V.

LIBRARY

UNlvr-RGlTY OF CALIFORNIA

SAN DIEGO

\\i

VOLUME FIRST

Cl^e €tin ©teen

A COLLECTION

OF

tots

oemg

IVrote by the Ingenious before 1 600

By ALLAN RAMSAY

SUcprinteli ftom tf)c ©riflinal iSittiott

IN TWO VOLUMES Volume Fi rst

JOHN CRUM, ST. VINCENT STREET

1874

Printed by M'Laren & Erskine, Glasgow.

THE

Ever Green,

BEING A

COLLECTION

O F

Scots Poems,

Wrote by the Ingenious before 1600.

Vol. L

Publijhed by Allan Ramsay.

Still green with Bays each ancient Altar ftands, Abo-ve the Reach of Jacrilegious Hands, Secure from Flames, from En-vys fiercer Rage, DeflruEii've War and all devouring Age.

Pope.

^m

EDINBURGH,

Printed by Mr. Thomas Ruddiman for the Pu- blifher, at his Shop, near the Crofs. M.dcc.xxiv.

Digitized by the internet' Archive in 2007 with funding from - IVIicrosoft Corporation

http://www.archive.org/details/evergreencollect01ramsiala

111.

To His Grace

JAMES

Duke of Hamilton, Sffc. Captain General,

And the reft of the Honourable Members of the

Royal Company of Archers.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

T7[ /"Hen the more eminent Concerns

' of Life, or the agreeable Diver-

fion of the BOW, do not employ your

leafure

iv. DEBICATION,

leafure Time, the following Old Bards prefent you with an Intertainment that can never be difagreeable to any Scots Man, who defpifes the Fopery of admir- ing nothing but what is either new or foreign, and is a Lover of his Country. Such the Royal Company of Archers are, and fuch every good Man fliould ftrive to be.

The Spirit of Freedom that fhines throw both the ferious and comick Per- formances of our old Poets, appears of a Piece with that Love of Liberty that our antient Heroes contended for, and maintained Sword in Hand. From you then, My Lords and Gentlemen^ who take Pleafure to reprefent our brave Anceftors, thefe Poets claim Regard and Patronage ; they now make a Demand for that Immortal

Fame

DEDICATION. v.

Fame that tuned their Souls some Hun- dred Years ago, which is in your Power, by countenancing to beftow. They do not addrefs you with an indi- gent Face, and a Thousand pityful Apologies, to bribe the good Will of the Criticks. No ! 'tis long fmce they were fuperiour to the Spleen of thefe four Gentlemen.

Every one who has Generofity, and is not byaffed with a miftaken Prejudice, will allow, that good Senfe, fharp Satyre, and witty Mirth, may be exprefs'd with a true Spirit, altho' in antiquated Words and Phrafes: When one beftows but a very fmall Pains to enter into the Authors Manner, then 'tis not to be doubted but the Royal Company will receive and approve of thefe valuable Remains, and have a due Regard to the Memory of

thefe

A2

vi. DEDICJTION.

thefe meritorious Authors, and accept this Dedication from,

My Lords and Gentlemen, Their faithful Puhlifher^ And your mofl humble

And devoted Servant^

Allan Ramsay.

Edin. Oaob. 15. 1724.

vu.

^t'it'tt'attttt'itttrtt'itrt'Jtttttt'!^^

ii:iiA2feA±iC?iA«ji^>^

^"p^^jpfsp^i

PREFACE.

— -9Q99^-^^eeGo- —

T Have obferved that Readers of the bejl and moji exquijite Difcernment frequently complain of our modern Writings, as filled with affeSfed Delicacies and Jiudied Refinements^ which they would gladly exchange for that natural Strength of Thought and Simplicity of Stile our Forefathers praSlifed: To fuch^ I hope^ the following Colleftion of Poems will not be difpleafing.

When thefe good old Bards wrote, we had not yet made Ufe of imported Trimming upon our Cloaths, nor of foreign Embroidery in our Writings. Their Poetry is the Product of their own Country, not pil- fered andfpoiled in the Tranfportation from abroad: Their Images are native, and their Landlkips domef-

tick

viii. PREFACE.

tick; copied from thofe Fields and Meadows we every Day behold.

The Morning rifes (in the Poets Defcriptton) as Jhe does in the Scottifti Horizon. We are not carried to Greece or Italy y^r a Shade^ a Stream or a Breeze. The Groves rife in our own Valleys ; the Kiversfow from our own Fountains^ and the Winds blow upon our own Hills. I find not Fault with thofe Things, as they are in Greece or Italy : But with a North- ern Vott for fetching his Materials from thefe Places, in a Poem, of which his own Country is the Scene ; as our Hymners to the Spring and Makers of Paf^ tox2\s frequently do.

This Mifcellany will Ukewife recommend itfelf by the Diverfty of Subjects and Humour it contains. The grave Defcription and the wanton Story, the Moral Saying and the mirthful Jefi, will illuflrate and alternately relieve each other.

The Reader whofe Temper is fpleen'd with the Vices and Follies now in Fajhion, may gratifie his Humour with the Satyres he will here find upon the Follies and Vices that were uppermojl two or three

Hun-

PREFACE. ix.

Hundred Tears ago. The Man^ whofe Inclinations are turned to Mirth, will he pleafed to know how the good Fellow of a former Age told his jovial Tale ; and the Lover may divert himfelf with the old fajhioned Sonnet of an amorous Poet in ^. Margaret and ^ Mary' J Days. In a Word, the following Collection will be fuch another ProfpeSf to the Eye of the Afind, as to the outward Eye is the various Meadow, where Flowers of different Hue and Smell are mingled together in a beautiful Irregularity.

I hope alfo the Reader, when he dips into thefe Poems, will not be difpleafed with this RefeStion, That he isjiepping back into the Times that are pafi^ and that exiji no more. Thus the Manners and Cuftoms then in Vogue, as he will find them here defcribed, will have all the Air and Charm is/* Novelty; and that feldom fails of exciting Attention and pleaftng the Mind. Befides, the Numbers, in which thefe Images are conveyed, as they are not now com- monly praSlifed, will appear new and amuftng.

The different Stanza and varied Cadence will likewife much footh and engage the Ear, which in

Poetry

X. PREFACE.

VoQtry* efpecially muji be always Jiattered. However^ I do not expeSf that thefe Poems Jhould pleafe every Body^ nay the critical Reader muJl needs find feveral Faults; for I own that there will be found in thefe Volumes two or three Pieces^ whofe Antiquity is their greateft Value; yet fill I am perfwaded there are many more that Jhall merit Approbation and Applaufe than Cenfure and Blame. The bef Works are but a Kind of Mifcellany, and the cleaneji Corn is not without fome Chajf^ no not after often Win- nowing: Befides^ Difpraife is the eafiefl Part of Learning, and but at bejl the Offspring of unchari- table Wit. Every Clown can fee that the Furrow is crooked^ but where is the Man that will plow me one flraight ?

There is nothing can be heard more filly than one's expreffing his Ignorance of his native Language; yet fuch there are^ who can vaunt of acquiring a tolerable PerfeSlion in the French or Italian Tongues^ if they have been a Forthnight in Paris or a Month in Rome : But fljeW them the mojl elegant Thoughts in a Scots Drefs^ they as difdainfully asfiupidly con- demn

PREFACE. xi.

demn it as barbarous. But the true Reafon is obvious: Every one that is born never fo little f up erior to the Vulgar, would fain dijiinguijh themfelves from them by fome Manner or other ^ and fuch^ it would appear J cannot arrive at a better Method. But this affeSied Clafs of Fops give no Uneajinefs^ not being numerous; for the moft part of our Gentlemen^ who are generally Majlers of the moji ufeful and politeji Languages, can take Pleafure (for a Change) tofpeak and read their own.

It was intended that an Account of the Authors of the following QoWcdiion Jhould be given; but not being furnijhed with fuch diJiinSf Information as could be wijhed for that End at prefent^ the Defign is de- layed^ until the publijhing of a Third or Fourth fucceeding Volume, wherein the Curious Jhall be fatisfied^ in as far as can be gathered^ with Relation to their Lives and Characters, and the Time wherein they flourijhed. The Names of the Authors, as we find them in our Copies, are marked before or after their Poems.

/ cannot finijh this Preface, without grateful

Acknow-

xii. PREFACE.

Acknowledgements to the Honourable Mr. William Carmichael, Advocate, Brother to the Earl of Hyndford, who., with an eafy Beneficence, that is infep arable from a fuperior Mind, affifled me in this Undertaking with a valuable Number of Poems in a large Manufcript-book in Folio, colle£led and wrote by Mr. George Bannyntine in Anno 15685 from which MS. the mofi of the following are gathered: And if they prove acceptable to the World, they may have the Pleafure of expe^ing a great many more, and Jhall very foon be gratified.

CHRYSTS-

CHRYSTS-KIRK

OF THE

GREN E.

l-«»S-«-

I.

"X 7[ fAS nevir in Scotland hard nor lene

Sic Dancing and Deray, Nowthir at Falkland on the Grene, Nor Pebills at the Play,

As

NO TES.

Becaufe we ftriftly obferve the old Orthography, for the more Con- veniency of the Readers, we fhall note fome general Rules at the Bottom of the Page, as they occur, wherein the old Spelling differs from the prefent, in Words that have nothing elfe of the Antique, or Difference from the Englip ; But fhall refer you to the GlofTary at the End of the fecond Vol. for the Explanation of all of that kind in par- ticular, and of thofe that are more peculiar to this Nation,

Rule I. Grene, Sene, Clene, &c,, Green, Seen, Clean. The double ee is fupplied in fuch Words, commonly with one e before, and another after the Confonant.

B

Chryfts-Kirk of the Grene.

As was of Wowers, as I wene, At Chryjls-Kirk on a Day;

Thair came our Kitties wafhen clene In new Kirtills of Gray,

Full gay,

At Chryji-Kirk of the Grene that Day.

II.

To danfs thir Damyfells them dicht,

Thir Lafles licht of Laits : Thair Gluvis war of the RafFell richt,

Thair Shune war of the Straits; Thair Kirtills war of Lincome licht,

Weil preft with mony Plaits : They war fae nyfs when Men them nicht,

They fqueilt lyke ony Gaits, Sae loud, at, ^c. that Day.

III. Of

Danfs, Fenfs, Glanfs, Dance, Fence, Glance. The fs us'd for the ie often in fuch Words.

Dicht, Licht, Richt, Sec, Dight, Light, Right. The ch in fuch Words always us'd in Place of the gh.

Glwvis, Lufe, Half, Sec, Gloves, Love, Have. The y and v in- differently made ufe of in thofe and the like Words.

Shune, Mmicy Sum, Sec, Shoon (or Shoes), Moon, Soon, the double 00 never found in fuch Words. Sometimes they are fpell'd, Sone, Mone; but in thofe, as in many others, we have endeavour'd to fix the Orthography to the moft frequent Manner.

Chryfts-Kirk of the Grene. 3

III.

Of all thir Maidens myld as meid,

Was nane fae jimp as Gillie: As ony Rofe her Rude was raid,

Her Lyre was lyke the Lillie. Fow zellow, zellow was her Heidj

But fcho of Lufe fae filly, Thocht all hir Kin had fworn hir Deid,

Scho wald haif but fweit Willie Alane, at Chryji-Kirk, &c. that Day.

IV.

Scho fkornit jfok and fkrapit at him, And murgeont him with Mokks,

He wald haif luvit, fcho wald not lat him, For all his zellow Lokks.

He

fFeil,, Deld, Held, Meid, &c., Well, Dead, Head, Mead. The Dipthong ei us'd in many fuch Words, as now require e, ea and ee.

Sae, Wae, Mae, Nane, Wald, &c. , So, Wo, Moe, None, Would. The a and ae in Place of o and oe, except in thofe Words, Ony, Mony, which are the reverfe,

^yfi, ^yfh Syl, Hyd, Myld, Lyk, &c., Nice, Wife, Bite, Hide, Mild, Like. Our not founding the i as the Englijh do, accounts very well for our Elders fpelling all words with zy of fuch a Sound.

Chryfts-Kirk of the Grene.

He chereift hir, fcho bad gae chat him, Scho compt him not twa Clokks :

Sae fchamefully his fchort Goun fet him, His Limms wer lyk twa Rokks,

Scho laid at, ^c. that Day.

V.

THOM LUTAR was thair Menftral meit,

O Lord ! as he could lanfs : He playt fae fchill, and fang fae fweet,

Quhyle Towjie tuke a Tranfs. Auld Lightfute thair he did forleit.

And counterfittet Franfs; He us'd himfelf as Man difcreit,

And up tuke Morels Danfs, Full loud, at, ^c. that Day.

VI. Then

Sangj Lang, Band, Thrang, Sec, Song, Long, Bond, Throng. The a is us'd in place of o.

Tuke, Blude, Gude, Luke, Fule, Shute, &c.. Took, Blood, Good, Look, Fool, Shoot.

^hyle, Siuhat, Sluho, S^uhyt, Sec, While, What, Who, White. The qu is always us'd for the German w, when an A immediately follows. See Mr. Ruddiman's Gloflary to Ga-v'in Douglases Virgil.

Auld, Bauld, &c., Old, Bold. Here in many fuch Words the Scots Ipell vnth au in Place of the Englijh o.

Chryfts-Kirk of the Grene.

VI.

Then Steven came ftepand in with Stands,

Nae Rynk micht him arreift : Platejlute he bobbit up with Bends,

For Maid he maid Requeift. He lap till he lay on his Lends ;

But ryfand was fae preift, Quhyle that he hoiftit at baith Ends,

For honour of the Feift, And danft, at, i^c. that Day.

VII. Syne

Stepand, Ryfand, Sec, Stepping, Rifing; anii is frequently the Sign of the Participle of the Prefent Tenfe j fometimes an and in inftead of the modern ing.

Slevin, Stepand, Stends, as before, Lajfes Ucht of Laits, and generally through all, our antient Bards endeavour to add a delicate and artful Smoothnefs to their Verfe, by a Flow of Words that begin with the fame initial Letters. No Poets of any Language ever purfued that Manner fo clofe, or fucceeded fo well. Dryden and Waller, and fome others of our beft Moderns, in their Verfification, feem to admire that Beauty.

When Man on many multiply'' d hh Kind. Dryd,

And, Ok ! /low I long my tender Limbs to lay. Wal,

One cannot help fmiling to hear the Writer of Mr, Waller''! Life fay, That this Way of throwing off a Verfe eafily wasjirfi Introduced by him.

Chryfts-Kirk of the Grene.

VII. •

Syne Robene Roy begoud to revell.

And Dawny to him druggit. Let be, quoth fok^ and cawd him Jevell,

And be the Tail him tuggit. The Kenfle cleikit to a cavell;

But, Lord, than how they luggit. Thay partit manly with a Nevell;

I trow that Hair was ruggit Betwix them, at, &c. that Day.

VIII.

Ane bent a Bow, fic Sturt coud fteir him. Grit Skayth wefd to haif fkard him :

He cheifl: a Flane as did afFeir him; The toder faid, Dirdum, dardum:

Throw

Begoud, Beuk, Clam, Keijl, See, Began, or did begin, did bake, did climb, did caft. Our old Authors have a great many of fuch Preterites of Verbs, moft of which continue amongft us ftill.

Toder, Fader, Bruder, Moder, Hider, Sec, That other, Father, Brother, Mother, Hither. The d is frequently us'd for tA in fuch Words.

Chryfts-Kirk of the Grene. 7

Throw baith the Cheiks he thocht to cheir him, Or throw the Erfs half chard. him.

Be ane Akerbraid it came not neir him, I can not tell quhat mard him

Thair at, ^c. that Day.

IX.

With that a Freynd of his cry'd fy,

And up an Arrow drewj He forgit it fae furioufly,

The Bow in Flenders flew : Sae was the Will of God, trow I;

For had the Tree been trew. Men faid that kend his Archery,

He wald haif flain enow At Chryji-Kirk on the Grene that Day.

X.

Ane hafty Henfure callit Hary^

Quha was an Archer heynd, Tytt up a Taikle withouten tary.

That torment fae him teynd.

I wat

8 Chryfts-Kirk of the Grene,

I wat not quhidder his Hand coud vary,

Or the Man was his Freynd; For he efchapit throw Michts of Mary,

As Man that nae 111 meind, But Gude, at Chryji-Kirk on the Grene that Day.

XI.

Than Lowry lyk a Lyon lap,

And fone a Flane can fedder; He hecht to perfe him at the Pap,

Thereon to wed a Weddir. He hit him on the Wame a Wap,

It buft lyk ony Bledder : But fwa his Fortune was and Hap,

His Doublet made of Ledder, Saifit him, at, ^c. that Day.

XII.

A zaip zung Man that flude him neift,

Loufd afF a Schot with Yre ; He ettlit the Bern in at the Breift,

The Bolt flew owre the Byre,

Ane

Zellovj, Zaip, Zung, Zier, Zou, Sec, Yellow, Yap, Young, Year, You.

Chryfts-Kirk of the Grene.

Ane cryd, Fy, he had flain a Prieft,

A Myle bezond a Myre. Then Bow and Bag frae him he keift,

And fled as ferfs as Fyre Frae Flint, at, ^c. that Day.

XIII.

With Forks and Flails, thay lent grit Flaps,

And flang togidder lyk Friggs : With Bowgars of Barns thay beft blew Kapps,

Quhyle thay of Berns maid Briggs. The Reird raife rudely with the Rapps,

Quhen Rungs war laid on Riggs : The Wyfis came forth with Crys and Clapps,

Lo, quhair my Lyking Hggs, Quoth thay, at, ^c. that Day.

XIV.

Thay girnit and lute gird with Grains,

Ilk Goflip uder greivt : Sum ftrak with Stings, fum gaddert Stains,

Sum fled and ill mifchevt.

The

J''

lo Chryfts-Kirk of the Grene.

The Menftral wan within twa Wains, That Day full weil he preivt:

For he came hame with unbirs'd Bains, Quhair Fechtairs war mifcheivt.

For evir, at, &c. that Day.

XV.

Heich Hutchon with a Hiffil Ryfs,

To red can throw them rummill; He muddillt them down lyk ony Myfs,

He was nae Baity bummill. Thocht he was wicht, he was nocht wyfs.

With fie Jangleurs to jummillj For frae his Thoume they dang a Sklyfs,

Quhyle he cry'd Barlafummill^ I am flain, at, l^c. this Day.

XVI.

QuHEN that he faw his blude fae reid.

To fle might nae Man let him. He weind it had been for auld feid.

He thocht ane cry'd, Haif at him.

He

v..

Chryfts-Kirk of the Grene. n

He gart his Feit defend his Heid,

The far fairer it fet himi Quhyl he was paft out of all pleid.

They fould bene fwift that gat him Throw Speidj at, ^c. that Day.

XVII.

The Town-Soutar in Grief was bowdin,

His Wyfe hang at his Waift; His Body was in Blude all browdin,

He graint lyk ony Ghaift. Her Glitterand Hair that was fae gowden,

Sae hard in Lufe him laift, That for her Saik he was not zowden,

Seven Myle that he was chaift. And mair, ^c. that Day.

XVIII.

The Millar was of manly Male,

To melt him was nae Mows, There durft not Ten cum him to tak,

Sae noytit he thair Pows.

The

12 Chryfts-Kirk of the Grene.

The Bufchment hale about him brak, And bikkert him with Bows,

Syne traytorly behind his Bak, They hewt him on the Hows,

Behind, at, l^c. that Day.

XIX.

TwA that war Herdmen of the Herd,

On udder ran lyk Rams, Then foUowit Feymen, richt unafFeird,

Bet on with Barrow trams. But quhair thair Gobs thay war ungeird.

They gat upon the Gams ; Quhyl bludy berkit war thair Baird,

As they had worriet Lamms, Maift lyk, at, ^c. that Day.

XX. The

Hewt Mm en the Hows, Hew'd or cut him down, by ftrlking him behind on the Houghs or Hams.

Cum, Sum, &c., Come, Some. The a In Place of o.

Lamms, Thowme, Dum, &c., Lambs, Thumb, Dumb. The b feldom made Ufe of in such Words.

Chryfts-Kirk of the Grene. 13

XX.

The Wyves keift up a hideous Zell,

Quhen all thir Zounkers zokkit, Als ferfs as ony Fyre-flauchts fell;

Freiks to the Feilds they flokit. The Carlis with Clubs did uder quell,

Quhyl Blade at Breifts out bokit; Sae rudely rang the common Bell,

That all the Steipill rokkit For reid, at Chryjis-Kirk on the Grene that Day.

XXI.

Quhen thay had beirt lyk baitit Bulls,

And branewod brynt in Bails, They wer as meik as ony Mulis,

That mangit ar with Mails.

For

Mulls, Mules, In feveral Words like this, where an i goes between an / and another Confonant, we are to pronounce fhort, as Mules, not Mulls.

Mangit ar "with Malls, Maim*d with Burdens.

Flawchtlr Falls, Turf that Country People flea for covering Houfes.

Halld the Dulls, is a Phrafe us'd at Foot Ball, or fuch Games, where the Party that gains the Dule or Goal is faid to hall it, or win the Game.

14 Chryfts-Kirk of the Grene.

For Faintnefs thae forfochtin Fulis, Fell down lyk flauchtir Fails :

Frefti Men came in and hail'd the Dulis, And dang them down in Dails,

Bedene, at, l^c. that Day.

XXII.

QuHEN all was done, Dik with an Aix,

Came furth to fell a Fudder, Quod he, quhair are zon hangit Smaiks,

Richt now wald flain my Brudder. His Wyfe bade him gae hame, Gib Glaiks,

And fae did Meg his Mudder. He turn'd and gaif them baith their Paiksj

For he durft ding nane udder, For Feir, at Chryjl-Kirk of the Grene that Day.

Finis quod King JAMES I.

Fudder, properly a Load, relating to Lead. It is 1600 Pound Weight: in our old Authors it often metaphorically means a^f^f many.

-=f-*^|«-|—

15

The Thistle and the Rose,

O' er Floijoers attd Herbage green^

By Lady Nature chofe^

Brave King and lovely Slueen.

POEM

In Honour of

Margaret, Daughter to HENRY xht VII. of England^ Queen to James the IV. King of SCOTS,

I.

/^Uhen Merch with variand Winds was overpaft, And fweit Apryle had with his Silver Showers Tane Leif of Nature, with an orient Blait, And lufty May^ that Mudder is of Flowrs, Had maid the Birds begin be tymous Hours; Amang the tendir Odours reid and quhyt, Quhois Harmony to heir was grit Delyt.

II. In

Lufiy May, Defireable May. Lufty, through thefe Poems, is an Epithet frequently us'd in this Senfe j alfo in our Language it expreffes Youthful, Blooming, Large, Jolly.

1 6 The Ihiftle and the Rofe.

11.

In Bed at Morrow, flelping as I lay, Methocht Aurora with her Ruble Ene,

In at my Window lukit by the Day,

And halfit me, with Vifage pale and grene, Upon her Hand a Lark fang frae the Splene,

Luvers, awake out of your Slumbering,

Se how the lufty Morning dois upfpring.

III.

Methocht frefli May before my Bed upftood, In Weid depainted of ilk diverfe Hew,

Sober, benyng, and full of Menfuetude, In Bright Atyre of Flours, all forget new. Of heavenly Colour quhyt, reid, brown and blew,

Balmit in Dew, and gilt with Phebus Beims,

Quhyle all the Houfe ilumynt with her Leims.

IV. Slugart, fcho faid, awake annon, for Schame,

And in my Honour fumthing thou gae wryte; The Lark has done, the merry Day proclaim, Luvers to rais with Comfort and Delyte, Will nocht increafe thy Courage to indyt;

Quhafe

hukit by the Day, Looked in at my Window by Day or the Dawn- ing. Halfit, Hail'd or Saluted.

Menfuetude, Mildnefs, or good Humour.

ne mjik and the Rofe. 17

Quhafe Heart fomtyme has glad and blifsful bene, Sangs oft to mak under the Brenches grene.

V.

QuHERTO, quoth I, fall I upryfe at Morrow, For in thy Month few Birds haif I hard fing,

Thay haif mair Caufe to weip and plein their Sorrow: Thy Air it is not holfum nor benyng, Lord Eolus dois in thy Seafon ring,

Sae boufteous ar the blafts of his Ihill horn,

Amang thy Bews to walk I haif forborn.

VI.

With that the Lady foberly did fmyle, And faid, Upryfe and do thy Obfervance :

Thou did promift in Mayis lufty quhyle.

Then to difcryve the ROSE of moft Plefance. Go fee the Birdis how they fing and dance,

And how the Skyes iluminat ar bricht,

Enamylt richly with new azure Licht.

VIL QUHEN

Do thy Obfervance, Perform thy Duty or Refpe£fe. Here 'tis proper we take notice of the Cadency of fuch Words j many in that Age being pronounced long that now are exprefled fhort : But our Union with France, and French Auxiliaries fo often in Scotland at that Time, can eafily account for that Manner of Pronunciation. C

1 8 The Thi/ile and the Rofe.

VII.

QuHEN this was faid, away then went the Quene, And entert in a lufty Garden gent ;

And then methocht, full haftylie befene, In Sark and Mantle after her I went Into this Garth moft dulce and redolent,

Of Herb and Flowir, and tender Plants moft fweit.

And grene Leivs doing of Dew doun fleit.

VIII.

The pourpour Sun, with tender Rayis reid, In orient bricht as Angel did appeir,

Throu golden Skys advancing up his Held, Whofe gildet TrefTes fchone fae wonder cleir, That all the Warld tuke Comfort far and neir.

To luke upon his frefti and blifsful Face,

Doing all fable frae the Heavenis chace.

IX.

And as the blifsful Sun drave up the Sky, All Nature fang throu Comfort of the Licht;

The Minftrells wingd with open Voyces cry, O Luvers now is fled the dully Nicht, Come welcome Day that comforts every Wicht.

Hail

I

ne mjlle and the Rofe. 19

Hail May^ hail Flora^ hail Aurora fliene,

Hail Princefs Nature, hail Luves hartfome Quene.

X.

Dame Nature gave an Inhibition ther To Neptune ferfs and Eolus the bauld,

Not to perturb the Water nor the Air,

That nowther blafhy Shower, nor Blasts mair

cauld Suld Flowirs efFray nor Fowles upon the Fauld.

Scho bad eik yum Goddes of the Sky,

That fcho the Heaven fuld keep amene and dry.

XL

Als fcho ordaind that every Bird and Beift Before her Hienefs fuld annone compeir,

And every Flovv^ir of Virtue maift and leift. And every Herb in fair Feild far and neir. As they had w^ont in May frae Yeir to Yeir :

To hir thair Quene to mak Obediens,

Full law inclynand with dew Reverens.

Xn. With

Obedlem and Re-verens, as obferved before in the Words Obfervance and Ple/ance, muft be accented long.

20 The I'hiftle and the Rofe,

XII.

With that annone fcho fent the fwift fute Roe^ To bring in alkind Beift frae Dale and Doun,

The reftlefs Swallow ordert fcho to go,

And fetch all Fowl of fmall and grit Renown, And to gar Flowirs appeir of all FafToim :

Fully craftely conjurit fhe the Yarrow.

Quhilk did forth fwirk as fwift as ony Arrow.

XIII.

All brocht in were, in twynkling of an Ee,

Baith Beiji and Bird and Flowir before the ^ene.

And firft the Lyon greateft of Degre

Was fummond ther, and he, fair to be fene. With a full hardy Countenance and kene.

Before Dam Nature came, and did inclyne,

With Vifage bauld, and Courage Leonyne.

XIV. This

Courage Leonyne. This perhaps maybe fmil'd at, but there's as much Reafon to laugh at the modern Phrafe of one's looking like himfelf.

The Thijlle and the Rofe. 21

XIV.

This awful Beift was terrible of" Cheir,

Perfing of Luke, and flout of Countenance,

Right flrong of Corps, of FafTon fair, bot feir, Lufly of Shape, licht of Deliverance, Reid of his Colour, as the Ruby Glance :

In Feild of Gold he flude full rampantly.

With Flowr-de-Lyces circlet plefantly.

XV.

