God wole it schal ben overthrowe:
Wherof ensamples ben ynowhe
Of hem that thilke merel drowhe.
[Cruelty of Leontius.]
P. iii. 202
Of crualte I rede thus:
Whan the tirant Leoncius
Hic loquitur contra illos, qui tirannica potestate principatum obtinentes in[1247] iniquitatis sue malicia gloriantur. Et narrat exemplum,[1248] qualiter Leoncius tirannus pium Iustinianum non solum a solio imperatorie maiestatis fraudulenter expulit, set vt ipse inhabilis ad regnum in[1249] aspectu plebis efficeretur, naso et labris abscisis, ipsum tirannice mutulauit. Deus tamen, qui super omnia pius est, Tiberio superueniente vna cum adiutorio Terbellis Bulgarie Regis, Iustinianum interfecto Leoncio ad imperium restitui misericorditer procurauit.
Was to thempire of Rome arrived,
Fro which he hath with strengthe prived[1250] 3270