I
rnii
a
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
. . #« t*
„ A,* .
*
4** ********************* f ***** *•>*•*
ANCIENT SCOTTISH POEMS,
Publilhed from the MS. of
GEORGE BANNATYNE,
MDLXVIII.
ANCIENT SCOTTISH
POEMS,
Publifhed from the MS. of
i
GEORGE BANNATYNE,
M D L X V I I I,
OT POAON ATON OAEITAI.
THEOCR,
EDINBURGH:
Printed by A. MURRAY and J. COCHRAW.
For JOHN BALFOUR.
M D C C L X X,
H
p R E F A C E.
TH E following poems are (elected from
a voluminous mifcellany compiled by one
Ballantine in 1568, and now belonging to the
Earl of Hyndford.
This is die MS. which the editor of the E-
•* vcr green ufed': but he has omitted fome ftan?
v zas, and added others ; has modernized the
versification, and varied the ancient manner
of fpelling. Hence, they who look in the E-
vcrgrcen for the ftate of language and poetry
{• among us during the Sixteenth century, \vill
> be mifled, or difappomteH.
ri
The many and obvious inaccuracies of the
Evergreen^ fuggciled the idea of this new
collection. In it the MS. has been fairly co-
• pied ; no liberties in amending or intcrpola-
| ting have been taken : The reader will find the
language, verfificatioiij and fpelling^ in the
fame ftate as they were in 1 568.
If may be proper to obfcrve, that the letur
which the MS. exprelfes by the character Z, is
here expreflTed by the ch'iri.^'tcr T. Indeed rhis
is not fo much an innovation In fpelling, as a
correction of a rcneral error into which print-
ers have fallen, byuGng Z hiftead of the Top
the Anglo-Saxons. This error, trivial as it
a 3 may
TI PREFACE.
may feem, is apt to imbarrafs common readers,
and to convey a falfe notion of the pronun-
ciation of our anceftors.
In other refpects alfo this colle£lion differs
from the former. The Evergreen contains
many indecent pieces, which ought not to be
explained, and many obfcure, which cannot.
Of the firft fort are the Claith Merchant, The
Flemyng Bark,, The wooing of the King at--
Dnnfermline ; of the fecond, The Fly ting be-
tween Dimbar and Kennedy .
Some pieces inferted in the Evergreen were
compofed in the laft age, others in the prefent,
Thus, The Comparison t and The Salftquium^mc
the work of the Earl of Stirling, fecrctary to
Charles I. ; The Vifion, and The Eagle and Red-
brcajly are obvkmfly modern. Hardiknute is
probably rncd.rn ; certainly of no great anti-
quiry.
Jock's sldvice to his Dad, is the compofition
of Heywood, the Engliih epigramniatiit : The
sin fiver is modern.
Seine of ;' In the Evergreen were
printed in the ni-;j of the authors ; as, 1'irtuc
and Vice, The Cherry and the Slae, Haytrix,
a^id diofe on the I\Iofs and Pnrgfit:ry. Others
•are popular poems, universally kncv -i ; as,
I an tie Creeii) '.' .
PREFACE. vil
Liu1, Johnie Armjlrang, and The Ballat of the
Reid Squair.
The editor of this collection has excluded
the indecent, and omitted the unintelligible
poems. He has not fwelled the volume by a
republication of what is univerfally known,
or of what is obvioufly or probably modern.
He has added about forty poems which
were never before published ; and, in general,
he has ftudied to make fuch a feleftion as
might illuftrate the manners and hiftory, as
well as the ftate of the language and poetry of.
Scotland during the fifteenth century.
The glofTary fubjoined to the Evergreen is
redundant, erroneous, and imperfect. It fre-
quently explains common Englifh words ; k
miilakes the fenfe of many common Scottiih
words ; and :t generally omits or mifinterprets
whatever is uncouth or difficult. - The fol-
lowing fpeciinens will juftify the truth of this
obl'ervatioii.
Comraon Englifli words explained. —
aghaft, aureat, berny to brace, bun, to carp, to
daW) clerk, ufed for a man of letters.
Common. Scottilh words mifunderAood. —
Aver, a horfe. It is a bcaft, and particuhirly any
•b.:afl of burden, — Bannocks, bread. This docs
non
viii PREFACE.
not exprefs thick cakes of unleavened bread'.— ~
Bent, the field. It is a lea on "which there grows
coarfe grafs. — Blether, tofpeaknonfenfe. It is
to Jlarnmer. — Bok, to vomit. It is to retch. —
Bovm, ready to go. It is arrayed, prepared ;
without refpect to motion.
Uncouth words miimterpreted. — Attercap,
a, ivafp. It is Anglo-Saxon for a fpider ; and
means, by metonymy, a little aclive venomous
creature. — Garde vyance, a cafe of inftnnnents.
It is from the French, garde de viandes, a prefs
for keeping victuals ; and hence a cabinet.
The number of words which are left unex-
plained, is incredible. Of this any one will
be fenfible who takes the trouble of compa-
ring Dunbar's General Satyre with the Glofr
fary.
The editor of the Evergreen was a perfon of
fmgular native genius. They who attempt to
depreciate his fame, by inimuating, that his
friends and patrons compofed the works which
pafs under his name, ought firfl of all to prove,
that his friends and patrons, were capable of
compofing the Gentle Shepherd,
But while I make this juft acknowledgement
to his merit, I nmft be allowed to obferve,
that he was not ilcilled in the ancient Scottifh
dialect. His Ikili hi deed fcarcely extended be-
yond
PREFACE. ix
yond the vulgar language fpoken in the Lo-
thians at this day.
In compiling his gloflary, he does not feeni
ever to have confulted the gloffary to Dou~
glas's Virgil ; and yet they who have not con-
fulted it, cannot acquire a competent know-
ledge of the ancient Scottifh dialect, unlefs by
infinite and ungrateful labour. This elogium
is the leaft I can beftow on the learning and ac-
curacy of Mr Thomas Ruddiman. His mo-
defly was ftill more remarkable than his learn-
ing ; for he fuffered his gloflary to go forth
into the world \vithout the name of its au-
thor.
Sine pondere terrain,
Spirantefque crocos, et in urna perpetuum ver*
is the clajjical wifh of one who has profited by
the labours of this fludious, intelligent, and
modeft man.
For explaining the collection now offered to
the public, a Gloflary and Notes have been
compiled. In this work feveral gentlemen,
ftudious of Scottifh antiquities, engaged, and
it is hoped that their endeavours will be re-
ceived with indulgence. In one particular
they have ventured to deviate from the ordi-
nary courfe of commentators. They have
confefled their ignorance when they were ig-
norant,.
* PREFACE.
norant, and there accordingly fubjoined tables
of words and paflages not underftood.
Had the editor been at liberty to follow his
own inclinations, the Gloflary would have been
more copious, and would have contained the
etymologies of words, and their import, as
well primative as fecondary. But the prefent
age has no curioflty for fuch minute philolo-
gical refearches.
In the Notes a wider range has been takenk
They contain a variety of little circumftances
relative to the manners and hiftory of the fix-
teenth century, and may contribute to the a-
mufement of a vacant hour.
C O N--
CONTENTS.
Pag.
rrHE T hi file and the Rofe, I
•* The Golden Tergs, 8
The Fenyet Frier of Tungland, - 19
* Dream, 1$
* ffo-w Dunbar wes defyred to be anc Frier, - aj
The Daunce, zj
The Sweirers and the Devill, e 3*
The Tejlament of Mr Andro Kennedy, 35
Tydings fro. the Seffioun, * 40
A general Satyr e, - 44
Difcretioun in AJking, 46
Difcretioun in Giving, 48
Difcretioun in Taking, 51
Ane his aivin Ennemy, - 53
* No Trejjour -without Glaictnes, - 54
Ad-vice to fpend ants awia Gudes, - 56
* Befl to be blyth, 58
Of Deming, 60
Of Dtming, 6 a
* To the King, 64
* To the King, - 68
* None may ajfure in this War Id, 70
Lament for the Deih of the Makkaris, 74
'* Of Luve erdly and divine, 79
* Of the Nativitie of Chryfle, 83
* Of the Refurrettion of Chryfle, - 85
* Erdly Joy returnis in pane, 87
* The t-wa Luves erdly and divine, - 89
* The contemplation of Manis Irlortalitie, - 94
* Rewl of anis felf, - . - 96
Robene and Makyne, - - 98
The Garment of gude Lady is, - 103
* The Abbay Walk, 105
* The Prais of Ege, 107
* The Dog, the Wolf, and the Scheip, 109
* The Wolfe and the Lame, - 116
*fllaralitasoftheMoufsandthePaddok, - m
* . of the Cok and the pretious Stone, 125
* MoraUtAs
xii CONTENT S.
Pag.
Moralitas of the Borro-wifloun Mous and the Up-
on-land Mous, - - 147 .
.1 — of the Lyon and the Motifs, - 129
* The rejjoning betwixt Aige and Yoivth, - 13!
* The reffoning befwixt Deth and Man, 134
* Agains he fly Creddence of Talaris, - - 136
* Ttie th» e dtid Pevis, 1 39
Sons exylit throw Pryd, - 14*
Johns Up-on-lands Complaint, - 144
* To King, James V. 146
To King James V. 148
Lerges of this Neiv-yeir Day, IJ-I
Sir Penny, 15 j
* P err ell in Paramours, - - lj(
TheWanoing of Jok andjynny, - - 158
* Few may fend for falfett, l6x
* Of Hap at Court, 163
* General Satyr e, - - 165
* Of Men mill to pleifs, 167
Of Covetice, 168
Ane Difcriptioun of Pedder Cojfeis, 1 7«
Ant lit till inter lud nf the Droichis, - • 17 j
Ane Ballat of evill Wyffis, 1 7 f
Ballat of gude- falltrnh - - i8»
Auld Kyndnei foryett ) •• - 184
* To remembir the End, 187
* The Prats of Aige, l8»
The blait Luvar, 191
* Love one Lev t liar, - 194
Ane Neiv-yere Gift to the Qttene, 1562, - 194
* Lament of the Mafter of Erjkyn, 203
To his Heart, - 204
* Lament quhen hss ivyfe left him, - 206
* Of -wemenkynd, - 207
* Rondel of Luve, 211
* The Luvar is Lament, - 11%
The Wife of dttchtermuchty, - 215
'* Dar nicy's ballat, - 220
A N-
ANCIENT SCOTTISH POEMS,
The Thijih and the Rofe.
I.
OUhen Merche wes with variand windis pad5
And Appryll had with hir filver fliouris
Tane leif at nature, with ane orient blaft,
And lufty May, that muddtr is of flouris,
Had maid the birdis to begyn thair houris
Amang the tendir odouris reid and quhyt,
Quhois harmony to heir it-v^es delyt :
IF,
Tn bed at morrow, fleiping as I lay,
Methocht Aurora, with her criftall ene,
In at the window lukit by the day,
And halfit me, with vifage paile and grene ;
On quhois hand a lark fang fro the fplene,
Awalk luvaris out of your ilemerir.g,
Se how the lufty morrow dois upfpring.
III.
Methocht frefche May befoir my bed upftude,
In weid depaynt of mony diverle hew,
Sober, benyng, and full of macfuctude,
In bright atteir of flouris forgit new,
Hevinly of color, quhyt, reid, brown, and blew,
Balmit in dew, and gilt with Phebus bemys ;
Quhyl all the houfe illumynit of her lemys.
A IV,
£ 2 ]
IV.
Slttgart, fclio fuid, awalk annone for fchame,
Arcd in my honor fumthing thow go wryt ;
The lark lies done the mirry day proclame,
To rais up luvaris with comfort and delyt ;
Yet nocht increfs thy curage to indyt,
Quhois hairt fumtyme hes glaid and, blifsfull bene,
Sangis to mak undir the levis grene.
y.
Quhairto, quoth I, fall I upryfe at morrow,
For in this May few birdis herd I fmg ;
Thay haif moir caufe to weip and plane their forrow ;
Thy air it is nocht holfum nor benyng ;
Lord Eolus dois in thy feffone ring :
So bufteous ar the blaftis of his home,
Amang thy bewis to walk I haif forborne.
VI.
With that this lady fobirly did fmyll,
And faid, Uprife, and do thy obfervance,
Thou did promyt, in Mayis lufty quhyle,
For to difcryve the Rofe of moft plefance.
Go fe the birdis how thay fmg and dance,
Illumynit our with orient fkyis brycht,
Anamyllit richely with new afur lycht.
VII.
Quhen this wes faid, departit fcho this quene,
And enterit in a lufty garding gent ;
And than methocht full heftely befene,
In ferk and mantill after her I went
Into this garth moft dulce and redolent,
Of herb and flour, and tendir plantis fweit,
And grene levis doing of dew down flcit.
VIII.
[ 3 3
VIII.
Tke purpour fone, with tendir bemys rcid,
In orient bricht as angell did appeir,
Throw galdin fkyis putting up his held,
Quhois gilt treffis fchone fo wondir cleir,
That all the world tuke comfort, fer and neir,
To luke upone his frefche and blifsfull face,
Doing all fable fro the Hevynis chace.
IX.
And as the blifsfull fonene of chsrarchy
The fowlis fung throw comfort of the licht \
The burdis did with oppin vocis cry,
O luvaris fo away thow dully nicht,
And welcum day that comfortis every wicht }
Hail May, hail Flora, hail Aurora fchene,
Hail Princes Nature, hail Venus, Luvis quenc.
X.
Dame Nature gaif ane inhibitioun thai^
To fers Neptunus, and Eolus the bauld,
Nocht to perturb the wattir nor the air,
And that no fchouris nor blaftis cawld
Effray fuld flouris nor fowlis on the fauld :
Scho bad eik Juno, goddes of the (ky,
That fcho the hevin fuld keip amene and dry.
XI.
Scho ordaind eik that every bird and beift
Befoir her Hienes fuld annone compeir,
And every flour of vertew, moft and leift,
And every herb be feild fer and neir,
As they had wont in May fro yeir to yeir,
To hir thair makar to mak obediens,
Full law inclynand with all due reverens,
A 2 XII.
C 4 3
XII.
With that annone fcho fend the fwiyft ro
To bring in beiftis of all conditioun ;
The reftles fwallow commandit fcho alfo
To fetch all foull of fmall and greit renown,
And to gar flouris compeir of all faflbun ;
Full craftely conjurit fcho the Yarrow,
Quhilk did forth fwirk as fwift as ony arrow.
XIII.
All prefent wer in twynkling of ane ee,
Baith beift, and bird, and flour, befoir the Quene.
And firft the Lyone, gretaft of degre,
Was callit thair, and he mcft fair to fene,
With a full hardy countenance and kene,
Befoir Dame Nature come, and did inclyne,
With vifagc b^auld, and courage leonyne.
XIV. "
This awfull beift full terrible wes of chelr,
Perfmg of luke, and ftout of countenance,
Ryght ftrongof corpes, of faffoun fair, but feir,
Lufty of fliaip, lycht of deliverance,
Reid of his cullour, as is the ruby glance,
In feild of gold he ftude full mychtely,
With floure-de-Lycis firculit luftely.
XV.
This lady liftit up his cluvis cleir,
And leit him liftly lene upone hir kne,
And crownit him with dyademe full deir,
Of ray do us ftonis, moft ryall for to fe ;
Saying, The King of Beiftis mak I the,
And the cheif protector in wodds and fchawis,
Onto thy leigis go furth, and keip the lawis.
XV!,
C 5' 1
XVI.
Exerce juftlce with mercy and confciens,
.And lat no fmall beift fuffir fkaith na fcornis
Of greit beiftis that bene of moir pulience :
Do law alyk to aipis and unicornis,
And lat no bowgle with his bufteous hornis
The meik pluch-ox oppreis, for all his pryd,
Bot in the yok go peciable him befyd,
XVII.
Quhen this was faid, with noyis and foun of joy
All-kynd of beiftis into thair degre
At onis cryit, laud, Five le Roy,
And till his feit fell with humilite. ;
And all thay maid him homege and fewte ;
And he did thame re(Taif with princely laitis,
Quhois noble yre // Proteir Prqftratis.
XVI H.
Syne crownit fcho the Egle King of Fowlis,
And as fteill dertis fcherpit fcho his pennis,
And bad him be als juft to awppis and owJis,
As unto pakokkis, papingais, or crenis,
And mak a law for wicht fowlis and for wrennisj..
And. lat no fowll of ravyne do efFeray,
Nor bird is devoir bot his awin pray.
XIX.
Than callit fcho all flouiis that grew on feild,
Difcryving all thair fafliouns and efFeirs ;
Upon the awful 1 THRTSSILL fcho beheld,
And faw him kcipit with a buiche of fpeiris ;
Ccnfidering him fo able for the weiris,
A radius crown of rubies fcho him gaif,
And laid, In feild go furth, and feud the laif.
A . XX*.
C 6 3
XX.
And fen thou art a King, thou be difcreir,
Herb without vertew thow hald nocht of fie pryce
As herb of vertew and of odor fweit ;
And lat no nettill vyle, and full of vyce,.
Hir fallow to the gudly flour-de-lyce ;
Nor lat no \vyld weid full of churliftmefs
Compair her till the lilleis nobilaefs.
XXI.
Nor hald no udir flour in fie denty
As the frefche ROSE, of cullor reid and quliyt?
For gif thou dois, hurt is thyne honefty ;
Confiddering that no flour is fo perfyt,
So full of vertew, plefans, and delyt.
So full of blifsfull angelik bewty,
Imperial birth, honour, and dignite,
XXII.
Thane to the ROSE fcho turnit hir vilage.
And fuid, O lufty dochtir moft benyng,
Aboif the Hlly, iliuflrare of lynage,
Fro the ftok ryell ryfing frefche and ying,
But ony fyot or macull doing fpring,
Cum bloume of joy with jemmis to be cround..
1'or our the luif thy bewty is renound.
XXIII.
A coRly crown,, with clarefeid ftoais bricht,
This cnmly Quene did on hir heid inclofe,
Quhyll all the land illumynit of the lycht ;
Q_uhairfoir rnethocht the flouris didrejofe,
Crying, attanis, Hail] be thou richeft Rofe,
Huill hairbis Empryce, haill frefcheftQiiene oi flouris,
To the be glory ;md honour at all houris.
XX1Y,
C 7 T
XXIV.
Thane all the birdis fong with voc« on hichtr,
Quhois mirthfull foun wes marvellus to heir ;
The mavys fang, Haill Rofe moft riche and richt,,
That dois upfiureifs under Phebus fpeir !
Haill plant of youth, haill Princes dochtir deir,
Haill blofome broking out of the blud royall,
Quhois pretius vertew is imperial.
XXV.
The merle fcho fang, Haill Rofe of moft delyt,
Haill of all fluris quene and foverane.
The lark fcho fang, Haill Rofe both reid and quhyt;
Moft pleafand flour, of michty coullors twane.
The nichtingaill fong, Haill Naturis fuffragene
In bewty, nurtonr, and every nobilnefs,
In riche array, renown, and gentilnefs.
XXVI.
The common voce upraife of burdis fmalJ
Upone this wys, O bliflit be the hour
That thou wes chofin to be our principall ;
Welcome to be our Princes of honour,
Our perle, our plefans, and our paramour.
Our peace, our play, our plane felicite ;
Cbryjl the conferf frome all adverfue.
XXVII.
Than all the burdis fong with fie a fchout
That I anone awoilk quhair that I lay,
And with a braid I turnit me about
To fe this court ; bot all wer went away :
Then up I leinyt, halflinges in affrey,
Calk to my Mufe, and for my fubject chois
To fang the Rye! TJiriOil! and the Rofe.
WILLIAM
[ 8 3
The Col din Terge.
I.
RIcht as the fterne of day began to fchyne,
Quhen gone to bed was Vefper and Lucyne,
I raife, and by a rofelr did me reft ;
Upfprang the goldin candil! matutine,
With cleir depurit bemys chriihillyne,
Glading the mirry fowlis in thair neft,
Or Phoebus wes in purpour kaip reveft ;
Up Sprang the lark, the hevenis menftral fyns
In May iutill a morrow mirthfulleft.,
II.
Full angelyk thir birdis fang thair houris
Within thair courtingis grene, within thair bouris,
Apperrellitwithquhaite andreid, with blumys fweitj-
EnnameJit wes the feild with all cullouris,
The per'it droppis fchuke as in filver fchouris ;
Quhyle ali in balme did branche and levis rieit
Depairt fra Phoebus, did Aurora grcit ;
Hir criftall teiris I faw hing on the flouris,
Qu^hilk he for lufe all drank up with his heit.
III.
For mirth of May, with fkippis and with hcppis',
The birdis fang upon the tendir croppis,
With curious nottis, as Venus chapell-clarks.
The rofis reid, now fpreiding of their knoppis,
Were powderit bricht with hevinly berial droppis,
Throw bemis reid, lemying as ruby fpai'ks j
The (kyis rang with icliouting of the larks,
The purpour hevin owreflcalit in filvtr /-/•/;'/,.
Owregiit the treis, hranchis, Isvis, and bark--.
IV
[ 9 1
IV.
Doun the thruch ryfs ane revir ran with ftremls
So luftely upoun the lykand lemis,
That all the laik as lamp did leme of licht,
Quhilk (haddowit all about with twynkline glemis;
The bewis baithit war in fecound bemis
Throw the reflex of Phoebus vifage bricht,
On every fyde the ege raife on hicht :
The bank \ves grene, the fon wes full of bemis,
The ftreimeris cleir as fternis in frofty nicht.
V.
The cry flail air, the fapheir firmament,
The ruby fkyis of the reid orient,
Keft berial bemis on emerant bewis grene,
The rofy garth depaynt and redolent,
With purpour, afure, gold, and gowlis gentj
Arrayit wes be Dame Flora the Quene
Sa nobilly, that joy wes for to fene,
The roche agane the rever refplendent
As low illuminate all the levis fcheae.
VI.
Quhat throw the mirry fowlis armony,
And throw the reviris found that ran me by,
On Florayis mantill I fleipit quhair I lay,
Quhair fone unto my dremis fantefy
I faw approche agane the orient fky,
An faill, as bloflbm upon the fpray,
".Vith maft of gold, bricht as the fterne of day,
Queilk tendit to the land full luftely,
[With fwifteft motion throu a cryftal bay}.
VII.
VII.
And hard on burd into the blemit mekts,
Amangis the grene rifpis and the reids,
Arryvit fcho, quhair, fro anon thair lands,
Aiie hundreth ladeis luftie in till weids,
Als frefche as flours that in the May upfpreids.
In kirtills grene, withoutin kell or bands
Thair bricht hair hang glitterand on the ftrand
In trefis cleir, wypit with goldin threidis,
With pawpis qhyt, and middills fmall as wands.
VIII.
Difcryve I wald, but quha cowth weill indyte
How all the flouris, with the lilleis quhyte,
Depaint wes bricht, quhilk to the hevin did gleit r
Nocht thou, Homeir, als fair as thou cowth wryte,
For all thy ornat ftyle moft perfyte ;
Nor yet thou, Tullius, quhais lippis fweit
In rettorik did intill termis fleit;
Your aureat tunges baith bene all to lyte.
For to compyle that paradyfe compleit.
IX.
Thair faw I Nature, and als Dame Venus Quene,
The frefche Aurora, and Lady Flora fchene,
Juno, Latona, and Proserpina,
Dian the goddes of cheft and woudis grene,
My Lady Clio, that help of Makaris bene,
Thetes, Pallas, and prudent Minerva,
Fair faynit Fortoun, and lemand Lucina,
Thir michty Quenis with crownis mycht be fene
With bemis bricht, blyth as Lucifera.
C
x.
Thair faw I May, of mirthfull monethis Quene,
Betwixt Apryle and June, his fifteris fchene,
Within the gardene walkand up and doun
Quhom of the fowlis gladith all bedene ;
Scho was full tendir intill her yeiris grene.
Thair faw I Nature prefent till her a goun,
Riche to behald, and noble of renoun,
Of every hew that undir the hevin hes bene
Depainit, and braid be gud proportioun.
XI.
Full luftely thir ladeis all in feir
Enterit within this park of maift plefeir,
Quhair that I lay heilit with levis rank ;
The mirry fowlis, blisfulleft of cheir,
Saluft Nature, methocht, in thair maneir,
And every blome on brenche, and elk on bank,
Opnit and fpred thair balmy levis dank,
Full law inclyneand to thair Quene full cleir,
Quliome for thair noble nuriffing thay thank.
XII.
Syne to Dame Flora, on the famyn wyls,
They faluft, and thay thank a thoufand fyis ;
And to Dame Venus, Luvis michty quene,
They fang ballads of luve, as was the gyis,
With amorous nottis moft lufty to devyis,
As that thay had luve in thair hairtis grene
Thair hony throttis openit fro the fplenc,
With warbills fweit did pers the hevinly fides,
Quhyll loud refounit the firmament ferene.
XIII.
L « 3
XIII.
Ane uthir court thair faw I fubfequent,
Cupeid the King, a bow in hand ay bent,
And dreadful arrowis groundin fcherp and fquhair.
Thair faw I Mars, the god armipotent,
Awfull and fterne, ftrong and corpulent.
Thair faw I crabit Saturne, auld and hair,
His luk wes lyk for to perturb the air.
Thair wes Mercurius, wife and eloquent,
Of rethorik that fand the flouris fair.
XIV.
Thair wes the god of gardynis, Priapus,
Thair wes the god of wildernes, Phanus,
And Janus, god of encres dilectable ;
Thair was the god of fludis, Neptunus ;
Thair was the god of windis, Eolus,
With variant winds, like till ane lord unftable ;
Thair was Backus, the glader of the table ;
Thair was Pluto, that elrick incubus,
In cloke of grene, his court uflt unfable.
XV.
And every one of thir in grene arrayit,
One herp and lute full mirrely thay playit,
And fang ballatis with michty nottis cleir :
Ladels to daunfe full fobirly afTayit,
Endlang the lufty rever fo thay mayit :
Thair obfervance rycht hevinly wes to heir ;
Then crap I throw the levis, and drew neir,
Quhair that I was richt fuddenly affrayit,
All throw a luke that I half coft full deir.
XVI.
C
XVI.
And fchortly for to fpeik, of Luvis Queue
I was efpyit, fcho bad hir archeris kene
Go me areift ; and thay no tyme delayit ;
Than ladeis fair lute fall thair mantils grene,
With bowis big in treffit hairis fchene,
Rycht fuddenly thay had a feild arrayit ;
And yit rycht gritly was I nocht affrayit ;
The pairty was to plefand for to fene,
A woundir lufty bikar me aflayit.
XVII.
And firft of all, with bow in hand ay bent,
Come Dame Bcivty, richt as fcho waldme fchent;
Syne followit all her damofalls in feir,
With mony divers awfull inftrument,
Into the preifs, fair Having with hir went ;
Syne Port rat or, P/efance, and lufty Chelr.
Than come Reffoun, with Scheild of Gold fo cleir,
In plait of maill, as Mars armipotent,
Defendit me that noble chevellei-r.
XVIII.
Syne tender Youth come with hir virgeins ying,
Grene Innocence, and fhame-full /Ibajing,
And quaking Dreid, with humyll Obedience ;
The Golden Terge [in] armit thame nothing ;
Curage in thame wes nocht begun to fpring :
Full foire thay dreid to do a violence.
Sweit Womanheid I faw cum in- prefence,
Of Ai telye a warld fcho did inbring,
[And] fervit ladeis full of reverence.
B XIX.
I 14 ]
XIX.
Scho led with hir Nurtour and Lanvlines,
Continuance, Patience, Gudfame, and Steidfaftnu,
Difcretioun, Gentilines, Conjtderans,
Lefull Cumpany, and Honeft Bejlnes,
Benigne Luke, My Id Cheir, and Sobirnet.
All thir bur genyeis to do me grievance ;
Bot Re/oun bure the Terge with fie conftance,
Thair fcherp aflay might do me no deirance,
For all thair preifs and awfull ordinance.
XX.
Unto the preifs purfewit He Degre,
Hir followit ay EJiait and Dignitie,
Compdrifoun, Honor, and Nobill Arrey,
Will, Want ones, Renown, and Liber tie,
Riches, Fredome, and'eik Nobilitie ;
Wit ye thay did thair baner he difplay,
A clud of arrowis as haill-fchot lowfit thay,
And fchott, quhill waiitit wes thair artelye,
Syne went abak rebutit of the pray.
XXI.
Quhen Venut perfavit had this rebute,
Diffejnblance fcho bad go mak perfute,
At all power to pers the Goldin Terge ;
And fcho that was of doubilnes the rute,
Afeit her chois of archeiris in refute.
Venus the bed bad her to waill at lerge,
Scho tuke Prefens pUcht anker of the berge,
And Fair calling, that weill a flane can fchute,
And Cherrljjing for to compleit hir chaerge.
XXII.
C is 1
XXII.
Dame Hamellnet fcho tuke in cumpany,
That hardy was, and heynd in archery,
And brocht in Beiuty to the feild agane ;
With all the choife of Venus cheveky
They come, and bikkerit unabafitly ;
The (hour of arrow is rippit on a raine,
Perrelus Prefers, that mony fyre hes flainc,
The battell brocht on bordour hard me by,
The fait was all the fairar futh to fane.
XXIII.
Thik was the fchott of grindin arrowis kene ;
Bot ReJJoun, with the Scheild of GoFd fo fchene.
Weirly defendit quhofevir aflayit :
The awfull fchour he manly did fuftene,
Quhill Prefens keft ane powdir in his ene,
And than as drunkin man he all forwayit ;
Quhen he was drukin the fule with him thay playit,
And beneift him amangis the bewis grene ;
That fair ficht me fuddanly effrayit.
XXIV.
Than was I woundit till the deth full ocir,
And holdin as ane woftill prefoneir
To Lady Bewty, in a moment fpace
Methocht fcho femit luftyar of cheir,
After that Reffoun had tynt his ene cleir,
Than of befoir, and lovarly of face :
Qiihy was thou blindit, Reffoun ? quhy, allace {
And gart ane hell my panidyce appeir,
And mer^y feme quhair that I fand no grace.
B 2 XXV.
XXV.
Diijimulance was biflie me to fyle,
And Fair Calling did oft upon me fmyle,
And ChirriJJing me fed wkh vvordis fair ;
7vViu dcquentance embrafit me a quhyle,
And favort me quhill men micht ga ane myle,
Syne tuk her leif, I faw hir nevir mair :
Than {a\v_l_Dengtr towart me repair,
I cowth efchew hir prefens be no wyle,
On fyde fcho lukit with ane fremit fare.
XXVI.
And at the laft deperting couth hir drefs,
And me deliverit unto Havynet
For to remane, and fcho in cure me tuke ;
Be this the lord of winds, with fell widnefs
God Eolits his bowgill blew I gefs ;
That with the blaft the levis all to fchuke,
•nnci iuddanly in the fpace of ane luke
All wes hyne went, thair wes bot wildirnefs,
Thair wes no moir bot birdis bonk and bruke.
XXVII.
In twynckling of ane ee to fchip thay went,
And fwift up faill unto the top thay (lent,
And with fwift courfe attour the flude thay frak j
Thay fyrit gunnis with powder violent,
Till that the reilc raife to the firmament,
The rockis all refoundit with the rak,
For reird it femit that the rane-bow brak ;
With fpreit affrayit upoun my feit I fprent
Amangis the clewis, la cairfull wes the crak.
XXVIII,
C 17 3
XXVIII.
And as I did a walk of this fwowning,
The joyful-1 fowlis mirrily did fmg
For mirth of Phebus tendir bemis fchene ;
Sweit wes the vapouris, and foft the morrowing^
Hailfum the vaill, depaynit with flours ying,
The air intemperit fobir and amene ;
In quhyt and reid was all the erd befene,
Throw Naturis nobill frefch ennameling,
In mirthfull May, of every moneth Quene.
XXIX.
O Reverend Chaufer, rofe of Rethouris all,
As in cure toung ane flour imperial,
That raife in Brittane evir, quha reidis richt,,
Thou beiris of makars the triumphs royall,
The frefche ennamallit termes celeftiall ;
This mater couth hail illuminit full bricht j
Was thou nocht of our Inglis all the licht,
Surmounting every toung terreftriall,
As far as Mayis morrow dois midnycht.
XXX.
O morale Goiveir, and Lit/gait laureat,
Your fuggarat toungis, and lippis aureat,
Bene till our eiris caufe of grit delyte :
Your angelic mouth moft mellifluat,
Our rude language hes cleir illumynat,
And hes ourgilt our fpeiche, that imperfyte
Stude, or your goldin pennis fchup to wryt
This yle beroir wes bair, and diflblat
Of rethorik, or lufty frefche indyte.
B i XXXI;,
XXXI.
Thou litill quair be evir obedient,
Humyll, fubje&, and femple of intent,
Befoir the face of every cunning wicht,
I know quhat thou of rethoric hes fpent,.
Of hir lufty roifis redolent,
Is nane into thy garland fett on hicht ;
O fchame thairfoir, and draw the out of ficht :
Rude is thy weid, deftitute, bair, and rent,
Weill aucht thou be affeirit of the licht.
WILLIAM DUNBAR.
The Fenyet Frier of Tungtanf.
I.
AS young Aurora with chryftall haile,
In orient fchew her viiage paile,.
A fwenyng fwyth did me aflaile
Of fonis of Sathanis feid ;
Methocht a Turk of Tartary
Come throw the boundis of Barbary,
And lay forloppin in Lombardy,
Full long in wachman's weid.
II.
Fra baptafmg for lo efchew,
Thair a religious man he flew,
And cled him in his abeit new,
For he cowth wryte and reid.
Quhen kend was his diflimulance,
And all his curfit governance,
For feir he fled, and come in France,
With litill of Lumbard leid.
III.
To be a leiche he fenyt him thair;
Quhilk mony a man might rew evirmair;
For he left nowthir fick nor fair
Unflane, or he hyne yeid.
Vane-organis he full clenely cahrit ;
Quhen of his ftraik fae mony ftarvit,
Dreid he had gottin quhat he defarvit,
He fled away gude fpeid.
IV.
In Sec land than, the narreft way,
He come, his cunning till allay,
To fum man thair it was no play
The preving of his iciens.
Ill pottingry he wrocht grit pyne,
He murdreift mony in medecyne;
The Jow was of a grit engyne,
And generic was of gyaus.
V,
C 20 j
\
V.
In leichecraft he was homecyd,
He wald half for a nycht to byd
A haiknay and the hurtman's hyd,
So meikle he was of myance.
His yrins was rude as ony rawchtir,
Quhaire he leit blude it was no lawchtir*
Full mony inftrument for flawchtir
Was in his garde vyance^.
VI.
He cowth gif cure for laxative,
To gar a wicht horfe want his Jyve-
Quha evir aflay wald man or wyve,
Thair hippis yied hiddy-giddy.
His pratfikis never war put to preif,
But fuddane deid or grit mifchief,
He had purgatioun to mak a theif
To die without a widdy.
VII.
Unto no mefs preffit this prelat,
For found of facring bell nor Ikellat^
As blackfmyth brinkit was his pallatt
For battring at the ftudy.
Thocht he come hame a new maid channoun,
He had difpenfit with M-atynis cannoun,
On him come nowthir ftole nor fannoun
For fmuking of the fmydy.
VIII.
Methocht feir faflbnis he a/Tailyeit
To mak the quinteflance and failyeit ^
And quhen he faw that nocht availyeit.
A fedrem on he tuke :
And fchupe in Turky for to flie ;
And quhen that he did mont on hie,
All fowill ferleit quhat he fowld be,
That evir did on him luie.
IX,
C 21 ;
IX.
Sum held he had bene Dedalus?
Sum the Menatair marvelus,
And fum Martis fmyth Vulcanus,
And fum Saturnns kuke.
And evir the cufchettis at him tuggtt,
The rukis him rent, the ravynis him druggit,
The hudit-crawis his hair furth ruggit,
The hevin he micht not bruke.
X.
Then Myttainc and Saint Martynis fov/ie
Wend he had bene the hornit howle,
Thay fet upon him with a yowle,
And gaif him dynt for dynt.
The golk, the gormaw, and the gled,
Beft him with buffets quhill he bled ;
The fpar-halk to the fpring himfped
Ah fsrs as fyre of flynt.
xr.
The tarfall gaif him tug for tug,
A ftanchell hang in ilka lugv
The pyot furth his pennis did rug,
Theftorkflraikaybutftint;
The bifTart bifly but rebuik,
Scho was fo cleverus of her cluik,
His [lugs] he micht not langer bruke,
Scho held thame at ane hint.
XIL
Thik was the clud of kayis and crawis,
Of marie) jnis, mittanis, andofmawis,
That bikkrit at his berd with blawis,
In battell him abowt.
Thay nybbillit him with noyis and cry,
The rerd of thame raife to the fky,
And evir he cryit on Fortoun, Fy,
His lyfe was into dowt.
XIIU
C " 3 x
XIII.
The ja him fkrippit with a fkryke,
And fkornit him as it was lyk ;
The egill ftrong at him did ftryke,
And raucht him mony a rout :
For feir uncunnandly he cawkit,
Quhill all his pennis war drownd and drawkit*
He maid a hundreth nolt all hawkit,
Beneath him with a fpowt.
XIV.
He fcheure his feddereme that was fchene,
And flippit out of it full clene,
And in a myre, up to the ene,
Amang the glar did glyd.
The fowlis all at the fedrem dang
As at a monfter thame amang,
Quhyl all the pennis of it owtfprang
Intill the air full wyda.
XV.
And he lay at the plunge evir mair
Sa lang as any ravin did rair ;
The crawis him focht with cryis of cair
In every fchaw befyde.
Had he reveild bene to the ruikis,
Thay had him revin with thair cluikis.
Thre dayis in dub amang the dukis
He did with dirt him hyde.
XVI.
The air was dirkit with the fowlis
That come with yawmeris, and with yowlis,
With fkryking, fkryming, and with fcowlis,
To tak him in the tyde.
I walknit with noyis and fchowte,
So hiddowis beir was me abowte.
Senfyne I curft that cankirit rowte
Quhair evir I go or ryde.
WILLIAM DUNBAR.
D RE A JIL
D R E A M.
I.
LUcina fchynyng in filence of the nieht,
The hevin being all full of fternis bricht,
To bed I went ; bot thair I tuke no reft,
With havy thocht I wes fo foir oppreft,
That fair I langtt eftir dayis licht ;
Of Fortoun I compleinit hevely,
That fcho to me ftude fo contraroufly ;
And at the laft quhea I had turnyt oft
For werines, on me an flummer foft
Come, with ane dreming, and a fantefy.
II.
Methocht Deme Fortoun, with ane fremit cheir,
Stude me beforne, and faid on this maneir.
Thow fuffir me to work gif thow do weill,
And preifs the nocht to ftryfe aganis my quheill,
Quhilk every wardly thing dois turne and fteir.
Fall mony ane man I turne into the hicht,
And maks als mony full law to doun licht.
Up on my ftaigis or that thow afcend,
Treift. weill thy trouble neir is at ane end,
Seing thir taiknis, quhairfoir thow mark them richt .
III.
Thy trublit gaift fall neir moir be degeft,
Nor thow into no benefice beis pofleft,
Quhill that ane abbot him cleith in ernis pennis,
And fle up in the air amangis the crennis,
And als ane falcone fair fro eift to weft.
IV.
I 24 J
IV.
He full afcend as ane horreble grephoun,
Him meit fall in the air ane fcho dragoun ;
Tliir terrible monfteris fall togidder thrift,
And in the cludis gett the Antechrift,
Quhill all the air infeck of their pufoun.
V.
Undir Saturnus fyrie regioun
Symone Magus fall meit him and Mahoun,
And Merlyne at the mone fall hym be bydand,
And Jonet the widow on ane beflbme rydand,
Of wichis with an windir garefoun ;
And fyne thay fall difcend with reik and fyre,
And preiche in erth the Antechryft's impyre.
Be than it fall be neir this warld's end.
With that this lady fone fra me did wend.
VI.
Quhen I awoke my dreme itwes fo nyce,
Fra every wicht I hid it as a vyce^
Quhill I hard tell be' mony futhfaft wy
Fie wald an abbot up into the fky,
And all his fetherme maid wes at devyre.
VII.
Within my hairt confort I tuke full fone,
A dew, quoth I, my drery dayis are done.
Full weill I wift to me wald nevir cum thrift,
Quhill that twa monis wer fene up in the lift,
Or quhill an abbot flew aboif the mone.
WILLIAM DUNBAR,
ffvw
C 25 3
Duhlar nuts dejyred to le ane Frier,
I.
THis nycht befoir the dawing cleir
Methocht Sancl Francis did to me appeir,
With ane religious abbeit in his hand,
And faid, In this go cleith the my fervand,
Refufe the warld, for thow mon be a freir.
II.
With him and with his abbeit bayth I flearrit,
Like to ane man that with a gaift wcs marrit :
Methocht on bed he layid it me abone ;
Bot on the flure delyverly and fone
I lap thairfra, and nevir wald cum nar it.
III.
Qu.oth he, quhy fkarris thow with this holy weid ?
Cloith the tharin, for weir it thow moft neid ;
Thow that hes lung done Veaus lawis teiche,
Sail now be freir, and in this abbeit preiche :
Delay it nocht, it mon be done but dreid.
IV.
Quoth I, Sanct Francis, loving be the till,
And thankit mot thow be of thy gude will
To me, that of thy clayis ar fo kynd ;
Bot thame to weir it nevir come in my mynd :
Sweet confefTour, thow tak it nocht in ill.
V.
In haly legendis have I hard allevin,
Ma fancYis of bifchoppis, nor freiris, be fie fevlnj
Of full few freiris that has bene fandlis I reid ;
Quhairfoir ga bring to me ane bifchopis weid,
Gife evir thow wald my faule gaid unto hevin.
C VI.
C
VI.
My brethir oft lies maid the fupplicatiouns,
Be epiftillis, ferrnonis, and relatiounis,
To tak the abyte ; bot thow did poftpone ;
But ony procefs cum on ; thairfoir anone
All circumftance put by and excufationis.
VII.
Gif evir my fortoun wes to be a freir,
The dait thairof is paft full mony a yeir;
For into every lufty toun and place,
Off all Yngland, from Berwick to Calice,
I haif into thy habeit maid gud cheir.
VIII.
In freiris weid full fairly haif I fleichit,
In it haif I in pulpet gone and preichit
In Derntoun kirk, and elk in Canterberry ;
In it I paft at Dover our the ferry,
Throw Piccardy, and thair the peple teichit.
IX.
Als lang as I did beir the freiris ftyle,
In me, God wait, wes mony wrink and wyle ;
In me wes falfet with every wicht to flatter,
Quilk mycht be flemit with na haly waiter ;
I wes ay reddy all men to begyle.
X.
This freir that did Sand Francis thair appeir,
Ane fieind he wes in liknes of ane freir ;
He vaneift away with ftynk and fyrrie fmowk ;
"With him methocht all the houfe end he towk,
And I awoik as \vy that wes in weir.
WILLIAM DUNBAR,
The
C 27 j
The D A U N C E.
I.
OF Februar the fiftene nycht,
Richt lang befoir the dayis lycht,
I lay intill a trance ;
And than I faw baith hevin and hell ;
Methocht amangis the feyndis fell,
Mahoun gart cry ane dance,
Of fhrewis that wer never fchrevin,
Againft the feift of Fafternis evin,
To male thair obfervance j
He bad gallands ga graith a gyis,
And caft up gamountis in the (kyis,
The laft came out of France.
IL
Lat fe, quoth he, now quha beginis :
With that the fowll fevin deidly finis
Begowth to leip atanis.
And firft of all In dance wes Pryd,
With hair wyld bak, bonet on fyd,
Lyk to mak vaiflie wanis ;
And round about him as a quheill,
Hang all in rumpillis to the heiil,
His kethat for the nanis.
Mony proud trumpour with him trippit,
Throw fkaldan fyre ay as they fldppit,
They girnd with hyddous gratis.
irr.
Heilie Harlottis in hawtane wyts
Come in with mony findrie gyis,
Bot yet luche nevir Mahoun,
Quhill preiftis cum with bair fchevin nekks,
Than all the feynds lewche, and maid gekks,
Black-belly and Ba<wfy- Brown.
C 2 IV.
^ Ve-l '
[ 28 ]
IV.
Than Tre come in with fturt and ftryfe ;
His hand wes ay upoun his knyfe,
He brandeift lyk a beir ;
Boftaris, braggaris, and barganeris,
Eftir him paffit into pairis,
All bodin in feir of weir.
In Jakkis, ftryppis, and bonnettis of fteill,
Thair leggis wer chenyiet to the heill,
Frawart wes thair affeir ;
Sum upoun uder with brands beft,
Sum jagit utheris to the heft,
With knyvis that fcherp coud fcheir.
V.
Next in the dance followit Invy,
Fildfulloffeidandfellony,
Hid malice and difpyte.
For pryvie haterit that tratour trymllt,
Him follcwit mony freik difTymlit,
With fenyeit wordis quhyte.
And flattereris into menis facis,
And back-byttaris of fundry racis,
To ley that had delyte,
With rownaris of fals lefmgis ;
Allace ! that courtis of noble kingis,
- Of thame can nevir be quyte.
VI.
Next him in dans come Cuvatjctt
Rute of all evill, and grund of vyce,
That nevir cowd be content ;
Catyvis, \vrechis, and Ockeruris,
Hud-pykis, hurdars, and gadderaris,
Ail with that H'arlo went :
Out
C 29 ]
Out of thair throttis they fliot on udder
Hett raokin gold, methocht, a fudder
As fyre-flaucht maift fervent ;
Ay as thay tumit thame of fchot,
Feynds fi.lt thame well up to the thrott>
With gold of all kynd prent.
VII.
Syne Sweirnes, at the fecound bidding.
Com lyk a fow out of a midding,
Full flepy wes his grunyie.
Mony fweir bumbard belly-huddroun,
Mony flute daw, and flepy duddroun,
Him fervit ay with founyie.
He drew thame furth intill a chenyie, '
And Belliall, with a brydill renyie,
Evir lafcht thame on the lunyie.
In dance thay war fo flaw of feit,
They gaif thame in the fyre a heit,
And maid them quicker of counyie,
viir.
Than Lichery, that lathly corfs,
Berand lyk a bagit horfs,
And Idllnefs did him leid ;
Thair wes with him an ugly fort,
And mony ftinkand fowll tramort,
That had in fj-n bene deid :
Quhen thay wer enterit in the daunce,
Thay wer full ftrenge of countenance,
Lyk turkas burnand re id ;
It mycht be na remeid.
C 3 D5
C 3° J
IX.
Than the fowll monftir Clutteny,
Of wame unfafiable and gredy,
To dance fyn did him drefs ;
Him followet mony foull drunckhart,
With can and collep, cop and quart.
In furffet and excefs.
Full mony a waiftlefs wally-drag,
With waimis unweildable, did furth wag,.
In creifche that did increfs.
Drynk, ay thay cryit, with mony a gaip»
The feynds gave them hait leid to laipk
Thair lovery \ves na lefs.
'"^ V
.
\ ' Na menftralls playit to thame but dowt.
For gle-men thair wer haldin out,
Be day, and eik by nycht ;
Except a menftrall that flew a man :
Sa till his heretage he wan,
And eutirt be breif of richt.
XI.
Than cryd Mahoun for a Hefeand Padyaae \
Syn ran a feynd to fetch Makfadyane,
Far nor thwart in a nuke ;
Be he the Correnoth had done fchout,
Erfche men fo gadderit him about,
In hell grit rume thay tuke :
Thae tarmegantis, with tag and tatter,
Full loud in Erfche begowt to clatter,
And rowp lyk revin and ruke.
The devill fa devit wes with thair yell,
That in the depeft pet of hell
He fmorit thame with fmuke.
WILLIAM DUNBAH.
Ttx
E 3' 3
The Siueirers and the Devilf,
I.
THis nycht in fleip I was agaft,
Methocht the devill wes tempand fait
The people with aithis of crewaltie,
Sayand, as throw the merkat he paft,
Renunce thy God, and cum to me.
II.
Methocht as he went throw the way,
Ane preift fweirit braid, be God verey,
Quhilk at the alter reflavit he ;
Thow art my clerk, the devill can fay,
Renunce thy God, and cum to me.
III.
Than fwoir a courtyour mekle of pryd
Be Chryftis woundis bludy and wyd,
And be his harmes wes rent on tre.
Than fpak the devill, hard him befyd,
llenunce thy God, and cum to me.
IV.
Ane merchand, his geir as he did fell,
Renuncit his part of hevin and hell ;
The devill faid, Welcum mot thow be,
Thou fall be merchand for my fell,
Renunce thy God, and cum to me.
V.
Ane goldfmith faid, The golds fa fyne
That all the warkmanfchip I tyne ;
The feind reffaif me gif I lie ;
Think on, quoth the devill, that thow art mine,
Rer.uuce thy God, and cum to me.
VI.
C 32 J
VI.
Ane tailyor faid, In all this toun,
Be thair ane better well maid gown,
I gif me to the feynd all fre ;
Gramercy, tailyor, faid Mahoun,
Renunce thy God, and cum to me.
VIL
Ane fouttar faid, In gud efFek,
Nor I be hangit be the nek,
Gife bettir butis of ledder ma be ;
Fy, quoth the feynd, thou fawris of blek,
Ga clenge the dene, and cum to me.
VIII.
Ane baxRar fayd, I forfaik God,
And all his werkis, evin and od,
Gif fairar ftuff neidis to be ;
The devill luche, and on him cowth nod,
Renunce thy God, and cum to me.
IX.
The fleftiour fwoir be the facrament,
And be Chryft's blud maift innocent,
Nevir fatter flefch faw man with ee ;
The devill faid, hald on thy intent,
Renunce thy God, and cum to me.
X.
The maltman fayis, I God forfaik,
And that the devill of hell me taik,
Gif ony bettir malt may be,
And of this kill I haif inlaik ;
Renunce thy God, and cum to me.
XI.
C 33 3
XI.
Ane browftar fwore the malt wes ill,
Baith reid and reikit on the kill,
That it will be na aill for me,
Ane boll will not fex gallonis fill ;
Renunce thy God, and cum to me.
XII.
The fmith Avoir be rude and raip,
Intill a gallowis mot I gaip,
Gif I ten dayis wan pennies thre,
For with that craft I can nocht thraip f
Renunce thy God, and cum to me.
XIII.
Ane menftrall faid, The feind me ryfe,
The devill faid, hardly mot it be,
Exerce that craft in all thy lyfer
Renunce thy God, and cum to me.
XIV.
Ane dyfour faid, with words of ftryfe,
The devill mot ftik him with a knyfe,
But he keft up fair fyffis thre;
The devil faid, Endit is thy life,
Renunce thy God, and cum to me..
XV.
Ane theif faid, 111 that evir I chaip,
Nor ane ftark widdy gar me gaip,
But I in hell for geir wald be ;
The devill faid, Welcum in a raip,
Renunce thy God, and cum to me.
XVI,
C 34 3
XVI.
The fifche-wyffis flet, and fwoir with grainis,
And to the feindfauld flefche and banis;
Thay gaif thame with ane fchout on hie ;
The devill faid, Welcum all at ainis,
Renunce your God, and cum to me.
XVII.
Methocht the devills als black as pit,
Soliffand wer, as beis thik,
Ay temp and folk with way is flic j
Rounand to Roberts and to Dik,
Renunce thy God, and cum to me,
WILLIAM DUNBA*,
C 35 3
We Teftament if Mr Andre Kennedy.
I.
IMafter Andro Kennedy,
A \jnatre~} quando fum vocaiuf,
Begotten with fum incuby,
Or with fum freir infatuatus ;
In faith I can nocht tell redely,
Unde out ul>i fui natus,
Bot in truth I trow trewly,
Qnod fum diabslus incarnates.
II.
Cum nihil Jit certius morte,
We man all de quhen we haif done ;
Nefcimus quando, vel qua forte,
Nor biyndallane wait of the mone.
Ego patior in peftort,
Throw nieht I mycht nocht fleip a wink ;
Licet cegsr in corpore,
Yet wald my mouth be watt with drink,
III.
Nune condo teftamentum meum,
I leif my faule for evirmair,
Per omnipotent em Deum,
Into my lordis wyne- cellar ;
Semper ibi ad remanendum
Till domefday cum without diffiver,
Bonum vinum ad bibendum
With fweit Cuthbert that lufit me nevir.
IV.
Ipfe eft dulcis ad amandum,
He wuld oft ban me in his breth,
Det mibi modo ad potandum,
And I forgaif him laith and wreth.
[ 36 ]
Quia in cellar cum cervijia,
I had lever ly baith air and lart,
Nudus folus in camijia,
Than in my lordis bed of ftait.
V.
Ane barrel being ay at my bofum.