This Lady liftit up his Cluves fae cleir. And lute him lifllie lein upon hir Knee,

And crownit him with Diadem full deir. Of radyous Stanes maifl ryall there to fee. Saying, The King of all Beifts male I thee,

And

If one were to comment and illuftrate every poetical Beauty that ftrikes our Imaginations fo agreeably, and come fo frequent, he would fwell the Notes too much, and rob the Reader of a Pleafure which is his own Property ; wherefore fuch Annotations fhall be declined. When Folks are ravifhed with any Pleafure tho' it be obvious to every By-flander, yet they cannot help exprefling what delights them many Times over, when there is not the leaft Occafion for Information. This was juft my Cafe, on reading this excellent Defcription of the Lyon and the Scots Arms, never fo happily blazoned.

22 The Thijile and the Rofe.

And the Prote6lor cheif in Wodes and Schaws, Go furth, and to thy Leiges keip the Laws.

XVI.

Justice exerce, with Mercy and Confciens,

And let nae fmall Beift fuffir Skaith nor Skorns,

'Of greiter Beifts that bein of more Pufiance. Do Law alyke to Apes and Unicorns, And lat na Bowgle with his boufteous Horns

Opprefs the meik Pluch-Ox, for all his Pryd,

But in the Yok go quietly him befyd.

XVII. When this was faid, with Noyfe and Sound of

Joy,

All Kynd of Quadrupeds in thair Degree, Attains cry'd, Laud^ and then, Vive le Roy;

Syne at his Feit fell with Humility;

To him they all made Homage and Feiltie ; And he did tham refaif with princely Laits, Whofe noble Yre his Greitnefs mitigates.

XVIII.

Syne crownit fcho the Eagle King of Fowls ;

And fliarp as Darts of Steil fcho made his Penns, And bade him be as juft to Whawps and Owls^

As

The Thijile and the Rofe. 23

As unto Peakoks^ Papingos^ or CranSj And mak ane Law for wicht Fowls and for JVrenSy And let nae Fowl of Rapine do affray, Nor Birds devore but his own proper Prey.

XIX.

Then callt fcho all the Flowirs grew in the Feild, Difcryving all thair FafTons and Effeirs,

Upon the awfull Thistle ftie beheld,

And faw him guarded with a Bufh of Speirs, Confiddering him fae able for the Weirs,

A radiant Crown of Rubies fcho him gaif.

And faid, in Feild go forth, and fend the laif.

XX.

And fen thou art a King, be thou defcreit. Herb without Value hald not of fic Pryce,

As Herb of Vertew and of Odour fweet, And let no Netle vyle and full of Vyce Hir fallow with the gudly Flowr-de-Lyce^

Nor let no wyld Weid, full of Churlifhnefs,

Compare hir to the Lillys Nobilnefs.

XXL Nor

24 The Thijlle and the Rofe.

XXI.

Nor hald nane other Flowir in fie denty

As the frefli Rose, of Colour reid and quhyt j

For if thou dois, hurt is thyne Honefty, Confiddering that no Flowir is fae perfyte, Sae full of Plefans, Vertew and Delyte,

Sae full of blifsful Angellyke Bewtie,

Imperial Birth, Honour and Dignitie.

XXII.

Then to the Rose fcho did her Vifage turn. And faid, O lufty Dochter moft benyng,

Abofe the Lilly thou art ilufterous born, Frae Ryal Linage ryfing frefli and yung, But ony Spot or Macull doing fprung :

Cum Blume of Joy with richeft Jems be crownd,

For owre the laif thy Bewtie is renound.

^

XXIII.

A coftly Crown with Stanes clarified bricht,

This comely Quene did on hir Heid inclofe, Quhyle all the Land illumynat of Licht j

Quhairfor

S^hois, Dois, Hir, &c., Whofe, Does, Her, The e in many fuch Words Is fupplied with ;. But ony Spot, Without Spot

The Thi/ile and the Rofe. 25

Quhairfor methocht, the Flowirs did all rejofe, Crying attaines, Hail to the fragrant Rose, Hail Emprefs of the Herbs, frefch Quene of Flowirs, To the be Glore and Honour at all Hours.

XXIV.

Then all the Birds thay fang with Voice on hicht, Whofe mirthfuU Sound was marvellous to heirj

The Mavys fang, Hail Rose moft rich and richt, That does upflurifs under Phebus Sphere, Hail Plant of Youth, Hail Princes Dochter deir.

Hail Blofome breking out of Blude Ryal, Quhois precious Vertew is Imperial.

XXV.

The Merle fcho fang, Hail Rose of moft Delyt, Hail of all Flowirs the fweit and foverain Quene:

The Lark fcho fang, Hail Rose baith reid and quhyt, Moft plefand Flowir of michty Colours twain ; Nichtingails fang. Hail Nature's Suffragane,

In Bewty, Nurture, and each Nobilnefs,

In rich Array, Renown and Gentilnefs.

XXVI. The

That the Houfe of York and Lancajler (the White and Red Rofe) were united in the Perfon of our i^ueen, is well known.

26 The Thijile and the Rofe.

XXVI.

The common Voice upraife of Birdis fmall, Upon this Ways, O bliffit be the Hour

That thou was chofe to be our Principal,

Welcome to be our Princes crownd with Powir, Our Perle, our Plefance, and our Paramour,

Our Peace, our Play, our plain Felicity :

Chryst the conferve from all Adverfity.

XXVII.

Then all the Confort fang with fic a Shout,

That I anone awakent quhair I lay. And with a Braid I turnit me about

To fe this Court, but all wer gone away;

Then up I leint me, halflings in affray. Calk to my Mufe, and for my Subjeck chofe To fmg the Ryal Thistle and the Rose.

^od Mr. W"- Dunbar.

27

A&& Ai^ A-Mi t^'Mi Ae^ «^A

1^*^ <r^r^ c^r^ r^t^ *^<^ '^'^

A

PANYGYRICK

ON

S R Penny.

—^-^^^--^

I.

TD ICHT fain wald I my Qwaintance male

Sr Penny with, and wate ye quhy? He is a Man will undertak.

A Lairdfhip of braid Lands to buyj Thairfoir methink richt lain wald I With him in Feliowfliip repair,

Becaufe he is in Company A noble Gyde baith late and air.

II. Sr

28 A Panygyrick on Sr Penny.

II.

Sr Penny for till hald in Hand,

His Company they think fae fweitj Sum does not care to fell thair Land,

With gude Sr Penny for to meit,

Becaufe he is of a noble Spreit, A furthy Man and a forfeiand;

There is no Mater ends compleit, Till he fet to his Seil and Hand.

III. Sr Penny is a valiant Man,

Of mekle Strenth and Dignitie, And evir fen this Warld began.

In this Land autoreift is he :

The King or Quene ze may not fee, They ftill fo tenderlie him trete,

That ther can nathing endit be. Without his Company ze get.

IV.

Sr Penny is a Man of Law,

And (witt ye weil) baith wyfe and war; He mony Reafons can furth fchaw,

Quhen he is Handing at the Bar,

Is

A Panygyrick on Sr Penny. 29

Is nane fae fharp that can him fear, Quhen he propons furth ony Pleyj

Nor zit fae hardy Man as dar Sr Penny tyne or difobey.

V.

Sr Penny is baith leird and wyfe,

The Kirk to fteir he taks in Hand, Difponer of ilk Benefice

In this Realm, throu all the Land j

Is nane fae wicht dar him gainftand, Sae wyfely can Sr Penny wirk ;

And als Sr Symonie his Servand, That now is Gydar of the Kirk.

VI.

GiF to the Court thou mak repair.

And ther haif Matters to proclame. Thou art unable weil to fair,

Sr Penny gif thou leif at hame.

To bring him furth think thou nae Schame j I do thee weil to underftand.

Into thy Bag beir thou his Name, Thy Matter cums better to hand.

VII. Sr

3° A Panygyrick on Sr Penny.

VII.

Sr Penny now is maid an OwU,

They wirk him mekle Tray and Tene, They hald him in till he hair-mouU,

And males him blind of baith his Ene ;

Thirout he is but fmdle fene, Sae faft tharin they can him fteik,

That Commons pure cannot obtain Ane Day to byd with him and fpeik.

Tray and Tene, Anger.

Hair-moullf Grown hoary with Mouldinefs.

4.|)..c|..|>

VERTUE

31

VERTUE and V Y C E.

POEM,

Addreft to

JAMES V. King of Scots,

By the famous and renown' d Clerk,

Mr, John Bellentyne,

Arch-Dean of Murray.

I.

/~\UHEN Silver Diane full of Beims bricht, -^ Frae dark Eclips was paft this uther Nicht,

And to the Crab hir proper Manfion gane j Artophilax contending with his Micht In the grit Eift to fet his Vifage richt ;

I mene the Leider of the Charle-wane :

Aboif our Heid then was the Vrfis twain, Quhen Starris fmall obfcure grew to our Sicht,

And Lucifer left twinkling him alane.

II. The

V- Vertue and Vyce.

II.

The frofty Nicht with her prolixit Hours, Her Mantle quhyt fpred on the tender Flours;

When ardent Labour has addreffit me, Tranflate the Tale of our Progenitours, Thair greit Manheid, Wifdom and hie Honours,

Quhair we may cleir, as in a Mirrour, fee

The furious End fomtymes of Tyranie; Somtymes the Gloir of prudent Governours,

Ilk State appryfit in thair Facultie.

III.

My weary Spreit defiring to reprefs My emptive Pen of frutelefs Biffinefs,

Awalkit forth to tak the recent Air, When Priapus with ftormy Weid opprefs, Requeiftit me, in his maift Tendernefs,

To reft a while amids his Gardens bare.

But I no maner coud my Mynd prepare To fet afyde unplefant Havynefs

On this and that contempling Solitare.

IV. And

■ Priapus, who prefides over Gardens.

Vertue and Vyce. 33

IV.

And firft occurrt to my remembering, How that I was in Service with the King,

Put to his Grace in Zeirs tendereft, Clerk of his Compts, althocht I was inding. With Heart and Hand, and evry uther thing.

That micht him pleife in ony manner beft,

While Envy grit me from his Service keft, By them that had the Court in governing.

As Bird bot Plumes is herryt of her Neft.

V.

Our Lyfe, our Gyding, and our Aventuris, Dependance have on thir celefl: Creaturis,

Apperandly by fome Neceffitie; For thocht a Man wald fet his bifly curis, Sae far as Labour and his Wifdom furis,

To flie hard Chance of Infortunitie,

Tho he efchew it with Difficultie, The curfid Weird yet ithandly enduris,

Gien to him firft in his Nativitie.

VI. Of

34 Vertue and Vyce,

VI.

Of eardlie State bewailing thus the Chance Of Fortune gude I had nae Efperance,

Sae lang I had fwomt in hir Seis fae deip, That fad Avyfing with her thochtfull Lance Coud find nae Port to anker her Firmance,

Till Morpheus the dreiry God of Sleip,

For very Rewth did on my Cures weip, And fet his Slewth and deidly Countenance,

With fnorand Vains to throw my Body creip.

VII.

Methocht I was into a plefand Meid, Quhair Flora made the tender Bluims to fpreid

Throw kindly Dew, and Humours nutrative, Quhen golden TAtan with his Flamis fae reid, Aboif the Seis upraift his glorious Heid,

Defounding down his Heit reftorative

To evry Fruit that Nature maid to live, Whilk was afore into the Winter deid,

With Stormis cauld, and Har-froft penetrive.

VIII. A

Vertue and Vyce. 35

VIII.

A Silver Fountain fprang with Watir cleir Into that Place, quhair I approchit neir;

Quhair I did fone efpy a fellon Reird Of courtly Gallants in thair gayeft Weir, Rejoycing them in Seafon of the Zeir,

As it had bene of Mayis fweit Day the Feird,

Their gudelie Havings made me nocht affeird ; With them I favsr a crownit King appeir,

With tender Downs arrifmg on his Beird.

IX.

Thir courtly Gallants fettand thair Intents To fmg and play on divers Inftruments j

According to this Princis Appetyte, Twa Ladyis fair came pranfand owre the Bents, Thair coftly Cleathing fhawd their mighty Rents ;

Quhat Heart micht wifti, they wanted not a Myte,

The Rubies fhone upon thair Fingers quhyt : And finaly I knew by thair Confents

This Vertue was, that uther hecht Delyte.

X. Thir

3^ Vertue and Vyce,

X.

Thir Goddefles arrayt in this fine Ways, As Reverence and Honour lift devyfe,

Afore this Prince fell down upon thair Kneis, Syne dreft themfells into thair beft Avyfe, Sae far as Wifdom in thair Powir lyes,

To do the Thing that micht him beft appleife,

Quhair he rejoyced in his heavenly Gleis, And him defyret that for his Emperyfs,

Ane of them twa unto his Lady cheis.

XI.

And firft Delyte unto the Prince faid thus, Maift valiant Knycht, in A6tions amorous.

And luftyeft that evir Nature wrocht, Quha in the Flour of Zouth mellyfluous. With Notes fweit, and fang mellodious,

Awalketh heir amang the Flowirs foft.

Thou has nae Game, but in thy mirry Thocht, My heavenly Blifs is fo delicious.

All Wealth in Eard bot it availeth nocht.

XII. Tho

Vertue and Vyce. 37

XII.

Tho thou had France^ and all beyont the Po^ Spain^ Ingland^ Pole^ with uther Kingdoms moe.

And reign oure them in State moft glorious, Thy puffiant Empyre is not worth a Stro, Gif it unto thy Pleifurs is a Foe,

Or pains thy Mind with Cares are dolourus ;

Ther is nathing may be fae odious To Man, as leif in Mifery and Woe,

Defrauding God of Nature Genius.

XIII.

Dress thee thairfor with all thy bifly Cure, That thou in Joy and Pleifure may endure;

Be Sicht of thir four Bodyis elementar, Twa grofs and heavy, twa are licht and pure, Thir Elements be working of Nature,

In uther change ; and tho they be richt far

Frae uther twind, with Qualitys contrair. Of them are made all Creatures Eard eir bure,

And finaly in them refolvit ar.

XIV. The

3^ Vertue and Vyce.

XIV.

The Fyre in Air, the Air in Watter cleir, In Eard the Watter turns withouten Weir,

The Eard in Watter it turns ower again ; Sae furth in Order nochts confumed heir, And Man new born begins sone to appeir

Ane uther Figure than afore was tane,

Quhen he is deid, the Matter does remain, Tho it refolve into fum new Manner,

Naething is new, nocht but the Form is gane.

XV.

Thus naething is in Eard but fugitive, Pafland and command fpreiding fucceffive;

And as a Beift, fo is a Man confave Of Seid infufd in Members genitive. And furth his Tyme in Plefoure does out dryve

As Chance him leids, till he be laid in Grave:

Thairfor thy Hevin and Plefour now refave, Quhile thou art heir into this prefent Lyve,

For after Death thou fall no Plefour haif.

XVI. The

1

Vertue and Vyce. 39

XVI.

The Rofe, the Lilly, and the Violet, Unpult, fone wither, and with winds owrefet,

Wallout falls down hot ony Fruit, I wifs, Thairfore I fay, Sen that naething may let. But thy bricht Hew maun be with Zeirs all fret,

(For every Thing but for a Seafon is)

Thou may not haif a mair excellent Blifs Than ly all Nicht into my Arms plet,

To hals and brais with mony a lufty Kifs.

XVII.

And haif my tender Body by thy Syde, So proper fet, quhilic Nature has provyde

With every Plefour, that thou mayft divyne. Ay quhile my tender Zeirs be overflyde j Then gif thou pleis that I thy Brydel gyde.

Thou maun all ways from agit men declyne.

Syne drefs thy Hairt, thy Courage and Ingyne, To fuffer nane fall in thy Houfe abyde.

But gif thay will unto thy Luft inclyne.

XVIII. Gif

4° Vertue and Vyce.

XVIII.

GiF thou defyres into the Seis to fleit Of hevinly Blifs, than me thy Lady treit ;

For it is faid by Clerks of fair Renown, Thair is nae Pleafour in this Eard fo grit. As quhen a Luver dois his Lady meit,

To raife his Lyf frae mony a deidlie Soun,

As hieft plefour but Comparifoun. I fall the geif in thy Zeirs zoung and fweit,

A lufty Halk with mony Plumes full broun.

XIX.

QuHiLK fall be found fae joyous and Plefant, Gif thou into her mirry Flichts fall hant.

Of evry Bhfs that may in Eard appeir. As Hairt will think thou fall nae Plenty want, Quhile Zeirs fwift with Quheils properant,

Confume thy Strenth, and all thy Bewtie cleir.

And quhen Delyt had faid on this Maner, As Rage of Zowtheid thocht maift relivant j

Then Vertew fpake, as after ye fall heir.

XX. My

Vertue and Vyce. 4^

XX.

My Lands full braid with mony a plenteous Shyre, Sail give thy Hienefs, (gif thou lift difyre)

Triumphant Glore, hie Honour, Fame divyne. With fie PuifTance, that them nae furious Yre, Nor weirand Age, nor Flames of birnand Fyre,

Nor bitter Death may bring unto Rewyne,

But thou maun firft enfufFer meikle Pyne, Abune thy felf, that thou may haif Empyre,

Then fall thy Fame and Honour haif no Fyne.

XXI.

Amang my Faes my Realms fet ar all, Quhilic haif with me a Weir continual.

And ever ftill dois on my Border ly : And tho' thay may nae Ways me overthrawl, Thay ly in wait, gif ony Chance may fall,

Of me fumtyme to get the Vidlory.

Thus is my Lyfe an ithand Chevalry, And Labour halds me ftrong as ony Wall,

And nathing breks me but vyl Slugardy.

XXn. Nae

4^ Vertue and Vyce.

XXII.

Nae Fortune may againft me ocht avail, Tho fcho with cloudy ftorms me aft aflail.

I brek the Streim of fharp adverfity, In Wedder lown, and maift tempeftous Hail, Bot any Dreid I beir an equal Sail:

My Ships fae ftrong, that I may never die.

Wit, Reafon, Manheid governs me fae hie, Nae influence of Starns can eir prevail

To rigne ow^re me w^ith Infortunitie.

XXIII.

The Rage of Zouth can never dantit be, Bot grit Diftrefs and fharp Adverfity,

As be this Reafon is experience; The fynefl Gold or Silver that we fe. May not be wrocht to our Utility,

Without kein Flames and bitter Violence;

The mair Diflrefs, the mair Intelligence. Quha eir fails lang in hie Profperity,

Ar fune owrefet, gainft florms have nae Defence.

XXIV. This

Vertue and Vyce. 43

XXIV.

This fragill Lyfe, as Moment induring, Bot doubt fall thee and all the Warld bring

To ficker Blifs, or then eternal Wae. Gif thou by honeft Labour dois a Thing, Thy Labour vaniefis but tarrying;

Howbeit thy honeft Warks they do not fae.

Gif thou does ocht of Luft be Nicht or Day, The fhameful Deid, without diflevering,

Continues ftill when Plefour is away.

XXV.

As Carvell ticht, faft tending throw the Sie, Leives nae imprent amang the Wallis hie.

As fwifteft Birds with mony a bifly Plume Perfis the Air, and wates not quhair thay flie, Sicklyks our Lyfe without Adtivitie ;

It gifles na Fruit, howbeit a Shadow blume.

Quha dois thair Lyfe in Ydlenefs confume, Bot Vertews Deids, thair Fame and Memorie

Sail vanife foner than the reiky Fume.

XXVI. As

44 Vertue and Vyce.

XXVI.

As Watter purges and males Bodys fair, As Fyre afcends be Nature in the Air,

And purefies with Heit thats vehement: As Flowir does fmell, as Fruit is nurifare: As precious Balmes reverts the Things ar fair,

And males them of the Rot impatient.

As Spyce maift fweit, and Rofe maift redolent j As ftern of Day by Motion circulair,

Chaifes the Nicht with Beims refplendent.

XXVII.

SiCKLYKE my Warks they perfyt every Wicht, In fervent Luve of maift excellent Licht,

And males a Man into this Eard bot Peir, And does the Saul frae all Disorder dicht, With Odour dulce, and males it ftill mair bricht

Than Diane full, or zet Apollo cleir,

Syn raifes it into the hieft Sphere, Immortally to fliine in Gods awin Sicht,

His chofen Creature, and as Spous maift deir.

XXVIII. This

Vertue and Vyce. 45

XXVIII.

This uther Wretch that clipit is Delyte^ Involves Mankynd be fenfual Appityte,

In every Kind of Vyce and Miferie, Because nae Wit nor Reafon is perfyte Quhair fhe is Gyde, but Skaith thats infinytj'

With Dolour, Shame, and urgent Povertiej

For fcho fprang frae the licht Froth of the Se. Quhilk fignifies hir Plefour venomit.

Is minglit ay with fhairp Adverfitie.

XXIX.

Duke Hannibal, as mony Authors wrait. Throw Spenzte came be mony a Paflage ftrait;

To Italy in Furor bellical, Brak down hie Walls, and hieft Mountains flait. And to his Army made an open Gait,

And Victories had on the Romans all.

At Capua by Plefour fenfual. The Duke was made fae faft and delicate.

That by his Faes he was fone overthrawU.

XXX. Of

46 Vertue and Vyce.

XXX.

Of ferfs Achill the weirly Deids fprang,

In Troy and Gre'ice^ quhyle he in Vertue rang,

How Luft him flew it is but Rewth to heir: Siclyk the Trojans with thair Knichts ftrang, The valiant Gretks furth frae thair Ruins dang,

Vidlorioufly exercit mony a Zeir;

That Nicht they went to thair Lufl: and Plefour, The fatal Horfs did throw thair Walls feng,

Quhais pregnant Sydes wer full of Men of Weir.

XXXI.

SARDJNAPJLL^ that Prince efeminat, Frae Deids of Knichts bafely degenerat,

Twynand the Threid of whyt or purpour Lint, With Fingers faft amang the Ladyis fat, And with his Luft couth not be fatiate,

Till frae his Faes came laft the bitter Dint.

Quhat nobil Men and Ladyis haif bene tint, Quhen they with Luft have bene intoxicat.

To fchaw at lenth my Tung wald nevir ftint.

XXXII. But

Vertue ajid Vyce. 47

XXXII.

But brave Camil the valiant Chevalier, (When he the Gauls had dantint be his Weir)

Of Heritage vv^ald haif nae Recompence j For gif his Bairns, his Kin and Friends maift deir Were verteous, they could not fail ilk Zeir

To haif enough, be Roman Providence.

Gif they wer given to Vyce and Infolence, It was not neidfull he fould conqueifs Geir,

To be the Caufe of thair Incontinence.

XXXIII.

Sum nobil Men, as Poets lift declair, Were Deifeit, fum made Gods of the Air,

Sum of the Heaven, as Eolus^ Vulcan^ Apollo^ Saturn^ Hermes, Jupiter, Mars, Hercules, and uther Men preclair.

That Fame imortall in this Warld w^an :

Quhy wer thir People called Gods than ? Becaufe they had a Vertue fingulair,

Excellent hie abune the Ingyne of Man.

XXXIV. And

4^ Vertue and Vyce.

XXXIV.

And uthers are in Reik fulphurious, As Ixion^ and weiry Syfyphus,

Eumentdes^ the Furys odibil, The proud Gyants, and thrifty Tantalus^^ With ugly Drink, and Fude maift vennomus,

Quhair Flames bauld, and Mirknefs ar fenfibil ;

Quhy ar thir Folk in Pains fae terribil? Becaufe they were but Shrews maift vicious

Into thair Lyfe, with Deids maift horribil.

XXXV.

And tho nae Fruit wer after confequent Of mortall Lyfe, but for this Warld prefent

Ilk Man to haif allenerlie Refpedt ; Zet Vertue fould frae Vice be different. As quick frae deid, as rich frae indigent;

That ane to hieft Honour does direct,

This uther Saul and Body does negleft. That ane of Reafon maift intelligent,

This uther of Beifts following the Effeft.

XXXVI. For

1

Vertue and Vyce. 49

XXXVI.

For he that nold againft his vyl Lufts ftryve. But lives as Beifts of Knawlege fenfityve,

Grows faft to Eild, and Death him fone owrehails: Thairfor the Mule is of a langer Lyfe Than the ftaind Horfe; alfo the barrand Wyfe

ZouthfuU appeirs, when that the Brudie fails:

We alfo fe when Nature nocht prevails, The Pain and Dolour ar fae pungityve,

Nae Medycyne the Patient then avails.

XXXVII.

Sen our Intents baith we haif fhawn thee thus, Cheis of us twae the malft delicious,

Or to fuftene a fharp Adverfitie, Danting the Rage of Zouth-heid furious. And fyn pofles Triumphs innumerous.

With hie Empyre, and lang Felicitie;

Or haif ane Moment Senfualitie Of fulilh Zouth, in Lyf voluptous,

And all thy Days full of fad Miferie.

E XXXVIII. PHE-

50 Vertue and Vyce,

XXXVIII.

PHEBUS be this his fyrie Cart did wry, Frae South to Weft declynand biflyly

To dip his Steids into the Weftlin Main; When ryfing Damps owrefaild his Vifage dry With Vapours thick, and cluddet all the Sky,

And Notus brym, the Wind meridian,

With Wings donk, and Fedders full of Rain, Awakent me, that I could not efpy

Quhilk of the twa was for his Lady tane.

XXXIX.

But fone I knew they were the Goddefles That came in Sleip to valiant Hercules^

When he was zung, and free of every Lore, To Luft or Honour, Purtith or Riches, Quhair he contempnit Luft and Idlenefs,

That he in Vertue micht his Lyfe decore;

Then Warks he did of maift excellent Glorej The mair increfst his painfull Biffinefs,

His hie Triumphs and Loving was the more.

1

i

51

A By t and BALL AT on warlo Wives ^ That gar thair Men live pinging Lives.

I.

1I)E merry, Brethrene, ane and all,

And fet all Sturt alide j And every ane togither call To God to be our Gyd; For as lang lives the mirry Man, As dois the Wretch for ocht he can. When Deid him ftrakes, he v»?ats na whan, And charges him to byde.

II.

The Rich then fall not fpared be, Thocht they haif Gold and Land,

Nor zit the Fair, for their Bewty, Cannot that Charge gainftand.

Tho

5^ A lytand Ballat^ &c.

Tho Wicht or Weak wald flee away, Nae Doubt but all maun Ranfom pay, Quhat Place or quhare can nae Man say. Be Se or zit be Land.

III.

The mirryeft Man that leives on Lyfe,

He fails upon the Sej For he knaws neither Sturt nor Stryfe,

But blyth and glad is he : But he that has an evil Wyfe, Has Sour and Sorrow all his Lyfe, And that Man quilk leives ay in Stryf, How can he mirry be ?

IV.

Ane evil Wyfe is the warft aught

That ony Man can haif; For he may nevir fit in Saught,

Unlefs he be her Slaif :

But

A by t and Ballat^ &c. 53

But of that Sort I knaw nane uther, Except a Cuckald or his Brutherj Sunt Lairds and Cuckalds altogither,

May wifs their Wyves in Graif.

V.

Because thair Wyves half Maiftery,

That they dar naeways cheip, But gif it be in Privity,

Quhen they are faft afleip j Ane mirry in thair Company, To them is worth baith Gold and Fie: A Menftrell neir coud dairthful be, Thair Mirth if he coud beit.

VI.

But of that Sort whilk I report,

I knaw nane in this Ring : But we may all baith grit and fmall,

Glaidly baith dance and fing,

Quha

Sunt Lairds. Here is spelled with an ^, as it ough^ and not with a C, as many of the Englijh do.

54 A by t and Ball at ^ &c.

Quha lifts not here to make gude Cheir, Perchance his Guids an uthir Yeir Be fpent, quhen he is brought to Beir, Quhen his Wyfe taks the Fling.

VII.

It has been fene, that wyfe Women,

After their Huftjand's Deid, Has gotten Men has gart them ken,

If they could bear a Laid. With a grene Sting, hes gart them bring The Geir that won was by a Dringj And fyne gart all the Bairnies fing, Ramukloch in their Bed.

VIII.

Then wad fcho fay, Alake this Day,

For him that wan this Geir, Quhen I him had, I Ikairfly faid. My Heart anes mak gude Cheir. • Or I had letten him fpend a Plak,. I lure haif witten him brake his Bak, Or els his Craig had gotten a Crak, Ower the Hicht of the Stair.

IX. Ze

A bytand Ballat^ &c. 55

IX.

Ze Niggarts then Example tak,

And leir to fpend your awn. And with gude Freynds ay mirry male,

That it may well be knawn, That thou art he quha wan this Geir ; And for thy Wyfe fe thou nocht fpair. With blyth Freynds ay to make Repair, Sae fall thy Worth be fhawn.

