5^
^ m ^ "^ % t
OF
SCOTTISH POETRY;
FROM
THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY,
TO
THE UNION OF THE CROWNS.-
TO WHICH IS ADDED
J! GLOSSART,
BY J. SIBBALD.
Multa renafcentur quae jam cecidere. HoR.
IN FOUR VOLUMES.
VOLUME III.
EDINBURGH
PRINTED FOR J. SIBBALD, PARLIAMENT CLOSE,
By C. Stewart l?" Co. Printers to the U/iiver/ity ;
SOLD BY P. HILL, AND ROSS & BLACKWOOD :
AND BY G, & W. NICOL, AND LONGMAN & REES,
LONDON.
1802.
V 3
CONTENTS OF VOLUME THI^RD,
Page.
Sir David Lindsay*s Prologue to the Monarchies^ ^
IntroduElory Dialogue nvith
Experience, .... 9
Exclamation on writing in
the fftiternal language, . . . 13
Defcription of the Papal
Monarchie, . . . .31
I ^ Defcription of the Court of
Rome, . . * . 4^
1 . Epiflle Nuncupaioryy 5 1
Tragedy of C>^xAm2\ Beaton, ^'^
Earl of Glencairn's Epiflle of the Hermit of
LmeitOj ...... 69
SirR. Maitland's Satire on the T^oun Ladies, 76
I-. Satire on the Age, . 81
On the Malice of Poets, 85
On the Nero year 1557 or 1558, 87
On the wynning ofCalice, 1 558, 91
T On the Queen's marriage to the
Dauphin of France, ... 93
On the jfjffimhly of the Congre-
gation i559> 96
. On the New Tear 1560, ^ 99
On the ^ueen*s arrival in Scot-
land 1561, . * . . . loi
Aganis thethieves of Liddifdale, 104
Na kindnefs at Court without
filler, . . . . .107
' I Counfel to his Son, at Court, 109
Folly of an Auld man marry-
ing a Young Wife, , . . 1 13
Alex.
IV CONTENTS.
Pag^.
.- Aliferies of the 'fymCf 1570, 298
Solace in Age^ . . 3!
I Complaint againjl lang Law f nits y 303
. Againjl opprejjion of the Commons j 306
Againjl Jlanderous tongueSy . 309
Admonition to the Kegent MzTy 313
- advice to he hlyth in bail, . 317
I ^uld Kindncjs foryetty . 3^9
Alex. Scott's Lament of the Majier of Erjhiney 1J5
New Tear'' s gift to the ^eeUy 1 562, 1 17
yujiing of Adamfon a7id Symey 137
Advyce to WowarSy . 144
___ Counjel to lujlie Ladies y . 149
Luvefoiild be uft with prudence y 153
Of Wetnetirkind, . . 155
. Luve ane leveller y , . 158
>_ : The Blate Luvary . . 160
GratuJation to the moneth oj May, i6t
^ In praije of his Mijlrefs^s twa fair
Ene, ..... ,164
To his Hearty . . 1 66
, A Luvar^s inwart Mourningy 168
.. Lament quhcn his wife left him, 1 7 o
Cupid quarreled for his tyranny y 171
Rondel of Luve y . . 173
To his Hearty . . 174
A Luvar''s Csmplainty . 176
'Dakhl-ey'^s Ballaty . . . 179
BAL.^i.\is''fi Counfale to Huntarisy . . 181
The Banks of HelicoUy , . .185
Lufly Mayy . . . . 192
Welcum to Mayy . . .193
Clapperton's Wa worth Maryage . 195
God gif I wer Wedo new, 197
The Lament of a poor Court maVf . , - 199
^ The
CONTENTS,
Page.
The making of the Lairdis Bed, , .^ 201
j^ne /iventure on Weddinfdayy . . 203
Fethy's Lwvar^s Lament, . . . 206
Sa7^:^ agams the Ladies, . . . 209
'Fi^iluy-ug's Ballat of evilWives, . -, 2I
u^ne defcription of Pedder Coffeisy . . 214
A General Satire , . . . 2 2 1
Of Men evil topleafe, . . . 224^!. i
Counfel anent lending money, . . , 22j^
InpraifeofSirPetiny, . . . 227
The Wooing of 'Jock and Jenny, , . 230
Wedderburne's Complaint, . . 235
Gude and Godly Ballats, 239
John Rolland's Seven Sages, . . 285
The Battle of Har law, . . . 288
In comf7iendation of Sir John Maitland, . 321
The Complaint of Scotland, ^ " . . 324
* Alex. Arbuthnot*s M^J'^Vj of a poor Scholar, 550
r Praifes of Wemen, 337
Alex. Montgomerie's Cherry and Slae [abridged)
. II. Sang on the Lady Marga-
ret Montgomery,
Poetn on the fame,
- Solfequium,
Sonet to his Majejly,
To my Lady Seton,
Echo, . ,
361
493
494
496
InveBive againjl Fortune, 498
bert Hud/on,
To R. Hudfon,
Complaint in Prifon,
Chriflen Lyndefay to Ro'
To Mr David Urummond,
A LfUdies Lamentation^
500
5C2
506
Alex.
xi CONTENTS.
Page.
Alex. Hume's Epipe to Moncrlef, . . 367
. On the defeat of the Spanijh Armada f 379
Thanks for a Summer Day, 385
Fly ting with Montgomery, 392
Robert, (^perhaps Lord; Semple's Phihtus, 397
. Ballat on three female Ta-
'aernerxy . . . . . 441
Fleming. Barge, . 445
NiCOL Burne's Addr^fs to the reforming Minijiers, 450
John Burel's defcription of the ^ueen^s entry into
Edinburgh, 15 9-0, . - . , 464
James the Sixth's Phcenixy a metapharical inven*
tioity . . ^ . . 477
, Paraphrafe on Lucan^ 486
^ Poem on ^yme, . , 488
' Sonnet, . . 489
<-_ - Jiewllis of Scottis Poetry,- 490
'3.^RL OF Stirling's Pflrf^j, {abridged) 507
CHRONICLE
CHRONICLE
OF
SCOmSH POETRT,
QUEEN MARY, 1542 1567.
James the Fifth being a man of pleufantry, and a
ivnter ofverjes, toe learned clerks about his Court ivere
naturally led to pay their addrejfes
'* with heich ingyne to Mufes nyne,"
cts the furejl road to favour and preferment. During
the minority of his unfortunate daughter^ their minds
zuere occiipied with affairs of gremter moment. There was
a general out-cry againfl thelicentioufnefs^ ignorance^ and
rapacity of the Clergy ; and treatifes on Theology were
the chief produBions of the Scotti/h prefs. The ^ueen^s
Advocate compofed a worlk on fuflification ; another
gentleman wrote Meditations on the Lord^s Prayer ; a
thirdf On the Corfcience of a Chrifiian man ; John
Knox thundered abroad his Admonitions to the profeffors
of God''s truth ; and the voice of the Mufes was drowned
amid the groaning complaints of the Congregation of the
faithful. Ihe only metrical compoftions of any impor-
tance that can be afjlgned to this period^ are SiR David
Vol. hi. a Lindsay's
1 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
Lindsay's Dialogue on the miferable ftate of the
warld, and his Tragedy of Cardinal Beaton. The Jirjl
is a tedious account of what are called the Four An-
cient Monarchies ; commencing with the creation of the
world, and ending with the day of Judgment. With-
out injury to the fame of SiR David, tins narrative
may be fuffered to repofe in peace. We fndj however^
fotne animated digrejjions, interfperfed through the work,
ivhich well deferve a place in a CoUeSiion of this na-
ture. Thefe, with the Beaton's Tragedy, will compleat
the works of Lindsay.
'Thefirft edition of the Dialogue was printed in i ^1,2,
" at the expences of Dr. Machabeus in Copmahouin,"
an ambiguous exprefjion^ intended to conceal the name
of the printer. For, although Dr. Machabeus, a Scot-
tish refugee, certainly was in Copenhagen about that
iimcy the book is more likely to have been printed fome-
vohere in Scotland by 'John Scot, who in 1558 publijhei
in the fame 'Ji^e, and with the fignatures commencing
ixihere thofe of the dialogue ended, the Tragedy of the
Cardinal, /z<i various other pieces of Lindfay. 31? this
edition, (^probably that which was ordered to be burnt
by the ecclejiajlical council 1558,^ ^cot mufl allude in his
preface 1 3 68, where he fays, *' the mair pairt of them hes
bene fndrie times in findrie places i7nprefitit, as heir in
Jscotland, quhilk yet %imr tint fa correal as neidrequlrit**
fROLOGUE
PROLOGUE TO THE MONARCHIES, AND INTRODUCTORY'
CONVERSATION BETWEEN EXPERIENCE AND THE AU-
THOR, UNDER THE CHARACTER Of A COURTEOU*.
[^Prologues defcriptive of the fcene of aSiiofi, commonly
a ivood, park^ or garden, are favourite themes of our
ancient poets. Several of them are to be found in the
frfl volume of this ColleEiion ; as by Robert Henry-
fon, p. 90 \ by Dunbar, p. 253, and by Douglas, p.
386. The fngular nature of the Invocation Jhows
the iajle of the times in a Jlriking point of view,
Inflead of Parnnffus out Poet chufes Mowit Cal-
vary ^ and his Helicon is the Jiream which flowed
from our Saviour's fide on the Crofsy when he nuas
wounded by the fi&itious Long! as, as recorded in the
Gofpel of NicbdemUs ; a name impofed upon hint
from the weapon which he ufed. Under the chara&er
q/" the Courteouv, hiNHs ay feems to allude tofome
of the leading circumflances of his own hiflory : In his
pourtrait of Experience may be difcerned a refem-
blance to that of Efop by Henryfon.
IVl USING and mervelling on the miferie.
From day to day in eirth quhilk dois incres.
And of ilk ftait the inftabilitie,
Proceding of the reftles befines,
Quhairon the maift part dois thair mind addres
Inordinatlie on hungrie covetice.
Vain gloir, dilTait, and uther Cenfual vice.
Bot
4 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRTr
Bot tumbling in my bed I micht not lie ;
Quhairfoir I fuir fiirth in ane May raorningy
Comfort to get of my melancholie,
Sumquhat before frefli Plibus up-ryfing,
Quhair I micht heir the birdis fvveilly fing :
Intill ane park I pad for my plefure,
Decojit weil be ciaft of dame Nature.
How I refTevit comfort naturall
For to defciive at lenth it war to lang,
Smelland the hailfum herbis medicinall ;
Quhairon the dulce and balmy dew doun hang^
Lyke orient perlis on the twiftis lang j
Or how that the aromatik odouris,
Did proceid from the tender fragrant flouris.
Or how Phaebus, that king etheriall.
Swiftly fprang up into the orient,
Afccnding in his throne imperiall,
Quhais bricht and beriall bemis refplendcnt,,
lUuminat all unto the Occident,
Comfortand evrie corporal creature.
Quhilk formit war on eirth be dame Nature.
Quhais donk impurpurit veftment nolurnal.
With his imbrowderit mantil matutine.
He left intill his regioun aurorall,
Quhilk on him waitit quhen he did decline,
Towart his Occident palice vefpertine ;
And rais in habite gay and glorious,
Bnchter nor gold or ftainis^recioiis.
Bot Cynthia the hornit nichtis Quene,
Scho loift hit licht, and led ane lower faill,
From time that fcho hir foverane Lord had fene.
And in his prefence waxit dirk and paill.
And ouer hir vifage keft ane miftie vaill.
Sa did Venus, the Goddes amorous.
With Jupiter, Mars, and Mercurius.
Kich
QJJEEN MARY, 1 54 2 1 3^7. j
Richt fa the auld intoxicate Saturne,
Perfaving Phaebus powre his bemis bricht
Abuvg the eirth, than maid he no fudgeorne,
Bot f ^danli e did lois his borrowit licht,
Quhilk he ddrft never fchaw bot on the nicht.
The pole Artik, Urfis, and ilerris all,
Qphilk fituat ar in the feptentrionall.
Till errand fchippis, quhilkis ar without all gyde^
Convoyand thame upon the ftorraie nicht.
Within thair froftie circle did thame hjde ;
Howbeit that fterris have na uther licht
Bot the reflex of Phebus bemis bricht.
That day durft none into the hevia appeir.
Till he had circuit all our hemifpheir.
INIethocht it was ane ficht celeitial l
Till fee Phaebus fa angell Ijke afceud
]ntill his fjrie chariot trjumphall,
Quhais bewtie bricht I culd not comprehend i^
All warldlie.cure did from me wend,
Quhen frefche Flora fpred furth hir tapeflrie
Wrocht be dame Nature queynt and curiouilie,
Depaint with monie hundreth hevinlie hewisj
Glaid of the ryfuig of thair Royal Roy,
With blomes brekand on the tender bewis,
Quhilk did provoke my hart to natural joy -,
Neptune that day and Eoll held thame coy.
That men on far micht heir the birdis found,
Quhais noyis did to the fterrie hevin redound.
The plefand powne prunyeand his fedren fair,
The mirthful maveis maid greit melodic ;
The luftie lark afcending in the air,
Numerand hir natural notis craftelie ;
The gay goldfpink, the merle richt merille.
The noyis of the nobill nichtingaillis
Redoundit throw the montanis, meidi s, and vatllid.
Contempling
CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRt.
Contempling this melodious harmonic,
How everilk bird drefl. thame for til advance
To falut Nature with thair melodic.
That I ftude gazing halflingej in ane trance ,
To heir thame mak that naturall obfervancc
Sa ro yalHe , that all the roches rang,
Throw repercuffion of thair fuggarit fang.
I lois my time, allace ! for to reheirs
Sic unfrutefull and vane defcriptioun ;
Or wryte into my raggit rurall vers,
Mater without edificatioun.
Confidering how that mine intentiounj
Bene till deploir the mortall mifereis.
With continuall cairfull calamiteis,
Confifling in this wretchit vaile of forrdw.
Bot fad fentence fuld have ane fad indyte.
So termis bricht I lift not for to borrow ;
Of murning mateir men hes na delyte,
With roultie termis thairfoir will I wryte.
With forrowfull fiches ryfing from the fplenej
And bitter teiris diilelling from mine ene.
Without onie vane invocatioun.
To Minerva or Melpomene ,
Nor yet will I mak fupplicatioun.
For help to Cleo, or Calliope,
Sic marrit Mufes ma mak na fuppe,
Proferpine I refufe, and AppoUo,
And richt fa Euterpe, Juppiter, and Juno,
Quhilkis bene to plefand poetis comforting,
i^ihairfoir becaus I am nocht one of tho,
I do defy re of thame na fupporting.
For I did never lleip on Parnafo,
As did the poetis of lang tyme ago ;
And fpeciallie the ornate Ennius,
Nor drank I never with Hefiodus.
Of
iiPSEN MARY, 1542 Ijf>7. 3f
p Grece the perfite poet foverane,
Of Helicon the fource of eloquence.
Of that mellifluous famous frefche fontane.
Quhairfoir to thame I awe na reverence, "
1 purpois not to mak obedience
To fie mifchaunt Mufes, na Mahumetrie,
Afoir time- ufit into poetrie.
Ravand Rhamnufia, goddes of defpyte,
Micht be to me ane Mufe richt convenablc,
Gif I defjrit fie help for till indyte
This murning mateir, mad and miferable.
I muft go feik a Mtjfe moir comfortable ;
And fie vane fuperftitioun to refufe,
Befeikand the GREit God to be my Mufe :
Be quhais wifdome all mancr of thing bene wrocht,
Tjii^Jiip^jSvyis with all thair ornamentis.
And without mateir maid all thing of nocht.
Hell in myd center of the elementis.
That hevenlie Mufe to feik my haill intent is,
The quhilk gaif fapience to King Salomon,
To David grace, ftrenth to the ftrang Sampfon.
And of puir Peter maid ane prudent preichour.
And be the power of his Deitic,
Of cruell Paul he maid ane cunning teichour.
