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peace, or here my truthe I plight, I am the manfulst man of might,

take mynde on my manace. Al leedes in land bee at my likinge, Castle, couquerour, and kinge bayne be to do my byddynge,

yt will non other bee. Right as I thinke, soe (is all thinge), for all the word dose my willinge, and bayne bine when I bydd bringe

homage and feoaltye. sythen I was lord, withowten lesse, with my witt I can more increase the empire here then ever it was,

as all this world yt wiste. syth I was soverayne warre can cease, and through this world now is peace, for soe dreade a duke sate never on dayes

in Rome, that you may trust. Therfore, as lord, nowe likes mee to preeve my might and my postee, for I will send about and see

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[36 a]

265

that dwell in shire or in cittye,

king, clarke, knight, and knave,
Eych man one penye shall paye,
therfore, my bedell, doe as I saye;
in middest the world, by anye waye,

this gammon shall begine.
The folke of Jewes, in good faye,
in myddest bine, that is noe naye,
therefore thyder, daye by daye,

and travayle or thow bline.
Warne him that there is president,
that this is fully myne intent
that eych man appere present,

his penye for to paye,
And by that penye, as well appent,
knowledge to bee obedyente
to Rome, by gift of such a rent,

from that tyme after aye.
When this is done thus in Judye,
that in the middest of the world shalbe,
to eych land, shire, and cyttye,

to Rome make them soe thrall. Warne them, boye, I commande thee, they doe the same, saye thus from mee, soe all this world shall witt that we

Bine soveraygne of them all.

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275

290

395

Have donne, boye, art thou not bowne? 280 Preco: All readye, my lorde, by (Mahoun,]

noe tayles tupp in all this towne

shall goe further, withowten fayle. Octavianus: Boye, therfore, by my crowne, Thow muste have thy warrysoun. /

285 the highest horse besydes (B)[r]oughton

take thow for thy travell. Preco: Graunt mercye, lord, perdye,

this hackney will well serve mee,
for a great lord of your degree

should ryde in such araye.
The bine hye in dignitye,
and alsoe high and swifte is hee;
therefore that reverans takes yee,

my deare lord, I you praye.
But your arrand shalbe donne anone,
first into Judye I will gone,
and sommon the people, everychone,

both shire and eke cyttye.
Octavianus: Boye, there bine ladyes manye one,

amonge them all chese thee one,
take the fayrest, or els none,

and freely I give her thee.
Primus Senatour: my lord Octavian, wee be sent

from all Rome, with good entent, 280 written in the margin of H 281 Mahoun ) Mahounde D Wr. mahound H B h Dm. 282 tayles tupp) so Wr., talls tupp H h Dm., tuppe tayles B

after 283 ) blank in H 284–295) omit Wh 286 Broughton] boughton & D, Boughton HB 292 bine ] lyve B 294 reverans ) remanes B 296–300) omit W But) omit h 297 will ] wilbe B 299 both shire ] both in shire H eke) omit H 300 Octavianus) omit AB bine ] be H B Wh manye ) many a W 300-304 ) omit h 304 My) from my Wh 305 good ] full H

B

300

305 310

315

thy men there have eychone Iment

'as god to honour thee;
(36 b] and to that pointe we be assent,

poore and ryche in parlement;
for soe loved a lord, verament,

was never in this cyttye.
Secundus Senator: Yea, sicker, syr, ther will is this,

to honour thee as god, with blys,
for thow did never to them amysse

in worde, thought, ne deede.
(peace hath bene long and yet is,
no man in thy tyme lost ought of his,
therfore their will is now, Iwis,

to quite you this your meede.) 336 Octavianus: Welcome, my frendes, in good faye,

for you be baynable to my paye;
I thanke you all that ever I maye

the homage yee doe to mee;
But follye yt were, by manye a waye,
such soverayntye for to assaye,
syth I must dye I wotte not what day,

to desyre such dignitye.
ffor of all flesch, blood, and bonne
made I am, borne of a womane,
and, sycker, other matter nonne

sheweth not right in mee;
neyther of Iron, tree, ne stonne

am I not wrought, you wott eych one, 308 assent] sent H Wh

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340

and of my life moste parte is gone,

age shewes him soe in mee
and godhead askes in all thinge
tyme that hath noe beginninge,
ne never shall have endinge;

and none of this have I.
Wherfore, by verey proofe shewinge,
though I bee highest worldly kinge,
of godhead have I noe knowinge;

This were unkynd(lie).
But yet enquyre of this will wee
of hir that (hath) grace to see
thinges that afterward shalbe,

by ghoost of prophecye.
and after hir lore, by my lewtye!
discussinge this difficultye,
worke I, and take not more (on me)

then I am well worthye.
Sybbell, the sage, tell me this thinge,
for thow wytt hase, as (no) man livinge,
shall ever be any earthlye kinge

to passe mee of degree?
Sybbell: Yea, syr, I tell you, withowt leasinge,

a bab borne shalbe, blys to bringe,

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(37 a]