X.

FINIS quod I, quha sets not by The ill Wy ves of this Toun, Tho for Difpyte with me wald flyte,

Gif thay micht put me doun. Gif they wald ken quha maid this Sang, Quhidder they will him heid or hang, Flemyings his Name quhair eir he gang. In Country and in Toun.

^od Flemyng.

Seti not by, Does not Value. Put doun, Murder.

Robin

56

Robin and Makyne,

A PASTORAL.

I.

"D OB IN fat on the gude grene Hill,

Keipand a Flock of Fie, Quhen mirry Makyne faid him till,

O Robin rew on me. I haif thee luivt baith loud and ftill,

Thir Towmonds twa or thre ; My Dule in dern but gif thou dill,

Doubtlefs bot Dreid I die.

II.

i2057iV replied, Now by the Rude,

Naithing of Luve I knaw. But keip my Sheip undir yon Wod,

Lo quhair they raik on Raw.

Quhat

Dule In dern, Sorrow in fecret. Dill, ftill, calm, or mitigate. Ra'tk on Raw, go apace in a Row,

Robin and Makyne. 57

Quhat can have mart thee in thy Mude,

Thou Makyne to me fchaw ? Or quhat is Luve, or to be lude ?

Fain wald I leir that Law.

III.

The Law of Luve gin thou wald leir,

Tak thair an A, B, C ; Be keynd, courtas, and fair of Feir,

Wyfe, hardy, kind and frie, Sae that nae Danger do the deir.

What dule in dern thou drie ; Prefs ay to pleis, and blyth appeir.

Be patient, and privie.

IV.

ROBIN he anfwert her again,

I wat not quhat is Luve, But I haif Marvell uncertain

Quhat maks thee thus wanrufe.

The

Fair of Feir, of a fair and healthful Look.

5^ Robin and Makyne.

The Wedderis fair, and I am fain j My Sheip gaes hail abuve,

Gif we fould play us on the Plain, They wald us baith repruve.

V.

ROBIN talc tent unto my Tale,

And do all as I reid ; And thou fall haif my Heart all hale,

Eik and my Maidenheid : Sen God he fends Bute for Bale,

And for Murning Remeid. I dern with thee, but give I dale,

Doubtlefs I am but deid.

VI.

MAKYNE the Morn be this ilk Tyde,

Gif ye will meit me heir, May be my Sheip may gang besyde,

Quhyle we have liggd full neir ;

But

Wedderis, Weather's. It is to be noticed, that our Elders never apoftrophifed, yet by this one may judge that in every like Cafe they pronounced, as if fuch Vowels were cut off with an Apoftrophe: Without allowing this, many of their Lines will not be Numbers.

mm-

Robin and Makyne. 59

But maugre haif I, gif I byde,

Frae thay begin to fteir, Quhat lyes on Heart I will nocht hyd,

Then Makyn mak gude Cheir.

VII.

ROBIN thoM reivs me of my Reftj

I luve but thee alane. Makyne^ adieu ^ the Sun goes Weft,

The Day is neir-hand gane. Robin in Dule I am fo dreft,

That Luve will be my Bane. Makyne gae luve quhair eir ye lift;

For Lemans I luid nane.

VIII.

ROBIN I ftand in fic a Style,

I fich, and that full fair. Makyne I have been heir this quyle,

At hame I wifh I were. Robin, my Hinny, talk and fmyle,

Gif thou will do nae mair. Makyne sum uther Man beguyle^

For hameward I will fare.

IX. Syne

6o Robin and Makyne.

IX.

Syne Rohin on his Ways he went,

As light as Leif on Tree: But Makyne murnt and made Lament,

Scho trow'd him neir to fee. Robin he brayd attowre the Bent.

Then Makyne cryd on hie, Now may thou fing, for I am flient!

Quhat can ail Luve at me?

X.

MAKYNE went hame withouten fail,

And weirylie could weip ; Then Roh'in in a full fair Dale

Aflemblit all his Sheip, Be that fomepart of Makyns Ail,

Outthrow his Heart coud creip, Hir faft he foUowt to aflail,

And till her tuke gude keip.

XL Abyd

Brayd attowre the Bent, hafted over the Field. Tuke gude Kelp, J

kept a clofe Eye upon her. 1

Robin and Makyne. 6i

XI.

Abyd, abyd, thou fair Makyne^

A Word for ony Thing; For all my Luve it fall be thyne,

Withoutten departing. All hale thy Heart for till have myne,

Is all my coveting; My Sheip quhyle Morn till the Hours Nyne,

Will miller nae keiping.

XII. ROBINj thou has heard fung and fay,

In Jefts and Storys auld, The Man that will not when he may^

Sail have nocht when he wald. I pray to Heaven baith Nicht and Day,

Be eikd their Cares fae cauld, That prefTes firft with thee to play,

Be Forreft, Firth or Fauld.

xin.

MAKYNE^ the Nicht is foft and dry.

The Wether warm and fair, And the grene Wod richt neir hand by

To walk attowre all where :

There

62 Robin and Makyne.

There may nae Janglers us efpy,

That is to Luve contrair, Therin, Makyne^ baith you and I,

Unfeen may mak Repair.

XIV.

ROBIN, that Warld is now away,

And quyt brocht till an End, And neir again thereto perfay,

Sail it be as thou wend ; For of my Pain thou made but Play,

I Words in vain did fpendj As thou has done fae fall I fay,

Murn on, I think to mend.

XV.

MAKYNE, the Hope of all my Heal,

My Heart on thee is fetj I'll evermair to thee be leil,

Quhile I may live but lett. Never to fail as uthers feil,

Quhat Grace fo eir I get. Robin, with thee I will not deal 3

Adieu, for this we met.

XVI. MA'

Robin and Makyne. 63

XVI.

MAKYNE went hameward blyth enough,

Outowre the Holtis Hair. Pure Rohin murnd 5nd Makyne leugh ;

Scho fang, and he fichd fair: Scho left him in baith Wae and Wreuch,

In Dolor and in Care, Keipand his Herd under a Heuch,

Amang the ralhy Gair.

Finis quod Mr. RoB. Henryson.

Advii

ce

64

K^.*^.^. .C^.*^.^. .(^.'^.^ .(^■'i^.^. '(^.'^.k). •Cf -A-f)- -cf- A'§>- •4*4^'^' •4'«4''^* •^'^^''f^*

Advice to Man to enjoy his ain.

«.§•!+■

I.

TV/r AN, fen thy Lyfe is ay in Weir, And Deid is ever drawing neir, The Tyme unfiker and the Place, Thyne ain Gude fpend quhile thou has Space.

II.

GiF it be thyne, thy felf it ufes,

Gif it be not, thee it refufes.

Another of thee Profit has.

Then fpend thy ain quhile thou has Space.

III.

Thou may to Day have Gude to fpend. In haift to Morn may from it wend. And leive an uther thy Baggs to brace, Then fpend thy ain quhile thou has Space.

IV. Quhile

Advice to Man to enjoy his ain. 65

IV.

QuHiLE thou has Space, fe thou difpone That for thy Geir: quhen thou art gone, Nae Wicht ane other flay or chace, Enjoyt thy felf quhile thou has Space.

V.

Sum all his Days dryves owre in vain.

Ay gatherand Geir with Greif and Pain,

Is nevir glade at Xule nor Pais;

Thyne ain Gude fpend quhile thou has Space.

VI.

Syne cums ane blythfome of his Sorrow, That for him prayd nor Even nor Morrow, And fangs it all with Merrynefs j Then fpend thy ain quhile thou has Space.

VII.

Sum gathers Gude, and ay it fpares. And after him cum braw young Airs, That his auld Thrift fets on an Ace, And fendft a Sheiring in fhort Space.

VIII. Its

F

66 Advice to Man to enjoy his ain.

VIII.

Its juft all thyne that here thou fpends, And not all that on thee depends, But his to fpend it that has Grace; Then fpend thyn ain quhyle thou has Space.

IX.

Trust not annother will do ye to,

It that thy felf wald nevir do;

For gif thou dois, ftrange is thy Cace ;

Thine ain Gude fpend quhyle thou has Space.

X.

Luke how the Bairn dois to the Mother, And tak Example be nane uther. That it not after be thy Cafe ; Sae fpend thy ain quhyle thou has Space.

^od DUMBAR.

On

67

On a bonny Veffel called The Fleming Bark, belonging to Edinburgh.

I.

T Have a little Fleming Berge

Of cleanly Wark, and fcho is wichtj

Quhat Pylot talcs my Schip in Charge, Maun hald her cleanly, trim and ticht: Hir Hatches maun be handlit richt.

With Steir Burd, Baburd, Luf and Lie; Scho will fail all the Winter Nicht,

And nevir tak a Tellzevie.

II.

With ane even Keil afore the Wind,

Scho is richt fairdy with a Sail ; But at a Lufe fcho lyis behind,

Gar heis her quhile her Howbands ikail;

Draw

68 '^he Fleming Bark.

Draw weil the tackle to her Tail, Scho will not mifs to lay zour Maft,

To pump as aft as ze may fail, Ze will neir hald her Watter-faft.

III.

To coif hir aft, can do no ill,

And talloun quhair the Flude-mark flows ; But gif fcho lekks, get Men of Skill

To flap the Holes laigh in the Hows :

For faut of Hemp, tak hairy Tows, And Stane-balaft withouten other.

In moonlefs Nichts it is nae Mows, Except a ftout Man fteir the Ruther.

IV.

A Veflell fair abune the Watter,

And is but laitly reikit too, Quhairto till deave ze with hir Blatter

Are nane fie in the Flot as fcho:

Plum weil the Grund, quhat eir ze do. Hail on the Fore-fheit and the Blind ;

Scho will tak in at Cap and Ko, Without fcho balaft be behind.

V. Nae

The Fleming Bark, 69

V.

Nae Pedders Pak fcho will refufe,

Altho hir Travel fcho fhoud tine, •

Nae Cuckold Carle or Carlings Pet,

That dois their Corn and Catle trayn ;

And quhere scho finds a Fallow fyne, He will be fraught free for a Sowfe,

She carries nocht but Men and Wyne, And Bulion to the Cunzie-Houfe.

VI.

For Merchand Men I may half Money,

But nane fic as I wald defy re, And I am laith to mell with ony.

To leif my Matter in the My re;

That man that wirks beft for his Hyre Its he fall be my Marriner,

But Nicht and Day he maunna tyre That fails my bonny Ballenger.

VII.

QuHEN Anker-hald nane can be fund, I pray you caft the Leid-lyne out;

And gif ye cannot get the Ground, Steir be the Compafs, keep her Rout;

Syne

70

The Fleming Bark.

Syne travers ftill, and lay about, And gar her top twiche Wind and Waw,

When Anker dryves, there is nae Dout Thir tripand Tydes may tyne us a.

VIII.

Now is my pretty Pinnage ready,

Abydand on fum Merchand Block, But be fcho empty, be our Lady,

Scho will be kitle of her Dok ;

Scho will refufe nae Landwart "Jok^ Tho he fhoud fraught her for a Crown:

Thus fair ze weil, fays gude John Cok, A nobil Sailor in this Toun.

^od Semple.

The

^-c^fOMf^ '»-r^|>ivj

7^

The Defens of Griffell Sandylands For ufing of hir felf contrair the Ten Commands^ Being in JVard for playing of the Loun With every ane lijl gife hir half a Croun.

I.

T)Ernitious People, partial in Defpyte, Sufannas Juges, Sawers of Sedition,

Zour cankert Council is the Caufe and Wyte, Bowftert with Pryde, and blinded with Ambition, Finding nae Cryme, nor haifing a Comiffion

To hurt Dame Venus Virgins as ze doj Gif ze fae rafhly rin upon Sufpition,

Ze may put others on the Pannell too.

II.

To Sandylands ze war ower-fair to fchame hir,

Sen ze with Council quietly might command hir j Grit Fulis ze war with Fallows to defame hir, Haifing nae Caufe, but common Fame and Sklan der,

Quhen

7^ The Defens o/'Griffell Sandylands.

Quhen finding no Man in the Houfe neir hand hir, Exept a *Clerk of godly Converfation,

Quhat gif befyde John Duries felf ye fand hir, Dar ze fufpedt the haly Congregation.

III.

ZouR flefhly Confciens gars zou tak this Feir,

Believe ze Virgins will be won fae fune, Na, God forbid, but Men may bourd as neir.

And Women be nae war, quhen that is done,

Had fcho bene * * * * That war a perelous Play, ane micht fufpedt them.

But Lads and LafTes will meit after None, When Dick and Dune baith dow not correal them.

IV.

Sen Drunkards, Gluttons and contentious Men, Scheders of Blude, and Subjects given to Greid,

May not poflefs, or Heavens high Hall get ben, As in the Byble daylie we may reid :

Let

* The MInifter, Beaton.

Had fcho bene * * * * In fuch Places as are fo fullied or torn in our old Copies, that they cannot be read, we chufe rather to leave a Blank than fill them up, tho' they might be fupplied with fmall Difficulty.

The Defens o/'Griffell Sandylands. Ti

Let thir be weyd alyke, till every Leid, Syne Fornication placit amang the laif,

Exempt zour felves throu all the Toun in Deid, Then luke how mony zou unmarkid haif.

V. .

GiF ye belife not Betoun be his Word,

In hir Defens, it cannot be refulit ; Let him that follows fecht it with the fword,

Ane auntient Law quhen Ladyis are accufit.

Are Minifters fic Men to be abufit, That knaw the Scripture and the Ten Commands?

Tho he and fcho wer in a Houfe inclufit, That fays not he fell foul on Sandylands,

VL

As for the reft, I knaw not thair Vocation,

Thair Lyfe and Manners ; but I heir Folk name

Catholick Virgins of the Congregation, [them

Syne were to tyne them, if ze wald obtein them : Quhat can ze fay, exept that ze haid fein them

With rem in re all nakit, bot Adherance;

Then tak a Bow-ftring,draw it down betweinthem,

And gif it flicks, that has an ill Appeirance.

VIL Ze

74 'The Defens o/'Griffell Sandylands.

VII.

Ze cative Clerks, that Colege ze frequentit

Quhen ze were Wanflers of the wanton Band, Now ze are laimt frae Labour, I lamment it,

Zour Piftols tuimt, and Backfprent like a Wand,

Snap Wark, Adieu frae * * * And warfe than that, ze want zour pryming Powder;

Then confciens cums with crukit StafF in Hand, Greitand for bygane bowing Back and Shouder.

VIII.

Remember firft zour former Quality,

And wrak nae Virgins with zour wilfuU Weir;

But gif ze do, then our Regality

Has Power plainly then to replege them heir, Micht they win to the Girth, I tak nae Feir,

Doun by the Canno-Croce I pray zou fend them. Where * Bannatyn has promift to compeir,

With lawfiiU Reafon ready to defend them.

IX. Ane

* Mr. Patrick.

The Defens o/'Griffell Sandylands. 75

IX.

Ane Caufe there is, thay cannot be convick, Ze had nae Power after the Sun was fet.

The Provoft gave nae Charge to Gilbert Dick; The fpecial Thing that fould not bein forzet, They were not Thieves, nor yet condemt in Dett,

Nor Red-hand tane, then was nae Caufe ze knaw, * But ze let Rukes and Gleds rin throu the Nett,

And faiklefs Daws make fubject to the Law.

X.

ZouR partial Juge we may declyne him to,

But fet me doun the Parfon Pennycuik^ Or Sanders Guthrie fee quhat he can do:

He kens the Law, and keeps zour ain Court- Buke:

For Men of Law, I wait not quhere to luke : James Banantyne was anes a Man of Skill ;

And gif he comes not there, I wifh we tuke, To keip our Dyet, Mes David Makgill.

XL Quhat

Little Villains muft fubmit to Fate,

That great Ones may enjoy the World in State.

7^ The Defefis o/'Griffell Sandylands.

XI.

QuHAT Kimmer cafts the formeft Stane, lets fe, At thae poor Queans, ze wrangfully fufpeck

For Iklenting Bouts ; now better war let be. Than to begin and get zour felves a Geek, The greateft Fait I find in this EfFedt;

They baith tuke Pay, and put themfelves in Schame ; But quhen the Court cums to the Town, quhat

We fall reftore them to their Stock again. [Reck,

XII.

In zour Tolbuith fie Prifoners to plant.

Will be receivd richt weil, ye may confider, Gude Captane Adam will not let them want

Bedding, howbeid they fould lig all togidder.

As for his Wife, I wald ye fould forbid her, Hir Eyndling Toits, I true ther be nae Danger,

Becaufe his Back is larbour groun and lidder, Bot Underftanding now to treit a Stranger.

XIII.

The greateft Greif I find, ze haif defamed

Thir Luvers leil, and done their Friends but Lack,

Becaufe thair Bands were juft to be proclaimd, Partys had met, and made a fair Contrack:

But

The Defens o/'Griffell Sandylands. 17

But now alas the Men are loppen back; For oppen Sklander callt a fpeikand Deil,

In grit AfFairs ze had not bein fae fnack, About the ruleing of the Common-weil.

XIV.

To punifli Part is Partiality,

To punifli all is hard to do indeid j But fend them heir to our Regality,

And we fall fee gif we can ferve their Neid j

This rural Ryme whaever likes to reid, To Dick and Dury 'tis dire61:ed plain,

Quhere I offend them in my Landwart Leid, I fall be ready to reform again.

^od Semple.

THE

78

The Battle of Harlaw^

Fought en upon Friday, July 24, 141 1, againft Donald of the Ifles.

I.

"PRAE Dunideir as I cam throuch, Doun by the Hill of Banochie^

Allangft the Lands of Garioch; Grit Pitie was to heir and fe The Noys and dulefum Hermonie,

That evir that dreiry Day did daw, Cryand the Corynoch on hie,

Alas! alas! for the Harlaw.

II.

I marvlit quhat the Matter meint. All Folks war in a fiery fairy :

I wift nocht quha was Fae or Freindj Zit quietly I did me carrie.

But

Battle of Harlaw. 79

But fen the Days of auld King Hairy Sic Slauchter was not hard nor fene,

And thair I had nae Tyme to tairy, For Biifinefs in Aherdene.

III.

Thus as I walkit on the Way,

To Inverury as I went, I met a Man and bad him ftay,

Requeifting him to mak me quaint,

Of the Beginning and the Event, That happenit thair at the Harlaw;

Then he entreited me tak tent. And he the Truth fould to me fchaw.

IV.

Grit Donald of the Yles did claim. Unto the Lands of Rofs fum Richt,

And to the Governour he came, Xhem for to haif gif that he micht :

Quha

Governor, Robert Duke of j^hany. Uncle to King James I. The Account of this famous Battle may be feen in our Scots Hiftories.

8o Battle o/^ Harlaw.

Quha faw his Intereft was but flicht; And thairfore anfwerit with Difdain;

He haftit hame baith Day and Nicht, And fent nae Bodward back again.

V.

But Donald ncht impatient

Of that Anfwer Duke Robert gaif, He vowd to God Omnipotent,

All the hale Lands of Rofs to haif,

Or ells be graithed in his Graif. He wald not quat his Richt for nocht.

Nor be abufit lyk a Slaif, That Bargin fould be deirly bocht.

VI.

Then haiftylie he did command,

That all his Weir-Men fliould convene. Ilk an well harnifit frae Hand,

To meit and heir quhat he did mein ;

He waxit wrath and vowit Tein, Sweirand he wald furpryfe the North,

Subdew the Burgh of Aherdene^ Mearns^ Angus ^ and all Fyfe^ to Forth.

VII. Thus

Battle of Harlaw.

VII.

Thus with the Weir-men of the Yles^

Quha war ay at his bidding bown, With Money maid, with Forfs and Wyls,

Richt far and neir baith up and doun :

Throw Mount and Muir, frae Town to Town, AUangfl: the Land of Rofs he roars,

And all obey'd at his Bandown, Evin frae the North to Suthren Shoars.

VIII.

Then all the Countrie Men did zieldj

For nae refiftans durft they male, Nor offer Battill in the Feild,

Be forfs of Arms to beir him bakj

Syne they refolvit all and fpak, That beft it was for thair Behoif,

They fould him for thair Chiftain tak, Believing weil he did them luve.

IX.

Then he a Proclamation maid

All Men to meet at Invernefs^ Throw Murray Land to mak a Raid,

Frae Arthurfyre unto Spey-nefs.

And

82 Battle of Harlaw.

And further mair, he fent Exprefs, To fchaw his Collours and Enfenzie,

To all and findry, mair and lefs, Throchout the Boundis of Boyn and Enzie.

X.

And then throw feir Strathbogie Land,

His Purpofe was for to purfew, And quhafoevir durft gainftand,

That Race they Ihould full fairly rew.

Then he bad all his Men be trew, And him defend by Forfs and Slicht,

And promift them Rewardis anew, And mak them Men of mekle Micht.

XI.

Without Refiftans as he faid,

Throw all thefe Parts he ftoutly paft, Quhair fum war wae, and fum war glaid,

But Garioch was all agaft.

Throw all thefe Feilds he fped him fail. For fie a Sicht was never fene ;

And then, forfuith, he langd at laft To fe the Bruch of Aherdene.

XII. To

Battle of Harlaw. 83

XII.

To hinder this prowd Enterprife,

The ftout and michty Erie of MARR

With all his Men in Arms did ryfe, Even frae Cur garf to Craigyvar^ And down the fyde of Don richt far,

Angus and Mearns did all convene

To fecht, or DONALD came fae nar

The Ryall Bruch of Aherdene.

XIII.

And thus the Martial Erie of MARR^

Marcht with his Men in richt Array, Befoir the Enemie was aware.

His Banner bauldly did difplay.

For weil enewch they kend the Way, And all thair Semblance weil they faw.

Without all Dangir, or Delay, Came haiftily to the HARLAW.

XIV. With

MAKRy Alexander Earl of Mar, Son of Alexander the Governour's Brother.

84 Battle of Harlaw.

XIV.

With him the braif Lord OGILVT^

Of Angus Sherriff-principall, The Conftabill of gude Dunde^

The Vanguard led before them all.

Suppofe in Number they war fmall, Thay firft richt bauldlie did purfew.

And maid thair Faes befoir them fall, Quha then that Race did fairly rew.

XV.

And then the worthy Lord S ALTON,

The ftrong undoubted Laird of DRUM, The ftalwart Laird of Lawrijione^

With ilk thair Forces all and fum.

PJNMUIR with all his Men did cum, The Provoft of braif Aherdene^

With Trumpets and with Tuick of Drum, Came fchortly in thair Armour fchene.

XVL

These with the Erie of MARR came on.

In the Reir-ward richt orderlie, Thair Enemies to fett upon;

In awfull Manner hardily,

Togither

Battle o/'Harlaw. 85

Togither vowit to live and die, Since they had marchit mony Mylis

For to fupprefs the Tyrannie Of douted DONALD of the Ties.

XVII.

But he in Number Ten to Ane,

Richt fubtilie alang did ryde, With Malcomtofch and fell Maclean^

With all thair Power at thair Syde,

Prefumeand on thair Strenth and Pryde, Without all Feir or ony Aw,

Richt bauldlie Battill did abyde, Hard by the Town of fair HARLAW.

XVIII.

The Armies met, the Trumpet founds.

The dandring Drums alloud did touk, Baith Armies byding on the Bounds,

Till ane of them the Feild fould bruik.

Nae Help was thairfor, nane wald jouk, Ferfs was the Fecht on ilka Syde,

And on the Ground lay mony a Bouk Of them that thair did Battill byd.

XIX. With

86 Battle 0/ Harlaw.

XIX.

With doutfum Viftorie they dealt.

The bludy Battill laftit lang, Each Man his Nibours Forfs thair felt;

The weakeft aft-tymes gat the Wrang:

Thair was nae Mowis thair them amang, Naithing was hard but heavy Knocks,

That Eccho maid a dulefull Sang, Thairto refounding frae the Rocks.

XX.

But Donalds Men at laft gaif back;

For they war all out of Array. The Earl of Marris Men throw them brak,

Purfewing fhairply in thair Way,

Thair Enemys to tak or flay, Be Dynt of Forfs to gar them yield,

Quha war richt blyth to win away. And fae for Feirdnefs tint the Feild.

XXI.

Then Donald fled, and that full fafl;, To Mountains hich for all his Micht;

For he and his war all agafl:,

And ran till they war out of Sicht ;

And

Battle of Harlaw. 87

And fae of Rofs he loft his Richt, Thocht mony Men with him he brocht,

Towards the Ties fled Day and Nicht, And all he wan was deirlie bocht.

XXII.

This is (quod he) the richt Report

Of all that I did heir and knaw, Thocht my Difcourfe be fumthing fchort,

Tak this to be a richt futhe Saw :

Contrairie God and the Kings Law, Thair was fpilt mekle Chriftian Blude,

Into the Battill of Harlaw; This is the Sum, fae I conclude.

XXIII.

But zit a bony Quhyle abyde,

And I fall mak thee cleirly ken Quhat Slauchter was on ilkay Syde,

Of Lowland and of Highland Men,

Quha for thair awin haif evir bene : Thefe lazie Lowns micht weil be fpaird,

ChefEt lyke Deirs into thair Dens, And gat thair Waiges for Rewaird.

XXIV. Mal-

Battle of Harlaw.

XXIV.

Malcomtosh of the Clan Held Cheif, Macklean with his grit hauchty Heid,

With all thair Succour and Releif, War dulefuUy dung to the Deid : And now we are freid of thair Feid,

They will not lang to cum again ;

Thoufands with them without Remeid,

On Donalds Syd that Day war flain.

XXV.

And on the uther Syde war loft,

Into the Feild that difmal Day, Chief Men of Worth (of mekle Coft)

To be lamentit fair for ay.

The Lord Saltoun of Rothemay, A Man ofMicht and mekle Main;

Grit Dolour was for his Decay, That fae unhappylie was flain.

XXVI.

Of the beft Men amang them was, The gracious gude Lord OGILVT,

The Sheriff-principal oi Angus; Renownit for Truth and Equitie^

For

Battle of Harlaw. 89

For Faith and Magnanimitie ; He had few Fallows in the Field,

Zit fell by fatall Deftinie, For he nae ways wad grant to zield.

XXVII.

Sir yames Scrimgeor of Duddap^ Knicht,

Grit Conftabill of fair Dunde^ Unto the dulefull Deith was dicht,

The Kingis cheif Banner-man was he,

A valziant Man of Chevalrie, Quhais PredecefTors wan that Place

At Spey^ with gude King WILLIAM in^^ Gainft Murray and Macduncans Race.

XXVIII.

Gude Sir Allexander Irving^

The much renownit Laird of Drum^ Nane in his Days was bettir fene,

Quhen they war femblit all and fum ;

To praife him we fould not be dumm, For Valour, Witt and Worthynefs,

To end his Days he ther did cum, Quhois Ranfom is remeidylefs.

XXIX. And

90 Battle of Harlaw.

XXIX.

And thair the Knicht of Lawrtjion

Was flain into his Armour fchene, And gude Sir Robert Davidfon^

Quha Proveft was of Aberdene^

The Knicht of Panmure^ as was fene, A mortall Man in Armour bricht,

Sir Thomas Murray flout and kene, Left to the Warld thair laft gude Nicht.

XXX. Thair was not fen King Keneths Days

Sic ftrange intelline crewel Stryf In Scotland fene, as ilk Man fays,

Quhair mony liklie lofl thair Lyfe;

Quhilk maid Divorce twene Man and Wyfe, And mony Childrene fatherlefs,

Quhilk in this Realme has bene full/yfe; Lord help thefe Lands, our Wrangs redrefs.

XXXI. In July^ on Saint yames his Even,

That Four and twenty difmall Day, Twelve hundred, ten Score and eleven

Of Zeirs fen Chryst, the Suthe to fay :

Men will remember as they may, Quhen thus the Veritie they knaw.

And mony a ane may murn for ay, The brim Battil of the Harlaw,

Ane

91

Ane BALL AT of the fenziet Frier of Tungland, How he fell in the Myre fleand to Turkland.

— -939Qj«jeeec- —

I.

A S zung Auror with Chryftal Hail,

In Orient fchewd hir Vifage pail, A fwenyng Swyth did me aflail,

Of Sonis of Sathanis Seidj Methocht a Turk of Tartary^ Come throw the Bounds of Barbary, And lay forloppin in Lombardy

Full lang, in Watchmans Weid.