Im^ be{eik_richt lawlie 0_5[^xiEili^
His heich fuper-excellent Majeftie,
That with his hevinlie fpreit he may infpyre,
'I'o write na thing contrarie his defyre.
Befeikand als his foverane fone Jefew,
Quhilk wes confavit of the Halie Spreit,
Incarnit of the purifyit virgine trew.
And in quhome the prophecie was complei!,
That Prince of peice, maid humbill and manfvveit,
Quhilk under Pilate fufferit pafilouix
TTpon the croce for onr falvatioun.
' And
8 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRy.
And be that cruell delth intollerabill,
Loufit we war from bandes of Beliall,
And mair-attoui r. it was fo profitabill.
That to this hour cum never man, nor fall.
To the triumphant joy imperiall
Of life, howbeit that thay war neuer fa gude,
Eot be the vertew f his precious blude.
Quhairfoir, infteid of the mont Pernafo,
Swiftlie I fall go feik. my Soverane
To mont Calvarie the flraich t way p^on j go.
To get ane taill of the moft frefche fontaine.
That forfe to feik, my hart may not refraine,
Of Helicon, that was Jja ith deip and w ydct
That Longias did grave into his fyde.
From that frefche fountane fprang a famous flude,
Quhilk redolent river throw the warld rinnis.
As chriftall clcir , and mixit bene with blude ;
Quhais found abufe the hieft hevinis dinnis ;
All faithful! pepill purging fra thair finnis.
Quhairfoir, 1 fall befeik his Excellence
To grant me grace^wifdome, and eloquence.
And bathe me with thay dulce and balmy flrandisi
Quhilk on the croce did fpedelie out-fpring
From his maid tender feit, and hevinlie liandis.
jAnd grant me grace to write nor dite na thing
Bot to his heich honour, and loude loving.
But quhais fupport thair may na gude be wrocht
Till his plefur e, gude warkis, word , nor thoch t.
Thairfoir, O Lord ! I pray thy Majeftie,
As thow_ did fchaw thy heich power divine,
Firft |) lan<g^ly into Cane of Galile,
Quhair thow conveitit cald v?ater in wyne,
Convoy my mateir to ane frudeous fyne.
And fave my fayingis baith from fchame and fin.
Tak tent, for now I purpols to begin.
""-"'"' * Intiix
'QJJEEN MART, 1542 1367.
Intill that park I faw appeir
Ane ageit man q uhilk drew me neir,
$^^hai5 beard was neir thre quarters lang :
His hair did ouer his fchulders hang.
The quhilk as ony fnaw was quhyte,
Qu hom e to behold I thocht delyte.
His habit angcl-like of hue.
Of colour like the fappheir blue ;
Under a holin he repofit.
Of quhais prefence 1 was rejoifit.
I did him falute reverently.
So did he me richt courteoufly.
To fit doun he requeftit me.
Under the fliadow of the tree.
To faif me from the funnis helt,
Amang the flowri s foft and fwei t,
i^'or I was wearyi t with walking .
Then he begouth to fall in talking :
I aflced his name with reverence :
E. I am, faid he, Experience.
C. Then fir, faid I, you cannot fail
To give a defolait man counfai l ;
You do appeir ane man of fame.
And fith Experience is your name,
I pray you, father venerable,
Give me fome cgujiliel comfortable.
E. Quhat bene, faid he, thy vocatioun,
Makand fuch fupplicatioun ?
C. I have, faid I, been to this hour.
Sen I could ryde, ane Courteour ;
But now, father, I thynk it beft.
With jrour counfel, to leif in reft :
And from hyneforth to tak mine eis,
And q uyetly my God to pleis,
Vol. III. " B And
lO CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
And renounce curlofitle,
Levyng the court, and learn ta'die.
Oft haif I failit ouer the ftrandis.
And travalit throuch divers landis.
Both fouth and north, and eaft and weft.
Yet can I neuer find quhair reft
Doith mak her habitatioun.
Without your fupportatioun.
Quhen I believe to be beft eifit,
Moft fjiidantlie I am difpleifit :
From troubjU quhen I fafte_ft flj.
Than find I maift adverfity ;
Schaw me, I praj you . hartfuU y.
How I may leif moft pleafantly.
To ferve ray God of kingis King,
Sen I am tyrit of travellin g;
And lean i me for to be content.
Of q uiet life and fober rent ;
That I may thank the king of g lo ir^
As gif I had ane mylleoun moir.
Sen everilk court been variant.
Full of invy, and inconftant ;
Micht I but trubbyXl leif in reft,
Now in ayild a igg I think it beft.
E. Thou art ane greit fu il, fon, faid he.
That to defirc quhilk may nocht be.
Yarning to have prerogatyve
Above all creatures that live.
Sen father Adam create been
Into the camp of Damafcene,
Might no man fay unto this hour.
That euer he found perfed pleafour.
Nor never fall, till that he fee
Ged in his divine majefty.
Quhairfore prepare thee for travell.
Sen manui^ life been "but battell.
All
QUEEN MARt, 1542 1567. ft
All men beginnis for to die,
I The day of their nativitie ;
[And joui'nallj they do proceed,
[Till Atrops cut their fatall threed ;
And in the breif time that they have
Betwix their birth on to the grave .
Thou feis quhat mutabilities,
Quhat miferable calamities,
Quhat trubbyl, travel, and debate.
Seed thou in every mortal Hate,
Begin at puir law creaturis,
Afcending fyne to fenatouris, '
To great princes gnd potentatis.
Thou fall nocht find in non eftaitis.
Sen -the beginning generallie.
Nor in our time now fpeciallie.
But tiddious, refllefs befinel's,
Withoutten ony fickernef s.
C. Prudent father, faid I, allace.
You tell to me ane cairful cace :
You fay, that no man to this hour,
Hes found on earth perfyte pleafour.
Without infortunate variance.
Sen we been thral on fie mif cb^Hfie
Quhy do we fet our whole intentis
On riches, dignity, and rentis,
(Sen in the earth been no man fure.
One day but troubl e till endure. ^
And worft of all, quhen we leift jv;een.
The cruel death we mon fuftene.
Gif I your father-heid durfl demand.
The caus I wald fain undeijland .
And als, father, I you implore,
Schaw me from trouble gone before.
That hearing others indigence,
I may the more have patience.
Marrowis
li' XHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
Marrowis in tribulatioun,
Been wretches confolatioun.
E. Quod he : after ray ftnall cunning.
To thee I fall mak anfwering.
After defcribing the creation of the world, oat author proceeds ip
fllcw hovr
Firjl ringy t kings of Afferianis,
Stcoundly rjngyt kings of PerOanis
The Greikis thridlit with fwcrd and fyre
Pcrfors obtainit the tbrid empyrc.
TYiC fourth Monarchic, at I heir,
The Romanis keipit monie a yeir. ....
Thefc Monarchies (\ underftand)
Pre-brdinat wer be command
Of God the Salvator of all
For to doun thrin g, and to maik thrall,
Ihidauntyt pcpil vicious ;
And feke for to be gracious
To thame quhilk Tertcotls wer and gdcv-
As Daniel hath done- conclude.
At length into his prophecie,
The fecund chapter, a you may fie. ... .
Sum haif this mateir done indytc
Mair ornatlie than 1 can wryte ;
Quhairfoir of it Upcik^no^nioir,
Onlic to God be laud and gloir.
EXCLAMATIOUlf
EXGLAMATIOUN TO THE REIDAR, TUITCHING THE WRYT-
ING IN^VULGARE AND MATERKALL LANGUAGE.
By thefirjl AB of Parliament pajjed during the regency
of the Earl of Arran, (iS^h March 1542-3,^ liber-
ty was given to the ^ueen^s *' lieges to haif the Ha-
* lie Writ in the vulgar toungy in Inglis or Scottis,
** of ane gude and true tranjlatioun ," and^ upon the
mneteenthy an order was iffued to the Clerk Regif-
ter, (5/r fames Foulis of Colington,) to caufe this
aB " anent the New Teftament to he proclaimed at
** the market crofs of Edinburgh^ and thereafter to
*' give forth the copies thereof to allthutm that difyri
* the famynJ** In lefs than a year ^ however y after
this proclamationy the Regent being drawn over to the
party of the Catholicksy another al was pajjedy **<rv-
*' hortand all Prelatis to proceid according to law -
** gainjl thofe heretikis quha circulated thair dampna~
* ble epinionis in contrair the faith and lawis of halie
** kirk" "The indulgence was thus in efftEl -with"
drawn ; readers of ** Halie Wrjtt" in the vulgar
tongue were again threatened with f re andfwordy and
thofe whs had favoured the new opinions were
** compellity by threats of being hangity to leavt tht.
* court of the Governor.** Among this number was
Sir David Lindsay. It is eafy^ thereforcy to per-
ceive under what imprefjions this Exclamatioun, anditt-
deed the whole o/"'/;6*T)ialogue %'as compofed.
CEXTILL
14 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY,
VjrENTiLL reidar, have me at na defpite,
Thinkand that I prefumpteouflie pretend
In vulgar toung fo hie ane mater to write.
But quhair I mis, I pray the til amend.
To the unlernit I wald the caus wer kend.
Of our maift miferabill travel and torment.
And how in eiith na place be permanent.
Howbeit that divers devot cunning clerkis.
In Latyn toung have written findrie buikis.
Our unlearnit knawis litill of thair werkis,
More than they do the raving of the ruikis :
Quhairfoir to collyearis, carters, and to cuikis,
To Jock and Thorn my ryme falbe direckit,
With cunning men howbeit it wil be leckit.
Thoch every Commoun may not be a clerk,
Nor has na leid, except thair toung maternal,
Quhy fuld of God the mervellus hevinly werk
Be hid from them ? I think it not fraternal.
The father of hevin quhilk was, and is eternal.
To Mofes gave the law on mont Slnay,
Not into Greik nor Latine, I heir fay.
]He wrait the law on tabils hard of ftone.
In their awi p vulgare language of Hebrew,
That all the barnis of Iftael every one
Micht knaw the law, and fo the fame enfew.
Had he done write in Latine or in Grew,
It had to thame bene bot ane farilefe jeft j
You may weil wi t G od wrocht al for the beft .
Ariftotle nor Plato, I heird fane,
Wrait nocht thair hie philofophie naturall.
In Dutche nor Dence, nor toung Italiane,
But in thair moll ornate toung maternal,
Quhais
QJJEEN MARY, 1 542 1 567. I5
Quhais fame and name dois reigne perpetual.
Famous Virgill, that prince of poetrie.
Nor Cicero, that flowr of oratrie,
"Wrait not in Caldic language, nor in Grew,
Nor yit into language Saracene ;
Nor in the natural language of Hebrew,
, But in the Roman toung, as may be fene,
Quhilk was thair proper language, as I wene .
Qulien Romanis rang, dominatouris indeid ,
The ornate Latine was thair proper leid.
In the mein time , quhen thir bald Romance'
Ouer all the warld had the dominioun.
Maid Latine fculis thair gloir for to avance,
That thair language micht be ouer all commoun j '
To that intent, by my opinioun,
Traifting that thair empire fuld ay indure ;
Bot of fortune ahv^y t hay war not fure.
Of languages the firft diverfitie.
Was maid by Goddis nfialediftioun,
Quhen Babylon was buildit in Caldie,
Thay buldaris gat none uther affliclioun.
Afoir the time of that punitioun.
Was bot ane toung, quhilk Adam fpak himfelf,
Quhair now of toungis thairin threefcoir and twclf.
Notwithftanding, I think it greit plcfour,
Quhair cunning men hes languages anew ;
That in thair youth, be diligent labour,
Hes leirnit Latine, Greek, and auld Hebrew :
That I am not of that fort foir I rew ; ' .
Quhairfoir I wald all buikis neceiFare
For our faith wer intill our toung vulgare. ^
Chrifl efter his glorious afcenfioun.
To his difcipyles fent his Italic Ipreit
In toungis of fyre, to that intentioun,
That being all of languages rcpleit
Throw aU the warld, with wordis fal_r and {\vlt.
To-
i6 CHROKICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
To every man the faith they fuld furth fchaw.
In thair awin leid deljverand thame the law.
Thairfoir I think ane greit derifioun.
To heir the Nunnis and fifteris nicht and day,
Singand and fay and pfalmes and orifoun ;
Nocht xinderitacding quhat thay fing or fay :
But like ane flirling, or ane popinjay
Quhilk learnit ar to fpeik be lang ufage,
Them I compare to birdis in ane cage.
Richt fo children and ladyis of honouris
Pray is in La tine, to thame ane uncouthjgid :
Mumland thair matynis, even-fangs, and thair houris
Tl^air Pater-nofter, Ave, and thair Creid.
It wer als plefand to thair fpreit indeid,
God have mcrcie on me ! for to fay thus.
As to fay, xt^ijerere me Deus.
Sandl Herome in bis proper toung Romane,
Tlie law of God trewlie he did tranilate
Out of Hebrew and Greik, in Latine plane,
Quhilk hes bene, hid from us lang time, God wait,
.Ujitill this time. Bot efter my conceit.
Had San6l Herome bene born into Argyle,
In Irifch toung his buikis he had done compyk.
Prudent Sanft Paul dois mak narratioun
Tuitching the divers leid of everie land,
Sayand thair bene mair edificatioun
In fyve wordis that folk dois underftand.
Than to pronounce of wordis ten thoufand
In ftrange language, fyne wait not quhat it mcnis,
\ I think fie pratting ijiot_wortli_twa precis.
Unleirnit pepill on the hali e day
Solempnitlic thay heir the Evangel foung,
Not knawing quhat the preill dois fing or fay,
But as ane bell quhan that thay beir it roung j
Yet wald the preiftis in thair mother toung,
Pas
^EEN MART, 15421.1567. ff
Pas to the pulpit, and that doftrlne declair
To lavvit pepill, it war mair neceflair.
I wald prelatis and doftouris of the law
With us lawit pepil wet not difcontent,
Thoch we in our toung vulgare did knaw
Of Chrifl Jefus the life and teflament.
And how that we fuld keip commandement :
Bot ih our language lat us" pray and reid
Our f ater-nofter, Ave, and our Creid,
I wald fome prince of greit difcretioun.
In vulgare language planelie gart tranilate.
The neidful lawis of this regioun.
Than wald there n6t be half fo greit debaitj
Amang us pepil of the law eftait ;
Gif everie man the verity did knaw,
\Ve neidit not to treit thir men of law.
To do our neichtbour ^rang we wald bewarj
If we did feir the lawis p unifchme nt :
Thair wald not be fie brawling at the bar ;
Nor men of law loup to fie iroyal rent.
To keip the law gif all men wer content.
And ilk man do as he wald be done toj
The judges wald get lytill thing ado.
The prophet David king of Ifraell,
Compyld the plefand pfalmeS of the pfaltali"
In his awin p roper toung, as 1 he ir^tejj ; ,
And Salomon quhilk was his fon and air.
Did mak his buik into his toung vulgair.
Quhy fuld not thair fayings be till us fchawiti
In our language, I wald the caus wer knawin.
Let doftoris write thair curious queftiounisj
And arguraentis fawin full of fophiflrie ;
Thair logic, and thair heich opiniounis,
Thair dark judgementis of aflronomie,
Thair medicine, and thair philofophie.
Vol. III. C ifct
J.a CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH TOETRT.
Let poetls fchaw thair glorious ingjne.
As euer thaj pleife, in Greik or in Latync ;
Bot let us have the buikis ncGeffair
To commoun-weal, and our falvatioun,
Juflly tranflatit in our toung vulgair.
And als I mak you fupplicatioun,
O gentil reidar, have na indignatioun,
Thinkand I mell me with fa hie matair.
Now to mj purpois forvrart. will I fair.
