Specimens of
Scottish Literature
WITH INTRODUCTION NOTES AND GLOSSARY
BY
W. M. METCALFE, D.D.
Editor of " The Scottish Legends of the Saints" ; Author of "Supplementary Dictionary of the Scottish Language ", &c.
BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED
50 OLD BAILEY LONDON
GLASGOW AND BOMBAY
1913
PR
994294
PREFACE
In this work I have made an attempt to illustrate the character and history of Scottish Literature by a series of specimens taken from each of its three periods.
To procure satisfactory texts has not been always easy. Some of those made use of I have had to revise and edit, and several of them have been taken by permission from the publications of the Scottish Text Society, for which I tender my thanks.
In the Notes and Glossary an effort has been made to make the extracts printed thoroughly intelligible to those who are not acquainted with what Abacuck Bysset, improving upon Gavin Douglas, called his "awin maternal Scottis lan- guige ", but are acquainted with English.
The book appeals more directly to Scotsmen, and many of them I trust will read it. They will find in it many points of interest and an easy means of studying their own national and by no means unbrilliant literature in all the three great stages of its history.
IV
PREFACE
Though not specially prepared for them, I hope that the book will find its way into our higher educational institutions, in which Scottish liter- ature has been, for the most part, neglected. Surely Scottish students should learn to read the older literature of their country with as much ease as they read the writings of Lang- land, Chaucer, and Gower.
CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION - - - .- - - - 9
I. EARLY SCOTS
OUTLINE OF GRAMMATICAL FORMS - - - 14
1. OLD SCOTS LAWS 21
2. JOHN BARBOUR
(a) Andro Wyntown's Extract from The Bruce - 24
(6) The same passage from Ramsay's Transcript - 26
3. SCOTTISH LEGENDS OF THE SAINTS
(a) The Conversion of a King by S. Ninian - - 29
(3) SS. Machor and Devinik 30
(c) The Miracles wrought at the Tomb of S. Machoi 32
4. RECORDS OF THE BURGH OF ABERDEEN - - 34
5. THE CRAFT OF DEYING - - - - -35
6. ACTS OF THE PARLIAMENT OF SCOTLAND
(a) The Payment of Taxes 37
(b) The Destruction of Wolves .... 38
II. MIDDLE SCOTS
OUTLINE OF GRAMMATICAL FORMS 39 i. ROBERT HENRYSON
(a) The Cock and the Jewel 42
(6) The Trial of the Fox 46
(c) The Abbay Walk 48
vi CONTENTS
Page
2. WILLIAM DUNBAR
(a) The Ballad of Kynd Kittok - - - 51
(b) Ane Ballat of Our Lady • - - 53
(c) No Tressour availis without Glaidness - - 55
(d) Of the Changes of Lyfe .... 57
3. GAVIN DOUGLAS
The Prolong of the First Book of Eneados - - 59
4. MURDOCH NISBET
(a) Parable of the Prodigal Son - - 62
(b) The True Vine 64
5. BURGH RECORDS OF ABERDEEN
(a) The Procession on Candlemas Day - - 65
(b) Corpus Christi 66
6. HECTOR BOECE
(a) The White Bulls - - - - - - 68
(b} Our Eldaris 70
7. JOHN BELLENDEN
How Horace Codes defended the Brig of Tiber - 72
8. THE COMPLAYNT OF SCOTLANDE
(a) From the Prolog to the Redar - - 75
(b) The Fyrst Cheptovr - - 76
9. SIR DAVID LYNDSAY
(a) Complaynt of the Commounweill of Scotland - 78
(b) The Blak Viritie - - - - - - 81
10. HAMILTON'S CATECHISM
(a) The First Command .... 82
(b) The Third Command - - - - - 83
11. JOHN KNOX
St. Giles' Day (1558) x 85
12. LINDSAY OF PITSCOTTIE
Ane Mirakill Sen 88
13. ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE
The Night is neir Gone 90
14. BURGH RECORDS OF EDINBURGH
(a) Silver Wark ... - - - 92
(b) Wobsteris, the Kirk of S. Giles - - - 93
(c) The Sabboth Day - - - 94
(d) Proclamatio, trublance in the Kirk 95
CONTENTS vii III. MODERN SCOTS
Page
OUTLINE OF GRAMMATICAL FORMS - - - 97
1. TAK YOUR AULD CLOAK ABOUT YE - - 98
2. JAMES MELVILL
Flight by Sea 101
3. ROBERT BAILLIE
(a) The General Assembly at Glasgow (1638) 105
(b) The Accusation of Lord Strafford - - - 107
4. GlLDEROY - - - - ' - - - - IO9
5. JOHN SPALDING
The Execution of Strafford 113
6. FAIR HELEN OF KIRKCONNEL - - - - 116
7. THERE'S NAE LUCK ABOUT THE HOUSE - - 117
8. ALLAN RAMSAY
(a) Katy's Answer 1 20
(6) Up in the Air , . . . 121
(<:) Patie's Song 122
9. RARE WILLIE DROWNED IN YARROW - - - 124
10. ROBERT BURNS
(a) The Twa Dogs 125
(6) The Cotter's Saturday Night - - - - 126
(c) John Anderson my Jo - - - - - 130
(d) Bessy and her Spinnin Wheel - - -131 (<?) Bannock burn 132
11. WILLIAM MOTHERWELL
Jeanie Morrison 133
NOTES 137
GLOSSARY - - - - - - - - 189
INDEX OF PROPER NAMES 225
SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
1. Scots, or the language of the Lowlands of Scotland, has for its basis a Low German dialect, originally spoken by the Angles, whose home was in the south-east of the peninsula of Jutland, a district which is still known as Angeln.
2. The Angles began to arrive in Britain to- wards the middle of the sixth century. In 547 they founded the kingdom of Bernicia, which extended from the Tyne to the Forth; and in 559 that of Deira, occupying the district between the Humber and the Tyne. The two kingdoms were subsequently united, and formed the king- dom of Northumbria, which for a time was the most flourishing and advancing state in Britain.
3. When the Angles arrived the language spoken in Scotland was the Celtic — the Goidelic
io SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
or Gaelic dialect to the north of the Grampians, and the Brythonic or Welsh in the Lowlands. Perhaps in some parts of the country the Pictish and Iberian languages were in use.
4. It was from Northumbria, and especially from the province of Bernicia, that the Old Anglian dialect, which afterwards developed into the northern English dialect and subsequently into Scots, was spread.
5. After severely defeating the Welsh-speaking Celts at the battle of Chester in 613, the Nor- thumbrians pressed northward, till the Forth and the Bridge of Stirling came to be regarded as their northern boundary. At a somewhat later period they spread along the eastern coast as far north as the Moray Firth. The district to the south of the Bridge of Stirling was, as early as the eighth century, named by a Pictish Chronicler "Saxonia". In 1091 the Anglo- Saxon Chronicler calls it Engla-lande, i.e. Eng- land; and England it continued to be called by the kings of Scotland as late as the time of William the Lion (1165-1214), notwithstanding that, as far back as the year 1018, Malcolm, King of Scots, had so completely defeated Eadulf, Earl of Northumbria, at Carham, as to compel him to cede the whole of the country he had hitherto ruled from the Forth to the Tweed,
INTRODUCTION 11
which subsequently became the political boundary between Scotland and England.
6. The literature of the Old Anglian speech was almost completely destroyed by the Danes when they burnt the monasteries and religious houses of Northumbria. The specimens of it that remain are few. The most important among them is the Dream of the Holy Rood, inscribed on the Ruthwell cross in Dumfriesshire, and belonging probably to the tenth century, though the date of the cross itself may be somewhat earlier. Other specimens are interlinear trans- lations or glosses of Latin ecclesiastical works, especially those known as the Lindisfarne and Rushworth Gospels. A charter written at Dur- ham affords an example of the language as written in the year noo. A number of native words occur in the texts of charters granted by Duncan II and his two successors, David I and Malcolm IV; also in the Leges Quatuor Burgorum.
7. Of the history of the Old Anglian dialect during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries nothing is known. There is nothing to show what influence the Danes and Norsemen had upon it, and no continuous data showing the transition of the Anglian into the Northern English dialect. A comparison, however, of
12 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
the Dream of the Holy Rood with an almost contemporary West Saxon paraphrase of it shows that the orthographical and grammatical differences which afterwards distinguished the Northern from the Southern English dialect had already begun to appear; such, e.g., as the use of a for the Southern 0, as in walde, wold ; wad, would; and the dropping of the final n from the inflections of nouns and verbs.
8. From the beginning of the fourteenth cen- tury there is abundant material for a history of the Scottish language and of Scottish literature. This material is divided into three parts or periods, named the Early, Middle, and Modern. Roughly speaking, the Early extends from the first quarter of the fourteenth century to the third or fourth quarter of the fifteenth ; the Second or Middle period extends from the close of the First to the time of the Union of the Crowns; and the Third or Modern from the Union to the present. There is a period of transition between the Early and Middle, and another between the Middle and Modern.
9. The language of the First period is known as Early Scots. It is the direct descendant of the Old Anglian speech, and in its first phase is identical with the Northern English dialect, which at the time — c. 1320 to c. 1475 — was
INTRODUCTION 13
spoken from the valley of the Trent to the Forth and Clyde, and along the East Coast as far north as the Moray Firth. Richard Hampole, who lived and wrote at Doncaster, in the south of Yorkshire, used, with but slight local differ- ences, the same language as his contemporary John Barbour, the author of The Bruce, who lived in Aberdeen.
I. EARLY SCOTS
Outline of Grammatical Forms
SUBSTANTIVES
1. Plurals are generally formed with the suffix -w, -ys, as armis, arms ; fais, foes ; stanys, stones.
2. Some are formed with the suffix -n, -en, as eghen, een, eene, eyes; hosen, hose; oxen (oxin, oxyn), oxen; shoon, shoes; others with the suffix -er, as childer, brethgr, children, brethren.
3. In some the plural is formed by changing the vowel, as hend, hands; men\ fete\ geis, geese; tetht, teeth; ky, cows; brether, brothers.
4. Some are the same in plural as in singular, as noivt> scheip, deer, gait, greyce, swine.
5. The genitive is formed with the suffix -is, -ys, -es, as Godis fa, God's foe ; manis blame, man's blame ; kinges son, king's son.
6. Father, moder, brother, daughter, childer are often found without the genitive sign.
ADJECTIVES
1. There is no genitive ending in the singular. In alkin (alkyri), nakin, sumkin, quhatkyn (all kind of, no kind of, &c.), the -kyn belonged to the following noun and not to the adjective.
2. The genitive plural suffix -re or -er occurs only in alre, aller, aJther, gen. plu. of aJ, all.
3. The comparative degree is formed by adding -ar, -are,
14
EARLY SCOTS
-er, and the superlative by adding -ast, -aste, -est to the positive. 4. The following are irregular comparisons : —
Positive. gude,
ill,
evil,
bad,
litil,
mekil,
mony,
tMVj
'il, \ ld,J
Comp. betyr,
war, ware,
les, lese, less, mare, mayr, ma,
Superl. best.
warst.
least, mast, mast.
PRONOUNS PERSONAL PRONOUNS
Singular. Norn. I, Ic, Gen. myn, Ace. me,
Nom. thu, thou, thow, Gen. thi, thy, Ace. the, thee,
Plural. we.
our, oure. us.
ye, yhe.
yore, youre, yowre.
you, yow.
Masc. Nom. he, Gen. his, hys, Ace. hym, hyme,
Singular
Fern.
sco, scho, sche, hir, hire, hyre, hir, hire, hyre,
Neut. hyt, it, ite. his, hys. hyt, it, ite.
Plural
Masc., Fern., Neut. Nom. tha, thai, thay.
Gen. thair, thar, thare, thayire, thars, ther. Ace. tham, thaim, thamme, thaym.
16 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS
Self, selfine, seJvyn or set-wine, is added to the personal pronoun; as, e.g., hymself, hymselvyn, hyrselwine, thame- selfine.
Self when used as a demonstrative = same, very.
ADJECTIVE PRONOUNS
Myne, thine, his, hise, ouris, ourys, youirs, thairs. DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS
A, ane (indefinite article); the (definite article); this, this; plural thir, these; tha, those; the tane ...the tothir, the one . . . the other.
INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS Nom., quha\ Gen., quhase\ Ace., quhame\ Neut,, quhat.
RELATIVE PRONOUNS At, that, quha, qtihase, quham, quhome, quhilk.
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
Sum, some, certain ; ocht, aught ; quhasa, whoso ; quhasa- euir, whosoever ; othir, other ; ilk, iJke, ilkane, each, every.
VERBS
i. In weak verbs the past tense and past participle are formed by adding -it, -yt, to the stem, as grewe, greivit;
knok, knokyt.
INDICATIVE MOOD
Present tense. Past tense.
Sing. Phi. Sing. Plu.
(i) luffe, luffes (-is). luffit (-yt), luffit (-yt).
(2)luffis, luffes. luffit, luffit.
(3)luffis, luffes. luffit, luffit.
IMPERATIVE MOOD— Sing., luffe; Plu., luffis. INFINITIVE MOOD— luff, luffe.
(0511)
,
EARLY SCOTS 17
PRESENT PARTICIPLE— luffand (-e). PAST PARTICIPLE— luffit, luffyt. GERUNDIVE — luffing (-e).
2. In strong or irregular verbs the past tense is formed by strengthening or modifying the stem vowel, as begyne, becuth, begud\ bring, brocht\ crepe, crape ; spek, spak.
3. The past participle in strong verbs is usually formed by adding -en, -ene, -in, -ine, -yn, -yne, as thring, thrang, thrungine\ spek, spak, spoken] strik, strak, strikin\ stryf, strafe, striwyn. The suffix is sometimes omitted, as in clym, clam, clum (for clumberi)', fynd, fand, fund (for funden) ; ryng, rang, rung (for rungeri).
INDICATIVE MOOD
Present. Past.
Sing. Plu. Sing. Plu.
(1) chese, cheses. chosit (-yt), chosit (-yt).
(2) chesis, cheses. chosit, chosit.
(3) chesis, cheses. chosit, chosit.
IMPERATIVE MOOD— Sing. , ches; Plu., chesis. INFINITIVE MOOD — ches, chese. PRESENT PARTICIPLE — chesand (-e). PAST PARTICIPLE — chosine. GERUND— chesing (-e).
For other past tenses of strong or irregular verbs, see the Glossary and Notes.
ADVERBS
Many adverbs are formed from nouns and adjectives. The terminations are -ly, as tvarJdly\ desaly, dizzily; -lingis, as flailingis, flat.
Other adverbial forms are hethen, hence; quethen, whence ; thethen, thence ; hine, hence ; thine, thence ; hine- furth, henceforward.
( c 511 ) 2
i8 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Scots also employs -gat or -gate (way) as a suffix; as al-gate, always; how-gate -, how so; thus-gate, this way; swa-gate or swa-gat, such wise.
Peculiar to Scots are in-unth, within ; ut-with, outwith ; forwit, before.
Comparisons. — Adverbs are compared by adding the suffixes -ar, -are for the comparative and -ast, -aste for the superlative, and sometimes -er, -ere for the comparative and -est, -este for the superlative; as pos., doughtely, comp., doughteliar (-e) ; superl., doughteliast (-e); pos., fer\ comp., ferrer\ superl., ferrest (-e).
PREPOSITIONS
Among others are the following : —
abeofe, abeoufe, abeove, abovin, abuje, above.
abeone, upon.
abute, about.
againSy aganis> against.
amang, emang, among.
apony apone, upon, against.
at, at, of, on, with.
atour, atowre, above, beyond.
be, by, before, near.
beforn, before.
beneuth, beneath.
besyd, beside.
betuix, betwyne, between.
beuth, outside.
beyond, beyond.
bot, save, except, without.
but, without.
by, near, from.
eftir, after, according to.
endlang, along, beside.
EARLY SCOTS 19
foreowt, 1
forout, [-without, besides.
foroutyne, } foroiv, before.
forowtyne, without, besides. fra, from.
in, against, into, on, through, under
in-till, in, into, during.
in-to, in, into, upon, under, against.
in-ivith, within.
maugre, in spite of, against.
ner, near.
neuth, beneath.
of, from, in, off, out of.
off, of.
on, in.
one, on, by, out of.
one-till, unto.
one-to, unto.
on-till, until.
our, over, above.
out, out.
outane, except, besides, save.
outhouth, without, outside.
out-our, across, beyond.
thereowte, without.
threw, throuch, throw, thru, through, by means of.
til, tyl, to, till.
to, till.
toivart, towards.
up, up.
with, with, by means of.
20 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
CONJUNCTIONS
alsa, alswa, also.
alsat, a/set, although.
ahone, also.
and, if.
at, that.
athyr, either.
bot, but, unless.
fore-thi, fore-thy, therefore.
for-that, because.
forut, without.
for-why, because.
fra, since.
na, nor, neither.
na, lest, had not, but that.
na var, ne war, had it not been for, but for that,
except that.
ne...na... neither ... nor ... neuir-the-les, notwithstanding. no, nor.
nocht-than, nevertheless. nocht-the-les, nevertheless. noder ...na ... neither ... nor ... nor, than. nouthir, neither. or, rather than. or, ore, or. othir, rather. quhill, until. sa, if. sen, since.
set, though, although. suppos, although. than, except that.
EARLY SCOTS 21
tharfor, on that account.
then, than.
warn, warne, war net unless.
INTERJECTIONS A, Ah ! allace, alas ! O \ Oh ! Okonf
SIGNS
The signs p, p, 5, ft , often used in printing Old Scots texts, are here for the convenience of the reader represented by roman type, p, p = th ; % = y, gh ; ft = s, ss. The letters u, vt w are used interchangeably ; so are the letters v and /; yc when printing Scots is often put for pe = the.
i. Old Scots Laws
[These are taken from the first volume of the Acts of the Parliament of Scotland. The Latin originals belong to the reigns of David I, William the Lion, &c., but the vernacular translations belong to the end of the fourteenth and the beginning of the fifteenth century.]
Of Bludewytis
The blude of the hede of ane erl or of a kinges son is ix ky. Item, the blud of the sone of ane erl is vi ky or of a thayn. Item, the blude of the sone of a thayne is iii ky. Item, the blud of the nevo of a thayn is twa ky and twa pert a kow. Item, the blud of a carl is a kow. — Leges inter Scottos et Brettos.
22 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Of the Statut of Thift
Gift ony be tane with the laff of a halpenny in burgh, he aw throu the toun to be dungyn.
10 And for a halpenny worth to iiij penijs worth he aw to be mar sayrly dungyn. And for a payr of schone of iiij penijs he aw to be put on the cuk stull, and efter that led to the hed of the toune, and thar he sail forsuer the toune. And
isfra iiij penijs til viij penijs and a ferthing he sal be put upon the cuk stull, and efter that led to the hed of the toune and ther he at tuk hym aw to cut his eyr of. And fra viij penijs and a ferthing to xvj penijs and a obolus he sail be
20 set apon the cukstull and efter that led to the hed of the toune, and ther he at tuk hym aw to cut his vther ear of. And efter that, gif he be tane with viij penijs and a ferding, he that takis hym sail hing hym. Item for xxxij penijs
25 j obolus, he that takis a man may hing him. — Fragmenta Vetusta, i. 364.
Of burges at has had syndry wiffis
Tha landis at war gottyn in the tyme of the fyrst wyffe sail turn agayne to the childer ayris of the first wyffe. — Leges Quatuor Burgorum, 30 xxiv.
EARLY SCOTS 23
Of burrowgreffis bakande or brewande
Nane aldirman, bailye, na beddell sail bake brede na brew ale to sell wythin thar awin propir house durande the tym that thai stande in office. — Ibid., lix.
Of bondis that ar fundyn in fayris
Gif ony man fyndis his bonde in the fayre, 35 the quhilk is fra hym fled, quhil the pece of the fayre is lestande, he may nocht of lauch chace na tak hym. — Ibid., Ixxxviii.
Of hym that is challangyt of art and part of thy ft
Gif a leil man passis thruch a wildernesse or thruch woddis and seis a man that he weil4o knawis leddand a hors or an ox, or suilk othir maner of gudis, and he knawis nocht quha that it aucht, and syn it be sperit at hym be ony man that the said gudis hes tynt, gif he wyst ocht of suilk maner of gudis, and gif he sayis45 that he saw sic a thyng in the hand of sic a man, he aw to suer that sa it is, as he sais, and syn the tothir sal seik to his gudis. And gif forsuth he that challangis the gudis sais wytterly that he hes art and part of tha gudis takyng, so and that he wald pruff eftir the assyse of the
24 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
land, that he that sa is challangyt, gif he be fre man and worth i to fecht wyth his awyn hand he sal defend hym thruch bataile. — Assise 55 Regis Davidis, xx.
2. John Barbour
[According to some John Barbour was born in 1318, but according to others in 1330. He was Archdeacon of Aberdeen in 1357, and died about the year 1395. Many works have been ascribed to him. His greatest, The Bruce ', was partly written, as he tells us himself, in 1375. It extends to over 13,000 lines, and describes the life and adventures of King Robert I and his companions. Two versions are here given of one and the same passage. The first is taken from Andro of Wyntown's Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland, 1419-30, preserved in the Royal MS. of date 1430-40. The second is taken from John Ramsay's tran- script of Barbour in 1489. The principal differences in the orthography of the two periods are shown by the italics. The Bruce has been often printed. The best edition is Pro- fessor Skeat's.]
(a) Andro of Wyntown's Extracts from Barbour" s
Bruce in the Cronykil
(c. 1430)
Qwhen Alysandyre oure kyng wes dede, That Scotland had to stere and lede The land, sex yhere and mayr perfay, Wes desolate eftyr his day. 5 The barnage off Scotland, at the last, Assemlyd thame and fandyt fast
EARLY SCOTS 25
To chess a kyng thare land to stere,
That off awncestry cummyn were
Off kyngis that aucht that reawte*,
And mast had rycht thare kyng to be. to
Bot inwy that is fellowne
Amang thame mad dissensiown.
A ! blynd folk, fulle of all foly,
Had yhe wmbethowcht yowe inkyrly
Quhat peryle to yowe mycht appere, 15
Yhe had noucht wroucht on this manere.
Had yhe tane kepe how that that kyng
Off Walys, for-owtyn sudiowrnyng,
Trawalyd to wyn the senhowry,
And throw his mycht till occupy 3o
Landys, that ware till hym merchand,
As Walys wes and als I Hand,
That he put till sic threllage,
That thai that ware off hey parage
Suld ryn on fwte als rybalddale, 25
Quhen ony folk he wald assale
Durst nane off Walis in batale ryd.
Na yhit fra evyn fell, abyde
Castell or wallyd towne wyth-in,
Than he suld lyff and lymmis tyne 30
In till swylk thryllage thame held he
That he oure-come wyth his powste',
Yhe mycht se, he suld occupy
26 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Throwch slycht, that he na mycht throw maystri.
35 Had yhe tane kepe quhat was threllage, And had consydryd his oysage, That grypyd ay, but gayne-gy vyng, Yhe suld, for-owtyn his demying, Hawe chosyn yhowe a kyng that mycht
40 Hawe haldyn welle yhowre land at rycht. Walis ensawmpill mycht hawe bene To yhow, had yhe it before sene. Quha will be othir hym-selff chasty Wyss men sayis, he is happy,
45 And perylowss thyngis may fall perfay, Als well to-morne as yhystyr-day, Bot yhe trastyd in lawte As sympil folk but mawvite, And wyst noucht quhat suld efftyr tyde :
So For in this warld, that is sa wyd, Is nane determyne may, na sail Knaw thyngis that ar for to fall ; For God, that is off mast powste Resserwys that till Hys Maieste.
(b) The same passage from John Ramsay's transcription of The Bruce, towards the close of the century (1489).
55 Quhen Alexander the king wes deid, That Scotland haid to steyr and leid
.
EARLY SCOTS 27
The land vi yer, and mayr perfay,
Lay desolat eftyr hys day ;
Till that the barnage at the last
Assembly t thaim, and fayndyt fast 60
To cheyss a king thar land to ster,
That off awncestry cum my n wer
Off kingis that aucht that reawte
And mayst had rycht thair king to be.
Bot enwy, that is sa feloune, 65
Maid amang thaim gret discencioun.
A! blynd folk full off all foly!
Haid ye wmbethocht yow enkrely,
Quhat perell to yow mycht apper,
Ye had nocht wrocht on that maner : 70
Haid ye tane keip how at that king
Alwayis, for-owtyn soiournyng,
Trawayllyt for to wyn senyhory,
And throw his mycht till occupy
Landis, that war till him marcheand 75
As Walis was, and als Ireland;
That he put to swylk thrillage,
That thai that war off hey parage
Suld ryn on fute, as rebaldaill,
Quhen he wald our folk assaill. 80
Durst nane of Walis in bataill ride.
Na yhet, fra ewyn fell, abyd
Castell or wallyt toune with-in,
38 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
That he ne suld lyff and lymmys tyne. 85 In-to swilk thrillage thaim held he,
That he ourcome throw his powste.
Ye mycht se he suld occupy
Throw slycht, that he ne mycht throw maistri.
Had ye tane kep quhat was thrillag, 90 And had consideryt his vsage,
That gryppit ay, but gayne-gevyng,
Ye suld, for-owtyn his demyng,
Ifaiffchosyn yow a king that mycht
Have haldyn veyle the land in rycht, 95 Walys ensample mycht have bene
To yow, had ye it forow sene.
That be othir will him chasty,
And wyss men sayis he is happy,
For wnfayr thingis may fall perfay, ioo Alss voeitt to-morn as yhisterday.
Bot ye traistyt in lawte,
As sympile folk, but mawyte ;
And wyst nocht quhat suld eftir tyd.
For in this warld, that is sa wyde, 105 Is nane determynat that sail
Knaw thingis that ar to fall ;
But God that is off maist poweste,
Reserwyt till His Maieste,
For to knaw, in His prescience, «o Off alkyn tyme the mowence.
EARLY SCOTS 29
3. Legends of the Saints
[The Legends of the Saints in the Scottish Dialect were written by an unknown hand, or more likely by unknown hands, about the year 1375, and occur in a single MS. in the University Library at Cambridge, belonging to about the middle of the fifteenth century. The Legends were edited by Dr. Horstmann, and again by the Rev. Dr. Metcalfe, for the Scottish Text Society. The following passages are from the only two Legends of Scottish Saints which the series contains, and which were edited sepa- rately.]
(a) The Conversion of a King by S. Ninian
In that cunctre duelt thare thane
A King that wes a fellone man
And contrare to S. Niniane preching,
And for his lare wald do na thing,
Bot erare contrare wes hyme to, 5
For ocht that he cuth sa ore do ;
And mare cruel worde he sene,
Thane befortyme he had bene,
That God in his hede sic seknes sende,
That til de richt sone he wend. 10
And with that he tynt the sicht
Of the day, ware it neuir sa lycht.
Thane tyd in his hart [the] thocht, he
Thareof na way wariste mycht be,
Bot it ware throu hym that he ay 15
Schupe hyme of pryd to verray.
30 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Thane askit he hyme fore Godis sake, Tho he til hyme il cause can make, Til rew one hyme and pardone gyfe,
20 For he disparit wes to life.
Thane he, that mercyful wes ay, As he the messagis this herd say, Come one sone mekilly Quhare this catife king can ly,
25 And hely sad: " God be here-in, That is distrowre of al syne.'* Thane went he to the sek but bad, And on his hede and his ene mad The takine of the Croice werray ;
3o And the seke thane but delay
Als gud heile [gat] of hede and ene, As he neuire sek had bene ; And fore he sa his hele wane, Lofand God, become gud mane.
(b) SS. Machor and Devinik
35 Thane duelt a mane nere by, Relygiouse and rycht haly, That to name had Dewynik, That Godis yok bare on his nek, And to Sancte Machor come a day,
4o And til hyme this he can say :
" Gud Ser, behald, and thu may se Hou fele folk in this cunctre
EARLY SCOTS 31
Are yet habandonyt mony wise
To mak till mawmentis seruice
And thus have ner-hand nan to schav 45
Goddis word, or ger men knaw
The nerrest get till hewynis blis.
For-thi, master, my consall is,
That thu in this cunctre duell still,
Goddis wangel for to preche till 50
Thir Pechtis at are lath to trew ;
And I with Goddis helpe will now
To thame of Catness but mare gang,
That Cristine treutht is myskennand lang,
Amang thaim Goddis vord to schaw, 55
To ger thaim God parfitly knaw."
Sanct Machor sad: " That quhethir na we
Sal ilkane vthire eftire se."
And he sad: " Yhis, yeit forow Criste
Ve sal eft met in His bewiste, 60
And bruk vith hym ay-lestand bliss.
Bot, Dere Fadir, I pray the this,
For ded nerhand abidis me
To tak, fra I be gane fra the,
That thu wald, eftyr I be dede, 6S
Ger bring my body to this stede,
And ger it grawine be, quhar I
Had mad my duelling ithandly."
And he heicht hym he suld do swa.
Atheris thar lewe with that can ta, 70
32 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
And Dewenik can to Catnes pass, To folk that than wntreuthtful was, And sped sa weile in schort tym thare, That thaim parfit in Godis lare
75 He mad. Bot yet than Sanct Machor Furth preichit as he did befor The Pyctis, and swa sped that he Gert mast part of thaim cristnit be ; And namely he gert master men
so Trew, that wntreuthfull war to than, Bath thru the lare he can thaim lere And thru schauyng of menvalis sere ; And thar templis distroyt wyd-quhare, And ydolis that in-to thaim ware.
85 And thus-gat lang tym trawalyt he Of Goddis corne wynnare to be.
(c) The Miracles wrought at the Tomb of S. Machor
Thar is wrocht euire ilka day Sa gret wondir, that I ne tell may, Of Sanct Morise throw the prayere,
90 To folk bundine with seknes sere, That I dar nocht record all now; For some perchaunce suld me mistrew. For deiff men thar gettis heryng, And blynd men als parfyt seyng,
95 And halt men als thar gettis bute,
EARLY SCOTS 33
That sekness has in schank or fut,
And dume men als thar gettis speke,
That mekly will Sanct Morise sek,
And full feile men of parlesy
Gettis thar heile thar parfytly. 100
And sume throu ydropesy sa gret
Swolne that thai ma etc no mete,
Ar mad swampe thar, throu the prayer
Of Sanct Morise, haile and fere.
And sume that brawne-wod of ther wit I05
War mad and wterly tynt it,
And helpe has socht at Sanct Morise
Recouerit wit and war mad wise.
And sume that payne had of the stane
Or seknes in-to flesch or bane no
Or quhatkine vthir infirmyte
That man or woman had, gyf he
Or scho Sanct Morise socht increly,
At hyme thair heile thai gat in hy,
Throw mycht of Giffar of all grace II5
To quhome he ay trew seruand was.
(0511)
34 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
4. Records of the Burgh of Aberdeen
[The following pieces are taken from the Records of the Burgh of Aberdeen, two volumes of extracts from which were edited in 1844 by the antiquary Dr. John Stuart for the Spalding Club.]
like man sal stand gaird,
1412. Item, it is ordenit, with [the] hale con- sent of the comonateis, that ilke man duelland in the burgh, of wateuer state or conditioun that he be of, sal stand gaird, and with the saldirman and the baillies of the tovn and for to kepe the comone profite of the tovne and the fredomys of it, and to suppouale and maintene the officeris of the tovne in thair office doand, and thair nychtbouris als fra schaith and sus-
10 price, under the payne of banysing and tyttyn doune of his huss; and gif he has na huss, under the payne of banysing and the guds eschete.
Als at thai ryss to the ryngyng of the comoun bell, and to biddyng of the officeris of the tovne ;
15 and giff ony soudane affray comys, that thai be redy under the said payne; and gif ony keip or persayvis ony schath aperand to the tovne, or ony at duells in it, that thai mak warnyng vnder the said payne.
20 Als that nane haff lord na lordschip othir na
EARLY SCOTS 35
the king, the Duke, the Erll of Marr, hot his aldirman and his baillies, under the said payne.
Als, qwatsumeuer has nocht his wapynnis redy, and beris thaim nocht sal tyne viiis, with- oute remissioun, and prisone quill that viiis be 25 payit.
Als, that nane reset or herbry ony outdwelland men, in thair hussis, bot qwhame at thai will stand for, or ellis warn the officiaris als fast of thair cummyn, vnder payne of lyffe and tynsaleao of gudis.
5. The Craft of Deying
[The Craft of Deying is a rare example of Old Scots prose. It is a short tract, and is found along with other pieces in a MS. belonging to the University of Cambridge. In 1870 it was published for the Early English Text Society by the Rev. J. Rawson Lumby. The date of the MS. is about the middle of the fifteenth century. The tract itself is older.]
Efter the dear be informyt of thir temptacions, at will be put to hyme, he suld be demandyt, Fyrst, gyf he be blycht at he deis in the faith of Crist and of haly kirk, and syne gyf he grantis at he has nocht leuit rycht wysly as he audits to do, and gyf he forthinkis his mysdedis, and gif he has wyll to mend thaim at his poware. Syne suld he ask at hym, gif he trowis that
36 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Crist, Godis Sonn Our Lord, deit for hym and
10 al synaris; and gif he thankes hyme tharof with al his hart. And gyf he trowis ony other ways than be the faith of Hym and ded to be sauf. Than byd hyme be stark and sykir in that faith, and have hop of nan vthir thinge for tempta-
iscioune of the deuill; and gif thi synis be laid befor the by the angell gud or ill, say than: "The passioune of Crist I put betuex me and my synis and betuex me and the eternall ded, the ded of Crist." And alsua he suld be examynit in the
aoarteclis of the treuth, that is to say, gyf he trowis in the Father, and in the Sone, and the Haly Gaist, and ane anerly God, Makar of hevyne and erde; and in our Lord Ihesu Crist, anerly sone to God by natur, at our Lady Mary euer-
25 vyrgne consauit by the werkis of the Haly Gaist, but seid of man ; the quhilk tholit ded one the corss for ws synaris, and was grawyne and dis- cendyt to hell, to radem our eldaris at had hope of His cumyne. The quhilk raiss one the third
3o day fra ded to lyf, one his awne mycht, and assendyt to hevyne and sytis on His Faderis rycht hand, and fra thyne, in the samyne wyss as he passyt, is to cum agan one domys day to lug all mankynd. Als he suld trow in the Haly Gaist
35 and in the bydingis of haly kirk and the sacra- mentis therof. He suld trow alsua in the resur-
EARLY SCOTS 37
rectioune of al men, that is to say, at the sam body and saull, as now is, sal met to-gyddyr and tholl perpetuall ioy or payne. He suld not anerly trow in thir xii arteclis, bot als in the 4° Haly Wryt and haf his hart rady to do thar-to, as his curat chargis hyme ; and he sal forsak al heresyss ande wichcraftis forbydin be Haly Kirk.
6. Acts of the Parliament of Scotland
(a) Of the Payment of Taxes
Alsua it is seyn speidfull, that all taxatouris the tyme of thar extent, warne all maner of man that all thair gudis that ar taxit, bathe of bestis, corn, and vthir gudis, within xv dais nixt eftir following the taxt, the payment be redy in siluers and golde as is befor writyne. And gif at the ende of the saide xv dais, the payment be nocht redy, the officiaris of ilk schyrefdome sail tak of ilk man that warnys payment a kow for vs.; a yowe or a wedder for xiid.; a gait, a gimmerio or a dynmont for viijd. ; a wilde meire and hir folowar for xs. ; a colt of thre yere and mare of eild xiijs. iijd. ; a boll of quhet, xijd. ; a boll of ry, bere, or peis, viijd.; a boll of aitis, iijd. And gif the schiref takis thar gudis, he sail ger 15 the lorde of the land, gif he may be gottin, pay the taxt to the King and deliuer the gudis till
38 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
him. And gif he will nocht, the schiref sail ger sell the gudis at the nixt mercat day or sende 2othame to the King on the kingis costis quhar the king or his deputis ordanys. — James /, 1424.
(b) Of the Destruction of Wolves
Item, it is ordanyt for the distruccione of wolfis that in ilk cuntre quhar ony is, the schiref or the bailyeis of that cuntre sail gader the
25 cuntre folk thre tymis in the yere betuix Sanct Markis day and Lammes, for that is the tyme of the quhelpis. And quhat euer he be that rysis nocht with the schiref or the bailye or barone, within himself he sail pay vnforgeuin a wedder
30 as is contenyt in the aulde Act maid therapone. And he that slays ane wolf than or ony vther tyme he sail haif of ilk houshalder of that parochin that the wolf is slayne within, jd. And gif it happynnis ony wolf to cum in the cuntre
35 that witting is gottyne therof, the cuntre salbe redy and ilk houshalder to hvnt thame vnder the payne forsaide. And he that slays ane wolf sail bring the hede to the schiref, bailye or barone, and he salbe dettour to the slaar for the sovme
4° forsaide. And quha ever he be that slays a fox and bringis the hede to the schiref, lorde, barone, or bailye, he sail haif vjd.— ; fames II,
II. MIDDLE SCOTS
c. 1475-^. 1600
Outline of Grammatical Forms
Middle Scots is the name given to the language of Scot- land as spoken and written from the close of the Early Scots period down to about the time of the Union of the Crowns of England and Scotland.
During this period many changes took place in the language, and changes which had already begun to appear during the earlier period became more pronounced.
The principal orthographical changes were : —
1. The addition to the long vowels, a, e, i, o, u, of
i or y, as in airt, art; blaid, blade; bluid, blude; boir, bore ; buik, buke ; dairt, dart ; fyir, fire ; hoip, hope ; w eill, well ; -weit, wet.
2. The addition of u or w to a or d, as in auld,
bawd, baivld, cawld, ivauld, ivaurldly for Early Scots aid, bad, bald, cald, wald, warldly.
3. The change of i and y into u and vice versa, as
thus, thws, for this, thys ; thrist, thrust.
4. Change of t into d, as in dude, do it ; for^d, for
it ; albeid, albeit.
5. Frequent intrusion of /, chiefly after d and <?, but
not sounded, as in palpis, paps ; altar, author ; •waltir, water ; chalmir, chamber ; awolk, awoke ; walx, wax ; rolkis, rocks ; also after u, as in poulder, powder. On the other hand, / is some- times transformed or elided, as in scauide, scald ;
40 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
faut, fault ; row, roll ; rowand, rolling ; hou, hol- low; bowtit, bolted.
6. The s of Early Scots often becomes sch, as in
schir, sir ; schemit, seemed. Followed by a con- sonant, s and sh sometimes change into sk, as in sklender, slender; sklate, slate; skirl, shrill.
7. In adverbs and in other forms, as well as in the
termination of the past tense and past participle of weak verbs, t often takes the place of d, as in fraivart, eftirwart, hundreit, toivart, upwart, hopyt. After c, n, p, x, th, and ch (gK), t is superfluous and at times has no phonetic value, as in relict, relic; comont, common; suddantlie, suddenly; neichtbour, neighbour; witht, with; furtht, forth ; sicht, sigh. After final r and p it is often dropped, as in correk, correct; abstrak, abstract; dirrek, direct; precep, precept.
8. Transposition of letters is frequent, as thristy,
thirsty; brunt, burnt; girst grass; warpit, wrapped.
Among the grammatical changes are : —
1. Ane is in all positions the indefinite article and
numeral, and takes the place of a and an of the earlier period.
2. The old sign of the plural -is (-ys), though com-
mon, is beginning to give way to -s. Plurals in -es are exceptional.
3. Many adjectives and pronouns take a plural form
in agreement with a plural noun, or when representing one; as instrumentis subordinates] the saidis lordis ; quhilkis, the quhilkis.
4. The relative at, though used by Douglas, who
affected old forms, is, after 1500, supplanted by
MIDDLE SCOTS 41
quhilk, which in its turn gives place to quha, quhay.
5. The distinction between tha, those (the plur. of
that), and thai, thay, they, is often neglected.
6. The adverbial constructions the day, the morn, for
Early Scots to dai, to morne, appear; also nor in comparative constructions for na and than.
7. A nd and gif are frequently used for if.
8. At as a conjunction ceases to be used.
9. A plural noun is sometimes used in the singular
sense, as ane boundis. Adjectives sometimes follow their nouns, as condicioun naturale, lawis canoun, a usage due to French and Latin influ- ence.
There is a great inflow of vocables at this period, chiefly from the French, especially from Norman French, and from the Latin. A few are also borrowed from the Celtic tongue. Many of the words from the French have died out; many others remain. The same may also be said of the words borrowed from the Latin.
i. Robert Henryson
[Of Robert Henryson nothing is known beyond that he was schoolmaster at Dunfermline and the author of a number of poems, most of which have been always highly esteemed. He is said to have flourished between 1490 and 1500. Others have given his date as 1425-1506. His poems have been frequently printed. They occur in vari- ous MSS. The texts of the more important of these have been recently printed by Mr. G. Gregory Smith, M.A., for the Scottish Text Society.]
42 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
(a) The Cock and the Jewel
Ane cok, sumtyme, with fetherem, fresch and gay, Rycht cant and crows, albeit he wes hot pure, Flew furth apone a doung hill son be day; To get his dyner set wes al his cure ; sScrapand amang the as, be aduenture He fand a ioly iasp, rycht precius, Wes cassyn out in swopyng of the hous.
As damycellis, wantone and insolent, That fayne wald play and on the streit be sene— 10 To swoppyng of the hous thai tak no tent Quhat thairin be, swa that the fluyr be clene; lowellis ar tynt, as oftymys hes bene sene Apone the fluyr, and swoppit furth anone — Perauenture, so wes this sammyne stone.
15 Swa merwelland apone the stone, quod he,
" O gentill iasp! O rich and nobill thing!
Thowch I the fynd, thow ganys nocht for me ;
Thow art a iowell for a lord or king;
It wer pite thow suld in this myddyng 20 Be beriit thus amang this muk and mwd,
And thow so fair, and worth so mekill gude.
' ' It is pite I suld the fynd, for quhy Thi grit vertu nor yit thi colowr cleyr, It may nowthir extoll nor magnify,
MIDDLE SCOTS 43
And thow to me ma mak hot litil cheir. 25
Til grit lordis thocht thow be haldyne deyr,
I luf far better thing of les awalle,
As draff, or corne, to fill my towm intrall.
" I had leuer go skraip heir with my naillis
Amang this moll and luk my liffis fud, 30
As corne or draff, small wormys or snaillis,
Or ony meit wald do my stomok gud,
Nor off iaspis a mekill multitud:
And thow agane apone the samyn wyis
For thyne awall may me as now despyis. 35
" Thow hes na corne, and thar-of I haf neid ;
Thi cullour doys bot comfort to the sycht,
And that is nocht anwch my wame to feid ;
For wyffis sayis that lukand werk is lycht.