II. Frae

An Account of this Friar, who was an Italian, may be feen In Mr. Lejlfs Hiftory. K. yames IV. made him Abbot of Tungland: He pretended and attempted to make Gold out of other Mettalsj but failing of that, he next gave out, That he could fly, and very boldly appointed the Day and Place, which was from Stirl'mg-CaMe, where the King and many Speftators faw him throw himfelf with his large Wings from the Rock, and break his Thigh-bone.

92 The Frier of Tungland.

II.

Frae baptafing for to efchew, Thair a religious Man he flew, And cled him in his Habeit new,

For he couth wryte and reid. Quhen kend was his Diffimulance, And all his curfit Governance; For Fair he fled, and come in France^

With litill Lombard Leid.

III.

To be a Leiche he fenyt him thair, Quhilk mony micht rew evirmair. For he left nowthir fick nor fair

Unflane, or he hyne zed : Vane-Organs he full cleinly carvit, Quhen of his Straik fae mony fl:arvit, Dreid he had got quhat he defarvit.

He fled away gude Speid.

IV.

In Scotland then the narreft Way He come, his Cunning till aflay ; To fum Men thair it was nae Play, The preiving of his Sciens.

In

The Frier of Tungland. 93

In Pottingrie he wrocht grit Pyne, He murdreift mony in Medecyne, The 'Jew was of a grit Engyne, And generit was of Gyans.

V.

In Leich-craft he was homecyd, He wald haif for a Nicht to byd, A Haiknay and the Hurtmans Hyd,

Sae mekle he was of Myance. His Yrons was rude as ony Rawchter, Quhair he leit Blude, it was nae Lauchterj Full mony an Inftrument for Slauchter

Was in his Garde vyance.

VI.

He couth gif Cure for Laxatyve, To gar a wicht Horfe want his Lyfe, Quha eir aflay wald Man or Wyfe,

Thair Hipps zied hiddy-giddy. His Prafticks neir war put to Preif, Bot fudden Deid or grit Mifchief j He had Purgation to mak a Thief

To die without a Widdy.

VII. Unto

94 The Frier of Tungland.

VII.

Unto nae Mefs eir preft this Prelat, For Sound of facring Bell nor Skellat, As Blackfmyth brukit was his Pallat,

For batting at the Study. Thocht he come hame a new maid Channoun. He had difpenfit with Matynis Cannoun On him come nowdir Stole nor Fannoun,

For fmuking of the Smydy.

VIII.

Methocht feir Faflbnis he aflailziet To mak the Quinteflance, and failziet ; And when he faw that nocht availziet,

A Fedrem on he tuke : And fchupe in Turkic for to flie, And quhen that he did mont on hie, All Fowl ferliet quhat he fould be,

That did upon him luke.

IX.

Sum held he had bene Dedalus^ Sum the Minatour marvellous. And fum the Smyth of Mars, Vulcanus, And fum Saturnus Kuke.

And

The Frier of Tungland. 95

And ay the Cufchetts at him tuggit, The Ruiks him rent, the Ravyns druggit; The hudit Craws his Hair furth ruggit, The Hevin he micht not bruke.

X.

The Mytaiie and Saint Martyns Fowl Wend he had bene the hornit Howie ; They fet upon him with a Zowle,

And gaif him Dynt for Dynt. The Golk, the Gormaw, and the Gled, Befit him with Buffets till he bledj The Spar-halk to the Spring him fped,

As ferfs as Fyre off Flint.

XI.

The Tarfall gaif him Tug for Tug, A Stanchell hang in ilka Lug, The Pyot furth his Pens did rug.

The Stork ftraik ay bot Stynt. The BilTart biffy bot Rebuke, Scho was fae cleverous of her Cluke, His B s he micht nae langer bruke,

Scho held them at a Hynt.

XH. Thick

9^ The Frier of Tungland.

XII.

Thick was the Cloud of Kayis and Crawis, Of Marlzeons, Mittains, and of Mawis, That bikkirt at his Baird with Blawis,

In Battill him about. They nybillt him with dinfome Cry, The Rerd of them raife to the Sky, And evir he cryd on Fortune, Fy,

His Lyfe was into Dowt.

XIII.

The Jae him fkrippit with a Skryke, And fkornit him as it was lyk, The Egill ftrong at him did ftryk,

And rawcht him mony a Rout. For Feir uncunnandly he cawkit, Quhyle all his Penns wer drownt and drawkit. He maid a hundreth Nolt all hawkit,

Beneath him with a Spowt.

XIV.

He fchure his Feddreme that was fchene. And flippit out of it full clene, And in a Myre, up to the Ene, Amang the Glar did glyd.

The

The Frier of Tungland. 97

The Fowlis all at the Fedreme dang, As at a Monfter, them amang, Quhyle all the Penns of it outfprang Intill the Air full wyde.

XV.

And he lay at the Plunge eirmair,

Sae langs he hard a Ravin rair;

The Craws him focht with Crys of Cair

In every Schaw befyde. Had he reveild bene to the Ruiks, They had him riven with thair Cluiks : Thre Days in Dubs amang the Duiks,

He did with Dirt him hyde.

XVI.

The Air was dirkint with the Fowls, That came with Zawmers and with Zowls, With Skryking, Skryming, and with Scouls

To tak him in the Tyde. I walknit with the Noyfs and Schout, Sic hydious Beir was me about, Senfyne I curfl: that cankirt Rout,

Quaireir I gang or ryde.

Finis quod Dunbar.

Tyd- H

98

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

TYDINGS frae the Session. I.

A Mure LANDS Man of Uplands Male,

At Hame thus to his Nychbour fpak, What Tydings, Goffip, Peice or Weir? The tother rounit in his Eir,

I tell zou this under Confeflion, But laitly lichtit afF my Meir,

I come of Edinburgh frae the Seffion.

II.

QuHAT Tydings hard ze thair, I pray zou? The tother anfwert, I fall fay zou, Keip this all fecreit, gentil Brothir, Is nae Man thair that trefts ane uther :

A common Doer of Tranfgreffion, Of Innocents preveins a Futher :

Sic Tydings hard I at the Seffion.

III. Sum

I

'Ty dings frae the Seffion, 99

III.

Sum with his Maik, rowns him to pleis, That envyous wald byt afF his Neis ; His Fae him by the Oxter leids; Sum Patters with his Mouth on Beids,

That has his Mynd all on Oppreffion : Sum becks full law, and fchaws bair Heids,

Wald luke full heich war not the Seffion.

IV. Sum bydand Law, lays Land in Wed ; Sum fuperexpendit gaes to Bed, Sum fpeids, caufe he in Court has Meins, Sum of Partiality compleins.

How Feid and Favour fleims Difcretion : Sum fpeiks full fair and falfly feins;

Sic Things I hard and faw at Seffion.

V.

Sum Summonds cafts, and fum excepts, Sum ftand befyd and fkaild Law kepps; Sum is delayd, fum wins, fum tynes; Sum maks him merry at the Wynes;

Sum is put out of his PofTeffion; Sum herrit, and on Credance dynes;

Sic Tydings hard I at the Seffion.

VI. Sum

100 Ty dings frae the SeJJion.

VI.

Sum fweirs, and gaes clein up with GOD, Sum in a Lamb-fkin is a Tod, Sum in his Tung his Kindnefs turfes, Sum cuts at Throats, and fum pyks Purfes :

Sum gaes to Gallows with Proceffion; Sum fains the Seit, and fum them curfes;

Sic Tydings hard I at the Seffion.

VII.

Religious Men of divers Places, Cum thair to wou, and fee fair Faces, Baith Carmelites and Cordlliers^ To Gemer cum, and get mae Friers,

Unmindful of thair cheft Profeffion, The zunger at the elder leirs j

Sic Tydings hard I at the Seffion.

VIII. Thair cums zung Monks of hie Complexion, Of Mynd devote, Luve and Affection ; And in the Court thair het Flefli dant. Full Father-lyk, with Pech and Pant :

They are fae humble of Interceffion, Thair Errand all kynd Women grant : Sic Tydings hard I at the Seffion.

IX. Sum

I

Ty dings frae the SeJJion, loi

IX.

Sum honeft Lords adorn the Bench,

Sum mynds nocht but his Wine and Wench ;

Sum has Law Learning of his awin,

Sum wants and lippens to his Man,

In ilka Caufe to get a Leflbn; Sum cankirt girns, be Party thrawin,

And fleims fair Juftice frae the Seflion.

X.

The Advocates I may nocht wyte, Nor yet the Lads that Lybalds wryte ; For its thair Craft, and they maun fen. This has nae Spevie in his Pen,

Nor that a Palfie in Expreffion j But weil I wate an of ilk Ten,

Micht very weil gane all the Seflion.

^od Dunbar.

102

Genera// SATYRE.

I.

T^EvoRiT with Dreim devifing in my Slumber, How that this Realm with Nobles out of Number, Gydit, provydit fae mony Years has benej And now fie Hunger, fie Cowarts, and fie Cumber, Within this Land was nevir hard nor fene.

n.

Sic Pryd with Prelats, fae few to preieh and pray ; Sic hunt of Harlots, with them baith Nieht and Day,

They that fould have ay thair God afore thair Ene, Sae nyce in Array, fae ftrange to thair Abay,

Within this Land was nevir hard or fene.

HL Sae

A general! Satyre. 103

III. Sae mony Preifts cled up in fecular Weid, With blafing Breifts, cafting thair Clais abreid;

It is no Neid to tell of quhome I mein, To quhome the Creid and Teftament to reid

Within this Land was nevir hard nor fene.

IV.

Sae mony Maifters, fae mony gowckit Clerks, Sae mony Waifters, to God and all His Warks,

Sic fyrie Sparks, difpytful frae the Splene, Sic lofin Sarks, fae mony Glengore Marks,

Within, i^c.

V.

Sae mony Lords, fae mony naturale Fules, That better accords, to play them at the Trules,

Nor feis the Dules, that commons did fuftene. New tane frae Schules, fae mony Anis and Mules,

Within, ^c.

VI.

Sae meikle Treaflbn, fae mony partial Saws, Sae little Reafon, to help the common Caufe,

That all the Laws are not fet by ane Bene, Sic fenziet Flaws, fae mony waftit Waws,

Within, ^c.

VII. Sae

104 A general! Satyre.

VII.

Sae mony Theivs and Murderers well kend, Sae grit Releivs of Lords them till defFend,

Becaufe they fpend the Pelf them betwene, Sae few till wend this Mifcheif till amend,

Within, l^c.

VIII.

This to corredt, they fhore with mony Cracks, But fmall the Effe6t of Speir or bartar Ax, [kein,

Quhen Courage lacks, that fuld the Corfs mak Sae mony Jacks, and Brats on Beggars Baks,

Within, l^c.

IX.

Sic Vant of Wouftours,with Hearts in finful Satures, Sic brawland Bolters, degenerate frae thair Natures,

And lie Regratours, the pure Man to prevene ; Sae mony Traytors, fae mony Rubeators,

Within, ^c.

X.

Sae mony Juges, and Lords new made of late, Sae fmall Refuges, the pure Man to debate ;

Sae mony Eftate, for common Weil fae quhene, Owre all the Gate, fae mony Theives fa tait.

Within, l^c.

XI. Sae

A generall Satyr e. 105

XI. Sae mony a Sentance retreitit for to win Geir and Aquentance, or Kyndnefs of thair Kin;

Thay think nae Sin, quhair Proffit cums betwene Sae mony a Gin, to haift them to the Pin,

Within, &c.

XII.

Sic Knavis and Crakkars, to play at Cards and Dyce, Sic Haland-Shakers, quhilk ate Cowkelbys Gryce,

Ar halden of Pryce, when Lymers do convene j Sic Store of Vyce, sae mony Witts unwyfe,

Within, &c.

XIII.

Sae mony Merchands, fae mony ar menfworne. Sic pure Tennands, fie curfing Ein and Morn,

Quhilk flays the Corn, and Fruit that grows grene ; Sic Skaith and Skorn, fae mony Paitlaits worn.

Within^, ^c.

XIV.

Sae mony Rackets, fae mony Ketch Pillars, Sic Balls, fie Nackets, and fie Tutivilaris,

And fie Ill-willars, to fpeik of King and Quene, Sic Pudding-fillars, defcending doun frae Millars,

Within, ^c.

XV. Sic

io6 A generall Satyr e.

XV.

Sic Fardingails on Flags as fat as Quhails, Fattit lyk Fouls, with Hatts that nocht avails,

And fie foul Tails, to fweip the Caufy clene. The Duft up fails, fae mony with uck fails

Within, ^c.

XVI. Sae mony a Kitty, dreft up in Golden Chenze, Sae few witty, that weil can Fables fenze.

With apil Renze, ay fhawand her Golden Chene ; Of Sathans Senzie fure fie an unfall Menzie

Within this Land was nevir hard nor fene.

^od Dunbar.

Wife

107

Wife SAVINGS,

•m-

TT that I gife, I haif,

It that I len, I craif, It that I fpend, is myne, It that I leif, I tyne :

Get and faif, and thou fait haif, Len and grant, and thou fait want ; Wha in his Plenty taks not Heid, He fall haif Fait in Tyme of Neid : When eir I lend, I am a Friend, And whan I craif, I am unkynd; Thus of my Friend, I mak a Fae, I fhrew me, gif I mair do fae.

A zung Man Chiftane, wittles, A pure Man Spendar, gettles, Ane auld Man Trechour, truthlefs, A Woman Lowpar, landlefsj

Be gude Saint Giel, Sail nevir ane of thir do weil.

THE

io8

THE

COMPLAINT.

An EPISTLE to his Mijlrefs on the Force of LuvE.

I.

/^Uhair Luve is kendlit comfortlefs, '^ Ther is nae Fever half fae fell, Frae Cupid keift his Dart begefs, I had nae Hap to faif my fell, Lyk as my wofull Heart can tell. My inwart Pains and Siching fairj For weil I wat the Pains of Hell Unto my Pain can nocht compair.

II. For

Complaint to his Mijirefs. 109

II.

For ony Malledy, ze ken,

Except peuir Luve, or than ftark Deid, Help may be had frae Hands of Men,

Throw Medicines to mak Remeid :

For Harms of Body, Hands or Heid, The Pottingars will purge the Pains;

But all the Members are at Feid, Quhair that the Law of Luve remains.

IIL

As Tantalus in Watter Hands,

To ftanche his thrifty Appetyte, Bewailing Body, Heid and Hands,

The River fleis him in Difpyte;

Sae does my lufty Lady qwhyte. She fleis the Place where I repair :

To hungry Men is fmal Delyte To twitch the Meit, and eit nae mair.

IV.

The nar the Flame, the better Fyre,

The mair I pyne, zet I perfew, The mair enkindlis my Difyre,

Frae I behald her heavenly Hew;

Pure

no Complaint to his Mijirefs.

Pure Piramus himfelf he flew, Made Saul and Body to diflaver,

He diet but anes, farwel, adiew, I daylie die, and zet dies never.

V.

ZiT Jafon did enjoy Medea,

And Thefeus gat his Adriane, Dido diflTaved was with Enea,

And Demophoy his Lady wan;

Gif Women trowd fic Traytors than, For till enjoy the Fruits of Luve,

Quhy wald ze flay zour faikles Man, Quha never mynds for to remuve.

VI.

Thocht ferfs AMI, that worthie Knicht,

Was flain for Luve, the Suthe to fay, Leander on a flrormy Nicht

Diet fleitand on the Bilious gray;

Thocht Troyalus he langourt ay. Still waitand for his Luves Return,

Had not fic Pyne (thairs was but Play) As daylie does my Body burn.

vn. As

Complaint to his Mijirefs.

Ill

VII.

As Pol to Pylatts does appeir

Far brichtar than the Stars about, Sae does zour Vifage fhine as cleir

As Rofe amang the rafkal Rout ;

War Paris leivand now, bot Dout, And had the Golden Ball to ferve,

I wate he wald fune wail zou out, And leif baith Venus and Minerue.

VIII.

Now Paper pas, and at her fpeir,

Gif pleife her Prudence to imprint it ? My faithfull Heart I fend it heir.

In Signe of Paper I prefent it;

Wad God my Body war foment it, That I micht ferve hir Grace bot Glammer,

To be hir Knaif I am contentit, Or fmalleft Varlet of hir Chammer.

^od King Henry Stewart.

Cupid

112

10 ^V/^ w!i5'4^^I&'W'^V/>f?^

Sl'^t^^'/.v^.Q WMW^ ''/■<?

Cupid quareld for his Tyrannie^ Blindnes and Injujlice.

I.

/^Uhome fould I wyt for my Mifchance,

But Cupid King of Variance, Thy Court, without Confiderance,

Quhen I it knew, Or evir made the Obfervance,

Richt fair I rew.

11.

Thou and thy Law ar Inftruments Of diverfs Inconveniments j Thy Service mony fair repents,

Knawing the Quarrell, Quhen Body, Fame and Subftance flients.

And Saul in Perel.

III. QUHAT

1

Cupids T'yrannie. 113

III.

QuHAT is thy Manrent but Mifcheif, Sturt, Anger, Grunching, Yre and Greif, 111 Lyfe, and Langour bot Releife,

Of wounds fae wan, Difplifour, Pain, and hie Repreife

Of God and Man.

IV.

Thou luves all them that loudeft leis, And follows fafteft them that fleis; Thou lichtlies all trew Properties

Of Luve exprefs, And marks quhen neir a Styme thou feis,

And hits begefs.

V.

Blind Buk ! but at the Bound thou fhutes, And them forbeirs that thee rebutes; Thou ryves thair Hearts ay frae the Rutes,

Quilk ar thy awin, And cures them that cares not three Cutes

To be mifknawn.

VI. Thou

114 Cupids Tyrannie.

VI.

Thou art in Friendfhip with thy Fae, And to thy befl: Friends fremit ay, Thou fleims all faithful Men thee frae,

Offtedfaft Thocht, Regarding nane but them perfay

That cures the nocht.

VII.

Thou chirriefs them that with thee chyds, And banniefs them with thee abyds : Thou hes thy Horn ay in thair Syds

That cannot flie; Thay furder warft in thee confyds,

I fay for me.

^od Alex'. Scot.

THE

"5

' THE

Auld Mans inveighing againji Mouth- Thanklefs.

I.

A Ne agit Man twyce Forty Zeirs,

After the haly Days of Zule^ I hard him carp amang the Freirs, Of Order gray, makand grit Dule, Richt as he war a furious Fule; Aft-tymes he ficht, and faid Alace !

Be Claud my Care may nevir cule. That I fervt evir Mouth-thanklefs.

II.

Throch Ignorance, and Folly, Zouth, My Preterit Tyme I wald neir fpair,

Plefance to put into that Mouth, Till Aige faid, Fule, let be thy Fare,

And

ii6 Auld Mans inveighing

And now my Heid is quhyt and liair, For feiding of that fowmart Face,

Quhairfor I murn baith late and air, That I fervt evir Mouth-than kiefs.

III.

Silver and Gold that I micht get

Beifands, Brotches, Robes and Rings, Frelie to gife, I wald nocht let,

To pleife the Mulls attour all Things.

Right as the Swan for Sorrow fings. Before her Deid a little Space,

Richt fae do I, and my Hands wrings. That I fervt evir Mouth-thanklefs.

IV.

Bettir it were a Man to ferve

With Honour brave beneath a Sheild,

Nor her to pleis, thocht thou fould fterve. That will not luke on thee in Eild, Frae that thou has nae Hair to heild

Thy Heid frae harming that it hes,

Quhen Pen and Purfe and all ar peild,

Tak then a Meis of Mouth-thanklefs.

V. It

Againjl Mouth-thanklefs. 117

V.

It may be in Example fene,

The Grund of Truth wha underftude, * Frae in thy Bag thou beirs thyne Een,

Thou gets nae Grace but for thy Gude,

At Venus Clofet, to conclude, Call ze not this a cankert Cafe:

Now God help and the haly Rude, And keip all Men frae Mouth-thanklefs.

VI.

O brukil Zouth in Tyme behald,

And in thy Heart thir Words gae graif,

Or thy Complexion gather Cauld, Amend thy Mifs, thy felf to faif, The Blifs abune gif thou wald haif.

And of thy Gilt Remit and Grace. All this I hard an auld Man raif,

After the Zule, of Mouth-thanklefs.

^uod Kennedy.

* Makes use of Spedlacles.

THE

ii8

The Soutar defcryvit by the Tailzior,

•^^^<^^

I.

'T^Hou leis Loun, thou leis, thou leis, Zone are Soutars that thou feis, Kneiland full lawly on thair Kneis,

Thair Gods till adorn. Be Saint Girnega^ that grim Ghaift, To hale ther HairfnelTes on haift, Of moltin Tauch thay talc a Teft On Monandays at Morn.

II.

To hald them halefome at the Heart, Sum of fat Uly fpews a Quart, Uthers a Pynt for thair awn Part, Of foul Soutars Blek,

Thus

'The Soutar defcryvit. 119

Thus fum fits, and fum fews, Sum byts the Birs, fum Uly fpews, And he keips ay beft his Kews,

Spouts in his Nichbours Nek.

III.

Of Tauch or Uly when thay want. Sir Girnega will give a Gant, And bok a Pynt at ilka Pant,

And dr — them Roset rowth. Wald Man and Wyf all do as I, When eir we faw them we fould cry, Fy on them, fich ! and fy ! fy ! iy\

Thay fyle the Wind in trowth.

THE

120

THE^

Soutars Anfwer to the Tailzior*

T7Alse clatterand Kenfy, Kuckold Knaif, Blafphemand Baird in thy Backbyting,

Of me thou fall an Anfwer haif,

Fumart cum forth, and lace my Flyting, Warfe than a Warlo in thy Wryting;

Thou Sathans Seid ay fet to Evil,

Mandrag, Memerkyn, mifmade Myting,

I fall thee conjure lyk the Devil.

II.

Fy on the Tailzior never trew,

Frae Claith w^eil can thou cleik a Clout, Of Stomoks ftown baith red and blew,

A Bag fou anes thou bore about.

They

The Soutars Anfwer. 121

They followt thee with Cry and Shout, Hey, hald the Thief that ftaw the Claith j

Thou will be hangt, haif thou nae Dout, For mony prefumptous forfworn Aith.

III.

Amang the Wyves it fall be witten

Thou was ane Knakat in the Way, For loufy Seims that thou haft bitten,

Thy Gumes are giltin grein and gray ;

Thy Couch is on a Sonic of Strae, Peild Prick-loufe of a Pudding Price,

Breik Boutcher on a Suny Brae; Wae worth thee Wirryar of quhyt Lyce.

IV.

Thou zeid with Elwand, Sheir and Thymbill,

Full mony a Day feikand thy Craft; For Halfpenies thy Hand zeid nimble.

Grit Blads and Bitts thou ftaw full aft;

Quha delt with thee thay wer full daft, For on thy Back, as all Men kens,

Wer broken mony a gude Ax Shaft, For wrangus Geir of uther Mens.

V. Thy

122 'J'he Soutars Anfwer.

V.

Thy Wyfe fcho wont a Man flie gat

Of thee, quhen that thou was weil brankit,

And fcho gat but ane Cur Knakat,

A foul Taid Carle, all Tailzior fhankit, For Clais that thou mifmade and mankit,

Thou dar not dwell wher thou was bornj Zet afterwart thou fall be hankit

Betwixt Kirkaldy and Kingorne.

^od Stewart.

"D Etwix twa Tods a crawing Cok,

Betwix twa Friers a Maid in her Smok,

B etwix twa Cats a Mous,

Betwix twa Tailziors a Lous; Schaw me, gude Sir, not as a Stranger, Quhilk of thir Fours in griteft Danger ?

Answer. Foxis ar fell at crawing Coks, Friers are fers at Maids in thair Smoks, Cats ar cautelus in taking Myce, Tailziors ar Tyrrans in killing Lyce.

123

A B ALL AT made to the Scorn and Derijion of wanton Women.

'-^'X*^-

I.

VE lufty Ladyis, luke

The rackles Lyves ze leid, Haunt nocht in Hole or Nuke,

To hurt zour Womanheid;

I red, for beft Remeid, Forbeir all Place prophane;

Gif this be Caufe of Feid, I fall not fayt again.

n.

QuHAT is fic Luve but Luft,

A lytill for Delyte, To hant that Game robuft.

And beiftly Apety te ;

I now-

Jf24 In Derifion of isoanton Women.

I nowther fleich nor flyte, But Veritie tell plain;

Talc ye this in Defpyte, I fall not fayt again.

III.

The wyfeft Scho may fone

Seducit be and fchent, Syne frae the Deid be done,

Perchance fall fair repent;

Ower late is to lament, Frae Belly dow not lane,

Therfor in Tyme tak tent : I fall not fayt again.

IV.

Light Wenches Luve will fawin, Evin lyke a Spanzeolis Lauchter,

""Vq * * *

Be them, lift Geir bechaucht hir; For Conzie ze may caucht hir,

TP * * *

And nevir fpeir quhais aucht hir j I fall not fayt again.

V. Thocht

In Der'tfion of wanton Women. 125

V.

Thocht bruckle Women hants

In Luft to leid their Lyvis, And Widdow Men that wants

To fteil a Pair of Wy vis ;

But quhere that marriet Wyvis Gaes by thair Hufbands Bane,

That Houfhald nevir thryvis, I fayt, and fayt again.

VI.

It fets not Maidens als

To let Men lowfe thair Lace, Nor clym about Mens Hals,

To clap, to kifs, and brace.

Nor round in fecret Place ; Sic Treatment is a Train

To cleave thair Quaver-Cafe, And breid them Dule and Pain.

Vll.

Fareweil with Cheftetie,

Frae Wenches fall a Chucking,

Thair follows Things thre. To gar them gae a Gucking,

Imbracing,

1^6 Jn Dertfion of ijoanton Women.

Imbracing, Tigging, Plucking; Thir foure the Suth to fane,

Enforfis them * * * I fall not fayt again.

VIII.

Sum lykes new cum to Toun,

With Jeigs to mak them joly, Sum lykes danfs up and doun

To miefs thair Melancholy;

Sum lykes Sang, troly loly, And fum of rigging fain ;

Lyk Fillocks full of Foly, With litle Gier thair ain.

IX.

Sum Mune-brunt Maidens myld,

At None-tyde of the Nicht, Are chapit up with Chyld,

Bot Coal or Candle-licht ;

Sua

Enforfis them * * * 'Tis not impoflible but a complete Copy of this old Ballad may be found to fupply thefe few Blanks.

Ill Derifion of wanton Women. 127

Sua fum faid, Mayds has Slicht To play, and tak nae Pane,

Syne fchift thair fells frae Sicht, I fall not fayt again.

X.

Sum thinks nae Schame to clap

And kifs in open Ways; Sum cannot keip her ap

Frae lanfing, as fcho lyes;

Sum goes fae gymp in Gyfe, Or fcho war kiffd, but plain,

Scho leur be married thryis, And thre Tymes thryis again.

XL

Mair Gentrice is to jot

Undir a Silkin Goim, Than with quhyt Pettycot

And redyar ay boun,

The denkeft foneft doun, The faireft but refrain.

The gayeft greateft Loun, But dinna tellt again.

XII. The

128 In Derifion of 'wanton Women.

XII.

The moir degeft and grave,

The grydiar * * * The nyceft to reflave

Upon thair * * *

The quhytlieft will quhipit, And nocht thair * * *

The lefs, the larger hippitj I fall not fayt again.

XIII.

Lo Ladyis gif this be,

A gude Counfale I geife zou,

To fave zour Honeftie,

Frae Sklander to releife zou j But Ballats mae to breif zou,

I will not break my Brain,

Suppofe ze fould mifcheive you,

I fall not fayt again.

^od Scott.

On

129

On the Uncertainty of Life and Fear of Death^ or a Lament for the Lofs of the Poets,

— -OGOGS-^IGGGG- —

I.

/^Ur Pleafance heir is all vain Glory, This Warld falfe but tranfatory; The Flefh is bruckle, the Feynd is flie, 'Timor mortis conturbat me.

II.

The State of Man dois change and vary, Now found, now feik, now blyth, now fary. Now danfand merry, now lyk to die, Timor mortis conturbat me.

III.

No State in all the Eard ftands ficker. But as the Weft-Wind wavis the wicker, Sae wanes this warldly Vanity, Timor mortis J &c.