P. 17. Traftflait the neidful lawis; tbat h, the Scottlfh laws prior
to thofc of James I. after whofe relloration in 1434 the ftatutes were
all written in the vulgar tongue ; while thofe of England continued to
be written in French until the year 14&4. It is likely, however, that
Lindfay alludes in part to the canons of the provincial councils, other-
wife called the I.awis of Haly Kirk ; which, during the minority of
Queen Mary, were not lef interefting than the old ads of Parliament,
efpecially to Sir Divid Lindfay, and other fuch labourers in the great
work of reformation ; the ^urpofe of moft of them being to check its
J)rogrefs,by gradually correcSing acknowledged abufes, and by inforcing
rigoroully the puni(hment of heretice.
The word Scottis, in Arran's firft ftatute, leads one naturally here to
enquire %%hether there was, about this time, any tranflation of the Old
or New Teftament different from thofe of Tyndall and Coverdale.
Keith reports, upon the authority of Sir James Balfour, that the Earl
of Arran then entertained in his houfe a friar Guil'iani, or Williams,
(born near Elftonford, in Eaft Lothian) who tranflated the New Tefta-
ment into the vulgar tongue. Can this be the tranflation alluded to
in the A&. ? Lewis, in his Hiftory of Tratiflations, fays, nearly un-
ider this period, that three editions of the New Teftament appeared,
without the name of printer or place ; and feenis to think they were
printed in Scotland. They are not, however, mentioned by Ames ; nor
doc* Lewis fty that they were different from Tyndall's,
ANE
ANE EXCLAMATIOUN AGANIS IDOLATRIE.
In honour of St.GiLES, the tutelar faint of the city of
Edtnhurghy an annual fejlival was celebrated on the
' frjl of September^ when the fatue o/* Egidius wax
carried through the flreets in folemn procejjion ; at"
tended, as it would feem, by the principal inhabitants.
Such a flagrant act of Idolatry could not well efcape
the notice of Sir David , who^ no doubt^ fet forth
this *' Exclamatioun," ybr the purpofe of kindling the
refentment of the people againji the harmlefs repre^
fentative of their ancient guardian and defender. And
it did not fail at lajl to produce the dejired effect ; for^
on St. Giles's day 1558, when fame perfo7is conviBed
of herefy were to make a public recantation^ the pO'
pulace rofe tumultuoufly, broke the Jlatue to pieces^
difjipated the procejjion, and rcfcued the criminals.
On the other hand, the Clergy ventured to take their
revenge^ by ordering Sir David's works to be called
jnf and publicly com/fitted to the flames.
Imprudent pepill, ignorant and blynd,
Be quhat reflbun, law, or authoritie ;
Or quhat authentik fcripture can ye find
L$fum for till commit idolatrie ?
Quhilk
aO CHl^OKICLE or SCOTTISH POETHY.
Quhllk bene to bow your bodie, or your knie,
"With devote humblll adoratioun,
Till ony ydol maid of flane or trie,
Gevand thame ofFerand or oblatioun.
Quhy do ye give the honour, laud, or gloir
Pertenand God quhilk maid all thing of nocht,
Q^hilk wes, and is, and falbe eyirmoir.
Till ymagis be mennis handis wrocht ?
O fulifche folk ! quhy have ye fuccour focht
Of thame quhilk can nocht help you in diftres ?
Yet reflbnabil revolfe into your thocht.
In flock nor ftane can be na halinc3.
In the defert the pepill of Kraell,
Mofes remaning on the mont Sinay,
Thay maid ane moitin calf of fine metell,
Quhilk thay did honour as thair God verray.
Bot quhen ' Mofes difcendit, I heir fay,
And did conlider thair ydolatrie.
Of that pepill thre thoufand gart he flay.
As the fcripture at lenth dois teftifie.
Becaus the halie propheit Danicll,
In Babylon ydolatrie reprevit.
And wald not worfchip thair fals idol Bell,
The haill pepill at him wer fa agrevit.
To that effect that he fuld be myfchevit,
Deliverit him to rampand lyounis fevin ;
Bot of that dangerous den he was relevit,
Throuch myrakle of the greit God of hevin.
Behald how Nabuchadonoz-or king.
Into the vail of Duran did prepair
Ane image of fyne gold, ane marvellous thing,
Threfcore of cubits heich, and fax in fquair.
As moir cleirlie the fcripture dois declair ;
To quhom all pepill be proclamatioun.
With bodyis bowit, and on thair kneis bair,
Richt humblie maid thair adoratioun.
Ane
<iUEEN MARY, 1 542 1 567, 2f:
Ane greit wounder that daj was fene sdfo,
How Nabuchadonozor in his yre,
Tuik Sjdrach, Mjfech, and Abednago,
Quhilk wald not bow thair knie at his defire
Till that idoll ; gart caft thame in the fjre
For to be br jnt, or he fterrit off that fteid.
Quhen he belevit thay wer brynt bone and Ijre,
Was nocht confumit ane fmall hair of thair heid.
The angel of the Lord was with thame fenc
In that het furnace, pafllng up and down,
Intill ane rofy garth as thay had bene :
No fpot of fyre diftainyng cote nor gown.
Of vidlorie thay did obtain the crown.
And wer to thame that made adorationn
To that idoll, or bowit thair body down,
Ane witnefling of thair dampnatioun.
Quhat wes the caus, at me thow may demand^
That Salomon ufit none ymagciie
In his triumphand tempil for tyll (land.
Of Abraham, Ifac, Jacob, nor JeflTe,
Nor of Mofps, thair faifgaird throw the ficj,
Nor Jofua thair valyeant champioun ?
Becaus God did command the contrarie.
That thay fuld ufe fic fuperftitioun.
Behald how the greit God Omnipotent,
To preferve Ifraell from idolatrie,
Direftit thame ane ftrait commandement
That thay fuld mak nane carvit imagery,
Nouther of gold, of filver, ftane nor trie*
Nor give woifchip till ony fimilitude,
Beand in hevin, in eirth, nor in the lie,
Bot onlie till his foverane Celfitude.
The propheit David planelie did repreve
Idolatrie to thair confufioun.
In graven ftok or ftane that did beleve.
Declaring thame thair greit abufioun,
Speakand
11 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
Speakand in maner of derifioun,
How deid idolis by mennis handis wrocht,
Quhcm thay honourit with humbil orifoun,
Wai in the market daylie fauld and bocht.
The devillis feand the ev;ll goiiditioun
Of the Gentillis, and thair unfaithfulnes.
For till augment thair fuperflitioun.
In thofe idoles thay maid thair entres.
And in thame fpak. as ftoryis dois expres.
Then men belevit of thame to get releif,
Alkand thame help in all thair befines.
}3ot finallie that turnit to thair mifcheif.
Traift weill, in thame is na divinitie,
Quhen reik and rouft. thair fair coloui: dois faid j
Thoch thay have feit. on foot thay can not flic,
Howbeit the tempil birn ab uve t hair heid.
In tharn^ is nouther freindfchip ncr remeid.
In fie figuris quhat favour can ye find ?
With mouth, and eris, and ene thoch thay be mald^
All men may fe thay ar dum, deif, and blind.
Howbeit tUay fall douo^flatlingis on the flare,
Thay have na ftrenth thair felfe to rais agane.
Thoch rattonis ouer thame rin, thay tak na cure :
Howbeit thay brek thair neck, thay feil na pane.
Quhy fuld mea pfalmis to thame fing or fane,
Sen growand treis that yeirlie beiris frute,
Ar mair to prais, I mak it to the plane.
Nor cuttit ftockis, wanting baith crop and rute ?
Of Edinburgh the greit idolatrie.
And manifeft abhominatioun,
On thair feift day all creature may fie :
Thay beir ane auld ftok image throuch the toun,
"With talbrone, trumpet, fchalme and clarioun,
Quhilk have bene ufit ngtQa;ei.ane^5ir bygone.
With preiftis and freiiis iuto pioceflioun,
Sic like as Bell was borne throw Babylon.
Efchame
QJJEEN MART, 1 542 1 567. i^
Efchame ye not ye feculare prieftis and freiris,
Till fa greit fuperftitioun till confent ?
Idolateris ye have bene mony yeiris,
Expres aganis the Lordis commandement.
Quhaii-foir brether, I counfel yow repent ;
Give na honour to carvit ftok nor ftone,
But laude and gloir give God Omnipotent^
Allanerlie, as wifelie writtis Johne.
Fy on yow freiris that ufis for to preiche.
And dois affift to lie idolatrjc.
Quhy do ye not the ignorant pepill teich.
How ane deid image carvit of ane trie.
As it'wcr haly, fuld not honourit be.
Nor borne on burges backis up and doun ?
But ye fchaw planelie your hypocrifi^,
Quhen ye pas formoft in proceflioun.
Fy on yow foftareris of idolatrie,
That till ane deid ftok dois reverence.
In prefence of the pepill publikelie.
Fear ye nocht God to commit fie offence ?
I pounfel yow do yit your diligence.
To g.ir jCuppiefe iic greit abufioun.
Do ye nocht fo, 1 dreid your recompence
Sail be nocht els bot clein confufioun.
Had St. Francis bene borne out throw the toun,
Or St. Dominic, thoch ye had not refufit
With thame for till have paft in proceflioun,
Intill that cafe fum wald have yow excufit.
Now men may f^ how that ye have abufit
That nobill toun throw your hypocrifie.
The pepill trowis that thay may riclit Weill ufe it,
Quhen ye pas with thame into companie.
Sum of yow hes bene quyet counfallouris,
Provokand princes to fched faikles blude,
Quhilk never did your prudent predeceflburis ;
But ye like furious Pharifeis dcnud'5
Of
^4 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH P0ETR7. -
Of cheritie, quhilk rent Chrift on the rude,
For Chriflis flock, without malice or ke^
Convertit fragill faultouris, I conclude
By Goddis word, withoutten fword or fire.
Reid ye not how th:*-. Chrift hes gevin command
Gif thy brother dois ocht thee to Oftend,
Then fecreitlie correal him hand for hand
'InJ^iendlie maner, or thow farther wend,
Gif he will nocht heir thee, than mak it kend
To ane or twa by trew narratioun.
Gif he for thame will not his mis amend,
Declare him to the Congregatioun.
And gif he yit remanis obftinate.
And to the halie kirk incounfelabill.
Than like ane Turk hald him excommunicate^
And with all faithful folk abhominabill,
Banifching him that he be na mair abill
To dwell amang the faithful! companie.
Quhen he repentis, be not unmerciabill^
Bot him reffave agane richt tenderlie.
Bot our dum doflouris of divinitie.
And ye of the laft found religioun !
Of puir tranfgreflburis ye have na pitie^
Bot cryis to put thame to confufioun.
As cryit the Jowis for the effufioun
Of Chriftis blude into thair birnand ire,
Crucifige ! fa ye with an unioun,
Cryis, Gar caft the faultour in the fyre.
Unmercifull memberis of the Antichrift !
Extolland your human traditioun,
Contrair the inftitution of Chrift,
EfFeir ye not divine punitioun ?
Thoch fome of yow be gude of conditioun,
Reddy for to reflave new recent wyne,
I fpeik to yow auld bodis of perditioun,
Keturn in time, or ye rin to rewyne.
<IUEEN MART, X54I 1567. iif
As ran the perverft prophfeitis of Baell>
Quhilkis did confent to the idolatrie
Of wicked Achab king of Ifraell^
Quhofe number war four hundreth and fyftie,
Quhilkis honourit that ydol opinlie.
But quhen Elias did preve thair abufioun,
He gart the pepill flay them cruellie :
So at ane hour came thair confufioun.
I pray yow prent in your remembrance^
How the Reid frieris for thair idolatrie.
In Scotland, England, Spane, Italy and France,
Upon ane day war puniffit piteouflie.
Behald how your awin brethren now iaitly.
In Dutchland, England, Denmark, and Norroway,
Are trampit doun with thair hypocrifie.
And as the fnaw ar niolten clene away.
I marvel that our bifchopis thinkis na fchame^
To give yow frieris fie pre-eminence.
Till ufe thair office to thair greit defame,
Preiching for them in pin audience.
Bot micht ane bifchop eik to his awin expence.
For ilk fermoun ten ducatis in his hand ;
He wald, or he did lack that jecomp ence,
Ga preich himfelf baith into burgh and land.
I traift to fe gude reformatioun,
From time we get ane faithfuU prudent king
Quhilk knawis the truth, and his vocatioun :
All publicanis, I traift, he will doun thring.
And will not fuffer in his realm to ring
Corruptit fcribes, nor falfe Pharifience,
Aganis the treuth quhilk planelie dois maling ;
Till that king cum we muft tak patience.
Now fareweill friendis, becaus I cannot fljtc.
Howbeit I could, y e ma n hald mjp.^xcjafit,
Thoch I aganis idolatiie indyte.
Or them defpyte that will not yit refufe it,
Vol. III. D I prajr
*i6 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETKT.
I pray to God that it be na mair ufit
Amang the rewlaris of this regioun,
That common pepill be na mair abufit,
Bot gif bim gloir that bure the cruell croun ;
Quhilk teichit us, be his devine fcripture.
Till richt prayer the perfite reddy way.
As writes Matthew in his faxth chapture,
In quhat maner, and to quhomc we fuld pray,
A fchort compendeous orafione everie day,
Maift profitable baith for body and fauU :
The quhilk. is nocht direftit, I heird fay.
To Johne, nor James, to Peter, nor to Paul ;
Nor to nane uther of the apollles twelf.
Nor to na fanft, nor angell in the hevin ;
Bot only till our Father God himfelf,
Quhilk orifone it dois contain full evin,
Maift profitable for us petitiounis fevin ^
Quhilk we lawick folk the Fater-nojler call j
Thoch we fay pfalmis nine, ten, or clevin.
Of all prayeris this bene the principall;
Bj reflbun of the Maker quhilk it maid,
Quhilk was the Sone of God our Saviour ;
Be reflbun als to quhom it fuld be faid.
To the Father of hevin our Creatour,
Quhilk dwellis nocht in tempil nor in towre.
He cleirlj feis our thocht, will, and intent.
Quhat neidis us at utheris feikjugcour,
Quhen in all place his power bene prefent ?
Ye prynces of the preiftis, that fuld preiche,
Quhy fufFer ye fa greit abufioun ?
Quhy do ye not the fimple pepill teiche.
How, and to quhome to drefs thair orifoun ?
Quhy thole ye them to rin from town to town.
In Pilgramage till ony imageries,
Hopand to get there fum fatisfaftioun,
Prayand to them dcvotlie on thair kneis ?
This
^UEEN MART, 1 542 1567. ij
This was the pia^lik of fum Pilgramage,
Quhen fillokis into Fyfe began to fon ;
With Jock and Thorn than thay tuke thair veyage,
In Angus to the field chapell of Dron.
Than Kittok there as keadzy as ane cone.
Without regard outher to fin or fchame.
Gave Lowrie leif at lafure to lowp on :
Far better bene till have tarrjit at hame.
I have fene pas ane marvellous multitude.
Young men and women flingand on thair feit.
Under the form of fenyit fan^litude,
For till adore an image in Lawreit :
Monj gum with thair marrowis for to meit,
Committand thair foul fornicatioun.
Sum kiffit the claggit taill of the hermeit.
Quhy thole ye this abhominatioun ? - '
Of fornicatioun and adulterie,
Appeirandlie ye tak but littil cure,
Seeand the mervellous infelicitie,
Quhilk hes fo lang done in this land indure,
In your defak, quhilk hes the charge and cure.
This bene of treuth, my lordis, with your leve j
Sic pilgramage hes maid mony ane hure,
Quhilk, gif 1 pleifit, planelie I micht preve.
Quhy mak ye not the fcriplures manifeft
To puir pepill tuitching idolatrie ?
In your preiching quhy have ye nocht expreft
How mony kingis of Ifraell cruellie
War puneift by God fa rigorouflie ?
As Jeroboam, and mony ma, bot dout,
For worfchipping of caryit imagerie.
War from thair realmis rudelie rutit out.
Quhy thole ye under your dominioun,
Ane craftie prieft, or fainyeit fals hermeit,
Abufc the pepill of this regioun.
Only for thair particular profeit ?