I wald sum meit haf, get it gif I mycht, 4o
For hungry men ma nocht weil leif on lukis ;
Had I dry breid, I cownt nocht of na cukis.
" Quhar suld thow mak thy habitatiown?
Quhar suld thow duel bot in a ryal towr?
Quhar suld thow set bot in a kyngis crown, 45
Exaltit in wyrschip and in grit honour?
Rys, gentill iasp, of al stanis the flowr,
Out of this as and pas quhar thow suld be ;
Thow ganys nocht for me, na I for the."
44 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
50 Leiffand this iowell law apone the ground,
To seik his meit this cok his wayis went;
Bot quhen, or quhow, or quhome be it wes fownd,
As now I set to hald na argument.
Bot of the inwart sentens and intent 55 Of this fabill, as myne autor dois wryt,
I sal rehers in rud and hamelie dyt.
Moralitas
This iolie iasp hes properteys sewyne ; The fyrst, of colowr it is merwalus, Pairt lik the fyir, and pairt is lik the hewyne: 60 It makis a man stark and victoryus ; Preserwis als fra casis perellus: Quha hes this stane sal haf gud hoip to speid, Of fyr and noi sal hyme neid nocht to dreid.
This gentill iasp, rycht deferent of hewe, 65 Betaknys perfyt prudens and cunnyng, Ornate with mony deidis of vertu, Mair excelland than ony erdly thing, Quhilk makis men in honowr ay to ryng, Happy and stark to win the victory 7o Of al wicis and spirituall innemy.
Quha ma be harddy, rych, and graciows? Quha can eschew perele and auenture? Quha can gouerne ane realme, cite, or hous
MIDDLE SCOTS 45
Withowt sciens? na man, I yow assur: It is ryches that euir sail enduir, 75
Quhilk moith, na moist, na othir rowst can fret: To manis saul it is eternall meit.
This cok, disyrand mair the sempill corne
Than ony iasp, may till ane fuyll be peir,
Quhilk at sciens makis bot ane mok and scorne, 80
And na gud can; als litill will he leir:
His hart walwmlys wys argumentis to heir,
As dois ane sow to quhome men for the nanys
In hir draff trowch wald saw the precius stanys.
Quha is innemy to sciens and cunnyng 85
Bot ignorantis that wnderstandis nocht?
Quhilk is sa nobill, precius, and sa dyng
That it may with na erdly gud be bocht?
Weill war that man our al othir, that mocht
Al his lif dayis in perfyt study wayr 90
To get sciens ; for hyme nedis na mair.
But now allace, this iasp is tynt and hid,
We seik it nocht, nor press nocht it to fynd.
Haif we ryches? na bettir lyif we byd
Of sciens, thocht the saul be bair and blynd: 95
Of this mater to speik it wair bot wynd ;
Tharfoir I ces and wil na forther say :
Ga seik the iasp quha will, for thar it lay.
46 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE (b) The Trial of the Fox
This Tod to rest him, he passit to ane craig, ioo And thair he harde ane buisteous bugill blaw,
Quhilk, as he thocht, maid all the warld to waig.
Ane Unicorne come lansand ouer ane law;
Than start he vp, quhen he this hard and saw ;
Withe home in hand, ane bill in breist he bure, 105 Ane pursevant semelie, I yow assure.
Unto ane bank, quhair he micht se about On euerie syde, in haiste he culd him hy, Schot out his voce full schill, and gaif ane schout, And on this wyis twyse or thryse did cry. no With that the beistis in the feild nere by, All merueland quhat sic ane cry suld mene, Greitlie agast, thay gadderit one ane grene.
Out of his breist ane bill sone can he braid And red the text withouttin tarying: ii5Commandand silence, sadlie thus he said: "The nobill Lyoun, of all beistis the king, Greting to God, helth euerlesting To brutall beistis and irrational I send, as to my subiectis greit and small.
120 " My Celsitude and hie magnificence Lattis yow to wit, that euin incontinent,
MIDDLE SCOTS 47
Thinkis the morne, with royall diligence,
Upon this hill to hald ane Parliament;
Straitlie thairfoir I gif commandement
For to compeir befoir my tribunall, 125
Under all pane and parrell that may fall."
The morrow come, and Phebus with his bemis
Consumit had the mistie cluddis gray;
The ground wes grene, and als like gold it
glemis,
With gers growand gudelie, greit and gay ; i30
The spyce thay spred to spring on euerie
spray;
The lark, the maueis, and merll full hie, Sweitlie can sing, trippand fra tre to tre,
Efter the tennour of the cry befoir
That gais on all four futtit beistis on eirth, 135
As thay commandit wer withouttin moir,
Befoir thair Lord the Lyoun thay appeirit:
And quhat thay wer, to me as Lowrence leirit,
I sail reheirs ane part of euerie kynd,
Als fer as now occurris to my mynd. 140
The Panther, with his payntit coit armour, Fensit the court, as of the law effeirit; Than Tod Lowrie lukit quhair he couth lour, And start on fute, all stonist, and all steird ;
48 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
i45 Ryifand his hair, he rarit with ane reird, Quaikand for dreid, and sichand culd he say: " Allace this hour! allace this dulefull day!
" I wait this suddain semblie that I se, Haifand the pointis of ane Parliament, I50Is maid to mar sic misdoars as me;
Thairfoir, gif I me schaw, I wil be schent;
I wil be socht, gif I be red absent ;
To byde or fle, it makis no remeid ;
All is alyke, thair followis nocht bot deid."
(c) The Abbay Walk
IS5 Allone as I went up and doun
In to ane Abbay fair to se, Thinkand quhat consolatioun Wes best in to aduersitie, On cace I kest on syde myne e,
I6o And saw this writtin vpoun a wall,
•" Of quhat estait, man, that thow be, Obey, and thank thi God of all.
" Thi kingdome and thi grit empyre, Thi ryaltie nor riche array, X65 Sail nocht endeur at thi desyre,
Bot, as the wind, will wend away; Thi gold and all thi gudis gay, Quhen fortoun list, will fra the fall ;
MIDDLE SCOTS 49
Sen thow sic sampillis seis ilk day,
Obey, and thank thi God of all. 170
" lob wes maist riche, in writ, we find,
Thobe maist full of cheretie ;
lob wox pure, and Thobe blynd,
Baith temptit with aduersitie.
Sen blyndnes wes infirmitie, 175
And povertie wes naturall,
Thairfoir in patience baith he and he
Obeid, and thankit God of all.
" Thocht thow be blynd or haif ane halt, Or in thi face deformit ill, 180
Sa it cum nocht throw thi defalt, Na man suld thee repreif by skill. Blame nocht thi Lord, sa is his will ; Spurn nocht thi fute aganis the wall; Bot with meik hairt and prayer still 185
Obey, and thank thi God of all.
11 God of his iustice mon correct,
And of his mercie petie haif;
He is ane luge to nane suspect,
To puneis synfull man and saif. 190
Thocht thow be lord attour the laif,
And eftirwart maid bund and thrall,
Ane pure begger, with skrip and staif,
Obey, and thank thi God of all
(0511) 4
50 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
195 " This changeing and grit variance
Off erdly staitis vp and doun Cumis nocht be casualitie nor chance, As sum men sayis, withowt ressoun, But be the grit prouisioun
200 Off God aboif that gyd the sail ;
Thairfoir, evir thow mak the boun To obey, and thank thi God of all.
" In welth be meik, heich not thi selffe;
Be glaid in wilfull povertie; 205 Thy power and thi warldlie pelffe
Is nocht bot verie vanitie.
Remembir Him that deit on tre,
For thi saik gustit bittir gall;
Quha heis law hairtis and lawis he; 210 Obey, and thank thi God of all."
2. Dunbar
[William Dunbar, who takes rank as one of the best poets Scotland ever produced, is supposed to have been born about the year 1460. He was educated at Hadding- ton, and in 1477 graduated at St. Andrews as Bachelor of Arts and in 1479 as Master of Arts. He joined the Ob- servantine branch of the Franciscans, became a priest, was appointed Court Poet, and on one or more occasions was employed on affairs of State. The date of his death is set down at c. 1520. His poems have frequently been printed. The two most recent critical editions are by Dr. Schipper of Vienna and Dr. Small, Edinburgh.]
MIDDLE SCOTS 51
(a) The Ballad of Kynd Kittok
My guddame wes ane gay wyfe, bot scho wes
rycht gend,
Scho dwelt far furth in France, on Falkland fell; Thay callit hir Kynd Kittok quhasa weill hir
kend. Scho wes lyk ane caldrone cruk, cleir vnder
kell; Thay threipit scho deid of thrist and maid a gud
end. 5
Eftir hir deid scho dreidit nocht in Hevin to
dwell,
And sa to Hevin the hie way dreidles scho wend, Yit scho wanderit and yeid by to ane elrich well;
And thair scho met, as I wene,
Ane ask rydand on ane snaill. 10
Sche cryd, " Ourtane fallow, haill," And raid ane inch behind the taill, Quhill it wes neir ene.
Sa scho had hap to be horsit to hir herbry, At ane ailhouss neir Hevin it nychtit thame
thair. 15
Scho deit of thrist in this warld, that gart hir be
dry,
Scho nevir eit meit, bot drank our mesur and mair:
52 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Scho sleipit quhill the morne at none and raiss
airly;
And to the yettis of Hevin fast can scho fair, And by Sanct Petir, in at the yett scho stall 20 prevely.
God lukit and saw hir lattin in, and Inch his hairt sair;
And thair yeiris sevin Scho levit ane gud lyfe, And wes our Leddeis hen wyfe, 25 And held Sanct Petir at stryfe,
Ay quhill scho wes in Hevin.
Scho lukit owt on a day and thocht verry lang, To se the ailhouss besyd in till ane evill
hour; And owt of Hevin the hie gait can the wyfe
gang
For to gett ane fresche drink — the aill of 3o Hevin wes sour.
Scho come agane to Hevinis yet, quhen that the
bell rang, Sanct Petir hit hir with a club, quhill a grit
clour Raiss on hir heid behind, becauss the wyfe yeid
wrang;
Than to the ailhouss agane scho ran, the pitscheris to pour,
MIDDLE SCOTS 53
Thair to brew and to baik. 35
Freyndis I pray yow hairtfully, Gife ye be thristy or dry, Drynk wyth my guddame, quhen ye gang by,
Anis for my saik.
(b) Ane Ballat of Our Lady
Hale, sterne superne! Hale, in eterne, 40
In Godis sicht to schyne! Lucerne in derne, for to discerne
Be glory and grace devyne ; Hodiern, modern, sempitern,
Angelicall regyne! 45
Our tern inferne for to dispern,
Helpe rialest rosyne,
Aue Maria, gratia plena!
Haile, fresche flour femynyne! Yerne ws guberne, wirgin matern, 50
Of reuth baith rute and ryne.
ii
Haile, yhyng, benyng, fresche flurising!
Haile, Alphais habitakle! Thy dyng ofspring maid ws to syng
Befor his tabernakle; 55
54 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
All thing maling we dovne thring,
Be sicht of his signakle; Quhilk king ws bring vnto his ryng,
Fro dethis dirk vmbrakle. 60 Aue Maria, gratia plena!
Haile, moder and maid but makle! Bricht syng, gladyng our languissing,
Be micht of thi mirakle.
VI
Empryce of pryss, imperatrice, 65 Bricht polist preciouss stane,
Victrice of wyce, hie genetrice
Of Jhesu, Lord souerayne; Our wyss pawyss fra enemyss, Agayne the feyndis trayne ; 7o Oratrice, mediatrice, salvatrice, To God gret suffragan e !
Aue Maria, gratia plena! Haile, sterne meridiane! Spyce, flour-de-lice of paradyse, 7S That bair the gloryuss grayne.
VII
Imperiall wall, place palestrall Of peirless pulcritud;
MIDDLE SCOTS 55
Trywmphale hall, hie tour royall
Of Godis celsitud ; Hospitall riall, the Lord of all 80
Thy closet did include; Bricht ball cristall, ross virginall,
Fulfillit of angell fude. Aue Maria, gratia plena!
Thy birth has with his blude, 85
Fra fall mortall, originall,
Ws raunsomid on the rude.
(c) No Tressour availis without Glaidnes
Be mirry and g-laid, honest and vertewous, For that suffisis to anger the invyous.
Be mirry, man ! and tak nocht far in mynd The wawering of this wrechit warld of sorrow; To God be hvmill, and to thy freynd be kynd, 90 And with thy nychtbouris glaidly len and borrow; His chance to nycht it may be thyne to morrow. Be blyth in hairt for ony aventure, For oft with wys men it hes bene said aforrow, Without glaidness avails no tressour. 9S
Mak the gud cheir of it that God the sendis,
For warldis wrak but welfair nocht awailis ;
Na gude is thyne saif only that thow spendis,
Remenant all thow brukis bot with bailis;
Seik thow solace quhen sadness the assailis, IOC
56 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
In dolour lang thy lyfe ma nocht indure; Quhairfoir of confort set vp all thy sailis: Without glaidness availis no tresour.
Follow on peiss, fle truble and debait; 105 With famows folkis hald thy cumpany;
Be charitabill and humyll in thyne estait,
For warldly honour lestis but ane cry;
For truble in erd tak na mallancoly ;
Be riche in patience, gif thow in gudis be pure; noQuho levis mirry, he levis michtely:
Without glaidness availis no tresour.
Thow seis thir wrechis sett with sorrow and cair,
To gaddir gudis in all thair lyvis space,
And quhen thair baggis ar full, thair selfis ar
bair,
115 And of thair ryches bot the keping hess; Quhill vthiris cum to spend it that hes grace, Quilk of thair wynning no labour had nor cure; Tak thow example and spend with mirriness: Without glaidnes availis no tresour.
i2oThocht all the wraik that evir had levand wicht, Wer only thyne, no moir thy pairt dois fall, Bot meit, drynk, clais, and of the laif a sicht, Yit to the iuge thow sail gif compt of all ; Ane raknyng rycht cumis of ane ragment small ;
MIDDLE SCOTS 57
Be just and joyws and do to non injure, 125
And trewth sail mak the strang as ony wall : Without glaidness availis no tresure.
Quod Dunbar.
(d) Of the Changes of Lyfe
I seike abowte this warld onstable,
To find a sentence convenable, 130
Bot I can not in all my witt,
Sa trew a sentence find of it, As say, it is dissavable.
For yisterday, I did declair
How that the sasoun soft and fair, 135
Come in als fresche as pacok feddir;
This day it stangis lyke ane eddir, Concluding all in my contrair.
Yisterday fair upsprang the flowris, This day thai are all slane with schouris; 140 And foulis in forrest that sang cleir, Now walkis with ane drerie cheir, Full cauld ar bayth thair beddis and bouris.
So nixt to symmer, wynter bene;
Nixt eftir confort, cairis keine; 145
Nixt eftir myd nycht, the myrthfull morrow ;
Next eftir joy, ay cwmis sorrow; So is this warld, and ay hes bene.
58 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
(e) Now Fay re. Fay rest off Every Fay re
Now fayre, fayrest off every fayre, i5o Princes most plesant and preclare, The lustyest one alyve that byne,
Welcum of Scotland to be Quene!
Younge tender plant of pulcritud, Descendyd of imperyalle blude; iSS Freshe, fragrant floure of fayrehede shene, Welcum of Scotland to be Quene!
Swet lusty lusum lady clere, Most myghty kyngis dochter dere, Borne of a princes most serene, 160 Welcum of Scotland to be Quene!
Welcum the Rose bothe rede and whyte, Welcum the floure of our delyte! Oure rejoysyng frome the sone beme, Welcum of Scotland to be Quene; !6S Welcum of Scotland to be Quene!
3. Gavin Douglas
[Gavin Douglas was a son of Archibald, Earl of Douglas, who had for his nickname " Bell-the-Cat ". He was born in 1474. After being educated at St. Andrews, where he graduated in 1494, he entered the Church. In 1501 he was appointed Provost of the Collegiate Church of St. Giles, Edinburgh. The same year he wrote his Palice of Honour.
MIDDLE SCOTS 59
His King Hart appeared later, and in 1513 his translation of Virgil's dEneid, which is regarded as his principal work. He died in London of the plague, in 1522.]
The Prolong of the First Buik of Eneados
Laude, honor, prasingis, thankis infynite To the, and thi dulce ornate fresch endite, Mast Reuerend Virgill, of Latyne poetis prince, Gemme of ingine and fluide of eloquence! Thow peirles perle, patroun of poetrie, 5
Rois, register, palme, laurer, and glory, Chosin cherbukle, cheif flour, and cedir tre, Lanterne, leidsterne, mirrour, and A per se, Master of masteris, sweit sours and springand
well!
Wyde-quhar our all ringis thi hevinle bell ; 10
I mene thi crafty werkis curious, Sa quik, lusty, and mast sentencious, Plesable, perfyte, and felable in all degre, As quha the mater held to foir thair Ee; In euery volume quhilk the list do write, 15
Surmonting fer all wther maneir endite, Lyk as the rois in June with hir sueit smell The marygulde or dasy doth excell. Quhy suld I than with dull forhede and wane, With ruide engine and barrand emptive brane, 2o With bad harsk speche and lewit barbour tong, Presume to write quhar thi sueit bell is rong,
60 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE Or contirfait sa precious wourdis deir?
And at ye knaw at quhais instaunce I tuik
25 For to translait this mast excellent buik — I mene Virgilis volume maist excellent, Set this my work full feble be of rent— At the request of ane lorde of renowne, Of ancistry noble and illuster barowne,
3° Fader of bukis, protectour to science and lare, My speciall gude lord, Henry Lord Sanct Clair, Quhilk with grete instance diuers tymes seir Prayit me translait Virgile or Omeir — Quhais plesour suithlie as I wnderstuid,
35 As neir coniunct to his lordschip in bluid — So that me thocht his requeist ane command. Half disparit this werk [I] tuik on hand, Nocht fullie grantand, nor anis sayand, " Ye " Bot onelie to assay quhow it mycht be.
40 Quha mycht ganesay a lord sa gentle and kynd, That euir hed ony curtasy in thair mynd? Quhilk beside his innative polecy, Humanite, curaige, fredome, and chevalry, Bukis to recollect, to reid, and se,
4S Hes greite delite als euir hed Ptolome? Quharfor to his nobilite and estaite, Quhat so it be, this buik I dedicaite Writing in the language of Scottis natioun ; And thus I mak my protestatioun.
MIDDLE SCOTS 61
First I protest, beawschiris, be your leif, 50
Beis weill advisit, my werk or ye repreif ; Considder it warlie, reid oftair than anis ; Weill at ane blenk slee poetry nocht tane is. And yit, forsuith, I set my besy pane, As that I suld, to mak it braid and plane, 55
Kepand na sudroun bot our awin langage, And speikis as I lernit quhen I was page. Nor yit sa clene all sudroun I refuse, But sum word I pronunce as nychtbour doise; Lyk as in Latyne bene grew termes sum, 60
So me behuvit quhilum, or than be dum, Sum bastard Latyne, Frensch, or Inglis oiss; Quhar scant war Scottis I had na wther chois. Nocht for our toung is in the selfin scant, Bot for that I the foutht of langage want ; 65
Quhar as the colour of his propirte To keip the sentence thairto constrenit me, Or than to mak my sang, schort sum tyme, Mair compendious, or to liklie my ryme. . . .
4. Murdoch Nisbet
[Murdoch Nisbet was a native of Hardhill, in the parish of Loudon, in the county of Ayr. Shortly before 1500 he was converted to the Protestant faith. When the persecu- tion against the Lollards in Scotland broke out in the reign of James V, he was obliged to flee the country, and took with him a copy of Purvey's revision of Wycliffe's transla-
62 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
tion of the New Testament. This he used as a basis, and altered the grammar and vocables of it wherever necessary, in order to make his transcript of it easily readable by his own countrymen. The date of its completion is c. 1520.]
(a) Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke, xv. 11-32)
And he saide, A man had ij sonnis: And the yonngare of thame said to the fader, Fader, geue me the portionn of substance that fallis to me. And he departit to thame the substance.
5 And nocht mony dais eftire, quhen al thingis war gaderit togiddire, the yonngar sonn went furth in pilgrimage into a ferr cuntree, and thare he waistit his gudis in leving licherouslie. And eftir that he had endit al thingis, a stark hungire
10 was made in that cuntree; and he began to haue need. And he went and drew him to aan of the citezenis of that cuntre; and he send him into his tovne to fede swyne. And he couatit to fill his wambe of the coddis that the hoggis ete : and
15 na man gave to him. And he turnit agane into him self, and said, How mony hyret men in my fadris hous has plentee of laaues, and I peryse here throu hungir. I sal ryse up and ga to my fadere, and I sal say to him, Fader, I haue
aosynnyt into heuen and before thee, And now I am nocht worthie to be callit thj sonn j mak me
MIDDLE SCOTS 63
as aan of thi hyret men. And he rase up, and com to his fader. And quhen he was yit on fer, his fadere saw him, and was mouet be mercy, and he ran, and fell on his neck, and kissit him. 25 And the sonn said to him, Fader, I haue synnyt into heuen, and before thee, and now I am nocht worthie to be callit thi sonn. And the fadere said to his seruandis, Suythe, bring ye furthe the best stole, and cleithe ye him ; and geue ye a ring in 30 his hand, and schoon on his feet; and bring ye a fat calf, and sla ye; and ete we, and mak we feest: For this my sonn was deid, and has leeuet agane; he peryset, and is fundin. And almen began to ete. Bot his eldar sonn was in the 35 feeld; and when he com and nerit to the hous, he herde a symphony and a croude. And he callit ane of the seruandis, and askit quhat thir thingis war. And he said to him, Thy bruther is cummin ; and thi fader has slayn a fat calf, 4o for he resauet him saaf. And he was wrathe, and wald nocht cum in. Tharfor his fadere yede furthe, and began to pray him, and he ansuerd to his fadere, and said, Lo, sa mony yeris I serue thee, and I brak neuir thi comandment; and 45 thou neuir gaue to me a kidde, that I with my freendis suld haue eten. Bot eftir that this thi sonn that has destroyit his substance with huris com, thou has slayn to him a fat calf, And he
64 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
50 said to him, Sonn, thou art euirmaire with me, and al my thingis are thin. Bot it behovit to mak feest and to haue joy: for this thi bruther was deid, and leevit again; he periset, and was fundin.
(b) The True Vine (John, xv. 1-7)
55 I am a verray wyne tre, and my fader is ane erd telare. Ilk branche in me that beris nocht fruite, he sal tak it away; and ilk that beris fruite, he sal purge it, that it bere the maire fruit. Now ye ar cleen, for the word that I haue spokin
60 to yow. Duelle ye in me, and I in you; as a branch may nocht mak fruit of it self, bot it duelle in the wyintre, sa nouthir ye, bot ye duell in me. I am a wyintre, ye the branches. Quha thatduellis in me, and I in him, this beris meikle
65 fruit, for without me ye may nathing do. Gif ony man duellis nocht in me, he salbe castin out as a branche, and sal wax drie; and thai sal gader him, and thai sal cast him into the fire, and he birnis. Gif ye duell in me, and my
70wordis duell in yow, quhat-euir thingis ye will, ye sal ask, and it salbe done to you.
MIDDLE SCOTS 65
5. Burgh Records of Aberdeen
(a) The Procession on Candlemas Day
30 January, 1505. The said day, it was fundin by the aid lovabile consuetud and ryt of the burgh, that in the honor of God and the blissit Virgin Mary, the craftsmen of the samyn, in thar best aray, kepit and decorit the procession 5 one Candilmes day yerlie; quhilk auld and louabile consuetud, the prouest, baillies, riplie avisit, ratifeit, and approvit the said ryt; and atour statut and ordanit that the said craftsmen, and thair successoris, sale perpetualie in tyme to 10 cum, observe and keipe the said procession, als honorabily as thai can ; And thai sale, in order to the Offering in the Play, pass tua and ij togedir socialie; in the first the flesshoris, bar- bouris, baxturis, cordinaris, skineris, couparis, 15 wrichtis, hat makars [and] bonat makars togidr; walcaris, litstaris, wobstaris, tailyeouris, gold- smiths, blaksmithis and hammermen ; and the craftsmen sal furnyss the Pageants; the cordin- aris, the Messing; wobstaris and walcaris, Sym-ao eon; the smyths [and] golsmiths, iij Kingis of Cullane; the litstaris, the Emperour; the masons, the Thrie Knichtis; the taylors, our Lady, Sanct Brid, and Sanct Elene; and the skynners, the
(C511) 5
66 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
25Tua Bischopis: and tua of ilke craft to pass with the pageant that thai furnyss to keip thair geir; and gif ony persone or persouns happinis to failye and brek ony poynt befor writin, and beis convict tharof, [he] sale pay xl sh. to Sanct
3o Nicholas werk, and the balyeis unlaw unforgevin: Ande to the obseruing and keping of the samyn, ale the said craftsmen was oblist, be thair handis
uphaldin.
(b) Corpus Christi
22 May, 1531. The said day, it was statut
35 and ordanit be the prouest, bailyeis, and coun- sale, present for the tyme, conforme to the auld lovabill consuetudis and rytt of this burgh, and of the nobill burgh of Edinburgh, of the quhilkis rite and consuetude the forsaid prouest hes gotin
40 copy in write: that is to say, that, in the honour of God and the blessit Virgin Marye, the craftis- men of this burgh, in thair best array, keipe and decoir the processioun on Corpus Cristi dais, and Candilmes day, als honorabillye as thai can,
45 euery craft with thair awin baner, with the armes of thair craft thairin, and thai sal pas ilk craft be thame self, tua and tua, in this ordour, that is to say, in the first the flescharis, and nixt thame the barbouris; nixt thame, skynnaris and fur-
50rowris togidder; nixt thame, the cordinaris ; nixt thame, the tailyouris; efter thame, the vobstaris,
MIDDLE SCOTS 67
valcaris, and litsters togidder; nixt thame, the baxstaris ; and last of all, nearest the Sacrament, passis all hem mermen; that is to say, smythis, wrichtis, masonis, cuparis, sclateris, goldsmythis, 55 and armouraris; and euery ane of the said craftis, in the Candilmes procession, sail furneiss thair pageane, conforme to the auld statut, maid in the yeir of God jai ve and x yeris, quhilk statut was maid with the avise of the haile consale, and 60 approvit be the craftismen of the toune for the tyme, for thame and thair successeris, and oblist thame to the keping of the samyn vnder the pane of xls., and the balyeis vnlaw unforgevin, to be vptakin of thame that beis absent, bot ane 65 resonabill causs fra the said processioun, or that makkis trubill or perturbatioun thairin, to the quhilkis thai ar oblist, be thair handis vphaldin in iugement; and the prouest, bailyeis, and coun- sale, present for the tyme, ratifeis and approvis70 this present statut, and the panis contenit thairin, to be kepit inviolablye in all maner in tyme cuming.
The craftis ar chargit to furneiss thair pa- geanis vnder writtin 75
The flescharis, Sanct Bestian and his Tor- mentouris
The barbouris, Sanct Lowrance and his Tormentouris
68 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
The skynnaris, Sanct Stewin and his Tor-
mentouris
The cordinaris, Sanct Martyne. 80 The tailyeouris, the Coronation of Our Lady. Litstaris, Sanct Nicholes Wobstaris, walcaris, and bonet makaris,
Sanct John
Baxtaris, Sanct Georg. Wrichtis, messonis, sclateris, and cuparis,
The Ressurectioun.
The smiths and hemmirmen to furneiss The 85 Bearmen of the Croce.
6. Hector Boece
[Hector Boece or Boyce was Principal of King's College, Aberdeen, and a friend of Erasmus. His Scotorum His- toria appeared in 1527, and was afterwards translated into prose by John Bellenden. W. Stewart produced a metri- cal version of the History. The following is from Bellen- den's translation.]
(a) The White Bulls
In Strivelingschire is the toun of Striveling; and abone it standis the castel under the samin name, sum time namit the Dolorus Montane. At this toun began the gret wod of Calidon. s This wod of Calidon ran fra Striveling throw Menteith and Stratherne to Atholl and Loch-
MIDDLE SCOTS 69
quhabir; as Ptolome writtis, in his first table. In this wod wes sum time quhit bullis, with crisp and curland mane, like feirs lionis; and, thoucht thay semit meik and tame in the remanent figure 10 of thair bodyis, thay wer mair wild than ony uthir beistis, and had sic hatrent aganis the societe and cumpany of men, that thay come nevir in the woddis nor lesuris quhair thay fand ony feit or hand thairof ; and, mony dayis eftir, 15 thay eit nocht of the herbis that wer twichit or handillitt be men. Thir bullis wer sa wild that thay wer nevir tane but slicht and crafty laubour; and sa impacient that, eftir thair taking, thay deit for importable doloure. Als sone als ony 20 man invadit thir bullis, thay ruschit with so terrible preis on him that thay dang him to the eird; takand na feir of houndis, scharp lancis, nor uthir maist penitrive wappinis. It is said, King Robert Bruce, eftir his coronatioun, went 25 to ane hunting in this wod, havand bot ane quiet cumpanie with him, and eschapit narowlie of his leif ; for ane of the bullis, eftir that he wes sair woundit be the huntaris, ruschit feirslie on the king, howbeit he had na wapinnis in his hands© to debait himself fra the dint thairof. Incontinent, ane man of gret spreit, quhilk wes standing neir by, lap afore the king; and nocht allanerlie kest the bull be manifest force to the erd, bot held
70 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
35 him, quhill the remanent huntaris slew him with thair wappinnis. This man that rescoursit the king wes callit Turnbull, and wes rewardit with riche landis be the king. And thoucht thir bullis wer bred in sindry boundis of the Calidon Wod,
40 now, be continewal hunting and lust of insolent men, thay ar distroyit in all partis of Scotland, and nane of thaim left bot allanerlie in Cumar- nald.
(b) Our Eldaris
Our eldaris, howbeit thay wer richt virtewis
45 baith in weir and peace, wer maist exercit with temperance; for it is the fontane of all virtew. Thay wer of temperat sleip, meit, and drink, and sic refectionis as wer preparit with litill laubour or cost. Thair breid wes maid of sic
sostuf as grew maist esalie on the ground. Thair vitallis wer nocht siftit, as we do now, to mak thaim delicius to the mouth ; bot wer all ground togidder under ane forme. The flesche maist frequent amang thame wes othir wild flesche,
55wone on the fellis be thair hunting, quhilk maid thaim of incredible strenth; or ellis it wes of thair awin tame bestial, specially beif, as we do yit in our dayis : howbeit we ar richt far different fra the use and custome of all uthir nationis.
60 The steirkis, quhen thay ar bot young velis, ar
MIDDLE SCOTS 71
othir slane, or ellis libbit to be oxin, to manure the land ; bot the quiokis war nevir slane quhill thay wer with calfe, for than thay ar fattest and maist delicius to the mouth. The common meit of our eldaris wes fische; nocht for the plentees of it, bot erar becaus thair landis lay oftimes waist, throw continewal exercition of chevelry, and for that cans thay leiffit maist of fische. Thay disjunit airly in the morning with smal refectioun, and sustenit thair liffis thairwith quhil 70 the time of sowper; throw quhilk thair stomok was nevir surfetly chargit, to empesche thaim of uthir besines. At the sowper thay warr mair large; howbeit thay had bot ane cours. Quhen they kest thaimself to be mery, thay usit maist 75 aqua vite ; nocht maid of costly spicis, bot of sic natural herbis as grew in thair awin yardis. The common drink that thay usit was aill; and in time of weir, quhen thay lay in thair tends, thay usit nocht bot watter. so
7. John Bellenden
[John Bellenden or Ballantyne, Archdeacon of Moray, was born about 1495, and died somewhere between 1550 and 1597. He was the author of two excellent transla- tions— one of Boece's Historia, and the other of the first five books of Livy. It is from the translation of the latter that the following is taken.]
72 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
How Horace Codes defended the brig of Tiber (Bk. ii, c. v.)
Als sone as the enemyis apperit, all the pepill that duelt to landwarte cum for defence, baith of thame self and thare gudis, to duell within Rome: syne garnist the sammyn with strang 5soudiouris and men of armis. Sum thocht thare self sikkar fra enemyis be force of wallis, and sum be defence of the river; yit nochtwithstand- ing thir industry's the enemyis had almaist gotten entres within the ciete be ane brig of tre, war
icnocht it was the mair vaileyeantlie defendit be ane nobill man namyt Horace Codes, quham fortoun maid for that day ane grete municioun of Roman ciete. This Codes, set be aventure in ane rovme maid for defence of the said brig,
i5and seand nocht alanerlie mont lanikill tane, and his inemyis discending with huge forse to tak the said brig, bot als his companyouns sa astonist that thai fled, levand thair armoure and wapynnys behind thaim, he reprevit euery ane
20 of thame be thare name, and tuke baith the faith of goddis and men in witnes that thare fleing was in vane ; ffor gif thai left the brig with fre passage behind thame, thair enemyis suld be haistelie als pussant in the palice and in the
25capitol as thai war presentlie in mont lanicle.
MIDDLE SCOTS 73
And tharefore he prayit thame to returne, and cut the brig with fire and irne and al vthir vio- lence thai mycht; for he suld resist the dynt of enemyis sa fer as his body mycht suffir, quhil the brig war brokin. Incontinent this Codes 30 past to the formest part of the brig fornens his enemyis, and made thame the mair astonist, that nochtwithstanding the fleing of his remanent companyeouns, he abaid alane reddy to gif thaim batall with maist audacite. Yit in his extreme 35 ieoperdy two companyeouns, namyt Titus Her- minius and Spurius Laertius, abade with him to eschewe schame ; for thai war men of forcy dedis and discending of nane obscure lynage. Codes, accumpanyit with thir two companyeouns, sus-4o tenit all the first bront and furie of enemyis. At last, quhen he herde the noyis and clamoure of thaim quhilkis war cuttand the brig, that nocht wes left thareof vnbet doun bot ane small parte, sauffit alanerlie for his returning, he causit his 45 twa companyeouns to pas abak to sum secure hald; syne began awfully to turne his terribill ene fornens the princis of Ethruschis, sum tyme provokand euery ane of thame to singulare batall, and sum tymes disputand thaim all, sayandso becaus thai war vnmyndefull of thare liberte, and levand vndir seruitude of proude Kingis thai cume to invaid the liberte of vthir pepil
74 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
quhilk neuer offendit to thaim. The Etruschis
55 taryit ane quhile fra his invasioun, ffor euery ane of thame beheld vthir, quha suld strike first; quhil at last the hale army wes schamefully commovit and with huge noyis flang all thare dartis at him at anis. Yit nochtwithstanding thir
eodartis fast stekand in his targe, he abaid obsti- natelie, gangand with maist sturdy pais on the said brig; and at last, quhen his enemyis war sett with maist forcy violence to deieck him, rais sic noyis throw falling of the brig, and throw
65clamoure of Romanis reiosing in the fall thareof, that the effray suddanlie rising tharethrow held the preis of enemyis abak. Than Codes, seand him self intercludit be inemyis afore him, and but ony out-passage behynd, said, "O haly fader
7oTyberyne, ressaue this armoure and this knicht in thi propiciant streme"; and armyt in this wise he lap in Tyber, and nochtwithstanding in- nowmerabil dartis schot at him be enemyis, swam throw the river, but ony harme, to his fallois.
75 This hardy ieopardie be him done wil haue mare fame than credence to our posterite. . . .
MIDDLE SCOTS 75
8. The Complaynt of Scotlande
[The Complaynt of Scotlande was printed in Paris in 1549. Its author is unknown. It has been attributed to Sir David Lyndsay and to one of the Wedderburns of Dundee. Sir J. H. Murray edited the work for the Early English Text Society in 1872.]
(a) From the Prolog to the Redar
. . . Nou heir i exort al philosophouris, historigraphours, and oratours of our Scottis natione, to support and til excuse my barbir agrest termis; for i thocht it nocht necessair til hef fardit ande lardit this tracteit vitht exquisites termis, quhilkis ar nocht daly vsit, bot rather i hef vsit domestic Scottis langage, maist intelli- gibil for the vlgare pepil. Ther hes been diuerse translatours ande compilaris in aid tymys, that tuke grite pleseir to contrafait ther vlgare langage, I0 mixand ther purposis vitht oncoutht exquisite termis, dreuyn, or rather to say mair formaly, reuyn, fra Lating, ande sum of them tuke pleiseir to gar ane vord of ther purpose to be ful of sillabis half ane myle of lyntht, as ther was ane 15 callit Hermes, quhilk pat in his verkis thir lang tailit vordis, conturbabuntur, constantinopolitani, innumerabilibus , solicitudinibus * Ther vas ane vthir that vrit in his verkis gaudet honorificabili- tudinitatibus. Al sic termis procedis of fantas-20
76 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
tiknes ande glorius consaitis. I hef red in ane beuk of ane preceptor that said til his discipulis, loquere verbis presentibus, and vtere moribus antiquis; that is to saye, thou sal speik comont
zslangage, and thou sal lyue eftir the verteous maneirs of antiant men. Yit nochtheles ther is mony vords of antiquite that I hef rehersit in this tracteit, the quhilkis culd nocht be translatit in oure Scottis langage, as augurts, auspices,
30 ides, questeours, senaturus, censours, pretours, tribuns, ande mony vthir Romane dictions. . . .
(b) The Fyrst Cheptovr
As the hie monarchis, lordschips, and autori- teis, ar stablit be the infinite diuyne ordinance, and menteinit be the sempeternal prouidens,
assiclyik ther ruuyne cummis be the sentence gyffin be the souerane consel of the diuyne sapiens, the quhilk doune thringis them fra the hie trone of ther imperial dominations, and garris them fal in the depe fosse of seruitude,
40 ande fra magnificens in ruuyne, and causis con- queriours to be conquest, ande til obeye ther vmquhile subiectis be dreddour, quhome of be for thai commandit be autorite. This decreit procedis of the diuyne iustice, be rason that
4sprincis and vthirs of autorite becummis ambitius
MIDDLE SCOTS 77
and presumpteous, throucht grite superfluite of veltht: ther for he dois chestee them be the abstractione of that superfluite; that is to say, he possessis vthir pure pepil, that knauis his gudnes, vitht the samyn reches that he hes taneso fra them that hes arrogantly misknauen hym. Ane pottar vil mak of ane masse of mettal diuerse pottis of defferent fassons, and syne he vil brak the grite pottis quhen thai pleyse hym nocht, and he makkis smal pottis of the brokyn verk5S of the grite pottis, and alse of the mettal and mater of the smal pottis he formis grit pottis. This exempil may be applyit to the subuertions and mutations of realmis ande dominions, ande of al varldly prosperite. Childir that ar neueo borne grouis and incressis quhil thai be ascendit to the perfyit stryntht of men : bot ther efter, tha begyn to decresse and declinis til eild ande to the dede. Siklyik lordschips ande digniteis hes incressing, declinatione, and exterminatione. 65 The mutations of euerye varldly thyng is certane, quhou beit that prosperus men prouidis nocht to resist the occasions of the mutabiliteis : quhilk occasions ar ay vigilant to suppedit and spulye al them that ar ingrate of the benefecis of Code. 70 The mutations of monarchis and dominions ar manifest in the holy scriptur and in the verkis of the maist famous anciant historiographours.
78 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Quhar is the grite and riche triumphand cite of 75 nynyue, quhilk bed thre dais iournais of circuit? At this tyme ther is nocht ane stane standant on ane vthir.
9. Sir David Lyndsay
[Sir David Lyndsay was born c. 1490, either in Fife, where the " Mount " is situated, or in East Lothian, where the property of Garmylton or Garleton lies. He probably completed his studies at the University of St. Andrews. He became attached to the Court, and held the post of personal attendant to the boy king, James V. Afterwards he was appointed to the office of Lyon King-at-Arms. He was both a religious and a political reformer. His writings are numerous, and have been edited by Dr. Laing and Dr. Small.]
(a) From the Dreme
COMPLAYNT OF THE COMMOUNWEILL OF SCOTLAND
And thus as we wer talking to and fro,
We saw a bousteous berne cum ouir the bent,
Bot hors, on fute, als fast as he mycht go,
Quhose raymentwes al raggit, revin, and rent; 5 With visage leyne, as he had fastit Lent:
And fordwart fast, his wayis he did advance,
With ane rycht melancolious countynance.
With scrip on hip, and pyikstaff in his hand, As he had purposit to passe fra hame
MIDDLE SCOTS 79
Quod I, Gude man, I wald faine understand, to Geve that ye plesit, to wyt, quhat wer your
name? Quod he, My Sonne, of that I think gret
schame ;
Bot, sen thow wald of my name have ane feill, Forsuith, thay call me John the Comrnounweill.
Schir Commounweill, quho hes yow so disgysit?is Quod I : or quhat makis yow so miserabyll?
I have marvell to se yow so supprysit, The quhilk that I have sene so honorabyll. To all the warld ye have bene profitabyll,
And weil honourit in everilk natioun : 20
How happinnis, now, your tribulatioun?
Allace ! quod he, thow seis how it dois stand With me, and quhow I am disherisit
Of all my grace, and mon pass of Scotland,
And go, afore quhare I was cherisit. 25
Remane I heir, I am bot perysit;
For thare is few to me that takis tent,
That garris me go so raggit, rewin, and rent.
My tender freindis are all put to the flycht;
For Policye is fled agane in France. 30
My syster, Justice, almaist haith tynt hir sycht,
That scho can nocht hald evinly the ballance.
Plane wrang is clene capitane of ordinance,
So SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
The quhilk debarris laute and reasoun ; 35 And small remeid is found for open treasoun.
In to the South, allace! I was neir slane;
Ouer all the land I culd fynd no relief: Almoist betuix the Mers and Lowmabane
I culde nocht knaw ane leill man be ane theif.
To schaw thair reif, thift, murthour, and mis- 4o cheif,
And vicious workis, it wald infect the air; And als langsum to me, for tyll declair.
In to the Hieland, I could fynd no remeid,
Bot suddantlie I wes put to exile: 45 Thai sweir swyngeoris thay tuke of me non heid,
Nor amangs thame lat me remane ane quhyle.
Als, in the Oute Ylis, and in Argyle, Unthrift, sweirnes, falset, povertie, and stryfe Pat Policye in dainger of hir lyfe.