IV. DouN

K

13° Lament for the Lofs of the Poets.

IV.

DouN to the Death gois all Eftates, Princes, Prelates and Potentates, Baith rich and pure of all Degree, Timor, &c.

V. ■

He taks the Knichts into the Feild, Enarmed under Helm and Sheild, He Viftor is at all mellie, Timor, &c.

VI.

That ftrang invynfable Tyrrand Taks, on the Muthers Breift fuckand. The Babe, full of Benignitie, Timor, Sec.

VII.

He taks the Campion in the Stour, The Captain clofd within the Towir, The Lady in Bowre, full of Bewtie, Timor, &c.

VIII. He

Lament for the Lofs of the Poets. 13^

VIII.

He fpares no Lord for his Pufiance, Nor Clerk for his Intelligence 3 His awfuU Strake may no Man flee, Timor ^ &c.

IX.

Art Magicians and Aftrologs, Rethoris, Logitians, Theologs, Get Help frae nae Conclufions flee, Timor ^ &c.

X.

In Medecyne the mofl: Pradlitians, Leiches, Surrigians and Phefitians, Themfelves frae Death may not fupplie, Timor ^ Sec.

XI.

I fee the Makkars, mang the laif. Plays here thair Padzians, fyne goes to Graif ; Not fpairt is thair fweit Facultie, Timor, Sec.

XII. He

132 Lame?it for the Lofs of the Poets.

XII.

He has done petoufly devore, The nobil ^Chawfer of Makkars Flowir, The Monk of Berry and Gower all thre, Timor mortis conturbat me.

XIII.

The gude Sr Hew of Eglintoun, Etrick, Heriot and TVintorij He has tane out of this Countrey, Timor J &c.

XIV.

That Scorpion fell has done infek, Maifter yohn Clerk and James Affleck, Frae Ballat making and Tragedy,

Timor, &c.

XV. Ho-

* 'Tis worthy of Notice how generoufly Mr. Dunbar pays his Refpe£b to the Memory of the renowned Chaucer, Gower and LidgatCf before he names his own Country Poets.

Lament for the Lofs of the Poets. 133

XV.

Holand and Barb or he has bereft, Allace ! that he not with us left Sr Mungo Lockhart of the Z/V, Timor mortis conturbat me.

XVI.

Clerk of Tranent eik he has tane, That made the Aventers of Sr Gawane, Sr Gilbert Gray endit has he, Timor ^ &c.

XVII.

He has Blind Hary and Sandy Trail Slain with his Shot of mortall Hail, Quhilk Patrick Johnfon micht not flie, Timor ^ &c.

XVIII.

He has reft Merfar his Indyte, That did in Luve fo lyflie wryte. So fchort, fo quick, of Sentens hie, Timor^ Sec.

XIX. He

134 Lament for the Lofs of the Poets.

XIX.

He has tane Rowl of Aherdene^ And gentle Rowl of Corjiorphyne ; Twa bettir Fallows did no Man fie, Timor mortis conturbat me.

XX.

In Dumfermling he has tane Broun, With gude Mr. Robert Henry fon; Sr John the Rofs imbraift has he, Timor, Sec.

XXI.

And he has now tane, laft of aw. The gentle Stobo and ^intene Schaw, Of quhome all Wichts has grit Pitie, Timor, &c.

XXII.

And Mr. Walter Kennedy In Poynt of Death lyes werely; Grit Rewth it wer that fo fould be, Timor, &c.

XXIII. Sen

POSTSCRIPT. 135

XXIII.

Sen he has all my Brethren tane, He will not let me leive alane ; On Forfs I maun his nixt Prey be,

Timor ^ &c.

XXIV.

Sen for the Death Remeid is none, Beft is that we for Death difpone ; Aftir our Death, that live may we, Timor mortis conturbat me.

POSTSCRIPT,

XXV.

CUthe I forfie, if Spae-craft had,

Frae Hethir-Muirs fall ryfe a Lad, Aftir twa Gentries pas, fall he Revive our Fame and Memorie.

XXVI. Then

136 POSTSCRIPT.

XXVI.

Then fall we flourifh Evir Grene j All Thanks to carefull Bannantyne, And to the *Patron kind and frie,

Quha lends the Lad baith them and me.

XXVII.

Far fall we fare, baith Eift and Weft, Owre ilka Clyme by Scots pofleft; Then fen our Warks fall nevir die, Timor mortis non turbat me.

^od Dunbar.

* Patron, Mr. William Carmichael, Brother to the Earl of Hyndford, who lent A, R. that curious MSS. collefted by Mr. George Barman- tyne, Anno 1568, from whence thefe Poems are printed.

rhe

137

4k ^ :^r„ 4fc> ^t«; ^t^ 4i% ^t^ ^c- ^fr^ •^t«% ^t^ 4lC' 4i% 4:C- •^t(% ^k 4(i% ^^c- 4S?'

T/ie JFIFE of Auchtermuchty. I.

TN Auchtermuchty dwelt a Man,

An Hufband, as I heard it tawld, Quha weil coud tipple out a Can,

And nowther luvit Hungir nor Cauld, Till anes it fell upon a Day,

He zokit his Plewch upon the Plain; But fchort the Storm wald let him ftay,

Sair blew the Day with Wind and Rain.

II.

He lowfd the Plewch at the Lands End,

And draife his Owfen hame at Ene; Quhen he came in he blinkit ben,

And faw his Wyfe baith dry and clene, Set beikand by a Fyre full bauld,

Suppand fat Sowp, as I heard fay : The Man being weary, wet and cauld,

Betwein thir twa it was nae Play.

HI. Quod

138 "The Wife of Auchtermuchty.

III.

Quod he, quhair is my Horfes Corn,

My Owfen has nae Hay nor Strae, Dame, ye maun to the Plewch the Morn,

I fall be HufTy gif I may. This Seid-time it proves cauld and bad,

And ze fit warm, nae Troubles fe ; The Morn ze fall gae with the Lad,

And fyne zeil ken what Drinkers drie.

IV.

GuDEMAN, quod fcho, content am I,

To tak the Plewch my Day about, Sae ye rule weil the Kaves and Ky,

And all the Houfe baith in and out: And now fen ze haif made the Law,

Then gyde all richt and do not break; They iicker raid that neir did faw,

Therfor let naithing be negledt.

V.

But fen ye will Huflyfkep ken,

Firft ye maun fift and fyne fall kned;

And ay as ze gang butt and ben,

Luke that the Bairns dryt not the Bed :

And

The Wife of Auchtermuchty. i39

And lay a faft Wyfp to the Kiln, We half a dear Farm on our Held ;

And ay as ze gang forth and in,

Keip weil the Gaiflings frae the Gled.

VI.

The Wyfe was up richt late at Ene,

I pray Luck gife her ill to fair, Scho kirn'd the Kirn, and fkumt it dene,

Left the Gudeman but bledoch bair : Then in the Morning up fcho gat;

And on hir Heart laid hir Disjune, And pat as mekle in hir Lap,

As micht haif ferd them baith at Nune.

VII.

Says, Jok^ be thou Maifter of Wark,

And thou fall had, and I fall ka, Ife promife thee a gude new Sark,

Either of round Claith or of fma. Scho lowft the Owfen aught or nyne.

And bynt a Gad-ftafF in her Hand : Up the Gudeman raife aftir iyne,

And faw the Wyfe had done Command.

VIII. He

140 The Wife of Auchtermuchty.

VIII. He draif the Gaiflings forth to feid,

Thair was but fevenfum of them aw, And by thair comes the greidy Gled,

And lickt up five, left him but twa: Then out he ran in all his Mane,

How fune he hard the Gaiflings cry; But than or he came in again.

The Kaves brak loufe and fuckt the Ky.

IX.

The Kaves and Ky met in the Loan,

The Man ran with a Rung to red. Than by cam an illwilly Roan,

And brodit his Buttoks till they bled: Syne up he tuke a Rok of Tow,

And he fat down to fey the Spinning; He loutit doun our neir the Low,

Quod he this Wark has ill Beginning.

X.

The Leam up throu the Lum did flow. The Sute tuke Fyre it flyed him than, Sum Lumps did fell and burn his Pow ; * I wat he was a dirty Man :

Zit

'The Wife of Auchtermuchty. 141

Zit he gat Water in a Pan,

Quherwith he flokend out the Fyre :

To foup the Houfe he fyne began, To had all richt was his Defyre.

XI.

Hynd to the Kirn then did he ftoure,

And jumblit at it till he fwat, Quhen he had rumblit a full lang Hour,

The Sorrow crap of Butter he gat j Albeit nae Butter he could get,

Zit he was cummert with the Kirn, And fyne he het the Milk fae het,

That ill a Spark of it wad zyrne.

XII.

Then ben thair cam a greidy Sow,

I trow he cund hir litle Thank : For in fcho fhot hir mekle Mow,

And ay fcho winkit, and ay fcho drank. He tuke the Kirnftaff be the Schank,

And thocht to reik the Sow a Rout, The twa left Gaiflings gat a Clank,

That Straik dang baith thair Harns out.

XIII. Then

I

142 The Wife of Auchtermuchty.

XIII. Then he bure Kendling to the Kill,

But fcho ftart all up in a Low, Quhat eir he heard what eir he faw.

That Day he had nae Will to * * Then he zied to take up the Bairns,

Thocht to have fund them fair and clene; The firft that he gat in his Arms,

Was a bedirtin to the Ene.

XIV.

*

The firft it fmelt fae fappylie.

To touch the lave he did not grein: The Deil cut afFthair Hands, quoth he,

That cramd zour Kytes fae ftrute zeftrein. He traild the foul Sheits down the Gate,

Thocht to haif wufh them on a Stane, The Burn was rifen grit of Spait,

Away frae him the Sheits has tane.

XV. Then up he gat on a Know-heid, On hir to cry, on hir to fchout: Scho hard him, and fcho hard him not, But ftoutly fteird the Stots about.

Scho

Hhe Wife of Auchtermuchty. 143

Scho draif the Day unto the Nicht,

Scho lowft the Plewch, and fyne cam hame ;

Scho land all wrang that fould bene richt, I trow the Man thocht mekle Schame.

XVI.

QyoTH he, my Office I forfake,

For all the hale Days of my Lyfe; For I wald put a Houfe to Wraik,

Had I been twenty Days Gudewyfe. Quoth fcho, weil mot ze bruke your Place,

For truely I fall neir accept it j Quoth he, Feynd fa the Lyars Face,

But zit ze may be blyth to get it.

XVII. Then up fcho gat a mekle Rung;

And the Gudeman made to the Dore, Quoth he. Dame, I fall hald my Tung,

For and we fecht I '11 get the war : Quoth he, when I forfuke my Plewch,

I trow I but forfuke my Skill : Then I will to my Plewch again ;

For I and this Houfe will nevir do weil.

^od Moffat. THE

144

T^he Borrowfloun Mous, and the Land- wart Mous,

~^^

I.

PJ* Asop relates a Tale weil worth Renown,

Of twa wie Myce, and they war Sifters deir,

Of quhom the Elder dwelt in Borrowftoun, The Zunger fcho wond upon Land weil neir, Richt folitair beneth the Bufs and Breir,

Quhyle on the Corns and Wraith of labouring Men,

As Outlaws do, fcho maid an eafy Fen.

II.

The Rural Mous, unto the Winter-tyde,

Thold Cauld and Hunger aft, and grit Diftrefs :

The uther Mous that in the Burgh can byde. Was Gilt-bruther, and made a frie Burges, Tol frie, and without Cuftom mair or lefe,

And Friedom had to gae quhair eir fcho lift,

Amang the Cheis and Meil in Ark or Kift.

III. Ane

"The Borrowjioun Mous^ &c. i45

III.

Ane Tyme when fcho was full, and on Fute fair, Scho tuke in Mynd her Sifter up-on-Land,

And langt to ken her Weilfair and her Cheir, And fe quhat Lyf fcho led under the Wand : Bare-fute alane, with Pykftaff in her Hand,

As Pilgrim pure fcho paft out of the Toun

To feik her Sifter, baith in Dale and Doun.

IV.

Throw mony wilfum Ways then couth fcho walk. Throw Mure and Mofs, throwout Bank, Bufk and Breir,

Frae Fur to Fur, cryand frae Balk to Balk, Cum furth to me, my awin fweit Sifter deir. Cry, peip anes, — with that the Mous couth heir,

And knew her Voce, as kindly Kinfmen will,

Scho hard with Joy, and furth fcho came her till.

V.

Thair hearty Cheir was plefand to be fene,

Quhen thir twa Sifters kind with Blythnefs met,

Quhilk aften Syfs was fliawin them twa betwein ;

For quhyls they leuch, and quhyls for Joy they grat,

Quhyls fweitly kift, and quhyls in Arms they plet :

And L

146 'The Borrowjioun Mous^

And thus they fure, till fobirt was thair Meid, Syne Fute for Fute they to thair Chalmer zeid.

VI.

As I hard fay, it was a femple Wane

Of Fog and Fern, full fecklefly was maid,

A filly Shell, under a Eard-faft Stane,

Of quhilk the Entrie was not hie nor braid j Into the fame they went bot mair abaid,

Withouten Fyre or Candle birnand bricht.

For commonly fic Pykers luves not Licht.

VII.

QuHEN thus wer lugit thir twa filly Myce, The zungeft Sifter to her Butrie hyed.

And brocht furth Nuts and Pais infteid of Spyce, And fic plain Cheir as fcho had her befyde: The B urges Mous fae dynk and full of Pryde,

Sayd, Sifter myne. Is this zour daylie Fude?

Quhy not, quod fcho, think ze this Mefs not gude?

VIII.

Na, be my Saul, methink it but a Scorn;

Madame, quod fcho, ye be the mair to blame : My Moder faid, aftir that we wer born,

That

and the Landwart Mous. i47

That ze and I lay baith within her Wame;

I keip the richt auld Cuftom of my Dame And of my Syre, — livand in Povertie, For Lands and Rents nana is our Propertie.

IX.

My Sifter fair, quod fcho, haif me excuft, This Dyet rude and I can neir accord ;

With tender Meit my Stomock ftill is uft, For quhy, I fair as weil as ony Lord : Thir withert Nuts and Peis, or they be bord,

Will brek my Chafts, and mak my Teith full Iklender,

Quhilk has bein uft before to Meit mair tender.

X.

Weil Sifter, weil then, quoth the rural Mous, Gif that ze pleis flc Things as ze fe heir,

Baith Meit and Drink, and Herbouray and Hous, Sail be zour awin, will ze remain all Zeir, Ze fall it haif with blyth and hairtly Cheir,

And that fould mak the Mefles that ar rude.

Still amang Freinds richt tender, fweit and gude.

XL QUHAT

148 'The Borrowjloun Mous^

XI.

QuHAT Plefans is in Feifts mair dilicate,

The quhilk ar given with a gloumand Brow;

A gentle Heart is better recreate

With Ufage blyth, than feith to him a Cow; Ane Modicum is better, zeill allow,

Sae that Gude-will be Carver at the Defs,

Than a thrawn Vult, and mony a fpycie Mefs.

XII. For all this moral Dodtrine, ticht and foun,

The B urges Mous had little Will to fmg. But hevely fcho keft her Vifage doun.

For all the Daintys fcho couth till her bring;

Zit at the laft fcho faid, half in hie thing, Sifter this Vittell and zour Royal Feift May weil fuffice for fie a rural Beift.

XIII. Let be this Hole, and cum unto my Place,

I fall zou fchaw, by gude Experience, That my Gude-Frydays better than zour Pafe,, And a Difh licking worth zour hale Expence; Houfes I haif enow of grit Defence, Of Cat, nor Fall, nor Trap, I haif nae Dreid : This faid, — that was convinced, — and furth they zeid.

XIV. In

and the Landwart Mous. ^49

XIV. In Skugry ay throw rankeft Gras and Corn,

And Wonder flie full prively they creip; The eldeft was the Gyde, and went beforn,

The zunger to her Futefteps tuke gude keip ;

On Nicht they ran, and on the Day did fleip, Till on a Morning, or the Lavrock fang, They fand the Toun, and blythly in couth gang.

XV.

Not far frae thyne, on till a worthy Wane,

This B urges brocht them fune quhair they fould be.

Without God-fpeid, — -thair Herboury was tane Intill a Spence, wher Vittell was Plenty, Baith Cheis and Butter on lang Skelfs richt hie.

With Fifh and Flefh enough baith frefh and fait.

And Pokks full of Grots, Barlie, Meil and Malt.

XVI. QuHEN afterwart they wer difpofd to dyne,

Withouten Grace they wufli and went to meit. On every Difh that Cuikmen can divyne, Muttone and Beif cut out in Telzies grit, Ane Erles Fair thus can they counterfitt, Exept ane Thing, — they drank the Watter cleir Infteid of Wyne, but zit they made gude Cheir.

XVII. With

15° The Borrowjioun Mous^

XVII.

With blyth Upcaft and merry Countenance, The elder Sifter then fpeird at her Geft,

Gif that fcho thocht be Refon DifFerance Betwixt that Chalmer and her fary Neft; Zea Dame, quoth fcho ? but how lang will this left ?

For evermair I wate, and langer to ;

Gif that be trew, ze ar at Eife, quoth fcho.

* XVIII.

To eik the Cheir, in Plenty furth fcho brocht A Plate of Grots, and a large Difti of Meil,

A Threfe of Caiks, I trow fcho fpairt them nocht, Abundantlie about her did fcho deil; Furmage full fyne fcho brocht inftead of Geil,

A Candle quhyte out of a Coffer ftaw,

Infteid of Spyce, to creifli thair Teith with a.

XIX.

Thus made they mirry, quhyle they micht nae mair, And hail Zule! hail! they all cryt up on hiej

But after Joy ther aftentymes comes Cair, And Trouble after grit Profperitie : Thus as they fat in all thair Solitie,

The Spens came on them with Keis in his Hand,

Apent the Dore, and them at Dinner fand.

XX. They

and the Landwart Mous. 151

XX.

They tarriet not to wafli, ze may fuppofe,

But afF they ran, quha micht the foremoft win j

The B urges had a Hole, and in fcho gaes. Her Sifter had nae Place to hyde her in, To fee that filly Mous it was grit Sin,

Sae difalait and will of all gude reid.

For very Feir fcho fell in Swoun, neir deid.

XXI.

But as Jove wald, it fell a happy Cafe, The Spenfar had nae Laifar lang to byde,

Nowthir to force, to feik, nor fkar, nor chefe. But on he went, and keft the Dore upwydej This Burges then his Pafage weil has fpyd,

Out of her Hole fcho came, and cryt on hie,

How! Sifter fair, cry, peip, quhair eir thou be.

XXH. The Landwart Mous lay flatlings on the Ground,

And for the Deid fcho was full fair dreidand,

For to her Heart ftrak mony a waefull Stound,

As in a Fever trymblit fcho Fute and Hand j

And when her Sifter in fic Plicht her fand,

For very Pitie fcho began to greit ;

Syne Comfort gaif, with Words as Huny fweit.

XXHI. QuHY

152 "The Borrowfioun Mous^

XXIII.

QuHY ly ze thus ? Ryfe up my Sifter deir, Cum to zour Meit, this Perell is owre-paft;

The uther anfwert, with a hevy Cheir, I may nocht eit, fae fair I am agaft : I lever had this fourtie lang Days faft,

With Watter Kail, and gnaw dry Beins and Peis,

Then haif zour Feift with this Dreid and Waneife.

XXIV.

With Tretie fair, at laft, fcho gart her ryfe. To Burde they went, and down togither fat;

But (kantly had they drunken anes or twyce, Quhen in came Hunter Gib^ the joly Cat, And bad God-fpeid. The B urges up fcho gat.

And till her Hole fcho fled lyk Fyre frae Flint;

But Badrans be the Back the uther hint.

XXV.

Frae Fute to Fute he keft her to and frae, Quhyls up, quhyls doun, als tait as ony Kid;

Quhyls wald he let her ryn beneth the Strae,

Quhyls wald he wink and play with her Buk-hid: Thus to the filly Mous grit Harm he did;

Till at the laft, throw fair Fortune and Hap,

Betwixt the Dreflbur and the Wall fcho crap.

XXVI. Syne

and the Landivart Mous. J 53

XXVI.

Syne up in hafte behind the Pannaling,

Sae hie fcho clam, that Gibby might not get her,

And be the Cluks fae craftylie can hing,

Till he was gane, her Cheir was all the better. Syne down fcho lap, quhen ther was nane to let her.

Then on the Burges Mous alloud did cry,

Sifter fairweil, heir I thy Feift defy.

XXVII. Wer I anes in the Cot that I cam frae,

For Weil nor Wae I fould neir cum again. With that fcho tuke her Leif, and furth can gae, Quhyles throw the Riggs of Corn, quhyles owre

the Plain, Quhen fcho was furth and frie, her Heart was fain, And merrylie fcho linicit owre the Mure, Needlefs to tell how afterwart fcho fure.

XXVIII. But this in fchort fcho reikt her eify Den,

As warm as on fuppofe it was not grit. Full beinly ftuffit it was baith butt and ben.

With Peis, and Nuts, and Beins, and Ry and

Quheit, When eir fcho lykt fcho had eneuch of Meit,

In

154 l^he M or alt tie.

In Eife and Quiet, withouten Sturt and Dreid, But till her Sifter's Feift nae mair fcho zeid.

The MORALITIE.

XXIX.

TJ EiR ze may find, my Freinds, gif ze tak Heid

Unto this Fable a gude Moralitie, As Fitches minglit ar with noble Seid,

Sae interwoven is Adverfitie

With eardly Joy, fo that nae State is free, Withouten Trouble and aft grit Vexation,

And namelie thay that wreftle up maift hie, And not contentit ar of fmall PofTefion.

XXX.

Blissit be fymple Lyfe, withouten Dreid,

Bliffit be fober Feift in Quietiej Quha has eneuch of nae mair has he Neid,

Thocht it be litle into Quantitie,

Aboundance grit and blind Profperitie Maks aftentymes a very ill Conclufion :

The fweiteft Lyfe therefore in this Countrie Is Sickernefs and Peace with fmall PofTefion.

XXXI. o

The Moralitte. i55

XXXI.

O wanton Man, quhilk ufes ay to feid

Thy Wame, and males it maift thy God to be, Luke to thy felf I warn thee weil on Deid ; For the Cat cums, and to the Mous has Ee, Quhat does avail thy Feift and Ryelty, With dreidfuU Hairt, and endlefs Tribulation : " Therefore belt Thing on Eard, I fay for me. It is a merry Mynd and fmall Poffefion.

XXXII. Freind, thy awin Fyre, thocht it be but ane Gleid,

Will warm thee weil, and is worth Gold to theej And Salomon the Sage, fays, (gif ze reid,)

Under the Hevin I can nocht better fe^

Than ay be blyth^ and leif in Honejiie. Quhairfore I may conclude me with this Reafon,

Of Eardly Blifs it beirs the beft Degree, Blythnefs of Hairt in Peace with fmall PofTefion.

^od Mr, R. Henryson.

4..|)..c|..|).

AD'

iS6

^*"^4<^^'~^ii^'*^iii^*^ii^^^i?^^^^^5P^^

ADVICE to his zoung King.

■■^,

I.

"DReceland Prince, haiffing Prerogatyve, Of Royal Richt in this Region to ring,

I thee befeik againft thy Lull to ftryve, And luve thy God aboif all uther Thing, And him implore now in thy Zeirs zing

To grant thee Grace thy Subjects to defend, Quhilk he has given to thee in governing

In Peice and Honour to thy Lyves End.

II.

And fen thou ftands in fie a tender Age, That Nature zit to thee Wifdome denys ;

Therefore fubmit unto thy Council fage. And in all Manner work as thay devyfe :

But

Advice to his zoung King. ^57

But ower all Things keip thee frae Covetyfe, To princely Honour gif thou wald pretend,

Be liberal ay, then fall thy Fame upryfe, And win thee Honour to thy Lyves End.

III.

Gif that thou gives dilyver quhen thou hechts,

And nevir let thy Hand thy Hecht delay; For then thy Hecht and thy Diliverance fechts.

Far bettir war thy Hecht had biden away;

He awis me nocht that fchortly fays me nay; But he that hechts, and caufes me attend,

Syne gives me not, I may repute him ay, Ane untrue Dettor to my Lyves End.

IV.

Better is the Gut in Feit, than Cramp in Hands,

The Fait of Feit with Horfe thou may fupport ; But quhen thy Hands are bundin up with Bands,

Nae Surrigiane may cure them, nor Comfort;

But thou them open payntit as a Port, And freily give fic Gudes as God dois fend,

Then may thay mend within a Seafon fchort. And win the Honour to thy Lyves End.

V. Give

15 8 Advice to his ^oung King,

V. Give every Man aftir his Faculty,

And with Difcration ftill difpone thy Geir: Give not to Fules, and cunning Men ower flie,

Tho Fules fould roun and flattir in thine Eir,

Give not to them that dois thy Saws fweir, Give to them that are true and conftant kendj

Then ower all quhair thy Fame they fall forth beir, And win the Honour to thy Lyves laft End.

VI.

Sen thou art Heid, thy Leiges Members all, Given by God unto thy Governance,

Luke that thou rule the Rute originall, [vance. That throw thy Fait no Limb make other Gri- For quha cannot himfelf gyde and advance?

Quhy fould a Provence upon him depend. To gyde himfelf that has nae Purveance,

With Peice and Honour to his Lyves laft End?

vn.

Dreid God, do Council, of thy Leiges leil

Reward gude Deid, punifli all Wrang and Vyce,

Thoch that thy Saw be ficker as thy Seil, Fleme Frawd and be Deffender of Juftice.

Honour

On Confciens.

159

Honour all Time thy noble Genterice, Obey the Kirk; gif thou dois mifs, amend,

Sae fall thou win a Place in Paradyce, And mak on Eard an honourable End.

^od Hen. Stewart.

'it?>i^:v^;v;l?«i^/:M^<iMYl¥$?,;My^^

ON

CONSCIENS

I.

/^Uhen Dodtors preicht to win the Joy eternal, '^ Into the Heavens, aftir our Lords Afcens They Juftice taught bot Bud or Favour carnal,

And cauft be puniftit flefhly vyl OiFens, Gave Benifice to Clerks of CONSCIENS;

And fae the Feynd had fic Envy thereon.

Away he gart frae Con/dens fcrape the Con, And then behind was only left Sciens.

n. Then

i6o On Confc'iens.

II.

Then were all Clerks for Sciens fune promovit,

And them that wald to Study maift apply : But zit the Feynd at Sciens was comuvit,

And gart frae Sciens fcrape away the Sci. Sae only Ens was left by his flie Envy,

Quhilk ay fould be for Gold and Geir expont,

Quhairby Benifices are now difpont But Confciens or Sciens to fell and buy.

III. O Sovraign Lord, and maift excellent King,

Gar put the Con and Sci again to Ens^ And rule thy Realm with Juftice in thy Ring;

Give Benifice to Clerks of Confciens^ With Truth and Honour to ftand thy Defens :

Sae in thy Court that Confciens be clene.

For vyle Corruption or thy Days has bene, Againft Juftice, with uthir great Offens.

^od Stewart.

On

i6i

On the CREATION, and PARADYCE loft.

I.

/^ OD by His Word His Wark began.

To form this Erth and Hevin for Man, The Sie and Watter deip ; The Sun, the Mune and Stars fae bricht. The Day devydit from the Nicht,

Thair Courfes juft to keipj The Beifts that on the Grund do muve,

And Fifties in the Sie; Fowls in the Air to flie abuve,

Of ilk Kind formed He : Sum creiping, fum fleiting, Sum fleing in the Air, Sae heichly, fae lichtly. In muving heir and thair.

n. Thir

M

[

i62 On the Creation^

II.

Thir Warks of gret Magnificence, Periytit by His Providence,

According to His Will: Nixt He made Man; To gife him Glore, Did with His Image him decore,

Gaife Paradyce him till; Into that Garden hevinly wrocht,

With Pleafures mony a one, The Beifts of every Kynd vv^er brocht, Thair Names he fuld expone; Thefe kenning and nameing. As them he lift to call. For eifing and pleifing Of Man, fubdued them all.

III.

In heavenly Joy Man fae pofTeft, To be alane God thocht not beft,

Made Eve to be his Maik ; Bad them increafs and multiplie, And of the Fruit frae every Tree

Thair Pleafure they fuld take.