And
a% CHRONICLE or SCOTTISH POETRY.
And fpeciallie that hermit of Lawriet,
He pat the commoun pepill in beleve.
That blind gat ficht, and crookit gat thair feit.
The quhilk that pallyard na way can appreve.
Ye maryit men that hes trim wanton wyfis.
And luftie douchters of young and tender age,
Quhais honeftie ye fuld lofe as your lyfis.
Permit them nocht to pas in pilgramage.
To feik fupport of ony ftok image ;
For I have wittin gude wemen pas fra hame,
Quhilk hes bene trappit with fie luftis rage,
Hes done returnit baith with fin and fchamc.
Get up, thow fleipis all to lang, O Lord,
And mak ane haftie reformatioun
On them quhilk dois tramp doun thy gracious word
And hes ane deidly indignatioun
At them quhilk makis treu narratioua
Of thy gofpell fchawing the veritie !
O Lord, I mak thee fupplicatioun.
Support our fayth, our hope, and cheritie.
John Knox, in one of hit " mcrie ftories," gives the bcft illuftration
of this poem. " At this time (1558) the brethrcin keipit thair con-
ventiounis, and held counfaullis with flck graivitie and dofenes, that
the enemies tremblit. The images war ftollen away in all partis of the
cuntrey ; and in Edinburgh was that greit idoll, callet Sanii Geill firfl
drownit in the North-loch, and fyne brunt ; which raifed no fmall tru-
bill in the toun, for the freiris roopit like ravenis upoun the bifchoppis,
and the bifchoppis ran upo'in the Quein Regent, quho thocht it culd
not (land with liir advantage to offend lie a multitude as than tuk u-
poun them the defens of the Evangcll. Yet wald not the preiftis and
frearis ceis to haif that grit folempnitie and manifeft abhommatioun
whichc they accuftomablie had upon St Geill's day; to wit, thay wald
have that idoll borne, and thairfore was all preparation deuly made. A
liiarmorfet idoll was borrowed from the Greay frearis, and was fafl fix-
ed with iron naillet upoun a barrow called their fertour. I'hare affem-
blit preaflis, frcatif, chaconis, and rottin papiftes, with taboumis and
trumpet is,
QtJEEN MARY, 1 542 1567. 29
tnimpet'is, baneris and bagge pypcs : and quho was thare to lied the
ring but the Quein Regent herfclf, with all her fchavelings for honour
of that feift ! Weft about goes it, and cumms down the hie ftrcct, and
down to the comone crofle. The Queen Regent was to dyne that day
in Sandie Carpytynii hous, betwix the bowis ; and fo quhan the idoll wa
to returne back again, fche left it, and part in to her dcnner. The
hcartes of the brcthrtin war wonderouflie inflamit, and feing fie abho-
minatioun fo manifeftlie manteined, war decreit to be revenged. Some
of thofe that war of the intcrpryis drew ney to the idoll at willing to
help to bear him, and getting the ferteour upon their fchouldeours, he-*
gan to fchuder, thinking that thareby the idoll fould have fallen ; but
that was provided and prevented by the iron nailles ; and fo began anc
to cry, Down with the idoll, down with it ! and fo without delay it was
pulled down. Sum braggis maid the preaftis patrounis at the fiift, bot
they fonc faw the febilnefs of thair God ; for one tuik him by the heal-
lis, and dadding his heid to the calfay, left Dagon without heid or han-
dis, and faid, Fy upon the, thenv young Sanii Geili, thy faihcr tvould have
tarytd four fuch. The preiftis and ireiris fled faftcr than thay did at
Pinkie cleuch. Down Went the crocis ; off went the furplyfci", round
capis, and cornet with the crownis. The gray freiris gaipcd, the black
freiris blew, the prciftis panted and fled, andhappy was he that Gril gat
the hous".
P. 44. " Ye of the laf^ founde religinun." Linlfay perhaps alludes to
the CommiHion appointed after the Reformation by Edward VI. amm
1549, to fcarch after and examine hereticks; that is, contemners of tha
Englifh book of Common Prayer ; who, in cafe of obftinatc perfcverancc
in error, were to be excommunicated, and delivered over for farther pu-
nifhment to the fccular power. The firft vidim of this Commiffion wa
a woman named Joan of Kent, who was condemned, and a&ualiy.'
burnt for her heretical opinions; and, in April IJJI, another perfon
was burnt in Smithfield for a limilar offence. Sir David's cxprefDon of
new founde religioun" (hews that the opinions of the Scottifh refor-
mers, even at this early period, did by no means coincide with thofe oC
the Englifh church.
P. %s- " How the rcid freiris
wer puniflit piteouflie."
Several different orders of Monks and Friars were diftinguiihed by
ihe name of Red Friars ; as, the Knights Templars, the Knights of St
John of Jerufalem, otherwife called of Malta, or Hofpitallcrs, and the
Mathufins c Trinity Friars. The firfl and iaft oJ thcfc wore a red
crofs upon a white cloak ; the Hofpitallcrs originally a white crofs upon
red field. Neither to thefe nor to the Mathurines did ever any parti-
cular difafter befall ; but the order of Templars, to ufe the words of
Speed, under the year Ijll, " wa, upon proof of tlicir geno^a^ odious
(innci*
33 cnRONicLii: of Scottish poETRr.
ftiires, ar.d fcarce cttdible impieties, utterly aboliftied through ChriUcn-
rfome." Philip the Fair, of France, caufed fifty-four of their order,
together with their great Mafter, to be burnt at Paris in one day ; and
their lands and revenues were every where annexed to the order of
Knights Hofpitaller?, or of Malta. Their principal pofrefllons in Scot-
liind were TuUach, Al oyne, Inchynan, Matyculter, with the hofpitals
of St Gernians, Balantrodoch, and Kilbartha, befides nrjany houfes in
Edinburgh and Lcith, fomc of them to this day diflinguiflicd by a crofs
en the top of the roof. To thi fupprefiion of the Templars, Lindfay,
Bo doubt, here alludes ; the other two orders continuing in a flouridiing
ftate down to the time of the Reformation. The term " Red friars" wat^
however, always more generally appropriated to the Mathurincs than
to any other order.
P. 25. " Ane faithful prudent king." Lindfay fcems flill to have
tiad In view the much deCred union of the crowns of Scotland and Eng-
land by the marriage of Queen Mary with thtf " prudent and fiithful"
Edward VI.; he might, however, apply thefe epithets to the Dauphin
cf France, Henry II. being at that time (1552) the principal ally of
ihc princes of chc protillant league.
P. 27. * Field chapell of Dron." In the parilh of Dron, county o
Perth, are the remains of two fmall chapels; one in the eaft, the other
in the weft part of the parifti ; which laft bears the name of Ecclejiama-
^n-dc. No account is given of the origin of this name ; but fome have
tuppofed it to be a coiriipiion of the church of St Magdalene. It be-
longed to the abbey of Lindores One of thefe is probably the chapel
)iere mentioned. Laivreit means the chapel of Loretto, at the eafc end
f Muffelhurgh. In a preceding part of the poem, Ksrrail is Crail, on
the cad coaft of Fife, where there was formerly a collegiate church be-
longing to the priory of Haddington, and containing no fewer thaa
nine altars dedicated to th Virgin Mary, St Catharine, St Michael, St
James, the two St Johns, St Stephen, St Nicholas, and the high altar.
la a caftle which overlooks the harbour, David I. is faid to have frc.
quently refided ; and, (according to Sir R. Sibbald and others,) proba-
bly alfo died, rather than at Carlifle. It was anciently called Cairyle^
which, by fomc tranfcriber of Aldred, may ha?c been miflaken for
Cailiflr.
mv
OT THE FIFTH, OR PAPA.L MONARCHIE.
After a lo?ig and laboured account of the ** Aflerianis,
Perfianis, Grekis, and Romania," Lindsay gwes a
defcription of the rife and prog refs ef the Papal fee,
fromfmple and humble beginning^y to an enormity of
fpiritual tyranny ; and expofes its various modes of ex-
tortion in language that mujl have made a confderable
imprefjion upon the public 7?iind. He then^ like a true
politician, proceeds to foretell what he anxioufly de~
fres, a f^eedy emancipation from ecclefojlical ty^
ranny ; with a view of introducing which prophecy ^
it is probable that Lindsay's Dialogue was folelf
compofed. The firft folemn bond or covenant "' to
forfake and renounce the congregation of Satlian'
wasfigned on the ^d of December 1557.
J^ ow haif I fchawin the, as I can,
How Papal Monarchic began ;
Afcendand up ay gre be gre,
Abufe the Etnpriouris Majeftie.
Swa qiihan tbay gat amang thair handis.
Of Italic all the Empriours landis.
After that into ilk countrie
Sprang up thair temporalitie,
With fik grit ryches and fik rent.
That thay gan to be negligent.
In making miniflratioun.
To Chryllis trew congregatioun j
And
3* CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
And tuk na mair pajne in their preichingj
And far les travel in their teiching ;
Changing thair fpritualitie
In temporall fenfualitie.
C. Father ! think ye that they are fur.
That thair Empyre fall lang endure ?
E. Appeirantlie it may be kend.
Quoth he, thair gloir fall have ane end*
I mein thair temporall monarchic.
Sail be turnit in humilitie.
Thruch Goddis word, without debait,
Thay fall turn to thair firft eftait ;
As in Daniel's prophecy appearis.
Thereto fliall not be many yearis.
Albeit Chriftis fayth fliall never fail.
But more and more it fliall prevail.
Though Chriftis true congregatioun
Suffers great tribulatioun.
C. Father, faid I, by quhat reafoun,
Sould Papal Monarchic come doun,
Confiderand thair pre-eminence ?
E. Said he, For difobedience ; ,
Abufing the commandement
Quhilk Chrift left in his Teftament j
Ufing thair own traditioun,
Contrair Chriftis inftitutioun.
Chrift in his laft conventioun.
The day of his afcenfioun.
To his difciples gaif command.
That thay fuld pafs to every land.
To teche and preche with true intent.
His law and his commandement.
No other office he to thame gaif ;
He did not bid thame feik nor craif
Corps-prefents, nsr offerandis.
Nor yet lordfliips, nor temporal landis.
But
OPEEN MART, I542 1567. 3J
But How It may be hard and fene,
Baith with thine earis> and thine cne,
How prelatis in every land.
Take little cure of Chriftis command.
Neither into thair deids nor fawis,
Neglefting thair awn canon lawis.
Uiing themfelves contrarious.
For the maift part, to Chrifl Jefous.
Chrifl thocht no fchame to be ane prechour,
And to all pepill of truth ane teachour.
A Pope, Bifchop, nor Cardinal,
To teche and preche will nocht be thral.
They fend forth friers to teche for tharae,
Quhilk garris the pepill mock for fchame
Chrift wald nocht be ane temporal king.
Richly into no realm to ring.
But fled temporal auftoritie.
As in the fcripture thow may fie.
All men may know how Popis lingis
In dignity abuve all Kingis,
As well of temporalitie.
As into fpiritualitie.
Thou may fee be experience.
The Pope's princely pre-eminence^
In chronicles if thou lill to lukc.
How Carion wryttis in his buke,
Ane notabill narratioun;
The year of our falvatioun.
Eleven hundreth fix and fyftic.
Pope Alexander prefumptuouflie,
Quhilk was the thrid Pope of that name,
To Fredlike Empriour did difFame.
In Veneis, that triumphand town.
That nobyll Empriour gart ly down
Apone his wambe, with fchame and lak,
Syne tred his feit apone his bak,
Vol. III. E In
34 CHROOTCLE OF SCOTTlSff POETR*.
In toknyng of obedience.
Thare he fchew his preheminence.
And caufit his Clergy for to fing
Thir wordis efter following :
Super afpidem et baftlifcum ambulahisy
Kt conculcabis leonem et draconem.
Than faid this humyll Empriaur,
I do to Peter this honour.
ITie Pope anfwerit with wordis wroith^
Thow fall me honour, and Peter boith.
Chrift, for to fchaw his humjU fpreit,
Did wafche his puir difciplis feit.
The Popis holjnes, I wys,
Wyll fuffer kyngis his feit to leys.
Birdis had thare neftis, and toddis thare den,
Bot Chrift Jefus, faifFer of men,
In eirth had nocht ane penny breid
Quhareon he mycht repofe his heid.
Howbeit, the Popis excellence
Hes caftellis of magnificence ;
Abbottis, Byfchoppis, and Cardinallis,
Hes plefand paljrces-royallis ;
Lyke Paradyfe ar thofe prellattis places,
Wantyng ho plefoure of fair faces.
Johne, Androw, James, Peter, nor Paul!,
Had few houfis amang thame all.
From tyme thay knew the veritie,
Thay did contempne all propertie,
And wer rycht hertfullie content
Of meit, drynk, and abilyement.
To faif mankind that wes forlorne,
Chrift bure ane creuell crown of thorne \
The Pope thre crownis for the nonis.
Off gold poulderit with pretious ftonis.
Off" gold and fylver, I am fure,
Chrift Jefus take bot lytill cure ;
And
QJJEEN MART, I542 1567. 35
And left nocht, quhen he yald the fprelt,
To by himfelf ane wjnding fcheit.
Bot his fucceflbure, gude Pope Johne,
Quhen he deceifit in Alvinione,
He left behynd hym ane treafloure,
Of gold and fylver by mefoure.
Be one juft computatioun*
Weill fyve and twentye myllioun.
As dois indyte Palmerius.
Reid hym, and thow fall fynd it thus.
Chriftis difciplis wer weill knawin
Throuch vertew, quhilk wes be thame fchawin j
In fpeciall fervent charitie,
Gret pacience and humytie.
The Popis floke, in all regiounis,
Ar knawin beft be thare clyppit crownis.
Chrift, he did honour matromony
Into the Cane of Galaly ;
Quhare he, be his power divyne.
Did turne the waiter into wyne ;
And als chefit fum maryit men
To be his fervandis, as ye ken ;
And Peter, duryng all his lyfe.
He thocht no fyn to haif ane wyfe. ^
Ye fall nocht fynd in no pafTage,
Quhare Chrift forbiddeth marriage ;
Bot leiffum tyll ilk man to marye
Quhilk wantis the gift of chaiftitye.
The Pope hes maid the contrar lawis
Tn his kingdome, as all men knawis.
None of his preillis dar marye wyfis.
Under no lefs pane nor thare lyfis.
Thocht thay haif concubines fyftene.
Into that c^ce thay ar ouerfene.
Quhat chaiftitye thay keip in Rome,
3 s Weill kend ouer all Chriftendome.
Chrift
^4 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH T0ET8Y-
Chrift did fchaw his obedience
Onto the Empriouris excellence.
And caufit Peter for to pay
Tijbute to Cefar for thamc tway.
Paull biddis us be obedient
To Kingis as the mod excellent.
The contrair did Pope Celiftenc
Quhen that his fanditude ferene
Did crown Henry the Empriour,
I thynk he did hiro fmall honour.
For with his felt he did hina crown,
Syne with his fute the crown dang down -,
Sayand, I haif au6loritie
Men tyll exalt to dignitie,
And to mak Empriouris and Kyngis,
And fyne depryve thame of thair rytigis.
Peter, be my opinioun.
Did neuer ufe fie dominioun.
Apperandlye, by my jugement.
That Pope red neuer the New Teftmcnt,
Gif he had lernit at that lore,
He had refufit fie vane glore
As Barnabas, Peter, and Paul),
And rycht fo Chriftis difciplig all.
The Capitaine Cornelius,
Quhen Sanft Peter cum tyll his hous,
Tyll worfchip him, fell at his feit ;
Bot Sana Peter, with humyil fprcit.
Did rais him up with diligence.
And did refufe fie reverence.
Richt fo Sana Johae, the Evangelift,
The angellis fcit he wald haif kift,
Bot he refufit fie hoj^oure,
Sayand, I am bot fervitoure ;
Rycht fo thy fallow and thy brother,
GyiF glore to God, and to none other,
AljkeWjis
^EEK MART, 15421567. 37
Alykewyis Barnabas and Paull
Sic honour e did refufe at all.