50 In the Lawland I come to seik refuge,
And purposit thare to mak my residence ; Bot singulare profeit gart me soune disluge, And did me gret injuries and offence And said to me, Swyith, harlote, hy thee
hence ;
55 And in this countre see thow tak no curis, So lang as my auctoritie induris.
MIDDLE SCOTS 81
And now I may mak no langer debait;
Nor I wate nocht quhome to I suld me mene ;
For I have socht throw all the spirituall stait, Quhilkis tuke na compt for to heir me complene : 60 Thair officiaris, thay held me at disdene;
For Symonie, he rewlis up all that rowte ;
And Covatyce, that Carle, gart bar me owte. . . .
(b) From Ane Satyr of the Thrie Estaitis
THE BLAK VIRITIE
Pauper
Gude man, will ye gif me of your charitie, And I sail declair yow the black veritie. 65
My Father was ane auld man, and ane hoir, And was of age fourscoir of yeirs and moir And Maid, my mother, was fourscoir and fyfteine, And with my labour I did thame baith susteine. Wee had ane meir, that caryit salt and coill, 70 And everie ilk yeir, scho brocht us hame ane foill. Wee had thrie ky, that was baith fat and fair, Nane tydier into the toun of Air. My Father was sa waik of blude and bane, That he deit, quhairfoir my Mother maid great
maine: 75
Then scho deit, within ane day or two; And thair began my povertie and wo. Our gude gray meir was baittand in the feild, And our Land's laird tuik hir for his hyreild,
(C611) 6
82 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
80 The Vickar tuik the best cow be the held, Incontinent, quhen my father was deid. And quhen the Vickar hard tel how that my
mother
Was deid, fra hand, he tuke to him ane uther: Then Meg, my wife, did murne baith evin and
morrow,
85 Till at the last scho deit for verie sorrow : And quhen the Vickar hard tell my wyfe was dead The thrid cow he cleikit be the heid. Thair umest clayis, that was of rapploch gray, The Vickar gart his Clark bear them away. 90 Quhen all was gane, I micht mak na debeat, Bot with my bairns past for till beg my meat. Now, naif I tald yow the blak veritie, How I am brocht into this miserie.
10. Hamilton's Catechism
[Hamilton's Catechism consists of a series of homilies dealing with the Ten Commandments and other subjects. In 1552 it was issued to the clergy, who were instructed to read the homilies to their congregations from the pulpit. Its author or authors are not known. It is called Arch- bishop Hamilton's Catechism because he is said to have borne the expense of its publication.]
(a) The First Command
Nother can thai excuse thame self fra trans- gression of the first command, that superstici-
MIDDLE SCOTS 83
ously observis ane day mair than ane other, as certane craftismen, quhilk will nocht begin thair warke on the saterday, certane schipmen or 5 marinars will nocht begin to sail on the satter- day, certane travelars will nocht begin thair jornay on the satterday, quhilk is plane super- stition, because that God almychty made the satterday as well as he made all other day is ofio the wouke. Quharfor all lesum warkis may be begon als well on the Satterday as ony other day of the wouke, quhilk is nocht commandit haly day. Siclik supersticion is amang thame, that will nocht berish or erde the bodis of thair 15 freindis on the North part of the kirk yard, trowand that thair is mair halynes or vertew on the South syde than on the North. It is nocht unknawin to us, that mony and sundry uther sinfull and damnable kindis of witchecraftis and 20 superstitionis ar usit amang sum men and wemen, quhilk at this tyme we can nocht re- herse and reprove in special, thairfor according to our dewtie we require yow forbeir thame all, because thai ar all damnable to your saulis. 25
(b) The Third Command
... Mairouir on the Sunday, the father suld teche his barn is, the master his servandis, to ken and feir God, to ken the artikillis of our fayth,
84 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
how thai suld say thair Pater noster to God, with
3o faith and devotion, to ken and keip the com- mandis of God, to forbeir all deidly synnis, thus suld thai do als mekil as thai can and may, according to the grace of God gevin to thame. Furthermair, on the Sunday men suld rest fra
35 bodily labouris in getting of temporal geir, except sum greit necessite or utilite of him self or of his nychbour or of the common weil, quhilk may nocht be weil postponit may excuse thame. And abone all this, all men and wemen with diligens,
4o nocht only suld forbeir vice and syn on the Sun- day and all other dayis, bot specially on the Sunday, suld eschew all ydilnes, vaine talking, bakbyting, sclandering, blasphematioun of the name of God and contentioun and also all occa-
45sionis of syn, as dansyng, unnecessarie drinking, wantones, lecherous sangis and tweching, hur- done, carting and dysing, and specially carreling and wanton synging in the kirk, and all uthir vice quhilk commonly hes bein maist usit on the
50 sunday. . . .
Quha brekis thair halie day? All thai quhilk will not exerce and occupy thame self in thir spiritual warkis afore rehersit. Thai that will nocht heir the word of God, loif and thank him
55 in company of the christin peple. Thai that will nocht thoil thair servandis to cum to the kirk on
•
>vith
MIDDLE SCOTS 85
the Sunday, but kepis thame in warldly besines occupeit, for thair vile lucre in doing of thair warldly erandis. Thai that cummis to the kirk and prayis nocht nor worschippis nocht God als 60 well with the spirit as with the mouth and in- wartlie in verite. Thai that beand in the kirk in the tyme of Godis word or service, occupeis thame self in vaine evil or ony warldly talking, lauchhing, scorning, or ony siclik doingis. 65
1 1 . John Knox
[John Knox's History of the Reformation was written for the most part between the years 1559-1566. It has been published several times. The following" passage is taken from Dr. Laing's edition of the Reformer's works.]
St. Giles' Day, 1558
Yit wold nott the Preastis and Freiris cease to have that great solempnitie and manifest abho- minatioun which thei accustomablie had upoun Sanct Geillis day, to witt, thei wold have that idole borne ; and tharefor was all preparatioun 5 necessar deuly maid. A marmouset idole was borrowed fra the Gray Freiris (a silver peise of James Carmichaell was laid in pledge): it was fast fixed with irne nailles upon a barrow, called thare fertour. Thare assembled Preastis, Frearis, J0 Chanonis, and rottin Papistes, with tabornes and
86 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
trumpettis, banerris and bage-pypes, and who was thare to led the ring but the Quein Regent hir self, with all her schaivelingis, for honour of
15 that feast. West about goes it, and cumis doun the Hie Streat, and doun to the Can no Croce. The Quein Regent dyned that day in Sandie Carpetyne's housse, betuix the Bowes, and so when the idole returned back agane, sche left it,
20 and past in to hir dennar. The heartes of the brethrein war wonderouslie inflammed, and seing such abominatioun so manifestlie manteaned, war decreed to be revenged. Thei war devided in severall cumpanyes, wharof not one knew of
25ane other. Thare war some temperisaris that day (amonges whome David Forress, called the Generall, was one), who, fearing the chance to be dune as it fell, laubored to stay the brethrein. Butt that could not be; for immediatelie after
3o that the Quein was entered in the loodgeing, some of those that war of the interprise drew ney to the idole, as willing to help to bear him, and getting the fertour upon thare schulderis, begane to schudder, thinking that thairby the
35 idole should have fallin. But that was provided and prevented by the irne nailes, as we have said; and so, begane one to cry "Doun with the idole; doun with it"; and so without delay it was pulled doun. Some brag maid the
MIDDLE SCOTS 87
Preastis patrons at the first; but when thei saw 40 the febilnes of thare god (for one took him by the heillis, and dadding his head to the calsay, left Dagon without head or handis, and said " Fye upon thee, thow young Sanct Geile, thy father wold haif taryed four such"): this con- 45 siddered, we say, the Preastis and Freiris fled faster than thei did at Pynckey Clewcht. Thare mycht have bein sein so suddane a fray as seildome hes bein sein amonges that sorte of men within this realme; for doun goes the croses, of 50 goes the surpleise, round cappes cornar with the crounes. The Gray Freiris gapped, the Blak Frearis blew, the Preistis panted and fled, and happy was he that first gate the house; for such ane suddan fray came never amonges the genera- 5S tion of Antichrist within this realme befoir.
12. Lindsay of Pitscottie
[Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie is said to have been born in 1532, and to have died in 1578. His Historic and Cronicles of Scotland begins with the year 1437, and comes down to the year 1575. By some he is regarded as "the foremost historian in the vernacular " that Scotland has produced. The History was first printed in 1728. The following passage is taken, by permission, from the edition prepared by Sheriff Mackay for the Scottish Text Society.]
88 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Ane Mirakitt Sen
At this tyme the king come to Lythtgo, quhair he hapnit for the tyme to be at consall, werie sad and dollarous, makand his divotioun to God to send him good chance and fortoun in his 5woage. In this mean tyme thair come ane man clade in ane blew goune in at the kirk doore witht ane roll of lynning claith, ane pair of bot- touns on his feit to the great of his lege witht all wther hose and claithis conforme thairto, bot he 10 had nothing on his heid bot syde reid yallow hair behind and on his halffitis quhilk wan doun to his schoulderis, bot his forheid was beld and bair. He semmit ane man of lij yeiris witht ane great pyk-staff in his hand and come fast ford- is ward amang the lordis cryand and speirand for the king, sayand he desyrit to speik witht him, quhill at the last he come quhair the king was sittand in the dask at his prayeris. Bot quhene he saw the king he maid him lyttill reverence or aosallutatioun bot leinitt doune groufflingis on the dask befoir him and said to him in this maner as eftir followis: — " Schir king, my mother hes send me to the desiring the nocht to pase at this tyme quhair thow art purpossit, ffor gif thow dois 25thow wilt nocht fair weill in thy journay nor nane that passis witht the; forther scho bad the
MIDDLE SCOTS 89
nocht mell witht no wemen nor wse witht thair counsall, nor lat thame nocht tuitch thy body nor thow thairs, for and thow do it, thow wilbe confoundit and brocht to schame". Be this 30 man had spokin thir wordis in to the kingis grace, the ewin song was neir done, and the king panssit on thir wordis studeing to gif him ane ansuer, bot in the meane tyme befor the kingis face, and in presentis of all his lordis that 35 was about him for the time, this man wanischit away and could in no wayis be sen nor compre- hendit, bot wanischit away as he had bene ane blink of the sone or ane quhipe of the whirle- wind and could no more be seine. I hard say 40 Schir Dawid Lyndsay Lyoun harrott and Johnne Inglische the mairchall quho war at that tyme young men and spetiall serwandis to the kingis grace war standand presentlie besyde the king quho thocht to have layit handis on this man 45 that they might haue speirit forder tydingis at him, bot all for nocht; they could not tueiche him, ffor he wanischit away betuix them and was no more sen.
13. Alexander Montgomerie
[Alexander Montgomerie is believed to have been born at Hazelhead Castle, in Ayrshire, somewhere before the middle of the sixteenth century. It is believed also that
9o SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
he was a younger son of the Laird of Hazelhead, a scion of the noble house of Eglinton. His best-known work is " The Cherrie and the Slae ". He also wrote the " Pol wart and Montgomerie Flyting ", and many sonnets and minor poems. His death is set down at between 1605
The Night is neir Gone
Hay ! nou the day daw is ; The jolie cok crauis ; Nou shroudis the shauis,
Throu Natur anone. s The thissel-cok cryis,
On louers vha lyis. Nou skaillis the skyis;
The nicht is neir gone.
The feildis ouerflouis 10 With gouans that grouis;
Quhair lilies lyk lou is,
Als rid as the rone. The turtill that treu is, With nots that reneuis, 15 Hir pairtie perseuis ;
The nicht is neir gone.
Nou hairtis with hyndis, Conforme to thair kyndis, Hie tursis thair tyndis 20 On grund vhair they grone,
MIDDLE SCOTS 91
Nou hurchonis with hairis Ay passis in pairis, Quhilk deuly declaris The nicht is neir gone.
The sesone excellis 25
Thrugh sueetnes that smellis; Nou Cupid compellis
Our hairtis ech one On Venus vha vaikis To muse on our maikis, 30
Syn sing for thair saikis: —
The nicht is neir gone.
All curageous kmchtis Aganis the day dichtis The breist plate that bricht is, 35
To fight with thair fone. The stoned steed stampis Thru curage and crampis, Syn on the land lampis:
The nicht is neir gone. 4°
The freikis on feildis That wight wapins weildis With shyning bricht shieldis
As Titan in trone ; Stiff speiris in reistis 45
92 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Ouer cursoris cristis Ar brok on thair breistis : The nicht is neir gone.
So hard ar thair hittis So Some sueyis, some sittis,
And some perforce flittis
On grund vhill they grone, Syn groom is that gay is, On blonkis that brayis, 5S With swordis assayis:
The nicht is neir gone.
14. Burgh Records of Edinburgh
[A series of four volumes of extracts from these records was published between the years 1869 and 1882 by the Scottish Burgh Records Society. They were edited by the late Sir James D. Marwick, LL.D.]
(a) Silver Wark
i August, 1560. [The provost, bailies, council, and deacons of crafts] decerns and concludis that the silver wark pertenyng to the gude toun vsit in Sanct Gelis Kirk in tymes past, bayth gilt 5 and vngilt, be with all deligence sauld or cunyet, and the money thairof to be waryt vpoun the commoun warkis, and in speciall vpoun the re- paratioun and decoring of the Kirk conforme to
MIDDLE SCOTS 93
the ordinance maid the xix day of [lunii] last, and siclike ordains the hale vestimenttis, kaipis, 10 and vther kirk grayth in lik maner to be sauld and bestowit vpoun the said kirk wark, quhilk beand compleit, the superplus to be deliuerit to Alexander Park, or the vther thesaurer for the tyme, to be waryt vpoun the wallis, commoun 15 warkis of the toun, or for redemyng of the townys landis being in wedsett, as the counsale sail think maist expedient. And for mair haistye expeditioun and completing of the said kirk wark ordanis the personis quhilkis hes the said siluer2o wark and kirk grayth in keiping to be warnyt vpoun nyxt to produce the samyn before
the counsale, and to be deliuerit to James Bar- roun dene of gild and Alexander Park thesaurer, to be sauld or cunyet be thair avise, and the 25 money thairof to be intromettit with be the said dene of gild and applyit as said is, and be to rander compt of the samyn.
(b) Wobsterris, the Kirk of S. Giles
ii April, 1562. The prouest, baillies and counsale foresaid ordanis proclamatioun to be3o maid with sound of bell throuch all parttis of the toun neidfull, certefeing thame that vpoun the suspecioun and evill brute rasit vpoun the wob-
94 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
steris of thair vnjust deling with all sic as hes
35 ado with thair craft, it is appoynttit that betuix
and Monunday nixt the saidis wobsteris set vp
their lomes in ane wolt preparit for thame in the
rufe of Sanct Gelis Kirk, and thair to wyrk for
tryell of thair said wark, quhair certane honest
4osworne men, merchanttis and craftismen, sail be
deput to await vpoun thame, and thairfor that
the saidis nychtbouris bring thair wark to the
said wolt and na vther place, quhill the said
tryell be tane; ilk persoun that sail do in the
4scontrair to be poyndit for the vnlaw of xviijs.
vnforgevin.
(c) The Sabboth Day
ii February, 1586. Fynds it expedient, stat- utes and ordanis, for better obseruatioun of the Sabboth day, that na warkmanis buithis be haldin
sooppin or any wark wrocht at any tyme the said day, and that nane hald market or be found hanting or repairing thairto fra nyne houris in the morning quhill four houris afternone, and that nane hald oppin tavernis of wyne or aill,
55 and na commoun cuiks be selling thair meits in tyme of preacheing and prayers within or with- out thair howssis, and that nane be fund in the caitchepulles or at the ailay bowlis or exerceand
MIDDLE SCOTS 95
any playes or pastyme the said tyme. Siclyke, on the owlk dayes, Wednisday and Fryday, fra6o the greitt bell ring quhill the preacheing and prayeris be endet, that na merchants haif thair buithis oppin; alsa that the butter merket be nocht haldin or strukkin vp on the Wednisdayes and Frydayes quhill the preacheing and prayeris 65 be endet. And all thir to be kepit vnder the payne of aucht schillings to be tayne of ilk persoun contravenand any of the poynts before rehersit, and punesing of thair persouns at the will of the magestrats swa oft as thai failyie ; and 70 ordanis proclamatioun to be maid heirof throw this burgh.
(d) Proclamatio^ trublance in the Kirk
21 March, 1589. Vnderstanding that dyuers contentious and wikket pepill hes in tymes past maid thair trublances within the Hie Kirk of75 this burgh, be iniureing thair nichtbouris, draw- ing of swords, and schoting of pistolets, and thairby abvsing that place appoyntet cheiflie for Gods seruice. For remeid thairof, ordanis pro- clamatioun to be maid, commanding that naso maner of personis tak vpoun hand to mak ony sort of trublance be word or deid, bragging or provocatioun, within the said kirk, or yitt abuse
96 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
that place as it hes bene heirbefore; with certifi- es catioun to thame gif thai do the samyn that thai sail vnderly the dowbill paynes and pvnisements contenit in the townis statuts maid anent the trublances done in the hie streitts and forther sail be wairdet for xv dayes gif thai draw ony 90 blwid, and for all vther trublances for the spaice of aucht dayes swa oft as thai failyey.
III. MODERN SCOTS
Outline of Grammatical Forms
After the Union of the Crowns Scottish writers divided themselves into two classes — those who wrote in English, and those who continued to write in the vernacular.
Among writers of the vernacular many words were bor- rowed from the English and Scotticized. At the same time many Scots words were Anglicized.
The development of the English tendency in the verna- cular, which may be traced as far back as the times of Lyndsay and Knox, was due to a large extent to the use of the English Bible — no Scots Bible or New Testament being then known to exist.
Among the changes introduced into Modern as com- pared with Middle Scots are frequently, but not invariably:
(a) Orthographical :
1. a into 0, as ane, one; alsa, also; ga> go; stane^
stone; quha, who; na, no; warkt work.
2. e into a, as wes, was ; hes, has.
3. es into ae, as hes, hae.
4. quh into wht as quha, who; quham, whom.
(b) Grammatical :
1. Change of -is as sign of genitive into 's.
2. Change of -it, -yt in past tense and past parti-
ciple of weak verbs into -ed.
3. Change of 3rd pers. sing, indie, into -ith, -eih,
and of the 2nd pers. sing. pres. indie, into -est, -st\ later, dropping of all the personal termina-
(0511) 97 7
98 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
tions in the pres. indie, sing, and plur. and the adoption of those used in English.
4. Dropping of the present participle in -and, -ande,
and constant use in its place of the southern termination -ing, as loving for fofand, luffand, or lovande.
5. Use of should for suld, whiche for white, frame for
fra, these for thir.
6. Omission ot consonants at the end of words, as
fu for full ; ivi for with ; and sometimes vowels from the middle of words, as brightning, printed bright'ning, for brightening.
7. The Anglicizing tendency is seen more in the
writers of prose than in the vernacular poetry. Here the old orthography and grammatical forms are more carefully preserved.
i. Tak your Auld Cloak about ye
[Anonymous, c. 1605]
In winter, when the rain rain'd cauld,
And frost and snaw on ilka hill, And Boreas, wi' his blasts sae bauld,
Was threatening a' our kye to kill ; s Then Bell, my wife, wha lo'es nae strife,
She said to me richt hastilie, Get up, gudeman, save Crummie's life,
And tak your auld cloak about ye.
My Crummie is a usefu' cow, 10 And she is come of a good kin* ;
MODERN SCOTS 99
Aft has she wet the bairnis mou',
And I am laith that she should tyne;
Get up, gudeman, it is fu' time, The sun shines i' the lift sae hie;
Sloth never made a gracious end ; J5
Gae tak your auld cloak about ye.
My cloak was ance a gude gray cloak,
When it was fitting for my wear; But now it 's scantly worth a groat,
For I have worn 't thir thretty year; 20
Let 's spend the gear that we hae won,
We little ken the day we '11 de; Then I '11 be proud, since I have sworn
To hae a new cloak about me.
In days when our King Robert rang, 25
His trews they cost but half a croun ; He said they were a groat ower dear,
And ca'd the tailor " Thief " and " Loon ". He was the king that wore a croun,
And thou 'rt a man of laigh degree; 30
It's pride puts a' the country doun ;
Sae tak your auld cloak about ye.
Ilka land has its ain lauch,
Ilk kind o' corn has its ain hool; I think the warld is a' gane wrang, 35
When ilka wife her man wad rule;
ioo SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Do ye no see Rob, Jock, and Hab,
As they are girded gallantlie, While I sit hurklin' i' the ase?— 40 I '11 hae a new cloak about me.
Gudeman, I wat 't is thretty year
Sin we did ane anither ken ; And we hae had atween us twa
Of lads and bonnie lasses ten ; 45 Now they are women grown and men,
I wish and pray weel may they be; If you wad prove a gude husband
E'en tak your auld cloak about ye.
Bell, my wife, she lo'es nae strife, So But she wad guide me if she can ; And to maintain an easy life,
I aft man yield, though I 'm gudeman. Naught 's to be gained at woman's hand
Unless you gie her a' the plea; 55 Then I '11 leave aff where I began, And tak my auld cloak about me.
2. James Melvill
[James Melvill, brother of the more celebrated Andrew Melvill, was born July 26, 1556, in the parish of Mary- town, near Montrose, and died January 19, 1614. He was educated at St. Andrews, and became minister of Kilrenny in Fife, then Regent in the University of Glasgow, and
MODERN SCOTS 101
afterwards Professor in that of St. Andrews. The follow- ing passage is taken from his Autobiography and Diary. ,]
Flight by Sea
The newes that comes to me the morn was that the Bischope's men with the Magistrats haid bein cersing the Collage and my hous for me, and haid sought out all my lettrones and wryttes ; and that my dittay was allready inacted, interteinings of intelligence with my uncle, the King's rebel &c.
Sa, seiking resolution cairfullie of my God what to do, a cusing of my awin name, of his awin frie motion and accord, offerit to me, be the assistance of God, to put me saiff in Berwik 10 within twentie-four hours be sie. To this also my uncle Roger and uther frinds aggreit. Sa, efter consultation with my God, and finding of his warrand in my hart, I concludit to go, albeit nocht without grait tentationes and mikle heavi- 15 nes; yit on the part rejoysing that God gaiff the hart to leave native countrey, house, and sweit loving new-maried wyff, and all for the love of him and his Chryst. Thus my cusing, being a mariner, conducit a bott to carie a town of his 20 portage wyn about to Carell, and decking me upe in his sie attyre betymes in the morning, about the simmer solstice, tuk me in down under Dondie as a ship-broken sie-man; and rowing
t02 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
25 about, behoved to go to the heavin of St Androis, to lose a certean of skleatt steanes ; and because it was law water, we behoved to ly a whyll in the road till the water grew, whare the bott wanting ane owerlaft, the seall was cassen ower
aohir ta end, and ther I leyed upe, lest I sould be spyed of sum shipes rydding besyde. Bot within schort space, partlie be rokking in the sie, and partlie for want of care, I grew sa extream seik, that manie a tyme I besaught my cowsing to sett
35 me a-land; schosin rather anie sort of dethe, for a guid cause nor sa to be tormented in a stinking holl. And yit, whowbeit it was extream peanfull, I gat ther notable medicin of vomitine, quhilk was a preservative to my helthe all that
4oyeir. Sa, coming hard to the steppis of the Archbischope's peire at St Androis, we lossit our skleattes, and tuk in vivers, and rowit out agean immediatlie, and cam that night to Pit- millie-burn-mouthe, wher I gead a-land, and
45 reposit me in my sie abbat. And efter offers of grait kyndnes be the Lard, and furnitour of a rubber of stark Merche call, betymes in the morning we rowit out about the Nes. The day was hat. Ther was bot twa men in the bott, by
50twa cusings of myne, with my selff. Of these twa, we haid ane at our devotion ; the uther was the awner of the bott, and verie evill-affected;
MODERN SCOTS 103
hot the hat rowing and the stope with the stark call hard besyd him, maid him atteanes to keave ower aslipe. And it pleased God to send ass prettie pirhe of wound, wherby getting on a seall upon hir, or ever our schipper wakned we was a guid space besouthe the May; wha, seing he could nocht mend him selff, was fean to yeild and agrie with his merchant for a hyre to Ber-6o wik. Bot being af and on with Dumbar, about ane efter noone comes af the hilles of Lamermure- age a grait mist with a tempestuous schoure and drow, quhilk, or we could gett our sealles taklit, did cast us about, and, or my cusing was awar, 65 caried us bak almaist to the May, with sic a how wa and spene-drift that, the bott being opin, he lukit for grait danger giff the stormie schoure haid continowed. Bot the young man being verie skilfull and able, starts to his kist, and tuk7o out a compas, and finding us contrare our course, with mikle ado, wanting helpe, and schipping of mikle water, he cust about and pykit on the wind, halding bathe the helme and scheit, sus- teining in the mean tyme evill langage of the 75 schippar in stead of helpe, till it pleasit God mercifullie to luik upon us, and within an houre and a halff to dryve away the schoure and calme the drow, sa that it fell down dead calme about the sune drawing leache. 80
io4 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
To keipe the sie all night in an opin litle bott, it was dangerus, and to go to Dumbar we durst nocht; sa, of necessitie, we tuk us toward St Tab's Heid. Bot we haiffing bot twa eares, and
85 the boot slaw and heavie, it was about alleavin houres of the night or we could win ther; whow- beit, na man was ydle, yea, I rowit my selff, till the hyd cam af my fingars, mair acquented with the pen nor working on an are. Coming under
90 the crag, we rowit in with a prettie lytle holl betwix the mean and the head, whare easilie going a-land, we refreschit us with cauld water and wyne; and returning to our boot, sleipit the dead of the night, bot neidit nan to wakin us,
95 for soon, be the daylight piped, ther was sic a noyse of foulles on the crag, and about us, be- cause of thair young annes, that we war almaist pressed to lainche out. Now we had Cawding- ham bay and Haymouth to pas by, and that but
icoslawly, rowing be the land, whar the residence of Alexander Home of Manderston, an of our chief? confederat enemies, and wha had inter- cepted a boot of the Earle of Angus coming about from Tamtallon to Berwik nocht lang befor.
105 This put us in grait feir ; bot our guid God gardit us, making a sweik thik mist till aryse, wherby we might bot skarslie gis at the sight of the land; and tharfra nane could sie us. Sa we cam on
MODERN SCOTS 105
hulie and fear till we wan within the bounds of Berwik. no
3. Robert Baillie
[Robert Baillie was born in 1599, and died in 1662. For a time he was minister of Irvine, and for a short time before his death Principal of Glasgow University. He was a learned man and a voluminous writer. The best known of his works is his Letters and Journals, a work of exceptional interest. He took part in most of the great events of his time or was an eyewitness of them, and in his Letters and Journal he describes them vividly.]
(a) The General Assembly at Glasgow (1638)
On Fryday, the i6th of November, we in the West, as we were desyred came to Glasgow; our noblemen, specially Eglinton, backed with great numbers of friends and vassalls. We were informed that the Commissioner and Counsellors 5 were to take up the Toun with great numbers of their followers; so the nearest noblemen and gentlemen were desyred to come in that night well attended. The Toun did expect and pro- vide for huge multitudes of people and putt on 10 their houses and beds excessive pryces: bot the diligence of the magistrates, and the vacancie of manie roomes, did quicklie moderate that excesse. We were glad to see such order and large provision above all men's expectation; fori5 this that Toun gott much both thanks and credit;
io6 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
it can lodge easily at once, both Counsell, Ses- sion, Parliament, and Generall Assemblie, when- ever it shall be required. . . .
20 On Wedensday, the 2ist November, with much adoe could we throng into our places, one evill which troubled us much the first fourtein dayes of our sitting. The magistrates with their toun guard, the noblemen, with the assistance of
25 the gentrie, whyles the Commissioner in person, could not gett us entrie to our roomes, use what force, what policie they could, with such delay of tyme and thrumbling through, as did grieve and offend us. Whether this evill be common
30 to all nations, at all publick confluences, or it be proper to the rudeness of our nation alone, or whether in thir late tymes, the love and admira- tion of this new reformation, have at all publick meetings steared up a greater then ordinarie zeal
35 in the multitude to be present for hearing and seeing, or what is the speciall cause of this irre- mediable evill, I doe not know; only I know my speciall offence for it, and wishes it remeedit above any evill that ever I knew in the service
4o of God among us. As yet, no appearance of redress. It is here alone, where, I think, we might learne from Canterburie, yea, from the Pope, from the Turks, or Pagans, modestie and manners; at least their deep reverence in the
MODERN SCOTS 107
house they call God's cea'ses not till it have led 45 them to the adoration of the timber and stones of the place. We are here so farr the other way that our rascals, without shame, in great num- bers, make such dinn and clamour in the house of the true God, that if they minted to use the 50 like behaviour in my chamber, I could not be content till they were down the stairs.
(b) The Accusation of Lord Strafford
The Lieutenant of Ireland came bot on Monday to toun late; and on Tuesday rested; on Wed- nesday came to Parliament; bot ere night he 55 was caged. Intolerable pryde and oppression cryes to Heaven for vengeance. The Lower House closed their doores; the Speaker keeped the keyes till his accusation was concluded. Thereafter Mr. Pym went up, with a number at 60 his back, to the Higher House, and, in a prettie short speech, did, in the name of the Lower House, and in the name of the Commons of all England, accuse Thomas Earle of Strafford, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, of high treasone, 65 and required his person to be arreisted till pro- batione might be heard. So Pym and his back removed; the Lords began to consult on that strange and unexpected motion. The word goes
io8 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
7o in haste to the Lord Lieutenant, where he was with the King; with speed he comes to the House; he calls rudelie at the doore. James Maxwell, keeper of the Black-Rod, opens; his Lordship, with a proud glouming countenance,
75 makes towards his place at the boord-head ; hot at once manie bids him void the house; so he is forced in confusion to goe to doore till he was called. After consultation, being called in, he stands, bot is commanded to kneel 1, and, on his
80 knees, to hear the sentence. Being on his knees, he is delyvered to the keeper of the Black-Rod, to be prisoner till he has beared of these crymes the House of Commons did charge him with. He offered to speak, bot was commanded to be
85 gone without a word. In the outer roome James Maxwell required him, as prisoner, to deliver his sword ; when he had gotten it, he cryes with a loud voyce for his man to carrie my Lord Lieutenant's sword. This done, he makes
90 through a number of people towards his coatch, all gazeing, no man capping to him, before whom that morning the greatest of England would have stood discovered: all crying, What is the matter? He said, A small matter I warrand yowl
95 They replyed, Yes indeed, high treason is a small matter! Coming to the place where he expected his coatch, it was not there; so he
MODERN SCOTS 109
behooved to returne that same way through a world of gazeing people. When at last he had found his coatch, and was entering, James Max- 100 well told him, Your Lordship is my prisoner, and must goe in my coatch ; so he behooved to doe. For some dayes too manie went to visit him, bot since, the Parliament hes commanded his keeping to be straiten 105
4. Gilderoy
[Authorship uncertain, c. 1638]
Gilderoy was a bonnie boy,
Had roses to his shoon ; His stockings were of silken soy,
With garters hanging doun. It was, I ween, a comelie sight 5
To see sae trim a boy ; He was my jo and heart's delight,
My handsome Gilderoy.
Oh! sic twa charming een he haid,
Breath sweet as any rose; 10
He never wore a Highland plaid, But costly silken clothes.
He gained the luve of ladies gay; Nane e'er to him was coy ;
i io SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
15 Ah! wae is me, I mourn the day For my dear Gilderoy.
My Gilderoy and I were born
Baith in ae toun thegither; We scant were seven years beforn 20 We gan to luve each ither.
Our daddies and our mammies they
Were filled with meikle joy, To think upon the bridal day
Of me and Gilderoy.
25 For Gilderoy, that luve of mine,
Gude faith, I freely bocht A wedding sark of Holland fine
With dainty ruffles wrocht; -And he gied me a wedding ring, 30 Which I received with joy,
Nae lad nor lassie e'er could sing Like me and Gilderoy.
With meikle joy we spent our prime
Till we were baith sixteen ; 35 And aft we passed the langsome time
Amang the leaves sae green. Aft on the banks we 'd set us there
And sweetly kiss and toy ; While he with garlands decked my hair, 40 My handsome Gilderoy.
MODERN SCOTS in
Oh, that he still had been content
With me to lead his life ! But, ah ! his manful heart was bent
To stir in deeds of strife ; And he in many a vent'rous deed 45
His courage bauld wad try; And now this gars my heart to bleed
For my dear Gilderoy.
And when of me his leave he took,
The tears they wet mine ee; 50
I gave him sic a parting look —
" My benison gang wi' thee. God speed thee weel, mine ain dear heart,
For gane is all my joy ; My heart is rent, sith we maun part, 55
My handsome Gilderoy."
The Queen of Scots possessit nocht
That my love let me want ; For cow and sow he to me brocht,
And e'en when they were scant. 60
All these did honestly possess;
He never did annoy Who never failed to pay their cess
To my luve, Gilderoy.
My Gilderoy baith far and near 65
Was fear'd in every toun ;
ii2 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
And bauldly bore awa the gear
Of many a Lowland loun. For man to man durst meet him nane, 70 He was sae brave a boy ;
At length with numbers he was tane,
My winsome Gilderoy.
Wae worth the louns that made the laws,
To hang a man for gear; 75 To reave of life for ox or ass,
For sheep or horse or mean Had not their laws been made sae strict,
I ne'er had lost my joy, With sorrow ne'er had wet my cheek 8o For my dear Gilderoy.
Gif Gilderoy had done amiss,
He micht hae banisht been; Ah, what sair cruelty is this,
To hang sic handsome men ! 85 To hang the flower of Scottish land,
Sae sweet and fair a boy! Nae ladye had sae white a hand
As thee, my Gilderoy.
Of Gilderoy sae feart they were, 90 They bound him fast and strong;
To Edinbro they led him there, And on a gallows hung.
MODERN SCOTS 113
They hung him high aboon the rest,
He was sae trim a boy; There died the youth whom I lu'ed best, 95
My handsome Gilderoy.
Soon as he yielded up his breath,
I bore his corpse away ; With tears that trickled for his death,
I washed his comelie clay, IQC
And siccar in a grave richt deep
I laid the dear-luved boy ; And now for ever I maun weep
My winsome Gilderoy.
5. John Spalding
[John Spalding was born about 1609, and died in 1700. He was clerk of the Constitutional Court of the diocese of Aberdeen and an Episcopalian. His Memorialls of the Trubles in England and Scotland (1624-45), from which the following is taken, is a valuable record written from the point of view of an Aberdonian Episcopalian.]
The Execution of Strafford
When he cam to the scaffold, he then schewed him self on eche syde in full view to all the people, and maid this schort speiche with alss muche alacrite of spirit as a mortall man could express, viz. Then turning himself about, he saluted all 5
(0611) 8
ii4 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
the noble men, and took a solempne leive of all considerabill persons on the scaffold, giveing them his hand. And efter that he said, ''Gentle- men, I wold say my prayeris, and I intreat yow
10 all to pray with me, and for me". Then his cheplane kist the buke of common-prayer upone the chair befoir him as he kneillit doun, on whiche he prayed almost ane quarter of ane hour; then he prayed alss long, or longer, with-
15 out ane book, and ended with the Lordis prayer. Then standing up, he espyes his brother, Schir George Wentworth, and calles him to him, and sayeth, " Brother, we must pairt. Remember me to my sister and to my wife, and carie my
20 blissing to my eldest sone. . . . Carie my bliss- ing to my daughteris, Anne and Arabella ; charge them to feir and serve God, and he will bliss them; not forgetting my litle infant, that yit knowis neither good nor evill, and can not speik
25 for itself; God speik for it, and bliss it." Then said he, "Now I haue nigh done. One stroak will mak my wife husbandles, my deir children fatherles, and my pure seruandis maisterles, and seperat me from my deir brother and all my
3ofreindis; but let God be to yow and them all in all."
After that, going to tak af his doublet, and mak him self reddy, he said, " I thank God, I
MODERN SCOTS 115
am no more effrayed of deathe nor daunted with ony discouragementis rysing from ony fear, but 35 doe as cheirfullie put af my doublet at this tyme, as euer I did when I went to bed ". Then he put af his doublet, and wynd up his hair with his handis, and put on a white cap.
Then he called, " Where is the man that sould4o doe this last office " (meaning the executioner), "call him to me". When he cam and asked him forgiveness, he told him he forgave him and all the worlde. Then kneilling doun by the block, he went to prayer agane himself, the 45 bischop of Armach kneilling on the one syd, and the minister on the other; to the whiche minister (efter prayer) he turned himself, and spak sum few wordis softlie, haueing his handis lifted up. This minister cloised his handis with 50 his. Then, bowing him self to the erthe to lay his heid on the block, he told the executioner that he wold first lay doun his heid, to try the fitness of the block, and tak it up agane, befoir he wold lay it doune for good and all; and 5055 he did. And befoir he laid it doune agane, he told the executioner that he wold give him warn- ing when to strik by stretching furth his handis, and then laid doun his neck on the block, stretch- ing out his handis. The executioner strak of his 60 heid at ane blow; then he tuke the heid in his
u6 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
hand, and schewed it unto all the people, and said, God saif the King.
6. Fair Helen of Kirkconnel
[Authorship uncertain]
I wish I were where Helen lies! For night and day on me she cries. O that I were where Helen lies, On fair Kirkconnel lea!
5 Curst be the heart that thought the thought, And curst the hand that fired the shot, When in my arms fair Helen dropt, And died for luve o' me!
0 think na ye my heart was sair, 10 To see her lie and speak nae mair?
There did she swoon wi' meikle care, On fair Kirkconnel lea!
1 loutit down my sword to draw, I hackit him in pieces sma',
I5 I hackit him in pieces sma',
On fair Kirkconnel lea!
0 Helen fair beyond compare,
1 '11 make a garland of thy hair, And wear the same for evermair,
20 Until the day I dee!
MODERN SCOTS 117
0 Helen fair, O Helen chaste! Were I with thee, I wad be blest, Where thou lies low and at thy rest,
On fair Kirkconnel lea!
1 wish my grave were growing green, 25 A winding-sheet drawn ower my een,
And I in Helen's arms lying, On fair Kirkconnel lea!
I wish I were where Helen lies !
For night and day on me she cries ; 30
And I am weary of the skies,
For her sake that died for me.
7. There's nae Luck about the House
[Sung as a street ballad about 1772]
And are ye sure the news is true?
And are ye sure he 's weel? Is this a time to think o' wark,
Ye jauds? Fling by your wheel. Is this a time to think o' wark, 5
When Colin 's at the door? Rax me my cloak, — I '11 to the quay,
And see him come ashore.
For there 's nae luck about the house, There is nae luck at a' ; 10
ii8 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
There 's little pleasure in the house When our gudeman 's awa.
And gie to me my biggonet,
My bishop's satin gown, 15 For I maun tell the bailie's wife
That Colin 's come to town. My turkey slippers maun gae on,
My hose o' pearl blue ; 'T is a' to please my ain gudeman, 20 For he 's baith leal and true.
Rise up and mak a clean fireside ;
Put on the muckle pot; Gie little Kate her button gown,
And Jock his Sunday coat; 25 And mak their shoon as black as slaes,
Their hose as white as snaw ; It 's a' to please my ain gudeman,
For he 's been lang awa.
There 's twa fat hens upon the bauk, 3o They Ve fed this month and mair;
Mak haste and thraw their necks about,
That Colin weel may fare; And spread the table neat and clean,
Gar ilka thing look braw ; 35 For wha can tell how Colin fared When he was far awa.
MODERN SCOTS 119
Sae true his heart, sae smooth his speech,
His breath like caller air; His very foot has music in't,
As he comes up the stair; 40
And will I see his face again?
And will I hear him speak? I 'm downright dizzy wi' the thought, —
In troth I 'm like to greet.
The cauld blasts o' the winter wind, 45
That thirl'd through my heart, They 're a' blawn by, I hae him safe ;
Till death we '11 never part. But what puts parting in my head?
It may be far awa; 50
The present moment is our ain,
The neist we never saw.
Since Colin 's weel, I 'm weel content,
I hae nae mair to crave ; Could I but live to mak him blest, 55
I 'm blest aboon the lave. And will I see his face again?
And will I hear him speak ; I 'm downright dizzy wi' the thought, —
In troth I 'm like to greet. 60
For there 's nae luck, &c.
120 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
8. Allan Ramsay
[The author of The Gentle Shepherd was born at Lead- hills, in Lanarkshire, October 15, 1686. After his father's death he was taken to Edinburgh and apprenticed as a wig-maker, then a thriving trade. He appears to have prospered both in his business and socially. While attend- ing to his trade he collected poems, wrote poems, and published poems. He was a member of the Easy Club, which was suppressed in 1715. Few Scottish poets have had a greater influence over their successors. He died January 7, 1758.]
(a) Katy*s Answer
My mither 's ay glowran o'er me, Though she did the same before me;
I canna get leave
To look at my love, S Or else she '11 be like to devour me.
Right fain wad I take ye'r offer, Sweet Sir, but I '11 tine my tocher;
Then, Sandy, ye '11 fret
And wyte yer poor Kate 10 Whene'er ye keek in your toom coffer.
For though my father has plenty Of siller, and plenishing dainty,
Yet he 's unco sweer
To twine wi' his gear; 15 And sae we hae need to be tenty.
MODERN SCOTS 121
Tutor my parents wi' caution, Be wylie in ilka motion;
Brag weel o' ye'r land,
And there 's my leal hand, Win them, I '11 be at your devotion. 20
(b) Up in the Air
Now the sun 's gane out o' sight, Beet the ingle, and snuff the light; In glens the fairies skip and dance, And witches wallop o'er to France.
Up in the air, 25
On my bonny grey mare, And I see her yet, and I see her yet ;
Up in the air, &c.
The wind 's drifting hail and sna'
O'er frozen hags like a footba', 30
Nae starns keek through the azure slit,
'T is cauld and mirk as ony pit.
The man i' the moon
Is carousing aboon, D 'ye see, d 'ye see, d 'ye see him yet! 3S
The man i' the moon, fyc.
Tak' your glass to clear your een, 'T is the elixir hales the spleen,
122 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Baith wit and mirth it will inspire, 40 And gently puff the lover's fire.
Up in the air,
It drives away care, Hae wi' ye, hae wi' ye, and hae wi' ye, lads, yet,
Up in the air, &c.
45 Steek the doors, keep out the frost, Come, Willy, gie 's about ye'r toast; Tilt it, lads, and lilt it out, And let us hae a blythsome bout.
Up wi 't there, there, 50 Dinna cheat, but drink fair;
Huzza! and huzza! lads, yet, Up wi 't, &c.