Except

and Paradyce loft. ^63

Except the Tree of Gude and 111

That in the Midft dois ftand, Forbad that they fuld cum thertill,

Or twitch it with thair Handj Left luking and plucking, Baith they and all thair Seid, Seveirly, awfteirly, Suld die without Remeid.

IV.

Now jidam and his lufty Wyfe In Paradyce leidand thair Lyfe,

With Pleafures infineit; Wanting nae thing fuld do them Eafe, The Beifts obeying them to pleife,

As they could wifli in Spreit: Behald the Serpent fullenlie

Envyand Mans Eftate, With wicket Craft and Subtiltie

Eve temptit with Defait; Nocht feiring, but fpeiring, Quhy fcho tuke not her till. In ufing and chufing The Fruit of Gude and 111?

V. Com-

164 On the Creation^

CoMMANDiT us, fcho faid, the Lord, Noways therto we fuld accord, Undir eternall Pain ; But grantit us full Libertie To eit the Fruit of every Tree,

Except that Tree in plain. No, no, nocht fae, the Serpent faid. Thou art defaifet therin; Eit ze therof, ze fall be made

In Knawledge lyke to Him, In feiming and deiming Of every thing aricht. As dewlie, as trewly. As ze wer Gods of Micht.

VI.

EVE thus with thefe fals "Words allurit, Eit of the Fruit, and i^jn^ procurit

Adam the fame to play: Behald, faid fcho, how precious, Sae dilicate and delicious,

Befyde Knawledge for ay :

Adam

and Paradyce loji. 165

Jdam puft up in warldly Glore,

Ambition and high Pryd, Eit of the Friiit; allace therfore,

And fae they baith did flydj Negle6ling, forzetting The eternal! Gods Command, Quha fcurged and purged Them quyt out of that Land.

VII.

QuHEN they had eiten of that Fruit, Of Joy then war they deftitute,

And faw thair Bodys bare. Annon they paft with all thair Speid, Of Leives to male themfelves a Weid,

To cleith them, was thair Care : During the Tyme of Innocence,

Nae Sin or Schame they knew, Frae Tyme they gat Experience,

Unto ane Bufs they drew, Abyding and hyding, As God fuld not them fee, Quha fpyed, and cryed, Adam, quhy hyds thou thee f

VIII. I

1 66 On the Creation^

VIII.

I being naikit, Lord, throu Feir, For Schame I durft not to compeir,

And fae I did refufe : Mad thou not eiten of the Tree^ That Knawledge had not hein in thee.

Nor zit nae fic Excufe; The Helper, Lord, thou gaife to me,

Has cawfit me to tranfgrefs, Saydfcho, the Serpent fubtillie, Perfuadit me nae lefs, Intreitingj be eiting. That we fuld be perfyte. Me fyl'it, begyltt; In him lyes all the Wyte.

IX.

Jehove that evir juged richt, Bringing His Juftice to the Licht,

The Serpent firft did juge: Becaufe the Woman thou begylt, For evir thou fall be exylt.

Said He, without Refuge;

Betwixt

and Paradyce lojl. 167

Betwixt her Seid and thy Offfpring

Nae Peace nor Reft fall be, And hir Seid fall thy Heid doun thring, For all thy Subtiltiej Abhorred, deformed. Thou on thy Breift fall gang, In feiding and leiding Thy Lyfe the Beifts amang.

X.

The Woman nixt, for her Offence, Did of the Lord refave Sentence,

Her Sorrow fuld encreafe. With Wae and Pain her Childrene beir, Subdewt to Man, under his Feir,

No Libertie pofTefs : For Adams Fait he curfd the Erth, That barrane it fuld be. Without Labour fuld zield nae Birth

Of Corns, nor Herb, nor Tree j Bot working and irking For evir fuld remain, And being in deing. In Erth returnd again.

XL O

1 68 On the Creation^

XL

O cruel Serpent venemous, Difpytfull and feditious,

The Grund of all our Care; Thou fals-bound Slave unto the Devill, Thou firft Inventar of this Evill

Of Blifs, quhilk made us barej O devlifh Slave, did thou believe,

Or hou had thou fic Grace, Therby for evir thou micht live Abuve into that Place:

Thy Grudging gat Scrudging, And fae God lute the fe, Defavers no Gravers Of His Reward fuld be.

XII.

O dainty Dame, with Eirs bent That harkent to that fals Serpent,

Thy Bains we may fair ban ; Without Excufe thou art to blame, Thou juftly has obtaint that Name,

The very Wo of Man :

With

and Paradyce loft, 169

With Teirs we may bewail and greit

That wickit Tyme and Tyde, Quhen Adam was obligit to fleip,

And thou tane ofF his Syde. No Sleiping hot Weiping Thy Seid hes fund fenfyne, Thy Eiting and Sweiting, Is turn'd to Wo and Pyn.

XIII.

ADAM^ thy Part, quha can excufe, With Knawledge thou that did abufe

Thyne awn Felicitie. The Serpent his inventing fals, The Womans fune confenting als.

Was nocht fae wicketly. »

God did prefer thee to this Day,

And them fubdewt to thee, Sae all that they culd mein or fay, Suld not have moved thee To brecking, abjefting That hie Command of Lyfe Quhilk gydid, provydit The ay to live bot Stryf.

XIV. Be-

170

On the Creation.

XIV.

Behald the State that Man was in, And als how it he tynt throw Sin, And loft the fame for ay; Zet God His Promife dois perform, Sent His Son of the Virgin born,

Our Ranfome deir to pay. To that great God let us give Glore,

To us has bein fae gude, Quha be His Grace did us reftore, Quherof we were denude; Not careing nor fparing His Body to be rent, Redeiming, releiving Us quhen we wer all fchent.

^od Sir RiCH^- Maitland of Lethingtoun, K^t.

The

171

YYVYVYVYVVVYYVVVYVYVYVYYVYVYVYVYV^

The Devils Advice to all and fundry of his bejl Freinds.

I.

HTHis Nicht in Sleip I was agaft,

Methocht the Deil was tempand faft,

People with Aiths of Crueltie, Sayand as throw the Fair he paft,

Renunce zour God, and cum to me.

II.

Methocht as he went forth the Way, A Preift fweirt braid be God verry,

Quhilk at the Alter reflavit he: Thou art my Clerk, the Deil can fay,

Renunce thy Creid, and cum to me»

III.

Then fwore a Courtier of grit Pryd, Be Chryfts Woundis bludy and wyd.

And be his Harmis was rent on Treej Then fpak the Deil hard him befyd,

Renunce thy Creid, and cum to me.

IV. A

^72 'J' he Devils Advice

IV.

A Merchant as he Geir did fell, Renuncit his Part of Heaven for Hell:

The Deil cryd, Welcome mot thou be, Thou fall be Merchand for my fell,

Renunce thy Creid, and cum to me.

V.

A Goldfmith faid. This Goldis fae fyne. That all the Warkmanlhip I tyne,

The Feynd reflaife me, gif I lie. Think on, quod Nik^ that thou art myne ;

Renunce thy Creid, and cum to me.

VI.

A Tailzior faid. In all this Town, Be thair a bettir weil made Gown,

I gife me to the Feynd all frie : Gramercy Tailzeor, faid Mahoun^

Renunce thy Creid, and cum to me.

VII.

A Soutar faid. In gude EfFeck, Nor I be hangit be the Neck,

Gif better Butes of Lether be. Fy, quoth the Deil, thou fawrs of Blek,

Gae clenge the clene, and cum to me.

VIII. A

to his bejl Fre'inds. ^73

VIII. A Baxter faid, I quat with God, And all His Warks baith even and od,

Gif fyner Stuff ther neids to be. The Devil leuch, and gae him a Nod,

Renunce thy Creid, and cum to me.

IX.

The Flejhour fwore be Sacrament, And be the Blude maift inocent,

Neir fattir Flefh Man faw v/ith Ee. The Deil faid, Hald on thy Intent,

Renunce thy Creid, and cum to me.

X.

The Maltman fays, I Blifs forfake. And may the Deil of Hell me taik.

Give ony better Malt may be. And of this Kill I haif Inlaik,

Says Sathan, Cum thy Ways to me.

XI.

A Browjier fwore the Malt was ill, Baith reid and reikit on the Kill,

It will be nae Ale worth a Flie; A Boll will not fax Gallons fill:

Mahoun cryis. Cum and malk with me.

XII. The

174 The Devils Advice

XII.

The Smith he fwore be Rude and Raip, Intill a Gallows mot I gaip,

Gif I ten Days win Pennies three, For laik of Ale I Water laip :

Quod iV/V, ThouU get far les with me.

XIII.

A M'lnjlrel faid, The Feynd me ryve, Gif I do ocht but drink and yve :

The Deil faid, Hardly mot it be, Exerce that Craft throu all thy Lyfe,

And thouill be fure to cum to me.

XIV.

A Dycer bad, with Words of Stryf, The Deil cum flick him with a Knyf j

But he keft up fair Syces three : The Deil faid, Endit is thy Lyfe,

Renunce thy Creid, and cum to me.

XV.

A Ty^^z/'faid, 111 that eir I chaip, Nor a ftark Woddy gar me gaip. But I in Hell for Geir wald be. The Deil faid, Welcom in a Raip,

Gae lift a Cow, and cum to me.

XVI. The

to his beft Freinds. i75

XVI.

The Fifli-wyves flet, and fwore with Granes, And to Auld-nich fauld Flefli and Banes,

And gaif them with a Schout on hie. The Deil cryd, Welcome all attaines,

Sling by zour Creils, and cum to me.

XVII.

Methocht the Deils as blak as Pik, Solifand were as Beis thick,

Ay tempand Folk with Ways flie, Rounand to Robin and to Dick^

Renunce zour Creid, and cum to me.

^od Dunbar.

THE

176

-;:-!- -^ -t^-T'.rHift -tf<^::-«r> ^m^:-*r.^r ^-^.rt^k S>f-^fe^ -•?'— :;-^-^4 -g;**:,^^^

THE

Claith-Merchant ;

Or, a Ballat made on Jonet Reid, Jean Violet, and Anna Whyt, being Jlicht Women^ and Taverners.

I.

(~\P Collours cleir,

Quha lykes to weir, Are mony Sorts into this Toun,

Grene, Zellow, Blew,

And ilka Hew, Baith Paris Black, and IngUs Broun";

Braw London Sky,

Quha lykes to buy. Colour de Roy is clene laid down,

And Dunde Gray

This mony a Day Is lichtlyt baith be Lad and Loan.

II. But

l^he Cla'ith- Merchant. ^11

II.

But ftanch my Fyking,

And ftryd my Lyking, Are feimly Hews for Simmer Play ;

Din dipt in Zellow

For ilka gude fallow, As Will of ^hyt-hauch bad me fay ;

I will not deny it

To them that will buy it, For Silver nane fall be faid nay;

Ze neid not plenze,

It will not ftenzie, Suppofe ye weit it Nicht and Day.

III.

And I have ^hyt

Of great Delyt, And Violet quha lykes to weir,

Weil wearand Reid

Till ze be dead ; It fall not failzie, tak ze no Feir,

The ^hyt is gude.

And richt weil lued.

But

N

178 The Claith-Mer chant.

But zit the Reid is twice as deir:

The Fiolet iyne,

Baith frefh and fyne, Sail ferve ye Hofeing for a Zeir.

IV.

The ^hyt is teuch,

And frefh enouch, Saft a6 the Silk, as all Men feis.

The Reid is bonny,

And focht be mony; They hyve about the Houfe lyke Beis.

My Violet faft,

Quhen ye have coft, Will ply lyk Satin to zour Theis j

Sure be my witting

Not burnt in the Litting, Suppofe baith Lads and Limmers leis.

V.

Of thir thrie Hews I haif left Clews, To be our Court-Men Winter Weid,

Weill

The Claith- Merchant. i79

Weill twynt and fmal,

The beft of them all May weir the Claith for Woul and Threidj

But in the Wawk-mill,

The Wedder is ill : Thefe are not drying Days indeid ;

And gif it be wat,

I hecht for that, It tuggs in Holes and gaes abreid.

VI.

ZiT its weil wawkit,

Cardit and cawkit, As warm a Weid as weir the Dule,

Weil wrocht in Luims,

With Wobfters Guims, Baith thick and nymble gaes the Spule j

Cottond and fliorn,

The mair it be worn, Ze will find zour fell the greater Fule,

Zit bony forfuith,

Cum buyit in my Buith, To mak ze Garments againft Zule.

VII. Thir

i8o I'he Claith-Mer chant.

VII.

Thir mixt togither,

Zour fell may confider, Quhat fyner Colour can there be fund,

And namely for Breiks,

Gif ony Man feiks, Heill purchace the Pair ay for a Fund:

Abeit it be fkant,

Nae Wowars fall want, That to my bidding will be bund,

Weil may they bruik it,

They neid not luke it, But grape it Mirklyns be the Grund.

VIII.

Our Court-Men heir.

Has made my Claith deir, Raifd it Twall-penies of ilka Ell,

Zit is my Claith fure,

Beft Sadies to cure, Suppofe the hale Seffion fliould ryd themfel.

The Violet certain.

Was maid at Dumbartain ; The Reid was wawkit at Dunkell:

The

ne Claith-Mer chant. i8i

The ^hyt has bein dicht In mony mirk Nicht, But Tyme and Place I cannot weil tell.

IX. '

Now gif ye work wyflie,

And fliape it precyflie; The Ellwand * * *

Gif the Bys be wyde,

Gar lay it on Syde 5 And fae ze cannot weil gae wrangj

And for the lang Lift,

It wald be fewd faft, And care not by how deip ze gang;

But want ze quhyt Threid,

Ye will not cum fpeid, Black Waluway maun be zour Sang.

X.

And tho it be auld, And Twenty Tymes fald, Zit will the Freprie ot mak ze fain,

With

1 82 T'he Claith-Mer chant.

With Oyls to renew it,

And male it weil hewt, And gar it glans lyk Silic in Grain j

Syne with the fleik Stains

That fervis for the Nains, They raife the Pyle quhen it falls plain:

With mony braid Aith,

We fell this fame Claith, To gar the Buyers cum faft again. »

XL I

Now is my Wob wrocht,

And arlet and bocht, Cum lay the Payment in my Hand ;

And gif my Claith felzie,

Zeis not pay a Melzie, The Wob fall be at zour Command.

The Market is thrang,

And will not laft lang; They buy faft in the Border Land ;

AbeitI haifTinfel;

Zit maun I tak Handfell, To pay my Buith-Mail and my Stand.

XIL My

ne Claith- Merchant. 183

XII.

My Claith wald be lude,

Be great Men of gude, Gif Lads and Lowns wald let me be,

Zit maun I excufe them;

How can I refufe them, Sen all Mens Penny males him frie ?

The beft and Gay ot.

My felf tuke a Sey ot, A Wylie-coat I will nocht lie,

Quhilk did me nae Harm,

But held my Coft warm, A fymple Merchant ye may fee.

XIII.

This far to relive me.

That nane may reprive me. In yedbrugh at the Jufticeair,

This Sang of thrie Lafles

Was made abune Glafles, That Tyme that they wer Tapfters thair.

The firft was a ^hyt,

A Lafs of Delyte;

The

184 On K. James V. his MiJIreJfes.

The Violet was baith gude and fair:

Keip Reid frae all Skaith.

Scho is wordie them baith; Sae to be fhort I fay nae mair.

^od Semple.

On King James V. his three Mijirejfes.

O Aw not thy Seid on Sandy lands ^

Spend not thy Strength on Weir^ And ryd not on the Oliphant, For hurting of thy Geir.

THE

i85

^ ^^ ^^^

THE

LTON and the MOUS. I.

T N Midft of yune^ that jolly Seafon fweit,

Quhen Phebus fair, with his warm Beams fae bricht Had dryit frae Dale and Dawn the dewy Weit, And all the Land made with his leiming Licht, In a gay Morn, betwixt Mid-day and Nicht, I raife and put all Slouth and Sleip on Syde, And went allone untill a Forreft wyde.

II.

SwEiT was the Smell of Flowirs, blae, quhyt and reid. The Noyfe of Birds was maift melodious, The bobing Bews bluimd braid abune my Heid, The Grund growand with Grafs maift verderous, Of all Pleifance that Place was plenteous, With fweit Odour and Birds faft Hermonie, The Morning myld increafd the Mirth and Glee.

III. The

1 86 '=^}je Lyon and the Mous.

III.

The Rofes reid arrayt the Rone and Ryfs, The Primrofe and the Purpure Violae ;

To heir it was a Poynt of Paradyce,

Sic Mirth the Mavis and the Merle couth mae; The Blofoms blyth brak up on Bank and Brae,

The Smell of Herbs, and the Wing-minftrell Cry,

Contending quha fould haif the Vidtory.

IV.

Me to conferve frae the Suns birning Heit, Undir the Schadow of an Awthorn-grene,

I leant me doun amang the Flowirs fweit,

Syn made a Crofs, and closed baith myne Eenj On Sleip I fell amang the Bewis bein,

And in my Dream methocht came throw the Schaw

The faireft Man that eir before I faw.

V.

His Goun was of a Claith as quhyte as Milk, His Chymers wer of Chamelet Purpure broun,

His Hude of Scarlet, borderit round with Silk In hekle Ways, untill his Girdle doun; Of the auld Faflbun was his Bonnat roun,

His Heid was quhyt, his Een was grene and gray,

With lokar Hair, quhilk owre his Shulder lay.

VI. A

The Lyon and the Mous. ^^7

VI.

A Row of Paper in his Hand he bair,

A Swans quhyt Pen ftickand beneth his Eir,

Ane Inkhorn with a pretty gilt Pennair, A Bag of Silk, all at his Belt he weir; Thus was he gudely grathit in his Geir,

Of Stature large, and with a feirfuU Face,

To quher I lay he came with fturdy Pace.

VII.

And fayd, God-fpeid, my Son, and I was fain Of that couth Word, and of his Company;

With Reverence I falutet him again.

Welcome Fader, and he fat doun by me; Difpleis zou not, my gude Matter, tho I

Demand zour Birth, zour Facultie and Name,

Quhat brings ze hier, and quher ze dwell at hame?

VIII. My Son, he fayd, I am of gentle Blude,

My natall Land is Rome, withouten nay.

And in that Toun firft to the Schulis I zied,

And ftudyt Sciens ther full mony a Day,

And now my winning is in Heaven for ay ;

Efope I hecht my Wryting and my Wark,

Is couth and kend to many a cunnand Clark.

IX. O

1 88 T'he Lyon and the Mous.

IX.

O Maifter Efope, Poet and Laureat,

God wate zeare full deir welcome to mej

Are ze not he that all thir Fables wrat, Quhilk in EfFeft, altho they fenziet be, Are full of Prudence and Moralitie ?

Fair Son, he fayd, I am the famyne Man;

My flichterand Heart I wate grew mirry than.

X.

ESOPE, faid I, my Maifter venerable,

I heartilie zou befeik, for Cheritie, Ze wald dedene to tell a pritty Fable,

Concludand with a gude Moralitie;

Schekand his Heid, he fayd. My Son let be, For quhat ift worth to tell a fenziet Tale, Quhen hale preiching may naithing now avail ?

XL

Now in this Warld methinks richt few or nane To haly Scripture has the leift Regaird;

The Eir is deif, the Hairt is hard as Stane, They nevir mynd Punition or Rewaird, Thair Lukes inclynand allways to the Eard;

Sae rouftet is the Warld with Canker black.

That all my Tales may little Succour mak.

XIL ZiT

'The Lyon and the Mous. 189

XII.

ZiT gentle Sr, fayd I, for my Requieft, Not to difpleis zour Fatherheid I pray,

Undir the Figure of fum brutal Beift, A moral Fable ze wald grant to fay; Quha kens nor I may leir and beir away

Sumthing therby, hereaftir may avail :

I grant, quoth he, and thus began his Tale.

XIII.

A Lyon at his Prey weiry forrun,

To recreate his Limbs and tak his Reft,

Beikand his Breift and Bellie at the Sun, Undir a Tree lay in the fair Foreftj Then came a Trip of Myce out of thair Neft,

Richt tait and trig, all danfand in a Gyfs,

And owre the Lyon lanlit twyfs or thryfs.

XIV. He lay fae ftill, the Myce was not afFeird,

But to and frae atowre him tuke thair Trace; Sum tirlt at the Whiskers of his Beird,

Sum did not fpare to claw him on the Face : Merry and glade thus danfit they a Space, Till at the laft the nobil Lyon wouk. And with his Paw the Maifter Mous he tuke.

XV. He

19"^ The Lyon and the Mous.

XV.

He gaif a Cry, and all the laif agaft,

Their Danfing left, and hid them heir and thairj He that was tane cryit out and weipit faft,

And fayd, Allace for now and evermair !

Now am I tane a wofull Prifoner, And for my Gilt believes incontinent Jugement to thole, and unto Death be fent.

XVI.

Then fpak the Lyon to that carefuU Mous,

Thou catyve Wretch, and vyle unwordy Thing,

Owre malapert and owre prefumpteous.

Thou was to mak atowre me thy Tripping ; Know thou not weil I was baith Lord and King

Of all the Beifts? — This (quod the Mous) I knaw,

But I mifknew, becaufe ze lay fae law.

xvn.

Lord, I befiek thy Princely Ryaltie, Heir quhat I fay, and tak in Patience;

Confidder firft my fimple Povertie,

And fyne thy mighty high Magnificence;

Se als how Things that is done by negligence,

Not frae malicious Thocht, or ill defynd,

Sould gain Remiflion frae a Kingly Mynd.

XVnr. With

"The Lyon and the Mous. 19^

XVIII.

With gret Aboundance we wer all repliet Of alkynd Fude, fic as to us affeird,

And us to dans, provokit the Seafon fweit, And mak fic Mirth as Nature to ys laird j Ze lay fae ftill and law upon the Eard,

That be my Saul , we weind ze had bein deid,

Ells wald we not half danfit owire zour Heid.

XIX.

Thy falfe Excufe, the Lyon fayd again, Sail not avail a Myt, I undertae;

I put the Cafe, had I bene deid or flain. And fyne my Skin bene ftapit full of Strae, Thocht thou had found my Figure lyand fae,

Becaufe it bare the Prent of my Perfoun,

Thou fould for Dreid on Kneis haif falen doun.

XX.

Now for thy Cryme thou can mak nae Defence, My Ryal Perfon thus to vylipend,

Nowther by Forfs nor thyne oun Negligence, For till Excufe thou can nae Caufe prettendj Therfore thou fuffer fall a fchamefuU End,

And Deid, fic as to TrefTon is decreit,

To be hung on a Gallows be the Fiet.

XXI. o

19^ 'The Lyon and the Mous.

XXL

O Mercy, Lord ! at thy Gentrlce I afs, As thou art King of all Beifts corronat,

Sobir thy Wrath, and let thyn Yre owrepafs. And mak thy Mynd to Mercy inclynat ; I grant OfFens is done to thy Eftate,

Therfore I wirdy am to fuffir Deid, ^

But gif thy Kingly Mercy reik Remeid.

XXII.

In evry Juge Mercy and Rewth fuld be. As Afleflbrs and coUaterall;

Without Mercy, Juftice is Crewelltie, As faid is in the Law fpirituall : When Rigour fits upon the hygh Tribunal],

The Equitie of Law quha may fuftain ?

Richt few or nane bot Mercy gae betwein.

XXIIL Besyds ze knaw the Honour Triumphs zeild.

To every Vidlor, on the Strength depends Of his Compeir, quhilk manly in the Feild, Throw Jepordy of Arms he lang defFends ; Quhat Pryce or Lowding, quhen the Battle ends, Is fayd of him that overcomes a Man j Him to defFend that nowther dow nor can.

XXIV. A

'The Lyon and the Mous. ^93

XXIV.

A Thoufand Myce to murder and devore, Is litle Manheid in a Lyon ftrang;

Full litle Worfliip can ze win thairfore,

To quhofe vaft Strenth is nae Comparefon: It will degrad fum Part of zour Renown

To flay a Mous that can male nae Deffence,

But afkand Mercy at zour Excellence.

XXV. Also it not becomes zour Celfitude,

That ufes daylie Meit delicious, To fyle zour Lipps or Grinders with my Blude,

Quhilk to zour Stomak is contagious ;

Unhalefom Melteth is a fairy Mous, And namely to a nobil Lyon ftrang. Wont to be fed with gentil Venifon.

XXVI.

My Lyfe is litle, and my Deid far lefs j *

Zit, gif I live, I may peraventure

Supplie zour Highnes being in Diftrefs : For aft is fene a Man of fmall Stature Refkewed has a Lord of hygh Honnour,

Kept that has bene in Poynt to be owre-thrawn,

Throu Fortunes Fait; fie Cafe me be zour awn.

XXVII. QUHEN

194 The Lyon and the Mous.

XXVII.

QuHEN this was fayd, the generous Lyon paufit. And thocht this arguing did not Reafon want;

His Yre aflwageit, and his kynd Mercy caufit Him to the Mous a full Remiffion grant, Opent his Paw; He on his Kneis doun bent,

And baith his Hands unto the Heaven upheild,

Cryand, Almichty "Jove give zou lang Eild.

XXVIII. QuHEN he was gane, the Lyon zeid to hunt.

For he had nocht, but livd upon his Prey, And flew baith tame and wyld, as he was wont.

And in the Countrie made a grit Deray;

Till at the laft the People fand the Way This crewell Lyon with a Girn to talc, Of hempin Cords richt ftrang Netts coud they male.

XXIX.

And in a Road quhair he was wont to rin. With Raips rude frae Trie to Trie it band,

Syne cufl:e a Raing on Raw the Wod within. With Blafts of Horns and Cauits faft calland ; The Lyon fled, and throu the Rone rinnand

Fell in the Net, and hankit Fute and Held,

For all his Strenth he coud mak nae Remeid.

XXX. Roland

The Lyon and the Mous. ^95

XXX.

Roland about with hydious Rowmiffing,

Quhyles to quhyles frae, gif he micht Succor get ;

But all in vain, that velziet him naething, The mair he flang, the fafter he was knit : The Raips rude about him fae was plet

On every Syde, that Succor faw he nane,

But ftill lyandj thus murnand maid his Mane.

XXXI. O fair lameit Lyon, liggand heir fae law,

Quhair is the Micht of thy Magnificence, Of quhom all brutal Beift in Eard ftand Aw,

And dreid to luke on thy gret Excellence;

Bot Hope or Help, bot Succor or Defence, In ftrang Hemp-bands heir maun I ly, allace! Till I be flain, I fe nae uther Grace.

XXXII. Ther is nae Joy that will my Harms wraik.

Nor Creature to do Comfort to my Crown, Quha fall me bute? Quha fall thir Bands brek? Quha fall me put frae Pain of this Prifon ? Be that he had his Lamentation done. Perchance the litle pardond Mous came neir. And of the'Lyon hard the pityous Beir.

XXXIII. And

19^ 'The Lyon and the Mous.

XXXIII.

And fuddainly it came intill his Mynd That it fuld be the Lyon did him Grace,

And fayd, Now wer I fals and richt unkynd, Bot gif I quit fum Part thy Gentilnefs Thou did to me, and on with that he gaes

To all his Maiks, and on them faft did cry,

Cum help, cum helpj and they came all on hy.

XXXIV.

Lo, quoth the Mous, this is our Ryal Lord, Quha gaif me Grace quhen I was by him tane,

And now is faft heir fanklet in a Cord,

Wrekand his Hurt with Murning fair and Mane, Bot we him help, of Suplie kens he nane;

Cum help to quyt ane gude Turn with annither,

Sae beit, cryd allj fyn fell to Wark togither.

XXXV.

They tuke nae Knyf, thair Teith wer fherp enewgh ; To fe that Sicht forfuith it was grit Wonder,

How that they ran amang the Halters tewgh. Before, behind, fum zeid abune, fum under. And fchure the Raips with the maift eifs in Sunder,

Syne bad him ryfe, and he ftart up annone,

And thankit them j fyn to the Bent is gane.

XXXVI. Now

The Moralitie. i97

XXXVI. Now dois the Lyon frie of Danger fkour,

Lowfe, and delivert till his Libertie, By litle Animals of fmalleft Power,

As ze haif hard, becaufe he had Pitie:

Quoth I, Maifter, is ther Moralitie

Into this Fable? Son^ fayd he, richt gude ;

I pray zou gieft, quoth I, or ze conclude.