Of warldly gude I bad na mair j
Et corpus meum elriofum,
I leif unto the town of Air ;
In ane draff midding for evir and ay,
Ut ibi fepeliri queam,
Quhair drink and draff may ilka day
J3e caflin fuper faciem ineaw*
VI.
I leif my hairt that nevir wes ficker,
Sed femper variabi/f,
That evermair wald flow and flicker,
Confer it meo Jacobo Wylie :
Thoch I wald bind it with a wicker,
Verum Deum renui ;
Bot and I hecht to tume a bicker,
Hoc pafium femper tenui.
VII.
Syne leif I the beft aucht I bocht,
Quod eft Latinum propter cape,
To the heid of my kin j but waite I nocht,
ijtuis eft ille, than fchro my Ikape.
I tald my Lord my heid, but hiddill,
Sed nulli alii hoc fciverunty
We wer als fib as feif and riddiJl,
In una Jlha qu<z creverunt.
VIII.
C 37 ]
VIII.
Qjtia me a folatia.
They wer hot lefmgis all and ane,
Cum omni frauds et fallacia.
I leive the maifter of Sanft Anthane,
William Gray, fine gratia,
My ain deir cufme, as I wene,
Qui nunquam fabricat mendacia,
But qufaen the Holene tree growis grene.
IX.
My fenyeing, and ray fals winning,
•Relinquo falfis fratribus ;
For that is Gods awin bidding,
Difparjlt, dedit pauperibus.
For mens faulis they fay and fmg,
Mentientes pro muneribus ;
Now God give thaime ane evill ending,
Pro fuis pravis operibus.
X.
To Jok the fule, my foly fre
Lego pofl corpus fepultum;
In faith I am mair fule than he,
Licet oftendo bonum vultum.
Of corne and cattell, gold and fie,
Ipfe habet valde rnultum,
And yit he bleiris my lordis ee,
Fingendo eum fore ftulturn.
XI.
To Maifter Johney Clerk fyne,
Do et lego intivic
Gods braid malefone, and myne;
Natu ipfe eft caufa mortis mete.
D Wcr
•
G:'-i •
:
C 38 3
Wer I a doig and he a fwyne,
Multi mirar.tur fuf>er me,
Bot I fould gar that lurdoun quhryne,
Scribendo dentes Jius Z).
XII.
Rejiduum omnium bonorum
For to difpone my lord fal half,
Cum tutela fuerorum,
Baith Adie, Kittie, and all the laif.
In faith I will na langer raif,
Pro fepultura ordino
On the new gyfe, fa God me faif,
Non ftcut more folito.
XIII.
In die mete fepultura,
I will have nane but our awin gang,
Et duos rufticos de rure
Berand ane barrell on a ftang,
Drinkand and playand cap-out ; even
Sicut egoinet folebam,
Singand and greitand with the {levin,
Potum mcum cum fletit mifcebam.
XIV.
I will no preiilis for me fing,
Dies ills, dies ir<s ;
Nor yet na bellis for me ring,
Sicut Jemper folet fieri ;
But a bag-pyp to play a fpring,
Et unuiii ale-wifp ante me ;
Infteid of torchts, for to bring
f^uatuor lagenas cervi/ix,
Withia
- C 39 I
Within the graif to fett, fit thing,
In modum cruets juxta me,
To fle the feyndis, than hardly fmg
De tsrra plafmajli me.
WILLIAM DUNBAR,
D a Tydingt
C 4° J
Yydingi fra ike SeJ/ioun.
I.
ANE murelandis man of uplandis mak,
At hame thus to his nychbour fpak,
Quhat tidings, gofTep ? peax or weir ?
The tother rounit in his eir,
I tell yow this under confeiHoun,
But laitly lichtit of my meir,
I come of Edinburgh fra the feffioun.
II.
Quhat tydingis hard ye thair, I pray yow ?
The tother anfwerit, I fall fay yow ;
Keip this all fecreit, gentill brother,
Is na man thair that treftis ane uther :
Ane common doer of tranfgreflioun,
Of innocent folkis prevents a futher :
Sic tydings hard I at the feffioun.
HI.
Sum with his fallow rownis him to pleis
That wald for envy byt afF his neis.
His fa him by the oxtar leidis ;
Sum patteris with his mowth on beids,
That hes his mynd all on oppreflioun ;
Sum beckis full law, and fchawis bair heidis,
Wald luke full heich war not the feffioun.
IV.
Sum bidand the law, layis land in wed ;
Sum fuperexpendit gois to his bed ;
Sum fpeidis, for he in court hes meins ;
Sum of partialitie complenis,
How feid and favour flemis difcretioun ;
Sum fpeikis full fair, and falfsly fenis :
Sic thingis hard I at the feffioun.
C 41 ]
V.
Sum cafts fummondis, and fum exceptis ;
Sum ftand befyd and fkaild law keppis ;
Sum is concludit, fum wins, fum tynes;
Sum makis him mirry at the wynis ;
Sum is put out of his pofTeffioun ;
Sum herreit, and on credens dynis :-
Sic tydings hard I at the feflioun.
VI.
Sum fweiris, and forfaikis God ;
Sum in ane lamb-ikin is ane tod ;
Sum in his tung his kyndnefs turfis ;
Sum cuttis throattis, and fum pykis purfis;
Sum gois to gallows with proceflioun ;
Sum fains the fait, and fum thame curfis :
Sic tydingis hard I at the feflloun.
VII.
Religious men of divers placis
Cum thair to wow, and fe fair faces ;
Baith Carmelitis and Cordilleris
Cumis thair to genner and get ma freiris,
And ar unmindfull of thair pr«Jeflloun ;
The yunger at the eldair leiris :
Sic tydings hard I at the feffioun.
VIII.
Thair cumis yung monkis of he complexioun,
Of devoit mynd, luve, and affe<ftioun ;
And in the courte thair hait flefche dantis,
Full fader-lyk, with pechis and pantis ;
Thay ar fo hummill of intercemoun,
All rhercifull wemen thair errand grantis :
Sic tydings hard I at the feffioun.
WILLIAM DUNBAR,
D 3
[ 42 3
A General Satyri*
I.
DEvorit with dreim, devifmg in my flumber,
How that this rea!me,wi th nobillis out of number
Gydit, provydit fa mony years hes bene ;
And now fie hunger, fie cowartis, and fie cumber,
Within this land was nevir hard nor fene.
II.
Sic pryd with prellattis, fo few till preiche and pray,-
Sic hant of harlottis with thame, bay th nicht and day,
That fowld haif ay thair God afore thair ene,
So nice array, fo ftrange to thair abbay,
Within this land was nevir hard nor fene..
III.
So mony preiftis cled up in fecular weid,
With blafmg breiftis cafting thair claiths on breid,
It is no need to tell of quhome I mene,
To quhome the Plalme and Teftament to reid,
Within this land was Eevir hard nor fene.
IV.
So mony maifteris, fo mony guckit clerkis,
So mony weftaris, to God and all his warkis,
So fyry fparkis, of difpyt fro the fplene,
Sic lofm farkis, fo mony glengour markis,
Within this land was nevir hard nor fene.
V.
So mony lords, fo mony naturall fules,
That bettir accordis to play thame at the trulls,
Nor feis the dulis that commons dois fuftenf,
New tane fra fculis ; fo mony anis and mulis,
Within this land was nevir hard nor fene.
VI,
[ 43 3
VI.
Sa meikle trefTone, fa mony partial fawi's,
Sa littill reflbne, to help the common cawis,.
That all the lawis ar not fet by ane bene j
Sic fenyiet flawis, fa mony waftit wawis,
Within this land was nevir hard nor fene.
VII.
Sa mony theivis and murdcris well kend,
Sa grit releivis of lords thame to defend,
Becauis they fpend the pelf thame betwene,
Sa few till wend this mifcheif, till amend,
Within this land was nevir hard nor fene..
VIII.
This to correft, they fchow with mony crakkis.
But littil effeft of fpeir or battar ax,
Quhen curage lakkis the corfs that fould mak kene ;
Sa mony jakkis, and brattis on beggaris bakkis,
Within this land was nevir hard nor fene.
IX.
Sic vant of wouftours with hairtis in finful ftatures,
Sicbrallaris and bofteris, degenerUt fra their natures,
And fie regratouris, the pure men to prevene ;
S.i mony traytouris, fa mony rubeatouris,
Within this land was nevir hard nor fene.
X.
Sa mony jugeis and lords now maid of late,
Sa fmall refugeis the pure man to debait ;
Sa mony eftate, for commoun well fa quhene,
Owre all the gait, fa mony thevis fa tait,
Within this land was nevir hard nor fene.
XI.
C 44 ]
XI.
Sa mony ane fentence retreitit, for to win
Geir and acquentance, or kyndnefs of thair kin ;
Thay think no fin, quhair proffeit cumis betwene ;
Sa mony a gin, to haift thame to the pin,
Within this land was nevir hard nor fene.
XII.
Sic knavis and crakkaris, to play at carts and dyce,
Sic halland-fcheckaris, quhilk at Co--wkelhis grycer
Are haldin of pryce, when Jymaris do convene,
Sic ftore of vyce, fa mony wittis unwyfe,
Within this land was nevir hard nor fene.
XIII.
Sa mony merchandis, fa mony are menfworne,
Sic pure tenandis, fie curfmg evin and morn,
Quhilk flayis the corn, and fruct that growis grene;
Sic fkaith and fcorne, fa mony paitlattis worne,
Within this land was nevir hard nor fene.
XIV.
Sa mony rackettis, fa mony ketche-pillaris,
Sic ballis, fie nachettis, and fie tutivillaris,
And fie evil-willaris to fpeik of King and Quene,
Sic pudding-fillaris, defcending doun from millaris.
Within this land was nevir hard nor fene.
XV.
Sic fartingaillis on flaggis als fatt as quhailis,
Fattit lyk fulis with hattis that littil availis ;
And fie fowill tailis to fweip the calfay clene,
The duft upfkaillis, mony fillok — —
Within this land was nevir hard nor fene.
XVI.
[ 45 3
XVI.
Sa mony ane Kittie, dreft up with goldin chenyes,
Sa few witty, that weil can fabillis fenyie,
With apill renyeis ay fhawand hir goldin chene,
Of Sathanis feinye ; fure fie an unfaul menyie
Within this land was nevir hard nor fene.
WILLIAM DUNBAR,
Dtffretitun
E 46 I
Difcretioun in djking,
I.
OF every afking followis nocht
Rewaird, hot gif fum caus wer wrocht j
And quhair caus is, men weil ma fie ;
And quhair nane is, it will be thocht
In afking fould Difcretioun be.
ir.
Anc fule, thocht he haif caus or nane,
Cryis ay, gif me into a drene ;
And he that dronis ay as ane bee
Sould haif an heirar dull as ftane j
In afking fould Difcretioun be.
III.
Sum afkis mair than he defervlsr
Sum afkis far les than he fervis,
Sum fchames to afk as braids of me,
And all without reward he ftervis ;
In afking fould Difcretioun be.
IV.
To afk but fervice hurts gud famer
To afk for fervice is not blame ;
To ferve and leif in beggartie,
To man and maiftir is baith fchame ;
In afking fould Difcretioun be.
V,
He that dois all his beft fervyis,
May fpill it all with crakkis and cryis,
Be foul inoportunitie ;
Few wordis may ferve the wyis ;
In afking fould Difcretioun be.
VL
I 47 3
VI.
Nocht neidfull is men fuld be dum,
Nathing is gotin but wordis fum,
Nocht fped but diligence we fe ;
For nathing it allane will cum ;
In alking fould Difcretioun be.
VII.
Afking wald haif convenient place,
Convenient tyme, lafar, and fpace ;
But haift or preis of grit menye,
But hairt abafit, but toung reckles ;
In afking fould Difcretioun be.
VIII.
Sum micht haif (ye) with littill cure,
That hes aft (nay) with grit labour,
All for that tyme not byde can he ;
He tynis baith errand and honour ;
In afking fould Difcretioun be.
IX.
Suppois the fervand be lang unquit,
The Lord fumtyme rewaird will it,
Gif he dois not, quhat remedy ?
To fecht with fortoun is no v^t ;
In afking fould Difcretioun be.
WILLIAM DUXBAR.
Difcretioun
C 43 ]
Difcretioun of Giving.
I.
TO fpeik of gift or almous deidis,
Sum gevis for mereit and for meidis ;
Sum, wardly honour to up hie,
Gevis to thame that nothing neidis ;
In geving fould Difcretroun be.
II.
Sum gevis for pryd and glory vane,
Sum gevis with grudgeing and with pane,
Sum gevis in prattik for fupple,
Sum gevis for twyis als gud agane ;
In geving fould Difcretioun be.
III.
Sum gevis for thank, fum cheritie,
Sum gevis money, and fum gevis meit,
Sum gevis wordis fair and fie,
Giftis fra fum ma na man treit ;
In geving fould Difcretioun be.
IV.
Sum is for gift fa lang requyred,
Quhill that the crevir be fo tyred,
That or the gift deliveritbe,
The thank is fruftrat and expyred ;
In geving fould Difcretioun be.
V.
Sum gevis fo littill full wretchetly,
That his giftis are not fet by,
And for a huide-pyk haldin is he,
That all the warld cryis on him, fy !
In geving fould Difcretioun be.
VI,
C 49 3
VI.
Sum in his geving is fo large,
That all oure-laidin is his berge,
Throw vyce and prodigalite,
Thairof his honour dois difchairge;
In geving fould Difcretioun be.
VII.
Sum to the riche gevis geir,
That micht his giftis weill forbeir;
And thocht the peur for fait fould de,
His cry nocht enteris in his eir ;
In geving fould Difcretioun be.
VIII,
Sum gevis to ftrangeris with face new,
That yifterday fra Flanderis flew j
And auld fervantis lift not fe,
War thay nevir of fa grit vertew ;
In geving fould Difcretioun be.
IX.
Sum gevis to thame can afk and plenyie,
Sum gevis to thame can flattir and fenyie ;
Sum gevis to men of honeftie,
And haldis all jangealaris at dirdenyie ;
In geving fould Difcretioun be.
X.
Sum gettis giftis and riche arrayis
To fweir all that his maifter fayis,
Thocht all the contrair weill knawis he ;
Ar mony nc now in thir dayis ;
In geving fould Difcretioun be.
xr.
3
XI.
Sum gevis gud men for thair gud kewis,
Sum gevis to trumpouris and to fchrewis,
Sum gevis to knaw his awtoritie ;
But in thair office gude fundin few is j
In geving fould Difcretioun be.
XII.
Sum gevis parochynis full wyd,
Kirkis of Sanct Barnard and Sanft Bryd,
To teiche, to rewill, and to ovirfie,
That he na wit hes thame to gyd ;
In geving fould Difcretioun be.
WILLIAM DUNBAR.
Difcreti
C 5i }
Difcretioun in Taking.
I.
EFtir gevlng I fpeik of taking,
Bot littill of ony gud forfaiking ;
Sum takkis our littill autoritie,
And fum oure-mekle, and that is glaikiug J
In taking fould Difcretioun be.
II.
The clerkis takis beneficis with brawlis,
Sum of Sand Peter, and fum of Sand Paulis
Tak he the rentis, no cair hes he,
Suppois the divill tak all thair fawlis ;
In taking fould Difcretioun be.
Iff.
Barronis takis fra the tennentis peure,
All fruitt that growis on the feure,
In mailis and gerfomes raifit ouir he,
And garris thame beg fra dure to dure;.
In taking fould Dujretioun be.
IV.
Sum takis uthir mennis takkis,
And on the peure oppreffioun makkis,
And never remembris that he mon die,
Quliyl that the gallowis gar him rax ;
la taking fould Difcretioun be.
V.
Sum takis be fie and ba land,
And nevir fra taking hald thair hand,.
Quhill he be tyit up to ane tre ;
And fyn thay gar him under (land,
In taking fculd Difcretioun be.
E 2
i: 52 3
VI.
Sum wald tak all his nychbouris geir ;
Had he of man als littill feir
As he hes dreid that God him fee,
To tak than fuld he nevir forbeir ;
In taking fould Difcretioun be.
VII.
Sum wald tak all this warld's breid,
And yet not fatisfeit of thair neid,
Throw hairt unfatiable and gredie ;
Sum wald tak littill, and can not fpeid j
lu taking fould Difcretioun be.
VIII.
Grit men for taking and oppreffioun
Ar fet full famous at the feflloun,
And peur tafcaris are hangit hie,
Schamit for evir, and thair fucceffioun ;
la taking fould Difcretioun be.
WILLIAM DUNBAR,
sine
Ane his a-ivin E twenty*
I.
HE that hes gold and grit richefs>
And may be into myrrinefs,
And dois gladnefs fra him expell,
And levis into wretchitnefs,
He. wirkis forrow to him fell.
II.
He that may be but fturt or ftryfe,
And leif ane lufty plefand lyfe,
And fyne with mariege dois him mell,
And binds him with ane wicket wyfe,.
He wirkis forrow to him fell.
III.
He that hes for his awin genyie
Ane plefand prop, bot mank or menyie,
And fhuttis fyne at an uncow fchell,
And is forfairn with the fleis of Spenyie,
He wirkis forrow to him fell.
IV.
And he that with gud lyfe and trewthy
But variance or uder flewth,
Dois evir mairwith ane niaifter dwell,
That nevir of him will haif no rewth,
He wirkis' forrow to him fell.
V.
Now all this tyme let us be mirry,
And fet nocht by this warld a chirry ;
Now quhyll thair is gude wyne to fell,
He that dois on dry breid wirry,
I gif him to the devill of hell.
WILLIAM DUNBAR.
E 3 No
t 54 ]
No TreJ/bur without Glaidnts.
I.
BE mirry, man, and tak nocht far in myad,
The wawering of this wrechit warld of forrow,
To God be humill, and to thy freynd be kynd,
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 wyfure it hes bene faid a forrow,
Without glaidnes awailis no treflbur.
II.
Mak the gud cheir of it that God the fends,
For warld's wrak but weilfair nocht awailis ;
Na gude is thyne, faif only bot thow fpcndis,
Renienant all thow brukis bot with bailis.
Seik to folace quhen fadnes the aflailis,
In dolour lang thy lyfe ma nocht indure ;
Quhairfoir of confort fet up all thy faylis,
Without glaidnes awailis no trelfour.
III.
Follow on petie, fle truble and debait,
With famous folkis hald thy cumpany ;
Be charitabill and humyll in thyne eftait,
For wardly honour leftis bot a cry ;
For truble in erd tak no mallancoly,
Be riche in patience, gif thow in guds be pure,
Quha levis mirry he levis michtely ;
Without g!aidnes awailis no trefibur.
IV.
Thow feis thir wrechis fett with forrow and cair,
To gaddir gudis in all thair lyvis fpace ;
And quhen th,air baggis ar full thair felfis ar bair,
And of thair riches bot the keping hes j
Quhen
C 55 I
Quhill uthiris cum to fpend it that hes grace,
Quilk of thy winning no labour had nor cure :
Tak thow example, and fpend with mirrines,
Without glaidnes awailis no trefTour.
V.
Thoct all the werk that evir had levand wicht
Wer only thyne, no moir thy pairt dois fall,
Bot meit, drink, clais, and of the laif a ficht,
Yit to the juge thow fall gif compt of all ;
Ane raknyng rycht cumis of ane ragment fmall :
Be juft and joyius, and do to none enjure,
And trewth foil mak the ftrang as ony wall ;
Without glaidnes awailis no treilour.
WILLIAM DUNEA&,
Advice
Advice to fpend anis aivin Gudes ,
I.
MAN, fen thy lyfe is ay in weir,
And deid is evir drawand neir,
Thy tyme unficker and the place,
Thyne awin gude fpend quhill thow hes fpace,
n
Gif it be thyne, thy felf it ufis,
Gif it be not, the it refufis ;
Ane uthir of die profeit hes ;
Thyne awin gude fpend quhill thow hes fpace,
III.
Thow may to day haif gude to fpend,
And heftely to morne fra it wend,
And leif ans uthir thy baggis to brais ;
Thyne awin gude fpend quhill thow hes fpace,
IV.
Quhile thou hes fpace, fe thou difpone,
That for ihy geir, quhen thou art gone,
No wicht ane uder flay or chace ;
Thyne awin gude fpend quhill thow hes fpaee.
V.
Sum all his dayis dryvis our in vane,
Ay gadderand geir with forrow and pane,
And nevir is glaid at Yule nor Pais ;
Thyne awin gude fpend quhill thow hes fpace.
VI.
Syne cums ane uder glaid of his forrow,
That for him prayit nowdir evin nor morrow,
And fangis it all with mirrynais ;
Thyne awiu gude fpend quhill thow hes fpace.
VII.
L 57 1
VII.
Sum grit gucl gadderis, and ay it fpairs,
And efter him thair cumis yung airis,
That his auld thrift fettis on an ace ;
Thyne awin gude fpend quhill thow lies fpace.
VIII.
It is all thyne that thou heir fpends,
And nocht all that on the depends,
Bot his to fpend it that hes grace ;
Thyne awin gude fpend quhill thow hes fpace.
IX.
Treft nocht ane ulher will do the to,
It that thyfelf wald nevir do;
For gif thou dois, ftrenge is thy cace ;
Thyne awin gude fpend quhill thow hes fpace,
X.
Luk how the bairne dois to the muder,
And tak example be nane udder,
That it nocht eftir be thy cace ;
Thyne awin gude fpend quhill thow hes fpace,
WILLIAM DUNBAR,
[ 58 1
Bejl to le blyth.
I.
FULL oft I mufe, and hes in thocht,
How this fals warld is ay on flocht,
Quhair nothing ferme is nor degeft ;
And quhen I haif my mynd all focht,
For to be blyth me think it bed.
II.
This warld evir dois flicht and wary,
Fortoun fa faft hir quheill dois cary j
Na tyme but turne can tak reft,
For quhois falfe change fuld none be fary ;
For to be blyth me think it belt.
III.
Wald man confiddir in mynd rycht weill,
Or fortoun on him turn her quheill,
That erdly honour may nocht left,
His fall lefs panefull he fuld feill ;
For to be blyth me think it beft.
IV.
Quha with this warld dois warfell and ftryfe,
And dais his dayis in dolour dryfe,
Thocht he in lordfchip be pofleft,
He levis bot arfe wrechit life ;
For to be blyth me think it beft.
V.
Of wardlis gud and grit richefs,
Quhat frucl hes man but mirrinefs ?
Thocht he this warld had eift and weft,
All wer povertie but glaidnefs ;
For to be blyth me think it beft.
VI,
t 59 3
VI.
Quho fuld for tynfall drown or de,
For thyng that is bot vanitie ;
Sen to the lyfe that ever dois left,
Heir is bot twynklyng of ane ee ;
For to be blyth me think it beft.
VII.
Had I for warld's unkyndnefs
In hairt tane ony havinefs,
Or fro my plefans bene oppreft,
I had bene deid langfyne dowtlefs ;
For to be blyth me think it beft.
VIII.
How evir this warld do change and vary,
Lat us in hairt nevir moir be fary,
Bot evir be reddy and addreft,
To pafs out of this frawfull fary ;
For to be blyth me think It beft.
WILLIAM DUNBAR,
Of Dewing.
I.
HOW fowld I rewill me, or quhat wyis,
I wald fum wyifman \vald dewyis ;
I cannot leif in no degre ,
But fum will my maneris difpyis ;
Lord God how fall I governe me.
II.
Gife I be galland, lufty, and blyth,
Than will thay fay on me full fwyth,
That out of mynd yone man is hie,
Or fum hes done him confort kyth ;
Lord God how fall I governe me.
III.
Gife I be forrowfuil and fad,
Than will thay fay that I am mad,
I do bot drowp as I wold die ;
Thus will thay fay baith man and lad ;
Lord God how fall I governe me.
IV.
Gife I be lufty in array,
Than luve I paramours thay fay,
Or in my hairt is prowd and hie,
Or ellis I haif it fum wrang way ;
Lord God how fall I governe me.
V.
Gife I be nocht weill als befeme,
Than twa and twa fayis thame betwene,
That evill he gydis yone man trewlie,
Lo be his claithis it may be fene ;
Lord God how fall I governe me.
VI.
t 61 ]
VI.
Gife I be fene in court ovir lang,
Than will thay murmour thaime amang,
My friendis ar not worth a fle,
That I fa lang but reward gang ;
Lord God how fall I governe me.
VII.
In court reward than purches I,
Than haif thay malyce and invy,
And fecrettly thay on me lie,
And dois me hinder prevely ;
Lord God how fall I governe me.
VIII.
I wald my gyding war dewyfit j
Gif I fpend litrill I am dilpyfit,
Gif I be nobill, gentill, and fre,
A prodigall man I am fo pryfit ;
Lord God how fall I goverue me.
IX,
Now juge thay me baith guid and ill,
And I may no mans tung hald ftill ;
To do the bed my mynd fall be,
Latt every man fay quhat he will ;
The, gracious God, mot governe me.
WILLIAM DUNBAIU
[ 62 ]
Of Deming.
I.
MUfmg allone this hinder nicht,
Of mirry day quhen gone was licht,
Within ane garth undir a tre,
I hard ane voce, that faid on hicht,
May na man now undemit be :
II.
For thocht I be ane crownit king,
"Yit fall I not efchew deming ;
Sum callis me guid, fum fayis I lie,
Sum cravis of God to end my ring,
So fall I not undemit me.
III.
Be I ane Lord, and not lord-lyk,
Than every pelour and purs-pyk
Say is, Land war bettir warit on me ;
Thocht he dow not to leid a tyk,
Yit can he not lat deming be.
IV.
Be I ane lady frefche and fair,
With gentillmen makand repair,
Than will thay fay, baith fcho and he,
£1 am difhonoritj lait and air ;
Thus fall I not undemit be.
V.
Be I ane courtman, or ane knycht,
Honeftly cled that cumis me richt,
Ane prydfull man than call thay me :
Bot God fend thame a widdy wicht,
That cannot lat fie deming be.
VI.
VI.
Be I hot littill of flature,
Thay call me catyve createure ;
And be I grit of quantelie,
Thay call me monftrowis of nature -r
Thus can thay not lat deming be.
VII.
And be I ornat in my fpeiche,
Than Towjy fayis, I am fa ftreich,
I fpeik not lyk thair hous menyie ;
Suppois her mouth mifters a leiche,
Yit caa fcho not lat deming be.
VIII.
But wift thir folkis that uthir demis,
How that thair fawis to uthir femis,
Thair vicious wordis and vanitie,
Thair trailing tungis that all furth temisr
Sum wald lat thair deming be.
IX.
Gude James the Ferd, our nobill king,
Quhen that he was of yeiris ying,
In fentens fatd full fubtillie,
Do <wei!, and fett nocht by demy ing.
For no man fall undemit be,
X.
And fo I fall with Goddis grace,
Keip his command into that cace,
Befeiking ay the TRINITIE,
In hevin that I may haif ane place,
For thair fall no man demit be.
WILLIAM DUNBAK.
To the King.
I.
SCHIR, yit remembir as of befoir,
How that my yowth I done forloir
In your fervice with pane and greif,
Gud confciens cryis, reward thairfoir ;
Excefs of thocht dois me mifcheif.
II.
Your clerkis ar fervit all about,
And I do lyk ane reid halk fchout,
To cum to lure that lies no leif,
Quhair my plumyis begynis to brek out j
Excefs of thocht dois me mifcheif.
III.
Forfett is ay the falconis kynd ;
But evir the mittane is hard in mynd,
Of quhome the gled dois prettikis preifj
The gentill goifhalk gois unkynd ;
Excefs of tljocht dois me mifcheif.
IV.
The pyet with hir pretty cot,
Fenyeis to fing the nychtingalis not ;
Bot fcho can nevir the corchat cleif,
For hanTmes of hir carlich throt ;
Excefs of thocht dois me mifcheif.
V.
Ay fareft fadcris hes, farrefl fowlis ;
Suppois thay haif no fang bot youlis>
In filver caigis thay fit at cheif ;
Kynd natyve nert dois clek bot owlis ;
Excels of thocht dois me mifcheif.
VI.
r
VI.
O gentill egill, how may this be,
That of all fowlis dois heeft fle ;
Your legis quhy will ye nocht releif,
And chereis eftir thair degre ?
Excefs of thochtdois me mifcheif.
VII.
Quhen fervit is all udir man,
Gentill and femple of every clan,
Kyne of RaufColyard, and Johns the reif,
Nathing I get, na conqueft than ;
Excefs of thocht dois me mifcheif.
VIII.
Thocht I in court be maid r fus,
And haif few vertewis for to rus ;
Yet am I cumin of Adame and Eif,
And fane wald leif as uderis dois j
Excefs of thocht dois me mifcheif..
IX.
Or I fuld leif in fie mifchance,.
Gif it to God war no grevance,
To be a pyk- thank I wald preif,
For thay on warld wantis no plefans ;.
Excefs of thocht dois me mifcheif.
X.
In fum parte on my felf I plenye,
Chihen udir folkis dois flattir and fenyc ;
Allace ! I can botballattis breif,
Sic bairnheid biddis my brydill renye ;
Excefs of thocht dois me mifcheif.
F 2
[ 66 ]
XI.
I grant my fervice is hot licht ;
Thairfoir of mercy, and nocht of richt^
I afk you, Schir, no man to greif ;
Sum medecyne gifc that ye micht ;
Excefs of thocht dois me mifchief.
XII.
May nan^remeid my melady
Sa weill as ye, Schir, veraly ;
For with a benefice ye may preif,.
And gif I mend nocht heflely ;
Excefs of thocht dois me mifcheif,
XIII.
I wes in yowth on nureis kne,
Dandely, Bifchop, dandely ;
And quhen that ege now dois me greif,
Ane femple vicar I can nocht be ;
Excefs of thocht dois me mifcheif.
XIV.
Jok that wes wont to keip the ftirkis,
Can now draw him ane cleik of kirkis,
With ane fals tant into his fleif,
Worth all my ballattis undir the birkis ;
Excefs of thocht dois me mifcheif.
XV.
Twa curis or thre hes upolandis Michel!,
With difpenfatiouns bund in a knitchell ;
Thocht he fra nolt had new tane leif,
He playis with totum, and I with nichell :
Excefs of thocht dois me mifcheif.
XVI,
XVI.
How fuld I leif that is nocht
Nor yit with benefiee am I blandit ;
I fay nocht, Schir, you torepreif,
Bot doutles I ga rycht neir handit ;
Excefs of thocht dois me mifcheif.
XVII.
As fauls is heir in purgatory,
Leving in pane and houp of glory j
Seand myfelf I haif belief,
In howp, Schir, of your adjutory ;
Excefs of thocht dois me mifcheif.
WILLIAM DUNBAB.,.
C 68 ]
To the King.
I.
SAnft Salvatour fend filver forrow ;
It grevis me both evin and morrow,
Chafing fra me all cheritie ;
It makis me all blythnes to borrow ;
My panefull purs fo priclis me.
II.
Quhen I wald blythlie ballattis breif,
Langour thairto givis me no leif ;
War nocht gud howp my hart uphie,
My verry corps for cair wald cleif ;
My panefull purs fo priclis me.
III.
Quhen I fett me to fing or dance,.
Or go to plefand paftance,
Than paufing of penuritie
Revis that fra my rememberance 5
My panefull purs fo priclis me.
IV.
Quhen men that hes purfes in tone,
Pa/Tes to drynk or to disjone,
Than mon I keip ane gravetie,
And fay that I will faft quhill none ;.
My panefull purs fo priclis me.
V.
My purs is maid of fie ane fkin,
Thair will na corfes byd it within ;
Strait as fra the feynd thay fle,
Quha evir tyne, quha evir win ;
My panefull purs fo priclis me.
VI,
C 69 3
VI.
Had I ane man of ony natioun»
Culd mak on it ane conjuratioun,
To gar filver ay in it be,
The devill fuld haif no dominatioua
With pyne to gar it prickill me.
VII.
I haif inquyrit in mony a placej
For help and confort in this cace,
And all men fayis, my Lord, that ye
Can beft remeid for this malice,
That with fie panis prickiJls me.
WILLIAM DUNBAR,
None
C 7° J
None may affure in this Warld.
I.
OUhome to fall I complene my wo,
And kyth my cairis on or mo ;
I knaw nocht amang riche nor pure,
Quha is my freind, quha is my fo ;
For in this warld may none allure.
II.
Lord, how fall I my dayis difpone,
For lang fervice rewarde is none ;
And fchort my lyfe may heir indure ;
And loffit is my tyme bygone ;
Into this warld ma none affure.
III.
Oft Falfett rydis with ane rout,
Quhen Treuth gois on his fute about,
And lak of fpending dois him fpur,
Thus quhat to do I am in dout ;
Into this warld ma none affure.
IV.
Nane heir bot richemen hes renoun*
And bot puremen ar pluckjt down ;
And nane bot jufl men tholis injure,
Sa wit is blindit and reflbun ;
Into this warld ma none affure.
V.
Vertew the court hes done difpyis,
Ane rebald to renoun dois ryis,
And cairlis of nobills hes the cure,
And bumbards bruks the benefyis ;
Into this warld ma none affure.
VI,
C 7i 3
VI.
All gentrice and nobilitie
Ar paffit out of he degre ;
On fredome is laid forfaltour ;
In princis is thair no pety ;
For in this warld ma none affure.
VII.
Is none fo armit into plait,
That can fra truble him debait ;
May no man lang in welth indure,
For wo that evir lyis at the wait ;
Into this warld ma none affure.
VIII.
Flattery weiris ane furrit goun,
And Falfett with the lord dois roun ;
And Treuth ftands barrit at the dure,
And exulit is of the toun ;
Into this warld ma none affure .
IX.
Fra everilk mouth fair wirds proccidis,
In every hairt difceptioun breids ;
Fra every all gois luke demure,
Bot fra the handis gois few gud deids ;
Into this warld ma none affure.
X.
Toungis now ar maid of quhyte quhaill bone,
And hairtis are maid of hard flynt ftone ;
And ene of amiable blyth afure,
And hands of adamant laith to difpone ;
Into this warld ma none affure.
XI,
[ 72 3
XI.
Yit halrt, with hand and body, all
Mon anfwer deth quhen he dois call,
To compt befoir the juge future ;
Sen all ar deid, or than de fall,
Quha fuld into this warld aflure ?
XII.
Nothing bot deth this fchortly cravis,
Quhair fortoun evir us fo difTavis,
With freyndly fmylinge of ane hure,
Quhais fals behechtis as wind hym wavis ;
Into this warld ma none aflure.
XIII.
O quha fall weild the wrang pofleflioun,
Or the gold gatherit with oppreflioun,
Quhen the angell blawis his bugill fture !
Quilk unreftorit helpis no confeflioun ;
Into this warld ma none aflure.
XIV.
Quhat help is thair in lordfchippis fevin,
Quhen na hous is bot hell and hevin,
Palice of licht, or pitt obfcure,
Quhair youlis are hard with horreble ftevin ;
Into this warld ma none aflure.
XV.
Ubi ardentes animx,
Semper dicentes, Ve ! Ve ! Ve !
Sail cry, Allace that women thame bure !
0 quantte flint ijltf tenelftx !
Into this warld ma none aflure.
XVI.
C 73 1
XVI.
Than quho fall wirk for warld's wraks
Quhen flude and fyre fall our it frak,
And frely fruftir feild and fure,
With tempeft kene and hiddous crak ;
Into this war Id ma none aflure.
XVII.
Lord, fen in tyme fo fone to cum,
De terra furrefturus fumt
Reward me with none erdly cure,
Tu regurn da imperium ;
Into this warld ma none aflure.
WILLIAM DUNBAR.
•G Lament
r 74 ]
Lament for the Deth of the Makkaris.
.1.
I That in heill wes and glaidnefs,
Am trublit now with grit feiknefs,
And feblit with infirmitie ;
Timor mart it coniurbat me.
II.
Our plefans heir is all vane glory,
This falfe warld is bot tranfitory,
The flefche is bruckle, the feynd is fle ;
Timor mortis conturbat me.
III.
The ftait of man dois chainge and vary,
Now found, now feik, now blyth, now fary,
Now danfand mirry, now lyk to die ;
Timor mortis conturbat me-
IV.
No ftait in erd heir ftandis ficker ;
As with the wind wavis the wicker,
So waivis this warlds vanitie ;
Timor mortis conturbat me.
V-
Unto the deth gois all eftaitis,
Princis, prelattis, and poteftaitis,
Bayth riche and puire of all degre ;
Timor mortif conturbat me.
VI.
He taikis the knychtis into the feild,
Enarmit undir- helme and fcheild,
Victor he is at all mellie ;
Timor mortis conturbat me.
VII.
C 75 3
VII.
That ftrang unvynfable tirrand
Taks on the muderis breift fowkand
The bab, full of benignitie ;
Timor mortis conturbai me.
VIII.
He taikis the campioun in the (lour,
The captane clofk in the tour,
The lady inbour full of bewtie j
Timor mortis conturbat vie.
IX,
He fpairis no lord for his pufiens,
Nor clerk for his intelligens ;
His awfuJl ftraik may no man fle ;
Timor mortis conturbat me,
X.
Art magicianis and aftrologis,
Rethoris, logitianis, theologis,
Thame helpis no conclufionis fle j
Timor mortis conturbat me*
XI.
In madecyne the moft praflitianis,
Leichis, furrigianis, and phefitianis,
Thame felf fra deth ma not fupple ;
Ti?nor mortis conturbat me.
XII.
I fee the Makkaris amangis the laif
Playis heir thair padyanis, fyne gois to graif,
Spairit is nocht thair facultie ;
Timor mortis conturbat me.
G 2 XIII.
t 76 1
XIII.
He hes done petouilie devoir,
The Noble Cha\vfer of Makars fiowir,
The monk of Berry, and Gowyr, all thre j
Timor mortis ccnturlat me.
XIV.
The gnde Schir Hew of Eglintoun,
Etrik, Heriot, and Wintoun,
He hes tane out of this cuntrie ;
Timor mortis conturbat me.
XV.
That fcorpioun fell hes done infek
Maifter Johne Clerk, and James Afflek,
Fra ballat makking and tragedy j
Timor mortis conturbat me,
XVI.
Holland and Barbour he has berevit ;
Allace ! that he nocht with us levit
Sir Mungo Lockhart of the Lie ;
Timor mortis conturbat me,
XVII.
Clerk of Tranent eik he hes tane,
That made the aventers of Sir Gawane,
Sir Gilbert Gray endit hes he ;
Timor mortis conturbat me,
XVIII.
He hes Blind Hary and Sandy Traill
Slane with his Ichot of mortall haill,
Quhilk Patrick Johnftoun mycht nocht fle ;
Timor mortis conturbat me.
XIX,
C 77 3
XIX,
He hes reft Merfar his indyte,
That did in luve fo lyfly wryte,
So fchort, fo quick, of fentens hie ;
Timor mortis conturbat me.
XX.
He hes tane Rowll of Abirdene,
And gentill Rowll of Corftorphyne ;
Twa bettir fallowis did no man fie ;
Timor mortis conturbat m?.
XXI.
In Dumfermling he hes tane Broun>
With gude Mr Robert Menryfoun,
Sir Johne the Rofs imbraift hes he ;
Timor mortis conturlat me.
XXII.
And he hes now tane, laft of aw,
The gentill Stobo.and Quintene Schaw,.
Of quhome all wichtis hes pitie j
Timor mortis conturlat me.
XXIII.
And Mr Walter Kennedy,
In poyntt of deth lyis verely,
Grit rewth it wer that fo fuld be ;
Timor mortis conturlat me.
XXIV.
Sen he hes all my brethren tane,
He will nocht let me leif alane,
On fors I mon his nixt pray be ;.
Timor mortis conturbat me.
G 3 XXV.
C 78 ]
xxv.
Sen for the deth remeid is non,
Bed is that we for deth difpone,
Aftir our deth that leif may we ;
Timor mortis conturlat me.
DUNBAR,
£ 79
Of Luve erdly and divine.
I.
NOW culit is Dame Venus brand ;
Trew luvis fyre is ay kindilland,
And I begyn to underftand,
In feynit luve quhat foly bene ;
Now cumis aige quhair yowth hes bene,
And trew luve ryfis fro the fplene.
II.
Quhill Venus fyre be deid and cauld,
Trew luvis fyre nevir burnis bauld ;
Sa as the ta lufe vaxis auld,
The tothir dois incres mo' • kene ;
Now cumis aige quhair yowth hes bene,
And trew luve ryfis fro the fplene.
III.
No man hes curege for to wryte,
Quhat plefans is in lufe perfyte,
That hes in f enyeit lufe delyt,
Thair kyndnes is fo contrair clene ;
Now cumis aige quhair yowth hes bene,
And trew luve ryfis fro the fplene.
IV.
Full weill is him that may imprent,
Or onywayis his hairt confent,
To turne to trew luve his intent,
And ftill the quarrell to fufteine ;
Now cumis aige quhair yowth hes bene,
And trew luve ryfis fro the fplene.
v.
I half experience by my fell ;
In luvis court anis did I dwell,
Bot quhair I of a joy cowth tell,
I culd of truble tell fyftene ;
Now cumis aige quhair yowth hes bene,
And trew luve ryfis fro the fplene.
VI.
Befoir quhair that I wes in dreid,
Now half I confort for to fpeid,
Quhair I had maugre to my meid,
I treft rewaird and thanks belwene ;
Now cumis aige quhair yowth hes bene^
And trew luve ryfis fro the fplene.
VII.
Quhair lufe wes wont me to difpleis,
Now find I in to lufe grit eis ;
Quhair I had denger and difeis,
My breift all confort dois contene ;
Now cumis aige quhair yowth hes bene,
And trew luve ryfis fro the fplene.
VIII.
Quhair I wes hurt with jelofy,
And wald no luver wer bot I ;
Now quhair I lufe I wald all wy,
Als weill as I luvit I wene ;
Now cumis aige quhair yowth hes benC;,
And trew luve ryfis fro the fplene.
IX.
Befoir quhair I durft nocht for fchame
My lufe defcrive, nor tell hir name ;
Now think I wirfchep wer and fame,
To
8i
To all the warld that it war fene ;
Now cumis aige quhair yowth hes bene,
And trew luve ryfis fro the fplene.
X.
Befoir no.wicht I did complene,
So did her denger me derene ;
And now I fett nocht by a bene,
Hir bewty nor hir twa fair ene ;
Now cumis aige quhair yowth hes bene,
And trew luve ryfis fro the fplene.
XI.
I haif a luve farar of face,
Qiihome in no denger may haif place,
Quhilk will me guerdoun gif and grace,
And mercy ay quhen I me mene ;
Now cumis aige quhair yowth hes bene,
And trew luve ryfis fro the fplene.
XII.
Unquyt I do no thing nor fane,
Nor wairis a luvis thocht in vane j
I fal be als weill luvit agane,
Thair may no j angler me prevene ;
Now cumis aige quhair yowth hes bene,
And trew luve ryfis fro the fplene.
XIII.
So riche, fo rewthfull, and difcreit,
Ane lufe fo fare, fo gud, fo fueit,
And for the kynd of man fo meit,
Nevir moir fal be, nor yit hes bene ;
Now cumis aige quhair yowth hes bene,
And trew luve ryfis fro the fplene.
XIV.
[ 82 3
XIV.
Is none fa trew a luve as he,
That for trew lufe of us did de ;
He fuld be luffit agane, think me,
That wald fa fane our luve obtene ;
Now cumis aige quhair yowth hes bene,
And trew luve ryiis fro the fplene.
XV.
Is none but grace of God I wis,
That can in yowth confiddir this,.
This fals diflavand warlds blis,
So gydis man in flouris grene ;
Now cumis aige quhair yowth hes bene,
And trew luve ryiis fro the fplene.
WILLIAM DUNBAR,
•f
C 83 3
Qf the Nativitie of Chryfte.
I.
R Orate cosli defuper,
Hevins diftill your balmy fchouris,
For now is riffin the brycht day-fter,
Fro the Rofe Mary, flour of flouris :
The cleir Sone, quhome no clud devouris,
Surmunting Phebus in the eft,
Is cum [out] of his hevinly touris j
Et nobis puer natus eft.
II.
Archangellis, angellis, and dompnationis,
Tronis, poteftatis, and marteiris feir,
And all ye hevinly operationis,
Ster, planeit, firmament, and fpeir,
Fyre, erd, air, and wattir cleir,
To him gife loving, moft and left,
That come into fo meik maneir,
Et nolis puer natus eft.
III.
Synnaris be glaid, and pennance do,
And thank your Makar hairtfully ;
For he, that ye mycht nocht cum to, .
To yow is cumin full humily,
Your faulis with his blud to by,
And lous yow of the feindis arreft,
And only of his awin mercy ;
Pro nobis puer natus eft.
IV.
All clergy do to him inclyne,
And bow unto that barne benyng,
And do your obfervance devyne,
To him that is of kingis King j
Enfence
E 84 3
Enfence his altar reid, and fing
In haly kirk, with mynd degeft,
Him honouring attour all thing,
£>ui nobis puer natus (ft.
V.
Celeftiall fowlis in the are,
Sing with your nottis upoun hicht ;
In firthis and in forreftis fair
Be myrthfull now, at all your mycht,
For paflit is your dully nycht ;
Aurora hes the cluddis perft,
The fon is riflin with glaidfum lycht,
Et nobis puer natus eft.
VI.
Now fpring up flouris fra the rute,
Revert yow upwart naturaly,
In honour of the bliffit frute,
That rais up fro the Rofe Mary ;
Lay out your levis luftely,
Fro deid tak lyfe now at the left,
In wirfchip of that Prince wirthy,
Qui nobis puer natus eft.
VII.
Syng hevin imperiall moft of hicht,
Regions of air mak armony,
All fifche in flud and foull of flicht,
Be myrthfull and mak melody ;
All gloria in exce/fa cry,
Hevin, erd, fe, man, bird, and belt,
He that is crownit abone the fl^y,
Pro nobis puer natus eft.
WILLIAM DUNBAR.
Of
C 85 ]
Of the Refurrefllon of Cbryfie.
I.
DOnc is a battell on the dr.tgoa bl.ik,
Our cnmpioua Chryft confoundit hes his force,
The yettis of hell ar brokin with a crak,
The (Igne triumphal! rafit is of the croce;
The divillis trymmillis with hiddous voce,
The faulis ar borrowit, and to the blifs can go,
Chryft with his blud our ranfoms dois indoce ;
Surrexit Dominus de fepulchro.
II.
Dungin is the deidly dragon Lucifer ;
The crewall ferpent with the mortall ftang,
The auld kene tegir with his teith ou char,
Quhilk in a wait hes lyne for us fo lana;,
Thinking to grip us in his clowis flrang,
The mercifull Lord wald nocht that it wer fq..
He maid him for to felye of that fang ;
Surrexit Dominus de ftpulckro*
III.
He for our faik that fufferit to be flane,
And lyk a lamb in facrifice wes dicht,
Is lyk a lyone riflin up agane,
And as [a] gyane raxit him on hicht^
Springin is Aurora radius and bricht,
On loft is gone the glorius Appolld,
The blisfull day departit fro the nycht ;
Surrexit Dominus de fepulchro.
IV.
The grit vigour agane is riflin on hicht,
That for our querrell to the deth wes woundit ;
The fone that vox all parll now fchynis bricht,
And dirkucs clcrit, our faytt is now refoundit ;
H The
C 86 ]
The knell of mercy fra the hevin is foundit,
The Criftins ar deliverit of thair wo,
The Jewis and thair errour ar confoundit ;
Surrexit Dominus de fepulchro.
V.
The fo is chafit, the battell is done ceis,
The prefone brokin, the jevellours fleit and flemit ;
The weir is gon, confermit is the peis,
The fetteris iowfit, and the dungeoun temit,
The ranfoum maid, the prefoneris redemit ;
The feild is won, ourcumin is the fo,
Diipulit of the trefure that he yemit ;
jSurrexit Dominus de fepulchro.
WILLIAM DUNEAR.
Erdty
E 87 3
Erdly Joy returnis in Pan?.
I.
OF Lentron in the firft mornyng,
Airly as did the day up fpring,
Thus fang ane burd with voce upplane,
All erdly joy returnis in pane.
IL
O man ! half my nd that thow mon pas,
Remember that thow art bot as,
And fall in as return agane ;
All erdly joy returnis in pane.
III.
Haif mynd that eild ay followis yov/th,
Dcth followis lyfe with gaipand mowth,
Devoring frucT: and flowring grane ;
All erdly joy returnis in pane.
IV.
Welth, wardlj gloir, and riche array,
Ar all bot thornis laid in thy way,
Ourcowerd with flouris laid in ane trane ;
All erdly joy returnis in pane.
V.
Come nevir yit May fo frefche and grene,
Bot Januar come als wod and kene ;
Wes nevir fie drowth bot anis come rane >
All erdly joy returnis in pane.
VI.
Evirmair unto this warlds joy,
As nerreft air fucceeds noy ;
Thairfoir quhen joy ma nocht remane.
His verry air fucceedis pane.
H * VII.
C S8 J
VII.
Heir helth returnis in feiknes,.
And mirth returnis in havines,
Toun in defert, forrett in plane ;
All erdly joy returnis in pane.
VIII.
Freilcirie returnis in wrechitnes,
And trewth returnis in dowbilnes,
With fenycit \virds to mak men fane ;
All crdly joy returnis in pr.ne.
IX.
Vertew returnis into vyce,
And honour into avaryce,
With cuvatyce is confciens flane j
All erdly joy returnis in pane.
X.
Sen erdly joy abydis nevir,
Wirk for the joy that leftis evir,
For uder joy is all bot vane ;
All erdly joy rstnrnis in pane.
WILLIAM DUNBAR.
The
C &9 -3
The twa Luves erdly and devyttt.
IN May as that Aurora did upfpring,
With criftall ene chafing the cluddis fable,
I hard a Merle, with mirry notis, fing
A fang of lufe, with voce rycht coutbrtable,
Agane the orient bemis amiable,
Upone a blisfull brenche of lawryr grene :
This wes hir fen tens fueit and delc*5tabler
A lufty lyfe in luves fervice beue...
Undir this brench ran doun a revir bricht,.
Of balmy liquour, criftallyne of hew,
Agane the hevinly aifur fkyis licht ;
Quhair did,, upone the tothir fyd, perfew
A Nychtingale, with fuggurit notis new,
Quhois angell fedderis as the pacok fchone :
This wes hir fong, and of a fentens trew,. '
All luve is loft bot upone God allone.
III.
With notis glaid, and glorius armony,
This joyfull Merle fo faluft fcho the day,
Quhill rong the v/iddis of hir melody,
Saying, Awalk ye luvaris o this May ;
Lo frefch Flora hes flureit every fpray,
As natur hcs hir taucht, the noble Quene,
The feild bene clotiit in a new array,
A luily lyfe in luvis fervice bene.
IV.
Nevir fueetar noys ues hard with levand maa
Na maid this mirry gentill Nychtingaill,
Hir found went with the rever as it ran
Out threw the frelche and fiurtift lufty vaill :
H 3 O
C 90 ]
C Merle, quoth fcho, O fule, ftynt of thy taill,
For in thy fong gud fentens is thair none,
For boith is tynt, the tyme and the travatll,
Of every luve bot upone God allone.
V.
Seis, quoth the Merle, thy preching, Nychtingale
Sail folk thuir yowth fpend in to holines ?
Of yung fanftis growis auld feyndis but [faill] :
Fy, ypocreit, in yeiris tendirnes,
Agane the law of kynd thow gois expres,
That crukit aige makis on with yowth ferene;
Quhome natur of conditionis maid dyvers :
A lufty lyfe in luves fervice bene.
VI.
The Nychtingall faid, Fule, remember the,
That both in yowth and eild, and every hour,
The luve of God moft deir to man fuld be :
That him, of nocht, \vrocht lyk his awin figour,
And deit himfell fro deid him to fuccour :
O quhitherweskyth.it thair trew lufe or none ?
He is moft trew uaci fteidfaft paramour ;
All luve is loft bot upone him allone.
VII.
The Merle faid, Quhy put God fo grit bewte
In ladeis, with fie womanly having,
Eot gifc he wald that thay fuld luvit be ?
To luve eSk natur gaif thame inclynyng ;
And he of natur that wirker \ves and king,
Wald no thing fruftir put, nor lat be fene,
In to his creature of his awin making :
A Uifty lyfe iu luves fervice bcne.
Till.
C 9' 3
VIII.
The Nychtingall faid, Nocht to that behufe
Put God fie bewty in a ladeis face,
That fcho fuld half the thank thairfoir, or lufe,
Bot he the wirker, that put in hir fie grace :
Of bewty, bontie, riches, tyme, or fpace,
And every gudnes that bene to cum or gone,
The thank redounds to him in every place j
All luve is loft bot upone God allone.
IX.