(c) Patie's Song [From The Gentle Shepherd]
My Peggy is a young thing
Just entered in her teens, 55 Fair as the day, and sweet as May,
Fair as the day, and always gay. My Peggy is a young thing,
And I 'm na very auld ; Yet weel I like to meet her at 60 The wauking o' the fauld.
MODERN SCOTS 123
My Peggy speaks sae sweetly
Whene'er we meet alane, I wish nae mair to lay my care, I wish nae mair of a' that's rare.
My Peggy speaks sae sweetly, 65
To a' the lave I 'm cauld ; But she gars a' my spirits glow At wauking o' the fauld.
My Peggy smiles sae kindly
Whene'er I whisper love, 7°
That I look down on a' the town, That I look down upon a crown. My Peggy smiles sae kindly,
It makes me blyth and bauld ; And naething gies me sic delight 75
As wauking at the fauld.
My Peggy sings sae saftly
When on my pipe I play, By a' the rest it is confest, By a* the rest that she sings best. 80
My Peggy sings sae saftly,
And in her sangs are tald, With innocence the wale of sense, At wauking of the fauld.
i24 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
9. Rare Willie Drowned in Yarrow
[Authorship uncertain]
" Willie 's rare and Willie 's fair, And Willie 's wondrous bonnie,
And Willie hecht to marry me Gin e'er he married ony.
5 " Yestreen I made my bed fu' braid,
The nicht I '11 mak it narrow;
For a' the livelang winter nicht
I '11 lie twined o' my marrow.
" O cam ye by yon water side, 10 Pu'd ye the rose or lily;
Or cam ye by yon meadow green, Or saw ye my sweet Willie?"
She socht him east, she socht him west,
She socht him braid and narrow, i5 Syne in the clifting o' a craig
She found him drouned in Yarrow.
She 's ta'en three links o' her yallow hair That hang down lang and yallow,
And she 's tied it about sweet Willie's waist, And drawn him out o' Yarrow.
MODERN SCOTS 125
10. Robert Burns
[Born January 25, 1759; died July 21, 1796] (a) The Twa Dogs
'Twas in that place o' Scotland's isle,
That bears the name o' Auld King Coil,
Upon a bonie day in June,
When wearing thro' the afternoon,
Twa dogs, that were na thrang at hame, 5
Forgather'd ance upon a time.
The first I '11 name, they ca'd him Caesar, Was keepit for his Honour's pleasure : His hair, his size, his mouth, his lugs, Shewed he was nane o' Scotland's dogs; 10 But whalpet some place far abroad, Whare sailors gang to fish for cod.
His locked, letter'd, braw brass collar, Shew'd him the gentleman and scholar; But tho' he was o' high degree, 15
The fient a pride nae pride had he ; But wad hae spent an hour caressin', Ev'n wi' a tinkler-gipsey's messin. At kirk or market, mill or smiddie, Nae tawted tyke, tho' e'er sae duddie, 20
But he wad stan't, as glad to see him, An' stroan't on stanes and hillocks wi' him.
The tither was a ploughman's collie, A rhyming, ranting, raving billie,
126 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
25 Wha for his friend and comrade had him, An' in his freaks had Luath ca'd him, After some dog in Highland sang, Was made lang syne, Lord knows how lang. He was a gash an' faithfu' tyke,
30 As ever lap a sheugh or dike.
His honest, sonsie, baws'nt face Ay gat him friends in ilka place; His breast was white, his touzie back Weel clad wi' coat o' glossy black ;
35 His gawcie tail, wi' upward curl, Hung owre his hurdies wi' a swirl,
Nae doubt but they were fain o' ither, An' unco pack an' thick thegither; Wi' social nose whyles snuff d and snowket ;
4o Whyles mice and moudieworts they howket; Whyles scour'd awa in lang excursion, An' worry'd ither in diversion ; Until wi' daffin weary grown, Upon a knowe they sat them down,
45 An' there began a lang digression About the lords o' the creation.
(b) The Cotter's Saturday Night
My lov'd, my honour'd, much respected friend !
No mercenary bard his homage pays ; With honest pride, I scorn each selfish end ; 50 My dearest meed, a friend's esteem and praise:
MODERN SCOTS 127
To you I sing, in simple Scottish lays, The lowly train in life's sequester'd scene;
The native feeling strong, the guileless ways; What Aiken in a cottage would have been ;
Ah ! tho' his worth unknown, far happier there, I ween. 55
November chill blaws loud wi' angry sugh ;
The short'ning winter-day is near a close ; The miry beasts retreating frae the pleugh;
The black'ning trains o' craws to their repose; The toil-worn Cotter frae his labour goes, 60
This night his weekly moil is at an end, Collects his spades, his mattocks, and his hoes,
Hoping the morn in ease and rest to spend, And weary, o'er the moor, his course does hame- ward bend.
At length his lonely cot appears in view, 65
Beneath the shelter of an aged tree; Th' expectant wee -things, toddlin', stacher through
To meet their Dad, wi' flichterin' noise an' glee. His wee bit ingle, blinkin' bonilie,
His clean hearth-stane, his thrifty wifie's smile, 70 The lisping infant prattling on his knee,
Does a' his weary kiaugh and care beguile, An' makes him quite forget his labour an' his toil.
128 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Belyve, the elder bairns come drapping in, 75 At service out amang the farmers roun' ; Some ca' the pleugh, some herd, some tentie rin
A cannie errand to a neebor toun ; Their eldest hope, their Jenny, woman-grown, In youthfu' bloom, love sparkling in her e'e, 80 Comes hame, perhaps, to shew a braw new gown,
Or deposit her sair-won penny-fee, To help her parents dear, if they in hardship be.
With joy unfeign'd brothers and sisters meet,
An' each for other's welfare kindly spiers; 85 The social hours, swift-wing'd, unnotic'd fleet;
Each tells the uncos that he sees or hears ; The parents, partial, eye their hopeful years;
Anticipation forward points the view. The mother, wi' her needle an' her sheers,
Gars auld claes look amaist as weel's the 90 new ;
The father mixes a' wi' admonition due.
Their master's an' their mistress's command The younkers a' are warned to obey;
An' mind their labours wi' an eydent hand, 9S An' ne'er, tho' out o' sight, to jauk or play ;
An' Oh! be sure to fear the Lord alway, An' mind your duty, duly, morn an' nicht!
Lest in temptation's path ye gang astray,
MODERN SCOTS 129
Implore His counsel and assisting might: They never sought in vain that sought the Lord
aright. 100
But hark! a rap comes gently to the door;
Jenny, wha kens the meaning o' the same, Tells how a neebor lad cam o'er the moor,
To do some errands, and convoy her hame. The wily mother sees the conscious flame 105
Sparkle in Jenny's e'e, and flush her cheek; Wi' heart-struck, anxious care, inquires his name,
While Jenny hafHins is afraid to speak; Weel pleas'd the mother hears, it's nae wild worthless rake.
Wi' kindly welcome, Jenny brings him ben ; no
A strappan youth ; he takes the mother's eye ; Blythe Jenny sees the visit 's no ill ta'en ;
The father cracks of horses, pleughs, and kye. The youngster's artless heart o'erflows wi' joy,
But blate and laithfu', scarce can weel behave ; 115 The mother, wi' a woman's wiles, can spy
What makes the youth sae bashfu' an' sae
grave ;
Weel-pleas'd to think her bairn 's respected like the lave.
O happy love! where love like this is found!
O heart-felt raptures! bliss beyond compare! T2o
(0511) 9
i3o SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
I 've paced much this weary, mortal round,
And sage experience bids me this declare — "If Heaven a draught of heavenly pleasure
spare,
One cordial in this melancholy vale, 125 'T is when a youthful, loving, modest pair,
In other's arms breathe out the tender tale, Beneath the milk-white thorn that scents the evening gale".
(c) John Anderson my Jo
John Anderson my jo, John,
When we were first acquent, 130 Your locks were like the raven,
Your bonnie brow was brent; But now your brow is beld, John,
Your locks are like the snaw; But blessings on your frosty pow, I3S John Anderson my jo.
John Anderson my jo, John,
We clamb the hill thegither; And monie a canty day, John,
We Ve had wi' ane anither; 140 Now we maun totter down, John,
But hand in hand we '11 go, And sleep thegither at the foot,
John Anderson my jo.
MODERN SCOTS 131
(d) Bessy and her Spinnin Wheel '
O leeze me on my spinnin wheel,
0 leeze me on my rock and reel ; 145 Frae tap to tae that deeds me bien,
And haps me fiel and warm at e'en I
1 '11 set me down and sing and spin, While laigh descends the simmer's sun, Blest wi' content, and milk, and meal — 150 O leeze me on my spinnin wheel.
On ilka hand the burnies trot,
And meet below my theekit cot ;
The scented birk, and hawthorne white,
Across the pool their arms unite, 155
Alike to screen the birdie's nest,
And little fishes' caller rest;
The sun blinks kindly in the biel',
When blithe I turn my spinnin wheel.
On lofty aiks the cushats wail, 160
And echo cous the doolfu' tale ;
The lintwhites in the hazel braes,
Delighted, rival ither's lays ;
The craik amang the claver hay,
The paitrick whirrin o'er the ley, ^5
The swallow jinkin' round my shiel,
Amuse me at my spinnin wheel.
i32 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Wi' sma' to sell, and less to buy, Aboon distress, below envy,
170 O wha wad leave this humble state For a' the pride of a' the great? Amid their flarin, idle toys, Amid their cumbrous, dinsome joys, Can they the peace, the pleasure feel
i75 Of Bessy at her spinnin wheel?
(e) Bannockburn
Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled, Scots, wham Bruce has aften led, Welcome to your gory bed, Or to glorious victorie.
180 Now 's the day, and now 's the hour;
See the front of battle lower ; See approach proud Edward's power — Edward! chains and slaverie!
Wha will be a traitor knave? i8S Wha will fill a coward's grave?
Wha sae base as be a slave?
Traitor! coward! turn and flee!
Wha for Scotland's king and law Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
MODERN SCOTS 133
Free-man stand, or free-man fa'? 190
Caledonia! on wi' me!
By oppression's woes and pains! By your sons in servile chains! We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall — they shall be free ! 195
Lay the proud usurpers low ! Tyrants fall in every foe! Liberty 's in every blow !
Forward ! let us do, or die !
ii. William Motherwell
[Motherwell was born in Glasgow, in October, 1797, and educated for the most part in the Grammar School at Paisley. When fifteen years of age he was placed in the office of the Sheriff-Clerk there, and subsequently became Sheriff-Clerk Depute. He died suddenly on November i, 1835. His poems and writings are numerous.]
Jeanie Morrison
I Ve wandered east, I Ve wandered west,
Through many a weary way ; But never, never can forget
The luve o' life's young day ! The fire that 's blawn on Beltane e'en, 5
May weel be black gin Yule; But blacker fa' awaits the heart
Where first fond luve grows cule.
134 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
O dear, dear Jeanie Morrison, 10 The thochts o' bygane years
Still fling their shadows ower my path,
And blind my een wi' tears: They blind my een wi' saut, saut tears,
And sair and sick I pine, 15 As memory idly summons up
The blithe blinks o' langsyne.
'Twas then we luvit ilk ither weel,
T was then we twa did part ; Sweet time — sad time! twa bairns at scule, 20 Twa bairns, and but ae heart!
Twas then we sat on ae laigh bink,
To leir ilk ither lear; And tones, and looks, and smiles were shed,
Remembered evermair.
35 I wonder, Jeanie, aften yet,
When sitting on that bink, Cheek touching cheek, loof locked in loof,
What our wee heads could think? When baith bent doun ower ae braid page, 30 Wi' ae buik on our knee,
Thy lips were on thy lesson, but My lesson was in thee.
O mind ye how we hung our heads, How cheeks brent red wi' shame,
MODERN SCOTS 135
Whene'er the scule-weans laughin' said 35
We cleek'd thegither hame? And mind ye o' the Saturdays
(The scule then skail't at noon) When we ran aff to speel the braes—
The bonny braes o' June? 40
My head rins round and round about,
My heart flows like the sea, As ane by ane the thochts rush back
O' scule-time and o' thee. Oh, mornin' life! oh, mornin' luve! 4S
Oh lichtsome days and lang, When hinnied hopes around our hearts
Like simmer blossoms sprang!
O mind ye, luve, how aft we left
The deavin' dinsome toun, 50
To wander by the green burnside,
And hear its waters croon? The simmer leaves hung ower our heads,
The flowers burst round our feet, And in the gloaming o' the wood, 55
The throssil whusslit sweet :
The throssil whusslit in the wood,
The burn sang to the trees, And we with Nature's heart in tune
Concerted harmonies; 60
136 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
And on the knowe abune the burn
For hours thegither sat In the silentness o' joy, till baith
Wi' very gladness grat.
65 Aye, aye, dear Jeanie Morrison,
Tears trinkled doun your cheek, Like dew-beads from a rose, yet nane
Had ony power to speak ! That was a time, a blessed time, 70 When hearts were fresh and young,
When freely gushed all feelings forth, Unsy llabled — unsung !
NOTES
INTRODUCTION
Par. 1
Line i. the language of the Lowlands, &c. The terms "Scots", "Scotch", " Scottish", "Lowland Scotch", "Braid Scots " were not always the names given to it. The first to speak of "the language of Scottis natioun " or to call "our toung" "Scottis" was Gavin Douglas' (c. 1525). Before him it was always known as " Inglis ", " Inglisch " or "English". See Wyntown, Orig. Chron., Bk. I, Prol. i. 25; Barbour, The Bruce, iv. 258; Harry the Minstrel, Wallace, ix. 297; Dunbar, The Goldyn Targe, 259, &c.
Par. 2
Line i. The Angles. See Bede, Eccles. History; Lappenberg, Anglo-Saxon Kings', J. R. Green, The Making of England, Short Hist, of the English People; Freeman, Norman Con- quest, vol. i ; Old English Hist.
6. The two kingdoms were not always united; they were often at war with each other, especially during the latter part of their existence. More than once the two were threatened with extermination by the Celts.
Par. 3
Line 2. Celtic. For the Celts in Britain see Professor Rhys, Celtic Britain, The Arthurian Legend, Early Ethnology of the British Isles-, Skene, Chronicles of the Picts and Scots, Celtic Scotland; H. D'Arbois de Jubainville, Les Premiers Habitants de r Europe.
Par. 5
Lines 2-3. The Northumbrians pressed. Their progress was slow but steady. They were on the Ribble in 666, at Carlisle in 684, at Derwentwater in 687, and at Whithorne and along the coast of Ayrshire in 731. They were in possession of
137
138 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Cunning-ham in Ayrshire in 696, in Kyle in 750, and along with the Picts they captured Dumbarton in 756. On the other side, they were at Eadwinsburgh (Edinburgh) by 633, in Manann in 655, but when they tried to force themselves northward beyond the Tay they were badly defeated, and theii; King Egfrid slain at Nectan's Mere in 685. See Hadden and Stubb, Councils and Eccl. Docs., II, i. 3-5; Bede, Hist., iv. 26. 10. Saxonia. Skene, Chron. of Picts and Scots, 10.
Par. 6
Lines 15-16. Native words; e.g. saca, soca, blaa, blodi, loth, cut, cavyll, blodewite, styngesdynt, merchet, herieth, maskfat, cokestole, schorlingis, stallingiator, girdalium, braiantem, ope- landensis; some of them it will be observed have Latin ter- minations. All of them are apparently used to define more clearly the matter in hand.
Par. 9
Line 4. Northern English dialect. The points in which the Northern English dialect differs from the Southern English dialect are for the most part those in which Early Scots and the Northern English agree. The main points in which the Northern and Southern English dialects differ and in which Early Scots and the former agree are these: N.E. and E.Sc. use a, as in ban, bone, laf, loaf, instead of S.E. o, as in bon, lof, loof; i, as in hil (hill), pit, instead of u, as in hul, put; k for ch, as in kirke, rike, sek, where S.E. has chirche, riche, zech. N.E. and E.Sc. again have qu (gw), as in quat, what, where the Southern has hw, as in hwat; and f, as \nfel, fell, and fa, foe, instead of v, as in vel, vo.
As the termination for all persons of the pi. pres. indie. N. English and E.Sc. have -es, whereas S. English has -eth', for the sing, the termination in N.E. is -es and in E.Sc. -is, but S.E. has, ist -e, 2nd -est, 3rd -eth (-th), as love, lovest, loveth. There are no inflexions of person in the sing, or plu. of the past indie, of regular verbs in -ed either in N.E. or E.Sc. (ist loved, 2nd loved, 3rd loved); but in S.E. there are: as ist lovede, 2nd lovedest, 3rd lovede, sing. ; plu. ist, 2nd, 3rd loveden. At is used as a sign of the infinitive in N.E. or E.Sc., but is unknown in S.E. Sal and suld are used in the former, but in the latter schal, scholde (schulde). N.E. and E.Sc. have the present participle in -and or -ande; but in S.E. it ends in -ind or -inde. Y- or z- is not used before past participles in N.E. nor in E. or M.Sc., except by Dunbar and Douglas; in S.E. they are retained. In N.E. and E.Sc. adjectives drop all inflexions of number and case, except aller, alther, alder, of all; but in S.E. many such inflexions are retained. At, to;
NOTES 139
/ra, from ; til, to ; att that ; thir, these ; hcthen, hence ; thethen> thence; whethen, whence, though used in N.E. and E.Sc., are unknown in S.E.
As showing the close connection there is between N.E. and E.Sc. the following extracts are given. Comparison with the extract from Wyntown or from the Craft of Deying or with any of the specimens of Early Scots will show how very close that connection is. The first and second are from Cursor Mundi, which was written near Durham about 1275- 1300.
God's creative might
i Quat man mai wiit, quat man mai lere,
Ouat man may se, quat ere may here,
Quat man in erth mai thine in thoght
Hu al this werld ur laverd wroght, 5 Heven and erth al in thair haldes,
That mighti godd that alle waldes?
Qua can sai me hu of a sede
He dos an hundret for to brede?
Thoru his mighti wille dos that king 10 Ute of the erd tre to spring
First the lef and sithen the flur
And than the frut with his savur
Alkin frut in his sesun. . . .
The Resurrection
i Sua haali sal thai than rise thare,
Tham sal noght want a hefd hare (i.e. one hair of the head)
Ne noght a nail o fote ne hand ;
Thof quether we sal understand 5 That nail and hare that haf ben scorn (i.e. shorn)
Bes noght al quar thar war beforn ;
Bot als potter with pottis dos,
Quen he his neu wessel fordos,
He castes al than in a balle, 10 A better for to mak with-alle ;
O noght he lokes quilk was quilk
Bot maks a nother of that ilk
Wei fairer than the first was wroght ;
Right sua sal Crist, ne dut ye noght.
The following is taken from Hampole's Pricke of Conscience^ and was written near Doncaster about the year 1340.
The World
I The world here who-so wille 1211
Vn-to four thinges may liken by skille.
i4o SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
First, the world may lykend be,
Mast properly, vn-to the se ; 5 For the se, aftir the tydes certayn, 1215
Ebbes and flowes, and falles agayn,
And waxes ful ken, thurgh stormes that blawes,
And castes vp and doun many gret wawes ;
Swa castes the world, thurgh fauour, 10 A man to riches and honour; 1220
And fra that agayn he castes hym doun
Til pouert and to tribulacioun.
And tha er the grete stormes kene,
And the wawes, that in the world er sene. 15 Yhit may the world here, that wyde es, 1225
Be likend to a wildernes,
That ful of wild bestes es sene,
Als lyons, libardes and wolwes kene
That wald worow men bylyve, 20 And rogg tham in sender and ryve; 1230
Swa the world es ful of mysdoers,
And of tyrauntes that men ofte ders,
The whilk er bisy, nyght and day,
To nuye men in alle that thai may. 25 The world alswa may lykend be 1235
Til a forest in a wilde cuntre",
That is ful of thefs and outlavves,
That, commonly, til forestes drawes,
That haldes pases, and robbes and reves 30 Men of that thai haue, and noght tham leves; 1240
Swa es the world here thar we duelle,
Ful of thefs, that er develes of helle,
That ay us waytes, and er bysy
To robbe vs of our gudes gastly.
I. EARLY SCOTS
Page 21 i. Old Scots Laws
Bludewytis
Bludewytis, fines for the shedding of blood. The fine varied one-third, says Professor Innes, as the wound was above or below the breath.
Line i. The blude of the hede of ane erl, the fine for wounding an earl on the head so as to draw blood. Two kinds of blows or " cuffs " were recognized by the old laws, a " wet cuff" and
NOTES 141
a "dry cuff". The former caused blood to be shed; the other did not; and the fine for the former was always greater than that for the dry cuff.
i. ane erl, in England of the Saxons the Ealdorman, the chief magistrate of a shire ; in Scotland, he took the place of the Celtic mormaers, of whom there were seven, each ruling, under the King, one of the seven provinces into which the country was divided. At first they were probably tribal chiefs ; as feudalism advanced they became feudal earls, and held their territorial provinces as earldoms of the crown.
3. thayn, thane, the successor of the Celtic maor, a royal official placed over the crown or fiscal lands, and responsible for the collection of the royal dues and the appearance of the royal tenantry at the yearly " hostings ", &c.
5. nevo of a thayn, a thane's nephew. Nevo is also used for a grandson or in a general sense for a relative or de- scendant.
6. twa pert a kow, two parts of a cow; probably two thirds, as in Latin.
7. Leges, &c., laws among the Scots and Britons, i.e. among the Scots, who came over from Ireland, or it may be returned from Ireland, and gave their name to Scotland, and the Brythons or Welsh Celts, who before the coming1 of the Angles occupied the greater part of the country between the H umber and the Forth on the East and from Cornwall to Dumbarton on the West, with almost the whole of the inter- vening land.
Page 22
Of the Statut of Thift
Line 8. Giff ony, &c., if anyone be apprehended for having stolen a loaf worth a halfpenny within a burgh he ought to be beaten through the town. For aiv see the Glossary. Toun represents the A.S. tiin. Burgh has here the same significance as town.
10. for a halpenny worth, of the value of a halfpenny.
11. mar sayrly, more severely.
13. the cuk stull, originally a chair in which women offenders were fastened and then ducked in stinking water as a punish- ment. At first it seems to have been used chiefly for the punishment of brewsters, who are always spoken of as women, for breaking the assize or regulations concerning the brewing and selling of ale. Afterwards it was used for the punishment of other female offenders, such as scolds, fly ters, and women of immoral or disorderly life. By and by the ducking in filthy or stinking- water was dispensed with and the stool was placed
i42 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
near the market cross, where female transgressors were com- pelled to sit upon it for so many hours with a paper tied round their heads, on which the faults they had committed were recorded. In 1555 it was enacted under Queen Mary that itinerant singing1 women should be put on the cuckstools in every burgh or town. Subsequently or about the same time the cuckstools were removed into the churches and there be- came the stools of repentance. In some churches specimens of these are still to be seen. In one in Lanarkshire some two or three may be seen. They are simply stools. The more ancient were different. According to Mr. Way, in his edition of the Promptorium Parvulorum, "An original cucking-stool, of ancient and rude construction, is preserved in the crypt under the chancel of St. Mary's, Warwick, where may still be seen the three-wheeled carriage upon which was suspended by a long balanced pole a chair which could readily be lowered into the water when the cumbrous vehicle had been rolled into a con- venient situation. Another stool, differently contrived, may be seen at Ipswich in the Custom House ; it appears to have been used by means of a sort of crane, whereby the victim was slung into the river." In later times the name of cuckstool was given to the pillory, the instrument usually employed for the punishment of male offenders. Thus Ramsay says : " The tane, less like a knave than fool, Unbidden clam the high cockstool> And put his head and baith his hands Threw holes where the ill-doer stands ".
13-14. the bed of the toune, usually now the toun-head as op- posed to the toun-fit. What determined which was to be the head and which the foot of the town, is difficult to say.
14. forsuer the toune, forswear the town, i.e. swear to leave the town. Forswere ; abiurare, Cath. Ang.
" Sa I war fre off it that I said ayr, I wald forswer Scotland for euirmair ".
— Wallace, x. 214.
17. he at, he that. At is the old northern relative pronoun. 25. J obolus, one of the earliest, if not the earliest, coin known to the Angles. It appears to have been sometimes known as the saiga, and weighed, if of silver, 12 wheat corns. — Robertson, Scotland under her Early Kings, ii. 346.
Of burges at has had syndry wiffis
27. Tha landis at war gottyn, those lands which were ac- quired. Tha is a pi. demonst.
27-28. in the tyme of the fyrst wyffe, during the lifetime of the first wife.
NOTES 143
28. sail turn agayne, shall return or be the inheritance of the first wife's children or their descendants, and not be inherited by or in any way disponed to the children of any other wife of their mother's husband.
28. childer ayris, the children who are the heirs. The two words are in apposition. In other words, the second word explains the first ; the children are the heirs of their mother.
29. Leges Quatuor Burgorum, the Laws of the Four Burghs, which were originally Edinburgh, Roxburgh, Berwick, and Stirling; but when Roxburgh and Berwick fell into the hands of the English in 1368, the Parliament of David II, held at Perth in that year, appointed Lanark and Linlithgow to take their place as two of the four burghs. The laws, which were first adopted by the Four Burghs, soon became the law for all the burghs in Scotland. With the exception of some manifest additions, they were sanctioned by the legislature in the reign of David I (1124-53).
Page 23
Of burrowgreffis bakande or brewande
burrowgreffls, town officials. A.-S. burg, burh, and Icel. greifi) a steward.
Line 31. aldirman, the earliest name for the provost of a burgh. In Aberdeen he was so called at least as early as 1398. beddell, the town's officer, sail bake brede na brew ale, &c. Bread and ale were among the chief articles of diet. Their prices were fixed from day to day or from week to week by the town's officials, called "tasters" or "appreciators", and the provost and bedal or officer were forbidden to deal in them in order that they might not be suspected of meddling with the fixing of the prices to their own advantage.
32-33. thair awin propir house, their own houses. Propir is here a pleonasm, but may be compared with peculiar in the phrase " his own peculiar property ".
33. durande, pres. p. of A.-S. diiren, to last, continue.
33-34. thai stande in office, they hold office. They were elected yearly at the Head Court held about Michaelmas.
Of bondis that ar fundyn in fayris
35. fyndis his bonde in the fayre, finds his slave in the fair. There were two kinds of slaves or bondmen : one could not be removed from the soil, or even transferred to another estate of his owner; the other could not only be transferred to another estate, he could also be sold apart from the land. The first was called the neyf regardant; though he could not be re-
144 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
moved from the land he could, and always did, change owners with the land on which he lived. The other was the neyf in gross\ he was an "out and out slave", and both he and his children could be sold. Another name for him was nativus, which seems to indicate that slaves or serfs of this kind were regarded as the remains of the native population obliged by the invaders to become serfs.
36. the quhilk, who.
36-37. quhil the pece of the fayre is lestande, while the peace of the fair continues. The following- is taken from the " Burgh Lawis": — "Of stabillyng [establishing] the pece of fayris. — This is the ordinans of the pece of fayris on this halfe [side ofj the wattir of Forth, that is to wyt, that fra [when] the pece of the fayr [has been] cryit thar sal na man be takyn na attachyt wythin that ilke [same] fayr, bot gif [unless] he breke the pece of the fayr towart it cumande or wythin it duelland or fra thin [from thence] passand, bot gif he war [be] the Kyngis traytour, or gif he war suilke [such] a mysdoar that gyrth [protection] of haly kirk aw nocht to sauffe hym [shield him]. And gif ony suilke mysdoar be fundyn, or sic as has brokyn the pece of the fayr, he sal be attachyt and sykerly kepyt till the motis [courts or pleadings] of that ilke fayr, and thare he aw to byde dome and lauch [law] of the courte." The peace was proclaimed with the opening of the fair. A court was temporarily set up in every fair, called the Court of Dusty- foot, for the speedy termination of any suit or quarrel that might arise in it. According to the statute above cited, no one could be arrested during the fair or as long as the peace of the fair lasted, except those breaking the peace either coming to the fair, abiding in it, or going from it, except also known traitors and such as were guilty of crimes so great that the church would not grant them protection but would allow the misdoer to be arrested even at the altar.
37. he may nocht of lauch, &c., he may not legally chase or apprehend him ; in other words, during the continuance of the fair the fugitive bondsman, unless he became a trans- gressor of the law, was free and could not be touched by his owner.
Of hym that is challangyt of art and part of thyft
40-41. that he well knawis, that he is well acquainted with. 41-42. suilk othir manor of gudis, such other kind of property. 42. gudis is used indefinitely for all kinds of property.
42-43. he knawis nocht quha that it aucht, he does not know to whom it belongs. Aucht has appeared before as aw.
:
tiers -f -in
NOTES 145
43. and syn it be aperit at hym be ony man, and afterwards if he be asked by any man.
44. that the said gudis hes tynt, that has lost the said goods.
44. gif he wyat ocht, &c., if he knows anything of such manner of goods.
47. he aw to suer, &c., he ought to swear that it is as he says.
47-48. and syn the tothir, &c., and then the other shall search for his goods which have been lost.
49. he that challangis the gudis, he that claims, &c. Chal- aunge or cleyme (Pro. Parv.). The word also means to accuse, sals wytterly, says on information, with knowledge of the fact.
" Bot thai that I wat vittirly Eftir my wit rehers sail I."
— Bruce, x. 350.
50. of tha gudis takyng, in the taking away of those goods. Tha is the demonstrative adjective.
51. and that he wald pruff, &c., and that he would prove the fact, eftir the assyse of the land, in accordance with the mode of trial in the country. For eftir see Maetzner's English Gram., ii. 448, where among other examples occurs the fol- lowing: " Frensch sche spak . . . after the scole of Strat- ford atte Bowe", Chaucer, C. T.y 124. Barbour has:
" It is gud that we sammyn ta Disese or ese, [or] pyne or play Eftir as God will vs purvay."
— Bruce, v. 74.
51. assyse, an assembly of judges, a trial in which sworn assessors decide questions of fact. In the old times assi2es were frequently called for this purpose.
Page 24
Line 52. that he that sa is challangyt, that he that is so accused. Challange is here used in a sense different from that in which it is used above.
52-53. gif he be fre man and worthi to fecht. According to the Burgh Laws a burgess of a royal burgh could fight or try the ordeal of battle only with the burgess of an abbot's, prior's, earl's, baron's, or king's burgh, xiii. , Of the batayle of the burges.
54. thruch bataile, by the ordeal of battle.
(0611) 10
146 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
2. John Barbour
The two versions of the same passage from Barbour's Bruce are printed here, among other reasons, to show the differences which developed in the written language between the time of Wyntown, c. 1350-1420, and the time of John Ramsay, one of the transcribers of The Bruce, c. 1489. The principal points of difference are shown by the italics. They are these: (i) in the first version the vowels a and e, except where a genuine diph- thong occurs, are simple, as in the passages from Cursor Mundi and Hampole as thatne, thare, had, mast, have, assale, rybalddale, batale, dede, stere, chess, kepe; but in the second they are changed into at, ay, ei, ey, as thaim, thair, haid, maist, haif, assail, rebaldaill, bataill, deid, steyr, leid, cheyss, keip; (2) in the second again, the -td and -yd of the pt. t. and pp. of weak verbs in Wyntown's extract are changed into -it, -yt\ as assemlyd becomes assembly t\ trawalyd, trawayllyt; grypyd, gryppit; and trastyd, traistyt. In the last, both changes are illustrated.
1. Alexander III died in 1286. The line agrees exactly with the first line of the old song on Alexander's death given by Wyntown at the end of his seventh book:
" Quhen Alexandyr oure kyng wes dede
That Scotland led in luwe and le, Away wes sons off ale and bred,
Of wyne and wax, off gamyn and gle : Oure gold wes changyd in-to lede :
Crist, borne in-to vyrgynyte, Succoure Scotland and remede,
That stad is in perplexyte."
2. had to stere and lede, had to rule and to lead. Notice the vowel changes in the second version, and the underlying conception of the duties of a king.
3. sex yhere, six years. Both in this and in the other version the singular, yhere, yer, is used for the plural.
3. and mayr perfay, and more in truth, verily. On the death of Alexander, March 16, 1286, the crown went nominally to his granddaughter Margaret, known as "The Maid of Norway". On her death, October 7, 1290, no fewer than thirteen claimants for the crown appeared, and the question of who should succeed her was not settled till November 30, 1292, when John Baliol was declared King. The period from March 16, 1286, when Alexander died, to November 30, 1292, when Baliol was proclaimed, makes up Barbour's "six years and more".
5. The barnage off Scotland, the greater and smaller barons
NOTES 147
of the country as tenants in chief of the crown. On this subject the reader should consult Mr. Rait's excellent little volume, The Scottish Parliament before the Union of the Crowns.
6. Assemlyd thame, assembled themselves, met. Observe the -yd in the first and the -yt in the second text.
6. fandyt fast, tried hard, did their best.
Page 25
Line 7. thare land to stere. See note to 1. 2.
8, 9. off awncestry ... Off kyngis, that was descended from the ancient line of kings.
9. that aucht that reawt6, that possessed that royal blood. 14. Had yhe wmbethowcht yowe, had you bethought your- selves.
16. had noucht wroucht, &c., had not acted in this way.
17. tane kepe, taken heed.
18. for-owtyn sudiowrnyng, without resting.
21. that ware till hym merchand, that were to him march- ing, that were adjacent to, or marched with his.
24. hey parage, high lineage. Fr. parage, paraige, rank, noble birth; from O.Fr. par, a peer.
25. Suld ryn on fwte, should run on foot, als rybalddale (ribaldaill), as the rabble, like common fellows.
27. Durst nane off Walls, &c., none of Wales durst ride in battle.
28. fra evyn fell, from the time that evening fell, after nightfall.
30. Than he suld lyff and lymmis tyne, lest he should lose life and limbs; lit. except that he should, &c.
" For thar is nothir man na page, In all this land than thai sail be Fayn to mak thaim-selwyn fre."
— Bruce, i. 500.
31. In till awylk thryllage, &c., he held them in such bond- age.
32. That he oure-come wyth his powste", that he overcame with his power. The relative refers back to tham of the preceding line.
Page 26
Line 34. Throwch slycht, through sleight, craft, cunning. 34. that he na mycht throw maystri, that he could not by force.
148 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
37. but gayne-gyvyng, without restoring or giving back.
41. Walls ensawmpill, &c., Wales might have been an ex- ample.
43. Quha will be, &c., he who will correct himself by the example of others. Prof. Skeat quotes the saying from the Ingoldsby Legends'. "Be warned in time by others' harm, and you shall do well"; also the Latin, " Qui per alios non corri- gitur, alii per ipsum corrigentur ", and the English proverb, "Wise men learn by other men's mistakes; fools by their own ".
49. And wyst noucht, &c., and knew not what should happen afterwards.
51. Is nane, &c. Wyntown's line requires "that" to be added after nane. Prof. Skeat reads after Hart's edition, Is nane determynatly that sail, is none certainly that shall.
54. For resserwys (reserves) Ramsay has resenvyt (reserved).
Page 29 3. Legends of the Saints
The following passages from the Scottish Legends of the Saints are in language nearer to Wyntown and the great Northern English poem Cursor Mundi than to Ramsay's transcription of The Bruce. T instead of d is used as the terminal letter of the pt. t. and pp. of weak verbs, but the simple vowels are retained, except that ei is used for e in seven words, deiff> feile, heile, heicht, weil^ preichit, yeit, for def, fele, hele, hecht, wele, prechit, yet; and ai for a in one, haile. The MS. or transcription of these legends is therefore ap- parently older than 1489, the date of Ramsay's transcription of The Bruce.
The legend of S. Ninian runs out to 1447 11. and then is not finished, the conclusion breaking off in the middle of a sen- tence. It gives an account of the life of the saint and de- scribes his miracles. The author of it has made considerable use of the Life ofS. Ninian by S. Ailred.
Line i. In that cunctre, i.e. in Galloway. Ninian, who was born on the shores of the Solway Firth, after visiting Rome, settled at Whithorne, where he built Candida Casa, the White House or Church, so called because it was built of stone and lime, whereas the rest of the churches in the country were built of stone and mud or of mud and wood and were called called "black houses". There were two other white churches in the country besides Candida Casa — Tyrie in Buchan, and Hamer or Whitekirk in East Lothian; while in Northumbria
NOTES 149
there were S. Wilfrid's Church at Hexham, and the church at Durham, known as the alba Ecclesia, in which the body of S. Cuthbert reposed for three years during the erection of the greater church to which it was translated in 999. Ninian's chief sphere of labour was among the Picts dwelling south of the Grampians.
3. contrare to S. Niniane preching1, opposed to S. Ninian's preaching. Niniane wants the sign of the genitive. 7. worde, became; sene, then. So:
" Quhen he had a yer dwelte thare, In Asya senne can he fare."
—Philip Leg., 62. " Dewotly thane fel he done, And knelyt, and mad his oracione Al a quhile, and sene rase."
— Christopher Leg.* 467.
10. That til de, &c., that he thought he was about to die immediately.
n. And with that, &c., and in addition to that, i.e. the sick- ness in the head, he became stone blind.
13. Thane tyd, &c., then happened, i.e. came into his heart.
14. na way wariste mycht be, that he could not in any way be healed. Wariste from O.Fr. garir, guarir, ivarir, to protect.
15. Bot it ware, except it were.
16. Schupe, &c., in his pride set himself to strive or war against, verray is of frequent occurrence.
"And iverray the Brws as that fa."
— The Bruce > ii. 426. " Or that he schap hym for to fair To wer ray Carick than no mair."
— Ib. v. 220.
Page 3O
Line 19. Til rew one hyme, to have pity upon him. See Thomas of Ercildoune : " Lufly Ladye ! reive one mee !"
20. disparit wes to life, despaired, was hopeless, of life. Chaucer has: "He was despeyred" (Frankelyn's Tale, 943); and Barbour:
" And fra a man disparyt be, Then wtraly wencusyt is he."
— The Bruce, iii. 195. " Suthly thai [thaim] contenyt swa That thai without disparit war."
—Ib. iv. 99.
150 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
22. messagis is sometimes a disyllabic. 25. hely sad, loudly said.
27. Thane went he, &c., then went he to the sick without delay.
29. takine of the Croice werray, the sign of the true Cross. Extraordinary, in fact miraculous, power was assigned to the use of the sign of the Cross. " Werray " here is an altogether different word from " verray " in line 16.
31. Als gud heile, as good a cure.
33. fore, because, sa his hole wane, his cure so obtained.
34. Lofand, praising, become, became.
(b) .SS. Machor and Devinift
8. Machor. According to the legend he was born in Ireland, and became the favourite disciple of S. Columba, under whose teaching he increased greatly in holiness and wisdom. When Columba left Ireland he accompanied him to lona, from whence he was sent to preach the Gospel in the island of Mull. There he cured seven lepers, and having preached the Gospel all over the island, he returned to lona. Moved with envy, his fellow disciples sought to poison him. He was then sent by Columba to preach the Gospel in the north of Scotland, and settled at Aberdeen. Here he built a "costly kirk", and did many marvellous things. Subsequently, according to the legend, he accompanied S. Columba to Rome, where he was made a bishop. On their return journey S. Columba left him at Tours, where he was elected to fill the chair of S. Martin. Here he laboured many years, and died at a ripe age sur- rounded with great glory. The miracles he did during his lifetime are said to have been very numerous, and the narra- tives of them are not without interest in connection with the social and religious life of his time.
37. Dewynik, Devinik. His legend as told by Bishop Forbes, Kal. Scot. 5.5., p. 323, is as follows: "When the blessed Fathers Columba and Mauricius (Machor) were preach- ing in Scotland, Devinicus, a very old man, also flourished. He divided the work of the ministry between himself and Mauricius, going to the Provincia Cathinorum (Caithness), while Mauricius went to the Picts. ' S. Mauricius,' S. Devinicus said, ' now again we shall be joined. Even in the celestial life shall we for ever be joined together, and rejoice with Christ. But one thing I desire, that as death is at hand, when my time comes, let my body be brought to this place and be buried here.' The saint agreed, and Devinicus went to the Cathini, preaching the Word. At length Devinicus came to die, and
NOTES 151
told them to take his body to one of the churches of Mauricius, mindful of his old engagement. And this was done. The following1 night S. Mauricius saw angels descending upon the church where the holy body lay, and said, 'A guest cometh, to whom we must pay honour ' ; but on coming, they found not the body, for they who carried it, wishing to rest, had carried it to a place called Crostan. There they held vigil, and then they brought it to a place called Banquhory- Devynik, where a church was raised in his honour." Devi- nik has dedications also at Methlic in Aberdeenshire, and at Creich in Sutherland, where he is known as S. Teavneck.
38. yok, yoke; with reference to Our Lord's words, "Take my yoke upon you ", &c. (Matt. xi. 29).
39. come a day, came one day; "a day" is still common. 42. Hou fele folk, how many people.
Page 31
Line 43. mony wise, in many ways.
44. mawmentis, idols; from the O.Fr. mahommet, an idol. Piers Plowman and Chaucer have maiimet. During the Middle Ages the Mahommedans were regarded as worshippers of idols. Cervantes, who ought to have known better, enter- tained the same opinion.
45. And thus have, &c., and thus have nearly none to sow God's word.
46. ger men knaw, cause men to know, i.e. to teach them.
50. Goddis wangel, God's gospel or, as above, God's word. Wang-el is short for Ewangel, and occurs frequently.
51. at are lath, &c., that are unwilling, &c. Lath from A.-S. lathien; Icel. leitha, to loathe, detest.
53. Catness, Caithness, but mare gang, without more ado go.
55. Goddis vord to schaw, God's word to show or preach.
57. quhethir na we, &c., whether or not we shall each the other see after.
59. Yhis, yeit forow Criste, yes, yet before Christ.
63. For death awaits me close at hand.
64. fra I, &c., when I am gone from thee, . . . cause my body to be brought to this place, and cause it to be buried, where I, &c.
69. he heicht hym, he promised him.
70. Atheris thar lewe. Atheris is apparently the genitive form of cither, one of two, and the meaning of the line is ap-
152 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
parently — their leave each of the other with that did take. Lyndsay, Monarchy, 4023, has, aitheris deand in outheris arm, i.e. each of them [or of the two] dying in the other's arms.
Page 32
Line 73. sped sa weile in schort, succeeded so well that in a short time.
75. Bot yet than, at the same time.
76-77. preichit . . . Pyctis, taught, or preached to, the Picts, as he did before.
79. master men, chiefs, rulers.
80. Trew, believe, wntreuthfull war, were unbelieving, to than, till then.
82. schauyng, showing, merwalis sere, many marvels or miracles.