The MORALITIE. XXXVII. "\lt /"E may fuppofe this Lyon of Renoun May fignifie ane Emperour or King, Or ony Poteftate that weirs a Croun, That fould be wakryfe in his governing. But of his Peple talcs flicht noticeing. To rule and fteir the Land, and Juftice keip. But lazy lyes in luftie Slouth and Sleip.

XXXVIII. The Foreft fair with Bloflbms lown and lie,

The fingand Birds and Flowirs fae ferly fweit, Ar but this Warld, and his Profperitie,

As Pleifands fals mingillit with Care repleit, Richt, as the Rofe with Froft and Winter weit, Wallous j fae dois the Warld and them defaif That Confidence in lufty Pleafures haif.

XXXIX. Thir

19^ The Moralitie,

XXXIX.

Thir litle Myce ar Comonalitie,

Wanton, unwyfe, without Core£i:ion due;

Sic Lords and Princes, quhen they chanfs to fe That execute, the richteous Laws on few, They dreid naithing, but with rebellious Brow

Dar difobey; for quhy? they ftand nae Aw,

That maks them aft thair Soverains to mifknaw.

XL.

And be this Fable, Lords of prudent Sence

Confidder may the Virtue of Pitie, And fuld remit fumtyme a grit Offence,

And Mercy metigate with Crueltie ;

Aftymes is fene a Man of fmall Degree Has quit a Common baith for Gude and 111, As Lords has Rigour done, or Grace him till.

XLI. QuHA wates how fune a Lord of grit Renoun, Rowand in warldly Luft and vain Pleifance, May be owrthrawin, diftroyed, or put doun Throu Fortune fals, that of all Variance Is hale Miftres, and Leader of the Dance To lufty Men, and binds them up fae foir, That they nae Perell can provyd befor.

XLII. Thir

The Moralitie. 199

XLII.

Thir crewell Men that ftentit has the Net In quhilk the Lyon fuddenlie was tane,

Waited allway that they a Mends micht get;

For Hurt, Men wryts with Steil in Marble-ftane, Mair till expone, as now, I let alane :

But King and Lord may weil wate what I mein,

The Figure hereof aftymes has bein fene.

XLIIL

QuHEN this was fayd, quoth Efop^ My fair Chyld, Perfuade the Kirkmen eydentlie to pray,

That Treafon ofF this Countrie be exyld,

That Juftice ring, and Nobles keip their Fay Unto thair Soverain Lord baith Nicht and Day :

And with that Word he vaneift, and I woke,

Syne throu the Schaw my Jurney hamewart tuke.

^od Mr. Ro. Henryson.

THE

200

A'k 4^4^"^"^" ^f" ^f"" ^ ^ ^ ^f- ^t" ^f" •^'^^ ^'- •^'^'^ i^ ^t^ ^t?> i^

THE

TOD and the LAMB,

OR,

Follo'ws the Waiving of the King 'when he was at Dumfermeling.

><>^li<Kx^

I.

'X'His hinder Nicht in Dumfermeling, To me was tald a wonder Thing, That late a Tod was with a Lamb, And with hir playd, and made gude Game;

Syne to his Breift did hir imbrace, And wald haif ridden hir lyk a Ram,

And that methocht a ferly Cafe.

II.

He braift hir bonny Bodie fweit.

And halfl: hir with his forder Feit,

Syne fchuke his Tail with Whindge and Zelp;

And todht with hir lyke a Quhelp,

Then lourit on growf, and afked Grace ; And ay the Lamb cryd, Lady help,

And that methocht a ferly Cafe.

III. The

The Tod and the Lamb. 201

III. The Tod was nowthir lein nor fcowry, He was a lufty reid-haird Lowry^ Ane lang taild Beift and grit withall; The filly Lamb was all to fmall,

With fic a Trible to hald a Bafe : Scho fled him not, fair mot her fall,

And that methocht a ferly Cafe.

IV.

The Tod was reid, the Lamb was quhyte, Scho was a Morfell of Delyte j He luvit nae Ews auld teuch and Sklender, Becaufe this Lamb was zung and tender.

He ran upon her with a Race, And fcho fchup nevir to defend hir,

And this methocht a ferly Cafe.

V.

He gripit her about the Waift, And handilt her as gif in Hafte ; This Inocent that neir trefpaft, Tuke Heart that fcho was handilt faft.

And lute him kifs her lufty Face : His girnand Gams hir nocht agaft.

And that methocht a ferly Cafe.

VI. He

202 "Xhe Tod and the Lamb.

VI.

He held hir till him be the Hals, And fpake full fair thocht he was fals j Syne faid and fwore to hir in Mode, That he fuld not twitch hir Prein-cod.

The filly Thing trow'd him, allace ! The Lamb gaif Creddance to the Tod,

And that methocht a ferly Cafe.

vn.

I will nae Leifings put in Verfe, Lyke as fum Janglers do reherfe j But be quhat Manner they wer ihard, Quhen Licht was out and Dores were bard :

I wate not gif he gaif hir Grace; But Winnocks all were ftappit hard.

And that methocht a ferly Cafe.

vm.

Quhen Folk do fleit in Joy maift far, Thair fune cums Wae or they be War, Quhen carpand wer thir twa maift croufe. The Wolf he umbefet the Houfe,

Upon the Tod to make a Chace : The Lamb fcho cheipit lyke a Moufe,

And that methocht a ferly Cafe.

IX. Throw

ne Tod and the Lamb, 203

IX.

Throw hydious Howling of the Wowf, This wylie Tod plait doun on Growf; And in the filly wie Lambs Skin, He crap as far as he micht win,

And hid him thair a gay lang Space; The Ews befyde they made nae Din,

And that methocht a ferly Cafe.

X.

QuHEN of the Tod was heerd nae Peip, The Wowf wont all had bene afleip 3 And quhyle the Tod had ftriken Ten, The Wowf he dreft him to his Den,

Proteftand for the fecond Place : And this Report I with my Pen,

How at Dumfermling fell the Cafe.

^od Dunbar.

j^@®(!i ^@@^

On

204

On anes being his own Enemy. — — -»♦♦«-

"LJ E that has Gold and Riches great, And may live at a merry Rate;

And Gladnefs dois frae him expell. And lives into a wretched State j

He worketh Sorrow to himfell.

II.

He that may be hot Sturt and Stryf, And live a lufty lightfome Lyfe,

And fyne with Marriage dois him mell, And buckles with a wicked Wyfe,

He worketh Sorrow to himfell.

III. He that has for his awin Genzie A plefand Prop bot Mank or Menzie,

And ftiutes fyne at an uncow Schell, And is forfairn with Fleis of Spenzie, He worketh Sorrow to himfell.

IV. And

On anes being his own Enemy. 205

IV.

And he that with gude Life and Treuth, Bot Variance or other Slewth,

Dois evir with a Mafter dwell, That nevir of him will have Rewth,

He worketh Sorrow to himfell.

V.

Now all this Time let us be merry, And fet not by this Warld a Cherry,

Now quhyle thair is gude Wyne to fellj The Cheil that dois on dry Breid wirry,

I give them to the Devil of Hell.

^od Dunbar.

The

206

^%. ^t«. -jt*. ^t(!; i?fe ^t«. ^fe ^t<: ^t^ ^t«. ^t*: ^t«. ^t/^ ^t<?. ^fe ^tij; ^t«. ^t«i jfc ^t<i

^i^^ Benlfite of them who have Ladies wha can be gude Soliciters at Court.

I. nPHiR Ladys fair, that male Repair,

And at the Court are kend. In three Days thair, they will do mair,

Ane Matter for till end. Than ther Gude-men will do in Ten,

For any Craft they can, Sae weil they ken, what Time and quhen, Thair Manes they fuld mak than.

n.

With little Noy they can convoy

A Matter finally, Richt myld and Moy, and keip it coy.

On Evens fae quietly; They do no mifs, but gif they kifs,

And keip Colation, Quhat Reck of this, thair Matter is

Brocht to Conclufion.

III. Then

The Benifite of, &c. 207

III.

Then wit ye weil, they haif grit Fail,

And Matter to folift, Treft as the Steil, fyne neir a Deil,

Quhen they come hame are mift. Thir Lairds they are, methink richt far,

Sic Wyves behalden to. That fae weil dar gae to the Bar,

Quhen there is ocht to do.

IV.

Therefore I reid, gif ze haif Pleid,

Or Matter in the Play, To mak Remeid, fend in zour Steid

Zour Ladys graitht up gay; They can defFend, even to the End,

And Matters forth exprefsj Suppofe they fpend, it is unkend;

Thair Geir is nocht the lefs.

V.

In quiet Place, gin they have Space,

Within lefs than twa Hours, They can percafe, purchafe fum Grace,

At the Compofitours ;

Thair

2o8 "The Benifite of, &c.

Thair Compofition with full Remiffion,

Thair finally is endit, With Expedition, and full Condition,

Thair Seals then are to pendit.

VI.

All hale almoft they make the Coft,

With fober Recompence, Richt little loft, they get indorft,

All hale thair Evidence, Sic Ladys wyfe, they are to pryze.

To fay the Verity, Sae can devyfe, and not furpryze

Thame nor thair Honefty.

^od Dunbar.

rf!

Annother

209

Annother of the famen Cqfl^ Fend be the Poet wrote the lajl.

I.

HPHe Ufe of Court richt weil I knaw, Ladyis SoUceters of the Law ; At hame remain the filly Lairds, And fend thair Wyves behind the Yards, Well ftuft with Money and Rewards,

To furder thair Errands frae Nicht faw.

II.

In Clouks they cum full braw quhyte cledj And rouns to have thair Matter fped ; They give nae Budds, But on thair Fudds They get grit Skuds, In nakit Bed.

III. But

210 Annother of the famen^ &c.

III.

But neirthelefs the Laird maun fyn, For all hir Miens, a Tun of Wyne :

His Wyfe cums hame thus fynely ufd, But zit he maun hald hir excufdj And finaly the Folks that doift Denys and laughs at them baith fyne.

IV.

The Laird murns quhen he may not mend it,

His Lady jaipt his Siller fpend it.

And all his Labour turnd in vainj But ay the Lady fays full plain. That fcho maun to the Court again,

Or els the Plea will not be endit.

V.

Hir Buckler bord, and backward born, And all hir Caufe is quite forlorn;

Up gets hir Wame,

Scho thinks nae Schame

Syne to bring hame The Laird a Horn.

THE

211

THE

VISION.

Compylit in Latin be a moji lern'it Clerk* in Tyme of our Hairjhip and Opprejfion^ anno 1300, and tranjlatit in 1524.

— -•x»«:-»«»<<-:*<i:-< —

I.

"D Edoun the Bents of Banquo Brae Milane I wandert waif and wae, Mufand our main Mifchauncej How be thay Faes we ar undone, That flaw ^Qfacred\ Stane frae Scone^ And leids us lie a Daunce :

Quhyle

* The Hiftory of the Scoti Sufferings, by the unworthy Con- defcenfion of Baliol to Edward I. of England, till they recovered their Independence by the Conduct and Valour of the Great Bruce, is fo univerfally known, that any Argument to this antique Poem feems ufelefs.

■f* The old Chair (now in Wejlminjier Abbey) in which the Scots Kings were always crown'd, wherein there is a Piece of Marble with this Infcription ;

N't fallat fatum, ScoTi, quocunque locatum Invement lapidem, regnare tenentur ibidem.

212 ne Vifion.

Quhyle Inglands Edert taks our Tours,

And Scotland ferft obeys, Rude Ruffians ranfakk Ryal Bours, And Baliol Homage pays; Throch Feidom our Freidom Is blotit with this Skore, Quhat Romans or no Mans Pith culd eir do befoir.

II.

The Air grew ruch with boufteous Thuds, Bauld Boreas branglit outthrow the Cluds,

Maift lyke a drunken Wicht; The Thunder crakt, and Flauchts did rift Frae the blak Viflart of the Lift :

The Forreft fchuke with Fricht ; Nae Birds abune thair Wing extenn.

They ducht not byde the Blaft, Ilk Beift bedeen bangd to thair Den, Untill the Storm was paft: Ilk Creature in Nature That had a Spunk of Sence, In Neid then, with Speid then, Methocht cryt. In Defence.

III. To

The Vifton. 213

III.

To fe a Morn in May fae ill,

I deimt Dame Nature was gane will,

To rair with rackles Reil; Quhairfor to put me out of Pain, And (konce my Skap and Shanks frae Rain,

I bure me to a Beil, Up ane hich Craig that lundgit alaft.

Out owre a canny Cave, A curious Cruif of Natures Craft, Quhilk to me Schelter gaif ; Ther vexit, perplexit, I leint me doun to weip. In brief ther, with Grief ther I dottard owre on Sleip.

IV.

Heir Somnus in his filent Hand Held all my Sences at Command,

Quhyle I forzet my Cair; The myldeft Meid of mortall Wichts Quha pafs in Peace the private Nichts,

That wauking finds it rare j

Sae

214 ne Vifion.

Sae in faft Slumbers did I ly,

But not my wakryfe Mynd,

Quhilk ftill ftude Watch, and couth efpy

A Man with Afpeck kynd,

Richt auld lyke and bauld lyke. With Baird thre Quarters Ikant, Sae braif lyke and graif lyke, He feemt to be a Sandl:.

V.

Grit Darring dartit frae his Ee, A Braid-fword fchogled at his Thie,

On his left Arm a Targe; A fhynand Speir filld his richt Hand, Of ftalwart Mak, in Bane and Brawnd,

Of juft Proportions, large; A various Rain-bow colourt Plaid

Owre his left Spaul he threw, Doun his braid Back, frae his quhyt Heid, The Silver Wymplers grew ; Amaiflt, I gaifit To fe, led at Command, A ftrampant and rampant Ferfs Lyon in his Hand.

VI. Quhilk:

^^_^_^^^_g||||_g|

The Vtfton, 215

VI.

QuHiLK held a Thiftle in his Paw, And round his Collar graift I faw This Poefie pat and plain, Nemo me impune lacefs-

~Et: In Scots^ Nane fall opprefs

Me^ unpuniji with Pain; Still fchaking, I durft naithing fay. Till he with kynd Accent Sayd, Fere let nocht thy Hairt affray, I cum to hier thy Plaint ; Thy graining and maining Haith laitlie reikd myne Eir, Debar then afFar then All Eirynefs or Feir.

VII.

For I am ane of a hie Station,

The Warden of this auntient Nation,

And can nocht do the Wrang; I viflyt him then round about, Syne with a Refolution flout,

Speird, Quhair he had bene fae lang?

Quod

21 6 ne Vifion.

Quod he, Althocht I fum forfuke,

Becaus they did me (licht,

To Hills and Glens I me betuke,

To them that luves my Richt; Quhafe Mynds zet inclynds zet To damm the rappid Spate, Devyfing and pryfmg Freidom at ony Rate.

VIII.

Our Trechour Peirs thair Tyranns treit, Quha jyb them, and thair Subftance eit,

And on thair Honour ftramp; They, pure degenerate! bend thair Baks, The Viftor, Lang/hanks^ proudly cracks

He has blawn out our Lamp : Quhyle trew Men, fair complainand, tell,

With Sobs, thair fllent Greif, How Baliol thair Richts did fell.

With fmall Howp of Releifej Regretand and fretand Ay at his curfit Plot, Quha rammed and crammed That Bargin doun thair Throt.

IX. Braif

ne Vifion. 217

IX.

Braif Gentrie fweir, and Burgers ban, Revenge is muttert be ilk Clan

Thats to thair Nation trew; The Cloyfters cum to cun the Evil, Mailpayers vnfs it to the Devil,

With its contryving Crew: The Hardy wald w^ith hairty Wills,

Upon dyre Vengance fall; The fecklefs fret owre Heuchs and Hills, And Eccho Anfwers all, Repetand and greitand. With mony a fair Alace, For Blading and Cafting Our Honour in Difgrace.

X.

Waes me! quod I, our Cafe is bad. And mony of us are gane mad.

Sen this difgraceful Paction. We are felld and herryt now by Forfe ; And hardly Help fort, thats zit warfe.

We are fae forfairn with Fa6lion.

Then

2i8 ne Vifion.

Then has not he gude Caufe to grumble,

Thats forft to be a Slaif; Oppreffion dois the Judgment Jumble And gars a wyfe Man raif.

May Cheins then, and Pains then Infernal be thair Hyre Quha dang us, and flang us Into this ugfum Myre.

XL

Then he with bauld forbidding Luke, And ftaitly Air did me rebuke.

For being of Sprite fae mein : Said he its far beneath a SCOT To ufe weak Curfes quhen his Lot

May fumtyms four his Splein, He rather fould mair lyke a Man,

Some braif Defign attempt j Gif its nocht in his Pith, what than, Reft but a Quhyle content, Nocht feirful, but cheirful. And wait the Will of Fate, Which mynds to defygns to Renew zour auntient State.

XII. I

The Vifion.

219

XII.

I ken fum mair than ze do all Of quhat fall afterwart befall,

In mair aufpicious Tymes; For aften far abufe the Mune, We watching Beings do convene,

Frae round Eards outmoft Climes, Quhair evry Warden reprefents Cleirly his Nations Cafe, Gif Famyne, Peft, or Sword Torments, Or Vilains hie in Place, Quha keip ay, and heip ay Up to themfelves grit Store, But rundging and fpunging The leil laborious Pure.

XIII.

Say then, faid I, at zour hie Sate, Lernt ze ocht of auld Scotlands Fate,

Gif eir fchoil be her fell ; With Smyle Celeft, quod he, I can, But its nocht fit an mortal Man

Sould ken all I can tell :

But

220 l^he Vifion.

But Part to the I may unfold,

And thou may faifly ken, Quhen Scottljh Peirs flicht Saxon Gold, And turn trew heartit Menj Quhen Knaivry and Slaivrie, Ar equally difpyfd, And Loyalte and Royalte, Univerfalie are pryfd.

XIV.

Quhen all zour Trade is at a Stand, And Cunzie clene forfaiks the Land,

Quhilk will be very fune. Will Preifts without their Stypands preich, For nocht will Lawyers Caufes Streich ;

Faith thatis nae eafy done. All this and mair maun cum to pafs,

To cleir zour glamourit Sicht; And Scotland maun be made an Afs, To fet her Jugment richt. Theyil jade hir and blad hir, Untill fcho brak hir Tether, Thocht auld fchois zit bauld fchois. And teuch lyke barkit Lether.

XV. But

The Vifton, 221

XV.

But mony a Corfs fall braithlefs ly. And Wae fall mony a Widow cry.

Or all rin richt again j Owre Cheviot prancing proudly North^ The Faes fall tak the Feild neir Forthe^

And think the Day thair ain : But Burns that Day fall rin with Blude

Of them that now opprefs; Thair CarcafTes be Corbys Fude,

By thoufands on the Grefs. A King then fall ring them, Of wyfe Renoun and braif, Quhafe Pufians and Sapiens, Sail Richt reftoir and faif.

XVI.

The View of Freidomis fweit, quod I, O fay, grit Tennant of the Skye,

How neiris that happie Tyme. We ken Things but be Circumftans, Nae mair, quod he, I may advance,

Leift I commit a Cryme.

Quhat

i22 T;he Vifion.

Quhat eir ze pleis, gae on, quod I,

I fall not fafh ze moir, Say how, and quhair ze met, and quhy. As ze did hint befoir. With Air then fae feir then, That glanft like Ray is of Glory, Sae Godlyk and oddlyk. He thus refumit his Storie.

XVII.

Frae the Suns Ryfing to his Sett, All the pryme Rait of Wardens met,

In folemn bricht Array, With Vehicles of Aither cleir, Sic we put on quhen we appeir

To Sauls rowit up in Clay; Thair in a wyde and fplendit Hall,

Reird up with fhynand Beims, Quhais Rufe-treis wer of Rainbows all. And paift with ftarrie Gleims, Quhilk prinked and twinkled Brichtly beyont Compair, Much famed and named A CaftiU in the Air.

XVIII. In

I

The Vifton. 223

XVIII.

In midft of quhilk a Tabill ftude, A fpacious Oval reid as Blude,

Made of a Fyre-Flaucht, Arround the dazeling Walls were drawn, With Rays be a celeftial Hand,

Full mony a curious Draucht. Inferiour Beings flew in Haift,

Without Gyd or Deredlour, Millions of Myles throch the wyld Wafte, To bring in Bowlis of Ne6tar : Then roundly and foundly, We drank lyk Roman Godsj Quhen Jove fae dois rove fae, That Man and Bacchus nods.

XIX.

Quhen Phebus Heid turns licht as Cork, And Neptune leans upon his Fork,

And limpand Vulcan blethers : Quhen Pluto glowrs as he were wyld. And Cupid luves we wingit Chyld,

Fals down and fyls his Fethers.

Quhen

224 The Vifion.

Quhen Pan forzets to tune his Reid,

And flings it cairlefs bye, And Hermes wingd at Heils and Heid, Can nowther ftand nor lye :

Quhen ftaggirand and fwagirrand, They floyter Hame to fleip, Quhyle Centeries at Enteries Imortal Watches keip.

XX.

Thus we tuke in the high browin Liquour, And bangd about the Nedlar Biquour;

But evir with his Ods : We neir in Drink our Judgments drenfch, Nor fcour about to feik a Wenfch

Lyk thefe auld baudy Gods, But franklie at ilk uther afk,

Quhats proper we fuld know. How ilk ane hes performt the Tafk, Aflignd to him below.

Our Minds then fae kind then, Are fixt upon our Care, Ay noting and ploting Quhat tends to thair Weilfair.

XXI. Gothus

ne V'tfton. 225

XXI.

Gothus and Vandall baith lukt bluff, Quhyle Gallus fneerd and tuke a SnufF,

Quhilk made Allmane to ft are j Lattnus bad him naithing feir, But lend his Hand to haly Weir,

And of cowd Crouns tak Care ; Batavius with his Paddock-Face

Luking afquint, cryd, Pifch, Zour Monks ar void of Sence or Grace, I had leur ficht for Fifch ;

Zour Schule-men ar Fule-men, Carvit out for dull Debates, Decoying and deftroying Baith Monarchies and States.

XXII.

Iberius with a gurlie Nod

Cryd, Hogan^ zes we ken zour God,

Its Herrings ze adore ; Heptarchus^ as he ufd to be. Can nocht with his ain Thochts agre.

But varies bak and fore j

Ane

226 ne Vifion.

Ane quhyle he fays, It is not richt

A Monarch to refift, Neift Braith all Ryall Powir will flicht, And paflive Homage jeft; He hitches and fitches Betwein the Hie and Hoc^ Ay jieand and flieand Round lyk a Wedder-cock.

xxni.

1 ftill fupport my Precedens

Abune them all, for Sword and Sens,

Thocht I haif layn richt now lown, Qiihylk was, becaus I bure a Grudge At fum fule Scotis^ quha lykd to drudge

To Princes no thair awin; Sum Thanis thair Tennants pykit and fqueift,

And purfit up all thair Rent, ^

Syne wallopit to far Courts, and bleift.

Till Riggs and Schaws war fpent ; Syne byndging and whyndging, Quhen thus redufit to Howps, They dander and wander About pure Lickmadowps.

XXIV. But

ne Vifion. 227

XXIV.

But now its Tyme for me to draw My fhynand Sword againft Club-Law,

And gar my Lyon roir; He fall or lang gie fic a Sound, The Ecchoe fall be hard arround

Europe^ frae Schore to Schore; Then lat them gadder all thair Strenth,

And ftryve to wirk my Fall, Tho numerous, zit at the lenth I will owrecum them all. And raife zit and blafe zit My Braifrie and Renown, By gracing and placing Arright the Scottis Crown.

XXV.

QuHEN my braif Bruce the fame fall weir Upon his Ryal Heid, full cleir

The Diadem will fhyne; Then fall zour fair Oppreffion ceis, His Intreft zours he will not fleice,

Or leif zou eir inclyne :

Thocht

228 The Vifton.

Thocht Millions to his Purfe be lent,

Zell neir the puirer be, But rather richer, quhyle its fpent Within the Scottijh Se:

The Feild then fall zeild then To honeft Hufbands Welth, Gude Laws then fall caufe then A fickly State haif Helth.

XXVI.

Quhyle thus he talkit, methocht ther came A wondir fair Etherial Dame,

And to our Warden fayd, Grit Callidon I cum in Serch Of zou, frae the hych ftarry Arch,

The Counfill wants zour Ayd; Frae every Quarter of the Sky, As fwift as Quhirl-wynd, With Spirits fpeid the Chiftains hy, Sum grit Thing is defygnd Owre Muntains be Funtains, And round ilk fairy Ring, I haif chaift ze, O haift ze, They talk about zour King.

XXVII. With

1

The Vifion. 229

XXVII.

With that my Hand methocht he fchuke, And wifcht I Happynefs micht bruke,

To eild be Nicht and Day; Syne quicker than an Arrows Flicht, He mountit upwarts frae my Sicht, Straicht to the milkie Way; My Mynd him followit throw the Skyes,

Untill the brynie Streme For Joy ran trinckling frae myne Eyes, And wakit me frae Dreme; Then peiping, half fleiping, Frae furth my rural Beild, It eifit me and pleifit me To fe and fmell the Feild.

XXVIII.

For Flora in hir clene Array,

New wafhen with a Showir of May^

Lukit full fweit and fair; Quhyle hir cleir Hufband frae aboif Sched doun his Rayis of genial Luve, , Hir Sweits perfumt the Air;

The

230 ne Vifion,

The Winds war hulht, the Welkin cleird,

The glumand Clouds war fled, And all as faft and gay appeird As ane Elyfion Sched; Quhilk heifit and bleifit My Heart with fic a Fyre, As raifes thefe Praifes That do to Heaven afpyre.

^od Ar. Scot.

Jok

231

Jok Up-a-lands Complaint agatnjl the Court in the Kings Nonaige,

— ^:»»:*^«-

I.

"XT Ow is the King in tendir Aige,

O Chryst ! conferve him in his Eild, To do Juftice to Man and Page,

That gars our Land ly lang unteild, Thocht we do double pay thair Wagej

Pure Commons prefentlie ar peild. They ryde about in flc a Rege,

Be Firth and Forreft, Muir and Feild,

With Bow Buckler and Brand. Lo quhair they ryde intill the Ry, The Deil mot fane the Company, I pray it frae my Heart trewly : This faid Jok Up-a-land.

II. He

232 Jok Up-a-lands Complaint.

II.

He that was wont to beir the Barrows,

Betwixt the Bake-hous and the Brew-hous On Twenty Shilling now he tarrows,

To ryd the Heigait by the Plewisj But were I King, and haif gude Fallows,

In Norroway they fould heir of Newis, I fould him tak, and all his Marrows,

And hing them hich upon zon Hewis, And thairto plichts my Hand,

And all thir Lordis and Barronis grit,

Upon an Gallows fould I knit.

That this doun treddit has our Quhit: This faid Jok Up-a-land.

III.

But wald ilk Lord that our Law leids,

To Hufbands Reflbne do with Skill, To chak thir Chiftains be the Heids,

And hing them heich upon ane Hillj Then Hufbands labour micht their Steids,

And Preifts micht pattir and pray their Fill: For Hufbands fould nocht haif fic Fields,

And Scheip and Nolt micht ly full ftill. And Stakis and Rukis micht ftand;

For

Jok Up-a-lands Complaint. 233

For fen they raid amang our Dorrs, With Splent on Spald and joufty Spurrs, Thair grew nae Fruit intill our Furrs : This faid "Jok Up-a-land.

IV.

Tak a pure Man a Scheip or twae,

For Hungir or for Fait of Fude, To five or fax wie Bairns or mae,

They will him hang in Halters rude; But gif an talc a Flok or fae,

A Bow of Ky, and lat them blude, Full faifly may he ryd or gae :

I wait nocht gif thir Laws be gude, I fchrew them firft them fand.

O Jesu, for thy haly Paflioun,

Grant to him Grace that weirs the Crown,

To ding thir mony Kings all doun : This faid Jok Up-a-land.

^od Kennedy.

THE

234

THE

Garment of gude LADYIS,

-^^^^^-

I.

"^ y^ ^Ald my gude Lady lufe me beft,

And work aftir my Will, I fould a Garment gudlieft, Gar mak hir Body till.