O Nychtingall, it \rer a ftory Hyce
That luve fuld nocht depend on cherite :
And gife that vcrtew contrair be to vyce,
Than lufe mon be a vertew, as thinkis me ;
For ay to lufe invy mone contrair be :
God bad eik lufe thy nychtbour fro the fplene,
And quho than ladeis fuetar nychtbours be ?
A lufty lyfe in luves fervice bene.
X.
The nychtingall faid, Bird, quhy dois thow raif ?
M-.m may tak in his lady fie delyt,
Him to forget that hir fie vertew gaif,
And for his hevin raflaif hir cullour quhyt :
Hir goldin treffit hairis redomyt,
Lyk to Apollois bemis thocht thay fchone,
Suld nocht him blind fro lufe that is perfyt ;
All lufe is loft bot upone God allone.
XI.
The Merle faid, Lufe is cans of honour ay^,
Luve makis cowardis manheid to purchas,
Luve makis knychtis hardy at afley,
Luve makis \vrschis full of lergeiies,
Luve
C 9* 3
Luve makis fueir folks full of bifllnes,
Luve makis fluggirds frefche and weill befene,
Luve changis vyce in vertewis nobilnes ;
A lufty lyfe in luves fervice bene.
XII.
The Nychtingall faid, Trew is the contrary ;
Thefruftir luve it blindis men fo far,
In to thair mynds it makis thame to vary j
In fals vane glory thay fo drunkin ar,
Thair wit is went, of wo they ar nocht war,
Quhill that all wirchip away be fro thame gone,
Fame, gudds, and ftrenth : quhairfoir weill fay I dar,.
All luve is loft bot upone God allone.
XIII.
Than faid the Merle, Myne errour I confes ^
This fruftir luve all is bot vanite ;
Blind ignorance me gaif fie hardines,
To argone fo agane the varite :
Quhairfoir I counfall every man, that he
With lufe nocht in the feindis net be tone,
Bot luve the luve that did for his lufe de ;.
All lufe is loft bot upone God allone.
XIV.
Than fang thay both with vocis lowd and cleir :
The Merle fang, Man lufe God that hes the wrocht,
The Nychtingall fang, Man lufe the Lord moft deir,
That the and all this warld maid of nocht ;
The Merle faid, Luve him that thy lufe hes focht,
Fra hevin to erd, and heir tuk flefche and bone ;
The Nychtingall iang, And with his deid the bocht :
All luve is loft bot upone him allone.
XV.
•I 93 3
XV.
Thane flaw thir birdis our the bewis fchene,
Singing of lufe amang the levis fmall ;
Quhois ythancl pleid yit maid my thochtis grene,
Uothe fleptng, walking, in reft, and in travail :
Me to reconfort moft it dois awaill
Agane for lufe, quhen lufe I can find none,
To think how fong this Merle and Nychti ngaill,
All lufe is lott bot upone God allone.
WltLIAM DUNBAR,
The
C 94 1
TKc Contemplation?! of Manis Mortalitic.
I.
MEmento homo quod cin'ts es ;
Think, man, thow art hot erd and as
Lang heir to dwell na thing thow pres,
For as thow come, fo fall thow pas,
Lyk as ane fchaddow in ane glafs.
Syne glydis all thy tyme that heir is,
Think, thocht thy bodye ware of bras,
Quod tu in cinerem reverteris.
II.
Worthye He<flor and Hercules,
Fortys Achill, and ftrong Sampfone,
Alexander of grit nobilnes,
Meik David, and fair Abiblone,
Hes playit thair pairtis, and all are gone,
At will of God, that all thing fteiris ;
Think, man,, exceptioun there is none,
Sed tu in cinerem reverteris.
III.-
Thocht now thow be maift glaid of cheir,
Faifeft and plefandeft of port,
Yet may thow be, within ane yere,
Ane ugfum, uglye tramort ;
And fen thow knowis thy tyme is fchort,
And in all houre thy lyfe in weir is,
Think, man, amang all uthir fport,
Quod tu in cinerem reverteris.
IV.
Thy luftye bewte, and thy youth,
Sail feid as dois the fomer flouris,
Syne fall the fwallow with his mouth
The dragone death, [that all devouris,]
t 95 1
No caftell fall the keip, nor touris,
Bot he fall feik the with thy feiris ;
Thairfore remember at all houris,
£>uod tu in cinerem reverteris.
V.
Thocht all this warld thow did poiTeid,
Nocht eftir death thow fall pofTes,
Nor with the tak, but thy gud deid,
Quhen thow dois fro this warld the dres :
So fpeid the, man, and the confes,
With humill hart and fobir teiris,
And fadlye in thy hart impres,
Quod tu in cinerem reverteris.
VI.
Thocht thow be taklit nevir fo fure,
Thow fall in deathis port arryve,
Quhare nocht for tempeft may indure,
Bot ferfle all to fpeiris [dryve] ;
Thy Ranfomer, with woundis fyve,
Mak thy plycht-anker, and thy fteiris,
To hald thy faule with him on lyve,
Sum tu in cinerem reverteris.
WILLIAM DUNBAR.
Reivl
of anis felf*
I.
TO dwell in court, my freind, gif that thow lift,
For gift of fortoun invy thow no degre,
Behold and heir, and lat thy tung tak reft,
In mekle fpeice is part of vanitie ;
And for no malyce preis the nevir to lie,
Als trubill nevir thy felf loir be no tyd,
Uthiris to rewll, that will not rewlit be ;
He rewlis weill, that weill him felf can gyd,
II.
Bewar quhome to thy counfale thow difcure,
For trewth dwellis nocht ay for that trewth appeiris ;
Put not thync honour into aventeure,
Ane freind may be thy fo as fortoun fteiris ;
In cumpany chois honorable feiris,
And fra vyld folkis draw the far on fyd,
The Pfalme fayis, Cum fanflo fan ft us eris ;
He rewlis weill, that weill him felf can gyd.
III.
Haif patience thocht thow no lordfchip pofleid,
For hie vertew may Hand in law eftait ;
Be thow content, of mair thow hes no neid,
And be thow nocht defyre fall mak debait ;
Evirmoir till deth fay to the than chakmait,
Thocht all war thyne this warld within fo wyd,
Quha can refift the ferpent of difpyt ?
He rewlis weill, that weill him felf can gyd.
IV.
Fie frome the fallowfchip of fie as are defamit,
And fra all fals tungis fulfild with flattry,
As fra all fchrewis, or ellis thow art efchaimit ;
Sic art thow callit, as is thy cumpany :
Fie
C 97 3
Fie perellus taillis foundit of invy,
With wilfull men fen argown thow no tyd,
Quhome no reflbune may feifs nor pacify :
He rewlis weill, that weill him felf can gyd.
V.
And be thow not ane roundar in the nuke,
For gif thow be, men will hald the fufpecT: ;
Be nocht in countenance ane fcornar, nor by luke,
Bot dowt ficlyk fall ftryk the in the neck :
Beware alfo to counfal or correft
Him that extold hes far him felf in pryd,
Quhair parrell is but proffeit or effect ;
He rewlis weill, that weill him felf can gyd.
VI.
And fen thow feyis mony thingis variand,
With all thy hart treit biffines and cure ;
Hald God thy freind, evir ftabill be him ftand,
He will the confort in all mifaventeur ;
And be no wayis difpytfull to the peure,
Nor to no man to wrang at ony tyd ;
Quho fo dois, this ficker I yow afleure,
He rewlis well, that fa weill him can gyd.
WILLIAM DUNBAR.
R
I 98 3
Rotwne and Makyne.
I.
Obene fat on gud grene hill,
Keipand a flok of fie,
Mirry Makyne faid him till,
Robene, thow rew on me ;
I half the luvit lowd and ftill,
Thir yeiris two or thre ;
Jvly dule in dern bot gif thow dill,
Doutlefs bot dreid I de.
II.
Robene anfwerlt, Be the rude,
Na thing of lufe I knaw,
Bot keipis my fcheip undir yone wud,
Lo quhair thay raik on raw.
Quhat hes marrit the in thy mude,
Makyne, to me thow fchaw ;
Or quhat is luve, or to be lude ?
Faine wald I leir that law.
III.
At luvls lair gife thow will leir,
Tak thair ane A, B, C ;
Be kynd, courcas, and fair of feir,
Wyfe, hardy, and fre.
Se that no denger do the deir,
Quhat dule in dern thow drc ;
Preifs the with pane at all poweir,
Be patient and previe.
i
IV.
Robene anfwerit her agane,
I wait nocht quhat is luve,
Bot I haif mervell incertaine,
Quhat makis the this wanrufe ;
The
C 99 3
The wedclir is fair, and I am fane.
My fcheip gois haill aboif,
And we wald play us in this plane,.
Thay wald us bayth reproif.
V.
Robene, tak tent unto my taill,
And wirk all as I reid,
And thow fall half my hairt all haill,
[Als far as maid cowth yeid.]
Sen God fendis bate for bail!,
And for murning remeid,
I dern with the; bot gif I daill^
Dowbtles I am bot deid.
vr.
Makyne, to morne this ilk 'a tyde,
And ye will meit me heir,
Peraventure my fcheip ma gang befycl,
Quhyll we haif liggit full neir ;
Bot maugre haif I and I byd,
Fra they begin to fteir ;
Quhat lyis on hairt I will nocht hyd ;
Makyne, than mak gud cheir.
VII.
Robene, thou reivis me roifs and reft,
I luve bot the allone.
Makyne, adew, the fone gois weft,
The day is neirhand gone.
Robene, in dule I am fc dreft,
That lufe will be my bone.
Ga lufe, Makyne, quhair evir thou lift,,
For leman I lue none.
1.2: VHfc.
[ 100 ]
VIII.
Robene, I (land in fie a ftyle
I ficht, and that full fair.
Makyne, I haif bene heir this quyle,
At hame God gif I wair.
My hinny, Robene, talk ane quhyle,
Gif thou wilt do na mair.
Makyne, fum uthir man begyle,.
For hamewart I will fair.
IX.
Robene on his \vayis went,
As licht as leif of tre ;
Makyne murnit in- her intent,
Aad trowd him nevir to fe.
Robene brayd attour the bent ;
Than Makyne cryit on hie,
Now ma thow fmg, for I am fchent J
Quhat alis lufe with me ?
X.
Makyne went hame withouttin faill,
Full werry eftir cowth weip :
Than Robene in a ful-fair daill
Aflemblit all his fcheip.
Be that fum parte of Makyne's ail
Out-throw his hairt cowd creip ;
He followit hir faft thair till affailJ,
And till her tuke gude keep.
XI.
Abyd, abyd, thou fair Makyne,
A word for ony thing ;
For all my luve it fall be thyne,
Withouttin departing.
All
E ioi 3
All haill ! thy harte for till half myne,
Is all my cuvating ;
My fcheip to morn, quhill houris nyne,
Will neid of no keping.
XII.
Robene, thou hes hard foung and fay, ,
In geftis and ftoreis auld,
The man that will. not quhen /<? mayy
Sail half nocht quhen he wald.
I pray to Jefu every day,
Mot elk thair cairis cauld,
That firft preiflis with the to play> ,
Be firth, forreft, or fawld..
xnr;
Makyne, the nicht is foft and dry,
The wedder is warme and fair,
And the grene woud rycht neir us by
To walk attour all q\ihair :
Thair ma na janglour us efpy,
That is to lufe contrair j
Thairin, Makyne, bath ye and I, .
Unfene we ma repair.
XIV.
Robene, that warld is all away,
And quyt brocht till ane end,
And nevir again thereto perfay,
Sail it be as thou wend ;
For of my pane thou maide it play.
And all in vane I fpend :
As thou hes done, fa fall I fay,
Mujrne on, I think to mend*
1 .3.
n 102 3
XV.
Makyne, the howp of all my heill,
My hairt on the is fett,
And evir mair to the be leill,
Quhile I may leif but lett ;
Nevir to faill, as utheris faill,
Quhat grace that evir I gett.
Robene, with the I will not deill ;
Adew, for thus we mett.
XVI.
Makyne went hame blyth anewche,
Attoure the holtis hair ;
Robene murnit, and Makyne lewche j
Scho fang, he fichit fair :
And fo left him, bayth wo and wreuch,
In dolour and in cair,
Kepand his bird under a huche,
Amangis the holtis hair.
ROBERT HENRYSONS,
C 103 i
The garment of gude Lady if*
I.
WAld my gud lady lufe me beft,,
And wirk after my will,
I fuld ane garment gudlteft
Gar mak hir body till.
II.
Of he honour fuld be her hud,
Upoun hir heid to weir,
Garneift with governance fo gud,
Na demyng fuld hir deir.
III.
Hir fark fuld be hir body nixt,
Of cheftetie fo quhyt,
With fchame and dreid togidder mixt,
The fame fuld be perfyt.
IV.
Hir kirtill fuld be of clene conftance,
Lafit with lefum lufe,
The mailyeis of continwance
For nevir to rcmufe.
V.
Her gown fuld be of gudlinefs,
Weill ribband with renowne,
Purfillit with plefour in ilk place,
Furrit with fyne faffoun.
VI.
Hir belt fuld be of benignitie,
About hir middill meit j
Hir mantill of humilitie,
To tholhbayth wind and weit.
VH,
C 104 3
VII.
Hir hat fuld be of fair having,
And hir tepat of trewth,
Hir patelet of gude panfing,
Hir hals-ribbane of rewth.
vin.
Hir flevis fuld be of efperance,
To keip hir fra difpair ;
Hir gluvis of the gud govirnance,
To hyd hir fyngearis fair.
IX.
Hir fchone fuld be of fickernes,
In fyne that fcho nocht flyd ; .
Hir hois of honeftie, I ges,
I fuld for hir provyd.
X.
Wald fcho put on this garmond gay,
I durft fweir be my feill,
That fcho woirnevir grene nor gray
That fet hir half fo weill.
ROBERT HENRYSONE,
Tic
The Attay Walk.
I.
ALlone as I went up and doun
In ane abbay was fair to fe,
Thinkand quhat confolatioun
Was beft into adverfitie;
On caifs I keft on fyd myne ee,
And faw this writtin upoun a wall,
Off quhat eftait, man, that thow be,
Obey, and thank thy God of all.
II.
Thy kindome and thy grit empyre,
Thy ryaltie, nor riche array,
Sail nocht endeur at thy defire,
Bot, as the wind, will wend away;
Thy gold, and all thy gudis gay,
Quhen fortoun lift will fra the fall :
Sen thou fie fampillis feis ilk day,
Obey, and thank thy God of all.
III.
Job wes maift riche, in writ we find,
Thole maift full of cheritie ;
Job woux pure, and Thobe blynd,
Baith tempit with adverfitie.
Sen blindnes wes infirmitie,
And povertie wes naturall ;
Thairfoir rycht patiently bath he and he
Obey, and thankit God of all.
IV.
Thocht thow be.blind, or haif ane halt,
Or in thy face deformit ill,
Sa it cum nocht throw thy defalt,
Na man fuld the repreif by fkill.
Blame
[ io6 ]
Blame nocht thy Lord, fa is his will ;
Spurn nocht thy fute againis the wall ;
Bot with meik hairt, and prayer Rill,
Obey, and thank thy God of all.
V.
God of his juftice mon correct,
And of his mercy petie haif ;
He is ane judge, to nane fufpect,
To puneis fynfull man and faif.
Thocht thow be lord attour the laif,
And eftirwart maid bound and thrall,
Ane pure begger, with fkrip and ftaiff,
Obey, and thank thy God of all.
VI.
This changeing, and grit variance,
Off erdJy ftaitis up and doun,
Is nocht bet caufualtie and chance,
As fum men fayis, without reflbwn,
Bot be the grit provifioun
Of God aboif that rewll the fall ;
Thah-foir evir thow make the boun,
To obey, and thank thy God of all.
VII.
In welth be meik, heich not thyfelf ;
Be glaid in wilfull povertie ;
Thy power, and thy warld's pelf,
Is nocht bot verry vanitie.
Remembir him that deit on tre,
For thy faik taiftit tlie bittir gall ;
Quha heis law hairtis, and lawis he,
Qbey, and thank thy God of all.
ROBERT HENRYSONE.
22ft
L 107 3
The Prais of Ege.
I.
Within ane garth, undir a reid rofeir,
Ane auld man, and decrepit, hard I fing;
Gay wes the not, Aveit wes the voce and clere ;
It wes grit joy to heir of fie a thing.
And, as me thocht, he faid in his dyting,
For to be yung I wald nocht, for my wifs
Of all this warld to mak me lord and king ;
The moir of ege the nerrer hevynis blifs.
II.
Fals is this warld, and full of variance,
Befecht with fyn and uthir flichtis mo ;
Trewth is all tynt, gyle hes the govirnance,
P_And]] wrechitnes hes wrocht all weill to wo;
Fredome is tynt, and fremit the Lords fro,
And cuvettice is all the caufs of this :
I am content that yowthheid is ago ;
The moir of ege the nerrer hevynis blifs.
III.
The ftait of yowth I reput for ne gude,
For in chat ftait fie parrell now I fe ;
But fpeciall grace, the regeing of his blude
Can none ganeftand, quhill that he aigit be :
Syn of the thing befoir that joyit he,
Nothing remanis now to be callit hifs ;
For quhy, it wes bot verry vanitie ;
The moir of ege the nerrer hevynis blifs.
IV.
Suld no man truft this wrechit warld j for quhy,
Of erdly joy ay forrow is the end ;
The ftait of it can no man certify,
This day a king, to morne haif not to fpend.
Quhat
C 108 ]
Quhat half we heir bot grace us to defend ?
Tke quhilk God grant us till amend our raifs,
That to his gloir he ma our faulis fend ;
The moir of ege the nerrer hevynis blifs.
ROBERT HENRYSONE.
The
E
C 109 ]
The Dog, the Wolf, and the
I.
Sope a taill putis in memorie,
How that a Dog, becaus that he wes pure,
Callit a Scheip unto the confiflory,
A certane breid of him for to recure.
A frawdfull [Wolf] wasjuge that tyme, and bure
Auftoritie and jurifdiftioun ;
And on the Scheip fend furth a ftrait fummoun.
II.
For by the ufe and courfe of commoun ftyle,
On this maner maid his fitatioun :
I, per me, Wolf, pairtles of frawd or gyle,
Undir the painis of fufpenfioun,
And gret curfing and maledictioun,
Sir Scheip I chairge ye ftraitly to compeir,
And anfueir till a Dog befoir me heir.
III.
Sir Corby Rawin was maid a procitour,
Qujlk pyket hes full mony fchepis ee ;
His chairge hes tane, and on the lettirbure,
Summond the Scheip befoir the Wolf, that he
Perimptourly, within tha dayis thre,
Compeir undir the panis in this bill,
And heir quhat burry Dog wald fay him tilK
IV.
This fummond maid befoir witnefs enew,
The Revin has till his office weill afFeird,
Endorfit hes his writ, and on he flew :
The filly Scheip durft lay no mowth till erd,
Till fcho befdir that av/full juge apperd,
Be hour of caus quhiik that court ufit thane,
Quhen Efperus to fchaw his face began.
K V.
[ ZIO ]
V.
The Fox wes clerk and notar in that caus ;
The Gled, the Grip up at the bar couth ftand
As advocatis expert in to the lawis,
The Doigis ply togidder tuk on hand,
Quilk wer confident ftret into ane band,
Ag.ine the Scheip to procure the fentens;
Thoclit it wer fals, they half no confcience-
VI.
The clerk callit the Scheip, and he wes thair ;
The advocattis on this wys can propone :
A certane breid, worth fyve fchillingis and mair,
Thow aw this Dog, [of] qu'tlk the terme is gone.
Of hir awinheid, but advocat allone,
Awyfilly gaif anfwer in that cais,
Heir I declyne the juge, the tyme, and place.
VII.
This is my caus and motive in effect :
The law fayis, it is rycht perilous
Till interply befoir a juge fufpecl: ;
And thou, Sir Wolf, hes ay bene odius
To me, with thyne tufkis revenus,
Hes flaine full mony kynifmen of myne ;
Thairfoir as juge fulpeft, I the declyne.
VIII.
And fchortly, of this court the members all,
Bayth afieilbris, clerke, and advocat,
To me, and myne, ar ennemeis immortal!,
And ay hes bene, as mony fcheiphird watt :
This place, as for the tyme, is feriat,
In quhilk no jugeis fuld fit in confiftory
3o lait at evin ; I yow accus for thy.
IX,
[ III ]
IX.
Quhen that the juge on this wyfe wes accufit,
He bad the parteis cheis, with one a/Tent,
Twa arbitours, as in the law is uilt,
For todifTyd and gife arbitrement,
Quiddir the Scheip fuld byd injugement
Befoir the Wolf : and fwa thay did but weir.
Of quhome the names eftir ye fall heir.
X.
TheBetr, the Brok, this mater tuk on hand
For to diflyd, gife this exceptioun
Wes of naftrenth, or lawchtfuHy mycht {land :
And thairupoun, as jugcis, they fat down,
And held a lang quhyle difputatioun,
Seikandfull mony decretals of the law,
And glofis als, the veritie to knaw.
XI.
Off Civil mony volum thay rewoll,
The codys and degeftis new and aid ;
Proive and contra ftrait argument thay refoll.
Sum a do<5lryne, and fome another hald ;
For prys, nor prayer, trow ye, thay wald fald,
Bot held the text, and gloifs of the decreis,
As trew jugeis, I fchrew thame that leis.
XII.
Schortly to mak ane end of this debait,
The arbitroris fummar and [de] plane,
The fentens gaif, and proces fulminat,
The Scheip fuld pas befoir the Wolf agane,
And end his pleid: than was he nothing fane ;
For fra thair fentens he mycht noway is appeill,
On clerkis doid, gife thisfentence beleill.
K 2 XIII,
r
XIII.
The Scheip agane befoir the Wolf derenyeit,
But advocat abafitly can ftand.
Up rais tire Dog, and on the Scheip thus pleyueit ;
To the a fowme I pay it befoir hand
For certane breid ; thairto a borch I fand,
That wrangufly the Scheip held fra him breid,
And he deayit; and fo began the pleid.
XIV.
Thus quhen the Scheip this (Iryfe had conteilat,
The jugeis into the caus furth cowth proceid :
Laurence the aftis and [the] proces wrait,
And Tone the ply unto the end thay fpeid.
This curfit court corruptit all for meid,
Agane gud fayth, gud law, and confcience;
For this fa Is Dog prommcit the fentence.
XV.
And it to put in executioun,
The Wolf chargeit the Scheip, without delay,
Undir the pane of interdi&ioun,
The fcwme of filver, or the breid, to pay.
Off this fentens, allais ! quhat fall we fay ?
Quhilk dampnit hes the filly innocent,
And inflitut to wrangus jugement.
XVI.
The Scheip, dreidand moir perfecutioun,
Obeyit the fentence ; and cowth tak
His way untill a merchand in the toun,
And fald his fleifs that he bur on his bak ;
Syne bocht the breid, and to the dog can mak
Reddy payment, as he foirjugeit was ;
Nakit and bair, fyne to the feild cowth pas.
MO-
MORALITAS.
XVII.
This filly Scheip may prefent the figure
Of pure comrnounis, that daylie ar oppreft
Be terrane men, that fettis all thair cure,
With fals menys, to mak a wrang conqueift,
In howp this prefent lyfe fall evir left :
Bot all begyld, thay will in fchort tyme end,
And eftir deid, to crewall panis wend.
xvin.
This Wolf I likin unto a fcheref ftout,
Quhilk byis a forfalt at the kingis hand,
And lies with him a curftt affyis about,
And dytis all the pure men up of land,
And fra the crowner lay on thame his wand ;
Suppois he be als trew as was Sanct Johne,
Slane full thay be, or with the juge compoae.
XIX.
This Revin I likin till a fals crownar,
Quhilk hes a porteous of the endytment,
And paffis furth befoir the juftice air,
All mifdoaris to bring till jugement :
But hike gife he be of a trew intent,
To fkraip out Johne, and wryt in Will Q^Wats,
And fo a bud at bayth the parteis fkat.
\ XX.
Of this fals Tod, becaus I fpak befoir,
And of this Gled, quhat thay mycht fignify,
Of thair natur, as now I fpeik no tnoir :
Bot of the Scheip, and of his cairfull cry,
I fall rehers ; for as I paflit by
Quhair that he lay, on caifs he lukit down,
And hard him mak this lameritaticun.
K 3 -XXI.
t 114 ]
XXI.
Allace ! quoth he, this curfit confiflorjr,
In middis now of wintir it is maid,
Quhen Boreas, with blaftis bitterly,
With frawart froftis, the flouris down can faid;
On bankis bair now may I mak no baid :
And with that wird intill a corf he crap,
Fra hair weddir, and froftis, him to hap.
XXII.
Quakand for cald and murnyngis foir amang,
Keft up his ene unto the hevinis hicht,
And faid, O Lord, quhy flypis thou fo lang ?
Walk, and defcerne my caufs, grounditin right;
Luk how I am, be frawd, maiftry, and flycht,
Pelit full bair ; and fo is mony one
Now in this \varld> rycht wondir wo- begone.
XXIII.
Se how the curfit fyn of cuvatys
Exylit hes bayth lufe, lawty, and law :
Now few or nanc will execute juftice ;
In fait of quhome the pure man is ourthraw
The verity, albeid the juge knaw,
Thay ar fo blindit with affeftioun,
But dreid, for meid, thay thoill the rycht go doun.
XXIV.
Se thou nocht, Lord, this warld ourturnit is,
As quha wald chenge gud gold in leid or tyn ;
The pure is pelit, the lord may do no mifs j
Now fymony is haldin for no fyn :
Now is he blyth with okir can moft wyn,
Gentreis is flane, and pety is ago;
Allace ! Lord God, quhy tholis thou it fo ?
XXV.
XXV.
Thou tholis this, bot for our grit offens,
Thou fendis us truble and plaigis foir,
As hungir, derth, wer, and [the] peftilens ;
Bot few amendis thair lyfe : now thairfoir
We pure peplc, as now may do no moir
Bot pray to the, fen we are thus oppreft
In to this erd, Grant us in hevin gud reft.
ROBERT HENRYSONB.
Ike
C 116 ]
The Wolfe and the Lame.
I.
ACrewall Wolf, revanus and fell,
Upone a tyme paft till a revere,
Difcending doun fra a rock out of a well,
To flaik his thirft drank of the watter cleir :
Sa, upone cais, a filly Lame come neir,
Bot of this Wolf the Lame nothing he wift,.
And in the ftreme lapit to cule his thrift.
II.
Thus drank thay baith, hot nocht of ane intent ;
The Wolfis thocht wes all in wicketnefs :
The filly Lame, meik and innocent,
Upone the revir, by in ane uthir place,
Beneth the Wolf, he drank in ane littill fpace,
Quhill him thocht gude, prefoumyng thair none ill ;
The Wolf this faw, and carpand come him till.
III.
With girnand teith, and angry auftie luke,
Said to the Lamb, Thou catyve wrechit thing,
How durft thou be fo bald to fyle this bruke,
Quhair I fuld drink, with thy fowl! Havering ?
It wer almous the for till draw and hing,
That fuld prefome, with ftinkand Jippis will,
To hurt my drink, and this fair wattir fpill.
IV.
The filly Lamb, quakand for verry dreid,
On kneis fell, and faid, Sir, with your leif,
Suppois I dar nocht fay thairof ye leid ;
Bot, be my faule, I wait ye can nocht preife,
That I did ony thing quhilk fuld yow greif :
Ye wait alfo your accufatioun
Felyeis fra trewth, and ccntralr till refibwn.
C "7 3
V.
Thocht I can nocht, nature will me defend,
And of the deid perfyt experience :
All hevinly thing mone of the felf difcend,
Bot gif fum thing on fers mak refiftence ;
Thane may the ftretne be na wayis mak offens,
Na ryn bakwart : I drank beneth you far ;
Ergo, for me, your drink is nevir the war.
VI.
A lib my lippis, fen that I was a lame,
Touchit no thing that was contagius ;
Bot fowkit my Ik fra pawpis of my dame,
Rycht naturall, fweit, and delicious.
Weill, quoth the Wolf, thy languige outragius,
Cumis of kynd ; fa your fader befoir
Held me at bait als with boftis and fchoir.
VII.
He wexit me ; and than I cowth him warne,
Within ayeir, and I brukit my heid,
So I fuld be wrokin on him, or his bairne ;
For his exorbitant and thrawwart pleid,
Thow fall doutles, for his deidis, be deid.
" Sir, it is wrang, that for the faderis gilt»
" The faikles fone fall poneift be, and fpilt.
VIII.
" Half ye nocht hard quhat haly fcriptour fais,
" Dytit with the mowthof God Almycht,
" Off his awin deid ilk man fal beir the pais,
" As pyne for fyn, reward for werkis rycht :
" For my trefpafs quhy fuld my fone haif plycht ?
" Quhadid the mifs hit thame fufteine thepaine.'*
Ya, quoth the Wolf, yet plyis thow agane.
C 118 ]
IX.
I lat ye witt, quhen the fader offendis,
Will cheris none of his fucceffioun ;
And of his bairnis may weill be tane amendis
Unto the nynt degre defcending doun.
The fadir thocht to mak a ftrang pufown,
And with his mowth into my wattir fpew.
Sir, quoth the Lamb, tha twa ar nowys trew.
X.
The law fayis, and ye will undirftand,
Thair fuld no man, for wrang, no violens»
His adverfar puneis at his awin hand,
Without procefs of law in audiens ;
Quhilk fuld haif leif to mak lawchfull defens ;
And thairupon fummon peremptourly
For to propone, and contra, and reply.
XI.
Set me a lawfull court : I fall compeir
Befoir the Lyon, lord and leill Juftys ;
And, be my hand, I oblis me, rycht heir,
That I fall byd ane unfufpeft affys.
This is the way, this is the jufteft wyfs :
Ye fuld proceed thairfoir, and fummonds mak
Agane that day, to gif reflbun and tak.
XII.
Ha, quoth the Wolf, wald thow intrufs reffoun,
Quhair wrang and reif fuld dwell in properte ?
That is a poynt of oppin fals treffoun,
For to gar rewth remane with creweltie.
Be Goddis wondis, fals tratour, thow fall dc
For thy trefpas, and for thy faderis als.
With that annone he hint him be the hals.
XIII.
[ up. 3
xm.
The filly lame mycht do no thing hot blait ;
Sone wes he heidit; the Waif wold do no grace :
Syne drank his blud, and of his flefch can eit,
Till he wes fow ; fyne went away apace.
Of this murthour quhat fall I fay, allace !
Was this no rewth ? was this nocht grit pete ?
To heir this filly lame but gilt thus de.
MORALITAS.
XIV.
The pure peple this Lamb may fignify,
As male-men, merchandis, and pure laborers,
Off quhome the lyfe is half a purgatory,
To wyn with lawty leving as effeiris.
The Wolf betakyis fals extorteneiris,
And opprefiburis of pure men, as we fe,
Be violens, be craft, or futelte.
XV.
Thre kynd of wolffis in the warld nowringis :
The firft ar fals pervertaris of the lawis,
Quhilk, undir poleit termes, falfet myngis,
Leitand, that all wer goipell that thay fchawis :
Bot for a bud the trew men he ourthrawis,
Smorand the" rycht, garrand the wrangproceid.
Off fie wolffis hell-lyre fall be thair meid.
XVI.
Ane uthir kynd of wolffis revanus
Ar mychty men, haifand anouch plente ;
Quhilk ar fo gredy and fo cowatus,
Thay will nocht thoill in peax ane pure man be,
Suppois that he, and his houfhald, fuld de
For fait of fude ; thairof thay gif no rak,
Bot our his heid his muling thay will tak.
XVII,
[ 120 ]
XVII.
O man ! but mychty, quhat is in thy thocht ?
War than a wolf, and thow cowth underftand ;
Thow hes eneuch; the pure hufoand hes nocht
Bot cote and crufe, upone a clout of land.
For Goddis aw, how dar thow tak on hand,
And thou in berne and byre fo bene and big,
To put him fra his tak, and gar him thig ?
XVIII.
O man of law! lat be thy futelte,
With wys jympis, and frawdis interkat,
And think that God, of his divinite,
The wrang, the rycht, of all thy workis wate ;
For preyer, pryce, for he no law eftait,
Of fals querrell fe thou mak no defens ;
Hald with the rycht, hurt nocht thy confciens.
XIX.
The thrid wolf is men of heretege ;
As lordis, that hes landis be Godis lane,
And fettis to the maillaris a willage,
For prayer, pryce, and the gerfum tane ;
Syne vexis him or half the term be gane,
With pykit querells, for to mak him fane
To flitt, or pay the gerfum new agane.
XX.
His hors, his meir, he mone len to the laird,
To dring and draw, in court and cariege ;
His fervand, orhimfelf, may nocht be fpard,
To fv/ynk or fweit, withouttin meit or wage :
Lo, as he ftandis in lawbour and boundage,
That fkantly may he purches by his mail],
To leif upone dry breid and wattir kaill.
XXI.
[ 121 ]
XXI.
Hcs thow no rewth to gar thy tennent fueit
Into thy lawbour, full faynt with hungry wamc ?
And fyne hes littill gude to drink or eit,
Or his menye at evin quhen he cumis harae :
Thow fuld be rad for richtous Godis blame j
For it cryis vengeance to the hevin fo he,
To gar a pure man wirk but meit or fe.
XXII.
O thow, grit lord, that hes riches and rent,
Be nocht a Wolf thus to devoir the pure ;
Think, that no thing crewall nor violent
May in this warld perpetualy indure.
This is a fentens futh, I vow aflure ;
For till opprefs thow fall haif als grit pane,
As thow the pure anis with thy hand had flaine.
XXIII.
God keip the Lame, that is, the innocent,
Fra Wolffis byt, I mene extorteneiris ;
God grant that wrangus men of fals intent,
Be manifeft, and puneift as effeiris ;
And God, as thow all richtous prayer heiris,
Mot faif our King, and gif him hairt and hand,
All fie wolffis to beuneifs of this land.
ROBERT HENRYSONE.
MO
M O R A L I T A S.
Of the Monfs and the PadJok.
I.
MY brother, gif thow will tak advertens
Till this fable, thow may perfaif and fe,
It paflls far alkynd of peftilcns,
A wicket mynd, with wirdis fair and fie :
Be war thairfoir, quhomie with you followis the ;
For thow war better beir of ftone the barrow
Of fueitand, ding and delffe quhill thow may dre,
Na be raachit with a wicket marrow.
H.
A fals intent, undir a fare pretence,
Hes cawfit mony innocentis to de ;
Grit folly is, thairfoir, to gife credence
Our fone to all that fpeikis fair to the.
^A filking tong, a hairt of crewelte,
Smytis mair foir than ony fchot of arrow.
Brudir, gif thow be vyis, I red the fle
To mache the with a fravvart fenyeit marrow.
III.
I warne the als, it is grit negligence,
To bind the fall quhair thow was frank and fre ;
Frathowbe bund, thow may mak na defens
To faif thy lyfe, or yit in libertie.
This femple counfale, brudir, tak at me ;
And it to cun perqueir fe nocht thow tarrow ;
Bettir but ftryfe to leif allone in le,
to be machit with a wicket marrow.
IV.
L 123 J
IV.
This hald in mynd ; yic moir I fall the telf,
Quhat by thirbeiftis may be figurat.
This Paddok, ufand in this flud to dwell,
Is mannis body, fowmand air and lait
Into this warld, with cairis implicat ;
Now he, now law, quhyle plungit up and douiv
Ay in to perell, and redy for to droun.
V.
Now dolorus, now blyth as bird on breir ;
Now in fredome, now wardit in diftrefs ;
Now haill, now found, now deid, andbrocht on beir;-
Now pure as Job, now rowand in richefs ;
Now gowinis gay, now brattis to imbrafs ;
Now full as fyfche, now hungry as a hound ;
Now on the quheiU, now wappit to the ground.
VI.
This littill Mous, thus knet hard be the chin,
The faule of man betakin may in deed,
Bundin, and fra the body may nocht twin,
Quhill crewall deid cum brek of lyfe the threid ;
The quilk to drown fould evir Hand in dreid,
Of carnall luft be the fuggeftioun,
Quhilk drawis ay the faulc, ay and haldis doim.
VII.
The Waltir is the warld, ay walterand
With mony wayis of tribulatioun ;
In the quilk the faule and body ay warerand,
Standis difunit, and thair opinioun :
The fpreit upwart, the body preiffis doun ;
The natur of the faule wald our be borne
Out of this warld unto the hevinly trone..
L 2. VIII,
I24
VIII.
This Gled is deid, that cummis fuddanly
As dois the theif, and endis this battell.
Be vegeland thairfoir, and ay reddy ;
For mannis lyfe is brukle and mortall :
My freind, thairfoir mak the a ftrang caftell
Of gud deidis ; for deid will the aflay,
Thow waitnocht quhen, at evin, morne, or midday.
IX.
Adew, my freind ; and gife that ony fpeiris
Of this fable fo fchortly I conclude,
Thow fay, I left the haif unto the freiris,
To mak a fample or limilitud.
Now Chryft for us that deit on the rud,
Of fault and lyf as thow art Saviour,
Grant us to pafs intill a bliffit hour.
ROBERT HENRYSONE.
M 0
[ 125 ]
MORALITAS.
Of the Cok and the Pretious Stons.
I.
THis joly Jafp hes properteis fevin :
The firft, of collours it is marvellous ;
Parte lyk the fyre, and parte is lyk the hevin,
And maks a man flark and viftorius ;
Prefervis als fra caiffis perellous :
Quha hes this ftone fall haif gud hap to fpeid>,
Off fyre, nor falls, him heidis nocht to dreid.
II.
This gentill Jafp, oft different in hew,
Betakinis perfyt prudens and cunning,
Ornat with mony deidis of vertew,
Moir excelland than ony erdly thing ;
Quhilk makis men in honour ay to ring
Happy, and ftark to haif the vidtory
Off all vicis, and fpirituall ennemy.
HI.
Quha may be rycht hardy and gracious ?
Quha can enfew perell and aventure ?
Quha can govern citie and burchgus
Without fcience ? None, I you enfure.
It is the riches that evir fall indure ;
Quhilk motht nor muft may nocht ruft nor ket ;
And to mannis fawll it is eternall met.
L 3 IV.
L 126 ]
IV.
This Cok defyring moir the fymple corne
Than ony Jafp, onto the fule is peir,
Makand at fcience hot a knak and fkorne,.
Quhilk can no gud, and als littill will leir;
His hairt wamills gud argumentis till heir,
As to the fow, to quhome men, for the nons
In her drafe, loth wald faw the pretius lions.
V.
Quha is ennemy to fcience and cunnyng,
Bot ignorantis that undirftandis nocht ?
Quhilk is fo noble, pretius, and ding,
That may riocht with no erdly thing be bocht.
Weill war the man of all uthir, that mocht
All his lyfe dayis in perfyte ftudy wair,
To get fcience ; for him nedit no mair.
VI.
Bot now, allace ! this Jafp is tynt and hid ;
We feik it nocht, nor preiffis it to find :
Haif we riches, no bettir life we bid,
Of fcience thocht the faull be bair and blind,
Of this matter I do bot waiftis wind ;
Thairfoir I feifs, and will no furder fay,
Go feik the Jafp quha lift, for thair it lay.
ROBHK.T HKN&YSONE,
MO-
C 127 1
MORALITAS.
Of the Borrowijlotin Mous, and the Uf-on -land
Moufs .
I.
FReindis, heir may ye find, will ye tak held,
In this fable a gud moralitie.
As fitchis myngit ar with noble feid,
So intermellit is adverfitie
With erdly joy ; fo that no ftait is fre
Without truble and fum vexatioun ;
And namely thay that clymis up moft he,
And nocht content of fmall pofleffioun.
II.
Bliffit be fymple lyfe, withouttin dreid ;
Bliffit be fobir feift in quiete ;
Quha hes enuche, of no moir hes he neid,
Thocht it be littill into quantete.
Grit habowndance, and blind profperite,
Oft tymis inaks ane evill conclufioun ;
The fueteft lyfe, thairfoir, in this cuntre,
Is of nckernefs, with fmall pofleffioun.
III.
O wantoun man ! quhilk uiis for to feid
Thy wame, and makis it a God to be,
Luke to thyfelf, I warne the weill, on deid ;
The cat cummis, and to the moufs hewis e.
Quhat dois availl thy feift and reyelte,
With dreidfull hairt and tribulatioun ?
Thairfoir bed thing in erd, I fay, for me>
Is mirry hairt, with fmall pofleffioun,
IV.
J
IV.
Thy awin fyre, freind, thocht it be hot a gleid,
It warmis weill, and is worth gold to the :
And Salamone fayis, and ye will reid,
Under the hevln I can nocht bsttir fe,
Then ay be blyth, and letf in honefle :
Quhairfoir I may conclud be this reffoun,
Of erdly joy it beiris moift degre,
Blythnefs in hairt, with fmall pofleflioun.
ROBERT HENRYSONB-.
M 0-
I "9 D
MORALITAS.
<y the Lyon and the Moufs.
I.
AS I fuppois, this raychty gay Lyoua
May fignify a prince or emperour,
A poteftat, or yit a king with croun ;
Quhilk fuld be walkryfe, gyd, and govirnour,
Of" his peple, and takis no lawbour
To rewll, nor fteir the land, nor juftice keip»
But lyis ftill in luftis, flewth, and fleip.
II.
The fair Forreft with levis loun and Ic,
The Fowlis fong, and Flouris ferly fueit,
Is hot the warld, and his profperite,
As fals plefandis, myngit with cair repleit :
Rycht, as the rofe with froft and wintir weit,
Faidis ; fo dois the warld, and thame diflavis
Quhilk in thair luftis confidens havis.
III.
Thir littill Myfs ar hot the commonte,
Wantone, unwyfe, without corredtioun;
Thir lordis and pHncis, quhen that thay fe,
Of juftice makis non executioun.
Thay dreid nothing to mak rebellioun,
And difobey; for quhy ? thay tland none aw,
That garis thame thair foveranis to mifknaw.
C 130 ]
IV.
Be this fable, the lordis of prudens'
May conciddir the vertew of pete,
And to remyt fumtyme a grit offens,
And metigat mercy with crenel ty :
Ofttime is fene a man of imall degre,
Hes quyta commoun, baith for gude and ill,
As lords hes done rigour, or grace him till.
V.
Quha wait how fone a lord of greit renoun,
Rowand in wardly luft and vane plefans,
May be ourthrawin, diftroyit, or put doun,
Throw fals fortoun ; quilk ©f all varians
Is hail maiftres, and leder of the dans
Till lufty men, and bindis thame fo foiiy
That thay no perell can provyd befoir.
VI.
Thir crewall men, that ftentit hes the nett
In quilk the Lyone fuddanely wes tane,
Waitit alway amendis for till get ;
For hurte men wrytis in the marble-ftane.
Moir till expone, as now, I latt allane ;
Bot king and lord may weill wit quhat I mene,
Figour heirof aftymis has bene fene.
ROBERT HKNRYSONE,
The rej/oning betwixt digs and Yoivth.
OUhen fair Flora, the godes of the flowris,
Baith firth and feildisfrefchely had ourfret.
And perly droppis of the balmy fchowris,
Thir widdis greae had with thair water wet ;
Muvand allone, in mornyng myld, I wet
A mirry man, that all of mirth cowth mene,
Singand the fang that richt fweitly was fett,
0 yowth be glaid in to thy flowris grene.
A i c E.
1 luckit furth a litill me befoir,
And faw a cative on ane club cumand,
With cheikis clene, and lyart lokis hoir :
His ene was how, his voce wes hers hoftand,
Wallowit richt wan, and waik as ony wand ;
Ane bill he beure upoun his breift abone,
In letteris leill but lyis, with this legand,
O yowth thy flowris fedis fellone fone.
YOWTH.
This yungman lap upoun the land full licht,
And mervellit mekle of his makdome maid.
Waddin I am, quoth he, and woundir wicht,
With bran as bair, jand breift burly and braid ;
Na growine on ground my gairdone may degraid,
Nor of my pith may pair of wirth a prene ;
My face is fair, my fegour will not faid ;
0 yowth be glaid into thy flowris grene.
A i G E.
This fenyeour fang, bot with afobir ftevin,
Schakand his berd, he laid, My bairne, lut be ;
1 was within thir fextie yeiris and fevin,
Ane freik on feld, als forfs, and als fre,
Als
L
Als glaid, als gay, als ying, als yaip as yie:
Bot now tha dayis ourdrevin ar and done ;
Luke thow my laikly luking gif I lie ;
O yowth thy flowris fadis fellone fone.
Y O W T H.
Ane uthir vers yit this yung man cowth fmg :
At luvis law a quhyle I think to leit,
In court to cramp clenely in my clething,
And luke amangis thir lufty ladeis fvveit ;
Of manage to mell, with mowthis meit,
In fecreit place, quhair we ma not be fene,
And fo with birds blythly my bailis beit ;
O yowth be glaid in to thy flowris grene.
A i G E.
This awftrene greif anfwer-it argirly,
For thy cramping thow fait baith cruke andcowre:
Thy flefchely luft thow fait alfo defy,
And pane the fall put fra [thy} paramour :
Than will no bird be blyth of the in boure ;
Quhen thy manheid fall wendin as the rnone,
Thow fall aflay gif that my fong be feur :
O yowth thy flowris fedis fellone fone.
YOWTH.
This mirry man of mirth yet movit moir :
My corps is clene, without corruptioun ;
Myfelf is found, but feiknes or but foir ;
My wittis fyve in dew proportioun ;
My curage is of clene complexioun ;
My hairt is haill, my levar, and my fplene ;
Thairfoir to reid this roll I haif no reflbun :
O yowth be glaid in to thy flowris grene.
A r G E.
C 133 3
A I G E.
The bevar hoir faid to this berly berne,
This breif thow fall obey, fone be thow bald ;
Thy ftait, thy ftrenth, thocht it be ftark and fternc,
The feveris fell, and eild, fall gar the fald ;
Thy corps fall clyng, thy curage fall wax cald,
Thy helth fall hynk, and tak a hurt but hone,
Thy wittis fyve fall vaneis, thocht thow not wald •
O yowth thy flowris fadis fellone fone.
This gowand grathit with fie grit greif,
He on his wayis wiethly went, but wene ;
This lene auld man luthe not, but tuk his leif,
And I abaid undir the levis grene :
Of the fedullis the futhe quhen I had fene,
Of trewth, methocht, thay triumphit in thair tone •
O yowth be glaid into thy flowris grene ;
O yowth thy flowris faidis fellone fone.
ROBERT HENRYSONE.
M
E 134 3
The Rf/oning betwixt Deth and Man.
D E T H.
OMortall man ! behold, tak tent to me,
Quhilk fowld thy mirrour be baith day and nicht ;
All erdly thing that evir tuik lyfe mon die,
Paip, emperour, king, barroun, and knycht,
Thocht thay be in thair roiall ftait and hicht,
May not ganeftand, quhen I pleifs fchute the derte ;
Wal-townis, caftellis, and towris nevir fo wicht,
May nocht refift quhill it be at his herte.
The MAN.
Now quhat art thow that biddis me thus tak tent,
And mak ane mirrour day and nicht of the,
Or with thy dert I fawld richt foir repent ?
I treft trewly off that thow fall fone lie.
Quhat freik on feld fa bald dar manifs me,
Or with me fecht, owthir on fute or hors ?
Is non fo wicht or (lark in this cuntre,
Bot I fall gar him bow to me on fors.
DETH.
My name, forfuth, [to fay] fen that thow fpeiris,
Thay call me Deid, futhly I the declair,
Caliand all man and woman to thair beiris,
Quhen evir I pleis,quhattyme, quhat place, or quhair.
Is nane fa ftowt, fa frefche, nor yit fa fair,
Sa ying, fa aid, fa riche, nor yit fa peur,
Quhair evir I pafs, owthir lait or air,
Men put thame haill on fors undir my cure.
M A N.
C '35 J
M A N.
Sen it Is fo, that nature can fo wirk,
That yung and awld, with riche and peure, mon die 5
In myyowtheid, allace ! I wes full irk,
Could not tak tent to gyd and governe me
Ay gude to do, fra evill deids to fle,
Treftand ay yowthheid wold with me abyde j
Fullfilland evir my fenfualitie
In deidly fyn, and fpecialy in pryd.
D E T H.
Thairfoir repent, and remord thy confcience j
Think on thir wordis I now upon the cry :
0 wrechit man ! O full of ignorance !
All thy plefance thow fall richt deir aby ;
Difpone thyfelf, and cum with me in hy,
Edderis, afkis, and wormis meit for to be ;
Cum quhen I call, thow ma me not dcnny,
Thocht thow war paip, emperour, and king all thre',
M A N.
Sen it is fwa fra the I may not chaip,.
This wrechit warld for aie heir I defy,
And to the deid, to lurk under thy caip,
1 offer me withhairt richt humily ;
Befeiking God, the divill, myne ennemy,
No power haif my fawill till aflay :
Jefus on the, with peteous voce, I cry,
Mercy on me to haif on domifday.
ROBERT HENRYSOME.
M 2 dgahn
3
dgains hefty Creddence of Titlari
I.
FAls titlaris now growls up full rank,
Nocht ympit in the ftok of cheretie,
Howping at thair lord to get grit thank;
Thay half no dreid on thair nybouris to He :
Than fowld ane Lord awyfe him weill I fe,
Quhen ony taill is brocht to his prefence,
Gif it be groundit in to veretie,
Or he thairto gif heftdy creddence.
II.
Ane worthy lord fowld wey ane taill wyflie,
The tailltellar, and quhome of it is tald;
Gif it be faid for luve, or for invy,
And gif the tailisman abyd at it he wald;
Than eftirwart the parteis fowld be cald,
For thair excufe to mak lawfull defence ;
Than fowld ane lord the ballance evinly hald,
And gif not at the firfl heftie creddence.
HI.
It is no wirfchep for ane nobill lord,
For the fals tailis to put ane trew man doun,
And gevand creddence to the firft recoird,
He will not heir his excufatioun ;
The tittillaris fo in his eir can roun,
The innocent may get no awdience :
Ryme as it may, thair is no reffoun,
To gif till taillis heftely creddence.
IV.
[ 137 3
IV.
Thir teltellaris oft tymes dois grit fkaith,
And raiflis mortall feid and difcrepance,
And makis lordis with thair ferwands wreith,
And baneift be without cryme perchance.
It is the. grand of ftryf and ail diftance,
Moir perellus than ony peftillence,
Ane lord in flatterreris to haif plefance,
Or to gif lyaris heftely creddence.
V.
O thow wyfe lord ! quhen cumis a flatterrer
The for to pleis, and hurt the innocent,
Will tell ane taill of thy familiar ;
Thow fowld the parteis call incontinent,
And fitt doun fadly in to jugement,
And ferche the caus weill or thow gif fentence,
0r ellis heireftir, in cais thow may repent,
That thow to tailis gaif fo grit creddence.
VI.
O wicket tung ! fawand difientioun,
Offals taillis to tell that will not tyre,
Moir perellus than ony fell pufoun,
The paine of hell thow fall haif to thy hyre.
Richtfwa thay fall that hes joy or defyre,
To gife his eir to heird with patience ;
For of difcord itkendillis mony fyre,
Throwch geving tailis heftely creddence.
VII.
Bakbyttaris to heir it is no bowrd,
For thay ar excommunicat in all place ;
Thre perfonis feverall i.e flayis with ane wowrd,
Hiinfelf, the heirar, rr/ui the man faikiace.
M. Within
E 138 3
Within an hude he has ane dowbill face,
Ane bludy tung, undir a fair pretence.
I fay no moir ; hot Cod grant lordis grace,
To gife to taiiis nocht heftely creddence.
ROBERT HENRYSONS.
7bs
C 139 I
The thre Deid Pawis.
I.
OSinfull man ! into this mortall fe,
Quhilk is the vaill of mourn yng and of cair 5
With gaiftly ficht, behold our heidis thre,
Oure holkit eine, oure peilit powis bair.
As ye ar now, into this warld we wair,.
Als frefche, als fair, als lafty to behald ;
Quhan thow lukis on this futh exemplair,
Off thy felf, man, thow may be richt unbaldi
II.
For futh it is-, that every man mortall
Mon fufferdeid, and de, that lyfe has tane ;
Na erdly ftait aganis deid ma prevaill ;
The hour of deth and place is uncertane,
Quhilk is referrit to the hie God allane :
Herefoir haif mynd of deth, that thow mon dy j;
This fair exampill to fe quotidiane,
Sowld caufe all men fro wicket vycis fie.
III.
O wantone yowth ! als frefche as lufty May,,
Fareft of flowris, renewit quhyt and re id,
Behald our heidis, O lufty gallands gay !
Full laithly thus fall ly thy lufty heid,
Holkit and how, and wallowit as the weid,
Thy crampland hair, and eik thy criftall ene ;
Full cairfully conclud fall dulefull deid,
Thy example heir be us it may be fene.