In Lyftra, quhare thay wroucht gret werkis.
The preifl of Jupiter, with his clerkis.
And all the pepill, with thare avyfe,
Wald haif maid to thame facrifyfe.
Of quhilk thay wer fo difcontent.
That thay thair clothyng raif and rent ;
And Paull amang thame rudely ran,
Sayand, I am ane mortall man ;
Gyf glore to God, of kyngis kyng,
That maid hevin, erth, and every thing.
Sen Peter and Paul! vaine glore refulit.
With Popis, quhy fuld fie glore be ufit ?
Peter, Androw, Johne, James, and Paull,
And Chriftis true difciplis all,
By Goddis word thair faith dcfendit ;
To burn and fcald thay neuer pretendit.
The Pope defendis his traditioun
By flammand fyre without remiffioun.
Howbeit men break the law divyne,
Thay are nocht put to fo great pyne,
For huredome, nor idolatrie.
For inceft, nor adulterie.
Or quhcn young virginis are deflorit.
For fie things men are nocht abhorrit.
But quho that eatis flcfche into Lent,
Are terribly put to torment.
And gif ane preift happen to raarrit*,
Thay do him baneis, curfe and warie,
Thoch it be nocht aganis the law
Of God, as men may clearly knaw.
Betwix thir two quhat difference bene,
By faithful folke it iBay be fen^.
Sic antithefes many mo,
I micht declare^ quhilk I let go.
And
o
8 , CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT,
And may nocht tarj to compyle,
Of ilk oi der the ftaitly ftyle.
Tlie feily nun will think great fchame,
Without flie callit be, madame.
The puir pried thinkis he gets no rycht.
Be he nocht ftilit like ane knycht.
And callit, Schir, afore his name,
As Schir I'homas, and Schir WiJlame.
All monkry, ye may hear and fie,
Are callit deans for dignitie.
Albeit his mother milk the cow.
He mud be cailit dean Androw,
Dean Peter, dean Paul, dean Robert.
With Chrift thay tak ane painful part,
With doubbyll clething from the cald,
Eatand and drinkand quhen thay wald.
With curious countryng in the queir,
God wait gif thay buy heavin full deir.
My lord abbet rycht venerabyll.
Ay marfhallit upmoll at the batyll.
My lord bifchop moil reverent,
Sittis abuve earls in parliament.
And cardinallis durand thair ringis,
Fallows to princes and to kingis ;
The Pope exaltit in honour,
Abuve the potent mpriour.
The proud parfon I think treulic,
He leads his lyfe rycht luflilie ;
For quhy he hes no uther pyne,
Eot tak his teind, and fpend it fyne ;
Bot he is obligit by reafoun
To preche unto his parifhoun ;
Thoch thay lack preaching feventeen year,
He will nocht lack a peck of bear.
Sum peifons hes at thair command
The wantoun wenchis of the land.
Als
<UJEEN MARY, 1 5 42 1^7. 35
Als thaj have great prerogatyves.
That thay may depart with^ thair wy ves.
Without divorce or fummonding,
Syne tak another without wodding.
Sum man wald think it luftie lyfe.
Ay quhen he lift to change his wyfe.
And tak another of more beautie ;
But feculars lack that libertie,
The quhilk are bound in mariage.
Bot thay like rammis into thair rage,
Unpiflellit, rinnis amang the yowis.
So lang as nature in thame growis.
And als the vicar, as I trow.
He will nocht fail to tak ane cow,
And umaift claith, thoch babes thame ban.
From ane puir felye hufband-man,
Quhen that he lieth for tyll die,
Havand fmall bairnis two or three ;
That hath three ky withoutten rao,
The vicar muft have one of tho ;
With the grey cloke that happis the bed,
Albeit that he be puirly cled.
And gif his wyfc die on the morne,
Thoch all the babes fuld be forlorne,
The uther kow he cleiks away.
With the puir coit of roploch gray.
And gif within two years or three,
The eldeft chyld happnis to die,
Of the thrid kow he will be fure.
Quhen he thame hath all under cure.
And father and mother baith are deid.
Beg muft the babes without remeid.
Thay hald the corps at the kirk-ftyle.
And there it muft remain a quhile.
Till thay get fufflcient fouertie
For thair kirk rycht and dewitic.
Then
4d CllROyiCtE OP SCOtflSH ?OEtY.
Then comes to the landis lord perforce,
And cleikis to him ane horfe.
Puir labourers wald thefe lawis war doun,
Q^hilk neuer was foundit bj reafoun.
I heard thame fay under confeflionn,
That law was brother to opprefiloiin.
In this and various other parts of the Matiarchltt, Lindsat quotei
Carta's CLronicle, Palmerius, the Fajciculus Temporum, and the Chronica
Cbrcnicarum. Carlo's Chronicle was originally compofed ahout the be-
ginning of the fixtccnth century, by Lodovicus Cario, an eminent Ma-
thematician, and improved or written anew by MclaniSlhon. Matthew
Palmerius wrote a general Chronicle from the fifth century to hisowa
times, which was firft printed at Milan about the year 1475. The
Fafcicuius Temporum is a Latin Chronicle, written about the end of
the fifteenth century, by Wernerus Rolewinck, a Weftphalian, and firft
publiihed in the year 1478. The Chronica ChroBicarum, written by
Hardmannus Schcdelius, a phyfician at Nuremburgh, and from which
Lindfay evidently took his philofophy in his Dreme, was printed at
Nuremburgh in 1493, and is at prefenta great curiofity, asMr Warton
obfervf s, to thofe who are fond of wonders conveyed in black letter
and wooden cuts. Lindfay alfo quotes a tranflation (probably the
French) of Orofius, an early Chriftiau hiftorian, who had the honour of
being tranflated into An^lo-Saxon by King Alfred, an edition of
which has lately been publilhed. For the (lory of Alexander the Great,
our author feems to refer to a MS. pcem on that fubjcdt, written by
Adam Davie in the reign of Edward the Second. He likewife occa-
Conally mentions Polydarc Virgil, St Jerome, Avicen the Arabic phyfi-
cian, Jofephus, Valeriui Miximu?, Livy, Hcfiod, and Homer. W.
OF
t)T THE COURT OF ROME.
^his divijion is merely a continuation of the fornter ; hut
in a different Jianzuy and alluding more particularly to
the celibacy of the Clergy^ a fyjlem which was origi-
nally introduced^ as Lord Hailes ohferves^ hy fame
Juperjiitious refinement on the laws of God znd no."
ture. ** Could men have been kept alive, f continues
*' his Lord/hip f) without eating and drinking^ as well
** as without marriage^ the fame refinements would
** have prohibited ecclefiafiics from eating and drink-
** ing, and thereby elevated them fo much nearer to
*' the fate of angels. In procefs of time, however ,
** this fanatical interdiBion became an infirument of
'* worldly wifdom ; and thusy as frequently happens ^
** what weak men began^ politicians completed. Ihe
" Scottifij Clergy y in obedience to their fuperiors^ fub-
** mitted to the laws of celibacy. Ihe confequencex
*' are well known : fuis ut ipfa Roma viribus riiir."-
CoURTEOUR.
i ATHER, faid I, quhat rewl keip thay in Rome,
Quhilk hes fpiritaall dominioun.
And monarchie abiife all Chriftendome ?
Schaw me, I mak you fupplicatioun.
E. My fone, I wald mak trew narratioun.
Said he : To Peter and Paul thoch thay fucceid,
I think thay preve nocht that into thair deid.
Vol. KI. F For
4* CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
For Peter, Androw, and Johne, wer fifliaris fine
Of men and women to the Chriftian faith :
But thay have done fpreid thair nfet with huik and line
On rentis riche, on gold and uther graith ;
Sic fifching to negled thay will be laith.
For quhy thay have fifchit ouerthort the flrandis,
Ane greit part trewly of all temporall landis.
With the tent part of all gude movabill.
For the uphalding of thair digniteis :
Sa bene thair fifching verray profitabill.
On the dry land as weill as on the feis :
Thair hely water thay fpred jn all countries.
And with thair hois net daily drawis to Rome,
The main fine gold that is in Chriftendome.
I dar weill fay, within this fiftie yeir,
Rome lies reffavit furth of this regioun.
For bullis and benefice quhilk thay buy full deir,
Quhilk micht full weill have payit ane kingis ranfoum.
But wer I worthy for to wear ane croun,
Preiflis fuld na moir our fubftance fa confoum.
Sending yeirly fa greit riches to Rome.
Into thair tramalt net thay fangit ane f;fche
Mair nor ane quhale, worthyof memorie.
Of quhom thay have had mony dainty difche.
Be quhilk thay ar exaltit to greit glorie,
*rhat marvellous monftour callit Purgatorie.
Albeit to us it be nocht amiabill,
It hes to thame bene very profitabill,
Lat thay that fruteful fifche efchape thair net.
Be quhilk thay have fa greit commoditeis,
Ane mair fat fifche I trail! thay fall nocht get,
Thoch thay fuld feirch ouirthort the oceiane feis ;
Adew the daily dolorous dirigeis.
Seiilie puir preiftis may fing with hart full forie,
J^nck thiy that paneful palace Purgatorie.
' ' FareweiU
I^UEEN MARY, I542 lj6*f. 43
Fareweill Monkrie, with chanoun, nun, and freir,
AUace, thay will be lightleit in all landis.
Cowlis will na mair be kend in kirk nor queir,
Lat thay that frutefull fifche efchape thair handis.
I counfall thame to bind him faft in bandis.
For Peter, Androw, nor Johne, culd never get
Sa profitabill ane fifche into thair net.
Thair merchandice into all natiounis,
As prentit leid, thair walx and parchement,
Thair pardounis and thair difpenfatiounis,
Thay do exceed fum temporall princes rent 5
In fie traffike thay ar nocht negligent.
Of benefice thay mak gude merchandice,
Throw Symonie, quhilk thay hald lytill vice.
Chrift did command Peter to feid his fcheip.
And fa he did feid thame full tenderlie.
Of that command thay take but lytil keip,
Bot Chriftis fcheip thay fpulye peteouflie.
And with the woU thay cleith thame curiouflie.
Like gormand wolfis thay tak of thame thair fiide,
Thay eit thair flefche, and drinkis baith milk and blade.
For that office thay 'ferve bot lytill hyre.
I think fie paftouris ar nocht for till prife,
Quhilk can nocht gyde thair fcheip about the myre,
Thay ar fa befy in thair merchandife.
Thocht Peter was porter of Paradice,
That plefand pafTage craftelie thay clois ;
Throw thame richt few gettis entres, I fuppois.
Chrift Jefus faid, as Mathew dois report.
Wo be to the Scribis and Pharifience,
The quhilkis did clois of Paradice the port,
Of thame we have the fame experience.
To enter thair thay mak fmall diligence,
Thay tak rio cure of temporall befines,
Hicht fa from us thay Hop the plane entres.
Thefe
44 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY,
Thefe fpiritual keis quhilkis Chrift to Peter gaif,
Thair cullour cleir with reik and rouft is fadit ;
Unoccupyit thay hald thame in thair naif,
Of that office thay 'ferre to be degradit ;
With Goddis word, without that thay remeid it.
Oppeuing the port quhilk lang tyme has bin clofit,
That we may enter witfi thame, and be rejofit.
Contrair till Chriftis inftitutioun,
To thame that deis in habite of ane freir,
Rotne has thame grantit full remiffioun
To pas till Hevin ftraucht way withouttin weir,
Quhilk bin in Scotland ufit mony ane yeir.
Be thair fie vertew in ane freiris hude,
1 think in vane Chrift Jefus fched his blude.
Wald God the Pope, quhilk has pre-eminence^
With advice of his counfall generall.
That thay wald do thair detfuU diligence
That Chriftis law micht keipit be ouir all.
And trewlie preichit baith to greit and fmall ;
And geve to thame fpirituall authoritie,
Quhilk culd perfitelie fchaw the veritie.
Quhaxannot preiche, ane preift fuld not be namit;.
As may be previt be the law devyne j
And be the canon law thay are defamit
That takis preiftheid but onely tothat fyne.
Till all vertew thair hartis thay fuld inclyne.
In fpeciall to preiche with trew intentis.
And minifter the neidful Sacramentis.
As for thair monkis, thair chanonis, and thair frciri,.
And luflie ladyis of religioun,
1 know not quhat to thair office cffisiris,
Bot men may fe thair greit abufioun.
Thay ar not like into conclufioun.
Neither into thair wordis nor thair warkis.
To the apoftolis, prophetis, nor patriarkis.
Gif
QJJEEN MARY, 154I 1 567. 45
Gif prefentlle thir prelatis cannot preiclie,
Than let ilk bifchop have ane fufFragane,
Or fucceflbure, quhilk can the pepill teiche^
On thair expenfis yeirlie to remane,
To caus 4:he pepill from thair vjce refrane.
And quhare ane prelate hapnis to deceace.
Than put ane perfite prechour in his place.
Do thay not fa, on thame fall be the charge,
Gevand unabill men authoritie ;
A, quha wald mak ane fleirman till ane barge,
Of ane blind borne quhilk can na danger fe.
Gif that fchip droun, gude fuith, I fay for me,
Quha gaif that fteirman fie commilfioun,
Suld of the fchip mak reftitutioun.
The human lawis that ar contrarious,
And nocht conforming to the law divyne,
Thay fuld expell, and hald thame odious,
Quhen thay perfave thame cum to na gud fjne,
Inventit bot be fenfuall mennis ingyne.
As that law quhilk forbids mariage,
Caufing yong clarkls birn in luftis rage.
Difficill is chaflitie till obferye,
But fpeciall grace, labour, and abflinence.
Intill our flefche ay rignis till we Itervc,
That firfl originall fin concupifcence,
Quhilk we throw Adamis inobedience
Hes done incur, and fall indure for ever,
Quhill that our faull and bodie deith diflever.
Quhairfoir God maid of mariage the band
Jn Paradycc, as fcripturc dois record.
In Galilee, richt fa I undirftand.
Was mariage honourit be Chrift our Lord.
Auld law and new, thairto thay do concord.
I think for me, better thay had fleipit.
Nor till have maid an law, and never kelp it.
4^ CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
Tuke not Chrlft Jefus his humanitie.
Of ane virgine in manage contraftit,
And of hir fiefche cled his dignitie ?
Quhy then have thay that blisfull band dejeftit
In thair kingdome ? Wald God it war corredlit.
That jong prelatis micht marie luftie wyfis,
And nocht in fenfuall lufl to leid thair lyfis.
Did nocht Chrift cheis, of honed maryit men,
Als Weill as thay that keipit chaltitie.
For to be his difcipulis, as ye ken ?
As in the fcripture cleiilie thow may fee,
Thay keipit ftill thair wyfis with honeftie.
As Peter and his fpoufit brethren all
Obervit chaftltie matrimoniall.
Eot now appeiris the prophecie of Paull,
How fum fuld rife into the latter age.
That fiom the trew faith fuld depart and fall.
And fuld forbid the band of mariage,
As thow fall find into that fame paiTage.
Thay fuld command from meltis till abftene,
Qiihilk God creat, his pepill to fuftene.
Bot fen the Pape, our fpirituall prince and king.
He dols ouerfe fie vices manifefl.
And in his kingdome fuiFeris for to ring,
The men be quhome the veritie bin fuppreft,
I excufe not himfelf mair than the reft.
Allace I How fuld we memberis be weill ufit,
Quhen fa our fplrituall heidis bene abufit.
The famous ancient Dolor Avicene,
Sayis, quhei\evll rewme difcendisfrom the held.
Into the members generis mekill pene,
Without thair be maid haltelle remeid.
Quhen the cald humour dounwart dois proceld,
In fennounis it caufis Arthetica,
Richt fa in the handis the cramp Cheragra.
Of
QJJEEN MARY, I542 1567. 47
Of maledjis it generis monie mo,
Bot gif men get fumi foverane preferve.