11. Of Honour hie fould be hir Hude,

Upon hir Heid to weir, Garnift with Governance fae gude,

Nae demyeng fould hir deir.

in.

Hir Sark fould be, hir Body nixt.

Of Chaftitie fae quhyte. With Schame and Dreid togither mixt.

The fame fould be perfyt.

IV. Hir

The Garment of gude Lady is. 235

IV.

HiR Kirtle of the clene Conftance,

Doun laift with lefum Luvej The Melzies of Continuance, '

For nevir to remuve.

V.

HiR Goun fould be of Gudlienes,

Weil Riband with Renown, PurfiUt with Plefour in ilk Place,

And furt with fyne Faflbun.

VI.

HiR Belt fould be of Benignitie,

About hir Midil meit, Hir Mantil of Humilitie,

To tholl baith Wind and Weit.

VII.

Hir Hat fould be of fair Having,

Hir Tipat of the Truth ; Hir Paitlet of ay gude paufing,

Hir Hals Riban of Rewth.

VIII. Hir

236 The Garment of gude Lady is.

VIII.

HiR Sleives fould be of Efperance,

To keip hir frae Difpairj Hir Gluves of the beft Governance,

To hyd hir Fingers fair.

IX.

Hir Shune fould be of Sickernefs,

In Time that fcho nocht flyd; Hir Hofe of Honefty exprefs,

I fould for hir provyde.

X.

Wald fcho put on this Garment gay,

I durft fweir be my Seill, That fcho wore nevir Grene nor Gray,

That fet hir half fo weil.

^od Mr. Rob. Henryson.

To

237

To the Honour of the Ladyisy and the Fortification of their Fame,

»5®j.

I.

1 UsT to declair the hie Magnificence, And Bountie grit that in the Ladyis is.

The Wirdynefs and Verteus Excelence,

The Laud, the Truth, the Bewtie, and the Blifs, My Barbir Tung unworthy is I wifsj

But nocht the lefs my Pen I will apply, To fay the Suth, thoch Eloquence I mifs,

Of Femenyne the Fame to fortify.

II.

Thocht Doftors auld Addrefles thair Delyt,

To dyt of Ladys Defamation, Wae worth the Wicht fould fet his Appityte,

To reid fie Rolls of Reprobation;

But tittar mak plain Proclamation, To gather all fie Lybills biflelie.

And in the Fyre mak thair Location, Of Femenyne the Fame to fortifie.

III. For

238 To the Honour of the Ladyis.

III.

For quho fae lift the Richt trew to reherfe, To humane Glore they mak Habilitie;

Quhen Men ar fad at them folace they ferfs, As Habitickles of all Humanity, They bring grit Weirs aft to Tranquilitie,

Malice of Men they meis and pacifie, To Saul and Body baith Utilitie;

Therfore all Men thair Fame fould fortifie.

• IV.

Althocht a Man had as niuch Gude to fpend

As all the Empyres of this Globe around ; Wer Women wanting Weil-fare were at End,

Without thair Comfort Care fould him confound;

Quhair they abyde thair Blifs does ay abound, And quhair they flie Felicetie gaes by;

Bot thair Solace nae Sage may be eir found ; Thairfore all Men thair Fame fould fortifie.

V.

Sen god has grantit them fie Gudlinefs, And formid them after fae fyne fafibun.

Syne put fic bluming Bewtie in thair Face,

Quhy fould not Men hald them of grit Renown?

Sen

To the Honour of the Ladyis. 239

Sen God has given to them fae grit Guerdoun, And with fic Meiknes does them magnifie,

Quhy fould Men male to them Comparifone, But owre all quhair thair Fames to fortifie ?

VI.

Of Mary myld, the Maid imaculate,

To fortifie of Femenyne the Fame, Chryst was incarnate and incorporate,

And nurift was nyn Months within hir Wame ;

And aftir born, and bocht us frae the Blame Of Bellialj that brint us bitterliej

That heavenly Honour faves the Sex frae Shame, And owre all quhair thair Fame dois fortifie.

^od Stewart.

\&^^\ \&^^l

THE

240

THE

D A U N C E.

\

I.

(~\F Februar the fiftein Nicht,

Richt lang before the Dayis Licht, I lay intill a Trance, And then I faw balth Heaven and Hell, Methocht amang the Feynds fell

Mahoun gart cry a Daunce, Of Shrewis that wer nevir fchrevin Againft the Feift of Fafterns Evin,

To male thair Obfervance; He bad Galands gae graith a Gyis, And caft up Gamonds to the Skyes,

That laft came out of France.

n. Let

'The Daunce. 241

II.

Let fee, quod he, now quha begins : With that the foull feven deadly Sins

Begouth to leip attains; And firft of all the Daunce was Pryde., With Hair wyld back. Bonnet on Syde,

Lyk to mak vaiftie Wains ; And round about him as a Quheil, Hang all in Rumples to his Heil

His Kethat for the Nains : Mony proud Trumpour witH him trippit Throw Ikaldan Fyre, ay as they fkipit

They girnd with hydious Granes.

III.

Hellie Harlots on hawtane Ways Came in with mony findry Gyis,

Zit nevir leuch Mahoun^ Till Preifts came with bare fchaven Necks, Then all the Feynds leuch and made Geeks,

Black-wame and Bawfy-broun.

IV. Then

242 ne Daunce.

IV.

Then Tre came in with Sturt and Stryfe, His Hand was ay upon his Knyfe,

He brandeift lyk a Beir: Boafters, Braggers and Barganers Aftir him pafsd all in be Pairs,

All boddin in Feir of Weir; In Jacks, Stripps, and Bonnets of Steil, Thair Leggs wer chenziet to the Heil,

Frawart was thair AfFeir j With Brands fum on uther beft, Sum jagit uthers to the Heft

With Knives that Scheip coud fcheir.

V.

Next foUowd in the Daunce, Envy.^ Filld full of Feid and Fellony,

Hid Malyce and Difpyt; For privy Hate that Traytor trembled, Him foUowd mony Freik, difTembled

With fenzied Words quhyte.

And

l^he Daunce. 243

And Flatterers into Mens Faces, And Back-byters of fundry Races,

To lie that had Delyte, With Rownars vyle of falfe Leifings ; AUace ! that Courts of nobil Kings

Of fie can neer be quyte.

VI.

NixT him in Daunce came Covetyce^ Rute of all 111, and Grund of Vyce,

That neir could be content; Catyvs, Wretches and Ockerars, Hud Pykes, Hurders and Gatherers,

All with that Warlo went : Out of thair Throts they fhot on uther, Het moltin Gold methocht a Futher,

As Fyre-flaucht maift fervent; Ay as they tuimt themfells of Schot, Feynds fiUd them weil up to the Throt

With Gold of all kynd Prent.

VII.

Syne Swetrnes at the fecond Bidding Came lyk a Sow out of a Midding, Full fleipy was his Grunzie;

Mony

244 The Daunce.

Mony fweir butnbard Belly-huddron, Mony Slut, Daw, and fleipy Duddron,

Him ferved ay with Sounzie : He drew them furth intill a Chenzie, And Belial with a Bridall Renzie

Ay lafhit them on the Lunzie. In Daunce they wer fae flaw of Feit, They gaif them in the Fyre a Heit,

Made them quicker of Cunzie.

vni.

Then Lechery^ that laithly Corfs, Berand lyk to a bagit Horfs,

And Ydlenefs did him leid ; Ther was with him ane ugly Sort, And mony a ftynkand foull Tramort

That had in Sin bene deid : Quhen they wer enterit in the Daunce, They wer full ftrange of Countenance,

Lyk Turkas burnand reid;

All led they uther by the

Suppofe they fyket with thair

It micht be nae Remeid.

IX. Then

The Daunce. 245

IX.

Then the foull Monfter, Gluttony, With Wame unfatiate and greidy,

To daunce fyn did him drefs j Him foUowit mony a foull Drunkart With Can and Colep, Cop and Quart,

In Surfet and Excefs ; Full mony a waiftlefs wally Drag, With Wames unwyldy did forth wag

In Creifh, that did increfs; Drink, ay they cryd, with mony a Gaip, The Feynds gave them het Lead to laip,

Thair Lovery was nae lefs.

X.

Nae Minftralls playd to them hot Dout, For Glie-men ther war haldin out

Be Day and elk by Nichtj Except a Minftrall that flew a Man, Sae till his Heritage he wan,

Entert be Breif ofRicht.

XI. Then

246 'The Datince.

XL

Then cryd Mahoun for a Earfe Padzean, Syn ran a Feynd to fetch Makfadzean^

Far Northwart in a Nukej Be he the Correnoch did fchout, Earfe Men fo gatherit him about,

In Hell grit Rume they tuke : That Tarmagants with Tag and Tatter, Full loud in Earfe begoud to clatter

And rowp lyk Ravin and Rowk; The Deil fae deivt was with thair Yell, That in the deipeft Pot of Hell

He fmorit them all with Smuke.

Follows

247

Follows the Tournament between the Soutar and Tailzior.

I.

TVr IxT that a Tournament was cryd,

That lang before in Hell was tryd,

In Prefence of Mahoun^ Betwifch a Tailzior and a Soutar, A Prick-Loufe and a Hobell-Clouter,

The Barrefs was made boun; The Tailzior baith with Speir and Sheild, Convoyit was into the Feild,

With mony a Lymmar-Loun, Of Seme-byters and Beift-knappers, Of Stomok-ftealers and Claith-takers,

A graceles Garrifoun.

II. His

248 Tournament betiveen

II.

His Banner was born him before, Quherin was Clouts a hundred Score,

Ilk ane of diverfe Heu, And all ftown out of findry Webs, For quhyle the Greik Se flows and ebs,

Tailziors will neir be trew: The Tailzior on the Barrows blent, Allace ! he tint all Hardy ment,

For Feir he changit Hew : Mahoun came forth and maid him Knicht, Nae Ferlie thocht his Heart was licht,

That to fie Honour grew.

III.

The Tailzior hecht before Mahoun^ That he fuld ding the Soutar doun,

Wer he ftrang as a Maft; But quhen he on the Barrous blenkit. His clouted Courage fairly fchrinkit.

His Heart did all owre-caft :

Quhen

the Soutar and the T'ail%ior. ^49

Quhen to the Soutar he did cum, Of all fic Words he was quyte dum,

Sae fair he was agaft. In Heart he tuke fae great a Sounder, A Rak of Farts lyke ony Thunder,

Flew frae him Blaft for Blaft.

IV.

The Soutar to the Feild him dreft, He was convoyid out of the Weft,

As an DefFender ftout. Suppofe he had nae lufty Varlet, He had full mony a loufy Harlot,

Round ryding him about. His Banner was of barkit Hyd, Quherin Saint G'lrnega did glyd.

Before that Rebald Rout : Full Soutar lyke he was of Laitsj For ay betwifli his Harnes Plaits,

The Uly burftit out.

V.

Quhen on the Tailzior he did luke. His Heart a litle Dwaming tuke. He micht not richt upfit.

Into

250 Tournament betijueen

Into his Stommok was fic a Steir, Of all his Denner quhilk he coft deir,

HisBreaft heldDeilaBit: To comfort him or he raid fiirder. The Deil of Knichthude gaif him Order,

Fou fair fyne did he fpit; And he about the Devils Neck, Did fpew again a Quart of Blek,

Thus knichtly he him quit.

VI.

Then Fourty Times the Feynd cryd, Fy, The Soutar richt afearedly,

Unto the Feild he focht : Quhen they were ferved with their Speirs, Folk had a Feil be their Effeirs,

Their Hearts were baith on Flocht, They fpurd their Horfs on either Syde, Syne they outowre the Grund coud glyd.

And them togither brocht. The Tailzior that was nocht weil fitten. He left his Sadie all befhitten,

And to the Grund he focht.

VII. His

the Soutar and the Tail%ior. 251

VII.

His Harnes brak and made a Brattle, The Soutars Horfs lap with a Ratle,

And round about coud reil : The Beift that frayed was richt evil, Ran with the Soutar to the Devil,

Him he rewardit weil : Sumthing frae him the Feynd efhewd. He wont again to bein befpewd,

So ftern he was in Steil: He thocht again he wald debate him. He turnd his Erfe, and all bedret him,

Ein quyte frae Neck to Heil.

VIII.

He lowfit it afFwith fic a Reird;

He dang baith Horfs and Man till Eard,

He fartit with fic Feir. Now half I quit thee, quoth Mahoun, Thir new made Knichts lay baith in Swoun,

And did all Arms menfweir;

The

252 Tournament between^ &c.

The Deil gart them to Dungeon dryve, And them of Knichthude could depryve,

Difcharging them of Weir, And^made them Harlots baith for evir, Quhilk ftill to keip they had far levir

Nor ony Arms to beir.

IX.

I had mair of their Warks written, Had not the Soutar bein befhitten.

With Bel'iah Erfs unblift. But that fae gude a Bourd methocht. Sic Solace to my Heart it brocht.

For Lauchter neir I brifl: : Quherthrow I wakenit frae my Trance, To put this in Rememberance,

Micht no Man me refift; For this faid Jufting it befell, Befoir Mahoun the Air of Hell,

Now trew this gif ze lift.

Here ends the Soutar and the Tailziors TVar, Made be the noble Poet W™. Dunbar.

Follows

253

Follows ane

Amends made to the forefaid Knichts of the Birs and T humble '^ In Cafe his yoke fhould them provok Owr fair to girn and grumble.

I.

11) Etwisht the Twelt Hour and Elevin, I dreamd an Angel came frae Heavin, With Pleafand Stevin fayand on hie, Tailziors and Soutars blift be ze.

II.

High up for zou is ordafnd a Place, Abune all Saints in great Solace, In Happynefs and Dignity, Tailziors and Soutars blift be ze.

III. The

254 Amends to the Tournament.

III.

The Caufe to you is not unkend, Natures Negleft ye do amend. Be Craft and great Agility, Tailziors and Soutars blift be ze.

IV.

Soutars with Schune weil made and meit, Ze mend the Faults of illfard Feit, Quherfore to Heavin zour Sauls will flie, Soutars and Tailziors blift be ze.

V.

Theris not in this Fair a Flyrock, That has upon his Feit a Wyrock, Knoul Taes, or Mouls in nae Degre, But ze can hyde them, blift be ze.

VI.

And Tailziors ze with weil made Clais, Can mend the warft made Man that gaes, And mak him feimly lyk to fee, Tailziors and Soutars blift be ze.

VII. Thocht

Amends to the Tournament. 255

VII.

Thocht ane fuld haif a broken Back, Haif he a Tailzior gude, quhat-rak, Heill cover it richt craftely, Tailziors and Soutars blift be ze.

VIII.

Of all great Kindes may ze claim, The cruke Backs, and the Criple, Lame, Ay howdrand Faults with zour fuplie, Tailziors and Soutars blift be ze.

IX.

In Eard ze kyth fic Ferlys heir. In Heavin ze fall be Saints full cleir, Tho ze be Knaves in this Countrie. Soutars and Tailziors blift be ze.

^od Dunbar.

rhe

256

i.'^.*^^J^.^Jp^3pp^i^$tp$^^

7he Luvers Mane that dares not ajfay.

I.

/^Uhen Flora had owrfrett the Firth, ^^^ In May of ilka Moneth Quene, Quhen Merle and Mavis fings with Mirth,

Sweit Melling in the Schaws fae fchene,

When Luvers all rejofit bene, And maift diiyrous of thair Prey,

I hard a lufty Luver mene, I luve, but I dare not afTay !

II.

Strang ar the Pains I daylie pruve.

But zit with Patience I fuftene, I am fae fettert in the Luve,

Only of my fweit Lady fchene,

Quhilk for her Bewtie micht be Quene, Nature fae craftily alway.

Has done depaint that fweit Serene, Quhom I luve, and dare not aflay.

III. SCHO

The Luvers Mane. 257

III.

ScHO is fae bricht of Hyd and Hew,

I luve but hir allone I wene, Is nane hir Luve that may efchew,

That blenks fae of that dulce Amene ;

Sae comelie cleir ar hir twa Ene, That fcho mae Luvers does efFrey,

Then eir of Greice did fair Helene^ Quhome I luve, and dar not aflay.

^od Stewart.

Ane

258

Am litle Interlude of the Droichs.

I.

"LT Irry, hary, hobbilfchow,

Se ze not quha is cum now, But zit wate I nevir how,

Brocht with the Quhirl-wind j A Sargeand out of Soudoun Land, A Gyane ftrang in Limbs to ftand, That with the Strength of my awin Hand

May Bairs and Bugles bind.

II.

Quha is then cum heir, but I A bauld and bowfteous Bellomy, Amang zou all to cry a Cry

With a maift michty Soun? I generit am of Gyans kynd, Frae hardy Hercules be Strynd, Of all the Occident and Ynd,

My Elders woir the Croun.

III. My

Interlude of the Droichs. 259

III.

My fore Grandfyre heicht Fynmackoully Quha dang the Deil, and gart him zoul, The Skyes raind Fludes quhen he wald ikoul,

He trublit all the Air. He gat my Gudfyre Gog Magogs He, when he daunft, the Warld wald fchog, Then Thoufand Ells zied in his Frog

Of Highland Plaids, and mair.

IV.

Sic was he quhen of tendir Zouth, But aftir he grew mair at Fouth, Elevin Myle wyde mett was his Mouth,

His Teith was ten Myles fquair: He wald upon his Tais upftand. And tak the Starns doun with his Hand, And fet them in a Gold Garland,

Abuve his Wyfes Hair.

V.

His Wyfe fcho mekle was of Clift, Her Heid wan heicher than the Lift, The Hevin reirdit quhen fcho did rift, The Lafs was naithing fldender:

Scho.

26o Interlude of the Droichs.

Scho fpat Loch-lowmond with hir Lips, Thunder and Fyre flew frae hir Hips, Quhen fcho was crabbit, the Sun thold Clips ; The Feynd durft nocht offend hir.

VI.

For Cauld fcho tuke the Fever Tartane, For all the Claith in France and Bartane Wald not be to hir Leg a Gartane,

Thocht fcho was zung and tendir: Upon a Nicht heir in the North, Scho tuke the Gravel, and flaild Craig-gorth^ And pifcht the grit Watter of Forth^

Sic Tyd ran aftirhind hir.

VIL

Ane Thing written of hir I find. In Trland quhen fcho blew behind. On Norway Coifl: fcho raift the Wind,

And grit Schips drownit thair: Then fcho fifcht all the Spainzie Seis, With hir Sark Lap betwix hir Theyis, And thre Days failing tween hir Kneis

It was efteemd and mair.

VIII. The

Interlude of the Droichs. 261

VIII.

The hingan Braes on Adir Syde

Scho powtert with hir Lymms fae wydej

LafTes micht lair at hir to ftryde,

Wald gae to Luvairs lair. Scho markit to the Land with Mirth, Scho quhirrd fyve Quhails into the Firth, Had croppin on hir *Geig for Girth,

Walterand amang the Wair.

IX.

My Fader mekle Gow Macmorne^ Out of his Moders Wame was fchorne. For Littlenes fcho was forlorn,

Sican a Kemp to beir : Or he of Age was Zeirs thre. He wald flap owre the Ocean Se, The Mone fprang neir abune his Knie,

The Heavens had of him Feir.

X. Ane

* A Kind of an old fa/hioned Net ufed now for catching of Spouts.

262 Interlude of the Drotchs,

X.

Ane thoufand Ziers ar paft frae Mynd, Sen I was generit of his Kynd, Far fiirth in Defarts of the Ynd,

Amang Lyon and Beir: Worthy King Arthur and Gawane^ And mony a bauld Bairn of Bartane Ar deid, and in the Wars are flain,

Sen I could weild a Speir.

XI.

The Sophie and the Sowdoun ftrang,

With Battles that haif laftit lang,

Out of thair Bounds has maid me gang.

And turn to Turkie tyte. The King of Francis grit Armie Has brocht a Derth in Lombardie^ That in the Countrie I and he

Can nocht dwell baith perfyte.

XIL

Swadrick, Danmark, and Noraway, Nor in the Steids I dar not gae, For ther is nocht but burn and flae. Cut Thropples and mak quyte.

Trland

Interlude of the Droichs. 263

Trland for ay I half refufit, All wyfe Men will hald me excufit; For neir in Land wher Earfe is ufit, To dwell had I delyt.

XIII.

I haif bene foremoft ay in Feild,

And now fae lang haif born the Scheild,

That I am crynit in for Eild

This litle, as ze may fe: I haif bene banift undir the Lynd This lang Tyme, that nane could me fynd, Quhyle now with this laft Eiftin Wynd,

I am cum heir perdie.

XIV.

My Name is Welth, therfore be blyth, I am cum Comfort zou to kyth, Suppofe ilk Wretch fuld wail and wryth,

All Derth I fall gar die : For certainly the Truth to tell, I cum amang ze now to dwell, Far frae the Sound of Curphour Bell,

To live I neir fall drie.

XV. Now

264 Interlude of the Dro'tchs.

XV.

Now fen I am fic Quantitie Of Gyans cum, as ze may fe, Quhair will be gotten a Wyfe for me,

Of ficlyk Breid and Hicht? In all this Bour is not a Bryde Ane Hour I wate dar me abyde, Zet trow ze ony Heir befyde

Micht fufFer me all Nicht.

XVI.

A DEW a quhyle, for now I gae. But I will not lang byde ze frae, I wifch ze be conferft from Wae,

Baith Maiden, Wyfe and Man: God blefs them and the haly Rude, Gif me a Drink, fe it be gude. And quha trows belt that I do lude,

Skink firft to me the Kan.

FINIS. The Droichs Part of a Play.

Juld

26s

-^ ^t<; -?fc ^t<i ^c ^td ^t«i; ^t<!; ^t«. ^Jfe. ^t<i ^t«: ^jfe ijfe ^t(j. jfe ^fe ^t<i; ^t<i j^

Auld Kyndnefs quite forzet quhen am grows pure,

I.

'"PHis Warld is all but fenziet fair, And as unftable as the Wind,

And Faith is flemit I wat not quhair, Treft Fallowfhip is ill to find, Gude Confciences is all made blind,

And Charity thairs nane to getj Leil Luve and Lawty lys behind.

And auld Kyndnefs is quite forzet.

II. QuHYLE I had ony Thing to fpend.

And ftuffit weil with' Warlds Wrack, Amang my Friends I was weil kendj

Quhen I was proud and had a Pack,

They wad me be the Oxter tak 3 And at the hich Buird I was fet.

But now they let me ftand aback. Sen auld Kyndnefs is quite forzet.

III. Now

266 Auld Kyndnefs quite for%et.

III.

Now I can find but Friends few.

Sen I was prized to be pure, They hald me now but for a Shrew j

Of me they talc but little Cure j

All that I do is but Injure: Thocht I be bair I may not bett,

They let me ftand upon the Flure, Sen auld Kyndnefs is quite forzet.

IV.

Suppose I mein I am nocht mendit,

Sen I held part with Povertie, Away fen that my Pack was fpendit,

Adieu all Liberality.

The Proverb now is trew I fee, ^uha may not give will little get;

Therefore to fay the Verity, Now auld Kyndnefs is quite forzet.

V. They wald me hals with Hude and Hat,

Quhyle I was rich and had enouch. About me Friends enow I gat;

Richt blythly then on me they leuch.

But now they mak it wonder teuch, And lets me ftand before the Zet;

Therfoir this Warld is very freuch. And auld Kyndnefs is quite forzet. VI. As

Auld Kyndnefs quite forzet. 2,67

VI.

As lang as my ain Cap ftude even,

I zied but feindle myne allane, I fquyrit was with Sax or Sevin,

Ay quhyle I gave them twa for ane j

But fuddenly frae that was gane, They pafsd me by with Hands plett,

With puirtith frae I was oertane, Then auld Kyndnefs was quite forzet.

VII.

Into this Warld fuld nae Man trow,

Thou may weil fee the Reafon quhy; For ay but gif thy Hand be fou.

Thou art but little fetten by.

Thou art not tane in Company, Bot ther be fund Fifli in thy Net :

Therfore this falfe Warld I defy, Sen auld Kyndnefs is quite forzet.

VIII.

Sen that nae Kyndnefs kepit is,

Into this Warld that is prefent, Gif thou wald cum to Heavins Blifs,

Thyfelf appleifl: with fober Rent,

Live weil and give with gude Intent, To every Man his proper Debt,

Quhat eir God fend hald thee content. Sen auld Kyndnefs is quite forzet. AD-

268

ADVICE to be Liberal and BlytL

:<><#

#>o:..

I.

T Make it kend, he that will fpend,

And luve God late and Air, He will him mend, and Grace him fend,

Quhyle Catives fhall have Care: But Praife weil pend, fall him comend,

That of his Rowth can fpare ; We knaw the End, that all maun wend

Away nakit and bare. With an O and an I,

And a Wretch fall haif nae mair, But a fchort Sheit at Heid and Feit,

For all his Wrak and Ware.

II. For

Advice to be liberal and blyth. 269

II.

For all the Wrak a Wretch can pack.

And in his Bags embrace, Zit Deid fall tak him be the Back,

And gar him cry Alace ! Then fall he fwak, away with Lak,

And wate not to what Place, Then will they mak, at him a Knack,

That maift of his Geir hes ; With ane O and an I,

Quhyle we haif Tyme and Space, Mak we gude Cheir, quhyle we are heir.

And thankful be for Grace.

III.

Were there a King to rax and ring,

Amang Gude-fallows crownd, Wretches wad wring, and mak Murning,

For Dule they fould be drownd. Quha finds a Dring, or auld or zing,

Gar hoy him out and hound.

Now

270 Advice to be liberal and blyth.

Now let us fing, our Cares to ding,

And mak a gladfome Sound, With an O and ane I :

Now are we further bound. Drink thou to me, and I to thee.

And let the Cap go round.

IV.

QuHA underftude, fuld have his Gude,

Or he were clofd in Clay, Sum in thair Mude they wald ga wid.

And die lang or thair Day; Not worth a Hude, or an auld Snude

Thou fhall bear hence away; Wretch be the Rude, now to conclude.

Full few fall for thee pray. With an O and ane I,

Gude Fallows as langs we may. Be merry and free, fyne blyth let us be.

And fmg on tway and tway.

^od Jo. Blyth. The End of the Jirjl Volume.

271

CONTENTS

OF THE

Firft VOLUME.

— :O^I>^I)-0H)H):-

^~^ H R I s T ' s Kirk on the Grene,

^^ The Th'tjlle and the Rofe^

Panygyrick on Sr Penny,

Virtue and Vyce^

Bytand Ballat on ivarlo Wyvesy

Robin and Makyne,

Advyce to a Man to enjoy his ain,

The Fleming Bark,

Defens of Grifjel SandylandSf

The Battle of Harlaiv,

The Fenziet Frier of Tungland,

Tydings frae the Sejjion,

A generall Satyr e,

Wyfe Sayings, .

The Complaint to his Mijlrefs,

Cupid quareled for Tyranie,

InveSive againfl Mouth-Thanklefs,

The Soutar and Tailziors Flyting,

Ballat to the Scorn of nvanton Women,

The Lament for the Lofs of the Poets,

The Wyfe of Auchtermuchty,

Page

I

15 27

31 51 56 64 67

71 78

9^

98

102 107 108 112

"5 118 123 129

137 The

272

CONTENTS,

Page

The Borrotvjloun Mous, and the Landiuart Mous, . 1 44

Advice to his %oung King^ . . . . .156

On Confciens, . . . . . . .159

On the Creation^ and Paradyce lojl^ , . .161

The Devils Advyce to his Freindsj . . . 171

Ballat on J. Violet ^ A. Quhyt, and J. Reidy . .176

On K. JAMES V. three MiftreJeSy . . .184

The Lyon and MouSy . . . , . .185

The Tod and the Lamb, . . . . .200

On anes being his ain Enemy, . . . .204

Benifit on Ladys that ar Gude Solicit ers, . .206

Another on the fame SubjeB, . . . .209

The Vifton^ 2II

Joch Up-a-lands Complaint, . . . .231

The Garment of a gude Lady, , . . .234

To the Honour of the Ladys, . . . .237

The Daunce in Hell, . . . . . .239

The Tournament between the Soutar and Tailzor, . 247

The Amends made to Birs and Thimble, , . 253

The Lovers Mane that dar not f peak, . . .256

Ane Interlude of the Droichs, . . . .258

Auld Kyndnefs quite for%et, . . . . .265

Advyce to be liberal and blyth, . . . .268

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