IV.
C 140 1
IV.
• ladeis quhyt in claithis corrufcant,
Poleift with perle, and mony pretius ftane j
With palpis quhyt, and hals elegant,
Sirculit with gold, and fapheris mony ane ;
Your fingearis fmall, quhyt as quhailis bane,
Arrayit with ringis, and mony rubeis reid ;
As we ly thus, fo fall ye ly ilk ane,
With peilit powis, and holkit thus your held.
V.
O wofull pryd ! the rute of all diftrefs,
With humill hairt upoun our powis pens :
Man, for thy mifs, aflc mercy with meiknefs j
Againis deid na man may mak defens.
The emperor, for all his excellens,
King and quene, and elk all erdly ftait,
Peure and riche, fall be but differens,
Turnit in as, and thus in erd tranflait.
VI.
This queftioun quha can obfolve lat fee,
Quhat phifnacnour, or perfyt palmefter,
Quha was fareft, or fowleft of us thre ?
Or quhilk of us of kin was gentillar,
Or maift excellent in fcience or in lare,
In art, mufic, or in aftronomye ?
Heir fould be your ftudy and repair,
And think, as thus, all your heidis mon be,
VII.
O febill aige ! drawand neir the dait
Of dully deid, and hes thy dayis compleit,
Behald our heidis with murning and regrait ;
Fall on thy kneis, afk grace at God greit,
With'
C MI 3
With oriibnis, and-haly falmes fweit,
Befeikand him on the to haif mercy,
Now of ourfaulis bydand the decreit
Of his Godheid, quhen he fall call and try.
VIII.
Als we exhort, that every man mortall,
For his faik that maid all thingis of nocht,
For our fawlis to pray in generall,
To Jefus Chryft, of hevyn and erd the king,
That throuch his blude we may ay leif and ring,
With the hie Fader be eternitie,
The Sone alfwa, the Haly Gaift conding,
Thre knit in ane be perfyt unitie.
PATRICK JOHNITOVN,
Seat
Sens exylit tArvw Pryd.
I.
SOns hes bene ay exillt out of ficht,
Sen every knaif wes cled in filkin weld ;
Welfair and welth ar went without gud nicht,
And in thair rowmis remanis derth and neid :
Pryd is amangis us enterit, hot God fpeid,
And lerd our lordis to go lefs and mair
With filkin gownis, and fellaris tume and bair.
II.
Now ane fmall barronis riche abelyement,
In filk, in furreingis, chenyeis, and uthir geir,
Micht furneis fourty into jak and fplent,
Weill bodin at his bak with bow and fpeir ;
It war full meit, gif it happinis be weir,
That all this pryd of filk war quyt laid doun,
And chengit in jak, knapfcha, and abirgoun.
Ill,
Wald all the lordis lay up thair riche arrayis,
And gar unfulyeit keip thame clene and fair,
And weir thame bot on hie triumphand dayis,
And quhen ftrangeris dois in this realms repair j
They neidit not for to buy filkis mair
Thir twenty yeir, for thame and thair fucceflloun,
Gif finfull pryd nocht blindit thair difcretioun.
IV.
Thair men alfo mon be bot fmyt or fmoit,
Fra his caproufy be with ribbanis left,
With welwet bordour about his threid-bair coit,
On woman- wayis, weill tyit about his weft ;
His hat on fyd fet up for ony heft ;
For hichtines the culroin dois mifken
His awin maifter, als weill as uthir men,
V.
t 143 ]
V.
Quha fynnis in pryd, dois firft to God grevance,
Quhilk out of hevin to hell gaif it ane fall ;
Syne of himfelf he weftis his lubftance
Sa lerge, that it ourpaffis his rentall ;
His peur tennentis he dois opprefs with all :
His coiftly gown, with taill fo wyd outlpred,
His naikit fermouris garris hungry go to bed.
Jitae
C M4 ]
Johns Up-on-lands Complaint.
I.
NOW is our king in tendir aige,
Chryft conferf him in his eild,
To do juftice bath to man and pege,
That garris our land ly lang unteild ;
Thocht we do dowble pay thair wege,
Pur commonis prefently now ar peild,
Thay ryd about in fik a rege
Be frith, forreft, and feild,
With bow, bucklar, and brand :
Lo, quhair thay ryd intill the ry,
The divill mot fane your company,
I pray fro my heart trewly :
Thus faid Jobne Up -on- land.
II
He that wes wont to beir the barrowis,
Betwixt the baik-hous and the brew hous,
On twenty (hilling now he tarrowis,
To ryd the he gait by the plewis :
Butwerl a king, and haifgud fallowis,
In Norroway thay fuld heir of newis ;
I fuld him tak, and all his marrowis,
And hing thame hich upon yone hewis,
And thairto plichtis my hand :
Thir lordis and barronis grit,
Uj'Own ane gallows fuld I knit,
That thus doun treddit has our quhit :
Thus faid Jchne Up-on-land.
III.
Wald the lordis the lawis that leidis,
To hufbands do gud reflbne and {kill,
To chaftanis thir chiftanis be the heidis,
And hing thame heich upoun ane hill ;
Tten
[ MS 3
Than mycht hufbands labour thair fields,
And preiftis mycht pattir and pray thair fill ;
For hufbands fuld nocht haif fie pleids,
Baith fcheip and nolt mycht ly full (till,
And ftakis ftill mycht ftand :
For fen thay red amang our durris,
With fplent on fpald, and roufty fpurris,
Thair grew no frutt intill our furris :
Thus faid Johne-Up-on-Iand.
IV.
Tak a pur man a fcheip or two,
For hungir, or for fait of fude,
To five or fex wie bairnis, or mo,
They will him hing with raipis rud ;
Bot and he tak a flok or two,
A bow of ky, and lat thame blud,
Full falfly may he ryd or go :
I wait nocht gif thir lawis be gud ;
I fchrew thame firft thame fand.
Jefu, for thy holy pafiioun,
Thou grant him grace that weiris the crown,
To ding thir mony kingis doun :
This faid Johne Up-on~land.
N To
C M<S 3
To King Jama V..
I.
SIR, fen of men ar divers fortis,
And divers paftymes and difportis.
According ar for ilk degre ;
All thy trew lieges the exortis,
To knaw thy Ryall Majeftie.
II.
And mark in thy memoriall
Thy predeceflburs parentall ;
Quhais fructuous fatis, and deids he,
Maks thair fame perpetual!,
Throw potent, princely majeftie.
III.
Sen throw the erd, in lenth and breid,
Thow art the moft illuftir leid,
And moft preclair of progenie ;
Think thairupoun, and caus thy deid '
Appreif thy Princely Majeftie.
IV.
And play nocht hot at honeft playis.
As princis ufit afoir thy day is ;
Balking, hunting, and archery,
Jufting, and cheifs, that none gane fayis
Unto thy Princely Majeftie*
V.
To play with dyce nor cairts accords
To the, hot with thy noble lords,
Or with the Quene thy moder fre ;
To play with pure men difaccords,
And mars thy Ryall Majeftie,
VI.
[ M7 1
VI.
But gif thow think quhen thow begynnis,
To gif agane all that thow wynnis,
To thame about that ferwis the ;
To hald lie wynning fchame and fyn is,
And far fra Princely Majeilie.
VII.
Ane prudent prince eik fuld be war,
And for no play the tyme diffar,
Quhen he fuld Godis fervice fe ;
And gif he dois, weil-1 fay I dar,
He hurtishis Ryall Majeftie.
VIII,
To princis eik it is ane vice,
Till ufe playing for cuvatyce j
To ryd or rin our rekleflie,
Or flyd with lads upoun the yce,
Accords not for thair Majeftie.
IX.
Think that thair is ane King of kingis,
Our heving, erds and hell, that ringis ;
Quilk, with the twynkliug of ane e,
Ma do and undo all kyn thingis ;
So raervellus is his Majeftie.
X.
Se thow pray to that famyne King,
Going to bed and upryfing,
Thy gyd and governour ay to be ;
Quha grant the grace to ryfs and fmg
With mjcht and Ryall Majeftie.
STEWART.
N 2 r*
To King James V.
I.
PRecelleaJ Prince i havand prerogative
As rowy royall in this regioun to ring,
I the befeik aganis thy luft to ftryve,
And loufe thy God aboif all maner of thing;
And him imploir, now in thy yeiris ying,
To grant the grace thy folk to defend
Quhilk he lies gevin the, in governing
In peax and honour to thy lyvis end.
IK
And fen thow ftandis in fo tendir aige,
That natur to the yit wofdome denyis ;
Thairfoir fubmit the to thy counfale feige,
And in all wayis wirk as thay devyis :
Bot ovir all thing keip the fra cuvatyis ;
To princely honour gife thow wald pretend,
Be liberall ; than fall thy fame upryis,
And wyn the honour to thy lyvis end.
III.
It that thow gevis, deliver quhen thow hechtis,
And fuffir nocht thy hand thy hecht delay ;
For than thy hecht and thy deliverance fechtis ;
Far bettir war thy hecht had biddin away.
He aw me nocht that fayis me fchortly nay ;
Bot he that hechtis, and caufis me attend,
Syne gevis me nocht, I may him repute ay.
Ane untrew clettour to my lyvis end.
IV.
C 149 1
IV.
Bettir is gut in feit, nor cramp in handis :
The fait of feit with hors thow may fupport ;
Bot quhen thyn handis ar bundin in with bandis,
Na furrigiane may cure thame, nor confort :
Bot thow thame oppin payntit as a port,
And frely gife fie guds as God the fend ;
Than may thay mend within ane feffone fchorts.
And win the honour to thy lyvis end.
V.
Gife every man eftir his faculty,
And with difcretioun thow difpone thygeir;
Gife nocht to fulis, and cunning men ourfe,
Thocht fulis roun and flatter in thyne eir ;
Gife nocht to theme that dois thy fawis fueir ;
Gife to thame that ar trew and conftant kend ;
Than our all quhair thay fall thy fame furth beir,
And win the honour to thy lyvis end.
vr.
Sen thow art heid, thy leges memberis all
Gevin be God [unto] thy governance,
Luke that thou rewll the rute originall ;
That in thy fait no membir mak uthyris grevance;
For quha can nocht himfelf gyd nor awance,
Quhy fuld ane provynce do on him depend,
To gyd himfelf that hes na purveance
With peax and honour to thy lyvis end.
VII.
Dreid God ; do counfale ; of thy leiges leill
Reward gud deid ; puneis all wrang and vice ;
Se that thy faw be ficker as thy feill ;
Fleme frawd, and be defender of juftyce ;
N T, Honour
C i*° 3
Honour all tyme thy noble genetryce ;
Obey the kirk; gifthow dois mifs, amend;
Sa fall thow win ane place in paradyce,
And mak in erd ane honourable end.
STEWART.
Lerges
Lerges, lerges, lerges bay,
Lerges of this Ne-iu-yeir Day.
I.
FIrft lerges [of] the king my cheif,
Quhilkcome als quiet as a theif,
And in my hand fled fchillings tway,
To put his lergnes to the preif,
For lerges of this new-yeir day.
II.
Syne lerges of my Lord Chancellar,
Quhen I to him ane ballat bare,
He fonyeit not, nor faid me nay,
Bot gaif me, quhili I wad had mair,
For lerges of this new-yeir day.
III.
Of Galloway the bifchop new,
Furth of my hand ane ballat drew,
And me deliverit with delay
Ane fair hacknay, but hyd or hew,
For lerges of this new-yeir day.
IV.
[Of Halie-rud] the abbot ying,
I did to him ane ballat bring ;
Bot or I paffit far him frae,
I gat na les, nor deill a thing,
For lerges of this new-yeir day.
V.
The fecretar, baith war and wyfe,
Hecht me ane kaft of his office ;
And for to reid my bill alsway,
He faid for him that micht fuffyce,
For lerges of this new-yeir day.
VI.
I '$* J
VI.
The thefaurar and comptrollar,
They bad me cume, I wait nocht quhair,
And thay fuld gar, I wait not quha,
Gif me, I wait nocht quhat, full fair,,
For lerges of this new-yeir day.
VII.
Now lerges of my lordis all,
Bayth temporall ftait, and fpirituall,
Myfelf fall evir fing and fay,
I haif thame fund fo liberall
Of lerges on this new-yeir day.
VIII.
Fowll fall this froft that. is fo fell,,
It hes the wyt, the trewth to tell,
Baith hands and purs it bindis fway,
Thay may gife naithing bye thame fell>3
For lerges of this new-yeir day.
IX.
Now lerges of my Lord Bvthnuell,
The quilk in fredome dois excell ;
He gaif to me a curfour gray,
Worth all this fort that I wich mell,
For lerges of this new-yeir day.
X.
Grit God releif Margaret, our Quene ;.
For and fcho war as fcho hes bene,
Scho wald be lerger of lufray,
Than all the laif that I of mene,
For lerges of this new-yeir day.
STEWART.
Sir
[ 153 3-
Sir Penny*
I.
RYcht fane wald I my quentans mak
With Sir Penny ; and wat ye quhy
He is a man will undertak
Lands for to fell, and [als to] by ;
Thairfoir, me think, rycht fane wuld I,
With him in fellofchip to repair ;
Becaus he is in cumpany
Ane noble gyd bayth lait and air.
II.
Sir Penny for till hald in hand,
His cumpany thay think fo fweit,
Sum givis na cair to fell his land,
With gud Sir Penny for to meit ;
Becaufe he is a noble fpreit,
Ane fur thy man, and ane forfeand j
Thair is no mater to end compleit,
Quhill he fett to his feill and hand.
III.
Sir Penny is a vailyeant man,.
Offmekle ftrenth and dignitie,.
And evir fen the warld began,
In to this land autoreift is he ;
With king and quene may ye nocht fe>.
They treit him ay fo tendirly,
That thair can na thing endit be,
Without him in thair cumpany.
IV-.
C iS4 3
IV.
Sir Penny is a man of law,
Witt ye weill, bayth wyis and war,
And mony rellbnis can furth fchaw,
Quhen he is ftandand at the bar j
Is nane fo wyis can him defar,
Quhen he proponis furth ane pie,
Nor yit fa hardy man that dar
Sir Penny tyne, or difibbey.
V.
Sir Penny is baith fcherp and wyisr
The kirks to fteir he takks on hand ;
Dilponar he is of benefyis,
In to this realme, our all the land,
Is none fo wicht dar him ganeftand j
So wyifly can Sir Penny wirk,
And als Sir Symony his ferwand,
That now is gydar of the kirk.
VI.
Gif to the courte thow maks repair,
And thow haif materis to proclame,
Thow art unable weill to fair,
Sir Penny and thow leif at hame.
To bring him furth thynk thow na fchame,
I do ye weill to underftand;
Into thy bag beir thow his name,
Thy mater cummis the bettir till hand.
VII.
Sir Penny now is maid ane owle,
Thay wirk him mekle tray and tene,
Thay hald him in quhill he hair-mowle,
And makis him blind of baith his ene ;
Thairowt
C i55 3
Thairowt he is hot feyndill fene,
Sa faft thairain they can him fteik,
That pure commownis can nocht obtene
Ane day to byd with him to ipeik
PerrtU
Perrell in Paramours.
I.
ALlace ! Co fobir is the micht
Of wemen for to mak debait,
Incontrair menis fubtell flicht,
Quhilk ar fulfillit with diffait ;
With treflbne fo intoxicait
Are mennis mowthis at all ouris,
Quhome in to treft no woman wait ;
Sic perrell lyis in paramouris.
II.
Sum fueris that he luvis fo weill,
That he will de without remeid,
Bot gife that he hir freindfchip feill,
That garris him fie langour leid ;
Andthocht he haif no dout of fpeid,
Yet will he fich and fchaw grit fchouris.,
As he wald fterfe in to that fteid ;
Sic perrell lies in paramouris.
III.
Athis t© fuere, and giftis to hecht,
Moir than he has thretty fold,
And for hir honour for to fecht,
Quhill that his blude becummis cold ;
Bot fra fcho to his willis yold,
Adew, fair weill thir fomer flouris,
All grows in glafs that femit gold ;
Sic perrell lyis in paramouris.
IV,
3
IV.
Than turnis he his faiil annone,
And paffis to ane uthir port;
Thochtfcho be nevir fo wo-begone,
Hir cairisc auld ar his confort.
Heirfoir I pray in termys fchort,
Chryft keip thir birdis tricht in bowris,
Fra fals luvaris, and thair refort ;
Sic perrell lyes in paranaouris.
MERSAK.
E 158' 3
The Wowing of Jok and J)nny.
I.
RObeyns Jok come to wow our Jynny,
On our -feift-evin quhen we wer fow;
Scho brankit faft, and maid hir bony,
And faid, Jok, come ye for to wow ?
Scho burneift hir baith breift and brow,
And maid her cleir as ony clok ;
Than fpak hir deme, and faid, I trow,
Ye come to wow our Jynny, Jok.
II.
Jok And, Forfuth I yern full fane,
To Ink my heid, and fit donn by yow.
Than fpak hir modir, and faid agane,
My bairne lies tocher-gud to ge yow.
Te he, quoth Jynny, keik, keik, I fe yow ;
Muder, yone man maks you a mok ;
J fchro the lyar, full leis me yow,
I come to wow your Jynny, quoth Jok.
III.
My berne, fcho fayis, hes of hir awin,
Ane gufs, ane grycc, ane cok, ane hen,
Ane calf, ane hog, ane fute -braid fawin,
Ane kirn, ane pin, that ye weill ken,
Ane pig, ane pot, ane raip thair ben,
Ane fork, ane flaik, ane reill, ane rok,
Difchis and dublaris nyne or ten :
Conic ye to wow our Jynny, Jok ?
IV
L '59 ]
IV.
Ane blanket, and ane wecht alfo,
Ane fchule, ane fcheit, and ane lang flail,
Ane ark, ane almry, and laidiils two,
Ane milk-fyth, \vith ane fvvyne tail],
Ane rowfty quhittill to fcheir the kaill,
Ane quheiil, ane mell the bcir to knok,
Ane coig, and caird wantand ane nail! ;
Come ye to wow our Jynny, Jok ?
V.
Ane furmc, ane furlet, ane pott, ane p.
Ane tub, ane barrow, with ane quheilband,
Ane turs, ane trcch, and ane meil-fek,
Ane ipurtill braid, and. ane ehvand.
Jok tuk Jynny be the hand,
And cryd, Ane feift; and flew ane cok,
And maid a brydell up alland ;
Now haiflgottin your Jynny, quoth Jok..
VI.
Now, deme, I haif your bairne mareit ;
Suppois ye mak it nevir fa tuche,
I latt you wit fchois nocht miPKarrit,
It is weill kend I haif anuch :
Ane crukit gleyd fell our ane huch,
Ane fpaid, ane fgeit, ane fpur, ane fok,
Withouttin oxin I haif a pluche
To gang togiddir Jynny and Jok.
VII.
I haif ane helter, and eik ane hek,
Ane coird, ane creill, and als an cradill,.
Fyfe fidder of raggis to iuiff ane jak,
Ane auld pannell of ane laid fadill,
O 2 Ane
C i<Jo 1
Anc pepper-polk maid of a padell,
Ane fpounge, ane fpindill wantand ane nok,
Twalufty lippis to lik ane laiddill,
To gang togidder Jynny and Jok.
VIII.
Ane brechame, and twa brochis fyne
Weill buklit with a brydill renye,
Ane fark maid of the linkome twyne,
Ane gay grene doke that will nocht ftenye j
And yit for mifter I will nocht fenye,
Fyve hundirth fieis now in a flok.
Call ye nocht than ane joly menye,
To gang togiddir Jynny and jok ?
IX.
Ane trene, truncheour, ane ramehorne fpone,
Twa buttis of barkit blafnit ledder,
All graith that gains to hobbill fchone,
Ane thrawcruk to twyne ane tedder,
Ane brydill, ane grith, and ane fwyne bledder,
Ane mafkene-fatt, ane fetterit lok,
Ane fcheip weill kepit fra ill wedder,
To gang togiddir Jynny and Jok.
X.
Tak thair for my parte of the feift ;
It is weill kuawin I am weill bodin ;
Ye may nocht fay my parte is leift.
The wyfe faid, fpeid, the kaill ar foddin,
And als the laverok is fuft and loddin ;
When ye haifdone tak hame the brok.
The roft wes tuche, fa wer thay bodin ;
Syn gaid togiddir bayth Jenny and Jok.
Feiv
C 16*1 J
F^w 77/tf>> fend for Falfeit.
I.
MY mynd quhen I compas and caft,
Me think this warld chengis faft :
Quhen God thinkis tyme he may it mendj,
Lawty will leif us at the laft ;
Ar few for falfett may now fend.
IF.
Thift and treflbun now is chereift,
Law and lawtie is difherreiit,
And quyt owt of this regioun fend ;
Thift and trefToun now is cherreift,
Ar few for faifett now may fend.
III.
War all this realme in two devyddit,
Lat lawty fyne and falfett gyddit,
Quhome on will monieft depend ?
Quha wyfeft is can not diifydit:
Ar few for falfett now may fend..
IV.
No man is countit worth a peir,
Bot he that lies gud hors and geir, .
And gold in to his purs to fpend ;
The peur for this is fpulyeit neir ;.-.
Ar few for falfett now may fend.
V.
Haif ane peur woman ane cow or twas
Glaidly fchowald gif ane oftha
To haif the tother at the yeiris end ;
Scho may thank God and fcho chaip fa :
Ar few for falfett now may feud.
O 3 VU
E
VI.
Peur hufband-men leivis on thair plewch,
Thay think that thay ar riche annewch ^
Away with it the theivis dois wend,
And leivis thame bair as ony bewch :
Arfew for falfett now may fend.
VII.
The ranked theif of this regioun
Dar pertly compeir in feflloun,
And to the tolbuth fone afcend,
Syne with the lordis to raik and roun ;.
Ar few for falfett now may fend.
VIII.
The regentis that this realme fowld gyd>.
For fchame ye may your facis hyd :
To quhat effeft fowld ye pretend
So flewthfully to lat ovirflyd
Sic falfett now as us offend ?
0/ #*/> at Court*
I.
ROlling in my remembrance,
Of court the daylie variance^
Me think he fuld be callit wife
That firft maid this allegence,
Bettir hap to court nor gud fervyfs,
II.
For fum man to the court pretendis,
And that, his freinds wan, he fpendis,,
Howping in honour to uprifs ;
Syne wrechitly but guerdoun wendis :
Bettir hap to court nor gud fervyfs.
III.
And fum dois to the court repair
With empty purfs, and clethis full bair ;
Yet he in riches multeplyfs,
That he levis thowfandis to his air :
Bettir hap to court nor gud fervyfs.
IV.
Sum fervis weill, and haldis him ftill,
Putting all in his maifteris will ;
Bot fie unfervit ar oft fyifs,
Quhen grokaris gettis that thay ferve ill,
Throw hap, and for no gud fervyfs.
V.
Sum takis reward at thair awin handis.
Of king and quenis proper landis ;
Bot faft for thame the gallous cryifs,
That our lang foliter it ftandis
But tharae that dois fie fervyfs,
VI,
C
VI.
Sum gettis giftis and guerdoun greit,
That nevir did for gud fervice fueit;
Sum gettis buddis, fum benifyifs ;
And fum dois foly conterfeit,
And wynnis mare nor gud fervyfs,
VII.
Sum gettfs at Yule, fum gettis at Pefs,,
Sum tynis fyifs, and wynnis bot efs,
Sum to the divill givis the dyiis,
That he can nevir win na grace,
Nowdir throw hap nor gud fervyfs,.
VIII.
Rewaird in court is delt fo evin,
Sum gettis that micht fuffeis fevin j
And uthir fum in langour lyifs,
Makand ane murmour to the hevin,
That thay get nocht for gud fervyfs,
IX.
The nycht the court fum gydis clene,.
Thairin the morne dar nocht foe fene,
Mair than the devill in paradyifs,
Nor fpeik ane word with king nor queue,
Thocht he maid nevir fo gud fervyfs.
X.
Ghryft bring our king to perfyt ege,
With wit, fra yowthis.fellon rege,
To help thame that in him affyifs,
And'pay ilk man thair conding wege,
According to thair gud fervyfs.
General
General Satyre.
I.
ALL rychtous thing the quilk dois now proceidf,
Is crownit lyk unto an emperefs ;
Law hes defyit guerdoun and his meid,
Settis hir trewth on hicht as [ane]] goddefs ;
Gud faith hes flyttin with fraud and dowbilnefs,
And prudenfe feis all thingis that cummis beforne,
Following the trace of perfyte ftabilnefs,
Als evin be lyne rycht as a rammis home.
II.
Princis of cuftome mantenis rycht in deid,
And prelettis levis in dyne perfytnefs,
Knychtis luvis, God wat, bot littill falflieid,
And preiftis hes refFufit all riches,
All religioun levis in holinefs ;
Thay bene in vertew, and full fair upborne ;
Invy in court can no man fe increfs ;
Als leill by lyne rycht as a rammis home.
III.
Marchands of louker takes bot littill hede,
Thair ufury is fetterit with difcrefs ;
And for to fpeik alfo of womanhede,
Baneift frome thame is all new fangilnes ;
Thay haif left pryd, and takin [to] meiknefs,
Quhois pacience is bot newly watt and fchorne j
Thair tungis hes no tuiching of fcherpnefs j
Als leill by lyne rycht as a rammis home.
IV.
3
IV.
Pure men complenis now, bot for no neid,
The riche gevis ay feik almoufs, as I gefs ;
With plenty ay the hungry thay do feid,
Clethis the nakit in thair wrechitnes ;
And cherite is now a cheif maiftrefs ;
Sklander fra her toung hes pullit out the thorne,
Difcretioun dois all hir lawis exprefs,
AIs leill by lyne rycht as a rammis home.
V.
Out of this land", or ellis God forbede-,
Baneiil is fraud, fallheid, and fekilnefs ;
Flattery is fled, and that for verry drede;
Both riche and pure hes takin thame to fadnefs ;
Lauboraris wirkis with all thair beflmefs ;
Day nor nycht, nor hour, can be forborne
Bot fwynk and fueit, to voyd all ydilnefs ;
AIs leill by lyne rycht as a rammis home.
VI.
Princis rememberis, and providently takis hede,
How vertew is of vyce a he goddefs j
Our faith nocht haltis, we leif evin as our crede
In wird and deid, as wark berris witnefs j
All ipocritis hes left thair frawardnefs;
Thus weidit is the poppill fra the corne;
And every ftait is governit, as I gefs,
A1& leill by lyne rycht as a rammis home.
I 167 3
Of Men evill to pleifs.
I.
FOure mener of men are evill to [
Ane is, that riches hes and eifs,
Gold, filver, corne, cattell, and ky,
And wald haif part fra uthiris by.
Ane uthir is of land and rent,
So grit a lord, and fo potent,
That he may not it revvill nor gy,
And yet wald haif fra uthiri'S by.
III.
The thrid dois eik fo dourly drink,
And aill and wyne within him fink,
Quhill in his wame no rowm be dry,
And yet wald haif fra uthiris by.
IV.
The laft that hes, of nobill blude,
Ane lufty lady fair and gude,
Boith vertewis, wyifs, and womanly,
Bot yet wald haif ane uthir by.
V.
In end, no wicht I can perfaif
Of gude fo grit aboundance haif,
Nor in this warld fo weithful wy,
Bot yet he wald haif uthir by.
VI.
Bot yit of ail this gold and gud,
Or uthir conyie, to conclude,
Quha evir it hais, it is not I ;
It gois fra me to uthiris by. ,
0/" Covetice*
I.
FRedome, honour, and nobilnes,
Meid, manheid, mirth, and gentilnes,
Ar now in court reput as vyce,
And all for caus of covetice.
II.
All weilfalr, welth, and wantones}
Ar chengit into wretchitnes,
And play is fett at littill price j
And all for caus of covetyce.
HI.
Halking, hunting, and fwift horfe rynning.
Ar chengit all in wrangus wynning ;
Thair is no play hot cartis and dyce ;
And all for caus of covetyce.
IV.
Honorable houfe-haldis'ar all laid doun ;
Ane laird hes with him but a loun,
That leids him eftir his devyce ;
And all for caus of covetyce.
V.
In burghis to landwart and to fie,
Quhair wes plefour and grit plentie,
Venefoun, wy Id-fowl, wyne, and fpice,
Ar now decayid thruch covetyce.
VI.
Hufbandis that grangis had full grete,
Cattell and come to fell and etc,
Hes now no beift bot cattis and myce j
And all thruch caus of covetyce,
VII.
3
VII.
Honefl yemen in every toun,
War wont to weir baith reid and broun,
Ar now arrayit in raggis with lyce j
And all throw caus of covetyce.
VIII.
And lairds in filk harlis to the deill,
For quhilk thair tenentis fald fomer meill,
And leivis on rutis undir the ryce ;
And all for caus of covetyce,
IX.
Quha that dois deidis of pette,
And leivis in pece and cheretie,
Is haldin a fule, and that full nyce ;
And all for caus of covetyce .
X.
And quha can reive uthir menis rowmis,
And upoun peur men gadderis fowmis,
Is now ane a«5live man and wyice ;
And all for caus of covetyce.
XI.
Man, pleis thy Makar, and be mirry,
And fett not by this warld a chirry ;
Wirk for the place of paradyce,
For thairin ringis na covetyce.
Ant
C 170 ]
Ane Difcriftioun of Pedder Coffeis.
I.
IT is my purpois to difcryve
This holy perfyte genologie
Of pedder knavis fuperlatyve,
Pretendand to awtoretie,
That wait of nocht hot beggartie.
Ye burges fonis prevene thir lownis,
That wald diftroy nobilitie,
And baneis it all borrow townis.
II.
Thay ar declarit in feven pairtk,
Ane fcroppit cofe quhen he begynnis,
Sornand all and findry airtis,
For to by hennis reid-wod he rynnis ;
He lokis thame up in to his innis
Unto ane derth, and fellis thair eggis,
Regraitandly on thame he wynnis,
And fecondjy his meit he beggis.
III.
Ane fwyngeour coife, amangis the wyvis,
In land-wart dwellis with fubteill menis,
Exponand thame auld fandlis lyvis,
And iknis thame with deid mennis banis ;
Lyk Rome-rakaris, with awfterne grants,
Speikand curlyk ilk ane tili uder ;
Peipand peurly with peteous granis,
jLyk fenyeit Symmye and his bruder.
IV.
C 171 1
IV.
Thir cur coffeis that failis oure fone,
And thretty-fum abowt ane pak,
With bair blew bonattis and hobbeld fchohe,
And beir bonnokis with thame thay tak ;
Thay fchamed fchrewis, God gif thame lak,
At none quhen merchantis makts gud cheir,
Steilis doun, and lyis behind ane pak,
Drinkand bot dreggis and barmy beir.
V.
Knaifatica coff mifknawis hirnfell,
Quhen he gettis in a furrit goun j
Grit Lucifer, maifter of hell,
Is nocht fa helie as that loun ;
As he cummis hrankand throw the toun,
With his keis clynkand on his arme,
That calf clovin-futtit fleid cuftroun,
Will mary nane bot a burges bairne.
VI.
Ane dyvour coffe, that wirry hen,
Diftroyis the honor of our natioun,
Takis gudis to frift fra fremit men,
And brekis his obligatioun ;
Quhilk dois the marchands defamatioun,
Thay ar reprevit for that regratour j.
Thairfoir we gif our declaratioun,
To hang and draw that common tratour.
VII.
Ane curlorous coffe, that hege-fkraper,.
He fittis at hame quhen that thay baik,
That pedder brybour, that fcheip-keipar,
He tellis thame ilk ane caik by caik ;
P 2 Syne
[ 172 ]
Syne lokkes thame up, and takis a faik,
Betwixt his dowblett and his jackett,
And eitis thame in the buith that fmaik ;
God that he mort into ane rakkett.
VIII.
Ane cathedrall coffe, he is ovir riche,
And hes na hap his gude to fpend,
Bot levis lyk ane wareit wreche,
And treftis nevir till tak ane end;
With fallheid evir dois him defend,
Preceding flill in avericc,
And leivis his faule na gude comend,
Bot walkis ane \vilfome wey, I wifs. „
IX.
I you exhort all that is heir,
That reidis this bill, ye wald it fchaw
Unto the proveft, and him requeir,
That he will geif thir coffis the law,
And baneis thame the burges raw,
And to the fcho ftreit ye thame ken ;
Syne cut thair luggis, that ye may knaw,
Thir peddir knavis be burges men.
I '73
Ane lit till Interludt
Of the Droichh part of the Play.
I.
HIry, hary, hubbHfchow,
Se ye not quha is cum now,.
Bot yit wait I nevir how,
With the quhirle-wind ?
A fargeand out of Soudoun land,
A gyane ftrang for to ftand,
That with the ftrength of my handi
Bereis may bind.
n.
Bot yit I trow that I vary,
I am bot ane blynd Hary,
That lang hes bene with the fary,,
Farlyis to fynd ;
And yit gif this be not I,
I wait it is the fpreit of Gy,
Or ellis fle be the iky,
And lycht as the lynd.
III.
Quha is cum heir, bot I,
A bauld bufteous beliomy,
Amang you all to cry a cry,
W ith ane michty foun ?
That generit am of gyanis kynd,
Fra the ftrong Hercules be rtryntl,
Of all the Occident and ynd,
My elderis woir the croun.
IV,
C 174 3
IV.
My foir grandfyr, hecht Fyn Mackowll,
That dang the devill, and gart him yowll ;.
The fkyis rainid quhen he wald yowll,
He trublit all the air.
He gatt my gud-fyr Gog Magog j
He, quhen he danfit, the warld wald fchogj
Ten thowfand ellis yied in his frog,
Of Heland plaidis, and mair.
V.
And yit he wes of tendir yowth ;
But eftir he grew mekle at fowth,
Ellevin myle wyd mett wes his mo\vthv
His teith wes ten myle fquair.
He wald upoun his tais upftand,
And tak the ftarnis doun with his hand,
And fett thame in a gold garland
Aboif his wyvis hair.
VI.
He had a wyfe was mekle of clift;
Her heid was heichar nor the lift ;
The hevin reirdit quhen fcho wald rift ;
The lafs was nathing Ihlendir :
Scho fpatt Loch-loumond with her lippis;
Thunder and fyre-flawght flew fra her hippis ;
Quhen fcho wes crabbit, the lone thold clipps;
The feynd durft nocht offend hir.
VII.
For cawld fcho tuk the fevir tartane,
For all the claith in France and Bartane,
Wald not be to hir leg a gartane,
Thocht fcho was young and tendir :
Upoun
C
Upoun a nicht heir in the north,
Scho tuke the gravall, and ftaild Craig-Gorthy
And * * * * the grit watter of Forth ;
Sic tyd ran eftirhend her.
VIII.
Yit ane thing writtin of hir I find,
In Yrland quhen fcho blew behind,
On Norway coift fcho raifit the wynd,
And grit fchippis drownit thair.
Scho fifchit all the Spainyie feyis,
With her fark-lap betwixt her theyis;
Thre dayis failing betwixt her kneyis
It wes eftemid, and mair.
IX.
My fader, mekle Gow Macmorne,
Owt of his moderis wame was fchorne \
For littilnes fcho was forlorne,
Siche an a kemp to beir :
Or he of aige was yeiris thre,
He wald ftop over the Occraine fie ;
The mone fprang nevir abone his kne ;
The hevins had of him feir.
X.
Ane thowfand yeir is paft fra mynd,
Sen I was generi of his kynd,
Far furth in the defartis of te Ynd>
Amang lyoun and beir.
Worthie King Arthour and Gawane,
And mony a bawld berne of Bartane,
Ar deid, and in the weiris ar flane,
Sen I cowld weild a fpeir.
XL
[ 176 I
XI.
Sophie and the Sowdoun ftrang,
With weiris that hes leftit lang,
Owt of thair boundis hes maid me gang,
And turne to Turky tyte.
The King of Francis grit army,
Hes brocht in derth in Lumbardy,
That in the cuntre he and I
Can nocht dwell baith perfyte.
XII.
Swadrik, Denmark, and Norraway,
Nor in the Steiddis I dar nocht ga ;
Thair is nothing bot and fiae,
Cut throppillis, and make quyte»
Yrland for evir I half reffufit,
All \vyis-men will hald me excufit,
For nevirin landquhair Eriche was ufit,
To dwell had I dellyte.
XIII.
I half bene formeft evir in feild,
And now fa lang I haif borne the fcheild.
That I am crynit in for eild
This littill, as ye may fie.
I haif bene banneift undir the lynd
This lang tyme, that nane could me fynd3,
Quhill now with this laft eiftin wyndx
I am cum heir perdie.
XIV.
My name is Welth, thairfoir be blyth,
1 am cum comfort you to kyth ;
Suppois wrechis will waill and wryth,
Alldarthlfallgardre;
For
C '77 J
For certanelie, the treuth to tell,
I cum amang you for to dwell,
Far fra the found of Curphour bell,
To dwell thinks nevir me.
XV.
Now fen I am fuche quantetie
Of gyanis cum, as ye may fie,
Quhair will be gottin a wyfe to me
Of ficklyk breid and hicht ?
In all this bowre is nocht a brydc,
Ane hour, I wait, dar me abyde ;
Yit trow ye ony heir befyde,
Micht fuffir me all nicht.
XVI.
Adew ; fairweill ; for aow I go,.
Bot I will nocht lange byd you fro ;
Chryft yow conferve.fra every wo,
Baith maidin, wyf, and man.
God blifs thame, and the haly rude,
Givis me a drink, fa it be gude ;
And quha trowis beft that I do lude,
Skjnk firft to me the kan.
A**
C 178 3
Ane Ballat of evil I Wyffis.
I.
BE mirry, bretherene, ane and all*
And fett all fturt on fyd ;
And every ane togidder call,
To God to be our gyd :
For als lang leivis the mirry man,
As dois the wrech, for ocht he can ;
Quhen deidhim ftreks, he wait nocht quhan,
And chairgis him to byd.
II.
The riche than fall nocht fparit be,
Thocht thay half gold and land,
Nor yit the fair, for thair bewty,
Can nocht that chairge ganeftand :
Thocht wicht or waik wald fle away,
No dowt bot all mon ranfone pay ;
Quhat place, or quhair, can no man fay,
Be fie, or yit be land.
III.
Quhairfoir my counfaill, brethir, is,.
That we togidder fmg,
And all to loif that Lord of blifs,
That is of hevynis King :
Quha knawis the fecreit thochts and dowt,
Of all our hairtis round about ;
And he quha thinks him nevir fo ftout,
Mone thoill that puniffing.
IV.
E 179
IV.
Quhat man but ftryf, in all his lyfe,
Doith teft moir of deids pane ;
Nor dois the man quhilk on the fie
His leving feiks to gane :
For quhen diftrefs dois him opprefs,
Than to the Lord for his redrefs,
Quha gaif command for all exprefs
To call, and nocht refrane.
V.
The myrryeft man that leivis on lyfe,
He failis on the fie ;
For he knawis nowdir fturt nor ftryfe,
Bot blyth and mirry be :
Bot he that hes ane evill wyfe,
Hes fturt and forrow all his lyfe ;
And that man quilk leivis ay in ftrife,
How can he mirry be ?
VI.
Ane evill wyfe is the werft aucht,
That ony man can haif ;
For he may nevir fit in faucht,
Onlefshebehirfklaif:
Bot of that fort I knaw nane uder,
But owthir a kukald, or his bruder ;
[Fondlars] and kukalds all togidder,
May wifs thair wyfis in graif.
VII.
Becaus thair wyfis hes maiftery,
That thay dar nawayis cheip,
Bot gif it be in privity,
Quhan thair wyfis ar on flcip :
Ane
[ 180 ]
Ane mirry in thair cumpany,
Wer to thame worth baith gold and fie 5
Ane menftrall could nocht bocht be,
Thair mirth gif he could beit.
VIII.
Bot of that fort quilk I report,
I knaw nane in this ring ;
Bot we may all, baith grit and fmall,
Glaidly baith dance and fmg :
Quha lift nocht heir to mak gud cheir,
Perchance his guds ane uthir yeir
Be fpent, quhen he is brocht to beir,
Quhen his wyfe taks the fling.
IX.
It lies bene fene, that wyfe wemen,
Eftir thair hufbands deid,
Hes gottin men, hes gart thame ken,
Gif thay mycht beir grit laid.
With ane grene fling, hes gart thame bring,
The geir quilk won wes be ane dring ;
And fyne gart all the bairnis fmg,
Ramukloch in thair bed.
X.
Than wad fcho fay, Allace ! this day.
For him that wan this geir ;
Quhen I him had, I fkairfly faid,
My hairt anis mak gud cheir.
Or I had lettin him fpend a plak,
I lever haif wittin him brokin his bak,
Or ellis his craig had gottin a crak
Our the heicht of the ftair.
XI.
£ 1 8.1 J
XI.
Ye neigartis, then example tak,
And leir to fpend your awin ;
And with gud freynds ay mirry male, '
That it may be weill knawin,
That thow art he quha wan this geir e
And for thy wyfe fe thou nocht fpair.
With gud freynds ay to mak repair.
Thy honefty may be [ihawin.]
XII.
Finis, quoth I, quha fettis nocht byt
The ill wyffis of this toun,
Thocht for difpyt, with me wald flyt,
Gif thay mieht put me doun.
Gif ye wald knaw quha maid this fang,
Quhiddir ye will him heid or hang,
flemyngti his name quhair evir he gang,
In place, or in quhat toun.
Ballat
Sal/at of Cuds -
I.
IMak irkend, he that will fpend,
And luve God lait and air,
God will him mend, and grace him fend,
Quhen catyvis fall half cair :
Thairfoir pretend weill for to fpend
Of geir, and nocht till fpair.
I knaw the end, that all mon wend
Away nakit and bair,
With ane O and ane I ;
Ane wreche fall haif no mair,
Bot ane fe-hort fcheit, at heid andfeit,
For all his wrek and wair.
II.
For all the wrak a wreche can pak,
And in his baggis imbracc,
Yet deid fall tak him be the bak,
And gar him cry, Allace !
Than fall he fwak, away with lak,
And wait nocht to quhat place ;
Than will thay mak at him a knak,
That maift of his gud hais,
With ane O and ane I :
Quhyle we haif tyme and fpace,
JMtak we gud cheir, quhyle we ar heir,
And thank God of his grace.
HI.
C 183 3
m.
Wer thair ane king to rax and ring
Amang gude-fallowis cround,
Wrechis wald wring, and mak murnyng>
For dule thay fuld be dround :
Quha finds ane dring, owdir auld or ying,
Gar hoy him out and hound.
Now lat us fmg, with Chryftis Miffing,
Be glaid, and mak gude found,
With ane O and ane I j
Now or we furder found ;
Drink thou to me, and I to the,
And lat the cop go round.
Quha undirftude, fuld haife his gude,
Or he wer closd in clay ;
Sum in thair mude thay wald go wud,
And de lang or thair day :
Nocht worth an hude, or ane auld mud,
Thou fall beir hyne away ;
Wreche, be the rude, for to conclude,
Full few will for the pray,
With ane O and ane I :
Gud-fallowis, quhill we may,
Be mirry and fre, fyne blyth we be,
And fing on twa and tway.
JOHNE BLYTH,
AuM
I 184 3
Auld Kyndnes ftryetf,
I.
THis \varld is all bot fenyeit fair,
And als unftabk as the wind,
Gud faith is flemit, I wat nocht quhair,
Treft falloxvfhip is evil to find ;
Gud confcience is all maid blind,
And cheritie is nane to gett,
Leill, loif, and lawte lyis behmd,
And auld kyndnss is quyt foryeu.
II.
Quhill I had ony thing to fpend,
And flufEt weill with warldis wrak,
Amang my freinds I wes weill kend:
Quhen I wes proud, and had a pak,
Thay wald me be the oxtar tak,
And at the he buird I wes fet ;
Bot now thay latt me (land abak,
Sen auld kyndnes is quyt foryett.
m.
Now I find bot freindis few,
Sen I wes pryfit to be pure ;
They hald me now bot for a fchrew,
To me thay tak bot littill cure ;
All that I do is bot injure :
Thocht I am bair I am nocht bett,
Thay latt me ftand bot on the flure,
Sea auld kyndnes is quyt foryett.
IV
C 1*5 1
IV.
Suppois I mene, I am nocht mendit,
Sen I held pairt with poverte,
Away fen that my pak wes fpendit,
Adew all liberalite
The prowerb now is trew, I fer
£>uha may nocht gifet will lit till gett ;
Thairfoir to iky the varite,
Now auld kyndnes is quyt foryettk
V.
Thay waM me hals with hude and hatt,.
Quhyle I wes riche and had anewch,
About me freindis anew I gatt,
Rycht blythlie on me thay lewch ;
Bot now they mak it wondir tewch,
And lattis me ftand befoir the yett :
Thairfoir this warld is verry frewch,
And auld kyndnes is quyt foryett.
Vf.
Als lang as my cop ftud evin,
I yeid botfeindill myne allane ;
I fquyrit wes with fex or fevin,
Ay quhyle I gaif thame twa for ane;,
Bot fuddanly fra that wes gane,
Thay paffit by with handis plett,
With purtye fra I wes ourtune,
T han auld kindnes was quytferyett,
VII.
Into this warlcl fuld aa man trow ;
Thow may \veill fe the rcflbun quhy ;
For evir bat gif thy hand be fow,
Thow arte, bot littill feitin by : ^
t 186 3
Thou art nocht tane in cumpany,
Bot thair be fum fifch in thy nett j
Thairfoir this fals warld I defy,
Sen auld kyndnes is quyt foryett.
VIII.
Sen that na kyndnes kepit is
Into this warld that is prefent,
Gif thou wald cum to hevynis bills,
Thyfelf applets with fobir rent j
Leif godly, and gife with gude intent,
To every man his proper dett ;
Quhat evir God fend, hald the content,
Sen auld kyndnes is quyt foryett.
C '87 3
To rememblr the End.
I.
BRuthir, be wyis, I reid you now,
With ladeis, gif it happynis yo\r,
That welth no way your wit mak blind j
Obey, and for the bettir bow,
Remembir quhatt ma cum behind,
II.
Thocht ye be flowand in the rege
Of frefche yowthheid, and grene enrage,
And lycht as ony leif on lynd,
And be extold in Venus ftege,
Remembir quhat ma cum behind.
III.
Suppois that lufe be natural!,
And in yowthheid moft principal!,
Ryn nocht our far in to the win''*
At thy fute thocht thow haif the ball ;
Remembir quhat ma euro behind.
IV.
Thocht thow be flerk as Hercules,
Sampfone, Hetfor, or Achilles,
Be fors thocht thow may lows and bynd
Pentagora to preif in prefs,
Remembir quhat ma cum behind.
V.
Ane uthir thinge I do ye fay,
Preif nevir thy pith fo far in play,
That thow forthink that thow come ind,
And murn quhen thow no mendis may ;
Remembir quhat ma cum behind.
VI.
£ 188 1
VI.
Thocht thow be wyis as Salamoner
Or fair of feir as Abfolone,
Or riche as Cryfes out of kynd,
Or princis peir Ipomedone ;
Remembir quhat ma cum behind..
VII.
Gif thow be wyis, fo is thair rao ;
Gif thow be ftark thair is alfo ;
Gif thow be gude, gud fall thow fynd ;
Gif thow be ill, thow fynds thy fo :
Remembir quhat ma cum behind.
VIII.
Thus fall thow ftand in no degre
Sover forout perplexitie ;
"T^hocht thow be nevir fo noble of kynd,
No, g-re f0 gr;t Of di^nitie ;
RemenJ^r quhat ma cum behind.
IX.
In all thy doingis haif gud flcill :
Continew in gude, te.forme the ill,
Do fo that dolour may be dynd ;
Thus may thow think, gif that thow will,
Of gud and ill quhat cumis behind.
Sir JOHNE MOFFETT,
72*
189 3
The Prais of Aige.
I.
AT matyne houre, in midis of the nicht,
Walkeit of fleip, I faw befyd me fone,
Ane aigit man, feimit fextie yeiris of ficht,
This fentence fett, and fong it in gud tone :
Omnipotent, and eterne God in trone 1
To be content and lufe the I haif caus,
That my licht yowthetd is oppreft and done j
Honor with aige to every vertew drawii,
II.
Grene yowth, to aige thow mon obey and bow.
Thy foly luftis leftes fkant ane May ;
That than wes witt, is naturall foly now,
As warldy witt, honor, riches, or frefche arrav
DefFy the devill, dreid God and domifday,
For all fall be accufit, as thow knawis ;
Bleflit be God, my yowtheid is awaj J
Honor with aige to every vertew drawls.
m.
O bittir yowth ! that femis delicious ;
O haly aige ! that fumtyme femit foure ;
O reftles yowth ! hie, hait, and vicious ;
O honeft aige ! fullfillit with honoure;
O frawart yowth ! frutles and fedand flour,
Contrair to confcience, baith to God and lawis,
Of all vane gloir the lamp and the mirroure ;
Honor with aige till every vertew drawis.
IV.
C I5>o 3
IV.
This warld is fett for to diflaive us evin ;
Pryde is the nett, and covetcce is the trane ;
For na reward, except the joy of hevin,
Wa!d I be yung into this warld agane.
The fchip of faith, tempeftous wind and rane,
Dryvis in the fee of Lollerdry that blawis ;
My yowth is gane, and I am glaid and fane,
Honor with aige to every vertew drawis.
V.
Law, luve, and lawtie, gravin law thay Iy;
Diffimulance hes borrowit confcience clayis ;
Aithis, writ, walx, nor feilis, ar not fet by ;
Flattery is fofterit baith with freinds and fayis.
The fone, to bruik it that his fader hais,
Wald fe him deid; Sathanas fie feid fawis :
^owtheid, adew, ane of my mortall fais,
Hou<»r with aige to every vertew drawis.
KENNEBY,
T.he Blait Luvar.
I.
Flora had ourfret the firth,
In May of every moneth quene ;
Quhen merle and mavis fingis with mirth,
Sweit melling in the fchawis fchene ;
Quhen all luvaris rejofit bene,
And moft defyrus of thair pray;
I hard a lufty luvar mene,
I luve, bot I dar nocht aflay.
II.
Strang ar the panis I daylie prufe,
Bot yet with patience I fuftene;
I am fo fetterit with the lufe
Onlie of my Lady fchene ;
Quhilk for her bewty mycht be quene,
Natour fa craftely alwey,
Hes done depaint that fweit fcherene ;
Quhome I luf I dar nocht afTay.
III.
Scho is fa brycht of hyd and hew,
I lufe but hir allone I wene ;
Is non hir luf that may efchew,
That blenkis of that dulce amene,
Sa cumly cleir at hir twa ene,
That fcho ma luvaris dois effrey,
Than evir of Grice did fair Helene ;
Quhom I luf I dar nocht aflay.
Law
Luvt ane Levtllar.
I.
LUve preyfis, but comparefone,
Both gentill, fempill, generall ;
And of fre will gevis warefone,
As fortoun chanfis to befall :
For luve maids nobill ladeis thraM,
To baffir men of birth and blud ;
So luve garris fobir wemen fmall,
Get maiftrice our grit men of gud.
II.
Ferme luve, for favour, feir, orfeid,
Of riche nor pur to fpeik fuld fpair ;
For luve to hieneshes no heid,
Nor lychtleis lawlines ane air,
But puttis all perfonis in compair :
This prowerb planely for to preve,
That men and women, lefs and mair;
AT cumd of Adame and of Eve.
III.
Sa thocht my liking wer a leddy,
And I no lord, yet nocht the lels,
Scho fuld my ferwice find als reddy,
As Duke to Duches docht him drefs ;
For as proud princely luve exprels
Is to half foverenitie,
So fenvice cummis of fympilnefs,
And Jeileft luve of law de^re.
IV.
I 193 3
IV.
So luvaris lair no leid fuld lak,
A lord to lufe a filly lafs,
A leddy als, for luf to tak,
Ane propir page, hir tym to pafs.
For quhy ? as bricht bene birneift brafs
As filver wrocht at all dewyfs ;
And als gud drinking out of glais
As gold, thocht gold gif grittar pryfs.
ALEXANDER SCOTT,
I '94 3
dne New "fere Gift
To the Quenc, quhen fcho come frfl hame, 1562.
I.
WElcum, illuftrat Ladye, and oure Quene ;
Welcumoure lyone, with the Floure-de-lyce;
Welcum oure thriflill, with the Lorane greae ;
Wclcum oure rubent rois upoun the ryce ;
Welcunn ourejem and joyfull genetryce ;
Welcum oure beill of ALBION to beir ;
Weicum oure plefand princes, maift of pryce ;
God gife the grace aganis this guid new-yeir.
II.