As in the theis Sciathica paffio,
And in the breift fiim tyme the ftrang Caterve,
Quhilk caulis men richt haillelie to fterve ;
And Podagra, difficul for to cure.
In mennis feit quhilk lang time dois indure.
Sa to this maifl triumphand court of Rome,
This fimilitude full weill 1 may compair,
Quhilk hes bene herfchip of all.Chriftindome,
And to the warld ane evill exemplair.
That umquhil was leid fterne and luminair.
And the maift fapient fait of fanftitude :
Bot now, allace, bair of beatitude.
Thair kingdome may be callit Babylone^
(Quhilk umquhile was ane bricht Jerufalem,
As planelie menis the apoftil Johne,
Thair mailt famous citie hes tint the fame,
Inhabitaris thairof, thair nobill name ;
For quhy ? thay have of San^is habitakle
To Sjmon Magus made ane tabernakle ;
Ane horrible vail of everilk kinde of vice,
Ane laithlie loch of ftlnkand licherie,
Ane curiit cove, corrupt with covaticc,
Bordowrit about with pride and fymonie ;
Sum fayis, ane ciftern full of fodomie,
Quhais vice in fpeciall, gif I wald declair,
It war eneuch for till perturbe the air.
Of treuth, the haill Chriltian religioun
Throw tiiame ar fcandalizat and offendic.
It can not faill bot thair abufioun
Befoir the throne of God it is afccndit.
I dreid, but dout, without that thay amend it.
The plagues of Johnes Revelatioun
Hall fall iipon thair generatioun.
O Lord,
h8 chronicle of SCOTTISH POETRT,
O Lord, quhiik hes thehartis ofeverie king
Into thj hand, 1 mak the fupplicatioun.
Convert that Court, that of thj grace bening,
Thaj wald mak general reformatioun
Amang thanae felfis in everie natioun.
That thaj may be ane halie exemplair
Till us, thy puir lawit commoun populair
Houngarit, allace ! for want of fpirituall fude,
Bccaus from us bene hjd the veritie.
O Prince ! for us quhiik fched thy precius blude,
Kendill in us the fyre of cheritie.
And fave us from eternal miferie.
Now labouring into thj kirk militant.
That we may all cum to thy kiirk tryumphant.
CONCLUSION.
OiF our talkeing now latt us mak ane end ;
Behald quhow Phebus dounwart dois difcend,
Towait his palyce in the~6ccident.
Dame Synthea, I fe, fcho dois pretend
Intyll hir wattry regioun tyll afcend.
With viffagc paill up from the orient
The dew now dounkis, the roiUs redolent ;
The mareguldis that all day wer rejofit.
Off Phebus heic now craftelly ar clofit.
The blyfsful byrdis bownis to the trels,
And-ceiliis of thare hevinlyp armoneis ;
The corne-cralk in the croft, 1 heir her cry;
The bak, the howlat, febill of thair eis.
For thare paftyme now in the evinnyng fleis ;
The nvchtyngaile, with nlirthfull melody,
Hir naturail notis perilth throw the Iky,
Tyll Synthea makand hir obfervance,
Quhiik on the nycht dois tak hit dalyance.
T fe Pol-artike in the north appeir.
And Venus rjfling with hir bemis clcir ;
Quharefor, my fonne, I -hald it tyme to go.
Wald God, faid I, ye did remane all yeir.
That I mycht of voiir hevinly leflonis Icir.
Of your departyng I am wounder wo.
Tak pacience, faid he, it mone be fo.
Perchance I fall returne with diligence.
Thus I departit frome Experience,
And fped me home, with hert fyching full fore^
And enterit in my quyet oritore.
I tuk this paper, and there began to wrytc,.
This Miferie, as ye haif hard afore.
All gentyll redaris, hertlye 1 implore
For tyll excufe my rurall rude indyte.
Thouch Pharefeis wyll haif at me difpyte,
Quhilkis wald not that thare craftynes wer kend;
Lat God be juge, and fo I mak ane end.
QJJOD LTNDESAY I552.
Quod Lindcfay 1552.] Thu reads the commbnijr called Copma.
houin edition, denoting the time when Liodefay finiihed the compofi-
tion ; the date of the printing being undoubtedly 1553, as apptars by
k computation of years which he introduces in his defcription of thi-
day of Judgment :
Of quhilk ar by gone Cckerlye,
Fye thoufand fyve huridreth thre and fiftyc,
And fo remains to cum birt weir.
Four hundreth with fewin and fourtyc ycir.
tn moft of the fubfequent editions down to that of Andrew Hart in
1623, thefe lines were altered to fuit the date of the imprefCon ; fincc
which time, Hart's edition hat continued to be the flandafd copy ; not
bnly in this date, but in tbe orthography.
P. 4a. Peter, Andrew, &c. were fifharis fine ] tt is probable that
Stavely had this chapter in his eye when he wrote his Romifti Horfe-
leech. ' According to the dodrine of the Church of Rome, fays he,
Jefus Chrift gave to Peter and hii fuccefTors not only a power to fi(h
Vol. III. G f-^f
jO CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
for men, but for moneys and for that purpofc conferred on them a
right to filh in all feCular ponds and rivers. " For ihe kings of the earthy
fays Jcfus Chrift, from whom do they receive tribute ? Not fure'.y
from us, for we are free. But go thou to the fea, and cad forth a
hook, and take the firft filh that cometh up ; and when thou haft open-
ed its mouth, thou flult find a piece of money ; that take." Hereby a
fifhing right, they contend, was cftabliflied to filh in all waters, that is,
among all people and nations: and the espreflion " Launch cut into the
deep," fignificd, " Go up to Rome," which had a vaft dominion, and
from whence therefore they might fpread their nets over all the wo: Id.
To the fame purpofc David txclaims, Thou haft put all things under
liis feet; all (heep, that is Chriftians ; and oxen, or Jews; yea, and the
beafts of the field, or Pagans ; the filh of the fea, that is, fouls in purga-
tory; and the fowls of heaven, or blefTtd fpirits and angels, Such' is
the magical nature of quotations from the Holy Sciipturcs ! Venerable
Bede has left us a carious pidlure of the pains of Purgatory in a flory
of a certain Monk of Mailros, (Melrofe,) who, after being fome hours
dead, arofe again to life, and related many remarkable things which he
had feen, particularly Purgatory, which he defcribed as a vale of great
breadth, and infinite length ; on the left, it appeared full of dreadful
fire and flames ; the other fide was no lefs horrid, on account of tem-
peftuous hail and fnow continually flying about in all diretSlions. Both
lakes were brim-full of fouls, who had no other relief but in leaping
out of the one lake into the other, as if they had been toffcd about by
X trcmenduous hurricane, &c. It is cafy to conceive, that whoever be-
lieved in thi horrible chimera, would endeavour to fecure for himfelf,
upon any terms, fomething like a comfortible birth in it ; or, at leaft, a
Ihorter period of purgation. Hence the vaft number of Monafteries,
Abbics, Nunnerys, free chaples, chanterics, &c, which were founded
all over Chriftendom. Even although a perfon had many children to
provide for, or many debts to pay, it was common to negletft all con-
fidcrations of that fort, and to lay out his whole fortune in the appoiut-
ment of MalTes, Diriges, Placebos, Requiems, &c. to be performed at
flated times for the benefit and eafe of his poor unhappy foul. Hence
alio the pradicc of burying in Monafteries, upon a prefumption that
the departed fouls WouW in fomc dtjrce b relivvcd by the prayers of
the godly.
THE
THE EPISTILL NUNCUPATORY OF SIR DAVID LYNDESAT
ON HIS BIALOG OF THE MISERABILL ESTAIT
OF THE WARLD.
Wejhall now difmifs Lindfay's " Dialogue of the Monar-
chies*'' with his " Epiftle Nuncupatorj," wbic/j, as it
appears only in the oldejl ^to. editions^ and has fotnc
reference to the flate of the country in 1553, may by
fome readers he ejieemed a curiojity.
X HOW lytill quair of mateir miferai)ill I
Weill aucht thow coverit for to be with fabill ;
Renunceand grene, the purpour, reid and quhitc ;
To delicate men thow art nocht deledlabill, j
Nor yit till amorous folkis amjabill.
To reid on the thay will have na delitc.
Warldlj pepill will have at thee defpite,
Quhilk fixit ha? thair hart and haill intentis
Oh fenfual luft, on dignltie and rentis.
We have na king, thee to prefent, all ace !
Quhilk Xo this cuntrie bene ane cairfuU cace.
And als our Quene of Scotland heritour,
Scho dwellis in France, 1 pray God fave hir grace.
Jt war too lang for thee to ryn that lace j
And far langer or that yong tender flour
Bring haim to us ane King and governour :
Allace I thairfoir, we may with for row fing
Quhilk mufl fa lang remane without ane King.
I not quhome to my fimplenes to fend.
With cunning men, from time that thow be kend.
Thy vaniteis na way thay will avance, ^
Thinking the proud, fie thingis to pretend,
Notwithftanding the ftraucht way fall tliow wend,
To
^2 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRr.
To thame quhllk has the realme in governance,
Declair thy mind to them with circiimftance.
Ga firil to James our Prince and jJroteftour,
And his brother our Spirituall Governour,
And Prince of preillis in this natioun,
Efter reverend recommendatioim.
Under thair fcit thow lawlie thee fubmit.
And mak thame humbili fupplicatioun,
Gif thaj m the find wrang harratioun.
That thay wald pleia thy faltis to remit ;
And of thair grace gif thay doe the admit.
Than ga thy way quhair euer thow pleifis bcft;
Be thay content, mak reverence to the reft.
To faithfull prudent paftouris fpirituall|
To nobiil Erles and Lordis temporall,
Obedientlie till thame thow thee addres,
Declairing them this fchort memoriall.
How mankinde bene tO miferie maid thrall.
At lenth to thame the caus planelie confes,
Befeikand them all lawis to fuppres,
Inventit be mennis traditioun
Contrair to Chriftis inftitutioun.
And catis tnem cleirlie fcr till underftand,
That for the briking of the Lordis command,
His thrinfald wand of flagellatioun
Hes fcurgit this puir realme of Scotland
Be mortall weiris baith be fey and land,
"With monie terribill tribulatioun.
Thairfoir mak to them tfue narratioun.
That all our weiris, this derth, hixnger and peft.
Was not bot for our finnis tnanifeft.
Declair to them how in the time of Noy,
Alluterlie God did the warld deftroy.
As halie fcripture makis mentioun,
Sodom, Gomor, with thair regioun and Roy,
God fpairit nouther maii, woman, nor boy,
Bot all wer brint for thair offenfioun.
Jerufalem, that maift triumphant toun,
Deftroyit was for thair iniquitie,
As in the fcripture planelie thow may fe,
Declair
JSLJJEEN MARY, 542 15^7' ji
Declair to them this mortall miferie.
Be fword and fyre, derth, pelt and povertic,
Proceidis of fyn, gif I can richt defcrjve.
For laik of faith, and for idolatrie,
For fornicatioun, and for adulterie
Of Princes, prelatis, with monie ane man and wyv^,
Expell the cans, than the eiFel belyve
Sail ceis : quhen that the pepill dois repent.
Than God fall flaik his bow quliilk yit is bent.
Mak them requeft quhilk hes the governance^
The fynceir word of God for till avance,
Conforme to Chriftis inllitutioun.
Without hypocrifie or diffimutance,
Cauiing Juftice hald evinlie th^; ballance.
On publicanis making punitioun.
Commending them of gude conditioun.
That being done, 1 dout not but the Lord
Sail of this cuntrie have mifericord.
Thocht God, with monie terribill effrayis,
Hes done this cuntrie fcurge be divers way is,
Be juft judgement, for our grevous offence,
peclair to them thay fall have merie day is
Efter this trowbill, as the Propheit fay is :,
Quhen God fall fe our humbill repentence.
Till ftrange pepill thocht he hes geven licence
To be our fcurge induring his defire.
Will, quhen he liil, that fcurge caft in the fire.
Pray them that thay put not tbair efpcrance
In mortall men onelie them till avance ;
Bot piincipallie in God omnipotent.
Then neid thay not to charge the realme of France
With gunnis, galayis, nor uther ordinance.
Sa that thay be to God obedient
Jn thir prerailTes, be thay not negligent
Difplayand Chriftis banner hie on hicht,
Thair enemies of them fall have na micht.
Ga hence, puir buik ! quhilk 1 have done indyte
In rurall ryme, in manner of defpyte,
Contrair the warldis variatioun
pf rethoiike, here I proclaim the quhyt.
IdolatouTis I feir fall with the fljte,
Bccau,
54 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY ^
Becaiis of them thow ;-nakis narratioun.
Bot cure tbow not the indignatioun
Of hjpocritis, and fals Pharifience,
Howbeit on the thay call ane loud vengence.
Requeft the gentill reidar that the reidis,
Thocht ornate tennis into thj park not fpreidis,
As thay in tlie may have experience,
Thocht barrane feildis beiris nocht bot weidis.
Yet brutal beiftis fweitlie on thame feidis.
Defire pf them nane uther recompence,
Bot that thay jvald reid the with patience ;
And gif thay be in onie way offendit,
Declair to them it fall be weill amendit.
Tt has already been cl>frrved that the Scoftiih refrrmers difcovercd ve-
ry early a preferetjce to fome plan of Church Government difFerenc
from that whi^rh had been adopted in Eiiglaud; for sv'hich Warton in
his Hiflory of Englifh Poetry endeavours thus to account : " the pomp
and elegance of the catholick worfliip made no impreffion on a people
whofe devotion fought nnly for folid edification ; and who had no no-
tion that the intcrpofifion of the fenfes could with any propriety he
admitted to co-operate in an cxercife of fuch a nature, which appealed
to reafon alone, and feenicd to exclude all aid of the imagination- It
was therefore natural that fuch a people in thtir fyftcm of fpiritual re-
finement, fhould warmly prefer the fcv<rc and rigid plan cf Calvin."
Probably the true reafon of this preference is rather to be found in
the circumftance of the $cots being, at the time of the Reformation,
under what was then called the monJlrQus regiment ef icemen England
had acknowledged Henry VJII. as the head of the Church ; but it was
impoflible for the Scottilh Refoimers to follow her example. Their
monarch was a young woman educated in France according to the
ftri(5l<ft Catholic form. To have placed a perfon of that dcfcription a:
the head of the Scottifh Kirk, would, in the language of Knox, have
been ' repugnant to nature, an abomination before the Lord, and a
" thing moft contrarious to his revealed ind approved ordinance, which
" cx])refTly ordains, that " in tie Ccngrfgaiicn fVome/t mujl kee^ JiUnce^'
THIS
THE TRAGEDIE Ot THE UMQUHILE m\IsT REVEREND
FATHER DAVID, BE THE MERCY OF GOD, CARDINAL
AND ARCHEBISCHOP OF SANCT ANDROIS, &C.
^/js/e who with to be informed of the particulars tif
the life of Cardinal Betoun, or Bethune, may confult
" Crawford's Officers of State," er any of the general
hijiories of Scotland, where he makes a confpicuous ap-
pearance from 1528 to his untimely death in 1546 , the
manner of which is detailed by John Knox with a fa-
nsage minutenefs. Sir David Lindfay too in this per*-
formance raises together every circumflance that can
fer've to Jlain the Cardinal's memory. Jf it was puh-
li/hedy as f aid by Ames, in 1546, it ought ^ in firiBnefs
of arrangement, to have preceded the Monarchies, which
was erroneoufly fuppofed to have been a prior compoJi~
tion, as not the Jlightefi allujion to the fate of Bethune
is therein to be found, although in one of the chapters
he treats exprefsly of the downfall of ambitious men.-^
Probably by the publication of this Tragecfie he had
given fome offence to his kinfman and Chief David the
majier of Crawford, vjho a few weeks before the Car-
dinal's murder had married his daughter j and therefore
our poet might fee caufe to avoid the fuhjeEi entirely in
his Monarchies.
