When _Thanatos_ had thus destroyed my dayes, Then due desert my soule to hel conuayde: I fearde not God, his name I did not prayse, But foolishe fate and fortune stil me stayde: For which, with pinching payne, I nowe am payde. Fortune I finde is nowe of none auayle, But God is he whose power dooth preuayle. [THE INDUCTION. “It was great pitie,” quoth _Memorie_, vnto _Inquisition_, “that thys man liued in the tyme of blinde ignorance, when neyther vertue nor religion were knowen. Beleeue me, if he coulde haue conteyned himselfe within the limites of his owne countrey, or if too much courage had not moued him to so great interpryses, surely euen he had restored the _Britaines_ vnto auncient libertie, and might haue liued long without paying any tribute.” “You haue said,” quoth _Inquisition_, “he might haue had a very glorious day ouer the _Romans_, if he had not desired _Rome_; for when _Claudius Cæsar_ had him abroade, he did not presently incounter with _Guidericus_, as he supposed he woulde haue donne, but remembring how _Scipio Africanus_ layd siege vnto _Carthage_, did draw _Hannibal_ out of _Italy_, he imitating his grand chieftayne and predecessor, fyrst brought _Britayne_ vnto his obedience, then he inuaded _Guidericus_, with whom God being displeased, he was destroyed as you haue harde. After whom the _Britaines_ were greeuously oppressed by the _Romans_, and dayly inuaded by the _Scots_ and _Pictes_ whiche _Lodrike_ their king brought out of _Scithia_, insomuch that at this time the _Britaynes_ were compelled to sende vnto the Emperour _Bassianus_ for aide; who sent vnto them the _Roman Seuerus_, with a great power. And then how _Carassus_, a _Britayne_, not _nobilis_, but altogeather _ignotus_, did both redeeme his countrey from the _Pictes_ and _Romans_, and also obteyned the crowne and raygned eight yeares, thys story following shal declare: who although he felt the fall of his own follie yet surely his story is very profitable, chiefly for all such as doo suffer suspicion to seduce them, as the diligent noting of the processe wyll declare.”] THE COMPLAINT OF CARASSUS. Howe Carassus, a Husbandman’s sonne, slewe Lodrike the king of the Pictes, and howe the Emperour made him a Captayne. Then howe he obtayned the Britayne crowne, and howe suspition brought him to decay.[1168] 1. Sith men be borne by nature naked all, With their estates why are not men content? Why doe they deeme the want of wealth a thral? Why shoulde they lothe the lot, which God hath sent? _Adam_ himselfe I finde, at fyrst was sent, As one who did disdaine his poore estate, To disobay, with God to be a mate. 2.