote: Lamentacio.]
[Sidenote: Cogita.]
An exortacion how princes, lordes, and officers roialle shulde worship and
meynteyne the Chirche, and defende hem from oppression.
And moreover in way of gret pitee and in the worship of God suffre ye not
the prelates of the Chirche of that lande, as archebisshoppis, bisshoppis,
abbatis, priours, denes, archedenes, and theire ministrours, to be
oppressid, revaled, ne vileyned, as they have bene in youre predecessour
daies accepted in fulle litille reverence or {75} obedience, for how that
men usurpen in tho daies in surchargeyng them unduelie it is by experience
knowen welle ynoughe, as they be manere of a prive cohercion to lyve in
more rest withe theire lyvelode, be dryve too forto gyve out to rulers,
gouvernours, and maistris of the marchis and contrees that they dwellin
upon or have her lyvelode, gret fees and wages and rewardis nedelese. And
the peple that were welle set[170] and often tymes they ben visited withe
straungiers of gret astatis, as welle spirituelle as temporelle, and
namelie withe tho that have the lawes to mynistre and to kepe, and withe
other nedeles peple that waste and surcharge theym, for they were founded
to that entent but to kepe theire nombre of fundacion, praieng for theire
foundoures, and [kepe hospitalitee for to[171]] feede the pore and the
nedie in case of necessite. A mercifulle Jhesu! many auctours rehersithe in
her cronicles that Pompeus, whiche that was so chevalrous a paynym knighte
amongis the Romains, the cause of his wofulle dethe and mortalle ende was
alonlie that he on a tyme disdeyned to reverence and worship holy places,
as chirches and seyntuaries, stabled his hors in Salamon is Temple, the
whiche the saide Salamon had edified to be the most sovereyn chirche or
temple of the erthe to serve and praise God. And in example of late daies
yn king Johan of Fraunce tyme suche chieveteins as was in his armee before
he was take at the bataile of Peitiers, as it is saide, avaunted hym silfe
to stabille her hors in the cathedralle chirche of Salisbury. And after he
was take and had sighte of the saide chirche [they[171]] had gret
repentaunce of. And therfor, fulle noble king and ye puissaunt lordis of
renomme, let a covenable and a necessarye medecyn be counceiled and yoven
to us for provision and reformacion of this infirmite, and that it may be
purveied for by so dew meenes that it may be to God is pleasaunce. And that
we may withedraw and leve oure wrecchid governaunce that temporelle men
wolde so inordinatlie rule and oppresse the Chirche. So that now this begon
mischiefe and stroke of pestilence in youre {76} predecessour daies be not
set as a jugement in oure arbitracion as to be decreed, juged, or
determyned for oure wele and availe, but as a chastising of oure mysdoeng,
so to be take for oure savacion. What saiethe saint Jeroyme amongis his
dolorous lamentacions upon the prophesie of Jooelle? If we have not,
(seithe he,) know God in welthe and prosperite, then, at the leest, let us
know hym in oure adversite, in suche wise there we have erred and fauted by
over gret haboundaunce of suche chargeable crimes and synnes of delites, of
suche oppression, covetice, inespecialle pride and envy, &c. Let us
withedraw us from hem withe goode corage, and to that ende that we be not
chastised ne punisshed by the stroke of vengeaunce and pestilence, nor of
none suche affliccions as we hafe ben dailie by youre predecessour's daies
by youre saide adversaries.
[Sidenote: Quod officium deffencionis adversariorum patriae est preferrandum
quemcunque singularem facultatem sive practicam.]
How lordis sonnes and noble men of birthe, for the defense of her londe,
shulde excersise hem in armes lernyng.
[Sidenote: Introduccio juvenum nobilium natu.]
[Sidenote: Ser Johan Fastolf.]
[Sidenote: Optativus modus.]