Fromfimilar appearances a fufpicion here arifes that
the hifiory of Squire Meldium was alfo written after
this Tragedie of Cardinal Bethune.
Mortalet
\
5<$ CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY,
Afar tales cum nati Jitiiy ne fupra Deum vos eresterltii.
THE PROLOG.
XN oT lang ago, efter the hour of prime,
Secreitlie fitting in my oratorie,
I tuke ane buke till occupy the time,
Qubalr I fand monie tragedie and llory
Quhilk Johne Boccas had put in memory ;
Row monie pfinces, conquerouris and kingis
War dulefuUy depofit from thair ringis.
How Alexander the potent conqueroiir
In Babylon was poyfonit piteoufly ;
And Julius, the michtie Empiiour,
Murdreft at Rome, caufles and cruelly.
Prudent Pompey in Egypt fchamefuUy
He murdreift was : Quhat neidis proces moif
Quhais tragedies war petie till deploir ?
I fitting fa upon my buke reiding,
Richt fuddanely afoir me did apeir
Ane woundit man aboundantlie bleiding,
With vifage pail, and with ane deidly chelr^
Semand ane man of twa and fyftie yeir ;
In raiment reid clothit full curiouflie.
Of Tcltet and pf fatyne crammofie.
With febill voice, as man opreft with pane,
Softlie he maid me fupplicatioun.
Saying : My friend, ga reid and reid agane,
Gif thow can find, be trew narratioun,
Of onie pane like to my paffioun.
Richt fure I am, wet Johne Boccas on jyve.
My tragedy at lenth he wald defcryve.
Sen
ftJJEEN MART, I542 1567. 57
Sen he Is gane, I praj the till Indjte,
Of my infortune fum remembrance.
Or at the leiil my tragedie to wryte,
As I to the.fall fchaw the circumftance.
In termis breve of my unhappy chance,
Sen my beginning till my fatall ead,
Quilk. I wald till all creature wer kend.
i not, faid I, to mak fie memoiialli
Bot of thy name I had intelligence.
1 am David that cairful Cardinall,
Quhilk dois apeir, faid he, to thy prcfencej;
That umquhile had fa greit pre-eminence.
Than he began his deidis til indite.
As ye fall heir, and I began to v^rite.
THE TRAGEDY OF THE CARt)tl^AL;
1 David Betoun, umquhile Cardinall,
Of nobill blude be lyne I did difcend.
During my^time, I had na peregall ;
Bot now, allace ! is cum my fatall end.
In gre be gre upwart I did afcend,
Sa that into this realme did never ring
Sa greit anc man as 1 under ane king.
Quhen I was ane yong joly gentilmafii
Princes to ferve I fet my haill intent.
Firft till afcend, at Arbroith I began
In ane abbacie of greit riches and rent.
Of that eftalt yit was I not content.
To get mair riches, dignity, and gloir.
My hart was fet ; allace, allace thairfoir.
Vol. III. H I maitt
58 CHRONICLE or SCOTTISH POTRT.
I maid fie fervice to our Soverane King,
He did promote me to mair hie eftait.
Ane Prince above all preiftis for to ring,
Archebifchope of Sanft Androis confecrait.
To that honour quhen I was elevait.
My prjdefuU hart was nocbt content at aU
Till that I creat was ane Cardinall.
Yit preiffit I till have mair authoritic,
And finally was chofen Chancellair.
And, for uphalding of my dignitie.
Was maid Legate ; than had I na compair.
I purchefl:, for my profite fingulair.
My boxis and my trefour to avance.
The bifchoprick of Merapois in France.
Of Scotland I had the governall.
But my avife concludit was na thing.
Abbot, bifchop, archebifchop, cardinall.
Into this realme na hier culd I ring,
Bot I had bin Paip, Empriour, nor King.,
For fchortnes of the time, I am not abill
At lenth to fchaw my aftis honourabill.
For my maift princelie prodigalitic,
Amang prelatis in France I bure the price j
I fchaw my lordlie liberalitie
In banketting, playing at cartia and dice.
Into fie wifdome I was haldin wife,
And fpairit not to play with King nor Knicht,
Thre thoufand crownis of gold upon a nicht.
In France I maid four honeft voyages,
Quhair I did aftis digne of remembrance.
Throw me war maid tryumphand mariages.
Till our Soverane baith profite and plefance.
Quene Magdalene, the firfl; dochter of France,
With greit riches was into Scotland brocht ;
That mariage throw my wifdome was wrocht.
After
QJJEEN MARY, I542 1567. 59
After qubais deith in France T paft agane j
The fecund Quene homewart I did convoj.
That luftie Princefs Marie de Lorane,
Quhilk was reffavit with greit triumph and joy.
Sa fervit I our richt redoutit Roy.
Sone efter that, Henrie of Ingland King,
Of our Soverane delirit ane commoning.
Of that meiting our King was weil content ;
Sa that in York was fct baith time and place :
Bot our prelatis and I wald neuer confent
That he fuld fie King Henrie in the face.
Bot we wer weil content, howbeit his Grace
Had failit the fey, to fpeik with onie uther
Except the King, quha was his mother-brother.
Quhairthrow thair rais greit weir and mortal ftrife,
Greit heirfchipis, hounger, derth, and defolation :
On ather fide did monie lois thair life.
Gif I wald mak ane trew narration,
I caufit all that tribulation.
For to mak peice I never wald confent,
Without the King of France had bin content.
During this weir wer taken prefoneiris,
Of nobi] men, fechting full furiouflie,
Monie ane Lord, Barroun, and Bacheleiris.
Quhairthrow our King tuk fie ane melancholic,
Quhilk draif him to the deith richt dulefuUie.
Extreme dolour ouirfet did fa his hart.
That fra this life, allace ! he did depart.
Bot efter that baith llrenth and fpeeche was leifit,
Ane paper blank his Grace I gart fubfcrive ;
Into the quhilk I wrait all that I pleifit,
Efter his deith quhilk lang war to defcryve.
'I'hrow that wryting T purpofit belyv^.
With fupport of fum Lordis benevolence.
Into this regioun to have pre-eminence.
As
6o CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
As for my Lord, our richteous Governour,
Gif I wald fchortlj fchaw the veritie.
Till him I had na maner of favour.
During that time I purpofit that he
Suld never cum to nane authoritie.
For his fupport, thairfoir, he brocht amang us,
Furth of Ingland, the nobill Erie of Angus.
Than v^as I put abak from mj purpois,
' And fuddanely caft in captivitie.
My pridefull hart to dant, as I fuppois,
Devifit by the heich Divinitie.
Yit in my hart fprang na humilitie ;
Bot now the word of God full weill I knaw,
Quha dois exalt himfelf, God fall him law.
In the mein time, quhen I was fa fabje6lit,
Ambaffadouris war fent into Ingland,
Quaair thai baith Peice and Mariage contraftit ;
And, mair furelie for till obferve that band,
War promeift dyvers pledges of Scotland.
Of that contraft I was na way content.
Nor never wakl thairto give my confent.
Till capitanis that keipit me in waird,
Giftis of gold I gave them greit plenty.
E.ewlaris of Court I richely did rewaird,
Quhairthrow I chaipit from captivitie.
Bot quhen I was frie at my libertie.
Than like ane Lyoun loufit of his cage.
Out throw the realme I gan to reill and rage,
Contrair the Governour and his company.
Oft tymcs maid I infurredlioun,
Purpofand for to have him haiftely
Subdewit into my corrcftioun.
Or p'lt him till extreme fubjeitioun.
Dur-ng this time, gif it war weil decidit.
This i t.alnie be me was uteilie devidit.
The
I
^EEN MART, 1542^567. <;
The Governour purpofing for to fubdew,
I raiflt ane hoift of mony bauld Barroun,
And maid a rafd that Lithgow yit may rew,
For we deftroyit ane myle about the toun.
For that I gat monie blak malifoun.
Yit contrair the Governouris intent,
With our young Princefs we to Sterling went.
For heich contemptioun of the Governour,
I brocht the Erie of Lennox furth of France j
That lufty Lord levand in greit plefour,
Did lois that land and honeft ordinance. '
Bot he and I fell fone at variance.
And throw my counfall was, within fchort fpace^
Forfaltit and flcmit ; he gat nane uther grace.
Than throw my prudence, pradiic, and ingyne,
Our Governour I caufit to confent.
Full quyetly to my counfail incline ;
Quhairof his Nobillis war not weill content ;
For quhy ? I gart diflblve in Parliament
The band of peice contra6tit with Ingland,
Quhairthrow cum harme and heirfchip to Scotland,
That peice brokin, arais new mortall weiris
Be fey and land, fie reif without leleif,
Q^hilk to report, my frayit hart effeiris.
The veritie to fchaw, iii termis breif,
I was the rute of all that greit mifcheif.
The South cuntrie may fay it had bin gudc
That my nureis had fmorit me in my cudc.
I was the caus of mekill mair mifchance.
For, uphald of my gloir and dignitie.
And plefour of the potent king of France,
With Ingland wald I have na unitie.
Bot quha confider wald the veritie,
We micht full weil have levit in peice and reft
Nvnc or ten veiriSj and than playit lous or faft.
Had
6 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETS.Y.
Had we with Ingland keipit our coatrakis,
Our nobil mea had leivit in peice and reft,
Out mercbandis had not loift fa monie pakis,
Our common pepill had not bin opreft;
On ather fide all wrangis had bin redraft.
At Edinburgh, fen fjne, Leith, and Kingorne,
The day an^ hour may ban that I was borne.
Our Governour, to mak him to me fare.
With fweit and fubtel wordis I did himfyle,
Till 1 his fone and air gat in my cure.
To that efFeft I fand that crafty wyle,
That he na maner of way micht begyle.
Than leuch I quhan his lieges did alledge
How 1 his fone had gottin into pledge.
The Erie of Angus, and his german bruthei",
I purpofit to gar them lois thair lyfe.
Richt fa tjll have deftroyit monie uther ;
Sum with the fyre, fum with the f\vord and knyfej
In fpecial monie gentilmen of Fyfe.
And purpofit till put till greit torment,
All favouraris of the Auld and New Teftament.
Than everie man thay tuk of me fic feir.
That time quhen I had fa greit governance,
Greit Lordis dreiding I fuld do them deir.
They durft not cum till Court but aflurance.
Sen fync thei hes not bene fic variance ;
Now till our Prince Barronis obedientlie.
But affurance thay cum full courteflie.
My hope was maift into the King of France,
Togiddcr v/ith the Paipis Halines,
Mair than in God my \vorehip to avance.
i traiftit fa into tliair gentilnes.
That na man durft prefume me to opres.
Bot quhsn the day cum of ray fatal hour.
Far was from me thair fupport and fuccour.
Than
TlUfiEN MARY, 1542 1567. ^^\
Than to preferve my riches and my Ijfe,
I maid ane ftrenth of vvallis heich and braid.
Sic ane fortres was never found in Fyfe j
Belevand thair durft na man me invaid.
Now find I trew the faw quhilk. David faid,
Without God of ane hous be maiiler of wark,
He wirkis in vane, thoch it be neuer fa flark.
For I was, throw the hie power divjne,
Richt dulefuUie dung doun amang the as,
Quhilk culd not be throw mortall manis inginf,
Bot, as David did flay the greit Golyas,
Or Holopherne be Judith killit was,
In myd amang his triumphand armie^
Sa was I flcne into my cheif cietie.
Quhen 1 had greiteft dominatioun,
As Lucifer had into the He via enipyr^.
Cam fuddanlie my deprivatioun.
Be thame quhilk did my dolent deith confpyrc.
Sa cruell was thair furions birnand ire,
I gat na tyme, laifer, nor liber tie
To fay, In manus tuas Dominc.
Behald my fatall infelicitie^
1 being in my flrenth incomparabill.
That dreidful dungeon maid me na fupplic,
My greit riches nor- rentis profitabill.
"My filver wark, jewellis ineilimabill.
My papall pompe, of golde my riche trefour.
My lyfe and all I loift in half ane hour.
To the pepill was maid ane fpectakle
Of my deid and deformit carioun.
Sum faid it was ane manifeft merikle,
Sum faid it was divyne punitioun
Sa to be flane into my flrang dungeoun.
Quhen everie man had judgit as him lift,
Thay faltit me, fyne clofit me in ane kill.
I la^
64 CHRONICLE Ot SCOTTISH POETR?.
I lay unburyit fevin monethis and moir,-
Or I was borne to clofter, kirk, or queir.
In ane midding quhilk nane bin till deploir.
Without fufFi age of channoun, monk, or freir.
All proud Prelatis of me may leflbunis leir,
Quhilk rang fa lang, and fa triumphantlie.
Syne in the duft dung doun fa dulefullie.
TO THE PRELATIS.
O YE my brether ! princes of the preiftis !
I mak yow hartly fupplicatioun,
Baith nicht and day revolve into your breiftis
The proces of my deprivatioun.
Confider quhat bin. your vocatioun.
To follow me I pray yow nocht pretend yow;
Bot reid at lenth this cedull that I fend yoW.
Ye knaw how Jefus his difcipulis fent
Ambaffadouris till every natioun.
To fchaw his law and his commandement
To all pepill predicatioun.
Tharefoir, to yow I mak narratioun.
Sen ye to thame are verray fucceflburis,
Ye aucht to do as your predeceffouris.
How dar ye be fa bauld till tak on hand .
VoT to be herauldis to fa greit ane king.
To beir his meflage baith to burgh and landj
Ye beand dumb, and can pronunce na thing,
Lyke menftralis that can nocht play nor fing.
Or quhy fuld men give to fie hirdis hyre,
Quhilk can not gyde thair fcheip about the myre;
Efchame ye not to be Chriflis fervitouris.
And for your fee hes greit temporall landis.
Syne of your office can not tak the curis 1
Leif hafartrie^ yur harlatrie, and huris, ,
Remcmbring
^UEEN MARY, 1 542 1 567. 6j
Remembring on my unprbvifit deid^
For efter delth may na man male remeid.
Ye Prelatis, quhilk has thoufandis to fpend>
Ye fend ane fempill freir for to preiche.
It is your craft, I mak it to yow kend.
Your felfis in your tempillis for to preiche.
Bot ferlie not thocht freiris fleiche ;
For, an thay planely fchaw the veritie.
Than will thay want the Bifchopis cheritie.
Quhairfoir bin gevin yow lie royall rent ?
Bot for to find the pepill fpirituall fude ;
Preiching to thame the New and Auld Teftmenti
The law of God dois planely fa conclude.
Put not your hope into na warldlie gude
As I have done. -Behald, my greit trefour
Maid me na help at my unhappy hour.
That day quhan I was Bifchop confecrait,
The Greit Bybil wes bound upon my back.
Quhat was thairin, lytill I knew, God wait,
Mair than ane beift beirand ane precious pack.
Bot haiftely my covenant I brak,
For I was obliffit, with my awin confent,
The law of God to preiche with good intent.
Brether ! richt fwa quhen ye war confecrait^
Ye obliffit yow all on the famin wife.
Ye may be callit Bifchoppis counterfait.
As gallandis bufkit for to mak an gyfe.
Now think I, Princes ar na thing to pryfe,
Till give ane famous office to ane fule.
As qulia wald put ane myter on ane mule.
Allace ! ah ye that forrowful ficht had ferie,
How I lay bullerand, baithed in my blude ;
To mend your life it had occafioun bene.
And leve your auld corruptit confwetude.
Tailyeing thairof, than fchortlic I conclude.
Vol. III. I Without
06 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY,
Without je from your ribaldrie arife,
Ye falbe fervit on the famin wife.
TO THE FRINGES.
IxMPRUDENT Princes ! but difcretiourr,
Having in eirth power imperial!.
Ye bin the caus of this tranfgreffiomi.
1 fpeik to yow all in general!,
Quhilk dois difpone all office fpirituall,
Gkvand the faullis quhilk bin Chriftis fcheip^
To blind paftouris, but confcience, to keip.