(c) The Miracles wrought at the To tub of S. Machor
87. euire ilka, every.
88. wondir, is here plural. Such great wonders, or miracles, that I may not tell them all.
89. Through the prayer of S. Machor. For Morise see the legend given above, where the saint is called Mauricius for which Morise is short.
90. seknes sere, many kinds of disease ; seknes is plural. 92. me mistrew, not believe me, or misbelieve me.
Page 33
Line 99. And full many of palsy, or paralysis.
104. haile and fere, whole and sound. Fere is the O. Frisian /ere, able to go, to be in health.
105. brawne-wod, mad. Braivne is an old form of brain; wod, mad. Hence brawne-wod, brain mad, mad in the brain, of ther wit, out of their reason. The line is tautological.
in. quhatkine vthir, what kind of other. 114. At hyme thair heile, of him their healing, in hy, in haste, quickly.
Page 34 4. Records of the Burgh of Aberdeen
These extracts are from the original MS. still in existence at Aberdeen, and are the earliest text here given. The works from which extracts have already been given, were written
NOTES 153
before these records of the Aberdeen Town Council, but the original MSS. of them are not now extant, and only copies of them remain. The copyists who made them have evidently altered the texts, sometimes through carelessness and some- times, and more frequently, intentionally, with a view to bringing the spelling of the works up to date. In the ex- tracts following we have what is believed to be the words and letters actually set down by the Town Clerk. The notes and decisions were apparently written down for the most part, if not entirely, at the meetings of which they are the records. Mistakes and blunders, unintentional of course, may here and there be expected.
Line i. with [the] hale consent; "the" has been omitted in the copy used, and is here inserted before the word hale.
2. comonateis, probably a mistake for or a misreading of com- munytie. There was but one community in the burgh. The commontie was the common good or common possession, while the community consisted of all the male inhabitants of the burgh, as is set forth in the same Records under date Sep- tember 5, 1442, "al the communytie, alsweil vnfree as free men". The usual phrase was "with the consent of the hale communitie ".
6. to kepe the comone proflte, &c., to protect the general wellbeing of the town.
7. fredomys, liberties and privileges. Of these each of the royal burghs had some, which were very important. Among them were the right to elect their own magistrates or rulers, rights of trade and commerce, and generally speaking the right of self-government. In this respect the royal burghs of Scotland were greatly in advance of most other towns or burghs of the time.
7. to suppouale, to support. " Fore my seruice in maner as I hafe before writyn, that yhe will vouchesauf tyll help me and suppowell me tyll gete amende of the wrangs and the defowles that ys done me." — George, Earl of Dunbar, to Henry IV of England, February 18, 1400.
"... and you wont oght, Or any case to you come comford to haue, To be suppoueld by selfe and my sad helpe."
— Destmction of Troy, 2788.
" Therfore I comaunde you on euere ilke a side, Vppon payne of enprisonment that no man appere To suppoivle this traytoure."
— York Plays, p. 337, 1. n.
8. in thair office doand, in the discharge of their duty; doand is the pres. p. of to do.
154 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
9. ausprice, oppression, violence. O. Fr. supressure, surprise, oppression. Roq.
10. tyttyn, pulling1 down. A.-S. tihtan, to draw.
13-14. comoun bell. Most, if not all, towns had their common bell. Some had two, a greater and a less. They were in charge of the town's bellman, who rung1 them for various pur- poses: e.g. the summoning1 of the Town Councillors; the sum- moning1 also of the community; the opening- of the courts, markets, and fairs; also at funerals and marriag-es.
1 6. keip, is acquainted with and keeps the knowledge there- of to himself.
17. aperand, coming upon, threatening1.
18. mak warnyng, give intimation. 20. othir na, other than.
Page 35
Line 21. the Duke, the Duke of Albany, who was then Regent, the Erll of Marr, the Earl of Mar, who had taken the town under his protection.
23. qwatsumeuer, &c., whosoever has not his weapons ready and bears them not. Every householder was obliged to have his weapons ready and close at hand so as to be able to turn out at a moment's notice to quell any disturbance on the streets or to protect the interests of the town.
24. sal tyne, shall lose; i.e. shall pay as a fine for his offence or remissness.
25. and prisoue quill that, and go to prison until that, &c. Quill and qwat of 1. 23 remind one of Cursor Mundi, and belong to an earlier stage of the language than qivhame of 1. 28.
27. herbry, harbour, lodge, ony outdwelland men, men who resided outside the burgh.
28. bot qwhame at thai, &c., but those whom they will stand for, or lit. but whom that they, &c. ; at is the northern relative.
29. or ellis warn, or else warn, als fast, as quickly as they can.
30-31. payne of lyffe and tyniale of gudis, pain of death and loss of goods.
5. The Craft of Deying
1. the dear, the dier, he who is dying, thir, the demonstra- tive, these. A purely northern form still in use.
2. at, that.
NOTES 155
7. at his poware, with his power, i.e. as far as he can. at is here a preposition.
8. Syne suld he, then should he, i.e. the priest, ask at hym is a phrase still in use. gif lie trowls, if he believes.
Page 36
Line 12. and ded, and His death. And gyf he trowis, &c., and if he believes any other ways than by the faith of Him and His death to be safe, i.e. if he believes that there is any other way of being saved except through faith in Christ and in His death.
13. stark and sykir, strong and confident; lit. strong and sure.
14. hop of nan vthir thinge, &c., trust in nothing else, for all other things else are temptations of the devil.
22. ane anerly God, one only God.
24. at our Lady Mary, whom our Lady, &c. — at is the old northern form of the relative pronoun.
27. grawyne, buried.
28. to radem our eldarls, to redeem our forefathers.
29. The quhilk, who.
30. one his awne mycht, by his own power.
32. fra thyne, from thence.
33. one domys day, on doom's day, i.e. the day of judgment.
Page 37
Lines 37-38. at the sam body, with the same body. 39-40. He suld not anerly trow, he should not only believe. 42-43. al heresyss and wichcraftis, &c., all heresies and witchcrafts forbidden by Holy Church.
6. Acts of the Parliament of Scotland
(a) Of the Payment of Taxes
1. speidfull, expedient, taxatouris, assessors.
2. the tyme of thar extent, at the time of their levying.
3. ar taxit, are taxed. The meaning of the first sentence is that the taxatouris are to intimate to the people within their districts what of their goods or property is taxed and how much the taxes are, and to bid them have the money ready in silver and gold to pay the tax gatherer within fifteen days after the first intimation.
8. ilk schyrefdome, every shire or sheriffdom.
156 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
9. that warnys payment, that refuses payment. Warnys is from A.-S. "wyrnan^ to refuse.
10. yowe, ewe. wedder, wether, gait, goat, a gimmer, a two-year-old ewe.
n. dymnont, a wether in its second year, hir folowar, her foal.
12-13. niare of eild, what is now called a yeld mare.
Page 38
Lines 18-19. sal1 &** s®11 W» gudis, shall cause the goods to be sold. 21. deputis ordanys, deputies ordain.
(b) Of the Destruction of Wolves 23. cuntre, district.
25-26. Sanct Markis day, St. Mark's day, i.e. April 25. Lammes, Lammas, August i. A.-S. hlafmaessa> loaf mass.
29. within himself, by or of himself: a curious use of 'within.
30. the aulde Act, the old Act. Old Acts of Parliament are often referred to, but many of them are lying- at the bottom of the North Sea, having been sunk there by shipwreck, when they were being returned by Cromwell, who had had most of the public documents belonging to Scotland then in existence packed up and sent to London. Edward I did something of the same kind before Cromwell.
32. haif of ilk houshalder, &c., he shall have a halfpenny from each householder in the parish in which the wolf has been slain.
35. witting, knowledge, information.
II. MIDDLE SCOTS
i. Robert Henryson Page 42
(a) The Cock and the Jewel
Many versions of this once very popular poem have been published. The version given has been prepared from the best printed.
Line i. aumtyme, "once upon a time".
2. cant and crows, merry and confident.
3. son be day, soon by day, early in the morning.
NOTES 157
5. The comma after as (ashes) is sometimes removed to the end of the line. It is better to retain it here. The cock was not "scrapand amang the as" "be aduenture", but "fand a ioly iasp " " be aduenture ".
6. ioly iasp, beautiful jasper.
7. Wes cassyn, was cast.
ii. Qufcat tfcairin be. For this two MSS. read "Thai cair na thing ", one " Quhat be thairin ", and one " Tak no tent ".
17. ganys nocht for me, sufficest not for me; hast nothing- suitable or satisfying- to me. Cp. 1. 25 below, "And thow to me ma mak bot litil cheir".
24. It may novrthir, i.e. his finding- of the jewel may not. Another reading is, "I may nowthir ", &c.
Page 43
Line 27. les awalle, less value.
29. I had leuer, I had rather.
30. Ink my lima fud, seek my life's food. 33. Nor off, than of.
Page 44
Moralitas. Under this heading the poet proceeds to tell . . . " the in wart sentens and intent Of this fabill ".
Line 57. properteys sewyne, the seven properties of the jasper. All precious stones were believed in ancient times to possess certain virtues or "properties". Those of the jasper here enumerated are: (i) its marvellous colour— " pairt lik the fyir and pairt is lik the hewyne ", i.e. red and blue; (2) it has power to make a man strong; (3) to make him victorious; (4) to protect him in danger ; (5) to give him good hope of succeed- ing; (6) to deliver him from the fear of fire; and (7) to deliver him from the fear of trouble (not). Jaspers, it may be observed, are of different colours. Green, yellow, and black, as well as red and blue, are mentioned. Besides the powers attributed to them above, they were supposed to possess medical and other virtues. A blood-red jasper was supposed to be useful in haemorrhage ; a green jasper, it was said, would bring fertility to the soil; while an amethyst of a purple wine colour was regarded as having the power to prevent intoxication.
65. Betaknys, betokens. After treating of the properties of the jasper, the poet goes on to speak of the things of which it was supposed to be the sign. These were prudence and know- ledge or skill (cunnyng), adorned with many deeds of virtue, &c.
158 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
67. Mair excelland. Excelland is the pres. p., and the mean- ing1 is that the perfect prudence and wisdom of which the jasper is the sign are more excellent than any earthly thing, and cause those who possess them to excel more than anything1 else can.
68. Quhilk, i.e. the perfect prudence and wisdom for which the jasper is the sign, inakis men, &c., makes men always to reign in honour, and happy and strong to win the victory over all vices and every spiritual foe.
Page 45
Line 74. scions is equivalent to the virtues that the jasper is believed to stand for, and means moral and spiritual as well as physical science.
75. It is ryches, i.e. sciens, or that which the jasper signifies, is riches that endure for ever.
76. Quhilk moith, &c., moth nor moisture nor anything else that causes things to decay or rust can rub or wear away. See Jas. v. 2-3.
77. To manis saul it is, i.e. the divine wisdom of which he is speaking is.
81. na gud can, no good does.
86. ignorantis, persons who are ignorant ; the word is plu. 94. ryches, here worldly riches are meant, byd, wait for, desire, expect.
Page 46 (b) The Trial of the Fox
The Trial of the Fox is one of the " Morall Fabillis of Esope the Phrygian ", Henryson's best and most characteristic work. Line 102. lansand ouer ane law, dashing over a hill.
103. Than start he vp, i.e. the fox.
104. he bure, i.e. the unicorn carried.
113. he braid, he spread or opened out, or unfolded. 121. Lattis yow, &c., gives you to know that even forthwith he intends to-morrow, &c.
Page 47
Line 130. gers growand, grass growing. Gers is an ex- ample of metathesis.
136. withouttin moir, without more ado. Moir is used in- stead of mair for the sake of the rime.
138. Lowrence, the fox. to me ... leirit, to me taught.
NOTES 159
141. payntit coit armour, painted coat of armour, with allu- sion to his spots.
142. Fensit the court. Fencing" the courts was usually done in the King-'s name by the use of a particular form of words. "This custom," observes Jamieson, "after falling- into disuse in the courts of law, has been hitherto retained in the service of Brieves before the Macers in the following words : * I fence and forbid in our sovereign Lord's name and authority, and of the Judges here present, &c., that none presume or take upon hand, to trouble or molest this court, nor make speech one for another, without leave asked and given under the pain of law ' — Juridical Styles, i. 371-2." Here the phrase would apparently simply mean, he opened the court.
142. as of the law effeirit, as it belonged to the law to do; i.e. after the use and wont of the law.
143. couth lour, could lurk, or crouch down with a view to escaping observation.
Page 48
Line 145. Ryifand, pulling-, tearing at.
(e) The Abbay Walk
156. ane Abbay, probably Dunfermline Abbey is meant. An- other reading of this line is, " In to ane Abbay that was fair to se ".
159. On cace, by chance.
161. quhat, whatsoever.
167. gudis is a disyllabic.
Page 49
Line 171. in writ, the Scriptures.
173. Thobe, Tobit.
179. half ane halt, hast a limp.
182. reproif by skill, reprove with knowledge.
184. Spurn nocht, &c., kick not thy foot, &c.
187. mon, must. The word also occurs as man and maun.
189. to nane suspect, none can suspect, or suspected by none.
191. lord attour the laif, lord above all others.
Page 5O
Line 201. mak the boun, make thyself ready. 203. heich, exalt. An older form is he, as below.
i6o SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
204. wilfull, lonely, forlorn. Icel. villa, error; villa, to lead astray, beguile. See Dr. Morris, Glossary to Alliterative Poems, sub " Wylle ".
209. heis, exalts, law, low, humble, lawis, humbles, he (hairtis), high or proud (hearts). Cp. Luke, i. 52.
2. Dunbar Page 51
(a) The Ballad of Kynd Kittok
Line i. rycht gend, very playful or frolicsome.
2. fell, hill. Falkland fell is some imaginary place in an imaginary France. It may have some reference to Falkland in Fife, where Dunbar was frequently in attendance on the King.
4. ane caldrone cruk, a cauldron crook. The cruk is the hook which hangs upon the sway over the fire and on which the cauldron is hung. Sometimes it has a chain attached to it so that the cauldron may be raised or lowered. From its position the crook is soon covered with a coating of grime or soot : hence the phrase "as black as the crook". But when the crook is scraped and polished or when the kell, the encrustation of grime or smoke, is removed, the crook is clear under the kell. Hence the words cleir vnder kell. Scho wes lyk ane cruk, &c., means that Kittok had a face that was always covered with grime and dirt — "as black as a crook"; but under this she had a clear complexion. Editors have missed this meaning. Kelle, a net, is apparently a different word.
5. Thay threipit, they maintained.
6. Eftir hir deid, &c., after her death she was not afraid, &c.
7. the hie way dreidles, &c., by the highway to heaven she went fearlessly.
8. elrich well, weird and eerie, because haunted by elves and other spirits.
10. Ane ask rydand, a newt riding.
13. Quhill, &c., until it was near evening.
14. scho had hap, &c., she chanced thus to be borne to her shelter or inn.
15. it nychtit thame thair, the darkness of night fell upon them there.
17. drank our meaur and mair, drank over measure — i.e. too much — and more [than too much].
NOTES 161
Page 52
Line 18. quhill the morne at none, until morning- at noon, and raiss airly. If she slept till noon, she could not rise early in the usual sense. The meaning1 must be that she rose early or quickly after awaking.
20. scho stall prevely, she stole secretly, i.e. without being noticed.
21. hir lattin in, allowed to get in or to slip by unnoticed, luch his hairt sair, laughed till his heart was sore.
25. held at stryfe, quarrelled with. 33. yeid wrang, got drunk.
Page 53
(b) Ane Ballat of Our Lady
This ballad is given in order to illustrate the influence which the Latin language was at the period having- on Scots literature and the Scots lang-uage. Many of the men of the period not only spoke and wrote Latin, but also thought in Latin. It is from that language that a great part of the words in the ballad come. See the Glossary.
Line 42. Lucerne in derne, lamp in darkness to reveal by divine glory and grace . . . the angelical reign.
44. Hodiern, modern, &c. Cp. Yesterday, to-day, and for ever (Heb. xiii. 8).
46. Our tern inferne, our infernal suffering, i.e. pains in hell.
50. Yerne, earnestly; an adverb qualifying guberne, govern.
51. Of reuth, &c., of pity both root and stream.
Page 54
Line 56. All thing maling, all thing's malign. Thing is fre- quently used for the plu. thring, thrust, crush. 57. his signakle, His sign, i.e. His cross. 61. but makle, without spot, immaculate.
68. Our wyss pawyss, our sure shield. Wyss is probably for iiviss, safe, sure, certain; pawyss, O.Fr. pavois, a broad shield.
69. feyndis trayne, allurement of the fiend.
71. To God gret suffragane, to God great helper. Suffragane is not from lt stiffrage, prayer, or prayer for the dead", as is usually said, but from the Low Latin suffraganeus, a bishop subject to a metropolitan, i.e. an assistant bishop or the helper of an archbishop, from whom he took his orders and whose work he did. See Du Cange.
(0511) 11
162 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
75. That toair the gloryuss grayne, that bore the glorious seed. Grayne does not here mean "the branch of a tree" or the stem of a plant, but simply grain, i.e. seed. The gloryuss grayne are the glorious redeemed, and the Virgin may be said to have borne them through being the mother of Christ. Grayne may also, and probably does, stand for Christ Himself.
Page 55
Line 79. Qodis celaitud, God's greatness, might. 80. Hospitall rial, royal hostelry, inn.
(c) No Tressour cwailis without GJaidnes
The two lines in small type may have been written by a different hand. They occur only in one MS., and seem to have been inserted not as part of the original poem.
88. Be mirry, man! Similar advice is given in Ratis Raving-.
" Be blycht and besy, quyk and smert, And lat na langour throw thi hart. Bot fle langour and ydilnes, Quhilkis bringis disspar and hevynes."
— iii. 231-4.
96. Mak the gud cheir of it that Ood the sendis, make thee good cheer of that which God sends thee.
97. For warldis wrak, worldly goods or property, wrak, wreckage, also trash, refuse of any kind, but welfair, without good cheer or happiness of mind. The meaning of the line appears to be "without inward happiness the riches of the world avail nothing".
98. The only good is not in having but in using [wisely],
99. The meaning of this is somewhat doubtful. Lit. it is — All that remains thou canst enjoy or make use of only with sorrow. This may mean that riches breed care, that all that a man has which he cannot use wisely is only a cause of anxiety and trouble.
Page 56
Line 102. of confort set, &c., set all thy sails of comfort, i.e. gather in everything that makes for peace of mind and gladness of heart.
105. famows folkis, with men of reputation.
106. and humyll, &c., be lowly in appearance, avoid vain show, shun ostentatious display.
no. Qu.no levis mirry, i.e. contentedly, with a quiet, peaceful, serene mind.
NOTES 163
1 14. thair selfis ar bair, without inward resource.
117. thair wynning, refer to gudis of 1. 113; another reading- is thy wynning'.
120. wraik is the same as ivrak of 1. 97, p. 55.
124. Ane raknyng, &c., a just reckoning comes from a small account.
Page 57
(d) Of the Changes of Lyfe
Line 130. a sentence convenable, a sentence giving a fitting-, true, or an accurate description of the uncertainty of worldly things.
" The life of this world es full unstable, And ful variand and chaungable, Als es sene in contrarius manere, By the tymes and vedirs and sesons here."
— Hampole, P. C.t 1412-15.
136. als fresche, &c., refers to the old proverb, "April sud come in like an adder and gang1 oot like a peacock's tail ".
144. wynter bene, winter is or comes, or has been. The use of bene is curious, but cp. byne, p. 58, 151. The use is com- paratively frequent in Dunbar's writings.
Page 58
(e) Now Fayrey Fay rest off Every Fayre
This is also entitled: "A Poem on the Marriage of Mar- garet, sister of Henry VIII, to James IV of Scotland". It is given also under the heading-, "To the Queen Marg-aret on hir Arrival at Holyrood on the 7th of August, 1503". The music to which it was sung- is also given.
Line 151. that byne. See note to 1. 144 of preceding- piece. Byne here rhymes with Queue.
163. sone beme, another reading- is sone beine. The entire line seems to be out of joint.
3. Gavin Douglas
Page 59
Line 5. patroun, patron.
8. A per se, incomparable, unique, or unmatched. Lit. like the letter a, which in almost all languages has the first place and by itself makes a word.
164 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
9. sweit sours, sweet source.
15. the list, it listeth or pleases thee to write, do, to, a periphrastic use of the verb frequent in the i6th century. Cp. G. Smith, Specimens of Mid. Sc., xliii. 5, and Oxford Diction- ary, sub. do.
16. all wther, &c., all other kinds of writing-, poetry.
19. dull forhede and wane, dull forehead and thought.
20. With uncultured powers and barren empty brain.
Page 6O
Line 24. And at ye knaw, and that ye may know. Knatv is the 2 per. plu. subjunctive.
27. Though this my work be a very poor return.
31. Henry Lord Sanct Clair. " Henry Saint Clair of Dysert, by a special Act of Parliament in 1488-9, was recognised as * Chieff of that blude ' when created a baron, and ' thairfor that he be callit Lord Sinclair in tyme to come'." — Small, vol. ii, 299.
35. As nearly related to his Lordship by blood.
38. nor anis, &c. Nor once saying yes, or fully agreeing.
42. innative, innate.
45. Ptolome, Ptolemy I, King of Egypt, surnamed Soter (the Preserver), the great patron and promoter of literature and science. He founded the Museum and Library at Alexandria, both of which were greatly enlarged by his son Ptolemy II, surnamed Philadelphus. It is doubtful which of the two — father or son — was the greater patron of letters and to which Douglas here refers.
47. Quhat so it be, whatsoever it (this book) may be.
48. language. See note to 1. r, p. 9.
Page 61
Line 50. beawschiris, &c., Good sirs, by your leave.
51. or ye repreif, before you condemn.
58. Yet not so completely do I refuse to use the English tongue.
63. Quhar scant, &c., where the Scottish tongue is wanting or defective.
65. foutht of langage, fulness or wealth of language.
NOTES 165
4. Murdoch Nisbet Page 62
(a) Parable of the Prodigal Son
The passages which follow are taken by permission from the edition of Nisbet's New Testament published by the S.T.S.
Line 4. departit, divided.
6-7. went furth, &c., took his journey (A.V.).
8. his gudis, &c., his substance with riotous living (A.V.).
8-9. And eftir that, &c., and when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land ; and he began to be in want (A.V.).
ii. drew him, joined himself to a citizen (A.V.).
13. his tovne, his fields. Lit. farm, or the fields of his farm, he couatit, would fain.
15-16. And he turnit agane into him self, and when he came to himself (A. V.).
17. has plentee of laaues, have plenty of loaves. Cp. have bread enough and to spare (A.V.).
20. flynnyt into, sinned against (A.V.).
Page 63
Line 23. on for, afar off.
41. for he resauet, because he hath received (A.V.).
48. destroyit his substance, hath devoured thy living (A.V.).
49. to him, for him.
Page 64
(b) The True Vine
Lines 55-56. ane erd telare, a tiller of the earth, a husband- man.
59. for the word, because of the word. See above, p. 63, 1. 41.
61. bot it, unless.
63-64. Quha that, he that.
64. this, this man.
166 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Page 65 5. Burgh Records of Aberdeen
(a) The Procession on Candlemas Day
Line 2. aid lovabile, &c., old laudable custom and usage of the burgh; lovabile^ from O.Fr., louable, praiseworthy.
6. Candilmes day, February 2, the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary, and called Candlemas because on that day candles are blessed and carried in procession before Mass is celebrated.
6-7. quhilk auld and louabile. The earliest reference in the Extracts goes back to the year 1442, but they are then not spoken of as if for the first time.
ii. the said procession. The order of the procession, though at times the subject of dispute, seems on all occasions subse- quent to this to have been the same as that here prescribed.
13. the Offering in the Play, sometimes called the "Offerand of Our Lady at Candilmes ". What the play was is not exactly set down. The mention of pageants to be provided for the procession suggests that the procession itself was the play.
19. Pageants. These were sometimes processions with banners and masques supporting the character of some scrip- tural, religious, or classical personage or event. At times, too, the procession was accompanied with actual pageants or the performance of certain plays in the modern sense of the words. Such was the case at York on Corpus Christi day. The Crafts there had a series of forty-eight plays or pageants. These were distributed among the various Crafts who undertook their pro- duction on the Festival, at one or more of the twelve stations where they were appointed to be performed along the route taken by the procession. The same seems to have been the case at Halifax, Coventry, and Chester. At Aberdeen the pageants seem to have been for the most part processions with men dressed up to represent certain personages or events. Here and there there appears to have been acting, but not much.
In his poem " Blyth Aberdein" Dunbar describes a pageant, which he probably saw, held in Aberdeen to welcome Queen Mary on one of her visits to that city. The following verses refer to the pageant : —
And first Hir mett the burgess of the toun,
Richlie arrayit as become thame to be, Of quhom they chesit four men of renoun,
In gounes of velvet, young, abill, and lustie,
NOTES 167
To beir the paill of velvet cramas^ Abone Hir heid, as the custome hes bein;
Gryt was the sound of the artelerie : Be blyth and blisful, burgh of Aberdein.
Ane fair processioun mett hir at the Port,
In a cap of gold and silk, full pleasantlie, Syne at hir entrie, with many fair disport,
Ressavit hir on streittis lustilie
Quhair first the Salutatioun honorabily Of the sweitt Virgin, guidlie mycht be seine ;
The sound of menstrallis blawing to the sky : Be blyth and blisful, burgh of Aberdein.
And syne thow gart the Orient Kingis thrie
Offer to Chryst, with benyng reverence, Gold, sence, and mir, with all humilitie
Schawand him King with most magnificence ;
Syne quhow the Angill, with sword of violence, Furth of the joy of Paradice putt clein
Adam and Eve for inobedience : Be blyth and blisful, burgh of Aberdein.
And syne the Bruce, that evir was held in stour,
Thow gart as Roy cum rydand under croun, Richt awfull, strang, and large of portratour,
As nobill, dreidfull, michtie campioun ;
The [nobill Stewarts] syne, of great renoun, Thow gart upspring with branches new and greine,
Sa gloriouslie, quhill glaided all the toun : Be blyth and blisful, burgh of Aberdein.
Syne come thair four and twentie maidinis ying,
All claid in greine of marvelous bewtie, With hair detressit as threidis of gold did hing,
With quhit hattis all browderit rycht bravelie,
Playand on timberallis and syngand rycht sweitlie; That seimile sort in ordour weill besein,
Did meit the Quein, hir saluand reverentlie: Be blyth and blisful, burgh of Aberdein.
The streittis war all hung with tapestrie, Great was the press of peopill dwelt about,
And pleasant padyheanes (pageants) playit prettilie ; The legeiss all did to thair Lady loutt, Quha was convoyed with ane royall routt
Off gryt barrounes and lustie ladyis [schene] ; Welcome our Quein! the commons gaif ane schout:
Be blyth and blisful, burgh of Aberdein.
168 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
20. the Mesaing, the Messenger, Gabriel, the Angel of the Annunciation. See Luke, i. 26-8. 20. Symeon. Luke, ii. 25-35.
21-22. iij Kingls of Cullane, the Three Kings of Cologne, or the Three Magi who came from the East, following the Star to Bethlehem, and who are supposed to have been buried at Cologne.
23. the Thrie Knichtis, the Three Knights— probably SS. George, Maurice, and Sebastian.
23-24. Sanct Brid, S. Bride or Bridget of Ireland.
24. Sanct Elene, S. Helen or Helena, the mother of Con- stantine the Great.
Page 66
Line 25. the Tua Bischopis, S. Ambrose, bishop of Milan, and S. Augustine, bishop of Hippo, who are usually placed at the head of the Bishops of the Latin Church.
(b) Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi. The religious festival of Corpus Christi or of the Blessed Sacrament was instituted by Pope Urban IV in the year 1264, and appointed to be held annually on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. The original form of its ceremonial was merely processional, and is supposed to have been an imitation of the solemn march of the Ark under the ancient Law on certain extraordinary occasions. The office for the festival was drawn up by S. Thomas Aquinas. At Rome the ceremonies of the day began with High Mass. This was followed by a solemn procession in which the Pope him- self appeared carrying in his own hands the pyx, in which were the sacred elements. The clergy of all ranks — cardinals, bishops, priests, and all others — took part in the procession clothed in their robes. The procession at Rome was imi- tated elsewhere, and soon became exceedingly popular. At York there was formed in 1408 a Gild having for its purpose the right ordering of the procession, and, though it only lasted for about 135 years, upwards of 16,850 persons are shown by its Register to have joined it. By and by, plays were added to the procession. The verses cited above would seem to show that there was some acting in the pageants which were got up to welcome Queen Mary's arrival in Aberdeen, but not much, and the pageants seem for the most part to have been merely processional, with men dressed up to represent the personages or events mentioned.
40. copy in write, copy in writing — from Edinburgh.
NOTES 169
Page 67
Line 53. nearest the Sacrament, the place of honour. The sacrament was carried in the pyx.
56. craftis were associations of men pursuing1 separate call- ings acting" under constitutions provided for them by Seals of Cause or Charters granted to them by the Magistrates and Town Councils. They were similar to modern Trade Unions, and, like them, had for their specific purpose that of pro- tecting and promoting their trades, a restriction which they did not always or willingly observe.
59. Jai ve and x yeris, 1510 years. The statute was old then. It was old also at the earlier date of 1442. See note to p. 65, 1. 6.
76. Sanct Bestian, S. Sebastian. He was a citizen of Nar- bonne, and in great favour with the Emperor Diocletian, who made him commander of the first cohort of praetorian guards. During the persecution he was betrayed to the emperor as a Christian. Diocletian at once ordered him to be led to an open plain, and to be shot at as a target by the soldiers. At night he was found by one of his friends to be still alive. In a few days he recovered, and standing on the Steps of Ela- gabalus, at the approach of the emperors he said to them : "The pontiffs of the temples deceive your majesties by sug- gesting that the Christians are adversaries of the State. They never cease to pray for your empire and for the safety of the Roman army." Diocletian ordered him to be taken to the riding-school of the palace and flogged to death. His body was flung into the Cloaca maxima, the great sewer of Rome, lest the Christians should treat him as a martyr. But Lucina, a religious lady, took it up and buried it in the Catacombs. He is the patron of soldiers.
77. Sanct Lowrance. S. Lawrence was a deacon and martyr at Rome. His persecutors asked him where the treasures of the Church were. He promised to show them. Next day he brought the poor, and pointing to them said: "These are the treasures of the Church ". He was roasted to death on a grid- iron, and mocked his tormentors, saying, " It is now roasted, turn me and eat".
Page 68
Line 78. Sanct Stewin, S. Stephen, the first martyr. See Acts, vii.
79. Sanct Martyne, S. Martin. He was born at Sabaria in Hungary, but brought up at Pavia in Italy. When ten years old he ran to the church and demanded to become a cate-
iyo SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
chumen. Four years later, being the son of a veteran — his father being1 a military tribune — he was compelled to serve as a soldier under the Emperors Constantine and Julian. Though not yet baptized he abounded in good works. Once in mid- winter he met a poor man bare of clothing, begging outside the gate of Amiens, but no one regarded him. The young soldier had nothing but the cloak he had on ; so snatching his sword, he cut it in two and gave one half to the beggar. Some of the bystanders began to laugh, for Martin cut a sorry figure with his damaged dress ; others sighed deeply, because they had done nothing of the sort when they might have done it at less inconvenience. Next night, while sleep- ing, Martin saw Christ clad in the portion of his cloak which he had given to the beggar, and heard Jesus saying to the angels, "Martin, yet a catechumen, has covered me with this garment". Many other things are told about him. After his baptism he rose to be bishop of Tours, and was regarded as one of the patrons of France.
80. the Coronation of Our Lady, i.e. of the Virgin Mary. According to an ancient Christian belief, "Our Saviour as- sumed and took up unto Him His blessed Mother Mary into heaven, both body and soul, and crowned her Queen of bliss".
81. Sanct Nicholes, S. Nicholas, bishop of Myra and Con- fessor. A citizen of Patara in Lycia, and born of noble lineage, after the death of his parents he was haunted by a voice saying, " Except a man forsake all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple ". A neighbour of his came to such dire want that he resolved to expose his three daughters to dishonour, hop- ing in this way to obtain an unhappy living. When this came to the ears of Nicholas, he for three nights threw secretly into his neighbour's house a quantity of gold wrapped in a cloth. When the man arose and found the gold on each of the three morn- ings, he rejoiced greatly and thanked God. He then gave his daughters in marriage, and saved them from the infamy to which he had had thought of exposing them. Soon after the See of Myra became vacant, and the bishops of the province being met together to elect a successor to the See, a divine voice broke in among them and told them to consecrate to the See him whom they should first find at the church doors at the hour of matins. The man they found was Nicholas, and he was accord- ingly appointed bishop. On one occasion a number of sailors, being in great peril on the sea, cried to Nicholas for help. He immediately appeared to them, saying, "Well, ye called me ; here I am ", and at once set about their deliverance. The stories or legends told about him are numerous. He is the patron of scholars and sailors, of the empire of Russia, and of Aberdeen. The three bags of gold he threw into his neigh-
NOTES 171
hour's house are represented by the three golden balls which hang- as the sign of a pawnbroker. He is also known as Santa Glaus.
82. Sanct John, the Apostle S. John.
83. Sanct Qeorg, S. George. He was a native of Cappa- docia, living in the time of Diocletian, born of Christian parents, and a tribune in the army. When travelling to join his legion he came, it is said, to the city of Selene, in Libya, which was at the time greatly distressed by the ravages of a monstrous dragon, which every morning issued from a neigh- bouring marsh, entered the city, and devoured the flocks and herds of the people, who had fled for refuge within its walls. Every day two of the children of the city had to be given to the dragon. They were chosen by lot. The lot fell upon Cleodolinda, the daughter of the king. George saw her on her way to give herself up to the monster, and seeing that she wept, he asked her the reason. He was told about the dragon and its ravages, and what had befallen her and whither she was going. He at once undertook to slay the dragon. He did so, and the people, who until then had been pagans, em- braced the Christian faith. Those who wish to read his legend will find it in, among other volumes, Mrs. Jamieson's Sacred and Legendary Art, where it is briefly and well told, or in the Aurea Legenda by Voragine, where it is told at greater length. St. George is the patron of England, of soldiers, and of armourers.
85. The Bearmen of the Croce, the bearers of the Cross.
6. Hector Boece
(a) The White Bulls
Line 3. Dolorus Montane. It is also called Snawdon or Snowdon, from which the Snowdon Herald takes his name. In Paisley Snawdoun has been corrupted into Sneddon. The name does not mean a mountain covered with snow. The meaning of it is probably wet or oozing land.
Page 69
7. first table, first map.
8. quhit bullis, white cattle, which at one time seem to have been fairly numerous in Scotland.
19. and sa impacient, so impatient were they in captivity.
20. importable doloure, unbearable sorrow.
21. invadit thir bullis, attacked these cattle.
22. terrible preis, terrible force.
172 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
31. debait himself, defend himself. 33. lap afore, leaped before.
Page 70
Line 42. Cumarnald, Cumbernauld. They are found now only in Cadzow Wood, at Hamilton.
(b) Our Eldaris 44. eldaris, forefathers.
51. wer nocht siftit, i.e. into coarse and fine. 60. steirkis, bullocks.
Page 71
L5ne6i. libbit, castrated.
62. quiokis, young- cows.
69. Thay disjunit, they breakfasted.
72. empesche tliaim, prevent them.
7. John Bellenden Page 72
Line 9. brig of tre, bridge of wood.
Page 73
Lines 33-34. bis remanent companyeouns, the rest of his com- panions.
38. eschewe achame, avoid shame.
41. bront and furie, shock and fury. Bront is usually used by Bellenden to denote the front rank of an army.
44. vnbet doun, unbroken down.
Page 74
Line 54. offendit to thaim, offended ag'ainst them, or offended them.
Page 75 8. The Complaynt of Scotlande
This work, which was written and published in France, and long- thought to be original, is an adaptation, if not a trans- lation, from Le Quadrilogue Invectif of Alain Chartier. The author has also been indebted to Saint Gelais, Bishop of
NOTES 173
AngoulSme, the author of a version of Ovid's Epistles. It begins with an address to the Queen Dowager of Scotland, " the Marg-areit and Perle of Princessis", followed by a " Prolog to the Redar". The first part of The Complaynt treats of the mutations of monarchies and the approaching- end of the world. Next comes an interlude in the shape of what is called a Mono- logue Recreative, in which the author relates the circumstances that interrupted his discourse, and introduces what he knows about Cosmog-ony, Botany, Native Song-s, Dances, and Popular Tales, &c. Then follows the second part of The Complaynt, in which is given an account of the Author's Dream of Dame Scotia and her Complaint against her three sons, " callit the thre estaitis of Scotland". Thoug-h professing to be written in "domestic Scottis langage ", the work abounds in Latin- isms and Gallicisms.
Lines 3-4. toarbir agrest tennis, barbarous rustic words.
5. fardit ande lardit this tracteit, painted and stuffed this tractate.
16-17. lan£ tailit, Modern Sc. long nebbit = Johnson's " sesquipedalian ".
Page 76
Line 27, vords of antiquite. Gavin Douglas, as we have seen, says something of the same kind, and makes almost as free a use of lang taillit words as the author does here in this tractate.
The following extract from the preface to the Rolment of Courtes, written by Abacuck Bysset, servant to Sir Johne Skeane, in the reign of Charles I, may be compared with this passage from the "Prolog": "I haue nocht bene copious in langaige be far drevin uncouth evil placed termes, and multi- plicatioune of wordis be paraphraces and circumloquitioun of speich, silogismes and refutatioun of argumentes be parablis or comparisouns. Nor haue I adhered to auld proverbis or bywordis, fair flatterand fenzeit and allurand fictiouns, uttered by archdiaciens, maid up, contrefait, and fraising langaige, nor have I used minyeard nor effeminate tantling invectiue nor skorneful wordis, vane saterik, or lowse wowsting and waunt- ing speiches. . . . Bot be the contrare I haue writtin reuerendlie and spairinglie, usand my awin maternal Scottis langaige or mother toung as we call it, in als pithie, schorrte, and com- pendious termes and clene dictionare."
(b) The Fyrst Cheptovr
39. depe fosse, deep ditch.
40. in ruuyne, to ruin. 42. be dreddour, by fear.
174 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Page 77
Line 50. reches, riches. 61. quhil thai be ascendit, until they reach. 69. Buppedit and spulye, undermine and destroy.
Page 78
75. nynyue, Nineveh.
9. Sir David Lyndsay (a) From the Dreme
COMPLAYNT OF THE COMMOUNWEILL OF SCOTLAND
The Dreme is a poem running1 to about noo lines, in which the author is represented as falling- asleep, and in his sleep being visited by Dame Remembrance, whom he accompanies
" Doun throw the Eird, in myddis of the center Or ever I wyste, in to the la west Hell ",
where he is shown many men and women of the past after the manner of Virgil and Dante. They then visit the moon, the planets Mercury and Mars, the nine spheres.
u Than montit we, with rycht fervent desyre,
Up throw the hevin callit Christallyne, And so we enterit in the Hevin impyre."
From thence they revisit the earth and have vision of all its kingdoms, arriving1 at last in Scotland, when the poet begins to discourse on the causes of its poverty and misery.
2. a bousteous berne, the Commonwealth of Scotland.
5. visage leyne, lean visage.
Page 79
Line 13. have ane feill, know.
15. so disgysit, so altered for the worse, so changed as to be almost unrecognizable.
17. so supprysit, so oppressed.
1 8. The quhilk, whom.
31. haith, hes, has. The termination -ith, as in Knox, is comparatively frequent in Lyndsay, and is probably an in- dication of the influence of the English language.
NOTES 175
Page 8O
Line 36. In to the South, the South of Scotland.
39. ane leill man, &c., an honest man from a thief. Notice the peculiar use of be (by) = from.
45. Thai sweir swyngeoris, those lazy rascals, non held, no heed.
49. Pat Policye, put Policy.
Page 81
Line 58. Nor I wate nocht, nor know I not. I auld me mene, I should complain.
(b) The Blak Viritie
These lines are part of a dialogue between Pauper and Diligence, in which the former shows how by the oppressive customs and laws of the country he has been reduced to poverty.
65. the blak veritie, the dismal truth about himself and how he has been reduced to the condition in which he is.
66. and ane hoir, and hoary, i.e. old and hoary with age. 73. Nane tydier, &c. There were none more handsome in
the town of Ayr. Ayrshire was then, as now, noted for its breed of cows.
78. was baittand, was eating, feeding.
79. hyreild, "the hereyield horse", a fine extorted by the landlord on the death of his tenant.
Page 82
Line 80. The Vickar tuik the best cow— the corps-present. This, as Dr. M'Crie {Life of Knox, i. 394) points out, was a forced benevolence, not due by any law or canon of the Church, at least in Scotland. It was demanded by the vicar over and above the ordinary dues exacted for interment. This per- quisite was demanded at each death in the family, and from the Pauper he took three :
" Ane for my father, and for my wife ane uther, And the third cow, he tuke for Maid my mother ".
So he says further on in the Satyre.
88. Thair umest clayis, the uppermost cloth. Here it was apparently a cloak of rapploch gray, a coarse woollen stuff of a gray colour. This exaction was not peculiar to Scotland or to the vicar of a parish. When Bishop Leslie was liberated
176 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
from the Tower of London the Gentleman porter of the Tower "retained" (says the Bishop) "my satin gown as due to him, because it was my uppermost-cloth when I entered the Tower ".
10. Hamilton's Catechism
As already said, this consists of a series of Homilies on the Ten Commandments and other subjects. It was written by at least two hands and probably at the suggestion of Arch- bishop Hamilton. Its main object was to controvert the teach- ing1 of the Reformers. It is admirably written but died at its birth. A portion of the volume was ordered to be read to the congregations in the churches every Sunday, and, in order that the people might not be moved to ridicule or to smile at the reader because of his stumbling and blunders, every reader was strictly enjoined to study and rehearse before entering the pulpit the portion he was to read.
(a) The First Command
Page 83
Line n. lesmn worlds, lawful works.
12. as ony, as on any other day; "on " is omitted.
13-14. nocht commandit haly day, not appointed, &c., in the Calendar of the Church.
15. berish — erde, the two words are equivalents and mean, to inter.
23. in special, separately.
25. damnable, hurtful.
(b) The Third Command
Page 84
Line 35. temporal geir, worldly goods.
47. carting and dysing, card-playing and throwing the dice. 54. loif and thank, praise and thank.
Page 85 ii. John Knox S. Giles' Day, 1558 Line 4. Sanct Geillis day, September i.