This guid new-yeir, \ve hoip, with grace of God,
Sail be ofpeax, tranquillitie, and reft;
This yeir fall rycht and reffone rewle the rod,
Quhilk fa lang feafoun has bene foir fuppreft ;
This yeir, ferme fayth fall frelie be confeft,
.rind all erronius queftionis put areir,
To laaboure that this lyfe amang us left ;
Cod gife the grace aganis this guid new-yeir.
III.
Heirfore addres the dewlie to decoir,
And rewle thy regne with hie magnificence j
Begin at God to gar fett furth his gloir,
And of his gofpell get experience ;
Caus his trevv kirk be had in reverence ;
So fall thy name and fame fpred far and neir :
Now, this thy dett to do with diligence,
*God g'fe the grace aganis this guid new-yeir.
IV.
C *9S 1
IV.
Found on the firft four vertewis cardinal],
On wifdome, juftice, force, and temperance ;
Applaud to prudent men, and principall
Ofvertewus lyfe, thy worfchep till avance;
Waye juftice, equale without difcrepance ;
Strenth thy eftait with fteidfaftnes to fteir j
To temper tyme with trew continuance,
God gife the grace aganis this guid new-yeir.
V.
Caft thy confale be counfall of the fage,
And cleif to Chryft, lies kepit the in cure,
Attingent now to twentye yeir of aige^
Prefervand the fro all mifaventure.
Wald thow be fervit, and thy cuntre fure,
Still on the commoun-weill haif e and eir;
Preifs ay to be protreftrix of the pure ;
So God fall gyde thy Grace this guid new-yeir.
VI.
Gar flanche all ftryff, and ftabill thy eftaitis
In conftance, concord, eherite, and lufe ;
Be biflle now to banifch all debatis*
Betwixt kirk-men and temporall men dois mufe :
The pulling doun of policie reprufe,
And lat perverfit prelettis leif perqueir ;
To do the beft, befekand God abuve,
To give the grace aganis this guid new-yeir...
VJL
At croce gar cry be oppin proclamatioun,
Undir grit panis, that nothir he nor fcho,
Of halye writ, haif ony difputatioun,
Bot letterit men, or lernit clerkis thereto ;
R 2 For
t 196 1
For lymmer lawdis, and litle laffis lo,
Will argun baith with bifchop, preift, and freir ;
To dantoun this, thow hes aneuch to do,
God gife the grace aganis this guid new-yeir.
VIII.
Bot wyte the wickit paftouris wald nocht mend
Their vitious leving, all the warld prefcryvis,
Thay tuke na tent their traik fould turne till end,
Thay wer fa proud in thair prerogatyvis ;
For wantonnes thay wald nocht wed na wyvis.
Nor yit leif chafte, botchop and change thair cheir:
Now, to reforme thair fylthy litcherous lyvis,
God gife the grace aganis this guid new-yeir.
IX.
Thay brocht tliair baftardis with the fkrufe thay/kraip,
To blande thair blude with barrownis be ambitioun ;
Tiiay purcheft pithl-.s pardonis fra the Paip,
To caus fond fulis confyde he hes fruitioun,
As God, to gif for fynnis full remiffioun,
And faulis to faif frome fuffering forrowis feir ;
To fett afyde fie fortis of fuperftitioun,
God gif the grace aganis this guid new-yeir.
X.
Thay loft baith benifice and pentioun that mareit,
And quha eit flefch on Frydayis was fyre-fangit;
It maid na mifs quhat madinis thay mifcareit
On fading dayis, thay were nocht brint nor hangit:
Licence for luthrie fra thair lord belangit,
To gif indulgence as the devill did leir ;
To mend that menye hes famonye mangit,
God gif the grace aganis this guid i:ew-yeir.
XT.
C
XI.
Thay lute thy lieges pray to flokkis and flanes,
And paintit paiparis, wattis nocht quhat thay meine;
Thay badthame bekand byngeat deiclmennis banes;
Offer on kneis to kifs, fyne faif thair kin :
Pilgrimes and palmaris paft with thame betwene,.
Sand Blais, SancT Boit, blate bodeis ein to bleir :
Now to forbid this grit abufe hes bene,
God gif the grace aganis this guid new-yeir.
XII.
Thay tyrit God with tryfillis tume trentalis,
And daifit him with [thair] daylie dargeis ;
With owklie Abitis, to augment thair rentalis,
Mantandmort-mumlingis, mixt with monye leis,
Sic fan<5litude was Sathanis forcereis,
Chriftis fillie fcheip, and fobir flok, to fmeir :
To ceifs all fmdrye fectis of herefeis,
God gif the grace aganis this guid new-yeir,
XIII.
With mefs nor matynes nowayis will I mell,
Tojuge thame juftlie paffis my ingyne ;
Thay gyde nocht ill that goverins weill thame fell?
And lelalie on lawtie layis thair lyne :
Dowtis to difcus, for doflouris ar devyne,
Cunning in clergie to declair thame cleir:
To ordour this, the office now is thyne,
God gif the grace aganis this guid new-yeir.
XIV.
As beis takkis walx and honye of the floure,
So dois the faythfull of Goddis word tak frute ;
As wafpis reilavis of the fame bot foure,
So reprobatis Chriftis buke dois rebute :
R 3 Wordis
I 198 ]
Wordis, without werkis, availyeis nocht a cute :
To feis thy fubje&is fo in luf and feir,
That rycht and reafoun in thy realme may rute,
God gif the grace aganis this guid new-yeir.
XV.
The epiftollis and evangelis now ar prechitr
But fophiftrie or ceremoneis vane ;
Thy pepill, maift pairt, trewlie now ar techitr
To put away idolatrie prophaine :
Bot in fum hartis is gravit new agane,
Ane image, callit cuvatyce of geir;
Now, to expell that idoll ftandis up plane,
God gif the grace aganis this guid new-yeir.
XVI.
For fum ar fene at fermonis feme fa halye,
oingand Sanft Davidis pfalter on thair bukis,
And ar hot bibliftis fairfmg full thair bellie,
Backbytand nychtbours, noyand thame in nuikis,
Rugging and raifand up kirk-rentis lyke ruikis ;
As werrie wafpis aganis Godeis word makis weir :
Sic Chriflianis to kifs with chanteris kuiks,
God gif the grace aganis this guid new-yeir.
XVII.
Dewtie and dettis ar drevin by dowbilncs,
Auld folkis ar flemit fra young fayth profdlburs,
The gritteft ay, the gredcUar I gefs,
To plant quhair preiftis and perfonis wer pofleflburs ;
Teindis ar uptane by teflament tranfgreflburs ;
Credence is part, off promeis thocht thay fweir :
To punifch Papiflis and reprcche oppreffouris,
God gif the grace aganis this guid new-yeir.
XVIII.
tC 199 3
XVIII.
Pure folk ar famift with thir fafllonig new,
They faill for fait that had befoir at fouth ;
Leill labouraris lamentis, and tennentis trew,
That thay ar hurt and hareit north and fouth :
The heidifmen hes cor mundum in thair mowth,
Bot nevir with mynd to gif the man his meir;
To quenche thir quent calami teis fo cowth,
God gif the grace aganis this guid new-yeir.
XIX.
Proteftandis takis the freiris auld antetewme,
Reddle reflavaris bot to rander nocht ;
So lairdis upliftis mennis leifing ouir thy rewme,
And ar rycht crabit quhen thay crave thame ocht j
Be thay unpayit, thy purfevandis ar focht,
To pund pure communis corne and cattell keir :
To wify all thir wrangus workis ar wrocht,
God gif the grace againis this guid new-yeir.
XX.
Paul/ biddts nocht deill with thingis idolatheit,
Nor quhair hypocrafie hes bene committit ;
Bot kirk-mennis curfit fubftance femis fweit
Till land-men, with that leud burd-lyme are kyttit
Giff -thou perfave fum fenyeour it hes fmittit,
Solift thame foftlie nocht to perfeveir :
Hurt not thair honour, thocht thy hienes wittit,
Bot graciouflie forgife thame this guid yeir.
XXI.
Forgifanis grant with glaidnes and guid will,
Gratis till all into your parliament ;
Syne ftabill ftatutis, fteidfaft to ftand ftill,
That barrone, clerk, and burges be content :
Thy
[ 200 ]
Thy nobillis, erlls, and lordis confequent,
Treit tendir, to obtene thair hartis inteir ;
That thay may ferve and be obedient,
Unto thy Grace, aganis this guid new-yeir.
XXII.
Sen fo thou fittis infaitt fuperlatyve,
Gaus everye ftait to thair vocatioun go,
Scolaftik men the fcriptouris to defcryve;
And majeftratis to ufe the fwerd alfo,
Merchandis to trafique and travell to and fro,
Mechaniks wirk, hufbandis to faw and fcheir ;
So fall be welth and weilfaire without wo,
Be grace of God aganis this guid new-yeir.
XXIII.
Latt all thy realme be now in reddines,
With coftlie clething to decoir thy cors ;
Yung gentilmen for danfing thame addrefs,
With courtlie ladyescuplit in confers ;
Frak ferce gallandis for feild gemis enfors ;
Enarmit knychtis at Mis with fcheild and fpeir.
To fecht in barrowis bayth on fute and hors,
Agane thy Grace gett ane guid-man this yeir.
XXIV.
This yeir fall be imbaflktis heir belyffe,
For mariage, frome princes, dukis, and kingis ;
This yeir, within thy regioun, fall aryfe,
Rowtis of the rankeft that in Europ ringis ;
This yeir bayth blythnes and abundance bringis,
Naveis of fchippis outthrocht the fea to fneir,
With riches raymentis, and all royall thingis,
Agane thy Grace get ane guid-man this yeir.
XXV
C 201 1
XXV.
GifFe favvis be futh to fchaw thy celfitude,
Quhat berne fuld bruke all Bretane be the fe ?
The prophecie expreflie dois conclude,
The Frenfch wyfe of the Bruits blade fuld be :
Thow art be lyne fra him die nynte degree,
And wes King Frances pairty maik and peir;
So be difcente, the fame fould fpring of the,
By grace of God agane this gude new-yeir.
XXVI.
Schortlie to conclud, on Chrift caft thy comfort,
And chereis thame that thou hes undir charge ;
Suppone maift fure he fall the fend fupport,
And len the luftie liberos at large :
Beleif that Lord may harbary fo thy bairge,
To make braid Brltane blyth as bird on breir,
And the extoll with his triumphand targe,
Viftoriuflie agane this guid new-yeir.
L'E N v o y.
XXVII.
Prudent, mais gent, tak tent, and prent the wordis
Intill this bill, with will tham ftill to face,
Quilkis ar nocht fkar, to bar on far fra bowrdis,
Bot leale, but feale, may haell, avaell thy Grace j
Sen lo, thow fcho this to, now do hes place,
Receive, and fwaif, and haif, ingraif it heir :
This now, for prow, that yow,fweit dow, may brace,
Lang fpace, with grace, folace, and peace, thisyeir.
L E C
L 202 J
LECTORI.
XXVIII.
Frefch, fulgent, flurift, fragrant flour, formois,
Lantern to lufe, of ladeis lamp and lot,
Cherie maift chaift, chelf charbucle and chois ;
Smaill fweit fmaragde, fmelling but fmit of fmot;
Nobleft natour, nurice to nurtour not,
This dull indyte, dulce, dowble, dafy deir,
Sent be thy fempill fervand Sanderis Scott,
Greiting grit God to grant thy Grace guid yeir.
ALEXANDER SCOTT.
Lament
•C 203 ]
Lament of the Maifter of Erftyn.
I.
DEparte, departe, departe, allace ! I moftdeparte
Frome hir that hes my hart, with hart full foir,
Aganis my will indeid, and can find no remeid,
I wait, the panis of deid can do no moir.
II.
Now mod I go, allace ! frome ficht of her fweit face,
The grand of all my grace and foverane :
Quhat chans that may fall me, fall I nevirmirry be,
Unto the tyme I fe my fweit agane.
III.
I go, and wait nochtquhair, Iwandirheir andthair,
I weip and fichis rycht fair, with panis fmart,
Now mod I pafs away, in wildirnefs andwilJfull way;
Allace ! this wofull day we fuld departe.
IV.
My fpreit dois quaik for dreid, my thirlit hairt dois
bleid,
My painis dois exceid ; quhat fuld I fay ?
1 wofull wycht allone, makand ane petous mone,
Allace ! my hairt is gone, for evir and ay.
V.
Throw langour of my fweit, fo thirlit is my ipreit,
My dayis ar moft compleit, throw hir abfence :
Chryft, fen fcho knew my fmert, ingraivit in my
hairt,
Becaus I moft departe frome hir prefens.
VI.
Adew, my awin fweit thing, my joy and comforting,
My mirth and follcfmg, of erdly gloir :
Fairweill, my lady bricht, and my remembrance
rycht ;
Fair weill, and haif gud nycht ; I fay no moir.
ALEXANDER SCOTT.
To
I 204 3
To his Heart.
I.
REturne the haraewart, hairt, agane,
And byde quhair thou was wont to be ;
Thow art ane fule to fuffer pane*
For luve of hir that luvis not the.
My hairt, lat be fie fantefie,
Luve nane bot as thay mak the cause,
And lat her feik ane hairt for the j
For feind a crum of the fcho fawis.
II.
To quhat efFed fould thou be thrall ?
But thank fen thou hes thy fre will;
My hairt be nocht fa beftiall,
But knaw quha dois the guid or ill.
Remane with me, and tarry ftill,
And fe quha playis beft their pawis,
And lat fillok ga fling her fill ;
For feind a crum of the fcho fawis.
III.
Thocht fcho be fair, I will not fenyie,
Scho is the kind of utheris ma ;
For quhy ? thair is a fellone menyie,
That femis gud, and ar not fa.
My hairt tak nowdir pane nor wa,
For Meg, for Merjory, or yit Mawis,
Bot be thou glaid, and latt hir ga ;
For feind a crum of the fcho fawis.
JV.
1 205 3
IV.
Becaus I find fcho tuk in ill,
At her departing thow mak na cair ;
Bot all begyld, go quhair fcho will,
A fchrew the hairt that mane makis mair.
My hairt be mirry lait and air,
This is the fynall end and claufe ;
And let her fallow ane filly fair,
For feind a crum of the fcho fawis.
ALEXANDER Scorr.
Lament
Lament quhsn his Wyfe left him.
I.
TO luve unluvit it is ane pane ;
For fcho that is my ibverane,
Sum wantoun man fo he hes fet hir,
That I can get no lufe agane,
Bot breke my hairt, and nocht the bettir,.
II.
Quhen that I went with that fweit May,
To dance, to fing, to fport, and play,
And oft tymes in my eirmis plet hir ;
I do now murne both nycht and day,
And breke my hairt, and nocht the bettir.
III.
Qnhair I wes wont to fe hir go,
Rycht trymly pafiand to and fro,
Vvrith cumly fmylis quhen that I met hir ;
And now I leif in pane and wo,
And breke my hairt, and nocht the bettir.
IV.
Quhattane ane glaikit fule am I,
To flay royfelf with melancoly,
Sen weill I ken I may nocht get hir ?
Or quhat fuld be the caus, and quhy,
To breke my hairt, and nocht the bettir ?
V.
My hairt, fen thowmay nocht hir pleis,
Adew ; as gude lufe cumis as gais,
Go chufe ane udir, and forget hir :
God gif him dolour and diieis,
T-kat breits [his] hairt, and nocht the bettir.
ALEXANDER SCOTT.
C 2*7 3
Of Wemenkynd.
I.
IMufe and mervellis in my myncf,
Quhat way to wryt, or put in vers,
The quent confailis of wemen-kynd,
Or half thair havingis to rehers ;
I fynd thair haill affeclioun
So contrair thair complexioun.
II.
For quhy ? no leid unleill thay lei't,
Untrewth expreftly thay expell ;
Yit thay ar planeift and repleit,
Of falfet and diflait thair fell :
So find I thair affecftioun
Contrair thair awin complexioun.
III.
Thay favour no wayis fuliche men,
And verry few of thame ar wyis,
All gredy perfonis thay mifken,
And thay ar full of covettyis ;
So find I thair affectioun
Contrair thair awin complexioun,.
IV.
I can thame call but kittie unfellis,
That takkis fie maneris at thair motherisj
To bid men keip thair fecreit counfailis,
Syne fchaw the fame againe till uthiris ;
So find I thair affeclioun
Contrair thair awin complexioun.
S 2 V.
I 208 3
v.
Thay lawch with thame that thay difpyC,
And with thair lykingis thay lament ;
Of thair wanhap thay lay the wyt
On thair leill luvaris innocent :
So find I thair affeftioun
Contrair thair awin complexioun.
VI.
Thay wald be rewit, and hes no rewth,
Thay wald be menit, and no man menis,
Thay tvald be trowit, and hes no trewth,
Thay wifs thair will that fkant wsill weny* i
So find I thair affeftitmn
Contrair thair awin complexioun.
VII.
Thay forge the friendship of the fremmit,
And fleis the favour of thair freinds ;
Thay wald with nobill men be memmit,
Syne laittandly to lawar kinds :
So find I thair affe<5Houn
Contrair thair awin complexioun.
VIII.
Thay lichtly fone, and cuvettis quickly j
Thay blame ilk body, and thay blekit ;
Thay kindill faft, and dois ill lickly ;
Thay fklander faikles, and thay fufpettit :
So find I thair affeftioun
Contrair thair awin complexioun.
IX.
[ 209 ~J 5
IX.
Thay wald haif all men bund and thral'i
To thame, and thay for to be tre ;
Thdj covet ilk man at thair call,
And thay to leif at libertie:
So find I thair affeclioun
Contrair thair a\vin complexioun.-
X.
Thay tak delyt in martiall deidis,
And ar of nature tremebund ;
Thay wald men nureift all thair neids,
Syne confortles lattis thame confound r
So find I thair afFeflioun
Contrair thair awin complexioun .
XI.
Thay wald haif waling on alway,
But guerdoun, genyeild, or [regard]] 3
Thay wald haif reddy ferwands ay,
But recompans, thank, orrewaird:
So find I thair affeifKoun
Contrair thair awin complexioun.
XII.
The vertew of this writ and vigour,
Maid in comparifone it is,
That famenene ar of this figour,
Quilk clippit is Antipkrafii ;
For quhy ? thair haill atfeftioun
Is contrair thair complexioun,
xnr,
I 210 3
XIII.
I wat, gud wemen will not wyt me,
Nor of this fedull be efchamit ;
For be thay courtas, thay will quyt me j
And gif thay crab, heir I quytclame it ;
ConfefTand thair affedioun
Conforme to thair complexioun.
ALEXANDER SCOTT.
Rondel
211
Rondel of Luve.
I.
LO quhat it is to lufe,
Lerne ye that lift to prufe,
Be me, I fay, that no ways may,
The grund of gretf remuve,
Bot ftill decay, both nycht and day ;
Lo quhat it is to lufe.
II.
Lufe is ane fervent fyre,
Kendillit without defyre,
Schort plefour, lang difplefour;
Repentance is the hyre ;
Ane pure treflbur, without meflbllr j
Lufe is ane fervent fyre.
III.
To lufe and to be wyifs,
To rege with gud adwyifs ;
Now thus, now than fo gois the game,
Incertaine is the dyifs :
Thair is no man, I fay, that can,
Both lufe and to be wyifs.
IV.
Fie alwayis frome the fnair,
Lerne at me to beware ;
It is ane pane and dowbill trane
Of endlefs wo and cair ;
For to refrane that denger plane,
Fie alwayis frome the fnair.
ALEXANDER SCOTT.
The
212
The Luvarit Lament.
I.
PAufing in hairt, with fpreit oppreft,
This hindernycht bygon,
My corps for walking wes moleft,
For lufe only of on.
Allace ! quhome to fuld I raak mon,
Sen this come to lait :
Cauld cauld culis the hafe
That kendills our het.
' II.
Hir bewty, and hir maikles maik,.
Dois reif my fpreit me fro,
And cuuiiis me no rell to tak,
Bot tumbling to and fro.
My curage than is hence ago,
Sen I may nocht hir gett :
Cauld cauld eulis the lufe
That kendiils our het.
III.
Hir firft to lufe quhen I began,
I troud fcho luvit me ;
Bot I, allace ! wes nocht the man,.
That belt pleifit her e :
Thahfoir will I let dolour be,
And gang ane uthir gett :
Cauld cauld culis the lufe
That kendills our het,
JV,
C 213 3
IV.
Firft quhen I keft my fantefy,
Thair fermly did I ftand,
And howpit weill that fcho fuld be
All haill at my command ;
Bot fuddanly fcho did ganeftand.
And contrair maid debait :
Cauld cauld culis the lufe
That kendills our het.
V.
HIr proper makdome fo perfyt,
Hir vifage cleir of hew ;
Scho raiflls on me fie appetyte,
And cauffis me hir perfew.
Allace ! fcho will nocht on me revr.
Nor gre with myne eftait :
Cauld cauld culis the lufe
That kendills our het.
VI.
Sen fcho hes left me in diftrefs,
In dolour and in cair,
Without I get fum uthir grace,
My lyfe will left no mair;
Scho is our proper, trym, and fair,
Ane trew hairt to ourfett :
Cauld cauld culis the lufe
That kendills our het.
VII.
Suld I ly doun in havinefs,
I think it is bot vane,
I will get up with mirrinefs,
And cheifs als gud againe ;
For
C 2i4 3
For I will maik to yow plane.
My hairt it is ourfett :
Cauld cauld culis the lufe
That kendills our het.
VIII.
No, no, I will nocht trow as yet,
That fcho will leif me fo,
Nor yit that fcho will chenge or flit,
As thoch fcho be my fo.
Thairfoir will I lat dolour go,
And gang ane uthir gait :
Cauld cauld culis the lufe
That kendills our het,
FETHY.
L 215 3
The Wife of Aucktermuchty.
I.
IN Auchtermuchty thair dwelt ane man,
An hufband, as I hard it tawld,
Quha weill could tippill out a can,
And naithir luvit hungir nor cauld :
Quhill anis it fell upon a day,
He yokkit his pleuch upon the plain ;
Gif it be trew, as I heard fay,
The day was fowll for wind and rain.
II.
He lowfit the pleuch at the landis end,
And draife his oxin hame at evin;
Quhen he come in he lukit b°n,
And faw the wif baith dry and clene,
And fittand at ane fyre, beik and bawld,
With ane fat fowp, as I hard fay :
The man being verry weit and cawld,
Iktwein thay twa it was na play.
III.
Quoth he, Qulrair is my horfis corn ?
My ox hes naithir hay nor ftray ;
Dame, ye man to the pleuch to morn,
I fall be huffy, gif I may.
Hufband, quoth fcho, content am I
To tak the pleuch my day about,
Sa ye will rewll baith kavis and ky,
And all the houfe baith in and out.
IV.
[ 216 3
IV.
But fen that ye will huflysfcep ken,
Firft ye fall fift, and fyne fall kned ;
And ay as ye gang but and ben,
Luk that the bairnis dr — not the bed.
Yeis lay ane foft wyfp to the kill,
We haif ane deir ferme on our heid ;
And ay as ye gang furth and in,
Keip weill the gaiflingis fra the gled.
V.
The wyf was up richt late at evin,
I pray God gife her evill to fair,
Scho kirnd the kirn, and fkumd it clene,
And left the gudeman bot the bledoch bair :
Than in the morning up fcho gat,
And on hir hairt laid hir disjune,
And pat als meikle in hir lap,
As micht haif ferd them baith at nune.
VI.
Says, Jok, will be thou maifter of wark,
And thou fall had, and I fall kail ;
Ife promife the ane gude new fark,
Outhir of round claith or of fmall.
Scho lowfit the oxin aught or nine,
And hynt ane gad-ftaff in her hand ;
Up the gudeman raife aftir fyne,
And faw the wyf had done command.
VII.
And cawd the gaiflingis furth to feid,
Thair was bet fevenfum of tham all;
And by thair cumis the gredy gled,
And lickit up five, left him bot twa ;
Then
[ 217 ]
Than out he ran in all his mane,
How fune he hard the gaiflingis cry ;
But than or he came in againe,
The calvis brak loufe and fuckit the ky.
VIII.
The calvis and ky met in the lone,
The man ran with ane rung to red ;
Than thair cumis ane ill-willy cow,
And brodit his buttok quhill that it bled.
Than hame ran to an rok of tow,
And he fatt down to fay the fpinning ;
I trow he lowtit our neir the low,
Quoth he, this wark hes ill beginning.
IX.
Than to the kirn that did he floure,
And jumlit at it quhill he fwat :
Quhen he had fumblit a full lang hour,
The forow fcrap of butter he gatt.
Albeit na butter he could gett,
Yit he was cummerit with the kirne,
And fyne he het the milk our het,
And forrow a fpark of it v,~ald yyrae,
X.
Than ben their cam ane greidy fow,
I trow he cund hir littill thank ;
For in fcho fchot hir mekle mow,
And ay fcho winkit and fcho drank,
He cleikit up ane crukit club,
And thocht to hitt the fow a rout,
The twa gaiflings the gled had left,
XI.
C
XI.
Than he bear kendiing to the kill,
But fcho ftart all up in ane low,
(^juhat evir he hard, quhat evir he faw,
That day he had na will to wow.
Than he gied to take up the bairnis,
Thocht to half fund thame fair and clene ;
The firft that he got in his armis
Was all bedirtin to the ene.
XII.
The firft that he gat in his armis,
It was all dirt up to the eine ;
The devill cut affthair hands, quoth he,
That fild you all as fow yiftrein.
He trailit the foull fheitis down the gait,
Thocht to haif wafcht them on an ftane :
The burn Yvres rifen grit of fpait,
Away frahim the Qieitis hes tane.
XIII.
Then up he gat on ane know heid,
On liir to cry, on hir to fchout,
Scho hard him, and fcho hard him not,
Bot iloutly fteirid the ftottis about.
Scho draif the day unto the nicht,
Scho lowiit the pleuch and fyne come hame ;
Scho fand all wrang that fould bene richt,
I trow the man thocht right grit fchame.
XIV.
Quoth he, my office I forfaik,
For all the dayis of my lyfe,
For I wald put ane houfe to wraik,
Had I bene twenty dayis gudwife.
Quotli
[ 219 3
Quoth fcho, weiil met ye bruke your place,
For trewlie I will never excepit ;
Quoth he, feind fall the lyaris face,
Bot yit ye may be blyth to get it.
XV.
Than up fcho gat anc mekle rung,
And the gudman maid to the doir ;
Quoth he, Deme, I fall hald my tung.
For and we fecht I'll gett the woir.
Quoth he, quhen I forfeik my pleuch,
I trow I bot forfuk my feill,
And I will to my pleuch agane,
For I and this hous will nevir
T 2 D.in. .% j
22;
Darnley'i Ball at.
I.
Glfe Jangour makis men licht,
Or dolour thame decoir,
In crth thair is no \vicht
May me compair in gloir.
G if .cairfull thoftis rciloir
My havy hairt frome forrow,
I am, for evir moir,
In joy, both evin and morrow.
II.
Gif plefer be to pance,
I playnt me nocht oppreft,
Or abfence michtawance,
My hairt is haill poffeft :
Cif want of quiet reft,
From cairis micht me convoy,
My mynd is nocht molleft,
Bot evir moir in joy.
III.
Thocht that I pance in paine*.
In paflmg to and fro,
I laubor all in vane ,
For fo hes mony mo,
That hes nocht fervit fo,
In futing of thair fweit*.
The nare the fyre I go,
The grittar is my heit..
C 221 ]
IV.
The turtour for hir maik,
Mair dula may nocht iadure ;.
Nor I do for hir faik,
Evin hir quha hes in cure
My hairt, quilk fal be fure,
And fervice to the deid,
Unto that lady pure,
The woll of woman held.
V.
Schaw fchedull to that fueit,
My pairt fo permanent,
That no mirth quhill we meit,
Sail caufe me be content :
Bot ftill my hairt lament,
In forrowfull fiching foir,
Till tyme fcho be prefent,
Fairweill, I fay no moir.
King HENRY STEWART
T 3 NOTES
E 223
NOTES on the preceding POEMS.
The Thijtre and the Rofe. p.i,
T
HIS is a poem of acknowledged merit : E-
very reader will remember Mr Langhorne's
encomium :
" Time ftill fgares the Thiflk and the Raft"
It was occafroncd by the nuptials of James IV.
King of Scots, and Margaret Tudor, the eldeft daugh-
ter of Henry VIL King of England : An event on
which the fate of the two rations has turned through-
out every fucceeding age ; to it we owe the union of
the crowns, the union of the kingdoms, and the Pro-
teftant fucceflion.
This poem was finifhed, as Dunbar himfelf informs
us, on the 9th of May, [1503], near three months
before the arrival of the Queen in Scotland. She was
the patronefs of Poetry at its early dawn with us.
Stewart, in his poem called Lerges, forges, thus grate-
fully fpeaks, ftanza 10.
" Grit God releif Margaret our Quene,
" For and fcho war as fcho hes bene,
" Scho wald be lerger of lufray
" Than all the laif that I of mene,
" For Urges of this new-yeir day."
Stanza i. 1. i. This verfe is to be pronounced thus :
«' Quhen Merche wes with va-ri-and windis paft."
The former publisher, not attending to the rules, or
rather to the licence, of Scottilh profody, changed the
cxpreffion into,
" Quhea
" Quhen Merche with variand winds was over-
11 paft."
This may be a better line than what Dunbar could
make ; but it is the bulinefs of a publifher to fet forth
other mens works, not his own."
. l.a. " Appryle." This word is to be pro-
nounced as a trifiylJable. The Scots ft ill pronounce
Apill thus, Aptiil; Lat. Aperilis. Poffibly Dunbar
wrote Afrilii, as in the very firft line of his mafter,
Chaucer.
1. 4. " Thair hcuris" Hours, heures,
means their matins or morning-orifons. Chaucer has
made a fuil choir of birds : p. 570. Urie's edition,
" On May-day when the lark began to ryfe, .
" To Matins went the lufty nightingal," &c.
In the Evergreen, Dunbar's verfe is turned thus : " Be-
" gin by timous hours ^ which is both profaic, and wide
of the fenfe of the poet.
St. a. 1. 5. " Fro the fpkne." From the fplene, or,
as we would now fay, from the heart, affiduoufly,
ardently. It appears to have been a fafhionable phrafc
in the i6th century, but is now forgotten.
St. 7. 1. 7. " Doing of dew down fleit ;" i. e. quick-
ly dropping dew.
St. 9. 1. i. " And as the blifsfuJl fone of cherarchy?'1
Inftead of cfierarchy, the Evergreen has, " drave up
" the Iky." " The blifsfull fone of cherarchy,"
means the thankfgiving of the angels, in allufion to
Job xxxviii. the holy fhout of the hoft angelical.
St. 10. 1.4. " Nofchouris." The word " fchouris,'"'
muft be pronounced as a trirTyllablej Scho-u-ris. In
the Evergreen there is fubftituted,
" That
** That nowther blafhy fhower, nor Mails mair
cauld."
A line adapted to modern profody, making fchourir
from three fyllables, and blaflis from two, to become
one ; adding blujby, a fuperfiuous epithet, and mair, aa
unmeaning comparative.
St. 12. 1. 6. " Full craftely corrjurit fcho the yar-
row." The yarro-w is Ackillea, or Millc folium, vulgar*
ly jneefworl. I know no. reafon for felecling this plant
to go on the mefiage to all flowers, but that its name
has been fuppofed to be derived from, arrow, being held
a remedy for flefh wounds inflicted by that weapon.
The poet, in apology for perfonifying fnecfwort, has
added, " full craftily conjurit fcho." A ridiculous e-
nough example of the ratio ultima vatum, the GEQZ
AHO MHXANH2.
St. 13. 1. 7. " And courage leonyne." Allan
fay obferves, " this perhaps may be fmiled at ; but
" there is as much to laugh at in the modern phrafe,
" of one's looking like himfelf." I cannot admit, asa
fufficient apology for an old phrafe, that a newer
one equally abfurd is ftill employed. Indeed the ex-
preffion cwrcge leonyne., ufed of a lion, has nothing at
which " one may fmile," unlefs that one be of the
vulgar, who judge of language without learning, and
deride what they do not underftand. The expreflion
means no more, than " with a heart fuch as befits a
" lion." In old French, courage means -cocur. Thus
courage feminine, would, from analogy, mean the ten-
der fcpfibility which befits the nature of woman.
St. 14. The manner of blazoning the Seottifh arms
is ingenious and elegant.
St. 17. 1. 7. " Quhois noble yre is- protcir proflra.
" Us." This obfcure cxprcfiion was not undei'ftood by
Mian Ramfay. In place of it he has, happily enough,
fubftituted
[ 226 ]
fubftitnted " his grcitnes mitigates." There is, pro-
bably, fome error in the MS. From the word preflratis
being ufed, a very intelligent gentleman concludes,
that the paffag-c, however corrupted, has an alluiion to
the manly fentiment of Virgil, farcers fubjefiis : thus
exprefied in the motto of an illuftrious family, " Eft
" nobilis ira leonis."
St. 21. This is an ingenious exhortation to conjugal
fidelity, drawn from the high birth, beauty, and vir-
tues of the Princefs Margaret.
St. aa. 1. 3. " Aboif the lilly, illuftrare of lynage."
Of more noble lineage than the lilly. He prefers Tudor
to Valo'u ; for there can be no doubt that the lilly means
France.
St. 25. 1. 4. " Of michty coullors fwane." The
•white of York, and the red of Lancafter. The me-
dal of James I. is well known : " Rofas Henricus, re-
" £na Jacobus;" Evelyn of medals, p. loa. May
there never be occafion to add, " At quh Concordes atii-
" mot?"
St. 27. The conclufion of this ftanza is taken from
Allan Ramfay, who caught the fpirit of Dunbar,
which Dunbar himfelf feems to have let efcape, by his
tald and profaic conclufion.
" And thus I wret as ye haif hard to forrow,
" Of lufty May upone the nynt morrow."
A conclufion worfe, if worfe may be, than the lines
of Ben Jonfon to Sir Kenelm Digby :
" Witnefs thy victory gained at Scanderoon,
" Upon thy birth-day the eleventh of June"
Th»
E 227 ]
"The Goldin Terge. p. 8.
THis poem was much admired in the days of its
author. By it Sir David Lindefay feems to e-
ftimate the poetical merit of Dunbar :
" who language had at lerge,
" As may be fene intil his Golditt Terge"
It is rich in defcription and in allsgory ; but jt will not
afford much entertainment to thofe who, in obfolete
poems, feek for the manners of a remote age. The
fcene might have been laid, with as much propriety,
in Italy as in Scotland, and with more propriety du-
ring Paganifm, than in the i6th century.
St. 29. 1. 7. " Was thou nocht of our Inglis all the
" licht."
Dunbar was a native of Salton in Eaft Lothian, and
tonfequently looked upon himfelf as an Anglo-Saxon
by birth. From other pafiages of his poems, it ap-
pears that he was too apt to defpife thofe who were
born -without "the EtigliJI) pale. Such confined ideas
muft be attributed to the ignorant and illiberal age in
which it was his misfortune to live.
Every one muft admit the jufticc of his panegyric on
Chaucer, who was indeed a prodigy.
St. 30. 1.6. " And hes ourgilt our fpeiche, that im-
perfyte
Stude, or your goldin pennis fchup to wryt."
My readers will not be difpleafed to fee a panegyric
on the Englifh language by a Danifh poet, Henricus
llarderus, Epigr. 1. 3. No 93.
« Pcrfc<flar»
C 223 ]
*' Perfeclam Vciieris faciem picturus Apelles,
" Vhpneos tota legit in urbc greges.
•" Quicquid in eleftis pulchrum, vtl amabile form is
'•' Repperit, in Paphise tranitulit ora Dea?.
'•' Exceffit nova forma modum : fe pluribus una
" Debuit, at cunctis pulchrior una fuit.
*" Effigies Veneri?, quam fie collegit Apelles,
" Effigies lingua; eft ilia, Britanne, tux."
Nothing diilinguiil.es the genius of the Englifh lan-
guage fo much as its general naturalization of foreign-
ers. Dryden, in the reign of Charles II. printed the
following words as pure French, newly imported. A-
uiour, billtt-di:ux, tap'ic*, chagrin, converfalion, dou-
Ut.-eKtendrc, enibarrcjje d, fatigue, figw e, fuibls, gall.ir.r,
good graces, grimace, incendiary, levee, ninltnated, ral-
lied, repartee, ridicule, tender, tour ; with feveral others
which are now confulered as natives. Alarriage a. In
mode.
Fenyet Frier of Tungland. p. 19.
IN the reign of James IV. a certain Itiukn adventu-
rer came into Scotland. He pretended to great
knowledge in alchemy, and gave the King hopes of be-
ing put in poffefiion of the philofopher's ftone. It is
faid, that the King collated him to the abbacy of Tung-
land in Galloway. This fellow was a cheat at firlt,
but, by no very uncommon gradation, he rofe to be
an enthufiaft. He made unto himtclf wings, and en-
gaged to fly to France from the walls of Stirling caftle ;
he tried the experiment, fell, and broke his thigh-bone.
JJifhop Lefiey, De rebus geflis Scotorutu, 1. 8. p. 346. e-
dit. Rom. has given an ample account of the feats of
this
C 229 ]
tliis extraordinary pcrfooagc. The bifuop could not
avoid likening the abbot of Tunglind to Simon Magus :
there is, however, this difference between the ftorics.
that the fanatic Italian did attempt to fly, whereas the
adventure of Simon Magus is a flupid, inconfiftent, im-
poffible fable.
Lelley fays, that the Abbot of Tungland thus ac-
counted for his misfortune. " My wings, faid he,
" were compofed of various feathers ; among them
" were the feathers of dunghill fowls, and they, by a
" certain fort of fympathy, were attracted towards
" the dunghill ; whereas had my wings been compo-
<{ fed of the feathers of eagles alone, the fame fympa-
" thy would have attracted them into the region of
" air." A fit apology during the reign of fymfaihie;
a nd antipathies !
St. i. 1. 3. " A fweaing f-uiytk did me affaile;" a
vifion fuddenly came upon me.
1. 5. " A Turk of Tartary." The Turks
were firft known by the name of Tartars, from the
country out of which they ifiiied. There is a curious
account of the Turks in the Chronicle of Melros,
much in the form of a news-paper.
Here let me obferve, in pairing, that the origin o£
news-papers is probably to be afcribed to the circular
letters from the Pope to the clergy, or from the gene-
rals of the different religious orders to their conventual
brethren. Anciently thofe news-papers were occafional
and rare ; but now things are changed. 13 Evening-
Pofts make a Magazine, iz Magazines make aRegifter,
;md, it is fuppofed, 20 Regifters may make a Hiftory.
1. 7. " ForkpptH." A fugitive or vagabond.
1. 8. " In wachman's weicl ;" in thedrefs of
a ftroller or wanderer, M'"*?/,"" pronounced -waff, is zftray.
The Englifh ftill pronounce ch as/, luff for loch.
St. z. l.i. " Fra baptafuig- fo^ to efclic»v ;" to avoid
Ixing baptized ; for had !-.c been di.c 'Vi_i, ,'. he would
b havi
C 230 ]
L.v/e been made a fiave, or, by way of alternative, for-
ced to profefs Chriftianity.
1. 4. "For he cov.lh wryte and reid ;" the
meaning is, as he could read and write, he was able
to pafs for a frier under the habit which he had affii-
med.
1.8. " With litill of Lumbard kid," either
" with fmall knowledge of the Italian language," or
" with a little or a fmattering of Italian literature,"
or " with fome knowledge of the Lombard bufinefs
of broker."
St. 3. 1. 4. " Or he hyne yeid." Before he went
from thence.
•« 1. 5. " Vane-organii he full clenely carvit."
This is a very obfcure line. The glofTary fubjoined to
the Evergreen pafles it over, as indeed it does almoil e-
vcry phrafe which is not known to the vulgar.
" Vane-organis" feems to mean the veins of
the head ; and then the fenfe will be, He was dextrous
in bleeding at the veins of the head. This is common-
ly performed by cupping-glafles, which no doubt
would be confidered in Scotland as a curious operation.
1.6. " Of his ftraik fae mony ftarvit;;"
when fo many died by his ftroke. The word (Iraik,
or ftroke, feems to confirm the notion, that cupping-
glafles are here meant. Starvit is a word ftill prefer-
red in Englifh, implying a violent death by hunger.
To flarve of cold, is ftill a Scottifh exprefiion, from
the word ftur.en, to die.
St. 4. 1. 5. " In pottingry he wrocht grit pyne/'
Acling in the character of apothecary he did much
mifchief. The poet diftinguifhes the three branches of
the healing art all joined in this empyric, " Pottingry,
medecyne, and leiche-crnft."
1. 7. " This Jon;" not this Jew, but this
juggler or magician. The words to jo-wk, to deceive,
, juggling tricks, are ftill in ufe,
In
C 231 ]
In Lord Hyruiford's MS. p. 136. there is r. f -
ment of a fort of fairy ta.e, where '•' Soho is the
" Quene of Jwit ;" means, flic is the queer, of magi-
gicians.
St. 5. 1.2. 3. " He waldhaif for a nycht to byd,
" A hacknay and the hurtman's hyd."
His fees were fo exorbitant, that one night's attend-
ance coft a horfe, the moft fumptuous of prdcnts in
thofe days, aiid the (kin of the patient, ftill ^lludine,
as it would feem, to the manner in which the mounte-
bank applied his cupping-gkfles. Hyd may mean hid-
den Ircafure, or hoard ; but the other interpretation
feems more fimple.
1.4. " So rnei'k'e he was of niyance." Pro-
bably corrupted from ni:-ieas. It means expedients for
gain.
1. 5. " His/r/wf was rude as ony ravvchtir."
His chirurgical inftruments were like thofe ufcd in tor-
ture. Ungrammatical phrafes, fuch as " yrins was,"
are very frequent in this collection.
- I. 8. " GardevyaKce." Literally garde da
viande, or cupboard; but here it implies his cabinet.
The gloflary fubjoined to the Evergreen, ridiculoufiy
enough explains it to be a cafe of inflruments.
In this ftanza and the following, the poet defcribes
his hero bufied in the laboratory. " This dignitary
" of the church," fays he, " never chofe to go to
" mafs, although warned by the holy bell, or fkellat.
' [This name is ftill given to a fort of rattle which
' criers ufe.] His head with beating at the anvil was
' fpottcdor fpcckledltke ablackfmith's ; brinkit, [pro-
' bably an error of the trn.nfcriber for bruikit.] Al-
' though a new-made canon, he difobeyed the eccle-
« f.aflical law, which requires perfons of that ftation to
' fay matins. He neither put on Jlole nor fanon,
' [ftola and i?ia»fj)ul»st or fudanum, parts of the veft.-
U a " meals
C 232 3
" ments of an officiating prioflQ, left they fhouk!
i;.ivc Leeu «.!'.:• Hied with the finoke of his laboratory."
St. 8. 1. 2. " To mak the quintefiixee and failycit."
Of alchemy and its royal bubbles, there is a good ac-
count in a tract by J. F. Buddtus. " An alchemiftx
" fintin republica tokrandi ;" Hala Saxonum, 1712,
lamo. This tracT: contains a curious anecdote, which
appears to have a free circulation in Germany, §3.
" In Anglia qucque olim legem fuifTe, ne cui fine
" permiffu principis, fub poenacapitis, alchemiam ex-
" ercere liceat, anchor eft Martinus Delrio, l.i. Difq.
" Mag. c. j. 9. 4. Cui tamen contrariam legem op-
" pofuit, in eodem regno Henricus IV. quatuor edifils
fl fanciens, ut omnes et finguli incofe prosparando la-
" pidi philofophico operam darent, quo 3£re alieno
" exire poffet refpublica. Et lepida eft ratio, qua fa-
" cerdotes, ad profequendum chryfopoeoe ftudium
" impellit : quod cum fi>,t adso f slices in pane et -vino in
' ' corpus, et fanguintm C/i> ifti tranfubftanliandit, faci'a
" eliam ignobiliui nietaHum in nobilius converters poffint.
" Mentionem horum edidtorum injicit Jo. Pettus An-
" glus, in foditiii miner alibus ; five, the hi/lory, laws,
" and places nf the chief mines and mineral vnrks in Eng-
" land, p. i. c. ^-l. Ex quo hase refert Gcorgius Paf-
'•' chius de iti'oentis nov-anjiyuis, c. 6. p. 332. Qui et
" Morhofium d. tranimut. metalloium, §12. p. 287.
'' luijus rei teftem addit, cui hanc in rem inquirenti
" a cuftode regiorum diplomatum refponfum fit, ipfa
«' autographa hodieque fupereffe in Archive." The
/waAs of parliament, U. 4. recommending the flu-
dy of alchemy, in order to pay the national debt,
v/ould be a curious acceffion to the ftatute-book.
James IV. of Scotland was a profified admirer of al-
chemy. In a letter from him to Mr James Inglis,
epift. reg. S:ot. v. i. p. 119. he fayr, " Animi tui be-
" nevclentiam gratanter accepimus, qua, datis ad BOS
" literis reconditos alcl^mia? faxioris pJiibfpphi& li-
v bros apud to efie frnif.c..;- : quos etfi viri dignifTimi
M abs
C 233 1
" abs te peterent, ad noftros tamen ufus difficiliuS
«c fcrvas, quia nos eo artis fludio tcneri aadieras."
St. 8. 1. 4. " A fedrem on he take." After having
in vain attempted to make the grand elixir, he put on
wings ; fedrem or fedderome, is feathering.
- 1. 5. " AncLfchupein-Turkyfor to flie." Sha-
ped his courfe, or prepared himfelf to fly back into the
land of the Turks, which the poet has thought proper
to reprefent as the native country of this friar.
St. 9. &c. The author has introduced the names of
many different fowls. Inftead of cumbering the glof-
fary with the explication of a multitude of words
which occur but once, I will explain them here as well
as I am able. Gled, fparhalk, urfal, Jlanchel, bifart,
marlyeH, viiitane, are all different kinds of hawks. Pyot,
magpie ; crawis, common crows ; ma~wis, mew ; gor-
maitt, cormorant; kayis, jack-daws ; jn, geay ; tgilt,
eagle ; fiarnet-hnvla, great horned owl •, rubis, rooks ;
St Mat tilt's fowl,, the marten or martlet, which is fup-
pofed to leave this country about St Martin's day in
the beginning of winter ; ci-fchettis, is ring-doves ; tut
from the company they are placed in, may be under-
flood of c/ioactle, common owl-
St. 10. 1. 7. " To the fpt'mg. him fped." Betook
himfelf haftily to his fpring or fliglit.
St. IT. 1. 8. " Scho held them at a hynt." Literal-
ly held them by a hold, i. e. held them faft.
St. 13. l.i. " Sfoippit with a fkryke." The word
Jhippit fignifies to make months in fign of denfion.
1.5. " Uncunnandly hecawkit." Unknow-
ingly he bewrayed hiir.illf.
1. 7, " Hawkit." Horned cattle are called
h.nvkit when they have ftreaks on their flun, and par-
ticularly on their foreheads.
U 3 Drecum
C 234 3
Dream of the Abbot of Tung land, p . 2 g .
ST. 5. 1.2. " Mahoun." According to Matth. Paris,
p. 289. ad an. 1236, Maho is the fame with Ma-
homet. Du Cange, voc Mahum, has quoted various
paflages from the old French poets, which he thinks
proves this. A more direct proof is to be found
in the fragment of the Fairy tale, formerly quoted,
where the following lines occur.
" The carling now for difpyte,
" Is mareit with Machomytr,.
" Senfyne the cokkis of Crawmound crew nevir a
« day,
" For dule of that devillifh deme was with Mahoun
mareit," &c.
Here Mahoun and Mahomet, are evidently fynonymous.
It would feem that the Franks hearing the Saracens
iwear by their prophet, imagined him to be fome evil
itvrit which they worihipped : Hence all over the weft-
crn world Mahoun came to be an appellation of the
devil..
The Daunce. p. 27.
THE drawing of this picture is bold, the figures well'
grouped. I do not recollect ever to have feen the
f,-.'rcn deidly fins painted by a more mafterly pencil than
that of Dunbar. His defigns certainly exctl the ex-
planatory peacocks and ftrpents of Callot.
St. I.
C 235 ]
St. I. 1. I. " Of Februar the fiftene nycht." He
afterwards mentions this to have been on the eve of
Lent ; fo that the precife date of this poem may be
afcertained, viz. in that year of the reign of James IV.
or James V. when Lent began on the i6th February.
1. 6. '• Mahoun." See note to " The vi-
" fioh concerning the Abbot of Tungland."
1. 7. " Shrcivii that wer never fchrevin."
Accurfetl perfons who had never made confeffion to
the prieft, nor of confequence obtained abfolution.
1. 10. " Gallands ga graith a g)>is." Gal-
lants prepare a mafk. The exhibitions of gyfarts are
ftill known in Scotland, being the fame with the Chrift-
mas mommery of the Englifh. in Scotland, even till
the beginning of this century, maikers were admitted
into any tafhionable family, if the perfon who intro-
duced them was known, and became anfwerable for
the behaviour of his companions. Dancing with the
maikers enfued. This, I fuppofe, was the promif-
cuous dancing, the fubjecl: of many a fad declamation,
borrowed from Prynne and other writers of that fort.
1. 12. " Gamountis." Gambade, crurum jac-
iatic, of the ncweft French faihion.
St. 2. 1. 4. " And fit-fl of all in dance wes Pryd."
Pride properly takes place of all the other deadly fins.
By that fin fell the angels, He is defcribed in the ce-
remony-habit of thofe times, in his bonnet and gown,
his hair loofely thrown back, his cap awry ; his kethat,
cafaque, or gown, induftrioufly made to fall down to
his feet in ample folds.
1. 10). " Trampour." I know no word in
Englifh that approaches fo nearly to the fenfe of this as
the vulgar one, raltlt-fcull. In the Low Dutch, tromp
is a rattle ; trompen,. to rattle. It is more immediate-
ly derived from the French, trompeur, when underftood
as that whereby one is deceived ; for the context will
not admit of our unckrftanding it in the fenfe of an
Active cheat^
St. 3.
St. 3. 1. I. " Heilie Harlottis on hawtane vvyis."
This is a bold line, if it implies, as I think it does,
«' Holy whores in haughty guife."
1. 6. " Black-belly and Bawfy-Brown." Po-
pular names of certain fpirits. Baivfy-Bro-wn feems
to be the Englifh Robin Goodfellow, known in Scot-
land by the name of Brownie. In Lord HyndfcnxTs
MS. p. 104. among other fpirits there occurs,
" Browny als that can play kow
" Behind the claith with mony mow."
St. 4. 1. 4. " Boftaris, braggaris, and barganeris."
Huffers, (or threatners), boafters, and they who pick
quarrels.
1.6. ' ' All bodin in feir of -weir." Literally
all arrayed in- feature of war. " Bodin and feir of
•weir, are both in the ftatute-book. Sir David Linde-
fay thus fpeaks of the ftate of Scotland during the mi-
nority of James V. p. 202.
" Opprefiion did fa loud his bugil blaw,
" That nane durft ride but into feir of weir/'
i. e. His horn fo loudly did oppreffion blow,
That none durft journey but in martial (hew.
1. 7. " In Jakkis, ftryppis, and bonnetis of
" fteill." With fhort coats of mail, and fteel head-
pieces. Stryppis may fignify ftirrops. It is oddly
joined with armour.
1. 8. " Thair leggis wer chenyiet to the
heill." Probably their legs were all covered with ircn
net-work.
St.75. 1. 10. " With rownaris of fals lefingis."
Rounders orwhifperers of falfe injurious reports. Dun-
bar, with a generous indignation, laments that the
gates
C 237
gates of princes were not fhut againft the plague of
luch vermin.
St. 6. 1. 6. "All with that Warlo went." " Warloch"
is ftill ufed for a male witch or magician. See Lye in
his additions to Junius. Voc. Warlochhud-pyke, was
ufed in that age for a mifer.
- 1. 8. " A fudder or Jidder." It is properly
128 Ib. weight, but here it is ufcd for any indefinite
great quantity.
St. 7. I. 4. " Mony/w/r fom&arrfbel
S-weir, lazy, fluggifh. In modern language, the con-
fequence only is ufed ; for fwcir means unwilling.
Bumbard : The meaning of this word is to be found
in Pierce Ploughman, p. 24. p. 2. quoted by Skinner.
«' And who fo bummed thereof, bought it thereafter,
a gallon for a grote." Skinner fays, " Videtur eK
" contextu, quicunque earn cereviiiam guftavit, vel
" quicunque earn appetiit feu concupivit." Hence
bammard, buntbard, bmnpard, muft be a trier or a tafter,
" Celui qui goute." A drammer will be found to have
a like fignitication ; he who drinks often in fmall quan-
tities. " Bellv-hiiddroun." The word huddrottn is ftill
ufed for " a flovenly diibrderly perfon,"
• - K 5. " Mony flute daw, and flcpy duddrvun.'^
Slutt, flfwtli, Ilothfiil. Daiv, idle, ufelefs, creature.