6. marmouset, monkey-like. Cotgrave has marmot, a mar- moset, or little monkey; also marmotte, a she marmoset, or she monkey. The etymology of marmot is uncertain.
NOTES 177
8. James Carmichaell. For many years he was one of the magistrates of Edinburgh. He filled the office of Dean of Guild from October, 1552, to 1553, from 1555 to 1556, and from 1557 to 1559. In his official capacity he had charg'e of the " Kirk werk ", that is of looking after the preservation of S. Giles' Church and taking charge of the jewels, the gold and silver candlesticks, eucharists, chalices, and other precious things belonging to that church — all which were ruthlessly disposed of by order of the Council (including the arm-bane of Sanct Geill, or rather the ring with " ane dyamant stane, quhilk wes on the fingar of the forsaid arme of Sanct Geill ") in October, 1560. — Laing.
Page 86
Line 13. Quein Regent, Mary of Lorrain, wife of James V and mother of Queen Mary.
16. Canno Croce, one MS. gives "the Comone Croce". Laing suggests that the Cross referred to was probably the Girth Cross, at the foot of Canongate, near Holyrood. Arnot, however, mentions S. John's Cross, and also a third, near the Tolbooth (Hist. Edinb., 304).
18. betuix the Bowes apparently means between the West Bow and the Nether Bow, the two principal gates of the Old Town.
26. David Forress. He held the office of General of the Conzie House, or Mint.
27-28. fearing the chance to be dune as it fell, fearing that things would turn out as they actually did.
35. that was provided, &c. It was to prevent the image falling that it was fastened to the bier with iron nails.
39. Some brag maid, some threats were made by, &c. Ob- serve the inversion in the sentence.
Page 87 Line 42. dadding, thumping, knocking, to, on.
47. Pynckey Clewcht, the battle of Pinkie, fought September 9, 1547, where the Scottish forces were routed by the English under the Earl of Hertford, afterwards Duke of Somerset, Lord Protector of England.
50. croses, crosses carried in procession.
54. ttrst gate the house, first reached, &c.
(0511) 12
178 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
12. Lindsay of Pitscottie Page 88
Ane Mirakill Sen
Line i. the king, James IV. Lythtgo, Linlithgow. 4. send him good chance; he was on his way to the field of Flodden.
7. bottouns, long- boots.
8. great of his lege, the calf of his leg. 12-13. beld and bair> bald and bare. 20. groufflingis, in a stooping- position.
Page 89
Line 29. for and thow do, for if thou do ; and = if. 33. pansait on thir wordis, thought on these words. 35. in presentis, in presence. 37. comprehendit, apprehended. 41. harrott, herald. He was afterwards Lyon King at Arms.
13. Alexander Montgomerie
Montgomerie's principal poem is the Cherrie and the Slae. The one selected is one of the best of his shorter poems, and appears to have been exceedingly popular. So popular was it with the " menstrallis " and with the people, that the authors or author of "Ane Compendious Buik of Godly and Spiritual Sangis changeit out of prophaine languis in godly sangis for avoiding of sin and harlotry " selected it for adaptation. As Dr. Cranstoun, the editor of Montgomerie's poems, remarks: "A single stanza will be sufficient to show the nature of the ' gude and godlie ' change effected thereon : — " Hay now the day dallis, Now Christ on vs callis, Now welth on our wallis,
Appeiris anone : Now the word of God ringis Whilk is King of all Kingis Now Christis flock sings The nycht is neire gone " !
Page 90
Line 13. The turtill, &c. The turtle-dove was celebrated for the constancy of its affections.
15. Hir pairtie perseuis, her mate pursues. 19. Hie tursis, &c., carry high their horns.
NOTES 179
Page 91 Line 36. fone, foes. It appears also as a singular.
" Fra that they knew that he was Venus fone."
— Holland's Court of Venus, ii. 331.
Page 92 14. Burgh Records of Edinburgh
(a) Silver Wark
Line 3. silver wark pertenyng to the grude toun. Edinburgh was more fortunate than many places in connection with the jewels and gold and silver of its church. In England, for instance, they were all laid hands upon by the Crown. When the Reformers were drawing near to the city in 1559, the Town Council became anxious about the safety of the jewels and vestments and other graything of the church, and entrusted it to the keeping of certain of their number, who all promised to do "thair utter diligence for keeping thairof". "The names of the honest men", says an extract dated June 27, 1559, "quha ressauit this geir in keping: — In primis, to James Barroun, merchand, the ewchareist; item, maister Thomas M'Calyeane, the arme of Sanct Geill ; James Young, the tua maist chandlaris of syluer; Michaell Gilbert, tua lytill chandlar of sylwer; Johne Charterhous dene of gild, the mekill croce with the fute ; Alex- ander Guthrie, ane challice with the patene and spone ; Thomas Thomsoun, tua crowattis with the cresum stoke; James Car- mychael, tua censuris and the schipp; Alexander Barroun baillie, the round ewcharist, quhilk hail jowallis are of the wecht specifyit in the act maid the sevint day of Januar, the yeir of God 1558 yeirs, and insert in the same buke." [The following is the record on January 7, 1558: "relict and arme of Sanct Geill with the bane and paper, with ane dyamant on the litill fingur of the said arme, and fourte perle and sevinteine stanis, all weyand fyve pund thre vnce and ane half; the silver croce by the fute weyand sex pund foure vnce and ane half; item, the fute of this croce fillit with pik and uther mettall within the same to cause it to stand, weyand ten pund nyne unce; tua crowattis weyand twentie tua vnce; ane challece with the patene of syluer weyand threttie tua vnce and ane half, quhairof the spune weyis half ane vnce ; tua chandlaris of syluer, weyand sevin pund four vnce; tua sensairis weyand togidder thre pund fyvetene vnce; ane ship for insense, sex vnce."] Among the vestments enumerated in the minute of June 27, 1559, are "the sacrament clayth with Saint Gelis cloke of welwote droppit with gold, with the pendicle of reid
i8o SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
crammesye welwote, alias callit the waill; ane paill of reid saten with ane kaip of clayth of gold; vestiament dekyn, sub- dekyn, preistheid and kaip, with the ornamenttis compleittand the haill stand, all of clayth of gold ". Others were of velvet, of cloth of silver, of "grene dalmes begareit with strypis of gold ", of white dalmes, of black and red velvet, &c.
8. reparation and decoring of the Kirk. These were the building up of walls in the interior of S. Giles' Church in order to make the building serve for a tolbooth and the necessary rooms upon the west of the church, a place for preaching in and a school on the east, a prison house, &c. These walls, &c., were pulled down when the church was restored.
Page 93
Line u. kirk ffrayth, furnishings for the church.
15. the wallis, the building of which was hurriedly set about on receipt of the news of Flodden, but was never completed.
17. in wedsett, in pledge.
(b) Wobsterris, the Kirk of S. Giles
33. evill brute rasit vpoun, &c., evil report spread respecting the weavers.
Page 94
Line 38. rufe of Sanct Gelis Kirk, roof of the church of S. Giles. Churches were put to strange uses for many years after the Reformation. In a note above we have seen how S. Giles' was divided up and turned into a tolbooth, a church, a prison, and a school. Here is an instance of part of it being used as a workshop for a time. The church at Kirkcaldy seems to have been used as a joiner's shop or as a kind of common workshop until 1582, when the bailies ordained that "na pro- phane laubouris be wroucht within the Kirk ". Cromwell is said to have used the churches as stables. In Scotland some churches were put to even worse uses.
38-39. thair to wyrk for tryell, there to work for trial. Each of them was to do a piece of work as a proof of his skill in the art of weaving. This piece of work was usually called an essay, and one had been done by every applicant for admission to the weavers' craft before he had been admitted. When doing this essay the men were always alone with witnesses, who were there to see that they received no help and that the work was entirely their own. The question to be decided on this occasion was probably not one of skill but of honesty.
NOTES 181
(c) The Sabbotk Day
48. better obseruatioim. This was but one of many laws and regulations passed for the better observance of Sunday. Great difficulty was experienced in getting the people to ob- serve it even decently, and much more in getting them to observe it in the way laid down by the kirk.
49. tlie Sabboth day, the first day of the week. Before the Reformation it was called Sunday. " The Sabboth day " was then, and always had been in Christian Scotland, Saturday.
49. warkmanis buithis, workmen's booths or shops, where the workmen worked, and exhibited and sold their goods. The close time, it will be observed, was from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M., not all day. The reason was that between the hours men- tioned the churches were open and preaching was going on.
58. caitchepulles, tennis courts; not the modern kind, but those which had then been recently introduced from the Con- tinent.
Page 95
Line 64. Wednisdayes, &c. In most towns at the time there were, in addition to Sunday, at least two other preaching days in the week, when during certain hours shops had to be closed and work stopped. On these days, as well as on Sundays, the streets were at one period patrolled by bailies and members of Kirk Session to find out who were stopping away from the preachings, and to report them for punishment to the Session.
(d) Proclamatio, trublance in the Kirk
75. trublances, disturbances, attempts to settle their quarrels by physical force, as the context shows. The church where men had the most frequent opportunities of seeing each other was a favourite resort for those who had a score to pay oft.
Page 96
Line 86. dowbill paynes, &c., double fines, &c. The severity of the punishment is a proof that hitherto all the efforts of the authorities to put down these disturbances, which were often fraught with serious results, had hitherto been abortive.
182 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
III. MODERN SCOTS
Page 98
i. Tak your Auld Cloak about ye
Lines i, 3, 4, 5. See the grammatical notes above.
3. sae bauld, so fierce.
5. lo'es stands for Middle and Early Scots htfis.
Page 90
Line u. wet the bairnis, &c., given drink to the children. 12. should tyne, should be lost. Should = E. and M. Sc. suld.
14. lift sae hie, sky so high.
19. scantly worth, hardly worth.
20, 21. have worn and to hae. Cp. the effectiveness of the two forms of the verb " to have ".
25. King Robert rang, King Robert the Bruce reigned. 34. its ain hool, its own husk.
Page 100
Line 38. are girded gallantlie, are gallantly clothed. 39. hurklin', &c., huddling down among the ashes. 52. aft man, must often. 54. gie her, &c., let her have all her own way.
2. James Melvill
Page 101
Flight by Sea Line i. the morn for the old to morn, in the morning.
3. cersing the Collage, &c., searching the College and my house. Melvill was then at the University of St. Andrews, where he was Professor of Hebrew and Oriental Languages.
4. lettrones and wryttes, letters and writings.
5. my dittay, &c., my indictment was already drawn up, charging me with entertaining intelligence with my uncle. This was the famous Andrew Melvill, Principal first of Glasgow and afterwards of St. Andrews University, and one of the ministers who were ordered up to London and detained in the Tower in 1604. He was strongly opposed to the establishment
NOTES 183
of Episcopacy in Scotland, and his nephew James shared his views and maintained them as stoutly.
1 8. new-maried wyff, newly married wife. She was Eliza- beth, daughter of Mr. John Dury, minister of Edinburgh, and Marion Marjoribanks, who is understood to have been daughter of Sir John Marjoribanks, Provost of Edinburgh.
20. conducit, &c., procured a boat to carry a tun of the wine he had brought home, to Crail. He seems to have traded with France and to have brought home with him, as most captains sailing to France did in those days, a quantity of wine. Hence portage wine.
21. decking me upe, &c., clothing me in the garb of a sailor. 24. ship-broken sie-man, shipwrecked sailor.
Page 102
Line 26. to lose, &c., to deliver a cargo of slates. 28. till the water grew, till high water. 28-29. tne bott wanting, &c., the boat having no deck. 30. hir ta end, one end of her. 36. nor sa to be, &c., than to be so tormented.
40. hard to the steppis, close to the steps.
41. lossit, &c., delivered our slates.
44. wher I gead a-land, where I went ashore.
45. sie abbat, sea dress, sailor's clothes.
46-47. furnitour of a rubber, &c., provision of a barrel of strong March ale.
Page 103
Line 53. the hat rowing, &c., the hot rowing and the stoup with the strong ale beside him made him at once fall over asleep.
62. Lamermure-age, edge of Lammermoor.
64. drow, sudden squall.
66-67. how wa, rough sea ; lit. hollow wave.
67. spene-drift, spindrift, spray violently driven by the wind.
72. wanting helpe, being unassisted.
73. oust about, &c. , tacked and sailed near the wind. 80. sune drawing leache, sun set ; lit. sun drawing low.
Page 104
Line 84. St. Tab's Held, St. Abb's Head. 91. betwix the mean, &c., between the mainland and St. Abb's Head.
i84 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
95. daylight piped, daylight peeped, dawned.
98-99. Cawdingham bay, &c., Coldingham bay and Eyemouth.
Page 1O5
3. Robert Baillie (a) The General Assembly at Glasgow (1638)
This was probably the most momentous meeting of the General Assembly ever held. It overthrew Episcopacy, gave rise to the Bishop's wars, and made the Covenanters for a time supreme.
Lines 3-4. backed with great numbers, &c. This had long been the way in Scotland, and continued to be the way for some time. If any party or individual had a cause before Parliament, Privy Council, Court of Justice or Assembly, they gathered together their retainers, friends, and supporters, marched to the place where the cause was to be decided, and tried by numbers and threats to overawe their opponents and to bring about a decision in their own favour. The con- sequences were frequent miscarriages of justice and often much bloodshed.
5. Commissioner, James, Marquess, afterwards Duke of Hamilton.
Page 106
Line 21. throng into our places, manage to push our way into our places.
28. thrumbling through, pushing our way, scrambling through.
Page 107
Line 49. make such dinn and clamour. Gilbert Burnet, the Historian of His Own Times, adds another touch to the scene. " The Marquis " [of Hamilton], he says, "judged it was a sad sight to see such an Assembly, for not a gown was among them all, but many had swords and daggers about them " (Burnet, Dukes of Hamilton , 93, 1687 edit.).
Page 1O8
(b) The Accusation q/ Lord Strafford
Line 76. void the house, leave the House. 81. the keeper of the Black-Rod, the before-mentioned James Maxwell. Black Rod is one of the officials of the House of
NOTES 185
Lords, and like the Sergeant in the Lower House takes charge of prisoners.
88. his man, his assistant.
89. lie makes, the Lord-Lieutenant does.
91. no man capping to him, no man uncovering to him. 93. stood discovered, stood bareheaded, uncovered.
Page 109 Line 104. toot since, but since then.
4. Gilderoy
ii. He never wore, &c., though he was apparently a High- lander.
Page 110
Line 18. ae toun thegither, the same town about the same time.
Page 111 Line 45. vent'rous deed, venturous deed— of cattle lifting, &c.
Page 112
Line 75. To reave of life, &c. , to take away life for the theft of ox or ass, &c.
89. sae feart, so afraid.
5. John Spalding1
Page 113 Line 5. viz., the speech is not given.
Page 114
The Execution of Strafford
Lines 10-11. his cheplane kist, &c., his chaplain laid the book of Common Prayer, &c.
12-13. °a whiche he prayed, from which he prayed; i.e. repeated certain of the prayers contained in the book.
Page 115
Line 34. effrayed of deathe, afraid of death. 38. wynd up his hair, wound or fixed up his hair, which fell over his shoulders after the fashion of the times.
i86 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Page 116 6. Fair Helen of Kirkconnel
There is no authoritative version of this excellent piece. That given is made up from several.
Page 117 7. There 's nae Luck about the House
Line 7. Rax me my cloak, reach me my cloak.
10. luck, attraction. The original sense of this word is favour, or enticement. O. Fris. luk, luck or good fortune, from a Teut. verb /«£, to entice, allure. The Shetland word luck means to entice, endear. See Skeat.
Page 118
Line 13. my biggonet, a bigonet or biggoneit is a linen cap or coif, and is sometimes called a mutch.
14. My bishop's satin gown, a gown made of the heavy kind of satin of which part of a bishop's robes were made.
Page 120 8. Allan Ramsay
(a) Katy*s Answer
Line i. glowran. This is evidently a survival of the old pres. p. of glower without the final d (glowrand) ; to look with anger.
7. tine my tocher, lose my dowry.
13. unco sweer, very unwilling.
14. To twine wi', to part with.
Page 121
(b) Up in the Air Line 22. Beet the ingle, mend the fire.
Page 124 9. Rare Willie Drowned in Yarrow
Line 8. twined o', bereaved of.
15. clifting o' a craig, cleft of a rock or crag.
NOTES 187
Page 125 10. Robert Burns (a) The T-wa Dogs
Line 2. Auld King Coil, Kyle in Ayrshire, so called, it is said, because Coilus, King1 of the Britons, was there slain and buried during1 one of the wars between the Britons of the south-west of Scotland and the Picts and Scots who were settled in the north and north-west of the country. The battle in which Coilus is said to have been slain, took place near the banks of the Doon.
16. The fient a pride, never a bit of pride; lit. devil a bit, &c. Fient is a variant oi fiend.
Page 127
(b) The Cotters Saturday Night
Line 67. stacher, stagger.
68. flichterin', running with outspread arms.
72. kiaugh, carking1 anxiety.
Page 128
Line 76. ca' the plough, drive the plow, tentie rin, eagerly run.
86. uncos, uncommon things, news. 94. eydent hand, diligent hand. 97. your duty, your prayers.
Page 131
(d) Bessy and her Spinnin Wheel
Line 144. 0 leeze me, a phrase expressive of congratulatory endearment.
146. deeds me bien, clothes me well.
147. haps me flel, wraps me softly. 158. in the biel', in the building, house. 164. claver hay, clover hay.
i88 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Page 133 ii. William Motherwell
Line 5. Beltane, the name of a festival which used to be observed on the first day of May, O.S.
" At Beltane, quhen ilk bodie bovvnis To Peblis to the Play, To heir the singin and the soundis, To solace, suth to say, Be firth and forrest furth they found; Thay grathit tham full gay."
—Peblis to the Play, St. i.
On the eve of the day great fires were lighted. The festival was supposed by some to have an Eastern origin, and the fires which were lighted were said to have some connection with the Baal worship mentioned in the Old Testament.
GLOSSARY
The following dictionaries have been used in the compilation of the Notes and Glossary: Cotgrave's French -English, 1650; Bradley's Stratmann's Middle English, 1891; CathoUcon Anglicum, 1483 (E.E.T. Soc.); Du Cange's Glossarium, 1887; Jamieson's Dictionary of the Scottish Language; The Oxford English Dictionary; Roquefort's Glossaire de la Langue Romane, 1808; Skeat's Etymological Dictionary, 1884; Way's Promptorium Par- intlorum, 1843.
The contractions used are: A.S., Anglo-Saxon; Fris., Frisian; F., French; O.Fr., Old French; Icel., Icelandic; Lat. Latin; L.Lat., Low Latin; art., article; s., substantive; adj., adjective; pro., pronoun; v., verb, infinitive mood; adv., adverb; prep., preposition; conj., conjunction; interj., interjec- tion; POSS., possessive case or genitive; subj., subjunctive mood; pres.t., present tense; pt.t., past tense; pres.p., present participle; pp., past parti- ciple; 2, 3, second and third person respectively; sing., singular number; pi., plural number; imperat., imperative mood; impers., impersonal verb; aux,, auxiliary verb.
The large figures indicate the page ; the small figures the line.
A! interj. Ah! 25, 13.
a, indef. art. a, 21, i, 3, 4, 5,
6, 26.
a, adj. one, 30, 39. a', adj. all, 98, 4. aan, def. art. a, one, 62, 12;
63, 2. abade, pt.t. remained, 73, 37.
A.S. abtdan, to abide, abaid, pt.t. stood, abode, re- mained, 73, 34; 74, 60. abak, adv. back, 73, 46; 74,
67. abbat, s. habit, clothes, 102,
45. O.Fr. habit. abbay, 5. abbey, 48, 156. abidis, pres.t. awaits, 31, 63.
A.S. abidan.
aboif, prep, above, 50, 200. abone, prep, above, 68, 2.
A.S. abnfen.
aboon, prep, above, 119, 56.
abyd, abyde, v. to remain, 27, 82 ; 25, 28.
accumpanyit, adj. accom- panied, 73, 40.
accustomablie, s. usually, by custom, 85, 3. O.Fr. accus- tomaunce.
acquent, adj. acquainted, 130, 129.
ado, v. to do, 94, 35.
aduenture, 5. chance, 42, 5. O.Fr. aventure.
ad visit, pp. advised, 61, 51.
ae, adj. one, 110, 18.
af, adv. off, 115, 38. aff, adv. off, 100, 55. affray, 5. disturbance, alarm
34, 15. O.Fr. esfrei. afore, prep, before, 69, 33. aforrow, adv. before, 55, 94.
190 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
aft, adv. often, 100, 52. agayne, adv. again, 22, 27. agrest, adj. rustic, 75, 4. aiks, .9. oaks, oak trees, 131,
1 60. A.S. ac. ailay, adj. alley, 95, 58. ailhouss, s. alehouse, 51, 15. aill, 5. ale, 71, 78. A.S. ealu,
ealo\ Icel. ol. ain, pro. own, 99, 33. A.S.
ahj own. airly, adv. early, quickly, 52,
18; 71, 69.
aitis, s.pl. oats, 37, 14. al, adj. all, 30, 26; 75, i. alace! interj. alas! 48, 147. a-land, s. ashore, 104, 92. alanerlie, adv. only, 72, 15. aid, adj. old, 65, 2. aldirman, 5. alderman, chief
magistrate, provost, 23, 31;
34,5.
allanerlie, adv. only, 69, 33. alleavin, adj. eleven, 104, 25. allone, adj. alone, 48, 155. almaist, adv. almost, 72, 8. almen, all men, 63, 34. almoist, adv. almost, 80, 38. alone, adv. alone, 73, 34. als, adv. as, 25, 22; 44, 61. alsua, conj. also; 36, 19; 36,
36-
alwayis, adv. always, 27, 72. alyve, adj. alive, living, 58,
!&• ainang, prep, among, 25, 1 2 ;
42, 5. amonges, prep, amongst, 86,
26.
an, adj. one, 104, 101. ance, adv. once, 99, 17. ane, art. a, 44, 73. ane, indef. art. an, 21, I, 3. ane, adj. one, 71, 74. anerly, adj. only, 36, 22; 37,
40.
angell fude, manna, 55, 83. anis, adi<. once, 53, 39; 61,
52.
annes, 5. ones, 104, 97. ansuerd, pt.t. answered, 63,
43-
antiant, adj. ancient, 76, 26. anwch, s. enough, 43, 38. a per se, unique, 59, 8. apon, apone, prep, upon, 22,
20; 42, 3. appeirit, pt.t. appeared, 47,
137- apper, appere, v. to appear,
arise, happen, 27, 69; 25,
15. apperit, pt.t. 72, i.
O.Fr. aparoir. appoynttit, pp. appointed, 94,
35. O.Fr. apointer. approvis, pres.t. approve, 67,
S. approvit, pt.t. 65, 8. ,Fr. aprover. ar, pres.t. pi. are, 26, 52; 33,
103; 37, 3; 70, 41. aray, 5. outfit, 65, 5. O.Fr.
arreiy arroi.
: are, s. oar, 104, 89. A.S. ar. armis, 5. arms, 72, 5. O.Fr.
arwes, from Lat. arma. armouraris, s. armourers, 67,
56. F. armurier. array, 66, 42. See aray. arreisted, pp. arrested, 107,
66. O.Fr. arest. arteclis, s.pl. articles, 37, 40. artikillis, s. articles, 83, 28. as, ase, s. ash, ashes, ashheap,
42, 5; 43, 48; 100, 39-
A.S. asce. as, adv. like, 25, 25. ask, 5. newt, 51, 10. askit, pt.t. asked, 63, 38.
A.S. ascian.
aslipe, adv. asleep, 103, 55. assaill, v. to assail, 27, 80. assale, v. to assail, 25, 26.
O.Fr. assaillir. assay, v. to try, make a trial,
60, 39. O.Fr. eassier, to
try, test, assemblyt,/*/./. assembled, 27,
60.
GLOSSARY
191
aasemlyd, pt.t. assembled, assemlyd thame, assembled or met together, 25, 6. O.Fr. asembler.
assendyt, pt.t. ascended, 36,
31' assyse, s. mode of trial, 23, 51.
O.Fr. assise. [18.
astonist, /•£. astonished, 72, at, rel.pro., who, that, 22, 17;
22, 26; 31, 51; 35, 2; 34, 13. at, prep, at, 61, 53; from, 33,
107; of, athym, 35, 8. at, prep, in, 37, 37. at, prep, with, 37, 37. at, conj. that, 27, 61 ; 35, 3;
36, 24; 60, 24. at his poware, as far as he
can, 35, 7.
at rycht, by law, 25, 40. atheris, pro.poss. of the other,
31, 70.
atour, adv. moreover, 65, 9. atteanes, adv. at once, 103, 54. attour, prep, beyond, above,
49, 191. aucht, v. owns, belongs to,
23, 43. A.S. agan, from ah, to have, own.
aucht, v. possessed, 25, 9.
aucht, v. ought, 35, 5. A.S. agan from ah, to own.
aucht, adj. eight, 95, 67.
audacite, s. audacity, bold- ness, 73, 35.
auenture, s. accident, 44, 72. O.Fr. aventure.
auld, aulde, adj. old, 65, 6; 38, 30.
autor, s. author, 44, 55.
autoriteis, s. authorities, 76,
32. O.Fr. autorite". availlis, pres.t. avails, 56, 103.
O.Fr. a and valoir, valer, to be of use ; from Lat. ad, to, and valere, to be strong.
aventure, s. accident, 55, 93.
aviso, s. advice, 67, 60. O. Fr. avis.
avisit, adj. advised, 65, 8. O.Fr. aviser.
aw, v. ought, 22, 9; 23, 47. A.S. agan, from ah.
awall, 5. profit, 43, 35.
awalle, s. avail, value, 42, 27.
awin, adj. own, 23, 32; 61, 56.
awncestry, s. lineage, 25, 8. O.Fr. ancessour, a prede- cessor ; Lat. antecessorem, from ante and cedere, pp. cessus.
awne, pro. own, 36, 30.
awner, s. owner, 102, 52.
awyn, adj. own, 24, 53.
ay, adv. always, 30, 21 ; 33, 116.
ay-lestand, adj. everlasting, 31, 61.
ayris, s.pl. heirs, 22, 27. O. Fr. heir, eir, from Lat. heres.
back, 5. followers, train, 107, 67.
backed, adj. supported, 105, 3.
bad, s. delay, but bad, with- out delay, 30, 27.
bage-pypes, s. bagpipes, 86, 12.
baggis, s.pl. bags, 56, 114.
baik, v. to bake, 53, 35.
bailis, 5. sorrows, 55, 99. A.S. bealu, bealo, bale, calamity.
baillies, s.pl. bailies, 34, 5. O.Fr. bath', bailiff.
bailye, s. bailie, 23, 31. pi. bailyeis, 38, 24.
bair, adj. bare, 88, 13.
bair, pt.t. bore, 54, 75.
bair, adj. bare, unfurnished, 45, 95-
bair, adj. bare, without re- source, 56, 114.
baith, conj. both, 49, 174; 53, 51.
baittand, pres.p. eating, 81, 77. Icel. beita, to bait, make bite.
bakbyting, 5. backbiting, 84, 43. Icel. bak and bita, to bite.
192 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
bake, v. to bake, 23, 31. A.S.
bacan; Icel. baka. bane, 5. bone, 33, no; 81, 74.
A.S. ban\ Icel. bein. baner, s. banner, 66, 45. O. Fr.
banere, baniere. barbir, adj. barbarous. 75, 3.
Gr. barbaros.
harbour, adj. barbarous, 59, 2 1 . barbouris, 5. barbers, 65, 14. barnage, s. baronage: the
§ -eater and lesser barons. .Fr. barnage. barnis, 5. children, 83, 27.
A.S. beam, beren. barowne, s. baron, 60, 19. barrand, adj. barren, 59, 20. batale, bataile, bataill, batall,
5. battle, 25, 7; 24, 54; 27,
81 ; 73, 35. O.Fr. bataiUe. bath, bathe, conj. both, 32, 81;
37, 3- baws'nt, adj. having a white
stripe down the face, 126, 31. baxstaris, baxturis, s. bakers,
67, 535 65, 15. A.S. ba>- cestre.
be, v. to be, 31, 65. be, 2 sing.
pres. art, 48, 161. beis, pres.
subj. 66, 28; 67, 65. beis,
imper.pl. 61, 51. bene, pp.
26, 41 ; byne, 58, 151. beand,
pres.p. 85, 62. be, prep, by, 23, 43; 26, 43;
36, 12; 63, 24; from, 80, 39. bearmen, s. bearers, carriers,
68, 85. A.S. Icerman. beawschiris, s.pl. good sirs,
61, 50.
become, pt.t. became, 30, 34. beddell, s. beadle, town's
officer, 23, 31. A.S. by del,
an officer.
beddis, s.pl. beds, 57, 143. beet, v. to stir, stir up, 121, 22.
A.S. btfan.
befoir, prep, before, 47, 125. begger, s. beggar, 49, 193.' begyn, pres.t. begin, 76, 63.
beheld, pt.t. looked for, 74, .56. behuvit, pt.t. behoved, 61, 61. beif, s. beef, 70, 57. bold, adj. bald, 88, 12; 130, 132. belyve, adv. quickly, 128, 74. bemis, s.pl. beams, 47, 127. ben, prep, in, 129, 1 10. bene, pp. been, 57, 144. bent, s. grass, field, 78, 2. A.S.
beonet.
benyng, adj. benign, 63, 52. bere, 5. beir, 37, 14. beriit, pp. buried, 42, 20. beris, pres. ind. bears, 35, 24. berish, v. to bury, 83, 1 5. A. S.
byrgan, byrigen, to bury, berne, 5. fellow, 78, 2. A.S.
beorn. [34.
besaught, pt.t. besought, 102, besines, s. business, 71, 73 ; 85,
57- besouthe, -adv. south of, 103,
58. bestial, 5. cattle, 70, 57. O.Fr.
bestaille-, Mod.Fr. bttail. bestis, s.pl. beasts, 37, 3. besy, adj. busy, 61, 54. besyd, prep, beside, 52, 28. | betaknys, pres.t. betokens, 44,
65-
I betuex, prep, between, 36, 18. beuk, 5. book, 76, 22. bewist, 5. dwelling place, 31,
60. A.S. biwist. biddyng, s. bidding, order, 34,
14. A.S. biddan. biel, s. habitation, 131, 158. bien, adj. well, 131, 146. | biggonet, s. a kind of woman's
cap, 118, 13. | bill, 5. paper, document, 46,
104; 46, 113. bink, j. bank, 134, 21. birk, s. birch, 131, 154. A.S.
be ore, byre.
\ birnis, pres.t. burns, 64, 69. : bittir, adj. bitter, 50, 208. blaksmithis, s. blacksmiths, 65, 1 8.
GLOSSARY
blasphematioun, 5. blasphemy,
84, 43- blate, adj. shy, 129, 115. A.S.
bleadh, timid, soft, blaw, v. to blow, sound, 46,
100.
blawn, pp. blown, 133, 5. blenk, s. blink, glimpse, 61, 53. blew, adj. blue, 88, 6. blis, ^. bliss, 31, 47. blonkis, s. white horses, 92,
54. A.S. blanca\ F. blanc. blud, s. blood, 21, 2. blude,
21, i. A.S. blod. bludewytis, s.pl. fines for the
shedding of blood, 21, title.
A.S. blod and wife, punish- ment, penalty, bluid, ^. blood, 60, 35. blwid, 5. blood, 96, 90. blycht, adj. blithe, happy, glad,
35, 3. Icel. blitha. blynd, adj. blind, 25, 13 ; 32, 94. bocht, pp. bought, 45, 88. bonat - makars, s. bonnet- makers, 65, 1 6. bonde, 5. slave, bondman, 23,
35. A.S. bonda. boord-head, s. head of the
board, 108, 75. boot, s. boat, 104, 85. A.S.
bdt; M.E. boot. bot, prep, unless, except, with- out, 29, 15; 35, 28; 64, 62;
67, 65.
bot, conj. but, 25, 11 ; 61, 56. bott, s. boat, 101, 20. bottouns, s. large, high boots,
88, 8. boun, adj. ready, 50, 201. Icel.
btit'nn, pp. of v. btia, to till,
get ready, boundis, 5. bounds, districts,
70, 39-
bouris, s.pL bowers, 57, 143. bousteous, adj. rude, rough,
78, 2. braid, adj. broad, simple, open,
61,55; 124,5.
( 0 511 )
braid, v. to unfold, spread out,
46, 113. A.S. braedan, to
broaden.
brane, 5-. brain, 59, 20. braw, adj. bright, handsome,
118, 34; 125, 13. brawne-wod, adj. mad, 33,
105. See note, brede, s. bread, 23, 32. breid, s. bread, 43, 42; 70, 49. breist, 5. breast, 46, 104; 46,
breist-plate, 5. breastplate, 91,
35-
brek, v. to break, 66, 28. pp. brok, 92, 47 ; brokin, 73, 30 ; brokyn, 77, 55. brent, adj. smooth, 130, 131. brent, pt.t. burnt, 134, 34. I brig, s. bridge, 72, 9. brig of
tre, a wooden bridge. | bront, s. brunt, assault, 73, 41. bruk, v. to possess, enjoy, 31, 61. 2 sing, pres.t. brukis. A.S. brucan, to use, enjoy, bruther, 5. brother, 63, 39. bugill, 5-. bugle, 46, 100. buik, s. book, 60, 25. pi. bukis,
60, 30.
i buisteous, adj. loud, 46, 100. ! buithis, s. booths, 94, 49. bund, adj. bound, 49, 192. bundine, pp. bound, afflicted,
32,90. bure, pt.t. bore, carried, 46,
104. burrowgreffis, s. town officials,
23 title. but, prep, without, 26, 48 ; 69,
18; 74, 69. but mare, without more ado,
without delay, 31, 53. bute, 5. healing, 32, 95. by, adv. aside, 51, 8. j by, prep, beyond, besides, in addition to, 49, 182 ; 102, 49. ; byd, v. to await, hope for,
expect, seek, 45, 94.
j byd, imper. bid, 36, 13.
13
194 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
byde, v. to remain, 48, 153. bydingis, s.pl. commands, 36,
35- byne, pp. been, 58, 151.
ca, v. drive, 128, 76.
cace, s. case, chance, on cace,
by chance, 48, 159. cair, 5. care, 56, 112. pi. cairis,
57, 145.
cairfullie, adv. carefully, 101,7. caitchepulles, s. tennis courts,
94, 58. caldrone, 5. caldron, 51, 4.
O.Fr. caldron , caudron. caller, adj. fresh, 119, 38. callit, pt.t. called, 51, 3. callit, pp. named, 70, 37. calsay, 5. pavement, 87, 42.
L.Lat. calciata.) short for
calciata via. can, pres.t. does, 45, 81. can, pt.t. did, 30, 18. cant, adj. proud, 42, 2. [63. carl, s. man, fellow, 21, 7; 81, carreling, s. caroling, 84, 47.
O.Fr. carole.
carting, 5. cardplaying, 84, 47. caryit, pt.t. carried, 81, 70. casis, s.pl. cases, 44, 61. cassen, pp. cast, thrown, 102,
29.
cassyn, pp. cast, 42, 7. castell, s. castle, 25, 29. castin, pp. cast, 64, 66. casualitie, s. accident, 50, 197. catife, 5. caitiff, 30, 24. O.Fr.
caitif\ Lat. captivus. cauld, adj. cold, 57, 143. cedir, adj. cedar, 59, 7. celsitude, s. highness, 46, 120. cersing, pres.p. searching, 101,
3. O.Fr. cercher. certefeing, pres.p. certifying,
93, 31.
ces, v. to cease, 45, 97. chace, v. to pursue, 23, 38.
O.Fr. charier; L.Lat. cad- are.
challangis, v. claims, 23, 49. O.Fr. chalonge, chalenge, a dispute ; properly an accu- sation.
challangyt, pp. accused, 24, 52.
chanonis, s. canons, 85, u. Lat. canon, a rule.
chargis, pres.t. charges, directs, 37, 42.
chargit, pp. charged, filled, burdened, 71, 72.
chasty, v. to chasten, correct, 26, 43. O. Fr. chastier.
cheif, adj. chief, 59, 7.
cheiflie, adj. chiefly, 95, 78.
cheir, s. cheer, 43, 25.
cheplane, s. chaplain, 114, IT.
cherbukle, s. carbuncle, 59, 7.
cheretie, 5. charity, 49, 172.
cherisit, pp. cherished, 79, 25. F. che"rir.
chess, v. to choose, 25, 7. cheyss, 27, 61. pp. chosyn, 26, 39; 28, 93. A.S. cedsan.
chestee, v. to chastise, 77, 47.
childer, s.pl. children, 22, 27 ; 77, 60. A.S. did.
chois, 5. choice, 61, 63. O.Fr. chois.
chosin, adj. chosen, 59, 7.
chosyn, pp. chosen, 26, 39; 28, 93-
ciete, s. city, 72, 9.
clade, adj. clad, clothed, 88, 6.
clais, s. clothes, 56, 122.
clamoure, s. clamour, shout- ing, 74, 65.
claver, adj. clover, 131, 164.
cleeda, pres.t. clothes, 131, 146.
cleek'd, pt.t. clung, 135, 36.
cleen, adj. clean, 64, 59.
cleir, adj. clear, 51, 4.
cleithe, imperat.pl. clothe, 63,
3°-
clene, adj. clean, 42, n. clene, adv. completely, 61, 58. cleyr, adj. clear, 42, 23. clifting, 5. cleft, 124, 15. cloised, pt.t. closed, 115, 50.
GLOSSARY
clour, s. swelling, 52, 32.
cluddis, s.pl. clouds, 47, 128.
coatch, s. coach, 108, 90.
cock, s. cock, 42, i.
coddis, s.pl. husks, 62, 14. A.S. cod, codd, a bag-.
coffer, s. box, money chest, 120, 10. O.Fr. cofre.
coill, s. coal, 81, 70.
coit, 5. coat, 47, 141.
colour, s. ornament, 61, 66. The word is used here in its technical rhetorical sense, as Chaucer uses it in the plural :
" It moste been a rhetor excellent, That coude his colours longing for that art."
— Squieres Tain, 30, 31.
O.Fr. colur, colour.
colowr, s. colour, 42, 23.
com, pt.t. came, 63, 23.
come, pt.t. came, 52, 31.
comis, pres.subf. comes, arises, 34, 15.
commandand, pres.p. com- manding-, 46, 115.
commandit, pp. commanded, 47, 136. [71, 78-
common, s. usual, ordinary,
commovit, pp. moved, excited, stirred, 74, 58.
comonateis, probably a mis- take for communitie. See note, 34, 2.
comont, adj. common, 76, 24.
comoun, adj. common, comoun bell, town bell, 34, 13.
companyouns, s. companions, 7->, 17.
compeir, v. to appear, be present at, 47, 125.
compilaris, 5. compilers, 75, 9.
comprehendit, pp. appre- hended, 89, 38.
compt, 5. account, 56, 123.
Gomyz,jpres.subj. come, 34, 15.
conducit, pt.t. provided, 101,
20.
conforme, adv. in accordance with, 66, 36.
contort, s. comfort, 57, 145.
coniunct, adj. united, related, 60, 35-
consaitis, s. conceits, 76, 21.
consale, consall, consel, s. council, 31, 48; 67, 60; 76, 36.
consau.it, pt.t. conceived, 36, 25.
considder, pl.imperat.^ con- sider, 61, 52.
consideryt, pp. considered, 28, 90.
consuetud, s. custom, 65, 2.
consumit, pp. consumed, 47, 118.
contenit, pt.t. contained, pre- scribed, 67, 71.
contenyt,/^. contained, 38, 30.
continewal, adj. continual, 70, 40.
contirfait, v. to counterfeit, 60, 23. [75, 10.
contrafait, v. to counterfeit,
coutrair, s. contrary, 94, 45.
contrair, s. contradiction, in my contrair, against me, 57, 138.
contrare, adj. opposed, con- trary, 29, 3; 103, 73.
convenable, adj. fit, 57, 130.
convict, pp. convicted, 66, 29.
cordinaris, s. shoemakers, 65, 15. O.Fr. cordoanier, a cordwainer, from O. Fr. cordoan, Cordovan leather, from L.Lat. Cordoa, a spelling- of Cordova, in Spain.
corne, s. corn, harvest, 32, 86.
Corpus Cristi, 66, 43. See note.
corse, s. cross, 36, 27.
costis, s.pl. costs, charges, 38, 20.
couatit, pt.t. desired, would fain, 62, 13.
196 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
counsale, s. council, Town Council, 66, 35.
count, 5. count, trouble, 81, 60.
couparis, £. coopers, 65, 15.
cours, s. course, 71, 74.
couth, pt.t. could, 47, 143.
covatyce, s. covetousness, greed, 81, 63.
cownt, pres.t. count, reckon, 43, 42.
cracks, pres.t. talks, 129, 113.
craft, s. art, trade, 66, 46. A.S. crceft, skill, power, trade.
craftismen, 66, 41. See crafts- men.
craftsmen, 5. craftsmen, men belonging to a craft or association of workmen, 65, 4.
crafty, adj. cunning, skilful, 59, ii ; 69, 18.
crampis, v. capers, 91, 38.
crauis, pres.t. crows, 90, 2.
crisnit, pp. christened, bap- tized, 32, 78.
cristis, s. plumes, headdress, 92, 46.
croice, s. cross, 30, 29.
croses, s. crosses, 87, 50.
croude, 5. an instrument of music formerly used in Scot- land, 63, 37.
crows, bold, defiant, "cocky", 42, 2.
cruk, s. crook, 51, 4.
cukis, s.pl. cooks, 43, 42; 94,
55-
cukstull, ^. 22, 13. See note, culd, pt.t. could, 76, 23. culd, pt.t. did, 46, 107; 48, 146. cule, adj. cold, 133, 8. cullour, s. colour, 43, 37. cum, v. to come, 36, 33. cuming, pres.p. coming, 67, 73. cumis, pres.t. comes, 50, 197. cummin, pp. come, 63, 40. cummyn, pp. come, 25, 8; 35,
30. cumpanie, 5. company, 69, 27.
j cumyne, 5. coming, 36, 29. j cunctre, s. country, district,
29, i. cunnyng, s. cunning, skill, 44,
65- cuntre, cuntree, s. country,
district, 38, 23; 62, 7. cunyet, pp. coined, 92, 5. curaige, 5. courage, 60, 43. curat, 5. curate, 37, 42. cure, 5. care, mind, 42, 4; 56,
117.
curis, 5. charges, employ- ments, 80, 55. curland, adj. curling, 69, 9. cursoris, 5. coursers, stallions,
92, 46. cushats, 5. wood pigeons, 131,
1 60.
cusing, 5. cousin, 101, 8. cust, pt.t. cast, 103, 73. oust
about, tacked, cuth, pt.t. could, 29, 6. cuttand, pres.p. cutting down,
73, 43. cwmis, pres.t. comes, 57, 147.
dadding, pres. p. knocking,
thumping, 87, 42. daffin, s. merriment, playing,
frolic, 126, 43. dais, s.pl. days, 37, 4. daly, adv. daily, 75, 6. damnable, adj. hurtful, 83, 25. damycellis, s.pl damsels,
maids, 42, 8. dang, pt.t. flung, 69, 22. dansyng, s. dancing, 84, 45. dar, / sing. pres.t. ind. dare, 32,
91.
dartis, s. darts, 74, 59. dask, s. seat, pew, 88, 13. dasy, s. daisy, 59, 18. dawis, pres.t. dawns, 90. i.
A.S. daiven, from A.S. dceg,
day. de, v. to die, 29, 10. Icel.
deyja. dear, 5. he who is dying, 35, i.
GLOSSARY
197
deavin, adv. deafening-, 135,
debait, s. debate, doubt, delay,
81, 57; 82, 90. O.Fr. de-
batre. debait, v. to defend, 69, 31.
O.Fr. debatre; Lat. de,
down, and batuere, to beat, decking, pres.p. dressing-, 101,
21. decoring, pres.p. decorating,
92, 8. decorit, pt.t. decorated,
adorned, 65, 5. ded, 5. death, 31, 63; 36, 18. dede, adj. dead, 24, i ; 31, 65. dedis, s. deeds, 73, 38. defalt, s. default, wrongdoing-,
49, 181.
deferent, adj. different, 44, 64. deformit, pp. deformed, 49,
1 80.
deid, s. death, 48, 154; 51, 6. deid,^.*. died, 51, 5. deid, adj. dead, 27, 555 63, 33. deidis, s.pl. deeds, 44, 66. deieck, v. to cast down, 74,
63-
deiff, adj. deaf, 32, 93. A.S. dedf.
deir, adj. dear, 60, 23.
deis, pres.t. dies, 35, 3.
deit, pt.t. died, 36, 9; 69, 20.
delicius, adj. delicious, 70, 52.
deling, 5. dealing, 94, 34.
deliuer, v. to deliver, give over, 37, 17.
delyte, 5. delight, 58, 162.
demandyt, pp. asked, 35, 2.
demying, 5. judgment, de- cision, 26, 38. A.S. ddm.
dene, s. dean, 93, 24. O.Fr. deien.
dennar. s. dinner, 86, 20.
departit, pt.t. divided, 62, 4.
deput, pp. deputed, 94, 41.
deputis, s.pl. deputies, 38, 41.
dere, adj. dear, 31, 62; 58, 158.
derne, s. darkness, 53, 42.
descendyd, adj. descended, 58,
I54-
despyis, pres.t. despise, 43, 35. determyne, pp. determined,
26, 51.
dethis, s.poss. death's, 54, 59. dettour, s. debtor, 38, 39. deuill, s. devil, 36, 15. deuly, adv. duly, 85, 6. devyne, adj. divine, 53, 43. deyr, adj. dear, of great value,
43, 26. dichtes, pres.t. clean, scour,
91, 34. A.S. dihtan. dicturis, s. words, phrases,
76, 31.
dint, s. blow, attack, 69, 31. dirk, adj. dark, 54, 59. discending,/!»w./>. descending,
72, 10.
discending, adj. descended,
73, 39.
discendyt, pt.t. descended, 36, 28.
discerne, v. to discern, 53, 42.
discipulis, s. disciples, 76, 22.
disdene, s. disdain, 81, 61.
disgysit, pp. disguised, 79, 15. O.Fr. desguiser.
disherisit, pp. disinherited, 79, 23. F. dltsktritcr.
disjunit, pt.t. breakfasted, 71, 69.
disluge, v. to remove, 80, 52.
disparit, adj. despaired, hope- less, 30, 20.
disparit, pt.t. despaired, 60,
dispern, v. to disperse, 53, 46. disputand, pres.p. disputing,
73, 50. dissavable, adj. deceitful, 57,
J53- dissensiown, s. dissension, 25,
12.
distrowre, s. destroyer, 30, 26. distroyit,^. destroyed, 70, 41. distroyt, pt.t. destroyed, 32,
198 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
distmccione, s. destruction,
38, 22. disyrand, pres.p. desiring, 45,
78.
dittay, s. indictment, 101, 5. diuerse, adj. divers, various,
60, 32; 75, 8. diuyne, adj. divine, 76, 33. do, v. to do, 59, 15 ; an instance
of the periphrastic use ot this verb in the i6th century. It may be rendered here by to : in every volume which it pleases thee to write. See the Oxford Dictionary.
doand, pres.p. doing, execut- ing, 34, 8.
dochter, s. daughter, 58, 158.
dois, doiae,pres.t. does, 44, 55;
61, 59-
dollarous, adj. dolorous, 88, 3. dolour, doloure, s. grief, 56,
101 ; 69, 20. doun, doune, adv. down, 34, 1 1 ;
48, 155; dovne, 54, 56. doung, ^. dung, 42, 3. dowbill, adj. double, 96, 86. doya,pres.t. does, gives, 43, 37. drapping, pres.p. dropping,
128, 74.
dreddour, 5. dread, 76, 42. dreid, s. dread, 48, 146. dreid, v. to dread, 44, 63. pt.t.
dreidit, 51, 6.
dreidles, adv. fearlessly, with- out dread, 51, 7. drerie, adj. dreary, sad, 57,
142. dreuyn, adj. driven, derived,
75, 12.
drew him, hired himself, 62, n. drow, 5. sudden squall, 103, 64. drynk, s. drink, 56, 122. duddie, adj. ragged, 125, 20. duell, v. to dwell, 31, 49; 72, 3. duelling, 5. abode, 31, 68. duelt, pt.t. dwelt, 29, i. dulce, adj. sweet, 59, 2. dulefull, adj. doleful, 48, 147.
dum, dume, adj. dumb, 33, 97 ;
61, 61.
dune, pp. done, 86, 28. dungyn, pp. beaten, 22, 9. durande, pres.p. during, 23, 33. duty, s. devotions, 128, 97. dyned, pt.t. dined, 86, 17. dyner, s. dinner, 42, 4. dyng, adj. worthy, dignified,
45, 87; 53, 54. dynmont, s. a wether in its
second year, 37, n. dynt, s. attack, 73, 28. dysing, s. playing at dice, 84,
47-
dyt, s. diction, words, 44, 56. dyuers, adj. divers, 95, 73.
e, 5. eye, 48, 159. pi. ee, 59, 9;
111, 50. ene, 20, 28; 73, 48. eall, 5. ale, 102, 47. ear, s. ear, 22, 22. eares, s. oars, 104, 84. A.S. dr. ech, adj. each, 91, 28. eddir, s. adder, 57, 137. effeirit, pt.t. belonged to, 47,
142. effray, 5. alarm, 74, 66. O.Fr.
"effnn, a fright, scare,
dread", &c. — Cotgrave. efftyr, adv. afterwards, 26, 49. eft, adv. often, 31, 60. efter, adv. after, 22, 16; 35, i. efter, prep, after, 22, 13. eftir, prep, according to, 23,
51. "wald pruff eftir the
assyse of the land." eftire, adv. after, 31, 58. eftyr, adv. after, 24, 4. eild, s. old age, 77, 63. eird, s. earth, ground, 47, 135;
69, 23.
eit, pt.t. ate, 51, 16; 69, 16. eldar, adj. elder, 63, 35. eldaris, s.pl. forefathers, 36,
28; 70, 44.
elrich, adj. haunted, 51, 8. Emperour, 65, 22. See note, empesche, v. to prevent, 71, 72.
GLOSSARY
199
Empryce, s. empress, 54, 64. emptive, adj. empty, 59, 20. empyre, s. empire, 48, 168. endeur, v. to endure, last, 48,
165. endite, s. writing-, 59, 16. uther
maneir endite, other manner,
or style of writing-. [75.
enduir, v. to endure, last, 45, eue, s. evening-," dark, 51, 13. ene, s. eyes, 30, 28; 73, 48. enemyis, s. enemies, 72, T. engine, s. faculty, 59, 20. enkerly, adv. seriously, 27, 68. ensample, s. example, 28, 95.
ensawmpill, 26, 41. entres, s. entrance, 72, 9. enwy, s. envy, 27, 65. erar, erare, conj. rather, 71, 66;
29,5. erd, s. earth, 64, 56. erd
telar«, tiller of the earth,
husbandman, erde, 5. earth, 36, 23. erde, v. to bury, 83, 5. erdly, adj. earthly, 44, 67. erl, s. earl, 21, i. esalie, adv. easily, 70, 50. eschapit, pt.t. escaped, 69, 27.
O.Fr. escaper, eschaper. eschete, adj. escheat, forfeited,
34, 12. O.Fr. eschet. eschewe, v. to avoid, 73, 38.
O.Fr. eschever. ete, v. to eat, 33, 102; 63, 35.
pt.t. ete, 62, 14; eit, 69, 16.
pp. eten, 63, 47. pi. imperat.
ete, 63, 32.
eterne, 5. eternity, 53, 40. euervyrgne, 5. ever-virgin, 36,
25-
euery, adj. every, 72, 20. euin, adv. even, 46, 121. euir, adv. ever, 45, 75. euirmaire, adv. evermore,
always, 64, 50. everilk, adj. every, 79, 20. evyn, 5. evening", darkness, 25,
28.
ewin-song, s. evening song, 89,
32- ewyn, s. evening-, darkness, 27,
82.
exaltit, pp. exalted, 43, 46. examynit,^. examined, 36, 19. excelland, pres.p. excelling-, 44,
67.
exerce, v. to exercise, 84, 52. exercit, pp. exercised, 70, 45. exercition, s. exercise, 71, 67. exort, pres.t. exhort, 75, i. exquisite, adj. far-fetched, 75,
5-
extent, s. valuation, assess- ment, taxing-, 37, 2.
eydent, adj. anxious, 128, 94.
eyr, 5. ear, 22, 18.
fabill, s. fable, 44, 50.
fader, fadir, s. father, 31, 62;
60, 30. poss. faderis, 36, 31 ;
fadris, 62, 17. failye, v. to fail, 66, 28. pres.t.
failyie, 95, 70; failyey, 96, 90. fair, v. to go, 52, 19. A.S.
faran, to go. fall, v. to happen, 26, 45. fallois, s. fellows, companions,
74, 74-
fallow, s. fellow, 51, n. falset, s. falsehood, 80, 48. famous, s. famous, reputable,
56, 105.
fand, pt.t. found, 42, 6; 69, 14. fandyt, pt.t. attempted, 25, 6.
fandyt fast, did their best, fantastiknes, s. fantasy, 75, 20. fardit, pp. painted, embel- lished, 75, 5. F. fardd. fassons, s. fashions, shapes,
77, 52.
fauld, s. fold, 122, 60. fayndyt, pt.t. tried, 27, 60. fayne, adv. gladly, 42, 9. fayre, s. fair, 23, 35; 58, 149. fayrehede, 5. fairhood, beauty,
58, 155. fayrest, adj. fairest, 58, 149.
200 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
fayth, 5. faith, 83, 28.
fean, adj. fain, glad, 103, 59.
feart, pp. frightened, afraid,
112,89.
feble, adj. feeble, small, 60, 27. fecht, v. to fight, to try the
ordeal of battle, 24, 53. feddir, s. feather, 57, 136. fede, v. to feed, 62, 13. feest, s. feast, 64, 52. feid, v. to feed, 43, 38. feild, ^. field, 46, 110; pi.
feildis, 91, 41. feill, 5. knowledge, 79, 13. feir, s. fear, dread, 69, 23. feir, v. to fear, 83, 28. feirs, adj. fierce, 69, 9. feirslie, adv. fiercely, 69, 29. feit, 5. feet, 69, 15; 88, 8. felable, adj. striking, 59, 13. fele, adj. many, 30, 42. fell, 5. hill, 51, 2; pi. fellis,
70, 55-
fellone, adj. cruel, 29, 2. fellowne, adj. felon, cruel,
25, ii.
femynyne, adj. feminine, 53, 49. fensit, pt.t. fenced, 47, 122.
See note.
fer, adv. far, 47, 140; 59, 16. fere, adj. sound, 33, 104. See
note.
ferr, adj. far, 62, 7. ferthing, s. farthing, 22, 15. fertour, s. bier, a frame on
which anything is carried,
85, 9. A.S. beer. fetherem, s. feathers, 42, i. feyndis, s.poss. fiend's, 54, 69. ffor, conj. because, 72, 22. fiel, adv. softly, 131, 147. fient, 5. a petty oath, the
fient a pride, the devil a bit
of pride, 125, 16. fische, 5. fish, 71, 65. flang, pt.t. flung, threw, 74, 58. fle, v. to flee, 48, 153. fleing, s. fleeing, running
away, 72, 21.
flesch, s. flesh, 33, no. flescharis, s. fleshers, butchers,
66, 48. flesshoris, s. fleshers, butchers,
65, 14.
flittis, pres.t. flit, 92, 51. flour, s. flower, 53, 49 ; 59, 7 ;
flowr, 43, 47. fluide, s. flood, 59, 4. fiurising, adj. flourishing, 53,
52-
fluyr, s. floor, 42, n. flycht, s. flight, 79, 29. foill, s. foal, 81, 71. folk, s. people, 25, 13. folkis, s. people, 56, 105. folowar, 5. follower, foal, 37,
12.
foly, 5. folly, 25, 13. fone, s. foes, 91, 36. A.S. fa. fontane, 5. fountain, 70, 46. for, conj. because, through, 61,
64; 64, 59. forbeir, v. to forbear, avoid,
abstain from, 83, 24. forbydin, adj. forbidden, 37, 44. force, 5. strength, 72, 6. forcy, adj. brave, strenuous,
73,38; 74,63. forder, adj. further, 89, 46. fordwart, adv. forward, 78, 6. fore, prep, for, 30, 17. fore, conj'. because, 30, 33. forhede, 5. forehead, head,
mind, 59, 19.
fonnaly, adv. formally, 75, 12. forme, 5. form, manner, 70, 53. formest, adj. foremost, 73, 31. fornens, prep, over against, in
front of, before, towards,
73, 31.
forow, adv. before, 28, 96. forow, prep, before, 31, 59. forowtyn, prep, without, 25, 17;
27, 72 ; 28, 92.
for-quhy, conj. because, 42, 22. forsak, v. to forsake, 37, 42. forse, 5. force, 72, 16. forsuer, v. to renounce, 22, 14.
GLOSSARY
201
forsuith, adv. forsooth, 61, 54. forsuth, adv. forsooth, 23, 49. farther, adv. further, 45, 97;
88, 26.
for-thi, conj. therefore, 31, 48. forthinkis, pres.t. repents,
35, 6.
for till, to, 82, 91. fortoun, 5. fortune, 48, 168. fosse, s. ditch, 76, 39. foulis, s.pl. fowls, birds, 57,
141.
foutht, s. wealth, 61, 65. fownd, pp. found, 44, 52. fra, adv. when, 25, 28. fra
evyn fell, when darkness
fell. fra, prep, from, in, 44, 61 ;
"preserwis als fra casis
perellus". It*,, prep, from, against, 22, 15;
23, 36; 31, 64; 36, 30; 54,68. fray, s. fright, panic, 87, 48. fre, adj. free, 24, 53; 72, 22. fredomys, s.pl. freedoms, privi- leges, 34, 7. freikis, s. men, 91, 41. A.S.
freca.
freiris, s. friars, 85, i. frequent, adj. common, 70, 54. fresch, adj. fresh, 42, i. fret, v. to rub away, cause to
decay or fail, 45, 76. A.S.
fretan, to eat, devour, freynd, s. friend, 85, 90. pi.
freyndis, 53, 36. frie, adj. free, 101, 9. fro, prep, from, 54, 59. fud, 5. food, 43, 30. fulle, adj. full, 25, 13. fundin, pp. found, 65, i ; 63, 34. furie, s. fury, 73, 41. furneiss, v. to furnish, 65, 19;
67, 57-
furrowis, 5. furriers, 66, 50. furth, adv. forth, 32, 76; 42, 3;
51, 2. furthe, 63, 29. fute, 5. foot, 27, 79; 47, 144. futtit, adj. footed, 47, 135-
fuyll, s. fool, 45, 79. fwte, s. foot, 25, 25. fyir, 5. fire, 44, 59. fynd, v. to find, 45, 93. fyndis, j sing.pres.subj. finds,
23, 35-
fynds, pres.t. find, 94, 47. fyrst, adj. first, 22, 27. fyrst, adv. first, 35, 3.
ga, v. to go, 62, 1 8.
gader, v. to gather, 38, 24. gadder, 56, 113. pt.t. gad- derit, 46, 112. pp. gaderit, 62, 6.
gae, imperat. go, 99, 16.
gaif, gaiff, pt.t. gave, 46, 108; 101, 16.
gaird, s. guard, 34, 4.
gais, pres.t. goes, 47, 135.
gaist, s. ghost, spirit, 36, 22.
gait, s. goat, 37, 10.
gane, pp. gone, 31, 64.
ganesay, v. to gainsay, con- tradict, 60, 40. [53, 38.
gang, v. to go, pass, 31, 53;
gangand, pres.p. going, 74, 61.
ganys, 2 sing. pres.t. suificest, 42, 1 8. ganys nocht for me, sufficest not for me.
gapped, pt.t. gaped, 87, 52.
gar, v. to cause, 75, 14. pt.t. gart, 51, 16.
garnist,^.A garrisoned, 72, 4.
gash, adj. sagacious, 126, 29.
gat,^/.^. got, obtained, 30, 31; 33, 104.
gate,^./. got, reached, 87, 54.
gawcie, adj. comfortable-look- ing, 126, 35.
gayne-gevyng, gayne-gyvyng, s. giving back, restoration, 28, 91 ; 26, 37-
gead, pt.t. went, 102, 44.
gear, 5. property, 120, 14.
geir, s. goods, 66, 26.
gemme, 5. gem, 59, 4.
gend, adj. lively, frolicsome, 51, i.
202 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
genetrice, s. genetrix, 54, 66. gentill, adj. gentle, beautiful,
42, 1 6. ger, v. to cause, 31, 56; pt.t.
gert, 32, 78. gers, s. grass, 47, 130. get, ^. gate, way, 31, 47. gett, v. to get, obtain, 52, 30;
pres.t.pl. gettis, 32, 93; 33,
97-
geue, imperat. sing, give, 62, 3. geve, con/, if, 79, u. gied,^./. gave, 110, 29. gif, v. to give, 56, 1 23. gif, am/: if, 22, 22; giff, 22, 8. gimmer, 5. a two-year-old ewe,
37, 10.
gin, prep, by, 133, 6. girded, pp. clothed, 100, 38. gis, i). to guess, 104, 107. gladyng, adj. making glad,
54, 62.
glaid, adj. glad, 50, 204. glaidly, adv. gladly, 55, 91. gleamis, pres.t. gleams, 47,
129.
gloryuss, adj. glorious, 54, 75. glooming, adj. gloomy, 108, 74. glowrsuiipres.p. lookingsourly,
120, i.
golde, s. gold, 37, 6. gotin,^.got, found, acquired,
obtained, 66, 39. gottin,
37, 1 6. gottyn, 22, 26. got-
tyne, 38, 35. gouans, 5. gowans, daisies,
90, 10.
gouerne, v. to govern, 44, 73. goune, s. gown, 88, 6. grait, adj. great, 101, 15. grantand, pres.p. granting, 60,
38. grantis, pres.t. grants, admits,
35, 4.
grat, pt.t. wept, 136, 64. grawine, pp. buried, 31, 67. grayne, 5. branch, i.e. Christ,
54, 75. See note, grayth, s. furniture, 93, n.
great, 5. calf, 88, 8. The great
of his leg, the calf, &c. greet, v. to cry, 119, 44. greitlie, adv. greatly, 46, 1 1 2. grene, 5. green, 46, 112. gret, adj. great, 32, 88. grete,
72, 12. grew, adj. Greek, 61, 60.
O.Fr. griu. grit, adj. great, 42, 23; 47,
170. grite, 75, 10. grone, pres.t. groan, 90, 20. groufflings, adv. stooping, 88,
20.
grouis, pres.t. grow, 77, 61. growand, pres.p. growing, 47,
130. gryppit, pp. gripped, seized,
28, 91. grypyd, 26, 37. guberne, v. imperat. govern,
53, 50.
gud, adj. good, 30, 31 ; 36, 16. guddame.s. grandmother, 51, i. gudelie, adj. goodly, 47, 130. gudis, 5. goods, 23, 42 ; 35, 31 ;
37, 15.
gustit, pt.t. tasted, 50, 208. gyd, v. to guide, 50, 200. gyf, conj. if, 33, 112. gyfe, v. to give, grant, 30, 19. gyffin, pp. given, 76, 36.
habandonyt, pp. abandoned, 31, 43. F. dbandonner, to
give up; from a, prep., and
bandon, permission, liberty,
from Lat. ad, to, and L. Lat.
bandum, an order, decree.
— Skeat.
habitakle, s. abode, 53, 53. habitatiown, s. habitation, 43,
43-
haf, haif, v. to have, 43, 40; 38, 32. pt.t. haid, 27, 68. pres.p. haifand, 48, 149.
naff, v. to have, 34, 20. nane naff lord na lordschip, ac- knowledge no lord or supe- rior, ib.
GLOSSARY
203
haffllns, adv. half, partly, 129,
108.
hags, s. mosses, 121, 30. haile, adj. whole, 67, 60. haile, adj. hale, 33, 104. haill! interj. hail! 51, n. hairis, s. hares, 91, 22. hairt, 5. heart, 49, 185. pi.
hairtis, 50, 209. hairtfully, adv. earnestly, 53,
36-
hairtis, s. harts, 90, 17. haiste, s. haste, 46, 107. haistelie, adv. quickly, 72, 19. haistye, adj. hasty, speedy,
93, 1 8.
hald, s. position, 73, 47. hald, v. to hold, keep, 47, 123.
pres.t. hald, 94, 51. pp.
haldin, 94, 49. haldyn, 26,
40; 28, 94. haldyne, 43, 26. hale, adj. whole, 34, i ; 74, 57. hales, pres.t. heals, 121, 38. halffitis, s. side of the face, 88,
n.
halpenny, s. halfpenny, 22, 8. halt, 5. lameness, 49, 179. halt, adj. lame, 32, 95. haly, adj. holy, 35, 4. halynes, s. holiness, sanctity,
virtue, 83, 17.
hamelie, adj. homely, 44, 56. handillitt, pp. handled, 69, 17. banting, pres.p. frequenting-,
94, 52.
hap, s. chance, 51, 14. happinis, pres. subj. may,
chance, 66, 27. happynnis, pres.t. happens, 38,
34- hard, pt.t. heard, 46, 103.
harde, 46, 100. hard, adv. close, 103, 54. harddy, adj. hardy, 44, 71. hardy, adj. bold, 74, 75. harrott,s. herald, 89, 41. O.Fr.
heralt, heraut. harsk, adj. harsh, 59, 21. hart, 5. heart, 29, 13; 36, u.
has, 2 sins*. pres.t. hast, 63, 49. hat, adj. hot, 102, 49. hatrent, s. hatred, 69, 12. havand, pres.p. having-, 69, 26. hawe, v.aux. to have, 26, 39. he, adj. high, 50, 209. head, s. headland, 104, 91. heavin, s. haven, harbour, 102,
hecht, pt.t. promised, 124, 3. hed, 5. head, 22, 13. hede, 38,
38-
hed, pt.t. had, 60, 41. hef, v. to have, 75, 5. heich, v.imperat. exalt, 50, 203. heicht, pt.t. promised, 31, 69. heid, s. head, 52, 33. heid, s. heed, 80, 45. heile, s. healing, cure, 30, 31 ;
33, 100.
heillis, s. heels, 87, 42. heir, v. to hear, 45, 82. heir, adv. here, 43, 29. heis, pres.t. exalts, 50, 209. hele, s. healing, cure, 30, 33. helpe, s. help, 31, 52. helth, s. health, 46, 1 1 7. hemmermen, s. hammermen,
67, 54-
herbis, s. herbs, 71, 77. herbry, s. shelter, lodgings,
inn, 51, 14. Icel. herbergi,
a harbour, inn, lodging, herbry, v. to harbour, 35, 27. herd, herde, pt.t. heard, 30,
22; 32,93; 63,37. heresyss, s.pl. heresies, 37, 43. heryng, s. hearing, 32, 93. hes, pres.t. has, 42, 12. hess, pres.t. have, 56, 115. hevyne, s. heaven, 36, 22. hewe, 5. hew, 44, 64. hewynis, s.poss. heaven's, 31,
47-
hey, adj. high, 25, 24. hie, adj. high, 46, 120; 47, 132 ;
51,7-
hie-gate, 5. high street, high- way, 62, 49.
204 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
hie-way, s. highway, 51, 7. hing, v. to hang, 22, 24. hinnied, adj. honeyed, 135, 47.
A.S. hunig. hir, pro. her, 51, 3. hittis, ^. blows, 92, 49. hodiern, s. to-day, 53, 44. hoggis, s.pL swine, 62, 14. hoip s. hope, 44, 62. hoir, «^'. hoary, 81, 66. hoi, s. bay, 104, 90. holl, s. hole, 102, 37. honorabily, arfv. worthily, 65,
12.
hool, 5. husk, 99, 34. hop, 5. trust, faith, 36, 14.
''have hop of nan uthir
thinge."
borne, s. horn, bugle, 46, 104. hors, s. horse, 23, 41. horsit, pp. carried, borne, 51,
14. hospitall, 5. hostelry, inn, 55,
80. Lat. hospitalia, apart- ments for strangers. O. Fr.
"an hospital, a spitall ". —
Cotgrave.
hou, adv. how, 30, 42. hous, s. house, 42, 7. houshalder, s. householder,
38, 32. how, adj. hollow, how wa,
hollow wave, great wave,
103, 66.
howbeit, conj. although, 70, 44. howket, pt.t. dug up, 126, 40. humyll, adj. humble, 56, 106. hungir, hungire, 5. hunger,
famine, 62, 18; 62, 9. huntaris, s. hunters, 69, 29. hunting, 5. hunting, 70, 40. hurchonis, s. hedgehogs, 91,
21.
hurdies, s. hips, 126, 36. huris, s. harlots, 63, 48. hurklin, pres.p. huddling, 100,
39-
huss, 5. house, 34, 11. hvmill, adj. humble, 55, 90.
hvnt, v. to hunt, 38, 36. hy, v. to hasten, 46, 107. hy, imperat. sing, haste, 80, 54. hyd, 5. hide, skin, 104, 88. hym, pers.pro. him, 22, 24. hyndis, 5. hinds, 90, 17. hyreild, s. fee claimed by the
landlord on the death of his
tenant, 81, 79. hyret, adj. hired, 62, 16. hys, pro. his, 26, 54.
iasp, 5. jasper, 42, 6. ieoperdy, s. jeopardy, 73, 36. ignorantis, s.pl. ignoramuses,
45, 86.
il, adj. ill, 30, 18. ilk, adj. each, every, 37, 8;
64, 56.
ill, adv. badly, 49, 180. illuster, adj. illustrious, 60, 29. impatient, adj. impatient, 69,
19.
imperatrice, s. empress, 54, 64. imperyalle, adj. imperial, 58,
154- importable, adj. unbearable,
69, 20. incontinent, adv. incontinent,
forthwith, immediately, 46,
121 ; 69, 31. increasis, pres.t. increase, 77,
61. indure, v. to endure, continue,
56, 101.
industrijs, s. defences, 72, 8. inemyis, s. enemies, 72, 16. inferne, adj. infernal, 53, 45. infirmyte, 5. disease, 33, in. informyt, pp. informed, 35, i. infynite, adj. infinite, 59, i. ingine, s. genius, talent, 59, 4. ingle, 5. chimney, fire, 121, 22. ingrate, adj. ungrateful, 77, 70. in hy, quickly, 33, 1 14. iniureing, pres.p. injuring, 95,
76.
injure, 5. harm, injury, 57, 125. inkyrly, adv. seriously, 25, 14.
GLOSSARY
205
innative, adj. innate, 60, 42.
innemy, s. enemy, 44, 70.
innowmerabil, adj. innumer- able, 74, 73.
instance, 5. insistence, 60, 32.
inataunce, s. instance, 60, 24.
intent, s. intention, 44, 54.
intercludit, pp. shut up, inter- cepted, 74, 68.
interteining, pres.p. entertain- ing, 101, 5.
into, adv. against, 62, 20.
intrall, 5. belly, intrails, 43, 28.
invadit, pt.t. invaded, came near, 69, 21.
invaid, v. to invade, 73, 53.
invasioun, s. attack, 74, 55.
inviolablye, adv. without being broken, 67, 72.
inwart, adj. inward, 44, 54.
inwy, s. envy, 25, u.
ioly, adj. goodly, beautiful, 42, 6.
iowellis, s.pl. jewels, 42 12.
ioy, 5. joy, 37, 39.
irne, s. iron, 73, 27.
ithandly, adv. constantly, 31, 68.
iug, v. to judge, 36, 33.
iuge, 5. judge, 49, 189.
jo, s. sweetheart, 109, 7. jornay, 5. journey, 83, 8.
kaipis, 5. copes, worn by priests
when officiating, 93, 10. keave, v. to fall, 103, 57. keek, v. to peep, look, 120, 10. keine, adj. keen, painful, 57,
145-
keip, s. heed, 25, 17; 27, 71.
keip, pres.subj. may keep, 34, 1 6.
kell, s. the encrustation of smoke or grime that gathers upon anything which is con- tinually hung over a fire, dirt, 51, 4. See the note.
ken, v. to know, 83, 27.
kend, pt.t. knew, 51, 3. kepand, pres.p. keeping, using,
61, 56.
kepe, v. to keep, protect, pre- serve, 34, 6.
keping, s. keeping, preserva- tion, 56, 115.
kepit, pt.t. observed, 65, 5.
kest, pt.t. cast, gave, 48, 159; 69, 335 71, 75-
kidde, 5. kid, 63, 46.
kinges, s.poss. king's, 21, 2.
kissit, pt.t. kissed, 63, 25.
kist, 5. sea-chest, 103, 70.
kist,/^. cast, laid, 114, u.
knauis, pres.t. know, 77, 49.
knaw, v. to know, 26, 52 ; 31, 46. pres.subj. knaw, 60, 24.
knawis, pres.ind. knows, 23, 41.
knowe, 5. hill, 136, 61.
kow, s. cow, 37, 9. pl. ky, kye, 21, 2; 81, 72; 98, 4. A.S. cii, pl. cy.
kynd, s. kind, sort, 47, 139.
kynd, adj. kind, 55, 90.
kyng, 5. king, 24, i. poss. kyngis, 43, 45. kyngis, 25, 9-
laff, s. loaf, 22, 8. pl. laaues,
62, 17.
laif, 5. the rest, remainder,
the others, 49, 191 ; 56, 122. laigh, adj. low, 99, 30. laigh, adv. low, 131, 149. lainche, v. to launch, 104, 98. laith, adj. loath, 99, 12. laithfu', adj. bashful, 129, 115. lampis, pres.t. gallops, 91, 39. lancis, s. lances, spears, 69, 23. land, s. land. pl. landis, 22, 26 ;
landys, 25, 21. landwarte, adv. outside a
town, 72, 2. [IOT.
lang, adv. long, 31, 54; 56, langage, 5. language, 61, 56. langsum, adj. longsome,
tedious, 80, 42.
206 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
langsyne, s. long ago, 134, 16. languissing, 5. languishing-,
54, 62. lansand, pres.p. dashing, 46,
1 02. lap, pt.t. leaped, jumped, 69,
33-
lard, ^. laird, 102, 45.
lardit, pp. stuffed, 75, 5.
lare, 5. lore, teaching, doc- trine, 29, 4 ; 32, 74.
large, adj. liberal, 71, 74. F. large ; Lat. largus.
lat, v. to let. imperat. let, 89, 28.
lath, adj. unwilling, 31, 51.
lattin, pp. let, 51, 21.
lattis, pres.t. lets, 46, 121.
laubour, s. labour, 70, 49.
lauch, s. law, 23, 37. of lauch, by law, legally, 23, 37.
lauchhing, 5. laughing, 85, 65.
laude, s. praise, 59, i.
laurer, s. laurel, 59, 6.
laute" , s. loyalty, 80, 54. O. Fr. leaute".
lave, s. the rest, 119, 56.
law, s. hill, 46, 102. A.S. hld-w.
law, adj. low, humble, 50, 209.
law, adv. low, 44, 50.
lawis, pres.t. humbles, 50, 209.
lawte", s. loyalty, fidelity, truth, 26, 47. See laute".
layit, pp. laid, 88, 45.
leache, adv. low, 103, 80.
lear, s. learning, 134, 22.
leddand, pres.p. leading, 23, 41.
lede, v. to lead, 24, 2.
leeuet, pp. lived, 63, 33.
leeze me, " a phrase of con- gratulatory endearment, I am happy in thee, or proud of thee", Alex. Smith, 131, 144.
lege, 5. leg, 88, 8.
leid, v. to lead, 27, 56.
leidsterne, 5. guiding star, 59, 8.
leif, s. life, 69, 27. leif, s. leave, 61, 50. leif, v. to live, 43, 41. pt.t. leiffit, 71, 68. pres.p. leiffand,
leil, 'adj. leal, loyal, 23, 39.
leinitt, pt.t. leaned, 88, 20.
leir, v. to learn, 45, 81 ; 134, 22.
leirit, pt.t. taught, 47, 138.
leive, s. leave, 114, 6.
len, pres.t. lend, 55, 91.
lere, v. to teach, 32, 81.
lernit, pt.t. learnt, 61, 57.
les, adj. less, 43, 27.
lestande, pres.p. lasting, con- tinuing, 23, 37.
lestis, pres. t. lasts, 56, 107.
lesum, adj. lawful, 83, 1 1.
lesuris, 5. pastures, 69, 14. A.S. Zaes, ace. laeswe, pas- ture land.
lettrones, s. letters, 101, 4.
leuer, adv. rather, 43, 29.
leuit, pt.t. lived, 35, 5.
levand, adj. living, 56, 120.
levand, pres.p. leaving, 72, 18.
levand, pres.p. living, 73, 52.
leving, pres.p. living, 62, 8.
levis, pres.t. lives, 56, 1 10.
levit, pt.t. lived, 52, 23.
lewe, s. leave, 31, 70.
lewit, adj. uncultured, 69, 21.
ley, s. lea, 131, 165.
leyed, pt.t. laid, 102, 30.
leyne, adj. lean, 78, 5.
libbit, pp. castrated, 71, 61.
life, v. to live, disparit wes to life, despaired of life, hopeless of living, 30, 20.
liffis, s.poss. life's, 43, 30.
liffis, s. lives, 71, 70.
lift, 5. sky, 99, 14.
lik, adj. like, 44, 59.
liklie, v. to improve, 61, 69.
list, impers.v. it pleases, 48, 1 68. quhen fortoun list, when it pleases fortune. See note to 59, 15.
litil, adj. little, 43, 25.
GLOSSARY
207
litill, adj. little, 70, 48. litstaris, s. dyers, 65, 1 7. Icel.
lita, to dye.
lo'es, pres.t. loves, 98, 5. lofand, pres.p. praising-, 30, 34. loif, v. to praise, 54, 49. A.S.
lofian, to praise, lomes, s. looms, 94, 37. A.S.
gettmci) a tool, an implement, loodgeing, s. lodging, 86, 30.
F. loge.
loof, A-. hand, 134, 27. lose, v. to deliver, 102, 26. loBBiti^&A delivered, 102, 41. lou, s. flame, 90, u. Icel.
logi, a flame.
louabile, adj. laudable, 65, 7. loners, s. lovers, 90, 6. lour, v. to hide, 47, 143. lovabile, adj. laudable, praise- worthy, 65, 2.
lovabill, adj. laudable, 66, 37. lucerne, s. lamp, 53, 42. luch, pt.t. laughed, 51, 21. luck, s. enticement, attraction.
117, 10. See the note, luf, pres. t. love, 43, 27. luk, v. to look for, search, 43,
3°-
lukand, pres.p. looking, 43, 39.
lukis, s.pl. looks, 43, 41.
lukit, pU. looked, 51, 21; 52, 27.
lust, 5. lust, desire, passion, 70, 40.
lusty, adj. handsome, beauti- ful, 58, 157; 59, 12.
lustyest, adj. handsomest, 58,
I5I-
lusum, adj. lovely, 58, 157. ly, v. to lie, 30, 24. lycht, adj. light, 29, 12. lyf, s. life, 36, 30. lyff, s. life, 25, 30. lyis, pres.t. lie, 90, 6. lyk, adj. like, 51, 4. lymmis, s.pl. limbs, 25, 30. lynage, s. lineage, 73, 39. lyntht, 5. length, 75, 15.
lyvis, s.poss. lives', 56, 113.
ma, pres.t. may, 56, 101. mad,/£/. made, 25, 12 ; 30, 28. maid, s. maid, virgin, 54, 61. maid, pt.t. made, 27, 66; 46,
101.
maieste\ s. majesty, 26, 54. maikis, 5. partners, mates, 91,
30.
maine, s. moan, 81, 75. maintene, v. to maintain, to
assist, 34, 7.
mairchall, 5. marshal, 89, 42. mairouir, adv. moreover, 83,
26. maist, adv. most, 69, 24; 71,
68. makar, s. maker, creator, 36,
22.
makkis, pres.t. make, 67, 67. makle, s. spot, 54, 61. Lat.
macula, a spot. maling, adv. malign, 54, 56. mallancoly, s. melancholy, 56,
1 08.
man, 5. servant, 108, 88. mane, 5. man, 30, 34. maneir, 5. manner, 59, 16. maneirs, s. manners, 76, 26. manor, 5. kind, 23, 42. manere, s. manner, 25, 16. on
this manere, in this way. manifest, adj. evident, 69, 34. mankynd, 5. mankind, 36, 34. manteaned, pt.t. maintained,
87, 22. manure, v. to work, 70, 61.
F. -manoeuvre. mar, v. to mar, punish, 48,
, adv.comp. more, 22, n. marcheand, pres.p. marching,
adjacent to, 27, 75. mare, adv. more, 29, 7. but
mare, without more ado,
without more delay, 31, 53. marmouaet, adj. monkeylike,
85, 6. See note.
212 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
propiciant, adj. propitious,
74, 71.
propir, adj. proper, 23, 33. prouest, 5. provost, 65, 7. prouisioun, s. provision, pro- vidence, 50, 199. provokand, pres.p. provoking,
73, 49-
prudens, s. prudence, 44, 65. pruff, v. to prove, 23, 51. pryces, s. prices, 105, n. pryd, s. pride, 29, 16. pryss, s. price, 54, 64. pu'd, pt.t. pulled, 124, 10. pulcritude, s. beauty, 54, 77. puneis, v. to punish, 49, 190. punesing, pres.p. punishing1,
95,69. pure, adj. poor, 49, 193; 114,
28.
purge, v. to prune, 64, 58. pussant, adj. powerful, 72, 19. pyikstaff, s. pikestaff, 78, 8. pykit,^/./. sailed, held, pykit
on the wind, sailed near the
wind, 103, 73.
quaikand, pres.p. quaking, 48,
146. quatsumeuer, adj. whatsoever,
whosoever, 35, 23. queue, s. queen, 58, 152. quethir, conj. whether, 31, 57.
quethir na, whether or not. quha, rel.pro. who, 23, 42 ; he
who, 26, 43 ; 64, 64. quhair, adv. where, 46, 106. quhairfoir, conj. wherefore,
56, 102.
quhais, rel.pro. whose, 60, 24. quhar, adv. where, 38, 20. quhasa, rel.pro. whoever, 51, 3. quhat, rel.pro. what, 25, 15 ; 42,
n. quhat- euer, adj. whatever,
whoever, 38, 27. quhatkine, adj. what kind of,
33, in. quhelpis, s.pl. whelps, 38, 27.
quhet, s. wheat, 37, 13. quhil, adv. until, 73, 29 ; 74, 57. quhile, s. while, 74, 55. quhilk, rel.pro. which, the
quhilk, who, 23, 36. [43. quhilkis, rel.pro.pl. who, 73, quhill, adv. until, 51, 13; 52,
18; while, 52, 26. quhilum, adv. at times, 61, 61. quhipe, s. a short, sharp
movement, 89, 39. quhit, adj. white, 69, 8. quhome, rel.pro. whom, quhome
be, whom by, by whom, 44,
quhome, rel.pro. whom, 33, 1 16. quhow, adv. how, 44, 52 ; 60, 39. quik, adj. quick, living, lively,
59, 12.
quill, adv. until, 35, 25. quiokis, s. young cows, 71, 62. qwhame, rel.pro. whom, 35, 28.
bot qwhame at, except those
whom, ib. qwhen, adv. when, 24, i.
radem, v. to redeem, 36, 28.
rady, adj. ready, 37, 41.
raggit, adj. ragged, 78, 4.
ragment, 5. rhapsody, dis- course, 56, 124.
raid, pt.t. rode, 51, 12.
rais, pt.t. raised, made, 74, 63.
raiss, pt.t. rose, 36, 29; 52, 33.
raknyng, s. reckoning, 56, 124.
rander, v. to render, 93, 28.
rang, pt.t. reigned, 99, 25.
rarit, pt.t. roared, 48, 145.
rase, pt.t. rose, 63, 22.
ratifeis, pres. t. ratifies, 67, 70.
ratifiet, pt.t. ratified, 65, 8.
raunsomid, pp. ransomed, 55, 87.
rax, imperat. reach, 117, 7.
rayment, s. clothes, 78, 4.
reave, v. to deprive, 112, 75.
reawte", s. royal blood, 25, 9. O.Fr. reiaute, reialte, roy- alty.