G. Douglas fays, Prologue to Maphaeus'a fupplement,
p. 452. 1. 23.
" I wyl not be ane da-w, I wyl not fleip."
<' Duddroun," I think it means a ghoft, from A. S.
dydrunyha. Phantafmata. See Benfon, Vocabularitnn
Aiiglo-Saxonicum.
• 1. 6. " Him fcrvit ay with founyie.'" At-
tended on him with care.
• - 1.12. "Quicker of counye" Quicker of
cunning or apprehenfion, or, perhaps, quicker of coin,
t
of circulation or conn's. The law of the meafun.
which Dunbar ufes, required that the ?d, 6th, 9th,
and nth lines of each ftanza mould rhyme toge-
ther. This has fettered the poet, and obliged him to
life feveral expreffions, not becaufe they were the apt-
eft, but becaufe they anfwered the meafure beft.
8t. 8. 1. 2. " Bsrand lyk a btgit horfs." Neighing
like a Itone horfe. The meaning of the Fr. baguette is
well known.
• - 1. 5. " Tramort." Dead body, corpfe ; fo
p. 94. of this collection.
' • 1. 9. " Lyk turkas burnand reid." Like
red-hot pincers. - The two lines which follow are
highly characleriftical, but at the fame time are fo
grofsly indecent, that it was necefifajy to fupprefs them.
The publifher of the Evergreen follo\ved the fame
courfe.
St. 9. 1. 7. " Full mony a -waifllnfs -wally drag."
Wally-dtagle is a word ftill ufed for the weakeft bird in
the neft, or the weakeft chicken in the flock. It feems
corrupted from ivaUtnvit dreg, a withered outcaft, and
thence by an eafy metonymy, fignifies any thing ufe-
lefs or unprofitable.
-- 1. 12. " Thair lover -y wes na lefs." Their
defire was not diminifhed ; their thirft \vas infatiable.
St. 10. 1. 2. " Clemen." Glee-men, or minftrel?.
See Piercy's Diffextatio* on tr.injirel;, wherein many cu-
rious illuftrations of Britifh antiquities are to be found.
. - 1.6. " And entirt be breif of ricAt." Was
admitted to the poffeflion of his inheritance in hell by
the Breve de reflo.
St. 10. This whole ftanza is employed in fatyrizing
the highlanders. Dunbar was a Lothian man, born
in a Saxon country. The antipathy which the Scottifh
Saxons bore at the Highlanders in former times, is al-
moft
moft incredible, I might fay altogether > did not our
own days furnifh us with examples of the fame imbeci-
lity of mind. There are various proofs of it in Lord
Hyndford's MS. which I will not' tranfcribe. I be-
lieve the enmity of the Highlanders was no lefs ranco-
rous. Happily thofe wretched, narrow-minded, and
infinitely fatal animofities, are no more, in that part of
the umtfd kingdoms called Scotland.
1. 2. " Macfadyane." Mahoun having ex-
prefied his defire to fee an highland pageant, a fiend
halted to fetch Macfadyane. I fuppofe this name was
chofen by the poet as one of the harfheft that occurred
to him. In Lord Hyndford's MS. there is a poem by
Captain Montgomery, the elegant author of The Cherry
and the Slae, which begins thus :
" Finlay Macconnoquhy ful Macfadyan."
The reft of the poem is equally illiberal and fcurri-
lous, and mews how poor, how very poor, Genius
appears, when its compofitions are debafed to the mean-
eft prejudices of the meaneft vulgar.
St. it. 1.4. " Be he the Correnoth had done fchout,1'
As foon as he had made the cry of diftrefs, or what in
old French is called d Paide. So in the ballad of the
battle of Harlaw. St. i. 1. 7. " Cryand the Corynoch
" on hie." The glofiary fubjoined to the Evergreen
fays, that it means a higland tune ; that is, it may be
either a ftrain of viclory or a dirge. I obferve in paf-
fing, that the Battle of Harlaiv appears to have been at
leaft retouched by a more modern hand. It does not
fpeak in the language or in the verification of the ijth
century. I fufpecT: that it will be found to be as recent
as the days of Queen Mary or James VI.
1.7. " Thae tarmegantis." See an account
of the word termagant in Lye's edition of Junius. That
article, however, might have been more ample. I fuf-
pc& lhat Dunbar meant another word than termagant,
or.
C 240 ]
or, ct heat'ienim crew." There is a fpecies of wild-
fowl well known in the highlands ot Scotland, which
cur ftatute-book calls termigant Dunbar may have
likened the highlanders to a flock of their country
birds ; the context favours this interpretation, and
thus his illiberal raillery will be like that of EiTex calves,
HampfhSre hogs, Middlefex mungrils, Norfolk dump-
lings, Welch goats, &c. and his wit will be upon a
footing with that of Cleveland.
" — — when the Scots deceafe,
" Hell, like their nation, feeds on barnacles :
" A Scot, when from the gallows-tree got loofe,
*' Falls into Styx, and turns a foland goofe.
444444444*444444444*44*44+44*44444,
The Siueirers and the Devi II. p. 31.
THE former publifher has retouched this poem in
almoft every line. Inftead of the fimple burden
in the original, he has inferted many lively repartees
on the devil's part. Sometimes he has made him fpeak
againft his own intereft, as ftanza 12.
" Quoth Nick, thou'll get far lefs with me."
It is remarkable that many of the oaths which fell
under the lafh of Dunbar's fatyre, are actually recited
inac~ti6. parliament 5. Queen Mary, anno 1551 ; as,
" Devil flick, cummer, [i.e. cum tyvir or o'«r] gore,
" roift, orriefe." Penalties are inflicted by the fta-
tute on the ufers of fuch oaths : In particular, it is pro-
vided, that " ane prelate of kirk, earle or lord," mall
for the fir ft offence be fined in iz pennies, and for the
fourt/i
L 241 ]
fourth fault, be banifhed or committed to prilbn du-
ring a complete year.
I have never been able to difcover from what canfe
our anceftors became fo monftroufly addicted to pro-
fane fwearing* I remember Tom Brown feme
where ufes, " fwear like a Scotfman," as a proverbial
cxpreffion. There certainly muft be a tradition upon
the continent, that the inhabitants of the whole ifland
were apt to fwear in common converfation ; for in
Holland, the children, when they fee any Britifh peo-
ple, fay, " there come the G — dams ;" and the Portu-
guefe, when they acquire a fmattering of Englifli, fay,
*' How do you do, Jack ; G — damn you." Queen
Elifabeth was a common fwearer. Aubery le Maurier,
in his Memwcs de la Hollands;, p. 213. obferves, that
Queen Elifabeth did not pronounce French properly ;
for that Ihe faid, Maafni, and /war /):>«. This, by the
way, is one proof, among many others, that, in the
1 6th century, the Englim made more ufe of the open
<7, than they do now. Had Queen Elifabeth lived in
the prefent age, fhe Would have been more apt to fay,
mat and per. There is another example of this kind in
Walpole's Noble Authors, art. Effex. " The Queen
" (lavinced."
Brantome, if .1 remember right, fomewhere fays,
That the French were taught fwearing by the Spaniards.
The modern French oaths are generally of the
Gafcogne dialect, introduced by Henry IV.
St. i. 1. 3. " Aithis of crevialiis ;" that is, in the
words of the ftatute juft quoted, grievous oaths. In
vulgar Englifli, bloody is ftili ufed in a fimilar fenfe.
St. 2. 1. 2. " Ane preift fweirit braid." The fcan-
•dalous oath here alluded to, as peculiar to the clergy>
and to butchers, ftanza 9. is much ufed in Germany.
The French alfo ufe it, but politely minced down, as
?s their practice in fwearing.
X St. 3,
[ *42 3
St. 3. 1. 2. " Harnies wes," Sec. i. c. forrows, Avha
jvas, &c. This is particularly mentioned in the fta-
tute.
St. 4; 1. 2. " His part of hevin and /«//." The for-
mer publisher has taken the trouble to make fenfe of
this oathj by printing for, inftead of and.
St. 7. " AncfuTitar faid,'' &c. From this and ma-
ny other paffages in Dunbar's poems, to be found in
the Evergreen, it appears that he had a ftrange antipa-
thy at fhoemakers. The oaths which he appropriates
to the fhoemakers may not have fo much of the ban
ton of infidelity as thofe of the churchmen and butch-
ers. They are however lefs exceptionable, being no
more than " ifackins ;" and, " may I be hanged elfe."
St. 10. This ftanza is aimed at the extortion of malt-
makers, who took a profit of fix Jlnllingf 4n the boil of
barley. This would be incredible, were it not proved
by acl 29. parl. 4. James V. which limits their profit
to two millings on the boll,
St. 12. 1. 4. " For with that craft I can nocht tin-dip."
The fenfe of this line is obfcure. I apprehend that it
means, in demanding high or exorbitant prices for my
work, I cannot threap, aflirm, or perfift, as other ar-
tificers do ; for every cuftomer knows the juft price of
my work, confining folely of horfe-fhoes and plough-
irons. It is probable that throughout the country
men were aftricted or thirled to the fmith's mop of the
barony, as much as to the mill ; fo that the complaint
of the fmith, concerning the fmall gains of his profef-
fion, is to be conMeced as highly affected. Poffibly
thraip may be the fame as thrive.
St. 13. 1. %. This line is omitted on account of its
blunt courfe ftyle. The former publimer printed it
with fuch variations as rendered it unintelligible. It
feemed
C 243 J
feemed more expedient to omit it altogether. If any
one, however, inclines to fill up the blank, he may do
it in this manner.
" Ane menftrall faid, The fiend me gore,
• " Gif ocht I do bot drynk and rore."
St. ij. "Ane di-four faid," &c. In a difpute at
play, a garaefter fwore, that he had thrown three fixes
with three dice. This is the higheft throw known, ex-
cepting that of St Ghiflain, who, playing againlt the
devil, threw fe-vens.
St. 15. I. i. « III that evir I chaip." The MS. in-
ftead of ///, has God. The word chaip is ufed for e-
fcape. So that the fenfe is, " I will not defift from
" my vocation till I be hanged.''
*4*******************************
'The Teftament of Mr j4ndro Kenn&dy.
P- 35-
THis is a fingular performance ; it reprefents the
character of a drunken gracelefs fcholar. THc
alternate lines are compofed of fhreds of the breviary,
mixed with what we call Dag-Latin, and the French
Latin de culfine. The ftanzas 13. and 14. contain a
bold ridicule of the funeral-ceremonies ufed in the Ro-
mim church. On another occafion Dunbar carried.
the fpirit of ridicule much farther. His Derge to
King James V. is a lewd and profane parody of the
litanies of the church of Rome. Proteftants cannot
be fully fenfible of the irreligious ftrain of Dunbar's
Derge. Had James V. retained any the leaft appear-
X z ance
[ 244 3
ance of devotion, no poet durft have addreffed him in
fuch a ftyle. Bifhop Lefley extols him for his ardent
zeal againft heretics : " Rex tanto ecclefice dilatandse
" ftudio efferebatur, ut in hasrefi, tanquam hydra
" longe peftilentiffima conterenda ac penitus refecan-
" da, fummum fibi honorem ac decus pofitam exifti-
" maret ;" De Rebus geftis, Scot. 1. 9. p. 4,50. edit.
Rom.
St. 4. 1. 4. " Laiih and -wrtth n Let him but give
me drink, and I forgive both his difgufts and his an-
ger.
1. 8. " My Lordis bed of flail" The bed
in the principal bed-chamber, called "• the chawmyr
*' of dice," i. e. chambre au dais, having a canopy.
St. 5. 1. 2. " Of wardly gude I bad na mair." I
praytd or wiflied for no other worldly goods.
• 1.5. " Draff midding.'' After having con-
figned his foul to the wine-cellar, he orders his body
to be laid on a heap of brewer's grains.
St. 6. 1. 4. " Conforti meo Jacobi." So it is writ-
ten in the MS. ; but the correfpondent word, variabile,
fhews that it fhculd be Jacobo Lie, or perhaps Wylliz.
It has been fuggefted to me, that jocabili is the better
reading ; " To my playfora confort." The reft fof
the ftanza means, Notwithftanding my mod fokmn
vows, I denied or difobeyed God ; but when I made
a vow to empty a pot, I religioufly obferved it.
St. 7. 1. I. " The bcfl nucht I bocht." In the Law-
Latin of that age, " Melius averiamde conqueflu."
1. i, " Quidefl Lalinum propter cape." Prop-
ter cape, by way of caufes. Skene, DC vtrboram figni-
ficatione, fays, " Cnupes, calpes in Galloway and Car-
" rift, quhairof mention is maid in the acles of parlia-
" ment, James IV. p a. c. 18. 19. lignifies ane gift,
" quilk an man in his avyin lifetime, and liege pouftie,
«•« gives,
C 245 1
f< gives to his maifter, or to onie uther man, that re
" greateft in power and authorise, and fpecially to tlte
" fuad and chiefs of the clann, for his maintenance and
" protection."'
1. 4. " Than fchro my jbape ;" i. e. Then
" fhrew my fcalp." Curfe my head, or, may evil
light on my head."
1. j. "I tald my Lord, my held, bot hiddill^
I privately informed the Earl of Caifilis, chief of the
name of Kennedy. His predeceflbr Gilbert Kennedy-
obtained from James II. a grant of being caput totitu
profapi.'g fute, to him and his heirs-male for ever.
The Lord here mentioned was probably Gilbert fecoml
Earl of Cafiilis, who enjoyed that title from 1513,
when his father was flain at Flowden, to 1527, wheit
he himfelf was aflaflinated : See Buchanan's hift. Scot,
p. 368. This Gilbert fecond Earl of Caffilis became
of age in 1516 : See Buchanan, epigr. 1. a. No 16.
It is therefore probable that this poem was compofed^
between 1516 and 1527. Gilbert third Earl of Cafiilis-
cannot be the perfon here meant ; for he was a minor
when his father died in 1527,- was educated in France,
and did not return home from his ftudies till 1534 : See
Vita Buchanani, and Ruddiman's notes, p. i.
1. 7. "We werals fib as/*,/ 'and riddill?'
We were as nearly related as fieves of different bores
and finenefs, made of wood from the fame foreft : See
Kelly, Scots proverbs, A. No 186, Kelly's collection
is a miferable work. It contains many fayings which;
are not Scottish, and many erroneous interpretations
of fayings which are Scottiih. Kelly has thought fit
to vary the manner of fpellinj, fo that his book is nei-
ther Scots nor Englifh. Thus, in the proverb to which-
this note refers, for fib he has put fub.
St. 8. 1.4. "The maifter of Sant Anthane? The
preceptor of St Anthony's holpital. The order of St
Anthony had only one 5T?onaftery in Scotland, atLeith,,
X 3 now
C 246 3
now called the South kirk ; SpottifvvooiTs Religious
houfes in Scotland, c. 3.
St. 9. 1. i. " My falfe winning." To iveene, is to
lament ; hence the word -whine : as if he had faid, " I
*' leave my hypocritical whinning to the knavim friars,
" qui condutti pLraat ift funere.n
St.io. 1. i. " To Jok ihefule." In the family of every
perfon of diftinclion, there was a jefter maintained,
generally a ccmpoiition of knave and fool. Pitfcottie
fays, Hiflory if Jamss V. " The Lords difcharged alt
" his old officers, and put new in their fteads ; that is
" to fay, treafurer, comptroller, fecretary, Mr Ma-
" cer, Mr Houfehold, capper, carver, Mr Stabler,
" Mr Hunter, Mr Falconer, Mr Porter, and a fool
" called John Mackilrie*
In Scotland the veftiges of this fort of eft.iblifhment
.(till remain.
St. ii. This ftanza is obfcure, becaufe we are not
acquainted with Maifter Johnie Clerk. He was, pro-
bably, an ignorant practitioner in phyfic, who took up-
on him to prefcribe in Latin without uriderftanding
the language. Such a perfon prefcribing for the teeth,
might fay, IJ,. " ad curandos entes ;n catching at an
imperfedt found, as the ignorant univerfally do : a tri-
fling circumftance of this kind was fufficient to point
the fatire of the poet at Maifter Johnie Clerk.
St. 13. 1. 6. " With the Jlevln."' Voice or found ;
It feems to be connected with the following line, " Pa-
" turn meut* cum flctu mifcebam.'" As if he had faid,
" Singing this flaw of the penitential pfalm, with ma-
" ny tears."
St. 14. 1. n. " Than hardly ' fing." Then fmg har-
ilily, or \vith confidence.
[ 247 1
Ty dings fra the Sejfioun. p. 40.
St. 3. 1, I. " Sum with his fallow rownis him to
" pleis." One whifpers in a familiar infinuating
manner to his companion, or the perfon next him.
St. 3. 1.4. " Sum patteris with his movvth on beids."
One mutters his prayers, and tells his beads over-
Pitter patter is an exprcflion ftill ufed by the vulgar ;
it is in alhifion to the cuftom of muttering, pater-
noflers.
St. 4. I. i. " Sum bidand the law layis land in -wed"
One mortgages his eftate while his. fuitis depending."
1. 5. " How feid and favour flemis difcre-
" tioun." How enmity and favour banifh difcern-
ment. " Vous avez perdu. un proces, que vous croyez
" jufle : mais un plaideuiv s'il eft de bonne foi, ne
" croit-il pas tonjours avoir la bonne caufe : Etes-
" vous feul plus definterefle, plus iufaillible, que vos
" juges r et s'ils ont manque de lumieres, font-ils
*' criminels pour cela ?" Marttwntel contes Moraux,.
torn 3. p. 269.
It is curious to obferve what very oppolite fentiments
two cotemporary hiftorians entertained of t!ie court of
fcflion.
Buchanan fays, " Ab iis cum ab initio multa utili-
*' ter effent excogitata, ut jus xquabile diceretur ; ta-
*' men qui fperabatur eventus, non eft confecutus..
" Nam, cum in Scotia nulls pcne fint leges, praster
«' convcntuum dccreta, . eoque pleraque non in perpe-
" tuum, fed in lempus fafla, judicefque, quod in fe eft,
" lationem legum impediant, omnium civium bona
" quindecirn hominum arbitrio funt commifla, qui-
*' bus et pcrpetua eft poteftas et imperium plane ty-
" rannicum, quippe quorum arbitria fola funt pro le-
« gibus j" Rei , Scot. 1. 14* C. 4^. This, it muft be-
C 248 J
allowed, is peevifh enough, though well expreffed..
Where Buchanan found that moft of the Scottifh ftatutcs
were temporary, I am yet to learn.
Bifhop Lefley has run as far into the other extreme.
M Horumvirorum costum, Reip. fenatirm appellamus ;
" in quem nunquam cooptantur, nifi quos virtutis
" pnsftans laus, ingenii vis acerrima, legum, faltem
" regni, cognitio intima iinbuerit. Senatus hie ita ex
" ckro, ac nobilitate feculari (ut lie loquar) aptus
" til, ut laicbrum numerum Temper Eequet eccleiiafti-
*•' corum altera pars. Quod fummo Dei beneficio
" faclum putamus, ut laicorum infignem prudentiam,
" ex intimo rerum terrenarum ufu coinpertam, ec-
" clefiafticorum religio fimplicitafque temperent, ac ut
" viciflim eccleliaftioorum religionem puriffimam fim-
" plicitatemque antiquavn laicorum prudentia etjudi*-
" cium condiant, ac quafi filo quodani dirigant ;'' De
nb. gift, Scot. 1. i. p. 79. edit. Rom. This is a canting
hypocritical eulogium, worfe than the cynical growling
of Buchanan. Bifhop Lefley was too. well acquainted
Avith the hiftory of his own times, fincerely to bellow
the character of virtutii prceftans laus on fuch men as
Balfour, Chalmers, Crawfurd, and, his own fucceflbr,
Douglas.
St. 5. This ftanza will be both intelligible and en-
tertaining to thofe who are acquainted with the forms
of procedure in the court of feflion ; to thofe who are
not, a commentary would be nearly as obfcure as the
text.
— 1. 3« " Sum is condndit.'"1 The former pu-
blifher either could not read this word in the MS. or
did not underltand it, and therefore he put delayed in its-
_place, which happens to have juft the oppofite fignifi-
cation.
St. 6. 1. 6. " Sum fains the fait, and fum thame
" curfis." Some blefs, others turfe the judges.
Lords of ike feal> for. judges of the court of fcffion, is>
ufed
C 249 3
tifed in aft 53. parliament j. James V. and is an ex-
prefiion dill remembered by the vulgar.''
St. 7. 1. 3. " Baith Carmelitis and Cordilleris." In
order to point this fatyre more keenly, the author has
felccfted his examples of incontuvency from the feverer
orders of regular clergy.
The former pubiifher has added two ftanzas, which
are not only modern, but alfo, as it would feem, fa-
thically aimed at individuals. It is ftrange that fuch
an interpolation fhould have remained fo long undif-
covered. Speaking of the great number of unemploy*
ed advocates, he fays,
" But weil I. wate, ane of ilk ien
" Micht very weil gane all the feffioun.'*
lie did not advert, that at the inftitution of the col-
lege of juftice, there were no more than eight advocates
in all ; Adi 64. parliament 5. James V.
General Satyrs, p. 42.
St. i. 1. i. " Prellatis, fo few till preiche and pray."
For illufiration of this charge, fee preface to Arch-
bifliop Hamilton's catechifm, and the firft book of
Knox's hijlory.
1. 2. " Sic hant of harlottis with thamc
" bayth nicht and day." David Bethune, Abbot of
Aberbrothock in ijzj, afterwards Archbifhop of St
Andrew's, and a Cardinal under the title of Suntti Ste-
phani in Coelio Monte t had three baftards legitimated in
one day ; Rec. b, 26. No 330. William Stewart,.
Bifliojx
Biftiop of Aberdeen, from 153; to 1545, had a baftard'
fon legitimated; ibid. b. 28. No 360. William Chii-
olrae, Bifhop of Dumblane, from 1527 to 1564, gave
gi-eat portions to his baftard fon and two baftard daugh-
ters ; Keith, Cs-talogue of Scottijb Sijb ->ps, p. 105. A-
lexander Stewart, Eifhop of Moray, from 1527 to
1534, had a baftard daughter legitimated ; Rec. 6.30.
No 116. : and a baftard fon legitimated; ibid. b. 30.
No 3 74. But they were all excelled by Patrick Hep-
burn Bifhop of Moray, from 1535 until the Reforma-
tion, for he had five baftard fons all legitimated in one
day ; ibid. b. 30. No 585. : and two baftard daughters-,
b. 30. No 5 72. Such were the goodly fruits of cleri-
cal celibacy ! They among the reformed who looked
back to Rome, always revered the pure politic celibacy
of that church.
1. 4. "So ftrange to thair abbay." The
practice of holding benefices in commsndam, became
prevalent under the reign of James IV. Of this there
are various examples in epiftola Reg. Scot. vol. r . From
that period until the Reformation, benefices were, by
a fhort-fighted policy, heaped on the relations or the
retainers of the Nobility : meantime learning, morals,,
and even difcipline, were neglected. A clergy with-
out knowledge and without virtue, could neither with-
ftand the aflaults of innovators, nor maintain authori-
ty over the minds of the people.
St. 3, 1. i. " Cled up in fe£ular weid." This af-
fectation of wearing the drefs of laymen was very an-
cient. See Scott: fh Canons 1242, c. n. p. 9. and 1549,
c. 7. ; Wilkins, vol. 4. P- 46.— 60. The following
lines are levelled at. fome particular perfon, whom I
cannot, with certainty, diicover.
St. 4. 1. . i. "So mony maifteris, fo mony guckit
" clerkid." So many matters of arts among the cler-
gy, and yet fuch general ignorance. Guck go-wok is
properly the cuckow.
St. 4.
C 251 3
!St. 4. 1. 3. "-Of difpyt/>0 the fplens." From the
fpleen ; and the fenfe of the expreffion feems to be, ft*
thoroughly infolent and overbearing.
1. 4. " Lofin farks." So many loft (hirts.;
fuch petty larceny : See DunbaSi Invetfive, ftanza 22.
1. 7. I am not altogether fatish'ed with this explana-
tion.
. 1. 4. " Glengour markis." Luis venerae in-
dicia.
St. 5. ]. i. " So mony Lords, fo mony natural
" fules.'' Sir Ralph Sadler thus writes in 1540. " Sure-
" ly it appeareth that I am very welcome to him,
" (James V ), and to the moft part of the noblemen
" and gentlemen here, that be well given to the veri-
" ty of Chrift's word and doctrine, whereof be a great
" number : but the noblemen be young ; and, to be
" plain with you, though they be well minded and di-
' verfe other alfo that be of the council, and about
' the King, yet I fee none amongft them that hath
' any fuch agility of w»7, gravity, learning, or ex-
perience, to fet furth the fame, or to take in hand
the direction of things : fo that the King, as far as
I can perceive, is of force driven to ufe the bifhops
" and his clergy, as his only minifters, for the direc-
" tion of his realm. They be the men of -wit and policy
" that I fee here ;" Sadler 's Letters and Negotiations,
p. 61.
1. a. " To play thame at the trulis.^ This
is obfcure. Trouil, in the dialect of Poitou, means a
f'piudk : fo that \.o flay at the tntlis, may imply to hold
the diftaff, to amufe one fclf in female occupations,
or at fome game, like T. lotum, which refembles a
fpindle. I am informed that trule means fome childifh
game, of the nature of cappy-hole : if fo, the fenfe will
be, as if he had faid, " Who are better qualified for
" playing at chuck-farthing, than for redreffing the
" grievances of the poor commons,"
St. 6.
C 252 J
St. 6. 1. 1. " Sa mony partial faiaes." So many par-
tial fentences or decrees.
1. 4. " Sic finyet flawis." Poffibly pre-
tended defects in the title-deeds of eftates, ufed as an
engine of oppreffion ; or it may mean falfe tales in ge-
neral.
St. 8. 1. I — 3. The Nobles loudly declared their re-
Solutions to remedy this grievance ; but they are like
cowards, who arm while they dare not fight.
St. 9. 1. I. " Vant of -woiiJlersS' A wofter is ufed
in Pierce Plowman for a ihrafo, or miles gloriofus. It is
the fame as boafler. In modern Englifh, b and TV arc
reciprocal letters.
1.3. " Regratourh.^ Engroffers and fore-
ftallers ; of whofe offences, moftly imaginary, the fta-
tirte-book in both kingdoms is full.
St. 10. 1. i. " Sa mony jugeis and lords now maid
u of late." Hence it appears that this poem was writ-
ten foon after the inftilution of the college of juftice by
James V.
1. a. " Sa fmall refugeis the pure man to dt-
" bait." As if he had faid, u Such little quirks to lay
" the poor man low.'' Refuge, in Cotgrave, is faid to
be demurrer.
- 1. 3. "For common weil fa qnhene"1 So
few zealous for the public good. We ftill life -w/iee-tt
in the fenfe of a feiv.
1.4. " Sa mony thevis fa /;?//." Probably
iaie, tyte, ready and expedite in every highway : So
many active thieves. See gl< ffary to G. Douglas, vv.
Tuie, 1yte.
St. ii. 1. i. " Sa mony ane fer.tence retreitit for to
" win," &c. So many judgements reverfed in order
to obtain money, or the friendfhip and patronage of
the parties.
St. ii.
C 253 1
St ii. 1. 4. " Haift thametothe pin.r So many
dcvices to forward their preferment. Pin is point of
finnacle.
St. 14. 1. a. "Sichalland-fchtckaris" From haillons,
rags, and Jbakirs. A word Aill ufcd to cxprefs a beg-
garly knave.
• 1. 2. " Quhilk at Cowkelbyis gryce'.r This
alludes to a popular poem preferved in Lord Hynd-
ford's MS. One Cswkelbe had a black fow which he
fold for three pennies. He loft one of thofe pennies ;
it was found by a perfon who purchafed a pig with it.
A very numerous company was invited to feaft upon
this pig. The guefts are enumerated in the tale. It
would be tedious to mention them ; they are in gene-
ral, wicked, lewd, and"diforderly perfons of every de-
gree. The lift is thus clofed up.
" And twa lerit men thairby,
" SchirGchir, and Schir Simony."
•which, as I underftand it, would be thus exprefied in
modern language : "" And alfo two learned perfonages,
" The Reverend Dr Ufury, and the Reverend Dr Si-
•" mony."
This poem is, as to verfification, below contempt.
Jt contains, however, many curious particulars con-
cerning the manners of the vulgar. It even mentions
the names of the different fafhionahle dances. It was
certainly compofed£ confiderable time before the Re-
formation.
The reader will now underftand who they were,
" quhilk at Cowkelbyis gryce
•" Are halden of pryce, when lymaris do convene.5*
Lirtifner is fxippofed to mean mtmgriV. It is here under-
ftood of every worthltfs perfon. In the modern Scot-
tiih language, it is fuppofed to mean a loofe woman ;
Y and
t ^54 3 '
and indeed if Lye's derivation of the word in his ad-
ditions to Junius be right, that was its original and
proper fignification.
St. 13. 1. 2. "Sic curfmg even and morn." Such
conftant cowling or hunting with greyhounds, as ap-
pears from the context.
1.4. f( Sa mony paiilattis worne." Parpai-
liiuts, Partdel, partil>l, is a woman's ruff. It is alfo
ufed for an ornament on the forehead of horfes. The
glofiary to the Evergreen fays, that it is an under-coat,
See Rabelais, 1. 4- c. 13.. Paillettes,
St. 14. 1. I. " Sa mony rackettis." Chaucer, Te-
Cament of love, p. 482. ufes the phrafe, " playing
v raket," for being inconftant. If the word is here
taken in that fenfe, the meaning is, fo much inconftan-'
cy either in private life or in political principles.
1. I. " Sa mony ketche-pill.tris," Probably
a corruption .of the French gafpillw, a fpendthrift.
1. 2. " Nackitlis.'" A aacquet, in French,
i£-a lad who marks at tennis. It is now ufed for -an
infignificant perfon.
1, 2. " TutiviJluns." Junius in tymcl. voc.
Tromperies, has the following note. " Res nihili,
*' thirty of no TBQrthf olim titivilitia puto dicta; prout
'.' antiquis titivil:ti>rum nomcn deuotabat fila putrida,
" quae de colo cadunt, plurefque id g.enus res vilim-
" mas, quas proborum merciinoniorum loco fimpli-
" cioribus obtruclunt iinpollores." See alfo Elrafmi
dJagia, voc. TitiriHitium, p. 1137.
Kennedy ufes this fame word duTerently fpelt in his
inve&ive againft D unbar, ftan/a 34. 1. i.
" Cankerit Cayne, tryd trowane, tutcvilkus."
This iliews how loofe our orthography was, while
there were few books, and men fpelt by the ear. A-
- mong the other guefts at Cockelbe's .feaft, there is a
In the MS. p. 104. there is a curious
form
C 255 ]
form of excommunication, intitled, The cwjing of Sif
Jo/in Rtiivll; among other evil fpirits are mentioned
" Fyremouth and Tutivillus."
1. 3. " King and Qljene." Magdalene of*
France, the firft wife of James V. fcarcely furvived
the rejoicings at her nuptials, fo that the good people
of Scotland had no opportunity of cenfuririg her.
Mary of Gtiife, therefore, muft be here meant ; and
this proves the poem to have been written fome time
after June 1538, when flie was married to James V.
1. 4. " Sic piiddmg-fillars defcending doun
" from millaris.'' Such gluttons defcended of miilar?,
feems to be perfonal fatire, and, at this diftance of tinicj
inexplicable*
St. i j. I. I. "Sic farthingallis." It will fcarcely
be believed in this age, that in the loft, the city-ladies re-
formed their hereditary farthingales, after the 5cv////<>
fafohn. In a comedy called Etijlivard Hoe, act r.
Dukjlrfi colhftioa of old plays, vol. 4. p. 155. ij?.
" Enter Poldavy a French tailor, with a Scottim faf-
" thingale and a French fall in his arms." Mildred
fays, " Tailor Poldavy, prythee fit, fit it. Is this a
" right Scot ? Does it clip clofe ? and bear up
" round ?"
I. i. " Onfl.igg!f." On flanks as fat as the
fides of a whale.
l.i. " Hattis that little avail " Of little a-
vail, or little worth, according to the Scott ifh idiom,
means more than a negative ; not ufdtfs, but highly
ccnfurable. This line probably alludes to the drefs of
the women, who covered their faces in fuch a manner
as to call for the fage interposition of the legiflature ;
aft 70. James II. That ftatute provides, " That na
" woman cum to kirk nor mercat [into places of pu-
" blic refort] with her face mufialed or covered, that
" fcho may not be kend."
Y * This
This avft of parliament to the contrary notwith land-
ing, the ladies continued niuflaled during three reigns.
In the days of James V. Sir David Lindfay thus ceu-
fures thorn.
" Quhcn thay go to qnyet places,
" I thame excufeto hide thair faces,
" Quhen thay wald make collatioun
" With onie luftie companyeoun ;
" Bot in the kirk and market-places.,
" I think thay fuld not hide thair faces."
• ' • ' 1.3. " And fie fnul tailis to fweip the caufy
" clene." The enormity of long trains was provided
againft by the fame ftatute of James II. " That na
" wcman wear tailes unfit in length." The legifla-
ture has not determined what tails were fit in length ;.
that perhaps may be gathered from a mandate ifiued
by a Papal legate in Germany to the nations under his
care : " Velamina etiam mulierurn, quoe ad verecundi-
" am dcfignandum eis funt concefla fed nanc per infi-
«' pientiam earum in lafciviam et luxuriam excreve-
" runt, et immoderata longitudo fuptrpellieiarutn, quibtts
" puhersm tralutnt> ad moderatum ufum, ficut decet
" verecuadiam fnxx!, per excommunicationis fenten-
'c tiam cohibeantur." Tranferibed from a MS. of the
3^th century by Ludewie:, Relij. dipLm. torn. z. p.44i.
This mandate does not precifely afcertain the ortho-
dox ftandard of petticoats ; but as it excommunicates
the " tailes to fwepe the caufy clene," and fays that
the moderate ufe of petticoats,, for modefty's fake, is
to be adopted, it may be concluded, that ladies who
covered their feet were fufficiently conformifts : an
inch or two lefs might be immodefty, an inch or two
more might be vanity.
What efiecls followed from this provifional fentence
of excommunication, I have not learnt : certain it is,
that the Scottifh ac"l of parliament againft long tails, was
equally fruitlefs v/itb. that againft mujjaling ; for in the
reigo
C 257 3
reign of James V. Sir David Lindefay wrote a lo;rg
poem, called, " An foppHesttion directit from Sir Da-
" vid Lindefay of the Mont, Knicht, to the Kingis
" Grace, in contemptioun of fyde taillis," p. 306. —
p. 311. It is not without humour, but is beyond
meafure indecent.
In another poem, even when treating of the moft
ferious fubject, he fays, p. 168-
" Ye wantoan ladyiS and burges wyfis,.
" That now for fydeft taillis ftryfis,
" Flappand the fylth amang your feet,
" Raifing the duft into the ftreit,
" That day for all your pompe and pryder
" Your taillis fall not your hippis hyde.
I. 3. " Fdlok." I cannot explain this bet-
ter than in the words of Horace.
" Qu?e, velut latis equa trima campis,
" Ludit exultim, metuitque tangi,
" Nuptiarum expers, et adhuc protervo-
" Cruda marito*"
St. 16. 1. i. " Sa mony ane Kittle dreft up with goT-
*' din chertyes." As if lie had laid, " So many whores
" with golden chains adorned." " Lund Kill?," are
ftrumpets ; Chaucer,, p. 598. I prefume that the word
is ftill in ufe ; for in Swift's mifcdJanies I find, "old
" cats and young /[•//;." In p. 107. of this collection,
Kittie feenis to import :\ giddy young woman, though
not diflolute. It is not uncommon to ufe the caufe for
the effeff.
1. 3. <c With apillrfitysh ay ftiawar.d '\\lrg-l-
" din cheinf." The literal iutcrpretatioa of the word
is this, ""With1 apple reins always Ihcwmg her golden
" chin;'' or, " Lor?, e points confeila habcns, f;r.i-
'•' per aurcum mentiun oflentafis."r
if we once kntw '.]-,, ' the word, " apill,"
Y 2 alii
C 258 i
nil the reft will be explicable. The French pnrafi*,
" Pomme d'ambre," means an amber bead in fhape
and colour like an apple. Hence the Englifh word po-
mander. See Skinner, h.v. Junius fays it is " Paitillus
" odoratorius, facile in hoc vocabulo agnofcas. It.pomtt
*•' di odore." The difcordant derivations make no differ-
ence ; for ftill the word pomms for a bead is difcern-
iblf.1. It is reafonable to fuppofe that,, either by ana-
logy of language, or by imitation,, api'l, apple, had
the fame fenfe with us. Upon this ftippofition the
the whole line is intelligible. Apill tcnye is a. rein,
firing, or necklace of beads, and,, as I take it, an am-
ber necklace ; for the fenfe feems to be, " always dif-
" playing an amber necklace,, which makes her chin,
" or under-jaw, appear yellow." Thus the two diffi-
cult words,, apfky. when applied to rein, and golden,.
•when applied to din,, lead to the explication of this
obfcure verfe. The fafhion of wearing amber neck-
laces by degrees went down among the lower fort of
people in Scotland ; it is now almoft exploded even a-
inong them.. I. fuppofe fome future age will be to feek
among the vulgar for the definition of caidiiiale and ca-
pucing, while curches ^_ccuvre-chcf~\ and plaids again
cover the head and fhoulders of a woman of fafhion.
• 1. 4. " Of Sathanis fenye, fure fie an un-
«' fall menye." In words derived from the French,
ending with what is called the e mute, our anceftors
vrere wont to give the e a ftronger found than what the
French did. The Dutch are ftill diflinguifhed for this
pronunciation. Thus they pronounce courte paillc, as
if it was written courlih paitleh, and iefo^ne> carognc,
nearly as if they were written befngna, carrgtia. In
like manner we, from fvigne, chaine, faine, (Lat. fa-
mes), compofed fuit;ye, clienye, fainye, or fenye. The
j'uir.e word in the fame fenfe occurs,. Dunhams 7/;w<7/w,
ftanza 12. 1. 3. Upon the fame principle, do-^jj peirj-,
is dcuzs paircs. See Scot's Jujling, ftanzaa. 1. 2. The
learned glofiator en Gavin Douglas is at a lofs \vhat to
the \vordyi,; iii the (Itfcription. of harpies.
" Bot
I 2*9 1
" Bot the vile bellyis of thay curfit fchrewis,.
" Haboundis of fen maift abhominabill,"
He fays, " It may be an error both in print and MS^
« for fent* fmell." It is in truth nothing but the
French faine or fanies abridged,, as fenfe is the fame
word extended.
The meaning then of ftanza 16. 1..4. is, " Such an
" unhallowed company fprung from the corruption of
" Satan."
It has beeivjuggefted, thatfeinye in our old language
means fynr.d. This interpretation makes good fenfe,
and is confirmed by KHOX, p. 63. The reader will de-
termine whether it or the other contains the moil pro-
bable fenfe of the paiTage..
Difcretioun in Giving, p. 40*.
St. 5. I. r. " Sum gevis fo littill full ii-retc/ietty," 8cc.
Some give fo little^ and in fo niggardly a manner,, that
their gifts are defpifcd, and they themfelves are gene-
rally reflected on as mifers.
St. 8. 1.2. "That yifterday fra Flanderis flew."
This alludes to fome mark of liberality with which
foreigners had been diftinguifhed. The common in-
tercourfe between Scotland and the continent was by
the Netherlands. The mutual jealoufy of the two na-
tions made it difficult to pafs from England to Ssot-
land, even in the time of peace.
St. 9. 1. 4. " Jangealaris." It is elfewhcre fang-
lours. So capricious was our manner of fpelling ! The
word
C
word is from the French, jongle-ur, a juggler, a fhar-
per. It may however be from jangle, which formerly
meant ££«»/>£. See Skinner, h. v.
St. it. 1. I. " Sum gevis gudmen for thair gml
" kewis." I apprehend that the meaning is, for their
ready addrefs. Cue, corrupted from the French, is u-
fcd behind the fcenes, for the concluding word of a
fpeech, which warns the next fpeaker to come in. The
player who can connect his beginning with another's
ending, and the courtier who can diftinguifh the tem-
pora fandi, are faid to kuo-w their cues*
St. 12. 1.2. " Kirkis of Sancl Barnard and Sanft
" Bryd." If we knew in detail ho\v ecclefiaftical
bentfices were beftowed in thofe days, we mould pro-
bably dixcover this line to be fatirically perfonal.
Dlfcretiotin in Taking.
St.l. 1.. a. " Bot littill of ony gud forfaiking." The
meaning feems to be, " I may fpeak of takirg, but I
'« need not fay much of people's quitting any thing of
" value, .that is not common."
St. 2. 1. i.. " The.clerkis taki's beneficis with brawli;."
Ecclefiaftical perfons polTcfs themfelves of beneHces ly
riot and outrage. Thus John Hepburn ftormed the
cathedral of St Andrew's, and yet was obliged to yield
the fee to Andrew Foreman. ^ "With more prefperous
fortune the celebrated Gavin Douglas befieged and took
by capitulation the cathedral of Uunkeld, although
the partifans of Acdrcw Stewart n;<:clc a. fiai;d in tl-^e
bdfrcvj
26'I
belfrey ; Milne, Lives of the bijbops of Dunkeld, MS. Ad-
vocates library. It is probable that many atchieve-
ments of the like nature were performed during the
unfettled reign of James V.
81.3.1.3. " Gerfvmes raifit ovir he." Gerfome and
graJTum are the fame. Grafs is called gerfe by the vul-
gar in many parts of Scotland. The word grajfum o-
riginally meant an allotment of grafs orpafture. Thus
in a grant by William the Lion to the monaftery of
Coldinghame,. it is faid, " Et omnia nemora et gref-
" fuir.a faa fint fub defenfione Prioris et cuftodia ;"
£/;. Cddinghamt p. 29. It has long fignified a fum of
money paid by a tenant for a renewal of his leafe. In
this paffage, as well as in many others of this collec-
tion, the reader will remark the popular complaint of
racked rents during the reign of James V. The fame
complaint was made by the Englifh in the reigns of
Henry VIII. and Edward VI. Horieft Latimer, the
fon of a yeoman, inveighs againft racked rents in ma-
ny paflages of his fermons.
St. 4. I. i. " Sum takkis uthir mennis tacks." Not
the lands which they hold under leafes,.,but fimply
their pofleffions.
his aw in Ennemy* p- ?$•
St. 3. This ftanza contains an allegory of pleafurefc
lawful and forbidden. It will not bear a particular ex-
planation. " Fleis of Spenyie," are cant/iarides* This
circumftance gives us an high idea of the elegance and
refinement of our forefathers.
C 262 3
No Trejjour 'without Glaidnes. p. 54.
THis is a moral poem without perfanal refletthns.
It will not be admired ; but there is one cxpref-
fion in it which ought to be remembered, as contain-
ing more good fenfe than fome fy-ftems of ethics.
i " No more thy pairt dois fall,
" Bot meit, drink, clais, and of the laif ajlght."
In modern language Dunbar would have cxpreflccl
himfdf thus.
" What riches gives us, let us then explore ;
'* Meat, drink, and cloaths ; what elfe ? a fight of
" more !
Advice to fpend anis cnvin Gudes. p. 56.
THis advice to be liberal, as commonly happens
in fuch cafes, exhorts to profufion j in vitiuru
virtu:.
St. 7. 1. 3. " That his auld thrift fettis on an ace.T>
This age is not to be told what " fettis on an ace"
implies. It may be more neceflary to explain the
phrafe " auld thrift." It is wealth accumulated by
the fucceffive frugality of his ancestors.
St. 9. 10. The words in thefe two ftanzas are plain,
but the meaning obfcure. The fenfe is probably this :
Do not expecT: that another will do for you, that which
you.
C 263 ]
[you wou'M never do for yourfelf. The child draws
milk from its mother's breaft, but gives nothing in re-
turn .
************************************
Of Denting, p. 60.
THis poem, on cenforioufnefs, is a feeble copy of
the Bal.ide of gode counfaile, by Lydgat, in Chau-
cer's works, p. 549. having for burden, " A wickid
4t tonge wol alway deme amis."
St. 5. 1. 3. " That evill he gydis yone man trewlie."
An ill guide is ftill ufed with us for a bad manager.
St. 6. l.i. " Gife I befesein court ovir lang." The
being f'een in court, appears to have figniried in thofe
days, the being in expectation of an office.
St. 7. 1. i. " In qoiirt reward than purches I." This
means, obtaining preferment, without any relation to
bargain and fak.
Of Deming. p. 62.
' St. 3. 1. 4. " Thocht he doiu not to leid a tyk ;" i. e.
*' Although he has not the abilities, nor the fpirit ne-
<f ceffary for the meaneft of all employments, that of
«f leading a dog in a ftring." There is nofingle word
[ 264 ]
in modern Englifh which correQxnids with d<rw : that
•which approaches the neareft to it is lift, from which
the adjeclive lijllefs. The force of the word do-w is
well exprefied in a modern Scottish ballad, which be-
gins, " There wes ane May." The lines to which I
allude are in the description of one crofled in love by
an envious lifter's machination, and a peevifh mother's
frowardnefs.
" And now he gangs danderlng about the dykes,
" And all he dmv do is to fmtid the tykes."
The whole is executed with equal truth and ftrength
ef colouring. I am informed that it is the competi-
tion of Lady Grifiel Baillie, daughter of the firft Earl
of Marchmont, and wife of George Baillie of Jerrif-
wood.
St. 4. 1.4. "[I am difhonorit]." The original
bears a word ufcd by Chaucer, but which gave offence
a century ago ; much more would it do fo now, in an
age diftinguifhed for purity of language.
St. 5. 1. 4. " Bot God fend thame a -widdy wic/it."
In modern language, a ftrottg haitir. A -middy is a
pliant branch of a tree. When juftice was executed
upon the fpot, the firft tree afforded an halter. It was
AH ingenious idea of a learned perfon on the continent,
to examine the analogy between language and manners.
Widdy -wicht might have furnifhed a chapter of the lan-
guage and manners of Scotland.
St. 7. The fenfe of this ftanza feems to be, " If I
*' am elegant of fpeech, fome vulgar wench fays, lam
" affected, and do not pronounce my words as her
" people do ; and yet me, who will not abftain from
*l cenfuring, needs a furgeon to ftitch up part of her
w own wide mouth, that flic may not Ipeak broad."
C 265 3
70 ths King. p. 64.
St. a. 1.3. " To cum to lure that hes no leif.'' Who
is not permitted to come to lure, or to his matter's
hand : A term of falconry.
1. 4. " My plumis begynis to brek out,'1*
This alfo is fome term of falconry.
St. 3. 1. 3. " Of quhome the glcd dols prettikis
*' pruif." That is, according to the gloflary in Dou-
glas's Virgil, " praetife ftratagems," or " try tricks."
St. 4. 1. 3. " The corchat cleif.'' Divide a crochet,
A term of mufic.
St. 5. The meaning is this, " Farrcft fowls have al-
" ways faircft feathers, although they fcream inftead of
«' finging : they (it favoured in cages of filver, but in our
" own home-bred neft, nothing is hatched but owls.'?
This ftanza allegorically, and the next, more directly,
accufe James V. of an injurious partiality to foreign-
ers.
St. 7. 1. 3. " Raitf Colyard and Johne the reif,"
Ralph Collier is a robber of no name, " caret qtiia -vate
" facrp™ while Johne the reif, or Johny Armftrong, is
immortalized in popular ballads. Buchanan fays, 1.14.
c. 39. " Johannes Arrniftrangius, pnnceps unius fa-
" dtionis latronum — fracla gula periit ; — curn An-
" gli fuerint ejus morte vehementer l^tati, ut qui
" gravi hofte liberati effort." Wretched is the ftat-
of princes, their moft laudable actions cannqt efcaps
unblamed. Buchanan obliquely cenfures James V.
for this great act of public juftice, becaufe the EngKih
rejoiced at the death of a robber, formidable to the e-
nemies of his country, as well as to his country.
St. 8, 1, a, " And haif few vcrtewis for to ras.n
& Have
C 266 ]
Have few good qualities, for which I may applaud my-
fdf.
1. 3. 4. " Yet am I cumin," &c. As if he
had faid,
" Yet, come of Adam and of Eve,
" I wifh to thrive as others do.''
St. 9. 1. 3. " To be a pyk-thank I wald preif." I
would attempt to turn fpy, informer, or tale-bearer.
St. 10. 1. 4. " Sic bairnheid biddis my brydell
" renyeV' Such childilh fcruples ftay my reins, or
check me in my courfe to preferment.
St. 12. Indeed you, Sir, can beft cure my difea'e :
bcftow a benefice upon me, and fee whether that will
not recover me at once.
St. 13. When I was an infant, my nurfe dandling
me on her knees, called me bifhop, and yet, ftricken
as I am in years, I have not attained to a curacy.
A fingular argument for obtaining preferment, and a
reafon no lefs fingular for repining at the want of pre-
ferment ! The prognoftications of nurfes and goffips
have been more fortunate in other cafes than in that of
poor Dunbar. Bifhop Duppa fays of Archbiihop Spotif-
uood, " he was no focner brought into the world,
" but a remark Me pajfage accompanied it ; for among
" the reft that were prefent, not ordinary gcfTipers,
" but women of good note, there was one among
" them, who in a fober, though in a prophetic Jit, ta-
" king the child in her arms, called aloud to the reft,
" in thefe or the like terms, You myall very iiellrc-
" j"ice at the birth of thi< child, for he ivill become the
" prop and pillar of this church, and ths main and chief
•" inftrument in the default zj //. .From what principle
«' this prediction came, or how fl;e -was thus infpired, I
*< will not ftarch into j" Life of Archbijh-ip Sjotifwond,
C 267 3
p. t. Were It not too prefumptuons, I would at-
tempt to fe arch into what the bifhop fo reverent iy
touches. A child was born to a Prefbyterian mini-
fter ; one of the goffipers, of gnod note indeed, but ftill
a goffiper, cried out, " Be blyth, cummcris, we half
" gottin a lad-bairn ; I warrant he will be a bra rni-
" nifter belyve." Such is the very fimple gciTiping
flory, when diverted of rhetorical ornaments.
St. 14. Jok, formerly a keeper of bullocks and heif-
ers, makes a haw] of benefices, by means of fecret ca-
lumny and falft fuggeftion, of more value
" Than all my lays beneath the birchen fbade."
St. 15. 1.2. "With difpenfatiouns bund in a /*.>./.'-
" cheH." Probably the fame as fatchcll. With a
wallet-ful of difpenfations, for incapacity, non-refi-
ience, &c.
1.4. " He playis with toti:m, and I with nlch-
" f//.'' Alluding to that game of chance called T to*
turn, exploded from the facility of perverting it to de-
ceit. See Rabelais, 1. i. c. ^^. and the notes to the
words, " pille, nade, jocque, fore.''
St. 16. 1. 4. " Bot doutles I ga rycht neir handit.''
I do not prefume to cenfure your Majefty's condu^,
but furely I go near to cenfure it.
To the King. p. 68.
St. I. I.I. " Sanft Sahatour fend Jilver forroiv." A.
divine hand has viiited me with the pains of poverty.
Z 3, This
C 268 i
This is conjectured to be the fenfe of the exprcfiion.
Our forefathers, in their zeal fur making faints, were
pleafcd to make a Sanfi Sahatnur. The phrafe Jiher
farrow, may imply the anguifh arifmg from the want
of ready money.
None may affure In this FParld. p. 70.
St. 6. 1. 3. " On fredome is laid firfauhour ." The
word fredwic generally fignifies, open-hcartediitfs, ge-
nt rofity.
St. 15. 1. i. " Uli ardentes anim<e." This mingling
c>f fentences from the Breviary, with verfes in the vul-
gar language, founds very flrange to modern ears ;
but there are fo many examples of it in the MS. that
I prcfume our forefathers did not perceive its impro-
priety.
In a rare and curious book, intitled, " A detection
" of egregious impoftures," by Samuel Harfnet, af-
tcrvvards Archbifl;op of York^ a ludicrous example
of the kind occurs, p. 156. " Out of thefe is fhaped
' as the true idea of a witch, an old weather-beaten
' croane, having her chinne and lier knees meeting
' for age, walking like a bow,, leaning on a fhaft, hol-
•' low eyed, untocthed, furrowed on her face, ha-
' ving her lips trembling with tlie palfy, going mum-
« bling in the fircetes, ore that hath forgotten her fa-
' ur-NfJler, ard yet halh afhrcwd tongue in her head,
' to call a drab, a drab. If fhee have learned of an old
' wife in a ehimnies end, P^.v, n>ax, fax, for a fpell ;
' or can fay Sir John of Grantam's cuife, for the
' millers celes that were ftolne,
« All
C
« AH you that have fto'n the miner's eeles,
Laudate Demi tarn tie ccclis,
" And ail they that have contented thereto,
" Benedicamtts Domino.
" Why, then, ho, beware, looke about you, my neigh-
" hours," Sec.
Lament for the Deth of the Makkans.
p. 74-
WE fee the once gay Dunbar, now advanced fit
years, deprived of his joyous companions, and
probably joftled out of court by other wits younger
and more fafhionable. This Lament has not the fpirit
of fome of his earlier compofitions. The folemn bur-
den, Timor nionis cnntmbat me, ferves to fhew under
what impreffions the aged poet compofed this general
elegy. It may ferve as a proper introduction to his re-
ligious poems.
St. 8. 1. i. "In the flour. ^ In the duil of 'war*.
See gli'lfi'S to Douglas's Virgil, v. Stoure. Sir George
Mackenzie obferves, Pleadings before the fupreme count
of Scotland, p. 17. " Sometimes our fiery temper has
" made us, for hafte, exprefs feveral words into one ;
" asyZ,'«r, for dufl in motion." This obftrvation,. nov/
become an axiom with us, affords a finking example
of national prejudices : for the Englifh dufl, refpecl's
motion as well as reft, and the Scottifh flour, reft as
well as motion.
1. ?,. -'; The cj/'/fWM clufit in the touir." B^
Z 3 cafctiuiei
r 270 3
cfff>tiUi! is meant, governor of a fortified place, as cap-
tain of Norliara, of Berwick, of Calais.
St. 14. 1. a. " Wintoun." Andrew Winton priot
of the Inch of Lochlevin, towards the beginning of the
reign of James I. he compofed a Chronicle Original in
Scottiih metre, MS. ; Advocates Library.
St. 15. I. 3. " Tragedy."1' It would feem, that in
the language of thofe times, tragedy meant any mo-
ral defcriptive poem. Thus in the MS. p. 107. i.
" This tragedy is callit, but dreid
" Rowlis curling, quha will it reid.
The poem there called a tragedy, is an invc&ive ag.iinft
thofe who defraud the clergy of Ihe'r dues, and has no-
rtfemblance to any fort of dramatic competition. The
name of iragtdy, for a dramatic competition, was not
known in England before the reign of Henry VIIL
See Percey, Origin of t/is Engtifl? fl^e , p. 10.
St. 16. 1. i. " Holland* His poem of the Hmxlatt is
preferved in Lord Hyndford's MS. and in a MS. be-
longing to Lord Auchinleck. It is a verbofe work,
but mwfl: have merit with antiquaries, from the ftanzas
ticfcribing " the kyndis of inftrumer.tis, the fportaris
fjuggkrs],. the Irifh bard, and the Mis."
In this poem the author has mentioned different cir-
cumftar.ces,. which afceitain with precificn the time at
which he lived. He dates it from Ternoway, the
feat of the Earls of Moray ; and fays,
" Thus for a dow of Pr^bar drew I thisdyte,
" Dowit with a Douglas, and baith wcr thay
The lady hei^e meant is Mary Durbar, Count efs of
Moray, who brought that earldcm to her hufbr.nd
Archibald
I 271 ]
Archibald Donglas, a younger fon of James feventft
Earl of Douglas.
The author mentions the four branches of Douglas ;.
by which he certainly means,, i. James eighth Earl of
Douglas ; 2. Archibald Earl of Moray ; 3. Hugh Earl
of Ormond ; 4. John Lord Balvenie. The poem
therefore muft have been compofed be-fore the battle of
Ancrum muir, I455> where the Earl of Moray was
flain by his lefs refcntful,. or more loyal kinfman> the
Earl of Angus.
• 1. i. " ff arbour." John Barbour Archdea-
con of Aberdeen, in the reign of David II. He drew
up the acts of Robert I. in Scottifh metre.
' 1. 3. " Sir Muiigo Lockhtrt of the Lee." I
do not find this name in the family of Lee, one of the
moft ancient and honourable in Scptland. I fufpect
that the perfon here meant has been fome pritit, offi-
ciating in a chapel belonging to that family. Every
one knows that Sir was the common appellation of fe-
cular priefts, the Pope's knights, as they were vulgarly
denominated.
St. 17. 1. 2. " That made the aventers of Sir Ga-
" wane.v Percey, in his F.jfay on tJu ancient metrical
romances, p. 25. 26. mentions three difTerentfpoems of
the adventures of Sir Gawane. From the fpelling of
the fpecimens which he exhibits, I incline to think that
all the three were compofed by Englimmen ; fo that in
all probability the work of Clark is loft.
St. iS. 1. i. " Blind Hary." A popular poet, who
has celebrated the actions which Wallace did not per-
form, as well as thofe which he did. Dempfler, ac-
cording to his carelefs way, places him in the i4th
century. John Major brings him down a century la-
ter ; " Integrrm librum Guillelmi Wallacei, Hen-
" ricus a nativitate luminibus captus, mete infantLe
" timporc cucliff" De Geftis Senior urn, 1.4. c. ij. It
is
C 272 1
is evident that his work, however antiquated it may
now appear, has been much altered and amended.
1. 3. " Patrick Johnfltmn." There is one
poem of his competition, intitled, The thre deid poivis ;
or, The three death-heads, in the MS. It is to be found
p. 139. of this collection.
St. 19. I. i. " Merfar" Tie is mentioned by Sir
David Lindcfay. His poem, intitled, Per r ell in Para-
mours, is to be found in this collection, p. 156.
St. 30. 1. i. " Roiutt." There is a poem in the MS.
p. 104. 2. termed Ro-wlFs curjlng. Whether written
by him, or only in his name, I know not. The fol-
lowing paffage in it determines the sera at which he li-
ved.
" and now of Rome that beiris the rod,
" Undir the hevin to lowfe and bind,
" Paip Alexander.''
The Pontiff here meant muft have been the virtuous
Alexander VI. who was Divine Vicf-gerent, from 1493
to 1503. Lindefay alfo mentions Rowll ; but there
is no diftinguifliing between the two potts of that
name.
St. 21. I. I. " Bra-van" In the MS. there is a poem
of a judgement to come, by "Walter Brown, probably
the perfon here meant. The poem has lit tie other me-
rit befides that of a pious intention. The follow-
ing ftanzas may ferve as a fpecimen of the poet's man-
ner and ftyle.
XL
'< Ye men of kirk that care hes tane
" Of fawlis, for to wetche and keip,
" Ye will be tynt, and ye tyne iine,
** In ycur defalt, of gcddis fche5p j
C 273 3
Be walkand ay that ye nocht fleip,
Luke that your bow be reddy bent,
The wolf about your flok will leip,.
Ye mon make compt at jugement.
XII.
Be glide of lyfe, and bifiie ay
[Your] gud examplis for to fchaw,
Stark in the faith, and luke allway
That na man cryme unto you knavv.
Lat ay your deid follow your faw,
.And to this taill ye tak gud tent,
Sayuiaill, but daiveill, is nocht worth a ftraw,
For you to fchaw in jugement ."
' 1. 2. " With gud Mr Robert Hcnryfoun."
He is faid to have been fcoltuaifter of Dunfinnling, in a
collection of his fables 1575 ; Hurkian MSS. 3865,
p. i. I fuppofe his office to have been that of precep-
tor of youth in the Benedictine convent at Dunferm-
line. Many of Hcnryfoun's poems are to be found in
this collection. They have a moral turn, and are free
from that licentioufiiefs which debafes the composition*
of fome of his cotemporaries.
1. 3. " Sir Johne the R>fi.'* To this perfon
Dunbar addreffes his Invective againft Kennedy. The
diftinclion of Sir, probably relates to his ecclefiaftical
character. It foenis uncertain whether Raj's was his
name, or only the place of his refidence.
St. 22. 1. 2. " Quintene Scha-w." Elfewhere called
by Dunbar ^intent, without any addition. Kennedy
fpeaks of him as his relation. It is probable that he
was a native of Ayrmire.
Sir David Lindefay alfo fpeaks of Quintin, in the
Prologue to the complaint of the Papingo.
" As may precell Quintin and Kennedy."
If
C 274 3
If we may believe Dempfter, 1. 15. p. 545. and af-
ter him Mackenzie, Scots Writers, vol. i. p. 429. " In
"' the troublefome times of the Bruce and Baliol, there
" flcurifhed a famous poet, called Qt.iniinr, who went
" over to France, and lived at Paris, where he wrote
" and publified in cl-gant verfe, Querela de Patriae Mi-
" feria. prcdiit. Lutetis, typis Stephani Ballard. 1511."
If this elegant poem was printed and publilhed about
the fame time, the author might vie in longevity with
the celebrated Johannes a ieinporlbus.
St. 2. " !\Ir Water Kennedy." There are ftveral
poems of his composition in the MS. One is to be
found in this collection, p. 149. The Fly ting between
Dunbar and Kennedy is to be found in the Evergreen.
In many places it is obfcure, in many more utterly un-
intelligible. I incline to think that this altercation,
which for fcurrility is unexampled, may have been a
play of illiberal fancy, without any real quarrel be-
tween the antagonifts. This idea is confirmed by the
affectionate manner in which Dunbar here fpeaks of
Quintin Schaw and Kennedy.
• The reader will have obferved, that in Dunbar's lift
of Scottifh poets, there are many names of which I
can give no account. Their fate is like that of thofe
writers in the Auguftan age whom Ovid celebrates.!^
" Ponticus Heroo, Baffus quoque clarus lambo,
" magnique Rabirius oris.
Of
Of Luve erdly and divine, p. 79.
I Have placed this comparifon between love fenfuaf
and divine in the front of the religious poems of
Dunbar. When allowance is made for the ftyle,
which may now feem uncouth, it will be found to con-
tain more good fenfe, and more poetry, than are in
feme modern compofitions of a like argument.
One thing is remarkable in the religious poems of
Dunbar. Although a Roman Catholic, and actually
in orders, he generally exprefies himleif in language
which a Protcftant might adopt.
St. 3. 1. i. " No man hes courage." No man has
heart or abilities.
1.4. " Thair kyndnes'is fo contrair clene."
Kiddies implies, kind or particular nature ; and the
fenfe is, the two forts of love, fenlual and divine, have
no relation to each other.
St. 4. 1.4. " And ftill the jtt<irrellto fufteine." Al-
luding to the ftyle ufcd in iingular combats. The
French phrafe, Joutinir la gageure, is derived from the
fame fource.
St. 6. 1. 3. " Quhair I had mwgre to my meid."
Where, inftead of being wvarded, I met with difcuun-
teuance.
St 8. 1.3. "All TO/." Every perfon. Wy, from
A. S. -wiga, her os, fen.ideus, miles; but poetically ufed
for cttjufcunque conditionh -vir. See Hickes Cram. An-
fl-i-S>-x. p. 105. 106.; G. Douglas, JEneid. p. ^36.
f. 54. fays,
** Hys lyffe he led tmknawin of any -ay."
St. n.
C
St. I*. 1. I. " Unquyt I do nothing nor fane." I do
not any thing, I fay not any thing that is unacquitted ;
i, e. my whole condud: is approved and rewarded by
my love.
The tiva Luves erdly and devyne. p. 89.
Dialogues between animals upon moral fubje<5ts
were brought into fafhion by the early Englifh
poets. Dryden, in his Hi>td and Panther, unfuccefsful-
ly attempted to revive this tafte. Great examples may
ferve to excufe, but will fcarcely juftify a fpecies of
«ompo(ition fo unnatural.
St. 13. 1. 6. " Be tontC* As from take, taken, to1 en ;
fo from took, tooken, token, tone.
Reivl of anis felf. p. 96.
St. i. 1. 4. "In mekle fpeice is part of vanitic."
Speice is pride. Thus <i fj'icy man is ftill ufed for one
<c;f-conceited and proud.
St. 3. 1. 3. 4. " Be thow content, of mair thow hes
" no neid ;
«* And be thow nocht, defyre fall mak
«« debait."
When
I 277 3
When contented, thou haft no need of more ; when
/not contented, thy defires become turbulent anJ infa-
'tiable.
1. 5. " Evirmoir till deth fay to the than chok-
" matt." The obvious interpretation -of this phrafe
may be fought in the game of chefs. I think the
fenfe, however-, may be, till death call hinrfeJf your
companion. " Thou fould nocht mak thy fclf chak-
" mate to the King," was the expreffion of Adam Reid
of BarikimmiKg.to Archbifliop Blaciader; Ktwx? p. 4.
Robene and Makyne. p. 9$.
St. i. 1. 7. " My dule in dern but gif thotv till."
The word dill, daill, deill, means Jbare. The fenfe is,
" Unlefs thou (hare my fecrtt woe ; " i. e. unlefs you
return love for love,
St. a. 1. 4. " Raik on raw." ftoairrcr extend them-
Telvcs in a row ; as the manner of mccp is wliile pa-
'fturing. A fteep-ialk, and a J&tep-Toalt, are fyuony-
•mous.
St. 3. 1. 3. " Fair-of /7-iV." The word fiir hssra-
"rious fignifications ; as, fear, companion, counte-
nance, i think that it is here taken in the fignifieaticn
laft mentioned. The word -wyfe in the ne*t Itne iiruft
be pronounced as a difi"yl!ablc ; and (he \vord hardy-,
like the French hardi, with the accent on 'the laft fyl-
lable.
1. 6. " Quhat dul: ti dent 'thi-w fire" ^T^at-
ever forrcw or cifrrcfs you may endure in fecret. The
word die is fiill ufed with us; as, e( It is ill to drc.""
" To dre pennance," &c.
A a -St. 4.
I 278 J
St. 4. 1. 4. " Quhat makis the this -wanrufi" The
«A. S. privative is -wan, and reiv is or^r „• fo that the
word means disorder. What is it that occafions fuch
tliilurbance in your mind ?
1. 7. 8. Were we to amufe ourfelves in the
plain, while the fheep roam on the fide of the hill, they
would be neglected, and that neglect would turn to
our reproach. To fuppofe that the fliecp themfelves
would cenlure, is an idea too refined for the limited
apprehenlions of Robene.
St. 5. 1. 4. " [Als far as maid cowth yeid]." The
fimplicity of the abandon made by this young virgin is
fiich in the original, that there was a necefiity of fof-
tening it into, " As far as a maid can advance in her
" proffer of affection."
1. 7. " / dcrn with the, bot gif I daiil" We
watch together ; we are alone ; unlefs I mare of your
favour, I am loft. This feems to be the import of
the expreffion.
St. 9. 1.5. " Robene brayd attottr the benl." Haftily
tr;;vened the ground overgrown with rufhes, or coarfe
gr.ifs. The expremon in Englifh which moft nearly re-
'/embles this, is, " Strode along the brake."
St. 1 6. 1. 8. " Amangis the holtis hair." It is ra/hy
gr,!r in the Evergreen ; for no better reafon, than that
/,••>///; hair \vas in 1. 2. of the ftanza, and that the pu-
bli'flier law an impropriety in the repetition. If I mif-
take not, hollis hair means the bleak upLuids. There
feems no fenfe in faary -woods, which is the literal inter-
. pretaticn of the phrafe.
The
The garment of glide Lady Is. p. 103.
THis poem is a fort of paraphrafe of iTim.ii.
9. — ii. ; but the comparison between female
ornaments and female virtues, is extended throughout
fo many lines, and with fo much at a tire-woman's*
detail, that it becomes foniewhat ridiculous.
St. 4. 1. 3. " The mailyds." The word maillt fig-'
nities a link in the net-work, of whidi an haubergcon
is compcfcd. Hence we ftill fay, a coat of mail. The
Vord is here ufed for an oy.let-hole, through which i
long lace is pafled.
7*he Alb ay Walk. p. 105.
I Have given this poem the title of the Allay Walk,
from a like title given to a popular poem mention-
ed by Sir James Inglis in biiCotxJjhuat. Let me ob-
ferve in pafling, that if the ftudy of Sccttifh hiftory
fhould ever revive, a new edition of Inglis's complaint
would be an acceptable prefent to the public..
St. 7. 1. 7. " Quha heis law hairtis, and lavris he."
Who exalts the humble in fpirit, and brirgs down the
lofty. It is copied frtm Chaucer, Cuckciie and Ni^/it"
ingalt;, p. 543-
" For he can makin of lowe hertis hie,,
" And of hie lowe."
What Chaucer fays of love, Henryfoun applies to th't
Divinity.
A a * T/»
I 280 3
The Dog, the H^alf, and the Scheip..
p. 109.
OUT of many fables by Henryfoun, I have fclecl:-
ed two, as being more particularly characlerifti-
cal of the ftate of Scotland daring the i6th century..
The fables of Henryfoun are rather tedious. Indeed
prolixity feems to be the general fault of modern fabu-
llfts : from this charge I cannot except even La Fon»
tame hhttirir. * '..««: p. '...U.J. feme of the morals with-
cat the ccrrefponding fables. They are not To teaioMtn,.
and they contain feveral curigus particulars as to the
ilate of Scotland..
The fable of " The Dog, the Wolf, and the Scheip,"
contains the form of procefs before the ecclefiaftical
court. It is a fingular performance, will be enter-
taining to lawyers, and may, perhaps, fuggeft fomc
obfervations not to be found in books.
St. 2. I. 3. " I, per me, Wolf, pairtles of frawd or
" gyle." The fummons or writ is ifiued in the name
of the Wolf, before whom the caufe between the
Dog and the Sheep was to be tried. Pairtles is neuirt
fa-jsnt.
I. 4. " Undif the painis," &c. Under ec-
clefiaftical pains, in cafe of contumacy ; firft, of fuf-
penfion from divine offices, and then qf abfolute ex-
trufion from the church itfelf.
St. 3. 1. 7. " On the bnir bure." Charges to pay
er to perform, ifiTued in the name of the Sovereign*
are ftiil termed the King's Ufters*
St. 4, I. *. " Till his office weill ajfeird." Well in--
flracted in what concerned the duty of his office. As
f->r<- >;•!>, as becomes, is a conftant expreflion in our
-jw-iiyk.
St. 4,
C 281 3
St. 4. 1.8. " Quhen Efperus to fchaw his face V.C--
" gan." T-he Wolf held his court while the fun was
down. " On every \Vednefday morning next after'
tf Michaelmas day, at cocks crowing, there is by. an-
" cient cuftom a court held by the Lord of the ho-
" nour of Raleigh, which is vulgarly called the Liv-
" left court, — becaufe held at an unlawful or lawiefs
" hour;" Blount, Cuftoms of Jhaours, p. 147.
St. 9. 1. 2. a- " He bad the parteis cheis with one
" aflent
" Twa arbitours, as in the law iy;
The Wolf having been declined, he appointed the par-
ties to chufe arbiters, who might judge of the declina-
tor. Had the Wolf judged of the declinator, an ap-
peal might have lain to a fuperior court; but no ap-
peal lay from the judgement of the arbiters. Thty
were judges chofen by the parties themfelves, and par*-
ties cannot appeal from their own deed. ,
St. ii. 1. a. " Dezeflis neiv and aid." Alluding to
the ridiculous divifion of the Pandecl?, into digejium-
vetus, infbrtiatum, et novum, made by Bulgarus in the
1 2th century.
St. ra. 1. 7. " On clcrkis did, gife tfiis fentcrro >-r
leill." I thiiik the meaning is, I leave the learned*^-
determine whether the arbiters juftly rcpeHed the de-
clinator. It has been fuggefled, that " clerkis dcir
may fignify infl.ruir.ent'-inoney paid to the cltrk cf
court; and then the fenfe will be, as the judgement
was formal and inflruments taken, the fheep cculd not
bring the award under review.
St. 13. 1. 5. " Thairto a borcJi I fand." I put in
bail to profcciite, for recovei-y of a ptnficn c.
tsnce of bread which. I had purchafed from the fjiccp.
A a 3 St. i.?»
St. 14. 1". 3, "-L'aurtW'ttie aftis and [thej proces
N wrait." In ftanza 5. 1. i. it was faid, that the
"• Fox wes clerk and notar," The Scots ftill call a fox
SLt-'d'Iaitry. I. do not know the origin of this appella-
tion.
St. i&. I. i. " This Wolf I likin unto a fcliereff
" fto'.it." It is remarkable that the whole fatire of
the fable is aimed at the ecclefiaftical judge, whereas
the application is to the civil. Henryfoun probably
flood more in awe of the court fpiritual than of the
temporal.,
St. 19. I. 6. " To fkraip out Johrw, and wryt in
** Will of \V ate." To efface the name of John, and
in its place infert that of William or Walter. Of, from
the Dutch, may imply or. It would feem however,,
that " of ivait" is a- better reading, which implies ia-
lenl tonally, on ptirfnfe.
- 1. 7. " An<l fo a-bud at bayth the parteis/^/."
Ar,d thus levy a reward from each of the parties, from
John for effacing his name, and frcin the adverfary of
William for inferting his.
Of the Moufe and the Paddok. p . 1 2 2 .
St. i. 1. 5, "'Qiihome with you foll-ti-ii the." It
ihould probably be^ fallowis, 5. e. aflcciates. The*
noun ft^lmv is ftill wfed in the fenfe of companion.
1. 8. " Na bemachit with a wicket marrow."
This line is obvioufly defe&ive. It is probable the
prtt wrpte, as in Iknza 3. 1, 8. <( Than to be mathit,"
&c.
Of
Off the Borrowiftoun Mous, and the
Up-on-land Mous. p. 127.
St. 3. 1. 4* " To the moufs he-wis e." The word"
kewis is probably the fame with /leaves. Raifes or lifts
up his eye. It may however imply no more than haves.
or has. So arbitrary was fpelling with us.
St. 4. 1. i . " Thocht it be bot a gkid" A tempo-
rary blaze,, fuch as is made with bruih^wood, oppofed
to a conftant. regular fire.
Of the Lyon and the Monjs. p. 129^
St. 4. 1. 4. " And metigat mercy \vith crewelty."'
This expreffibn is not very grammatical. It means juft
the contrary, of what it exprefles.
St. 6. 1. 7. " Figour heirof aftymis has bene fene."
He probably alludes to the revenge taken on Robert HI.
by D unbar, and on James I. by Graham.
The rejjbning betivixt sfige andTo-wth,
st. i. 1. 6. " That all of mirth cowth mine," Whol-
ly intent upon jollity.
St.»,
r 284 i
St. a. l.j. "With cheikis dene, and lyart lokis
«• hoir." It is hard to fay why clean cheeks fhould be
a characteriftic of age. I imagine the word to have
been miftaken for lene. Lyart, from the A. S. lat, ca-
pillus, and liar, canus. There is famewhat of tauto-
logy in the pafiage.
St. 4. 1. 4. " Ane frfik on feld" This appears t«
have been a fafhionable expreflion. G. Douglas fays^
p. 239. l.a?-
" Ha, wald thou fecht, quod the freik."
The word has nearly the fame fignification as brave
had in the days of Brantome, or tall man, in the days'
of Shakefpeare. The only remains of the word in mo-
dern Englifh are, freak, a whim, and frtakijb, capri-
cious.
., 1. 7. "And fo with birds blythly my baitts
" belt" Bride is ufed in Chaucer for bird, and birds
for a miftrefs. In an old Scottish fong, " Burd Ifo-
" bel," means a young lady called Ifabella. Surd is
ftill ufed as an appellation of complacency by fuperiors
to women of lower degree. Merfar, p. 157. of this
collection, fpeaks of " birdls bricht in bowris;" by
which he means young women in their chambers. Bar-
lis belt, abate my fires. In. poetical language, " to
" quench my amorous flames," which may be other-
wife exprefied in blunt Englifn.
St. 8; 1. 4. " This breif thow fall obey fone, be
" thow bald." Young man thou fhalt one day ac-
knowledge the juftice of my faying, however vigorous
thou mayeil feem at prefect.
1.6. "Thy helth fall hytik, and tak a hurt
" but hone." Thy health fhall incontinently hafte a-
way, nor will there be any relief or intermiffion from
difcafe. Hyrk is from the A. S. higan, feftinare ; hence
to /tie : tat hone means " without ho" Mr Ruddi-
man
C 285 3
man obferves, Gloffary to G. Douglas, that " kui fic,netn
is, metri gratia, fon/io-,- p.aaa. 1. 9.
" Drif thir chiftanis of this land, but kone ."
The word ho is well known ; it is an interjection, com-
manding to defift. It was ufed by the judge of the
lifts, in the days of chivalry, when he ordered the
champions to ceafe from combat. In French Iwla, or
ho la. BafiTompierre relates, that when Charles I. and
Jse were talking warmly, Buckirighame ftept in and
cried, " Je mets Vhola. entre vcus deux." H*rcia-
this petulant minifler affirmed the character of judge
of the lifts between his mailer and an ambaflador.
4**** ******** * -M-* **************** *4*
Rejfbning betwixt Deth and Man.
p. 134.
St. 7. L 3. «* To lurk under thy- caip." Under thy,
cope ; a coffin is here meant. Knox in his Jiiftory re->
peatedly ufes a cop& of kid,, for a lead-coffin,
The thre Deid Pou'is. p. 139.
TH E fancy of introducing three death's-heads is.
odd ; and the more fo, becaufe they all fpeak
at once. The fentiaients are fuch as the contem-
plation
[ 286 ]
phtioa of mortality naturally prodnces. If likenefs
inferred imitation, Shakefpeare, in the fcene of the
grave-diggers, might be fuppofed to have copied from
Patrick Johnftouo, an obfcure verifier, of whom he
never heard.
Sons exytlt throw Pryd. p. 142.
THis is a curious poem. There is no circumftance
in it which precifely afcertains its date. The
language, however, mows that it muft have been com-
pcfed about the age of James V. It is plain that d-
bout that time the nobility began to frequent the court :
the confequence was, expencc flowed in a different chan-
nel ; there was lefs hofpitality, and more luxury. The
Vulgar think, that it is a fine thing to wear fine cloaths ;
and therefore, with their idea of Scottifh nobles in e-
very age, they connect filk, and lace, and embroidery.
If there is faith in poets, filk, lace,, and embroidery
were phenomena in the reign of James V.
St. 3. 1.4. " And quhen ftrangeris dois in this
" realme repair ;" i.e. keep your rich cloaths till foreign-
" ers vifit you, and they may laft you for twenty years
" and more." The entailing " riche:aiTayis unfulyeit,
" clene, and fair, tothair fucceffioun," is a fumptuary
law, fingular in its nature.
St. 4:. I. 3. " With welwet bordour about his threid-
bair coit." This portrait of an.bitioja paupertas has
been drawn from the life. The whole itanza is highly
finifhed. The picture of a ferving-man with a thread-
bare coat and new velvet lace, not diitinguifliing his
own mailer, is happily imagined.
Jo/ma
I 287 3
Johne Up-on-lands Complaint, p. 144.
SEE Chaucer's works, p. 590. where Jacke Upland is
introduced complaining of the ignorance of church-
men. This character is a fort of
41 Rufticus, abnormis fapiens crafs&que Minerva,"
much in the ftyle of Bifhop Latimer.
St. I. 1. 1. " Now is our King in tendir age." Bu-
chanan has well defcribed the ftate of Scotland at this
period. " Abfente prorege, cum omnes omnia non
" modo impune dicerent, fed facerent, agerent, fer-
" rent, rapereni;" 1. 14. c. 24.
St. 3. 1. 6. " And preiftis mycht pattir and pray
<* thair fill." John Up-on-land, ever lince the days
of Chaucer, had a licence to revile the clergy. This
line mews how defpicable the eftablifhed clergy had
become before the dawn of reformation : even when
engaged in their proper office, they were not treated
with decency.
1.9. " And flakh ftill mycht Hand." Dead
fences ; for when leafes were of fhort endurance,
there could be no other. There is a ftatute to the con-
trary, act 83. parliament 14. James II. But fta'utes
when they move more rapidly in improvement than the
nation does, always prove ineffectual.
1. 10. " For fen thay red amang our dun's."
The grievance here complained became fo intolerable,
that a law was enacted, c. 86. parliament 6. James V.
for unhorfing or difmounting the Scattilh army, on ac-
count of " the great hurte, Ikaith, and dammage,
«' done in dimming of multitude of horfemen, throw
" destruction of ccrnes, meadowes, and berrying of
*•' pure folkes."
St. 4.
St. 4. \.w. " To ding thir mony kingis doun." At
Plouden moft of the Nobility fell with their Ibvereign,
They who furvived were popularly decried as traitors
«r cowards, becaufe they furvived. Thefe circum-
ftances necefiarily weakened the influence of the arifto-
eracy. The Commons began to feel grievances, and
to murmur. They had not yet acquired that refined
fenfibilrty of liberty which mrinks at the mere appre-
faenfion of grievances. This fever on the ipirits was
-Mnknowji to our forefathers.
jTo King yarns s V. p. 146.
ALL the addrefles to princes in this -collection par-
ticipate more of the nature of fatire than of pa-
negyric. This poem, and the following one, repre-
fent James V. as inclined to avarice, even at the age
of profufion. Buchanan apologizes for him. " Pe-
" cuniae id fectrat avidiorem, quod cum alienas pote-
" ftatis eflct, in fumma pariimonia educatus fuifTet :
" et cum primum fui juris eft fadtns, in vacuas lEdes
" ingreflb, direpta fupelleclili, omnis ei fimul aulas
" partes denuo erant exomandae : proprium autem
" regum patrimonium in eos, quos -minime voluiffet,
" ufus, curatores ejus abfumferant." Without in-
-quiring into the truth or force of thofe apologies, I
•obferve that Stewart, a court-poet, early difcemed the
feeds of avarice in the .mind of the young king.
Lcrges, forges, lergss k.iy. p. iyi.
THis humorous poem was compofed by one
Stewart. There were two poets of this name,
mentioned by Sir David Lindefay. Concerning one of
them he fays,
" Stewart of Lome can carp right curioufly."
This poem difplays a fingular talent for carping or
fatire, and therefore we may attribute it to Stewart of
%Lorne.
St. r. 1. I. " The king rny cheif" The -very firft
ftanza is highly fatirical when the full import of the
expreffions is known. The king, head of our clan
[Stewart] , put his liberality to the teft, and fecretly
conveyed into my hand a couple of fhillings.
St. z. 1. 1. " Syne lerges of my Lord Chaucellar.'*
In order to difcover -what great men diftinguimed them-
felves by their liberality to Stewart of Lome, it will
be necefiary to afcertain the aera of this bitter New-
year's-day gift. This may be eafily done, fo that here
there is no Jlultus labor ineptiarum.
In St. 3. 1. i. we find "the »ew Bifhop of Gallo*
<{ way." This poem, therefore, was compofed when
fome bifhop was newly promoted to the fee of Gallo-
way. The fucceflion of bifhops to that fee ftands thus
in Keith's Catalogue, p. 164.
1508. James Bethune elect: Biihop of Galloway.
1509. David Arnot Bifliop of Galloway till 1526.
1526. Henry Wemyfs Bifhop of Galloway till about
1541-
This poem could not have been compofed at New-
year's day 1508.; for James Bifliop of Galloway wae
B b alfo
t 290 3
alfo treafurer at that time : now the poem diftinguimes
the Bifhop of Galloway from the Treafurer.
Behdes it mentions Queen Margaret as being abfent
from court, or in fome fort of disfavour. This was
not the cafe during the reign of James IV.
For the fame rcafon it could not have been compo-
f«d at New-year's day Jjc*).
Neither could it have been compofed at New-year'*
<1ay 1541 ; for the widow of James IV. removed from
court, and eclipfed by Mary of Guife, her daughter-
in-law, would not have been termed, " Margaret our
*•< Quene."
Jt follows, that it muft have been compcfed at New-
year's day 1527.
I afk pardon of the Manes of honeft Keith for ha-
ving ufed his induftry to fettle the chronology of a
ballad againft James V. and his mini/lers. The cata-
logue of Scottifli biiliops was not, hot gu&fuum mu^ta
i'i ufus.
At New-year day 1527, the Chancellor was Archi-
bald Earl of Angus, hufband of the Queen-dowager ;
the Secretary, Sir Thomas Erefkine of Brechin j the
Treafurer, Sir Archibald Douglas of Kilfpindie ; the
C'jfiiptrollir, Sir James Colvill of Ochiltree.
St. 4. 1. i. " Of H.ilie-rud -the abbot ying/' The
MS. has, " Of Croce the abbot ying." This is a lame
verfc, plainly from the inadvertency of the tranfcriber,
who has given the fenfe of the poet without cbferving
his metre. The young abbot of Halis-rud, or Crcce, is
William Douglas, brother of Archibald Earl of An-
gus.
St. 9. 1. i. "My "Lord Both well." The per/on
here meant, is Patrick Hepburn third Earl of Bothwell.
His mother was a Stewart, daughter of the Earl of
Buchan. This may account for his favour to a Stewai t,
£nd the confequent eulogy.
St. io,
C 29! 1
St. 10. 1. 1. " Margaret our Quene." The Queen-
Dfcwager, wife of Archibald Earl of Angus. Her'.l-
verfion at the hulband of her precipitate choice, was
the chief caufc of the numerous diforders during the
minority of James V. As her hufband was in pcwct
at New-yeaf day 1527, fhe, of courfe, was abftnt
from court.
Sir Penny, p. 15*4.
St. 5. ].. 7. "And als Sir Symony his ferwand."
Upon the death of William Douglas Abbot ol Holy-
rood, Buchanan feysr " Sacerdot-ium ejus Robertus
" Carnicrucius, homo humili loco natus, fed pecunio-
" fus, a Rege, turn a pecuniis inopi, redemit ; novo ge-
" nere fraudis elusa lege ambitus, quoe facerdotia
" venire vetat : fponfione fcilicet viclus, qua, magna
" pecunia depofita, contenderat, Regem non cum pro-
" ximo facerdotio vacuo donatimim •" 1.14. c. 35.
He wagered with the king, That he fhculd not be pro-
vided to the firft vacant benefice ; and he loft. This
childifh popular tale has been occafionally revived. I-t
is to be found in a recent publication of fecret and
fcandalous hiftory.
h a
C 292
The Wowing ofjok and Jynny. p. 158.
THis well known poem, by frequent publication,
has been much corrupted. Every publifher
took the "liberty of adding or altering juft as his fancy
led him. It is now given faithfully from the MS. and
exhibits a ludicrous picture of the curia fupcllex of the
Scottifh Commons in the i6th century. Inftead of
encumbering the gloflary with a minute detail of the
wretched goods and chattels of the bride and bride-
groom, I fubjoin a lift of whatever might be dubious
or unintelligible to an Englifli reader.
Alir.ry, cupboard. Aik, large cheft for keeping corn
or meal. Blajnit-lsdder, probably bafnit, tanned-lea-
ther. Brechnnie, the collar of a work-horfe. Brochis,
clalps. Rrydill-renye, the rein of a bridle. Coig, a
pail or trough. Creill, bafket. Dublaris, probably
dimes with covers. Ell-wand, an ell-meafare, or rod;
Fitter it lok, fetter-lock. Fidder, 128 C. weight. Flaik,
hurdle. Furme, form or bench. Fur let, a meafure
containing one fourth of a boll. Fttte-braid fa-wing,
corn fufficient to fovv a foot-breadth. Grcith, girth.
Cryce, pig. Cuff, goofe. Heck, rack. Hobbilfchone,
clouted fhoes. /%, a fheep of two years old. Jak,
that piece of warlike drefs called a doublet offers, or de-
fence. Kaill, cole worts. Kirn, churne. Laid-faddill,
load-faddlc. Majkene fatt* veffel to boil malt in for
brewing. Milk-fyth, milk-ftrainer. Nok, button of
a fpindle. Pek, a meafure containing one fixteenth
of a boll. Polk, poke, bag. Quhitiill, knife. Raip,
rope. Rck, diftaff. Sark, ftiirt. Schule, fhovel.
Spounge, probably fpung, purfe. Spurtill, fpattula, flat
iron for turning cakes. Thrana-cruk^ a crooked flick
for twifting hay or ftraw ropes. Trent, fpout. Trttn-
cheour, trcnchar, platter. \ do not know the fignifi-
cation of padell.
St. i.
c: 293- j-
St. I. I.I. " Rcbeym Jok ;" i. e. Jok the'fon of Ro*-
bin, or Robin's fon. Proper firnames came late into
Scotland.
1. 3. " Scho brankit faft,; and maid hirbony."
She tript away haftily, and drefled herfelf out to the
beft advantage.
1.6. " Cleir as ony ck>k" Clear as a cl-^f.
or beetle ; a proverbial expreffion, alluding to the
bright poliib. .on the body of. that infec~U
St. 2. 1. I. l. " I yern full fane,
" To luk my heid, and fit down by
" you."
This is cbfcure : I underftand it to mean, " I ear*
" ne.lly long to fit down at your fide, after having firft
" fearched my head, that there be no animals about
" me." A refinement in ruftic courtftiip.!
1. 7. " I f<:hro the lyar, full leis me yow."
The young lady having told her mother, that fhe fu-.
fpedcd the fincerity of her wooer, he tenderly an~
Avers, " Curfe you for liar, I love you. heartily."
St. .?. 1. 3. " Ane fut-e-braid fawing." Com fuffi-,
cient to low a foot-breadth, or a foot-breadth of
ground on which one may Tow.. Here the author^
ftraining to make a ludicrous defcription of braggart
poveity, has tranftjreflTcd the bounds of probability. .
The idea, however, has pleafed ; for in a more mo- - •
dci n Scottiih bullad the following lines occur.
" I ha a wie lairdfehip down in the Merfe, ,
" The nyntMtth pairt of a gttij'fs gerfi,
" And I wo' na cutn i:\ery day to wow."
St. 7. 1. j. " Fyfe fidder of raggis to ftuf an "ak."
A quantity cf rags, wherewith' to quilt my coat uf
mail. By 8?th fratute, parliament 6. J;;n:c3 V. it was
provided, " That aU yearns* have /vAv; of plat
B b 3.
r 294 i
St. 1\ I. 6. " Ane fpounge." This probably
means a fpang, or purfe, which clofes with a fpring.
A. S. bung or />« ng. In Scotland the word yp«»g is
flill ufed for a. fob. Skinner gives an example of what
he calls lingua myflica. erronutn, or Gypfy cant. «« To
" nip a bung:" This is from A.. S. niipen. digitis vel-
licare, and bung or pung, marfupium. It would be
curious to inquire, whether the cant of Gypfies be any
thing more than corrupted Anglo-Saxon, or corrupt-
ed French, juft as thofe outcafts from civil fociety are
of Anglo-Saxon or French original.
St. 8. 1. 3. " Ane fark maid of the linkome twyne."
A fhirt made of the Lincoln twine ; a fort of cloath fo
called. Thus, in Chryflis kirk of the grene, St. 2. 1. 5.
«' Thair kirtillis wer of Uncome light."
St. to. 1. I. " Tak thair for my parte of the feift."
Such are my effects, fufficient to fet off againft yours ;
or, in the vulgar phrafe, to pay my fhare of the rec-
koning.
1.5. " And als the laverok isfuft and loddin ;"
i.e. The lark is roafted and fwollen. It feems to be a
cant-proverbial expreflion, For dinner is ready.
1. 6. " When ye have done, tak hamc the
" brnk" After you have dined, you may carry the-
remnants home.
may fend for Falfett. p 16 1
THls poem is much in the ftyle of Dunbar ; but
as it Is anonymous in the, MS. I would not ven-
ture to afcribe it to him..
St. 7. 1. 4. " Syne with thelordis to raik and roun.*
Rake with the judges, may feem an uncouth phrafe to
modern ears j but the meaning is, Walk at large, fpati-
ari ; fo p. 98. 1. iz. " Lo quhair thay raik on raw"
is ufed of the manner in which fheep pafture. Roun,
round, is to whifper with ; to talk like familiar ac-
quaintance..
Of Hap at Court, p . 1 6 3 .
THis anonymous poem, like the preceding one, is
in the ftyle of Dunbar.
St. 4. 1. 4. Grokarii" A corruption of the French
efcroqueurs, (harpers.
St. 7. 1. 2. " Sum tynis fy'ifs, and winnis- bot «/}."
Thus Chaucer, Monk's Tale, 1. 687. " Sice fortune is
«' tourned to an ace." The loweft caft comes up in-
ftead of the higheft : the moft profperous fortune is
changed to the moft adverfe.
St. 9. This ftanza touches on the inceflant change of
nunifters duHng the minority of James V.
St. 10. 1. 1. 2. " Chryft bring our king to perfyte ege,"
" \Vithwit, hzyo-uithisfellen rege."
From the expreflion, " Yowthis fellnn rege," we may
conclude that this poem was compofed after the young
king had difcovered his propenfity towards the fair fox.
Sir David Lindefay, though a courtier, had the cou-
rage to reprove his mafter for his inordinate and mean
pleafures.
£ 296 J
pleafures. Buchanan throws an indulgent fhade over
them. | " Ad mulieres autem proniorem eum reddi-
" derant adolefcentiae edttcatores, qu^hac ratione diiir
" tiffime eum fibi obnoxium fore arbitrabantur j"
1. 14, in fin.
Ceneral Satyr e. p, 166.
St. I. 1: 3 . " Law hes dcfyit guerdoun and his meid.'^
The beft commentary that I can make upon this line is
to tranfcribe, .aft 104. parliament 7. James V. 1540*
" It is ftatute and ordained, That for fa meikJe as. it
" has bene heavilie murmured to our Scveraine Lorde,
" that his lieges has bene greatlie hurte in times by-
" gane be judges, baith fpiritual and temporal, quha
" hes not been allanerlie judges, bot plain e folliftares;
'< partial counfeiloures, aflifters and partakers wjth
" fum of the patties, and hes tane great geare and prcr
" fite;
" Therefore it is ftatute and ordained, in times
" cumming, That all juftice, fchireffes, Lordes of
" Seffion, baillies of regalities, provoft and baillres of
" burrawes,. and uther deputes, .and all uther judges, .
" fpiiitual and temporal, alfweill within regalities as
" royaltie, fall do trcw and equal juftice to all our
** Soveraine Lordis lieges, .without ony partial ecu n-
" eel], rewardc?, or buddes" taking, fuither then- is
" permitted of the law, [meaning fentence-moneyj,
" under the paine of tinfell of their honour, fame, and
" dignitie, gif they be tainted and convicted of the fa-
" min : And gif ony maner of perfon murmuris ony
" judge, tti-npcral or fpiritual, alfweill Lordes of Sef-
fion, as uthers, and proves not the fame fufficient-
lie, he fall be punifned in fcmblable maner and forte,
" as .
C
** a« the faide judge or perfon whom he murmuris, and
" fall pay ane paine arbitral, at the will of the King's
*' Grace, or his councel, for the infaming of fik per-
" fones ; providing alwaies, gif ony fpiritual man fail-
" zies,. that he be called before his judge ordinar."
- 1. 5. " Hes fiyttin with fraud,." &c. Has
removed from fraud. Fly it is verier e folum, particularly
ufed of tenants who quit their pofTeflion. The word
flit, in modern Englifh, implies not fo much the remo-
ying from any one place, as the fluctuating from one
place to another.
St. 2. 1. 2. "And prelettis levis in clyne perfytnefs."
In a provincial council held 1549, one great caufe of
herefy was declared to be " in perfonis ccclefiafticis,
" omnium fere graduum, morum corruptela ac vita
" profana. obfccenitas /' Wilkins's Concil. torn. 4. p. 46.
to p. 60. See a commentary upon this text, Note to
St. 2. 1. ^. p. 42.
•' 1. 5. '* Allreligioun levis inholinefs." The
word religioun is here ufed for monaftic orders.
St. 3. 1. 6. " Quhois pacienceis bot newly watt and
•* fchorne." In allufion to the manner of dreffing
cloath : as if he had faid, Womcns patience is juft cut
out of the loom, and nothing the worfe of the wear-
ing.
Of Covet ire. p, 168.
St. I. 1. I. " Fredome, honour, and nobilnes." Bf
fredome is here meant generofity and hofpitality.
St,»,
St. a. 1. 3- " And play is fett «t littill price."'
Mirth; all joyous amufements, are defpifed ; men are
become avaritious and gamelters.
St. 3, 1. 1. 2. " Halking, hunting,- and fwift horfe
" rynning,
" Ar chengit all in wrangus wyn-
" ningj*
Bence it appears, that our forefathers did not confider
horfe-racing as a fpecies of gaming. This poem*
and that of " fons exylit throw Pryd," p. 142. treat
ef the fame fubjecT: ; but that appears to be much fu-
perior to this.
St. 9. 1. 3. " I* haldin a fule, and that full nyce."
Kice is from the French »/a;V, fimple. Thus Chaucer
fays, Cuckowe and Nightingale, p. 543. 1. 13.
" For he can makin of wife folke/?;// nice."
Thus alfo Dunbar, p. 34. of this collection.
" Quhen I awoik my dreme it was fi nice,
3? T *r v >* *• v^ v*r*i*T v*» *i*^'*f*v *^*v *r ****** •
Ane Difcriptioun of Pedder Coffeis.
p. 170.
WHat the author meant by coffeis, he explains
St. i. 1. 3. where he fpeaks of " pedder^waw."
Coffe, in the modern Scottim language, means rttflic^
The fcjife here is peddling merchants, The feven forts
are, I. An higgler and foreftaller ; i. A lewd parifh
prieft ; 3 . A merchant who traffics in company upon
too fnaali a ftock ; 4. Though obfcurely exprefied, is a
low-born fellow, who intrudes himfelf into the rhagt-
ftracy of a royal borough ; 5. A fraudulent bankrupt^;
6. A mifer ; 7. A dignified churchman : the character
«f each is drawn from the living manners of that age.
St. a. 1. 3. " Sornand all and findry air is." This
fcroppit or contemptible dealer is .reprefented as go-
ing about in every quarter fornand •; a contraction
from fojnurnand. Hence fbrners, or fojourncrs, which
fo often occurs in our more ancient ftatutes. He is
here defcribed as Jblicitous in purchafing fowls, pro-
fiting by the fale of their eggs, foreftalling the mar-
ket, and drawing advantage from a dearth. Thefc
are topics of popular difcontent, which the legiflaturc
has fomttimes fanclified by inextricable ftatutes.
My reafon for imagining that fcroppit means con-
temptible, is founded on the following paflage in Knox,
p. 93. " Thair was prefentit to the Quein Regent a.
" calfe having two heidis ; whairat ftie fcorppit, and
41 faid, it was bot. a common thing."
•St. 3 . A rafcally wencher among the married women,
refides in the country, verfant in the arts of fubtilty ;
he interprets to them the legends of the faints, and
fanclifies them with dead-men's bones or relics. Suck
perfons feem to have raked the ftreets of Rome for e-
very fuperftitious foolery. Sometimes they growl like
dogs, in the offices of religion ; fometimes they pitiful-
ly whine like the hypocritical Symmye and his brother.
The fivA part of this defcription alludes to the lewd
and inordinate lives of the fccular clergy. — The defcrip-
tion of their employment in the country refemblea that
which the younger "Voffius profanely gave of a friend
of his : " Eft facrificulus in pago quodam, et deciprt
*' rufticos." In Lord Hyndford's MS. there is a
poem
I 300 3
•poem relative to Symmye attd his bruder ; it is obfcure ;
but feems to import, that they were what is termed
qtueftionarii in the antient Scottifh canons, c. 48. that
is, pevfons fent out by the clmrch upon a begging
million.
St. 4. 1.1. a. " Thir cur coffeis that failis oure fone,
" And thretty-fum about ane pak."
Thefe lines are unintelligible without the aid of the
ftatute-book. By aft 24. parl. 4. James V. it is pro-
vided, " That na merchand faill, -without he have ant
" halfe lafl of gttdes of his a-win, or elfe in governance,
™ as fa<5tour, to uthir merchandes." And by acl: 25.
" That na fchip be frauchted out of the realme, with
" ony ftaple gudes, fra the feaft of Simon's day and
*' Judes, unto the feaft of the purification of our lady,
" called Candlemas." The reader will now perceive
.what it was to fail too early, and wherein they offend-
ed, who, to the number of thirty, were joint adventu-
rers in one pack of goods.
St. 5. l.i. " Knaifatica coff mifknwis himfelf." The
word knaifatica has been invented to defcribe a pedlar
of mean fervile original. Every one knows, that knave
formerly meant a fervant. It is probable that this
ftanza was aimed at fome living character, remarkable
for the infolence of office.
. 1.6. ** With hiskeis clynkandon his arme."
The keys of a city are confidered as the fymbols of
truft and power, and therefore they may have been
borne by magiftrates. It is an ancient cuftom for the
chief magiftrate of a city to deliver the keys to the
Sovereign, upon his iirft entry.
St. 6. l.i. "Ane dyvour coffe." This fianzade-
fcribes, in very emphatical terms, the offence of
one who, while unable or unwilling to pay, deals up-
on credit with foreign merchants.
St. f.
3
iSt. 7. 1. ?. " And eitis thame in the buith that
" fmaik." The word fmaik means a pitiful ignomini-
ous fellow. It occurs in a curious poem by the Earl of
Glencairn, preferved in Knox, p. 25.
" Thej fmaikis dois fet their haill intent,
" To reid the Inglifche New Teftaraent."
The cMirl here defcribed, after having carefully num-
bered his cakes, conveys one of them under his cloaths,
and eats it in his booth or fhop.
St. 9. 1. 6. 7. " And to the fcho-Jlreit ye thame ken,
" Syne cut thair luggis," &c.
Shoes are ftill fold at Edinburgh in the upper part of
the Grafs-market, which is alfo the place of execution.
It is probable that lefler punifhments, fuch as that of
cutting off the ears of delinquents, were anciently in-
flifted in the fame place. It has been fuggefted to the
editor, that by Szho-Jireit, a ftreet in Perth, ftill term-
ed the Shoe-gate, is underftood : But there feems no
reafon for fuppofing that this poem was compofed at
Perth, or that the Shoe-gate in Perth was a place of pu-
nimment.
littiil interlud^ of the Droichis part
of the Play. p. 173.
IN this fingular piece the genius of wealth is intro-
duced under the character of a blind pigmy. Du-
i:ng the i6th century fome traces of theatrical compo-
C c fiions
t 30* 3
fitior.s may be difcovered in Scotland. Sir David
Lindefay was the author of various interludes. Some
ef them arc to be found in Lord Hyndford's MS. I
believe no one will ever venture to publifh them :
they are loofe and indecent beyond credibility. How
would this age, libertine as it may be, endure the fit-
ting on of a Spanifh padlock in a theatrical reprefen-
tation f
St. I.I. -I. " Hiry, hary, hubbilfchow." Thefc
are words expreffing hurry and confufion. Hiry, hary,
feems to be a corruption of the French haro, or the
cry a, Paide ; like huejlum in our old laws, and hue in
Englifh. HubbilfchoTjo is ftill ufed with us for uproar.
. St. 4. 1. I. " Fyn Mackowll." Better known in
in this age under the modernifed name of Fingal.
Concerning this perfonage, whether real or imaginary,
there are innumerable legends in the highlands of Scot-
land. He is more celebrated as a giant than as the
hero of Ofiian.
— - 1. a. " That dung the devill." This may
allude to the conteft with the fpirit Loda. Here let
me obferve, that to doubt of Fingal and Temora be-
ing ancient compofitions, is indeed a refinement in
fcepticifm. They contain various alluiions to the
manners of other times, which have efcaped the obfer-
vation of Mr Macpherfon himfelf.
St. 7. 1. 6. " Craig- Gorth." It has been conjectu-
red that Car-Gcnh in Aberdeenfhire is here meant. I
fhould rather fuppofe it to be Craig-Forth, in the neigh-
bourhood of Stirling. One ftanza in the MS. is o-
mitted on account of its indecency. This feemed a
better courfe, than to difguife it by an interpretation
affectedly erroneous, as has been done by the publimer
of the Evergreen.
St. u.
[ 30-3 3
St. 12. I. 2.— 4. " Nor in thefteiddisl darnochtga;
" Thair is nothing bot and flae,
" Cut thropillis, and make
" quyte."
SleiJes. The ftates or government of the Netherlands.
Bit and flae. The words bit and, corrupted from the
Low Dutch buitand, i. e. without or befides, often
occur in our pr.p^hr ballads. Thefe lines allude to
that fcene of cruelty begun by Charles V. and perfecY-
td by Philip II. in the Netherlands. Make quyte is arr
obfciire expreffion : It probably means, " to get rid of
" obnoxious perfons."
1. j. " Yrland for evir I haif reffufit." Here
is another example of the illiberal raillery which I have
elfewhere cenfured.