GLOSSARY
213
rebaldaill, s. low company, 27,
79. O.Fr. ribald. reches, 5. riches, 77, 50. red, v. to read, 46, 114. red, pp. read, declared, found,
48, 152.
reddy, adj. ready, 73, 34. redy, adj. ready, 34, 16. refectionis, 5. refreshments, 70,
48. refectioun, s. refection, meal,
71, 70.
refuse, pres.t. reject, 61, 58. regyne, s. reig-n, 53, 45. reheirs, pres.t. rehearse, 47,
139-
rollers, v. to rehearse, 44, 56. reid, adj. red, 88, 10. reid, pl.imperat. read, 61, 52. reif, 5. robbery, 80, 40. reiosing, pres.p. rejoicing-, 74,
65-
reird, s. loud noise, 47, 145.
reistis, 5. rests, 91, 45.
rejoysyng, s. rejoicing-, 58, 163.
relygiouae, adj. religious, 30, 36.
remanent, s. the rest of, the other, 70, 35.
remeid, 5. remedy, it makis no remeid, it makes things no better, 48, 153; 80, 35.
remenant, s. remainder, that which remains, 55, 99.
rent, s. value, 60, 27.
repreif, v. to reprove, con- demn, 6, 51 ; 49, 182.
reprevit, pt.t. reproved, 72, 19.
requeist, 5-. request, 60, 36.
resauet, pt.t. received, 63, 41.
rescoursit, pt. t. rescued, 70, 36.
reset, v. to reset, 35, 27.
ressaue, imperat.sing. receive, 74, 70.
resserwyt, pt.t. reserved, 26,
54*
reuth, s. pity, 53, 51. reuyn, adj. riven, derived, 75,
13-
revin, adj. torn, 78, 4. rew, v. to have pity, 30, 19. rewils, pres.t. rules, 81, 62. rialest, adj. most royal, 53, 47. riall, adj. royal, 55, 80. riche, adj. rich, 70, 38. richt, adv. very, 29, 10. rid, adj. red, 90, 12. riplie, adv. ripely, maturely,
65, 7.
rite, 66, 39. See ryt. rock, s. distaff, 131, 145. rois, 5. rose, 59, 6. rone, 5. rowan-berry, 90, 12. rong, pp. rung, 59, 22. roome, s. room, place, 72, 14. roomes, s. places, 105, 26. rosyne, s. rose, 53, 47. rowst, .v. that which causes
rust or decay, 45, 76. rowte, s. company, 81, 62. rubber, s. a barrel, 102, 47. rud, adj. rude, unpolished, 44,
rude, s. Cross, 55, 87.
rufe, s. roof, 94, 38.
ruide, adj. clumsy, 59, 20.
ruschit, pt.t. rushed, 69, 21; 69, 29.
rute, 5. root, 53, 51.
ruuyne, s. ruin, 76, 35.
ry, s. rye, 37, 14.
ryal, adj. royal, 43, 44.
ryaltie, s. royalty, 48, 164.
rybalddale, s. low company, rascals, 25, 25.
rych, adj. rich, 44, 71.
ryches, s.pl. riches, 56, 115.
rycht, s. rig-ht, 25, 10.
rycht, adj. right, 36, 31.
rycht, adv. very, 30, 36.
ryd, v. to ride, 25, 27.
rydand, pres.p. riding-, 51, 10.
ryifand, pres.p. riving-, tear- ing-, 48, 145.
ryn, v. to run, 25, 25.
ryne, 5. stream, 53, 51.
ryng, 5. reign, 54, 58.
ryngyng, 5. ringing, 34, 13.
2i4 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
ryse, v. to rise, arise, 62, 18. rysis, pres.t. rises, 38, 27. rysB, jpl.pres. ind. rise, 34, 13. ryt, rytt, .s. rite, usage, custom, 65,2; 66,37-
sa, v. to say, 29, 6. sa, adv. so, 23, 47 ; 26, 50. saaf, adj. safe, 63, 41. Sabboth, s. Sabbath, Sunday,
94, 49. See note, sacramentis, s.pl. sacraments,
36, 35-
sadlie, adv. gravely, 46, 115. sae, adv. so, 98, 3. saif, v. to save, 49, 190. saiff, adj. safe, 101, 10. •aik, 5. sake, 50, 208. flair, adj. sore, 52, 21. sair, adv. sorely, badly, 69,
28. sair-won, adj. hard earned,
128, 81.
sais, v. says, 23, 47. salbe, shall be, 38, 39. sale, pres.t. shall, 65, 10. sail, v.aux. shall, 22, 14. sail, v.ssiiig.pres. shalt, 56,
123.
sam, adj. same, 37, 37. sammyn, adj. same, 72, 4. sammyne, adj. same, 42, 19. sampillis, s.pl. examples, 49,
169.
saniyne, adj. same, 36, 32. sapiens, 5. wisdom, 76, 37. sark, s. shirt, shift, 110, 27. sasoun, s. season, 57, 135. saterday, s. Saturday, 83, 5. sauf, pp. saved, 36, 1 2. sauffit, pp. preserved, 73, 45. sauld, pp. sold, 92, 5. saull, s. soul, 37, 38. saut, adj. salt, 134, 13. saw, v. to sow, scatter, 45, 84. say, v. to say, 62, 19. sayand, pres.p. saying, 60, 38. gayis, sing.pres. says, 23, 45;
pi. say, 43, 39.
scantly, adv. hardly, scarcely,
99, 19.
schaith, 5. harm, 34, 9. schaivelingis, s. shavelings,
86, 14.
schame, s. shame, 73, 38. schank, s. limb, leg, 33, 96. scharp, adj. sharp, 69, 23. schauyng, 5. showing, 32, 82. schav, v. to sow, 31, 45. schaw, v. to show, preach, 31,
55- schaw, v. to show, gif I me
schaw, if I show myself, 48,
151 ; 80, 40.
sche, pro. she, 51, n; 86, 19. schent, pp. destroyed, 48, 151. schewed, pt. t. showed, 113, i. schill, adj. shrill, 46, 108. schipmen, .9. sailors, 83, 5. schir, s. sir, 88, 22. schiref, s. sheriff, 37, 15. scho, pro. she, 33, 113; 51, i. schone, s. shoes, 22, 12.
schoon, 63, 31. schort, adj. short, 32, 73. schosin, pres.pt. choosing,
102, 35.
schot, pt.t. shot, 46, 108. schot, pp. shot, 74, 73. schoting, pres.p. shooting, 95,
77- schoure, s. shower, 103, 63;
pi. schouris, 57, 140. Bchout, 5. shout, 46, 108. schudder, v. to shudder,
shake, 87, 34.
schulderis, s. shoulders, 86, 33. schupe, v. to shape, set.
schupe hyme, set himself,
29, 1 6.
Bchyne, v. to shine, 53, 41. schyrefdome, s. sheriffdom,
'county, 37, 8. sciens, s. science, knowledge,
wisdom, 45, 74. sclandering, s. slandering, 84,
43- sclateria, s. slaters, 67, 55.
GLOSSARY
215
scrapand, pres.p. scraping, 42,
5-
scule, s. school, 134, 19. scule-weans, s. school children,
134, 35. se, v. to see, 26, 34; 46, 106;
48, 156.
seall, s. sail, 102, 29. seand, pres.p. seeing, 72, 15. secure, adj. safe, 73, 46. seid, s. seed, 36, 26. seik, v. to seek, 23, 48; 44, 51. seik, adj. sick, 102, 33. saike, pres.t. seek, 57, 129. seildome, adv. seldom, 87, 49. seir, adj. various, different, 60,
52- seis, v. sees, 23, 40 ; 2sing.pres.
seest, 49, 169; 79, 22. sek, v. to seek, 33, 98. sek, adj. sick, 30, 27. seknes, 5. sickness, 29, 9. selfin, adj. same, 61, 64. semblie, 5. assembly, 48, 148. semelie, adj. seemly, 46, 105. semit, semmit, pt.t. seemed,
69, 10 ; 88, 13. sempeternal, adj. everlasting,
76, 34-
sempill, adj. simple, 45, 78. sen, con/, since, 49, 175. sende, pt.t. sent, 29, 9. sene, pp. seen, 26, 42. sene, adv. afterwards, 29, 7. senhory, senhowry, s. domin- ion, lordship, sovereignty,
25, 19; 27, 73- sentence, s. saying, dictum,
phrase, 57, 130. sentens, s. sense, meaning, 44,
54-
ser, s. sir, 30, 41. sere, adj. several, various, 32,
82.
seruandis, 5. servants, 63, 29. seruice, s. service, worship,
31, 44-
seruitude, 5. servitude, 73, 52. servandis, 5. servants, 83, 27.
set, v. to sit, be placed, 43, 45. set, conj. although, 60, 27. sett, pp. or adj. oppressed, 56,
112.
sewyne, adj. seven, 44, 57. sex, adj. six, 24, 3. seyn, pp. seen, 37, i. seyng, s. seeing, sight, 32, 94. shauis, s. shaws, woods, 90, 4. sheers, s. scissors, 128, 89. shene, s. splendour, 58, 155. sheugh, s. trench, 126, 30. shiel, s. cot, 131, 166. ship-broken, adj. shipwrecked,
101, 24.
shroudis, pres.t. shrouds, 90, 3. shyning, adj. shining, 91, 43. sic, adj. such, 25, 23. sichand, pres.p. sighing, 48,
146. sicht, s. sight, power of seeing,
29, 1 1; 54, 57. siclyik, adv. so, 76, 35. sie, s. sea, 101, n. sie attyre, sailor's clothes, 101,
22.
siftit, pp. sifted, 70, 51. signakle, s. sign, cross, 54, 57. sikkar, adv. safer, 72, 6. sillabis, s. syllables, 75, 15. siluer, s. silver, 37, 5. sindry, adj. sundry, 70, 39. singulare, adj. single, 73, 49. skaillis, pres.t. empty, 90, 7. skail't, pt.t. emptied, 135, 38. skill, *. knowledge, 49, 182. skineris, s. skinners, 65, 15. skleatt-steanes, s. slates, 102,
26.
skraip, v. to scrape, 43, 29. skrip, 5. scrip, 49, 193. skynnaris, s. skinners, 66, 49. sla, pi. imperat. slay, 63, 32. slaar, s. slayer, 38, 39. slaes, s. sloes, 118, 25. slane,^>. slain, 57, 140. slayne,
38, 33.
slaw, adv. slow, 104, 85. slawly, adv. slowly, 104, 100.
2i6 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
slayn, pp. slain, 63, 40. slays, pres.t. slays, 38, 31. slee, adj. skilful, 61, 53. aleip, 5. sleep, 70, 47. sleipit, pLt. slept, 104, 93. slicht, s. skill, cunning-, 69, 18. slycht, 5. skill, cunning, 26, 34. smyths, s. smiths, 65, 21. sna, s. snow, 121, 29. snaill, s. snail, 51, 10. pi.
snaillis, 43, 31.
snowket, ^»/. £ snuffed, 126, 1 39. socht, pp. sought, 33, 107; 48,
»52-
socialie, adv. socially, 65, 14.
soiournyng, s. tarrying, rest- ing, 27, 72.
sone, adv. soon, 29, 10; 30, 23; 72, i. son, 42, 3.
Bonn, ^. son, 62, 6. pi. sonnis, 62,i.
sonsie, adj. jolly, comely, 126,
31-
soome, 5. sum, 38, 40.
soudane, adj. sudden, 34, 15.
soudiouris, -y. soldiers, 72, 5.
souerayne, adj. sovereign, 54, 67.
soune, adv. soon, 80, 52.
sours, s.pl. sours, 59, 9.
sowper, 5. supper, 71, 71.
soy, 5. yarn? 109, 3.
special, in special, in particu- lar, one by one, 83, 23.
sped, pt.t. sped, succeeded, 32,73.
speel, v. to climb, 135, 39.
speiche, s. speech, 113, 3.
speid, v. to speed, succeed, 44, 62.
speidfull, adj. expedient, 37, i.
speik, v. to speak, 45, 96 ; 76, 24.
speikis, ipres.t.ind. speak, 61,
speirand, pres.p. asking, 88,
J5-
speke, 5. speech, 33, 97. spene-drift, s. spindrift, 103, 67.
spent, pp. enquired, 23, 43. spetiall, adj. special, 89, 43. spicis, s. spices, 71, 76. spokin, pp. spoken, 89, 31. spreit, s. spirit, 69, 32. springand, adj. springing, 59,
9-
spulye, v. to plunder, 77, 69. spurn, v. imperat. spurn, thrust
back, 49, 184. A.S.speornan. spyce, 5. spice, sample, proof,
54, 72. [102, 31.
spyed, pp. spied, discovered, stablit, pp. established, 76, 33. staif, 5. staff, 49, 193. stait, s. estate, order, 81, 59. staitis, s.pl. states, conditions,
50, 196.
stall, pt.t. stole, 52, 20. stan, v. to stand, wad stan't,
would have stood, 125, 21. standant, pres.p. standing, 78,
76.
stane, s. stone, 33, 109. stangis, pres.t. stings, 57, 137. stanis, s.pl. stones, 43, 47. stark, adj.) strong, great,
mighty, 62, 9. start, pt.t. started, jumped,
46, 103.
starts, pres.t. jumps, 103, 70. statut, 5. statute, law, 67, 58. statut, pt.t. ordered, 65, 9. steared, pp. stirred, 106, 34. stede, s. place, 31, 66. steek, v. to bar, 122, 45. steird, adj. stirred, excited,
47, 144.
steirkis, s. oxen, heifers, 70, 60. stekand, pres.p. sticking, 74,
60.
stere, v. to guide, 24, 2. sterne, s. star, 53, 40. steyr, v. to direct, guide, 27,
56.
stole, 5. robe, 63, 30. stomok, s. stomach, 43, 32. stonist, adj. astonished, 47,
144.
GLOSSARY
217
stope, 5. stoup, 103, 53. straitlie, adv. strictly, 47, 124. strak, pU. struck, 115, 60. strang, adj. strong", 57, 126. streit, s. street, 42, 9. streme, 5. stream, 74, 71. stranth, 5. strength, 70, 56. stroak, s. stroke, 114, 26. stroan't, made water, 125, 22. strukkin, pp. struck, opened,
95, 64. stryfe, s. strife, at stryfe, in
strife, 52, 25.
stryntht, s. strength, 77, 62. studeing, pres.p. studying-, 89,
33-
stuf, 5. stuff, 70, 50. sturdy, adj. sturdy, firm, bold,
74, 62. subiectis, s.pl. subjects, 46,
119. successor-is, s. successors, 67,
62.
suddain, adj. sudden, 48, 148. suddanlie, adv. suddenly, 74,
66. suddantlie, adv. suddenly, 80,
44-
sudiowrnyng, 5. staying-, rest- ing-, tarrying-, 25, 18.
sudroun, adj. southern, 61, 56.
suer, v. to swear, 23, 47.
suffir, v. to suffer, allow, per- mit, 73, 29.
suffragane, 5. helper, 54, 71. See the note.
sugh, s. sound, 127, 56.
suilk, adj. such, 23, 41.
suithlie, adv. soothly, truly, 60, 34.
suld,/£A should, 25, 25.
sum, adj. some, certain, 61, 595 73, 46.
sumtyme, adv. some time, once upon a time, 42, i.
superne, 5. supernal, 53, 40.
suppedit, v. to undermine, 77, 69.
suppouale, v. to support, 34, 7.
supprysit, pp. oppressed, 79,
*7-
surfetly, adv. repletely, too much, 71, 72.
surmontiiig, pres.p. excelling-, 59, 1 6.
surpleise, s. surplice, 87, 51.
suspecioun, s. suspicion, 93, 33.
susprice, s. oppression, 34, 9.
sustenit, pt.t. sustained, 71, 70.
suythe, imperat. be quick, 63, 29.
swa, adv. so, 31, 69.
swampe, adj. thin, 33, 103.
sweer, adj. unwilling, 120, 13.
sweik, 5. treacherous, decep- tive, 104, 106. A.S. swice.
sweir, adj. lazy, 80, 45.
sweirnes, 5. laziness, 80, 48.
sweit, adj. sweet, 59, 9.
sweitlie, adv. sweetly, 47, 133.
swet, adj. sweet, 58, 157.
swilk, adj. such, 28, 85.
swolne, pp. swollen, 33, 102.
swoppit, pp. swept, 42, 13.
swoppyng, 5. sweeping, 42, 10.
swopyng, pres.p. sweeping, 42, 7.
swylk, adj. such, 25, 31.
swyngeoris, 5. hangers-on, 80,
45-
sycht, ^. sight, eyes, 43, 37. syde, s. side, 46, 107. sykir, adj. confident, sure, 36,
13-
symmer, 5. summer, 57, 144. symphony, s. harmony of
sounds, 63, 37. sympil, sympile, adj. simple,
26, 48; 28, 102. syn, adv. afterwards, 23, 43. syn, syne, adv. then, 23, 48;
35,4; 72, 4.
synaris, s.pl. sinners, 36, 10. syne, s. sin, 30, 26. synfull, adj. sinful, 49, 190. syng, s. sign, 54, 62. syng, v. to sing, 53, 54. synnyt, pp. sinned, 62, 20.
218 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
syster, 5. sister, 79, 31. zytia/pres.t. sits, 36, 31.
ta, v. to take, 31, 70. tabernakle, 5. tabernacle, 53,
table, s. map, 69, 7.
tailit, adj. tailed, 75, 17.
taill, s. tail, 51, 12.
tailyeouris, s. tailors, 68, 80.
tak, take, v. to take, to cap- ture, seize, 31, 64; 23, 38. takis, pres.t. 22, 24. tane, pp. 22, 23; 25, 17; 72, 15. takand, pres.p. 69, 23. tak- yng, 69, 23.
takine, 5. sign, 30, 29.
taking, s. capture, 69, 19.
taklit, adj. secured, 103, 64.
targe, .?. target, 74, 60.
taryed, pp. endured, 87, 45.
tarying, s. tarrying, delay, 46, 114.
taryit, pt. t. tarred, 74, 55.
tawted, adj. shaggy, 125, 20.
taxatouris, s.pl. assessors, 37,
taxit, pp. taxed, 37, 3.
taxt, s. tax, 37, 17.
taxt, -s. intimation of the tax,
37,5- taylors, s. taylors, 65, 23. See
note.
tayne, pp. taken, 95, 67. teche, v. to teach, 83, 27. telare, s. tiller, 64, 56. erd
telare, tiller of the earth,
husbandman, temperisaris, s. temporizers,
86, 25.
templis, s.pl. temples, 32, 83. temptacions, s.pl. temptations,
35, i.
temptit, pp. tempted, 49, 174. tennour, s. tenour, 47, 134. tent, s. heed, 42, 10. tentationes, s. temptations,
101, 15- tentes, s. tents, 71, 79.
tentie, adv. heedful, 128, 76. tenty, adj. careful, watchful,
120, 15. termes, s.pl. terms, words, 61,
60.
tern, s. trouble, 53, 45. tha, demons.adj.pl. those, 22,
26; 23, 50. thai, pers.pro. they, 23, 33;
25, 24; 34, I3. thaim, pro. them, 73, 43. thaimself, pro. themselves, 71,
75-
thair, pro. their, 72, 23. thairfoir, adv. therefore, 47,
124.
thairin, adv. thereon, 66, 46. thame, pro. them, 25, 12. thame-self, pro. themselves,
66,47; 84, 52. than, thane, adv. then, at
that time, 29, i; 32, 72; 71,
63-
thankes, pres. t. thanks, 36, i o. thar, thare, pro. their, 27, 61;
65, 5; 25, 7.
thar, adv. there, 22, 14; 29, \. thare-self, pro. themselves,
72,5. tharof, adv. therefor, for it, 36,
10. thankes hyme tharof. that . . . ne, unless, 28, 84, thay, pro. they, 46, 1 1 2. thayn, thayne, thane, 21, 3, 4,
5. See note.
the, def.art. 21, i, 2, 4, 5, 6. the, pro. thee, 31, 62; 36, 16. theekit, adj. thatched, 131,
153- [18.
thegither, adv. together, 110, thei, pro. they, 87, 40. ther, pro. their, 75, 10. ther, adv. there, 22, 17. therapone, adv. thereupon, 38,
30.
thesaurer, s. treasurer, 93, 14. the tothir, the other, 23, 48. thi, pro. thy, 36, 15; 50, 208;
59, 2.
GLOSSARY
219
thift, s. theft, 80, 40. thin, pro. thine, 64, 51. thing, s.sing. for pi. things,
43, 27. thinkand, pres.p. thinking,
48, '57- thinkis, pres.t. thinks, intends,
47, 122. thir, demons.adj.pl. these, 31,
50; 35, i.
thi-selffe, pro. thyself, 50, 203. tho, conj. though, although,
30, 1 8.
thocht, s. thought, 29, 13. thocht, pt. t. thought, 72, 5. thocht, conj. though, although,
43, 26.
thoil, v. to allow, let, 84, 56. tholit, pt.t. endured, 36, 26. tholl, v. to endure, bear, 37,
39-
thoucht, conj. although, 69, 9. thow, pro. thou, 42, 17; 55, 99. thowch, conj. though, 42, 17. thrall, adj. enslaved, 49, 192. thrang, adj. busy, 125, 5. thraw, v. twist, 118, 31. thre, adj. three, 37, 12. threipit, pt.t. maintained, 51,
threllage, s. bondage, 25, 23. thrid, adj. third, 82, 87. thrillage, s. bondage, 25, 77. thring, pres.t. thrust, 54, 56. thringis, pres.t. thrusts, 76, 37. thrist, s. thirst, 51, 5. throng, v. to push, 105, 21. throu, prep, through, 22, 9. throw, prep, through, by
means of, 25, 20. throwch, prep, through, by
means of, 26, 34. thruch, prep, through, 23, 39. thrumbling,/>;rs./>. struggling,
106, 28.
thryllage, 5. bondage, 25, 31. thryse, adj. thrice, 46, 109. thu, pro. thou, 30, 41. thus = this, 84, 31.
thus-gat, adv. in this way, 32,
85-
thyne, pro. thine, 43, 35. thyne, adv. thence, 36, 32. thyng, s. thing, 23, 46. til, till, prep, to, 22, 15; 25,
31-
tine, v. to loose, 120, 7. to, prep. a.t, 34, 13. tocher, s. dowry, 120, 7. tod, s. fox, 46, 99. to foir, before, 59, 14. togedir, adv. together, 65, 14. togiddire, adv. together, 62, 6. togidr, adv. together, 65, 16. to-gyddyr, adv. together, 37,
38. [46.
to-morne, adv. to-morrow, 26, toug, s. tongue, speech, 59, 21. toom, adj. empty, 120, 10. toone, s. farm, the fields of a
farm, 62, 13. toone, 5. town, 34, 5. to than, adv. till then, 32, 80. toun, toune, 5. town, 22, 9,
14, 17, 21.
tour, 5. tower, 55, 78. touzie, adj. rough, shaggy,
126, 33-
{ towm, s. empty, 43, 28. I town, 5. tun, 101, 20.
towr, s. tower, 43, 44. ; tracteit, 5. tractate, 75, 5. ! traistyt, pt. trusted, 28, 101. trawald, pt.t. laboured, strove,
25, 19.
trawalyd, pt.t. strove, 25, 19. trawalyt,^AA laboured, 32, 85. trawayllyt, pt.t. travailed,
worked, 27, 73. trayne, 5. snare, 54, 69. traystyd, pt.t. trusted, 26, 47. tre, s. tree, 47, 133. tre, 5. the Cross, 50, 207. tressour, s. treasure, 55, 95. treutht, s. truth, 31, 54. trew, adj. true, 57, 132. trew, v. to believe, 31, 51 ; 32,
80.
220 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
trews, 5. trowsers, 99, 26. trinkled,^/.£ trickled, 136,66. trippand, pres.p. tripping, 47,
*33-
trone, s. throne, 91, 44 ; 76, 38. trow, v. to believe, 36, 36. trowand, pres.p. believing, 83,
17-
trowch, s. trough, 45, 84. trowis, pres.t. believes, 35, 8. trubill, s. trouble, 67, 67. trublances, s. disturbances, 95,
75-
tryell, s. trial, 94, 39. trywmphale, adj. triumphal,
55, 78.
tua, adj. two, 65, 13. tua bishopis, 66, 25. See note, tueiche, v. to touch, 88, 47. tuich, v. to touch, 89, 27. tuk, tuke, tuik, pt.t. took, 22,
17; 72, 20; 60, 24. turn, v. to turn, sail turn
agayne, shall revert, 22, 27. turnit, pt.t. turned, 62, 15.
he turnit agane into himself,
he came to himself, ib. tursis, pres.t. carry, bear, 90,
19.
twa, adj. two, 21, 5. twichit, pp. touched, 69, 16. twine, v. to part, 120, 14. twined, adj. separated from,
124, 8. '
twyse, adj. twice, 46, 109. tyde, v. to happen, 26, 49.
pt.t. tyd, 29, 13. tydier, adj. handsomer, 81, 73. tyke, s. a wandering dog, 125,
20.
tyll, prep, to, 80, 42. tym, tyme, s. time, 23, 33 ; 22,
26; 65, 10.
tymys, 5. times, 75, 9. tyndis, 5. tines, horns, 90, 19. tyne, v. to lose, pay, die, 25,
30; 35, 24; 99, 12. tynsale, s. loss, 35, 30. tynt, pt.t. lost, 29, n.
tynt, pp. lost, 23, 44. tyttyn, pres.p. pulling, 34, 10.
uncos, s. unusual things, news,
128, 86. unforgevin, pp. unforgiven,
without remission, 66, 30. unknawin, pp. unknown, 83,
19.
unlaw, s. fine, penalty, 66, 30. uphaldin, adj. uplifted, held up,
as of the hand when taking
an oath in Scotland, 66, 33. upoun, prep, upon, 85, 3. usit, pt.t. used, 71, 75. uthir, adj. other, 71, 73.
vacancie, s. emptiness, 105, 12. vaikis, pres.t. wakes, 91, 29. vaileyeantlie, adv. valiantly,
72, 20.
valcaris, s. fullers, 67, 52. vane, s. vain, 72, 22. variance, s. change, vicissi- tude, 50, 195. vas, pt.t. was, 75, 18. velis, 5. calves, 70, 60. verie, adj. very, true, real, 50,
206.
veritie, s. truth, 81, 65. verkis, s. works, 75, 16. verray, adj. true, 64, 55. verray, v. to worry, annoy, 29,
1 6. vertu, 5. virtue, excellence,
power, 42, 23. veyle, adv. well, 28, 94. vha, rel.pro. who, 90, 6. victoryus, adj. victorious, 44,
60.
victrice, s. victrix, 54, 66. vil, v. will, 77, 52. virtew, s. virtue, 70, 46. virtewis, adj. virtuous, 70, 44. vitallis, s. victuals, 70, 51. vitht, prep, with, 75, 5. vivers, s. provisions, 102, 42. vlgare, adj. vulgar, common,
75,8.
GLOSSARY
221
vmbrakle, s. shadow, 54, 59.
vmquhile, adj. former, 76, 42.
vnbet, pp. unbroken, 73, 44.
vnder, prep, under, 51, 4.
vnderly, v. to underlie, be liable to, 96, 86.
vnforgeuin, adv. unforgiven, without remission, 38, 29.
vnmyndefull, adj. unmindful, 73, 51.
vobstaris, s. weavers, 66, 51.
voce, 5. voice, 46, 108.
void, v. to leave, 108, 76.
vord, 5-. word, gospel, 31, 55.
vpoun, prep, upon, 48, 160.
vptakin, pp. taken up, ex- acted, 67, 65.
vrit, pt.t. wrote, 75, 19.
vsage, s. custom, way, 28, 90.
vsit, pp. used, 75, 6.
vther, adj. other, 22, 22; 51, 58.
vthir, adj. other, 73, 53.
vthiris, s. others, 56, 115.
wa, 5. wave, 103, 66. See
how and note. wad,//.l. would, 99, 36. wae, interj. wo, 112, 73. waig, v. to wag, tremble, 46,
101.
walk, adj. weak, 81, 74. wair, pt.t. were, 45, 96. wairdet, pp. imprisoned, 96,
89.
waist, adj. waste, 71, 67. waistit, pt.t. wasted, 62, 8. wait, pres.t. know, 48, 148. walcaris, s. fullers, 65, 17. wald, aux.v.pt. would, 23, 51. wald, 2sing.pres.subj. wouldest,
31, 65.
wale, s. choice, 123, 83. walkis, pres.t. walk, 57, 142. wallop, v. gallop, 121, 44. wallyd, pp. walled, fortified,
25, 29. wallyt, pp. walled, fortified,
28, 83.
| walwmlys, pres.t. whamles, is
turned upside down, yearns,
45, 82. wambe, s. stomach, belly, 62,
14.
wame, 5. belly, 43, 38. wan, pt.t. arrived, 105, 109. wan, pt.t. won, hung, 88, 12. wanderit, pt.t. went astray,
51, 8.
wane, adj. empty, 59, 19. wane, pt.t. won, obtained, 30,
33-
wangel, s. gospel, 31, 50.
wanischit, pt.t. vanished, 89, 36.
wanting, pres.p. being with- out, 102, 29.
wapins, s. weapons, 91, 42.
wappinis, .s. weapons, 69, 24.
wapynnis, 5. weapons, 35, 23.
war, ware, pt.t.pl. were, 32, 80; 32, 84.
wariste, pp. healed, 29, 14.
warke, s. work, 83, 5.
warkmanis, s. workman's, 94, 49.
warld, s. world, 26, 50.
warldlie, adj. worldly, 50, 205.
warlie, adv. carefully, cau- tiously, warily, 61, 52.
warne, v. to warn, 37, 2.
war nocht it, had it not been that it, 72, 19, 20.
warnyng, s. warning, mak warnyng, give warning, 34, 1 8.
warnys, pres. t. refuses, 37, 9.
warr, pt.t. were, 71, 73.
waryt, pp. spent, 92, 6.
was, pt.t. was, 33, 116.
wate, v. to know, 81, 58.
wateuer, adj. whatever, 34, 3.
watter, 5. water, 71, 80.
wanking, pres.p. watching-, 122,6o.
wawering, s. wavering, in- stability, uncertainty, 55, 88.
222 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
wax, v. to grow, become, 64,
67.
wayis, s.pl. ways, 44, 51. wayr, v. to spend, 45, 90. wedder, s. wether, 37, 10. wedsett, 5. pledge, pawn, 93,
i7-
weel, adj. well, 117, 2. ween, pres.t. think, 127, 55. well, adv. well, conveniently,
84, 38.
well, 5. weal, 84, 37. well, weill, adv. well, 23, 40;
51,3-
weildis, pres.t. wields, 91, 42. weile, adv. well, 32, 73. weill, as weill, as well, 28, 100. weill, adv. well, correctly, 61,
53-
weir, 5. war, 70, 45. welcum, inter/, welcome, 58,
152. welfair, s. welfare, faring well
or happily, 55, 97. welle, adv. well, completely,
safely, 26, 40. wend, pt.t. thought, 29, 10. wend, v. to go, pass, 48, 166. wend, pt.t. went, 51, 7. wene, pres.t. know, 51, 9. wer, pt.t. were, 70, 45. were, pt.t. were, 25, 8. werie, adj. wearie, 88, 2. werk, s. work, 43, 39; 60, 37. werkis, s.pl. works, 36, 25. werray, adj. true, 30, 29. wes, pt.t. was, 24, i. whalpet, pp. whelped, born,
125, ii. whirle-wind, s. whirlwind, 89,
39-
whusslit,^./. whistled, 135, 56. whyles, adv. sometimes, 106,
wichcraftis, s.pl. witchcrafts,
37, 43-
wicht, s. human being-, 56, 120. wiois, s.pl. vices, 44, 70. wight, s. a strong man, 91, 42.
wikket, adj. wicked, 95, 74.
wil, v. will, 45, 97.
wilde, adj. wild, untamed, 37, ii.
wilfull, adj. lonely, wandering, forlorn, 50, 204. Icel. villa, to lead astray, beguile. See note.
win, v. to win, reach, 104, 86.
wirgin, s. virgin, 53, 50.
wit, 5. wits, mind, 33, 105.
wit, v. to know, 46, 121.
within, prep, of, by, 38, 29.
withouttin, prep, without, 46, 114. [29, ii.
with that, in addition to that,
witt, 5. wit, knowledge, 57, 131.
witting, s. knowledge, 38, 35.
wmbethocht, pp. bethought, considered, reflected, 27, 68.
wmbethowcht, pt.t. bethought, 25, 14. umbethowcht yowe, bethought yourselves, con- sidered.
wnderstandis, pres.t. pi. under- stand, 45, 86.
wnderstuid, pt.t. understood, 60, 34.
wnfayr, adj. unjust, unfair, 28,99.
wntreuthtful, adj. unbelieving, 32, 72.
woage,s. voyage, journey, 88, 5.
wobstaris, s. weavers, 65, 17.
wod, 5. wood, forest, 68, 4.
woddis, s. woods, 69, 14.
wold, pt.t. would, 85, 4.
wolfis, s.pl. wolves, 38, 23.
wolt, s. vault, 94, 37.
wondir,s./>/. wonders, miracles, 32, 88.
wone, pt.t. obtained, 70, 55.
worde, pt.t. became, 29, 7. A.S. weordan; Icel. verda, to become.
wormys, s.pl. worms, 43, 31.
worth, s. value, 22, 10.
worthi, s. rank, position, 24, 53. See note.
GLOSSARY
223
wouke, s. week, 83, 11. wound, s. wind, 103, 36. woundit, pp. wounded, 69, 29. wourdis, s.pl. words, 60, 23. wox, pt.t. waxed, grew, 49,
173- wrak, s. that which is thrown
up, goods, wealth, 55, 97. wrang, adv. wrong, 52, 33. wrathe, pp. wroth, 63, 41. wrechis, s.pl. wretches, 56, 112. wrichtis, s. wrights, 65, 16. writ, s. Scripture, 49, 171. write, s. writing, 66, 40. writyne, pp. written, 37, 6. wrocht, pp. wrought, done,
worked, 32, 87; 27, 70; 94,
5°- wroucht, pp. wrought, worked,
acted, 25, 16. wryt, v. to write, 44, 55. wryttes, s. writings, 101, 4. ws, pro. us, 36, 27. wterly, adv. utterly, entirely,
33, 1 06.
wyce, s. vice, 54, 66. wyd, adj. wide, 26, 50. wyd-quhare, adv. everywhere,
32, 83. wyffe, s. wife, woman, 22, 27.
pi. wyffis, 43, 39. wyintree, s. wine tree, vine,
64, 62.
wyis, 5. way, wise, 43, 34. wyis, s. wise, on this wyis,
in this way, 46, 109. wyll, 5. will, 35, 7. has wyll,
desires, has the will, ib. wyn, v. to win, obtain, 27, 73. wyn, wyne, 5. wine, 101, 21;
64, 55-
wynd, s. wind, 45, 96. wynnare, s. winner, ingatherer,
32, 85.
wynning, 5. winning, obtain- ing, 56, 117. wynter, s. winter, 57, 144.
wyrk, v. to work, weave, 94,
38.
wyrschip, s. worship, 43, 46. wys, adj. wise, 55, 94. wyse, s.pl. ways, 31, 43. wysly, adv. wisely, 35, 5. wyss, s. way, wise, 36, 2. wyss, adj. wise, 26, 44. wyss = i-wiss, adj. certain,
sure, safe, 54, 68. wyst, pt.t. knew, 26, 39. wyt, v. to know, 79, 1 1 . wyte, v. to blame, 120, 9. wyth, prep, with, 24, 53. wythin, prep, within, 23, 32. wytterly, adv. knowingly,
with knowledge, 23, 49.
yallow, adj. yellow, 88, 10. yardis, s. gardens, 71, 77. ydolis, s.pl. idols, 32, 83. ydropesy, s. dropsy, 33, 101. yede, pt.t. went, 63, 42. yeid, pt.t. went, yeid wrang,
got drunk, 52, 33. yeiris, s.pl. years, 52, 22. yer, s.pl. years, 27, 57. yerlie, adv. yearly, 65, 6. yerne, adv. earnestly, 53, 50. yett, 5. gate, 52, 20. pi.
yettis, 52, 19. yhe, pro. ye, 25, 14. yhere, s. years, 24, 3. yhis, adv. yes, 31, 59. yhit, adv. yet, 25, 28. yhowrc, pro. your, 26, 40. yhyng, adj. young, 53, 52. yhystyr-day, 5. yesterday, 26,
46. [134.
yisterday, s. yesterday, 57, yit, conj. yet, 42, 23. yok, 5. yoke, 30, 38. youngare, adj. younger, 62, 2. yowe, s. ewe, 37, 10. yowe, pro. you, 25, 14. wmbe-
thowcht yowe, bethought
yourselves, considered.
INDEX OF PROPER NAMES
Alphais, Alpha's, 53, 53. Alysandyre, Alexander 111,24,
i ; 26, 55.
Anderson, John, 130, 128. Angeln, 9, 5. Angus, Earl of, 104, 203. Atholl, 68, 5.
Baillie, Robert, 105. Barbour, John, 13, 7 ; 24, 5. Barroune, James, Dene of Gild
(of Edinburgh), 93, 23. Bellenden, John, 71. Beltane, 133, 4. See note. Bernicia, 9, 8. Berwik, Berwick, 103, 60. Bessy, 132, 175. Boece, Hector, 68. Bruce, King Robert, 69, 25;
132, 177. Burns, Robert, 125.
Caesar, 125, 7.
Calidon, gret wod of, great wood of Caledonia, the Cale- donian Forest, 68, 4.
Candilmes, Candlemas, 65, 6.
Canterburie, Canterbury, 106, 42.
Carell, Crail, 101, 21.
Carham, 10, 26.
Carmichael, James, 85, 8. See note.
Catness, Catnes, Caithness, 31,53; 32,7i.
Cawdingham Bay, Colding- ham Bay, 104, 98.
Codes, Horace, 72, u.
Coil, Auld King, 125, 2. See
note.
Colin, 117, 6. Commounweill, John the, 79,
14. Corpus Christi. See the Notes,
p. 168. Cullane, iij Kings of, 65, 21.
See note. Cumarnald, Cumbernauld, 70,
42.
David I, 11, 17.
Deira, 9, 10.
Dolorus Montane, 68, 3.
Dondie, Dundee, 101, 24.
Douglas, Gavin, 58.
Duke, the, of Albany, 35, 21.
Dumbar, Dunbar, 103, 61.
Dunbar, William, 50.
Duncan II, 11, 17.
Eadulf, 10, 25. Eglinton, Earl of, 105, 3. Emperour, the, 65, 22. See
note.
Engla-lande, 10, 20. Etruschis, Etruscans, 74, 54.
Falkland, 51, 2. Forress, David, 86, 26. France, 51, 2. Frensch, French, 61, 62.
Gilderoy, 109, i. Glasgow, 105, 2.
Hampole, Richard, 13, 3.
226 SPECIMENS OF SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Haymouth, Eyemouth, 104,99. Helen of Kirkconnel, 116. Henryson, Robert, 41. Herminius, Titus, 73, 36. Hieland, Highlands, 80, 43. Hie Streat, High Street, 86, 16. Home, Alexander, of Mander- ston, 84, 104; 101.
Inglis, English, 61, 62. Irland, Ireland, 25, 22 ; 27, 76. lutland, 9, 4.
Kate, 120, 9. Kirkconnel, 116, 4. Kittok, Kynd, 51, 3. Knichtis, the Thrie, 65, 23. See note.
Lady, Our, 65, 23. Laertius, Spurius, 73, 37. Lammes, Lammas, 38, 26. Latyne, Latin, 61, 62. Lawland, Lowlands, 80, 50. Leddeis, Our, Our Lady's, 52,
24. Lindsay, Robert, of Pitscottie,
87.
Lochquhabir, Lochaber, 68, 5. Lowmabane, Lochmabane, 80,
38-
Luath, 126, 26.
Lyndsay, Schir Dawid, Lyoun harrott ; Sir David Lyndsay, Lyon Herald, 89, 41.
Lythtgo, Linlithgow, 88, i.
Malcolm II, 10, 24. Malcolm IV, 11, 1 8. Marr, Erll of, Earl of Mar, 35, 21.
Maxwell, James, Keeper of the Black Rod, 108, 73; 109, 100. May, the Isle of May, 103, 58. Melvill, James, 100. Menteith, 68, 6. Mers, the, the Merse, 80, 38. Messing, 65, 20. See note. Montgomerie, Alexander, 89,
Morrison, Jeanie, 134, 9. Motherwell, William, 133.
Nisbet, Murdoch, 61. Northumbria, 9, 13; 10, 5. nynyue, Nineveh, 78, 75."
Omeir, Homer, 60, 33.
Oute Ylis, Outer Isles, 80, 470
Park, Alexander, Thesaurer (of Edinburgh), 93, 24.
Parliament, 47, 103.
Pechtis, Pyctis, Picts, 31, 51 ; 32, 77.
Peggy, 122, 53.
Phebus, 47, 107.
Ptolome, Ptolomy, 60, 43.
Pym, Mr. (M.P.), 107, 60.
Pynckey Clewcht, 87, 47. See note.
Quein Regent, 86, 13.
Ramsay, Allan, 120. Ramsay, John, 24, 26. Rare Willie, 124. Ruth well Cross, 11, 9.
St. Androis, St. Andrews, 102,
S. Bestian, 67, 76. See note. S. Brid, 65, 24. See note. Sanct Clair, Henry Lord, Henry Lord Sinclair, 60,
31- S. Dewynik, Devenik, 30, 37 ;
32, 71.
S. Elene, 65, 24. S. Geillis, S. Giles, 85, 4. S. Georg, 68, 83. See note. j S. Lowrance, 67, 77. See note. i S.Machor,30,35;31,57;32,75. j S. Mark, 38, 26. S. Martyne, 68, 79. See note. S. Morise (Machor), 32, 89;
33,o8.
S. Nicholes, 68, 81. See note. S. Niniane, Ninian, 29, 3.
INDEX OF PROPER NAMES
227
S. Petir, Peter, 5, 20; 25, 32. S. Stewin, 68, 28. See note. St. Tab's Held, St. Abb's
Head, 104, 84.
Saxonia, 10, 19. [63.
Scottis, Scottish language, 61, Spalding, John, 113. Strafford, Earl of, 107, 64;
113, i.
Stratherne, 68, 6. Striveling, Stirling1, 68, I. Strivelingschire, Stirlingshire,
68, i. Symeon, 65, 20.
TamtallonjTantallon, 104, 204. Turnbull, 70, 37.
Virgill, Virgil, 59, 3.
Wallace (Sir William), 132, 176. Walys, Walis, Wales, 25, 18;
22, 27; 27, 76; 81,95. Wentworth, Schir George, 114,
17-
William the Lion, 10, 23.
Yarrow (river), 124, 16. Yule, Christmas, 133, 60
PR Metcalfe, William Musham
8635 (edj
M4 Specimens of Scottish
literature
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