St. 14. 1. 7. " Curphvtir bell." The cottvrefeii, raid,
by corruption, curfeu. This bell was rung in boroughs
at nine in the evening, act 144. parliament 13. James 1.
The hour was changed to ten, at the felicitation of
the wife of James SteAvart, the favourite of James VI.
St. 16. In this ftanza there is a ftrange mixture of
grave and ludicrous. With us, before the Reforma-
tion, religious offices were farcical, and farces reli~
gious. On the continent, where-ever the Roman Ca-
tholic worfhip has not been refined, the fame aflem-
blage of difcordant ideas prevails..
Ballat of evill Wyffis. p. 178.
St. i. 1. 8. " And chairgishim tobyd." This is a
law-phrafe, and is nearly fynonymous with the Eng-
C.c a lUb,
C 304 3
lifh phrafe, " arrefts him.'' A charge is an order if-
fued in the name of the Sovereign, and intimated to
the party by fome one legally authoiifed to that effect.
Every reader will perceive a want of connexion in
this poem : The fi'rft and fecond ftanzas contain mo-
ral reflections on the certainty of death ; the third is a
religious inference ; the fourth mentions t lie danger:;
attending the profeffion of a failor ; the fifth iufenfibly
flides into an invective on frovvard wives ; and thi:>
fubject is carried on through the reft of the poem, with
fome wit and much acrimony of expreffion.
St. 7. 1. j. " Ane mirry in thair cumpany," &c.
. The meaning is, to fuch hen-pecked hufbar.ds achear-
ful companion would be a moil valuable acquifition.
A mulician that could keep them in tune, would be
worth any money.
St. 9. 1. 5. " With ane grene fling." Probably
Jlingt a flender hazzle ftick new cut, for the purpofe
of giving moderate correction to a wife. This was a
power^vhich our rude legiflature in former times com-
mitted to hufbands.
*****4H« ****************
Ballat of Glide- Falloivls. p. 182.
St. i. 1. 12. " For all his -wrek and wair." The
word -wrek, fpelt in the following line -wrak, is fre-
quently ufed by the Scottifh writers ; Knox, p. 35. fays,
" The merchantis maikfrack to faill and to their traf-
«' fique." This is plainly the fame word. To maik
frack, is to Ipad a cargo. Hence the modern word
freight,,
St. z,,
C 305- 3
St. a. 1, J. "Than fall he fwak" Alluding to the
ofcillatory motion, remarkable when great loads are
carried on mens ihoulders.
•H"J***.******.*********4 ***************
sluld Kyndnes foryett. p. 184.
JfYndnes in this poem feems to imply acquaintance,,
and its confequence,. familiarity.
St. 6. 1. I. " Als lang as my cop flud evin " An ex-
preffion implying, as long as I was profperous. Kelly*
in his Scottiih proverbs, reports a ftory of a minifter,
who preaching againft the Pope, thus concluded, " For-
" all that I have faid, even Ji&nds his cap drinking gud
" Romany wine this day."
The Prais of sfige. p. 189.
THis poem gives a favourable idea cf Kennedy as a-
verfifier. His lines are more polifhed and?
fmooth than thofe of 'his cottinporaries. If he is the
perfon againft whom Dunbar directed his Inveclive, h'e-
has met with hard meafure. Dunbar fays, ;
" I lat ye knaw I, half twa IvOthian hippis,
" That bettir Inglis can, and mair perfyte,
"• Than thow can blubbir with thy Carrik lippis.V
C c 3 TJiis
t 306 1
This farcaftn, if ferious, is mifapplied.
St. 4. 1. 6. " Dryvis in the fee of LoUerdry that
** blawis." Kennedy appears to have been a zealous-
partifan of what was termed the old faith ; whereas the
poets his cotemporaries were either lukewarm in their
i'cMgious tenets, or inclined to the new opinions.
The name of L"llard is well known both on the con-
tinent and in Britain. The Monkifh writers derived
it from lolium, and to make the etymology more com-
plete, were guilty of a falfe quantity, ufing loliium in-
ftead of lolium. It would have been well for the poor
Lollards, if this etymology had led their adverfaries to
apply the parable to their cafe, and not to fet fire to
the tares before the harveft of the laft day.
The publifher of the former edition of Knox grave-
ly fays, that they took their name from a pious man
called Lollard.
Mofheim, Ecclef. hift. vol. i. p. 744. Note [u]
fays, That thofe innovators were termed Ldll-inl, from
the German lollen, whence the Englifh lull. This al-
luded to the drawling unifon which they appear to have
affected in their prayers and religious hymns.. In mo-
dern language they would , have beeo termed the feel
of the Hum-drams.
When the Lollards were firft difcovered in England,
the bifhops were at a lofs how to defence thtir tenets.
In 1387, Henry Biihop of Worcester informed his cler-
gy, that they were " followers of Mahomet ;" Wil-
kin's Coacil. vol. 3. p. 202. They who are acquaint-
ed with the ecclefiaftical hiftory of thofe times, will re-
collect many an example of judgements equally preci-
pitate.
The conclufions of the Lollards, as prefented by
themfelves to parliament in the reign of Richard II. are
to be found in Wilkins, vol. 3. p. 221. They are
conclufions which Proteftants in this age might hold,
with the exception of fome fanatical conceits, fuch as
the. abfolute unlawfulnefs of war.
They are cxprcflod with a fingular naivete. Thus,,
againft the celibacy of the clergy, it is faid, " Delicata
«' cibaria virorum ecclefiafticorum, volunt habere na-
" turalem purgationem,vel pejorem." That were
holy water as efficacious as is pretended, it would be a
cure for, all fores,, the contrary whereof experience
teaches : And again, if ail the inftruments of the paf-
fion, fuch as the nails and the fpear are to be venera-
ted, the lips of Judas Ifcariot, could they be procu-
red, would prove excellent relics.
Wilkins in the fame vol. 3. p. 225. has preferred
the recantation of one William Dynot, a Lollard,
made in 1396 before the Archbifhop of York. It con-
tains the following expreftions : " I fwere to God, and
" to all his fayntis upon this holy gofpell,. that fro this
" day forward I. fhall li'orfLtip ymages with praying, and
" offering unto them in the warfchop of the faintes,
" that they be made after ; and alfo I: fhall be buxum
" to the lawes of holy chirche ; and alfo I fliall ftand
" to your declaration, 'which is herefy or,errour, and
" do thereafter."
It is remarkable that different Lollards recant differ-
ent tenets. This looks as if the fed had not been
formed, but that every one who prefumed to deviate
from the onward' path of Catholic faith, was compre-
hended under the general denomination of Lollard.
The Blait Luvar. p. 191.
St. z, 1. 8. " Hcs done depaint that fweit fcherene."
Nature has ib adorned that fvvcet Syren. Unlefs
fcherene be uful for ferene creature, as in the following
ilanza we have diilce amette, an expreflion intolerably af-^
j. copied poflibly from fome Italian poet.
C 308 J
New Tere Gift. p. 194.
THis poem furnifhes us with a prefent flate of
Scotland in 1561, [or, perhaps, 1562], and on
that account is curious and inftrucTive. The author
affects impartiality,, and therefore it may be prefumed
that the portraits, which he draws are not much out of
nature.
St. i. 1. a, , " Welcum cure lyone, with the flbura—
" de-lyce." This alludes to the arms of Scotland, a
lion with a border or treflure adorned with flower-ds-
luces. While the fcience of coats armorial was in high
efteem, fuch allufions had beauty and dignity.
.. . 1. 3. " The Loraiie grene." In right of her
mother Marie de Lorraine. Guillim, in his Dilplay of
heraldry, p. 18. has a profound note on the colour
green. " This colour is green, which confifteth of
" more black and of lefs red, as appeareth by the defi-
" nition. Viridh (-ft color nigrediae. copiojlore, et rubedine
" miner e contemperaius. This colour is blazoned vert,
" and is called in Latin vir id-it, a vi^ore, in regard of th«
" ftrength, fremnefs,.and livelinefs thereof; and there-"
" fore bcft refembleth youth, in that moft vegetables,
" fo long as they fiourifli, are beautified with this ver-
" due, and is a colour moft wholefome aad pleafant to
«« the eye, except it be in ayoung gentlewoman's face."
- 1. 7. " Our plefand princes." So much has
been faid of the beauty of Mary Queen of Scots, that
the fubject may feem exhauited. I can add one tefti-
mony which has been overlooked by her admirers. It
is from Adriani Turnebi poemala, p. 3 1 .
" Omnes haec formas prseftanti corpore et ore
" Exuperat, Paride et pomum vel judice feiret.;:
" Haec tereti filo et procero ccrpore furgit
« Primsevo fub flore"— — —
From
[ 3°9 3
From the fame poem, it appears that Mary Queen of
Scots had the fmall pox before her marriage with Fran-
cis II.
" Huic decus et tantum fpeciofae frontis honorcm
" Invidit Cytherea Venus ; populataque fevl
" Diva lue, obfevit varis deformibus ora."
Her face, however,, was not fpoilt ; for the author
" Non tulit invidiam Cyprise tamen aemula Juno,
" Non Pallas," &c.
St. 6. 1. 5. " The pulling doun of politic reprufe."
Alluding to the deftrudtion of monafteries at the Re-
formation.
St. 9. T. a. " To bknde thair blude with barrownis
" be ambitioun." The clergy were ambitious of gi-
ving their fpurious daughters in marriage to men of
family.' - It would be invidious to enter into parti-
culars. They who are acquainted with the hiftory of
Scotland need not be told, that the beft blood of the
nation was contaminated by fuch bafe mixtures..
St. 10. l.i. « Thay loft baith benefice and pentioun
" that mareit." Pitfcottie, p. 277. f_edit. 1749]],
fays, " They would thole no preift to marry, but they^
" would punifh and burn him to the dead ; but if he
" had ufed ten thoufand whores, he had not been
" burnt."
- 1. 2. " And quha eit flefch on Frydayis was
" fyre-fangit" Fanged or feized by the fire ; i. e. pu-
' nifhed as heretics. Pitfcottie fays, p. 343. " In the end
" of February, the Queen, Governor, Cardinal, and
" Lords, held a convention at St Johnfton ; there they
*' caufed hang four honeft men for eating of a goofe
« on Friday." Mr Goodall, Examination, vol. i.
h pleafcd to fay, " This ftory let any man believe who-
" lifts." There feems to be no reafon for difbelief.
The paflage in Scot's poem, fhews that the facT: was
underltood to be true by thofe who had better oppor-
tunity of information than Mr GoodaH.
St. n. 1. 2. " And paintlt paiparis, wattis nocht
•' quhat thay meine." They permitted thy fubjects
to perform their devotions to coloured prints, of which
they underftood not the fignification, as Virgil fpcafcs-
cf JEneas,
" Miratu, rerumque ignarus imagine gaudet."
1. 6. " Sanfl Blais, Sanft Boit, blate bodeis
" ein to bleir." " To blear one's eyes," isufed, p. 37.
" And yit he bleiris my Lordis ee."
The fenfe is, impofed on the credulity of the fimple,
with tales of the powerful interceffion of faints. Sanft
Boil is probably an obfcure faint called Boythan, here
chofen on account of the alliteration.
St. 12. I. r. " Tume trentalis" A fervice of thirty
mafles performed for the dead.
St. 13. 1. i. " With mefs nor matynes nowayis will
«' I mell." The poet cautioufly avoids that topic, as
the Queen had declared her fentiments concerning it.
There is a remarkable paflage in Aymon, SynodeincL-
tionaux des Eglijes refoimees. de Franc.e, torn. I. p. 17.
which has efcaped the obfervation of 'our hiftoriaris.
The Cardinal Sanfite Crucis writes thus to Cardinal Bor-
romeo, 24th November 1561. " Giunfe in qutfta citta
" il Gran Priore di Francia, et Monfignore Danvilla
" figliolo del Signore Coneftabile, que venivano di
c< Scotia, donde portano nuova que la Ilegina fi con-
l( fervava
C 3" 3
*' fcrvava nella religione Cattolica conftantamentc, et
" va rimediando al piu che ella puo per il regno.
i( In particolare racontano che andando un giorno alia
" mefia, furono due o tre volte fmorzatc le candele,
" da certi heretic! ; et che la Regina comparfe nella
" fua capella, et havendo havuto notitia di quefto
" fatto, chiamo un di quei Barnni il piu Luterano, et
" P'u grande che vi fofie, et gli comando che lui me-
" defimo andafie ad illuminar quelle candele, et por-
" tarle all' altare, et fu fubbito obbedita." I tranfcribe
the Italian as I find it, although it may require cor-
rection. Aymon tranflates Baroni by the French Be-
litres, and hence makes the fenfe to be, that the Queen
ordered the greateft fconndrel of the company to light
the tapers which the heretics had extinguifhed. Baroni
in this place means Barons or Noblemen, and nothing
dfe.
The fame letter reportsmore news from thofe young
gentlemen, particularly, That the Queen had threaten-
ed to hang three burgomaften of a certain territory for
having banifhed the Popifh priefts.
,St. 15.— 20. Thefe ftanzas contain much curious
matter concerning the ftate of Scotland in 1561. When
the Reformation took place, many of the Commons
expected to be eafed of the payment of tithes ; but
though the exactors were changed, payment was ftill
exacted with all the ancient rigour. The reformed cler-
gy expected that the tithes would be applied to chari-
table ufes, to the advancement of learning, and the
maintenance of the miniftry. But the Nobility, when
they themfelves had become the exactors, faw nothing
rigorous in the payment of tithes, and derided thofe
dcvjut imaginations. See Knox, p. 256.
St. aj. This prophecy is to be found amor g other
things. of the fame fort, in a collection printed by An-
drew Hart, 1615 : It pafles under the name of Tho-
mas
C 3<* 3
mas Lermonth, or Thomas the Rhymer , who lived to-
wards the latter end of the ijth century, and runs
thus.
" Or who fhall rule the iOe of Britain
" From the north to the fouth fea ?
" A French Queen fhall bear the fon
«« Shall rule all Britain to the fea,
« Which of the Bruces blood fhall come
" As near as the ninth degree."
Archbifhop Spottifwood, fpeaking of this prophecy,
cbferves, that it " may be juftly admired, having fore-
told, fo many ages before, the union of the kingdoms of
England and Scotland, in the ninth degree of the
Bruce's blood ; Hiflory Church of Scotland, p. 47. It
is amazing that Archbifhop Spottifwood, a man of
fenfe and a fcholar, fhould imagine that this prophecy
was ancient, or that it did fo much as bear the name
of Thomas the Rhymer. The language throughout is
fcarcely more ancient than the times of the Archbifhop
himfelf; and it is remarkable that, in one place, the
author forgetting his ambiguous figurative ftyle, fpeaks
«f the battle of Pinkie [1547] in exprefs terms.
" At Pinkln-cluch there fhall be fpilt
" Much gentle [i. e. Noble] blood that day."
The author, whoever he was, does not aflume the
character of Thomas the Rhymer, but, on the contrary,
repeats what Thomas the Rhymer is fuppofed to have
{hewn him.
" When all thefe ferlles were away,
" Then faw I none but I and he ;
" Then to the bairn Could I fay,
*' Where dwells thou, or in what country ?"
The anfwer runs thus,
ft At
C 313 ]
•" At Erflingtoun I dwell at hamc,
" Thomas the Rhym.tr men call me."
Inattentive readers, disjoining thofe two lines from
the context, have concluded that the poet there men-
tions his own name, inftead of the name of his fuppo-
&d familiar.
The village called Erflingiouit in this poem, was an-
ciently called Ercildoa. See Cfi. Drjrburgh, p. 38.
I thought it proper to fay thus much, becaufe the
vulgar in Scotland, even at this day, are apt to. delude
themfelves with this impudent forgery.
It muft however be admitted, that this prophecy of
the union of the crowns is as ancient as 1562. At that
period Elifabeth Queen of England was thirty, Mary
the next heir twenty, and furely the moft likely wo-
man of the two. BefideS) foreigners were apt to con-
(ider the title of Queen Elifabeth as principally de-
pending on pofieffion ; and Roman Catholics were apt
to confider her as an ufurpei'. In fuch circumftances
it was not very venturous to aflert, that the progeny
of Mary had a fairer chance of reigning in England
than the progeny of Elifabeth. It was no more than
prophefying on the fide of the odds ; and yet fome per*
fon, by pretending to foretell what was moft likely to
happen, has ftamped a character of fupernatural intel-
ligence on Thomas the Rhymer.
St. 27. 28. In that age an affected and ridiculous al-
literation, and a fort of hobbling meafure had become
fafhionable, and were efteemed to be among the chief
beauties of poefy. This abfurdity is humoroufly ex-
pofed by Kennedy, in his Invective addreflcd to Dun-
bar, St. 37.
<« Deilbeir, thy fpeir of weir, but fcir thow yeild,
" Hangit, mangit, eddir-ftangit, ftryndie ftultorum ;
" To me, maift he,.Kennedie, and flie the feild,
'< Pickit, wickit,ftrickit, convickit,lamp lullardorum>
D d «« Diffamit,
[ 3'4 ]
•
" DiSamit, .fchairnt, blamit primus Paganorum •
" Out, out, I fchout, upon that fnoutthat fneviHis,
" Tail-teller, rebellar, indwellar with the divellis,
" Spink, fink, with llink ad Tartar a Termagorum."
This raillery might have exploded all fuch unmufical
jingle : But how feeble is wit when it raifes its voice a-
gainft Faihion ?
The fame bad taftt in poetry reigned long among the
Englifh. Shakefpeare ridicules it more than once.
Thus, Sir John Falftaffe addreflcs the wives of Wind-
for, ad: 2. fcene i. "I will not fay, Pity me, 'tis not
'* a foldier's phrafe, but I fay love me : by me
(c Thine own true knight, by day or night,
" Or any kind of light, with all his might
" For thee to fight"
See alfo the interlude of Pyramus and Thefbe, in Mid-
fummer -night1 i Dream.
Lament of the Maifter ofErJkyn. p. 203.
IT is probable that the perfcn here meant was the
Mafter of Erfldne, killed at the battle of. Pinkie-
Gleugh. Knox fays, p. 79. " In that fame battel was
" flayr.e the Maifter of Erfldn, deirlie belovit of the
" Quein, [Mary of Lorraine Queen -Dowager] ; for
" quhome fcho maid grit lamentatioun, and bure his
«' deythe mony dayis in mynd." This paflage in
Knox may lead us to conjecture what lady is here
meant.
r 3*5
To his Heart, p. 204.
THis poem is ftrangely interpolated in the Ever-
grtett. The burden, " Tor Kind a crum of
" the fcho fawis," is literally, D— a bit of thee befalfs
her ; i. e. flie has no fliare in ihee.
St. 4. 1. 7. " And let her faltow ane filly fair." Let
her match hericlf with a fair Oy, htrc ufcd for a
handfome young man.
There are very many of Scot's poems in Lord Hynd-
ford's MS. feveral of them are publifhed in the Ever-
green, particularly, " The jufling and debait up at
" the Drum, bet\vixt William Adamfcn and Johnie
" Sym." The publifher imagined that the Dunn w
in the MS. whereas it is the Drum, above Dalkcith,
now Somerville houfe. This circumftance feems to
point out that Scot was an inhabitant of Dalkeith..
The humour of the jufling, being both temporary and
local,, is now in a great meafure loft.
I -
I)
K/
Of Wemenkynd. p. 207.
St. 4. 1. i. " No leid unleill thay leit." They will
not endure the company of any falfe or difloyal man.
Dd a The
The Wife of Audit ermudity . p. 215^
THis is a favourite poem among the Scots, and
has been frequently published. The former
publifher has altered fix lines,, and added no fewer
than twenty. It muft be admitted that his alterations
and additions are in the ftyle of the original. They
prove him to have been a better poet than a publiilicr
of other mens works. I incline to think that it has
been tranfcribed at fome later period than 1568, when
moft of the MS. was written. The name Mt,fat fub-
joined to it in the MS. is in a very modern hand.
Any one- acquainted with the modern Scotiiih lan-
guage, will find little difficulty in underfUnding this
poem.
*** ******
Darnky's Ballat. p. 220.
THis fong goes to the noted tune of, " When
" Fanny blooming fair." I obferve in paffing,
that it appears from Lord Hyndford's MS. that the
celebrated poem called The Cherry and the Sine, goes to
an ancient tune, called " The Banks of Kdiccr,."
The MS. bears in an ancient hand, qunih King Henry
Sie-wart. I have therefore ventured to give it the title
of Darnle/t Ballat. The publifher of the Evtrgreen has
afcribcd to Darnley another poem in that collection,
"Without any authority whatever..
GLOSSARY.
N. B. The number, fometimes annexed to the word to be
explained, dire&s to the page in which the word is to be
found. J
A, one.
Abit'tSy 197. obits, fervice
for the dead.
Abone, above.
Aby, 135. buy.
A fair, 28. affdred, bufmefs,
bulled.
Afyijs, confides.
Air, 192. hair, ufed for a
thing of no value.
Air, 163. heir.
Airtis, cardinal points of
the compafs.
Alkyn, every fort.
Almous, almfgiving,, chari-
table.
Ms, as.
And, if.
Anis, affes;
Ante-tcTvme, anti-tune,, anr
tiphone, or refponfe.
Afplcii, fatisfy, content.
Atgotie, argue.
Ar-iellye, artillery, weapons"
of offence,
yft',. afhes.
Ajkis, from ajk, a newt,
Jhllio.
Attanis, at once.
Attour, befide.
Attftit, aufterc, harfh.
is, pronounced •wha-.t-
s* curlews.
B
Baggit-horfe, ftallion.
Baid, relidence, abiding,-
Bailis, 54. 132. evils, fires>
Ban, curfe.
Btirganeris, quarrellers.
Barrowis,. barriers, lifts.
Bartane, Bretagne.
Baxflar, baker.
Beciiis, bows, cringes.
Bcdene, immediately.
Beft, ftruck, give blows.
Belli, 194. probably belli-
tob'earthe bell.
Eeir,'i2. noifc made by the
flight of birds.
Biir-bonnokis, thick unlea-
vened cakes of barley-
meal.
Beit, 1-32. 180. fupply,.
increafe ; bait the fire,
is to add feuel to it.
Bsli-my, probably boon
< <.;rp.~inion.
Bel-ffe^ prefently^
Ben, within, oppofed to lui,
without.
Be fir, well equipped, com-
fortably eircumftanced.
E ,", bean ; ufed for a
thing- of no value.
Bent, rufhes or coarfe graft,
fit-Id over-run with them..
Bei tnd, roaring, ufed for
inorting.
D d 3
C
3
Seftcht, 107. befet, fur-
rounded.
Befene, bufy, occupied, ac-
tive.
£««, 184. the better, be-
nefited, part, of belt.
Sicker, drinking cup.
Sid, pray for, defire.
Biddis, 65. with-holds,
flays.
Bikkir, bikkering, attack,
fkirmifli.
Birkis, birch-trees.
Bl.nd, blend, mingle.
Blandit, 67. flattered, iboth-
ed, part, oi bland.
Bk'ioch, butter-milk.
Blekit, blacken.
Blenkis, caft a glance,, or
tranfient look.
Boditi, arrayed, drefied.
Bone, bane.
Borch, furety.
Borrow, 6,8. pawn, bor-
row.
Bojlis, threats.
£yw», drefled, prepared.
£su!, herd of cattle.
Bow, 187. a fold; heace
fecurity.
Bo-we,il, horn, properly of
the buffalo.
B^wgle, Buffalo, horned
beaft.
Bmiird, jeft, light matter.
Braid, aflault.
Brats, embrace.
Brand, fword.
Brankand, prancing, trip-
ping.
Brankit, capered, pranced.
Bn>i:is, coarfc hempen gar-
ments.
Jtra-wlis, 51. -violences tu-
Brayd, ftarted or ipning a-
way.
Breid, breadth.
Breif, compofe, indite.
Brinkit, 20. probably an er-
ror of MS. for bruikit,.
fpotted.
SriKt, burnt.
Brodity pricked.
Brok, fragments.
£r<nvjiar, brewer.
Brake, poiTefs, enjoy.
Bud, proffer, gift, bribe.
Bombard, drunken.
Burchgus, boroughs.
Barry, 109. probably rough»
boerifli .
Bnfleous, boiflerous, over-
bearing.
But, without.
Bute, advantage.
By* 105. 167. be£de, with-
out.
Bydind, waiting, attending.
By tie, wait, attend.
ByHge, do obeyiance*
Cai>, 135. cope, cover,
fhelter.
Cairlis, perfons of mean
birth.
C:i:fs, 105. accident, cafus.
Cat fay, pavement..
Can, iz6. knows, ismafte/
of.
Caprotify, 142. caparifoiu
upper garment.
Carlich, vulgar.
diaip, efcape.
Char, fet together, as on
hinges.
C 319 I
Cheif, 151. head of a clan
or family.
Cheip, fqueak, chirp.
CVtt?»<f, chin.
Cheynie, chain.
Cleik, crooked iron, bawl.
Clek, hatch,
Clippit, ycleped, termed.
Clipps, eclipfe.
Cl>!i, beetle.
CIoivs, claws.
£/«/£, a claw.
£/«ta, cute, 19.8. hoof of a
cow, bone of the leg ;
ufed for a thing of no
value.
Clynkand,. jingling.
Cofe, eofeis, probably cheat,
from covia.
Coft, bought.
Core hat, crotchet, in mu-
fic.
Corf, a Ihade, temporary
building.
Cars, crofs, in the market-
place.
Corfes, crofies, money.
Counyie, 29. coin ; and hence,
circulation.
Coiuih, common, ufual.
Crab, be crabbed or peeviili.
Craig, neck.
Crakkis, boafting words.
Cramp, cramping, 133. to
climb or ramp, giimper.
Crampland, curled, like ten-
drils.
Creifche, greafe.
Crufe, any poor habitation,
a fliade, an hogs ftye.
See Corf.
Crukit, 159. lame.
Crynit, contracted , drawn
together, withered.
Cumis, becomes, fuit?.
Cure, n. care.
Cure, v. care for.
Curlurous, churlifh.
Curfing, 109. excommuni-
cation.
Curfmg, 44. courfing, hunt-
ing with greyhounds.
Daifil, 197. devity deafned.
Daill, dill, 98. (hare.
Dang, knocked at, ftruck.
Dargeis, dirges.
Dcbait, overthrow, caft.
Defar, 154. put off, delay,
defer.
Deid, death.
Deir, 98. difmay.
Deira/tce, injury.
Delyverly,. nimbly.
Deme, dame, mother.
Denting, damning, cenfure.
Derenycit, arraigned.
Dem, fecret.
Dins;, condign, worthy.
Difcrefi, difcretion, mode-
ration.
Difctire, difcover.
Difeis, uncafinefs.
Disj'iine, breakfaft.
Docht, dow, take the trou-
ble, endure, or limply;,
can.
Dold. in. deed.
Dourly, obftinately.
Draff, brewers grains.
Drau'kit, drenched, drag-
gled.
Dre, fuffer.
Dreue, drain, fpout, con-
duit.
Drefi, addrefs,
covetous perfon.
Drci'chis, dwarfs.
Feid, enmity.
Drtiggit, drew, pulled.
Feir, feature.
Dub, gutter, mallow acci-
Feir, fear.
dental water.
Feir, company.
Duddroun, fpectre.
Feir is, companions.
Dule, grief, mourning.
Fdhne, ftrar.ge, ftrangelyy
Dungin, beat, overcome.
Dynd, 188. q. to overcome,
very.
Fely(r fail.
dumpier, Fr. Cotgrave,
Feud, defend, provide for.
daunted.
Fenyeit, feigned.
Dytis, indices, accufes.
Ferd, fourth.
Feriat, out of term, holy-
day.
E
Fcrleit, wondered.
Ferly, wonderfully, won-
Effeiris, befits, is confo-
der.
nant.
Ftr-,, force.
Effrey, engage.
Feu; g, furrow in corn-fields
Etrlckt hideous.
Feviy, fealty.
Erd, earth.
Fie, cattle j hence hire, in-
Efs, ace at dice-
some.
FiUok, filly, frilky, loofe
F
Firt'iis, woods.
Fli2&i, fianks.
Faik, 172. a fold, a fliee, a
ftMti fliaft, arrow.
cake.
Fltickit, prevailed upon by
FaHdes, v.viV.
hi treaty.
Fair/ing, fluffing.
Fleit, i. 8. fieet, quick.
Fats, foes.
Fleit, frightened.
Fdlly, 14-5. wickedly.
Fait, default, indigence.
Flfme, flsmii, banim, ba-
nifhed.
Fanienene, the female fex.
I L-Jbr-ur , butcher.
Fane, defirous, eager, fond.
fling, kick back, as horfes
Fannr.un, 20. a fcarf worn
do.
on the left arm by an of-
Flmht, flight, on the \ving.
ficiating prieft.
F'iyt, fcold, inveigh.
Fare, 16. behaviour.
Flyttin -with, removed from.
Faryt tumult.
Foly, foolifh.
Fjrjr, 173- faery.
For, 54. aotwhhftanding;
Fajjbun, addrefs, politenefs ;
For fair n, 53. forlorn, de-
fa f o«.
cayed, wafted.
Fauld, 3. fence, inclofure.
Forge, 208. go towards.
Fawis, 204. falls to, be-
meet, pretend to.
longs ; fhg falls to get.
lad, fade.
Forloppin, vagabond.
Fotn^is, beautiful.
L 32* I
Forrou-, time paft.
Fortys, flout, fortis.
Foruiayit, wander, err.
Foryett, forgotten.
Found, 183. fondre, Fr.
founder.
Foiv, full, drunk.
Fvwtfi, abundance, at large.
Frak, v. 73. pafs over.
Frak, n. 199. nimble, ac-
tive.
Fravfull, fro ward, unto-
ward.
Freik, gallant, petulant.
Fr emit, foreign, ftrange.
Fre-wch, 185. brittle.
Frijl, 171. truft, credit.
Fro, from.
Frog, upper coat, frock.
Fruftir, v. render ufelefs,
deftroy.
Fruftir, adj. vain, unavail-
ing.
Fudder, 128 Ib. ufedfor any
great quantity.
Full-fair, too. very fine ;
we fay yetfou good, i. e.
full or very.
Furthy, forward, ready of
fpeech.
Fuji, 160. fuzzed, i. e.
roafted.
Fyle, defile.
Fyre-fangit, feized by fire,
burnt.
fire.
Gait,gett, way, public road.
Gavwuntis, limbs ; and
hence, capers.
Gang, go.
Gar, order, caufe.
Gardevyance, buttery, cabi-
net.
Garth, inclofure, garden.
Geir, goods, effects.
Gekks, figns of deriflon.
Gentrice, gentility, honour-
able birth.
Gcnyeild, yield gain ; profit.
G&nyeis, engines.
Gerfomcs, fines paid by te-
nants.
Geflit, tales, f. deeds, gejls.
Gif, if.
GLed, kite.
Gleid, a tranfient blaze.
Gkyd, 159. an old horfe.
Gleit,_ glitter.
Gk-men, minftrels.
Glsngour, the foul difeafe.
Go-wand, 133.
Goivlis, wild marygolds.'
Glai/ting, wantonnefs, folly?
caprice.
Glaikit, wanton, foolifli, ca»
pricious.
Craii'i, v. drefs up, prcpr.rr,
n, all kinds of inftruments,
Grathit, drefTed up, prepa-
red.
Gravin, buried.
Gre, afcend, for degree ;
he bore the gre, i. e. de-
gree.
Greif, overfeer, monitor.
Grsne, long, wifh for.
Grip, griffin.
Grokaris, fliarpers.
Gruttyie, faout.
Gryce, pig.
Cm kit, foolifli like a cuc-
kow.
Gut, gout, any infirmity in
the feet.
Gy, guide.
Gyis, a mafk, or mafque-
rade.
H
H
Halt, hot.
Halflinges, half.
Hals, neck, throat.
Hals, h.iijlt, hail, hailed,
clafp aboHt the neck.
Hap, cover up.
•Harbary, harbour, give re-
caption to.
Hardly, boldly.
Harlh, trails.
Harms.', fufferings.
Harnis, brains.
Having, behaviour.
Hfliivfr/, ftreaked.
Hecht, 174. hicht, named.
Hechiis, offers, propofes,
promifes.
#^/, handle, hilt of a wea-
pon.
Hclie, 171. haughty, high-
ly.
jF&/rf, Ae/dfr, behead, be-
headed.
Hiilit, covered over, con-
cealed.
Hcitt, health.
Heird, hear it.
HeisT exalt, gently raifc up.
Hdland-fcheckaris, ragga-
muffins.
Herreit, hareil, plundered,
H.-wis, 127. lifts up.
Heynd, handy, expert.
Hiddil, fecretly.
Hint, hynt, took, hold up.
Hobbeld, 171. //oii/ff, 160.
clouted, clout.
Hokne-tree, holly. -
Holkit, hollowed, dug out.
Holtis, 102. woods.
fl"o»«, delay, flop.
Honefly, .generofity, fraiik-
ads, fltow.
K.-fl.ind, coughing.
Houns, i. morning oniony,
HuLbil/i/uw, confuiion, up-
roar.
HoLhfy cliff.
Hudihoun, 29. flovenly, dif-
order^y.
tt-.o<?, hood or cap.
kis, mifers..
Hu bands, hufbandinen,
Hyd, 10. Hcin.
Hyas, from hence.
133. halt away.
Jagit, pricked".
Jak, coat of mail.
Jangealhris, 49. probably
fharpers ; perhaps talka-
tive, difputatious.
Javellours, jailors.
Ind, in it, into it.
Indoce, indorfe.
btgyne, genius, abilities.
Intermdlit, intermingled.
Intiufs, intrude.
Joti', juggler.
Irk, trouble.
quirks.
K
Kaill, broth.
Kail, cam, drive, chace.
Keik, peep, look out.
Kelt, cawl for the head.
Keppis, catches, intercepts.
Ketche-pillaris, fliarpers.
Ketfist, calTock, robe.
Kev-'is, fit feafon of addrefs.
Kittie, lewd woman, ftrum-
pet.
C 323 J
Kfi.u':, mockorjeft.
Knap fc ha, fteel - bonnet,
head- piece.
K>iaw, to make known.
Knitckdl) a bundle.
Ky, kine.
A>«rf, kindred, birth.
Kyndnej}, kind, particular
nature.
Kyth, kythit, (hew, (hewn,
appeared.
Kyttit, 199. probably er-
ror in MS. for knytlit,
bound.
Laif, the reft.
Lnikly, likely, comely.
Lait/i, difguft.
Laithly, loathfomely.
Lailttmdly, latently, in fe-
crtt.
Lak, lamentation, difgrace.
Lane, loan.
Langfyne, long ago.
Lare, learning.
L&t by, let alone.
Laverok, lark.
/.flTV, 1OW.
Laiu'ts., brings low.
Laivt •', loyalty.
Z.if, 122. quiet, peace.
Leid, 193. learning, know-
ledge.
Leid, 146. leader.
Leid, 207. perfon.
/,«d, 1 1 6. lyed.
Leill, loyal, lawful.
Ltfajs, leans, inclines.
Leir, I iris, learn, learns.
Lets, loves.
Lett, 207. permit, fuffer.
Lett, 132. probably, leet,
give one's Suffrage or
vote.
Leitand, 119. probably vo-
ting.
Lemis, fun-beams, mining
gleams.
Lfntron, feafon of Lent.
Lerd, taught.
Lergnes, liberality.
Let, hinderance.
Liberos, iffue, children.
Lift, firmament.
Linkmii, Lincoln.
Loif, praife.
Lollsi-dy, herefy.
Lo/in, 42. probably loft.
Lot, 20*. q. for Laud, praife.
Loan, quiet, fheltercd.
Loun, 168. pitiful fellow,
ferving man.
Lovtry, 30. inordinate dc-
fire.
Lovinsr, praifing.
Loiv, flame.
Lmvfit, let loofc, difcharge.
Lo-wtit, ftooped.
Luche, lathe, 133. laughed.
Ludt, l>eloved.
Lufray, 152. bounty, F.
'Voffre.
Lug, ear.
Luriyit, loins.
Lurdduti.t blockhead, fot,
lazy, and worthl; fs.
Luthe, 133. remained.
Luthrie, lechery.
Lyart, grey-haired .
Lykand, grateful, accept-
able.
Lymaris, worthlefs perfons,
particularly ftrumpets.
Lynd, linden, lime-tree.
Lynd, 176. line, equator.
M
r 324 3
M
Maikles, matchlefs.
Mailis, duties, rents.
Mailyeis, net-work.
Makaris, makers, poets.
Male-men, mailleris, perfons
who pay rent.
Jllalefone, malediction.
Maling, farm, pofieflion.
Man, mon, muft.
Mangit, marred.
Mnntand, ftammering.
Marrow, mate, partner.
Maugri, difcountenance.
Mavis, a thrufh .
May, young woman.
May no niendis, cannot re-
pairit.
Mill, meddle, mingle.
Mellie, conteft, ftruggle.
Memmit, probably matched.
Mene, moan, complain.
Mem, 131. mean, treat of.
Menf-worne, perjured.
Menyic, company, houfe-
hold.
Menyit, maim.
Midding, dunghill.
Mifs, failure in duty.
Mifhr, neceflity, occafion.
M'fters, needs, requires.
Mort-mumblin^is, prayers
muttered for the dead.
Mo ft* almoft.
Muft, 125. mouldinefs.
Myance, 20. moien, artifice.
Mynd, intention.
Myngis, mingles.
N
Na, than, generally ufed
for no or n^tie.
Nacketiis, markers at tennis.
Nanis, nonce, upon the oc-
cafion.
Of, or.
Okir, ufury.
Qppreft, 189. overcome,
fubdued.
Or, before that.
0-uiklie, weekly.
0-wreJkalil, difFufed, ovet«-
fpread.
Oxtar, arm-pit, arm.
Paddok, frog.
Padyane, pageant.
Pai>ilefs, impartial.
Pais Eafter.
Pats, 117. ftrckes, chaftife*
ment, weight.
Paitlattis, 44. patelet, 104.
a \voman 's ruff.
Pallet, head.
Pa-wis, 404. tricks, q. parts
in mufic.
Peax, peace.
Pec hi-, thick breathing.
Psil'J, ftript, pillaged.
Peipar.d, fqueaking.
Peir, 161. pear; ufed for a
thing of no value.
Peloar, thief.
Pens, reflect.
Per fay, by my faith.
Perqueir, accurately, regu-
larly.
Pin, point, pinacle.
Pitnlefs, faplefs, ineffectual,
without ftrength ; pith,
ftrength.
Phk, finall copper-coin.
De
C 3*5 ]
25« plane, upon the fpot,
incontinently.
Planeift, replenifhed, fur-
nifhed.
Plsid, plea, conteft.
Pleis, pleafe.
Plenyie, complain.
Porteou;, roll of perfons ac-
cufed.
Pottingry, bufinefs of an a-
pothecary.
Powis, polls, heads.
Prattik, prsttikis, practi-
ques, tricks.
Prene, pin, ufed for a thing
of no value.
Prow, 201. honour.
Purfillit, furbelowed.
Purfpyk, pick-pocket.
Purtye, poverty.
Put doun, put to death.
Pyk-tha-ik, flatterer, para-
fite.
Pyne, pains, punifhment.
Quaff, quire, paper-book.
Quhailif bent, ivory of
whale's tufks.
Qith.it, 182. whatever.
Quhene, few, fmall number.
Qtt'iill, until.
Qtiytclame, renounce, dif-
own.
e, rid, free.
R
Rad, judged, condemned.
Ra^mtHJ, account.
Raik, range.
Rak, reckoning, account.
Rakket, blow, box on the
ear.
R.i-w, row.
Raiacfttir, inftrument of tor-
ture.
•Raxit, ftretched, reached.
R/tcare, recover.
Red, 217. feparatc.
Redomit, bound, incircled ;
and hence bedeckt.
Refute, 14. refuge, help.
Reid, advife.
Reid--diod, mad, furious.
Riif, robber.
Reik, reikit, fmoke, fmoked.
Reird, din.
Reirdit, refounded.
Religion, 165. religious or-
ders.
Retiyeis, reins, firings.
Retreiiit, refcinded, rever-
fed.
Revis, tears, pulls to pieces.
Reivt/i, pity.
Reiv, have pity.
fawthfull, full of pity.
Richt fwa, juft fo, in like
manner.
Ring, riwrit, reign, reigns.
Rippit, beat inceflantly.
Rifpis, rufhes.
Rome - rakaris, they who
fearch for relics, in the
ftreets of Rome.
Rofeir, rofe-bum.
Roun, round, whifper.
Rn-wanJ, rolling.
Ro-^ml, rooms, farms.
Rcfiunaris, rounders, whif-
perers.
Ri-wp, fpeak hoarfely.
Rtnay, King.
Rude, the crofs.
Rug, rugging, pull, pull-
ing.
E e
J
Rtunpiliii, diforderly folds
of a garment.
Runs, 217. ftick, pole, cud-
gel.
Rus, applaud, boaft of.
Ry£e, dead hedge, 194. ftalk
or fprig.
Ryf ', tear in pieces.
Salkkce, faiklefs, caufelefs,
unbefriended, blamelefs.
Sain, fane, fains, blefs,
bleffes.
Salt, feat of judges.
Sane, fay one, fay it.
Sark, a Ihirt or fhift.
Saucht, quiet.
Saw, a fay or word.
Sauris, favours, fmells.
Schaius, groves.
Scheir, cut down corn.
Scherette, fyren.
Scheure, divert, fhuffle off.
Schog, jog, fhake.
Schnpe, prepared.
Sclioir, 117. fcorn.
Schre-w, n. cnrfed perfon,
outcaft.
Schrew, v. curfe.
Ssroppil, fcrubbed, fcrub-
by, contemptible.
Senye, feed, progeny.
SeiU, felicity.
Seir, feveral, many.
Stilt, 198. fettle, eilablifh.
Sell, felf.
Sen, lince.
Set, fuit, become.
Settis by, values, efteems.
Seyndill, feldom.
Sib, of kin, related.
Sicke>, fecure, ftedfaft.
Eickernefs, lledfailnefs.
Skailed, fpilt, diffolved.
Sk.iit/i, damage.
Skdnt, .fcarcely.
Skape, fcalp, head.
Skat, fhot, levies, taxes.
Sfieliat, rattle ufed by com-
mon criers.
Skrippit, mocked, derided.
Skrufe, wealth.
Smaik, pitiful, contemp-
tible.
Sm nil, clear complexioned,
beautiful, Fr. efmail.
Smeir, to fmear, rub with
tar.
Smot, fmut, corruption oc-
caiioned by mildew.
Smyt, 143. ftain.
Sneir, 200. probably an er-
ror in MS. for fleir, fteer.
Snud, fillet, or frontlet.
Sftbir, 156. weak.
Snns, hofpitality.
Svnyeit, made excufes.
Somand, living at another's
coft.
Soudoun-land, land of the
Sultan.
Sounyt, care, folicitude.
Souttar, fhoemaktr.
Saver, fecure.
SoTumand, ivvimming.
Spald, moulder.
Speice, pride, fclf-conceit.
Speir, fphere.
Speiris, fplinters.
S'peiris, 124. inquires.
Speiiye, Spain.
Spknt, armour for the legs
and arms.
Spring, flight of birds.
Stang, fting.
Slang, 38. a beam carried
on mens moulders.
Starvit, made to die, dead.
Sttid,
c 3-27 i
Steid, fliids, place, farms,
Thlg, beg.
pofieffions.
T/iir, theic.
Steirii, fteerage.
Thlrlit, bound, engaged.
Stenye, ftain.
Th'd's, endures, fuifers.-
Sterk, ftark, ftrong.
Thy, this.
Sterne, flante, flar.
Tfr-ain, contend, flvive.
S:tT-in, ftave, found.
Th'jrwarfi crois-^r;;ii't'l_,
Stour, duft.
ill-humoured.
Strti.:h, flricl, affected.
Tin etiy j'utn, fbme thirty.
Sir \ ttd, race, offspring.
Till, unto.'
Sfyppfs, 28. probably ftir-
Tod, fox.
rups.
Tone, taken.
Sture, auftere.
T+aik, tract, courfe.
Stu> t, difturbance, vexa-
tion.
T> amort, corps, dead body.
Tray, treachery, mifchief.
Sucir, lazy, unwilling.
Treit, intreat, obtain by
Siucirnefs, (loth.
intreaty.'
SiuMiing, fwooning, trance,
Trcnul'n, a fervice for the
vifion.
dead.
S-wytli, quickly, fuddenly.
Tr&Jl, trufty.
Syis, repeated times.
Tmvit, trufted.-
Sjfijf, fixes at dice.
Tumit, emptied.
Syle, furround, encompafs.
Turfis, trufles, bundles up..
Syne, then.
Syre, a great man ; and
Tyk, dog.
Tynes, lofes.
(imply, a man.
Tynfall, lofs.
Su-aif, aoi. probably kifs,
Tynt, loft.
receive cordially.
Tyte, fpcedily, v. Tait.-
Sway, fo.
S'winftour, ftout wencher.
Su/irk,- fwink, labour.
U
Tail, 43. tytc, probably
ready.
Tjrtane, tertian ague..
Tefl, 1 79-. tafte.
Tene, anger, ferrow.
Tent, heed,
Ttrrane, tyrannical, oppref-
for.
Tnvche, tough, difficult.
T hair out, out of doors.
T tiny, the, 133. thefe.
Ugfom, ugly.
Vucunnandty, unknowing.-
Uudemit, uncenfured.
Utikynd, "without favour.
Unquyt, unacquitted, un-
paid.
Unfaul, unfellls, unltlcky,.
unhappy, unhallowed.
Unfickcr, unfecure.
Upalhnd, updandis, high-
land, ruftic.
Vanc-organn, the temple ar-
teries.
E e » W
C 3
w
Waddin, 131. ftrong ; like
two pieces of iron beat
into one.
Wair, beftow.
Waifllefs, fpendthrift.
Wait, wot, know.
Walkryfg, wakeful.
Wallo-wit, withered,, fhrivcl-
led.
W nil} -drag, refufe, outcaft.
IV'ine, womb, belly.
Wavrills, 126. ftomach
turns.
Wanrufe, uneafy.
Wanhap, unluckinefs.
Wafplt, fuddenly ftruck
down.
War, aware.
War, 117. worfe.
Wareit, accurfed.
Warefoae,. remedy, recove-
ry.
Wans, forcerer.
Wale, wotts, knows.
Wed, wadfet, mortgage.
Wend, i8z. go.
Weild, have in one's power.
Weir, 86. war.
Weir, doubt, uncertainty.
Weifly, warily.
Wclth, abundance.
Wene, conjecture, think ;
butToene, 133. doubtlefs.
Widda, 131. woods.
Widdy, withe.
Widnefs, woodnefs, mad-
nefs, fury.
Wit, little..
V/reihly, 133. pofilbly eithfy,
cafify.
Will, 1 1 6. poffibly vile, or
wild.
Witfome, -willful, folitary.
dreary, wildfome.
Winning, whining.
Wirry, worry, fuilbcate.
Wij}, \vi(h.
Wify, confuler. "
IVcuflours, waiters.
Wi\ik, lurch, cargo.,
Wreche, wrechis, wretch,
niggard, niggards.
Wrechitnejs, pcnurioufnefs.
Wrink, intricacy, difficulty.
Wrokln, wreak, revenged.'
Wude, wode, revenged.
Wy, men, perfons.
Wypit, 10. tied, hooped, or
faftened.
Wyh, 187. wife, ways.
Wyfure, wifdom.
Wyte, blame.
Wyvis, women.
Yaip, eager, fliarp-fet.
Yawmcris, aery of fowls, as
ca, ca.
Yeid, went.
Yen, yettis, gate, gates.
Yiftrein, evening of yefter-
day.
Y»<fit, imp, ingrafted.
Youlif, bowlings, fcreams.
Yt/tand, pronounced ydant,
incefiant, diligent.
Yule, Chriftmas.
Paffqges not under flood.
P. 9. St. 4. J. i. Doun the thruch ryfs.
P. 25. St. 5. 1. i. 2. In haly legendis have I hard al-
levin,
Ma fanftis of bifchoppis nor freiris,
be fie fevin.
P. 35. St. 2. 1. 4. Nor blynd allane wait of the mone.
P. 38. St. ii. 1. 8. Scribendo denies fine D.
P. 42. St. 3. 1. 2. With blafittg breijts cafting thair
claiths off breid.
P. 42. St. j. 1. 1. That bettir accordis to play thame
at the trulii.
P. 44. St. 14. 1. 2. Sic ballis, fie nackettis, and fie tu-
t'wittaris.
P. 44. St. 14. 1. 4- Sic pudding fillaris, defending
doun from millaris.
P. 48. St. a. 1. 3. Sum gevis inprattik for fupple.
P. 64. St. i. 1. 4. Quhair my plumyis begynis to
brek out.
P. 81. St. 10. 1. a. So did her denger me derene,
P. 125. St. 3. 1.6. Quhilk inotht nor muft may nocht
rufl nor ket.
P. 133. St. 9. 1. I. 2. This go-wand grathit with fie
grit greif,
He on his wayis -wrethly went
but -went.
P. 144. St. 2. 1. 3. On twenty fhiliings now he tar-
ro-wis.
P. 144. St. 2. 1. 6. In Norro-way thay fuld heir ofne-wis*
P. 149. St. 4. 1. 5. Bot thou thame oppin payntit as a
port.
P. 156. St. 3. 1. 7. A 'II grows in glafs that femit gold.
P. 160. St. 10. 1. 5. Andals tkelmerok is fnft and loddin.
P. 172. St. 7. 1. 8. That he mort into ane rakket.
P. 173. St. 2. 1. 7- Or ellis Fie be the Jky.
P. i So.
C 330 1
P. T?O. St. 9. . 8. RanufJoc/i in thair bed.
P. 183. St, j. . IQ. Now or we furder/oawJ.
P. 187. St. 4. . 4. Pentagorato preif in frefs.
P. 193. St. i. .6. Welcum oure belli of Albion tobtir.
P. 198. St. 16. . 7. Sic Chriftianis to kifs wish chanieris
kulks.
P. 201. St. 27. .3. To bar oiifarfra boivrdii.
P. aoi. St. 27. . 5. Sin lo, tho-w fclio t/iis to, no~<s do hcs
place.
P. 202. St,.%8. 1. 5. Nurice to nurtour not,
Wordr
Words not underfteod*
Bar.
P.
JOI.
St.
27.
1.
3-
Braids.
P.
46.
St.
3.
1.
3-
Brybour.
P.
171.
St.
7.
I.
3-
Cuftroun.
P.
171.
St.
5.
1.
7-
Derene.
P.
81.
St.
IO.
1.
2.
Found.
P.
183.
St.
3.
1.
10.
Fair.
P.
102.
St.
16.
1.
2.
Ket.
P.
125-
St.
3-
1.
6.
Laitis.
Lodin.
P.
160.
St.
10.
1.
5-
Padell.
P.
160.
St.
7-
I.
5.
Plycht.
P.
117.
St.
8.
1.
5-
Port.
P.
149-
St.
4-
1.5-
Rakket.
P.
172.
St.
7-
I.
8.
Ramukloch.
P.
1 80.
St.
9-
1.
8.
Roifs.
P.
99-
St.
7-
1.
I.
Slewth.
P.
53-
St.
4-
1.
2.
Tarrow.
P.
144.
St.
i.
].
3-
Trene.
P.
160.
St.
9-
1.
i.
Trulis.
P.
42.
St.
5-
1.
•2..
Tutivillaris.
P.
44-
St.
14.
1.
%.
There may pofiibly be fome other unintelligible pal-
fagT-s, or words, which have efcaped the attention of
the editor.
ERRATA
E .. R R A T A.
. 3.
10.
II.
15.
SI.
45-
55-
105.
119.
123.
132.
152-
157-
160.
174.
I7J-
175-
196.
237-
299.
310.
g. for fonene, r. fonne.
3. dele comma after quhair.
2. for his, r. h;r.
4. fcr chevclty, r. chevelry.
9. for Myttainc, r. Myttaine,
. 4. for ; r. ,.
. j./orthoct, r. thocht.
. 24. for obey, r. obeyed.
. ^, for Waif, r. Wolf.
.17. for twin, r. win.
. 24. for quilk, r. quhilk.
5. for wet, r. met.
. 13. /or argirly, r. angirly.
.19. /&r wich, r. with.
6; for tricht, r. bricht.
.11. for than, r. tham.
. 20. jfar-fhlendir, r. Iklendir.
. 22. for generi, r. generit.
.23. for te, r. the.
. 27. for famonye, r. fa raome.
5. for Warlochhudc-pyke, r.
loch. Hude-pyke.
3 1. for lewd, r. lafcivious.
n.yor miratu, r. miratur.
-S,
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