Quhen ye Princes dois want ane officiar,
Ane baxter, browfler, oi ane maiflcr cuke,
Ane trym tailyeour, ane cunning cordinar,
Ouer all the land at lenth ye will gar luke,
Maifl abill men fie offices to brake.
Ane browfter quhilk can brew maift hailfum aill,
Ane cunning cuke quhilk beft can feflbn caill ;
Ane tailyeour, that fofterit bent in France,
That can mak garmentis of the gayeil gyfe.
Ye Princes bin the caus of this mifchance,
That quhan thair dois vaik onie benefyfe.
Ye oucht to do upon the famin wife ;
Gar feirch and feik, baith into burgh and lande.
The law of God quha beft can underftande.
Mak him Bifchop that prudentlie can preiche
As dois pertaine till his vocatioun,
Ane Perfone quha ha parochin can teiche.
Gar Vicaris mak dew miniftratioun ;
And als I mak yow fupplicatioun,
Mak your Abbottis of richt religious men,
Quhilk to the pepilj Chriftis law can ken.
Bot
<JJJEEN MARY, 1542 1567. 67
Bot not to rebaldis new cum from the roift,
Nor of ane ftufFet ftollen out of ane ftablll.
The quhilk into the fcule maid neuer na coift,
Nor never was to Spirituall fcience abiU,
Except the cartis, the djce, the ches, and tabil.
Of Rome raikeris, nor of rude ruffianis.
Of calfay paikeris, nor of publicanis.
Nor of fantaftik fenyet flatteraris,
Maifl meit to gadder muflillis into May ;
Of cowhowbeis, nor yit of clatteraris.
That in the Kirk can nouther fing nor fay,
Thoch thay be clokit up in clarkis array.
Like clotit doftouris new cum out of Athenis,
And mummil ouir ane pair of maglit mattenis ;
Bot qualefeit to bruik ane benefyis.
Bot throw Sir Symoneis foliftatioun,
I was promovit on the famin wyis,
Allace I throw Princes fupplicatioun.
And maid at Rome throw fals narratioun,
Bifchop, Abbot ; bot na religious man.
Quha me promovit I now thair banis ban,
Howbeit I was Legat and Cardinal!,
Lytill I knew thairin quhat fuld be done,
J underftude na fcience fpirituall
Na mair nor did blind Allane of the Mone.
I dreid the King that fittis heich abone 1
On yow Princes fall mak fair ^unifchement ;
Richt fa on ps throw richteous judgement.
On yow Princes, for indifcreit geving,
Till ignorantis fie offices to ufe.
And we for our inoportune alking,
Quhilk fuld have done fie dignitie refufe.
Our ignorance has done the waild abufe
Throw covetyce of riches and of rent.
That euer 1 was ane Prelate, I repent.
O Kingis !
68 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRt/
O Kingis ! mak ye na cair to give in cure
Virginis profeft into religioun
Intil the keiping of ane commoun hure ?
To mak think ye not greit derifioun,
Ane woman parfone of ane parifchoun,
<^hair thair bin twa thoufand faulis to gyde,
That from harlattis can not hir hippis hyde ?
Quhat and King David levit in thir dayis ?
Or out of Hevin, quhat and he lukit doun.
The quhilk did found fa monie fair abbayis,
Seing the greit abhominatioun
In monie abbayis of this natioun ?
He wald repent that narrowit fa his boundis.
Of yeirlie rent thre fcoir thoufand poundis.
Quhairfoir I counfall everilk Chriftian King
Within his realm mak reformatioun,
And fufFer na ma rebaldis for to ring
Abuve Chriftis trew congregatioun.
Failyeing thairof, I mak nairatioun.
That ye Princes and Prelatis all at anis,
all bureit be in hell, fauU, blude, and banis.
That euir I bruckit benefice, I rew ;
Or to fie heicht'fa proudlie did pretend.
I mon depart thairfoir, my friendis, adew I
Qiihaireuir it pleifis God, now mon I wend.
I pray thee till my freindis me recommend,
And failye not at lenth to put in wryte
My Tragcdye, as I have done indyte.
* P. 5C. " Boccas.? The celebrated Boccacio wrote a I-atin hiftory
entitled De Ca/ibus Vlfrum illujirium, which was paraphraflically tran-
flated into French about the year 1409. From this French paraphrafe,
LyJgate, Monk of Bury, formed an Englilh metrical verfion, about
A. D. 1420, tinder the title of " The Tragedies gathered by Jhon Bo-
t)ias of all fcch prlucss as fell from their eilates throughc the mutabili-
ty
OJJfiEN MART, 1542 15^7. &^
ty of Fortune, &c." printed by Wayland in the reign of Henry the
Eighth ; and, without doubt, well known to Sir David Lindfay, whofc
" Tragedy of Beatoun," is written cxatStly in the lame manner, " eve-
ry perfonage in Boccact being fuppofed to appear before the Poet, and
to relate his rcfpedlive fufferinjs," hence called tragediet or tragical fl:o
ric.
It has been remarked by Keith that liindfay makes here no mention
of the Cardinal glutting himfclf inhumanly with the fpedlacle of Mr
Wifliart's death, nor of any prophetical intimation made by Wifhart
concerning the fate of Beaton ; from which the hiftorian infers that
both of thcfc reports are probably groundlefs.
After the tranflation of HeAor Boyce by Bellenden, and a few A6ls
of Parliament, fome of the works of Sir David Lindfay were probably
the firft produdlion of the Scottifli prefs, fince the publication of Millar
and Chapman's Mifcellany in 150&. Many of his earlier performances
are addrelTed to James the Fifth; after whofe death in 154a, Lindfay '
intercourfc with the royal family probably ceafed. His fentiments with
refpedt to French connedions may be gathered from the following
tines in his Nuncupatory Epiftle :
Quhen God fal fee our hunabil rcpentence,
1'<!\firange people thoch he hes given licence
To be ourfcourge induring his defirc,
Will quhan he lift that fcourge cajl in the fyre. . . .
Then neid we not to charge the realm of France
With gunnis.galayes, nor uther ordinance. ...
Very different from thefc arc the fentiments of the author of the traA
called the Complaint of Scotland, written about the fame period:
In his dedication to Mary of Guife, the margareit and perle of prin-
ceffes," he fays, " The immortal gloir that procedes by the richt line
of vertu, fra your magnanyme avanfing of the public well of the afiligit
realme of Scotland, is abundantly delated achort all cuntreis. Quhcu
an multitude of men of weir defcendit fra the heicht of Germanic, of
divers fedis, haldant/ra/r^i? opinions contrair the fcriptour, (^that is, the
Reformers^ purpofit to compel all Chriftianitie til adhere to their pcr-
verft opinion, their difordinaie intcntiche was haiftciie repulfit and ex-
tindl by the martial fciens of your noble and valiant fader, the Due of
Guife. I being fummond by inftigation of ane gude xeal, has tanc anc
temerair confait to prefcnt your nobil grace anc trafScit of thefyrjl lau-
her of my pen, &c," This dedication, in all probability, produced the
above lines of Sir David Lindfay, who for many years had been the
chief promoter of thofe ' pcrvcrft opinions which Wcdderburne held
* to be contrair the fcriptour"
To the Quarto edition of Lindfay's Works, printed by Henry Chat-
teris 1594, is prefixed a metrical Adhortaticn of all FJlaitit to the reiding
cf tbir preftttt Warhii i probably by Charteris himfelf, or his brother
the
^d tHRCNICLE OF SCOTTISH tOETRY.
the Profeffor : With the following cxtraft from which, wc flrall hftfS
take leave of Sir David Lindefay :
Thairfoir, gude Reidar, I half travcll tane
Intill anc volume, now breiflie for to bring
Of David Lyndcfay the haill warkis,ilk ane,
Knicht of the Mount, Lyoun of Armis King,
Quha in our dayis now laithlie did ring ;
Quhais pregnant pra(5iick,and quhais ornat ftyle
To be commendit be nic neidis na thing.
L>at waikis heir witnes, quhilkis he has done coinpyl(
Thocht Gawyiie Dowglas, bifchop of Dunkell,
In ornat meter furmount did everilkman ;
Thocht Kennedie and Dunbar bure the bell,
For the lang race of Rhethorik thay ran ;
Yit never poet of our Scottifch clan
Sa clcirlie fthcw that mouftour with bis markis,
The Romifch God, in quhom all gyle began,
As dois gude David Lyndefay in his warkis.
Let Lyndefay now, a he war yet on lyve,
/ Pas fuith to lichc, with all his fentence hie.
Unto all men thair devi-tie to difcryve,
Quhairin thay may ane livelie image fie.
Of his expreflit mind m poctrie,
PrcDtit as he it publifcbit with bis pen.
Lat himfclf fpeik, I think it beft for me,
tJlvc gloir to God quhilk gave Cc giftcs fo iniri;
EARL
EARL OF GLENCAIRN
KsoXfJpeaiing of the cruelties exercifed againji tht rt^~
formers about the end of the reign of James V. and
beginning of ^ueen TV[ary''s^ obfervesy that twtwitb-
flanding this perfecution^ " the mofijlers and hypocritis
" the Gray Frears^ day by day came f order in con^
*' tempt : For, not only did the /earned ejpye and de^
** te^ their abominable hypocrify, but alfo mv^n in
** whom none fuch graces nor gifts were thought t
** have been, began plainlie to paint the fame forth to
** the people y as this ryme made by Alexander Earl of
** Glencairne, /^f alive , (ab. 1566,^ can ivitnefsy
ANE EPISTLE DIRECTED FROM THE HOLY HEREMITE OF
ALLAREIT, TO HIS BRETHREN THE GRAVE FRERS.
1 Thomas, hermite of Lateit,
Sanl Frances ordour hartely greit ;
Befeiking you, with ferine intent,
To be wakryif and diligent.
For thir Lutherans, riflen of new.
Our ordour dayly dois perfew.
Thir fmaikis do fet their haill intent
To read the Inglifch New Teftment ;
And fayis we have thame clein difceypit,
Therefore in haft they mon be ftoppit.
Our Stait hypocrifie they pryifs,
And us blafphemis on this wyifs :
Savaiu*
^2 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
Sajand that we are heretykes.
And fals loud lying maftifs tykes ;
Cummerars and quellers of Chriftis kirk,
Sweir fwyngeours that will not wirk.
But idelie our living wynnis,
Devouring woilfis into fliecpe ikinnis ;
Hurkland with huidis into our nek.
With Judas mind to jouke and bck j.
Seikand Chriftis people to devoir,
The doun-thringers of Goddis gloir ;
ProfcfTors of hypocrilie^
And Do6louris in idolatrie ;
Stout filcheiris with the feyndis net.
The upclofers of hevins yett ;
Cancart corruptars of the creede,
Humlock fawers amang gude feede ;
To trow in trators that men do tyift,
The hye way kennand them fra ChryifE,
Monfters with the beiftis marke, *
Dogges that never (lintes to barke ;
Kiikmen that are to Chrift unkend,
A fel that Sathanis felfe has fend ;
Lurkand in hoils lyke trator toddis,
Maintainers of idolles and falfe goddis ;
Fantaftike fuiles, and fenyeit fleichers,
To turn fra trueth the verray teachers.
For to declair their haill fentence,
Wald mekill cumber your confcience ;
To fay ycur faith it is fa ftark.
Your cord andloufie cote and fark ;
Ye lippin ^ay bring you to-falvatioun,
And quyte excludis Chryftis paffioun.
I dread this dolrine, and it laft,
Sail outher gar us wirke or faft.
Thairfore with fpeede we menn provide,
And not our proffit ovirflide.
I fchaip
'^EEN HARY, I542 1 567. 73
I icliaip myfelfe, within fliort quhile,
To courfe our Ladie in Argjle,
And thair on craftie wjfc to ^irk, '
Till that we biggit haif ane kirk.
Syne miracles mak be your advice.
The kitterills, thouch they haif bot lyce,
The twa part to us they will bring.
But orderlie to drefle this thing,
A Gaift I purpofe to gar gang.
Be counfayll of frear Walter Lang ;
X^hilk fall make certaine dempnft rations
To help us in our procurations,
Your halie order to decoir.
That pralick he proved anis befoir.
Betwixt Kircaldie and Kinghorne ;
But lymmaris made therat fie Ikorne,
-^nd to his fame made lie degreffion,
Synfyne he hard not Kingis confeffion.
Thouch at that time he cam no fpeide,
I pray you tak gude will as deide ;
And fo me amang you reflave.
As ane worth mony of the lave.
Quhat I obtaine may, throuch his airt,
Reafon wald ye had your pairt.
Your order handillis na monie ;
But for other cafualtie.
As beefe, meale, butter, and cheefe.
Or quhat we haif, or that ye pleefe.
To fend your brethren \S habete.
As now nocht ellis but valete^
Be Thomas your bruther at command,
A culrunne kythit throuch mony r land.
Vol. III. K In
74 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
In various works of Sif David Lindfay, apparently written between
1540 and 1552, the Heimic of Laurict is, mentioned as a pcrfon of con-
fiderable notoriety ; but no particular memorial of him fecms now ex-
tant or attainable. I^aureit, or Allareit, as it is printed in the firfl edi-
rion 8vo. of Knox, is undoubtedly Loretto at the call end of Muffel-
burgh, where thc'rc formerly was a chapel belonging to the abbacy of
Dunfermline. Of that building there are now tto remains, excepting a
fniall cell, about twelve feet by ten, in the garden of the villa which
ftill bears the fame name. This cell we may reafonably fuppofe to have
been the pretended habitation of the holy hermit friar Thomas, where
he catried on his trade ot hearing confcfTions, felling pardons and indul-
gcncics, and working miraculous cures upon the credulous and ignorant
multitude. Lindfay talks of troops of young men and women march-
ing from Edinburgh in pilgrimage " to fcifs the tlaggit tail of the her-
mit, and to adore the intage" of the Virgin Mary, alter the fafliion of
the Italian Lady of Loretto of famous memory. And Bifliop I^efley
relates that James V. went in pilgramage to this fluinc after his unfuc-
cefsful attempt in ij34'to pay u vifit to his intended bride in France ;
no doubt, with the view of fecuring a more profperous voyage upon
a future occafioii. He accordingly was fucccfaful in his next vifit; but,
whether through the influence of Friar Thomas, it is not neceffary here
to determine. The King probably knew him to be lucky in rcniovinp,
difficulties ID affairs of love ; for, a Lindfay exprcffcs it, ^ -
into Pilgramage to pafs
Is the firaight way to wantonnefs.
Soon after the Reformation, or about the year 1590, the tolbooth oif
Muffclbnrgh (fays the Statiftical Account) was built out of the ruins
of this chapel, which muft have been of confidcrable dimenfions. The
' Id Heps of the flair, which was repaired not long fince, were the bafes
rf ihe pillars of the chapel, according to the report of mafons ftill liv-
ing. This is f'iid to have been the firft religious houfe in Scotland
whofe ruins were applied to an unhallowed ufe, for which the gocd
people of Mufielburgh, till Very lattly, were annually excommunkated at
Rome.
Alexander, the fifth Earl of Glencaim, was one of the moft (Irennoi-s
pron^oters of the Reformation, and in particular carried his vengeance
sgaiull images to an unwarranted length. When (in a great mealuic
fhrotigh his meauk) Q^een Mary was driven from the throne, Lord
Glpncairn, attended by his domeflics only, haftened to Hoiyroodhoufe
ia a holy phrenzy, tore down the altars of the Royal Chapel, and
bVokc the images to pieces. Soon after this, he obtained a grant oif the
dbpv ff Kiiwiniiing for his iliare of the fpoil.
SIR
SIR RICHARD MAITLAND,
the ninth Ddmlnus de Thirleftane, (in Berwick/hire,')
and grandfather of the Jirjl Earl of Lauderdale, fecms
to he the next ScettiJIj Poet who claims attention in this
chronological feries. He was born about 1496 , isfaid
to have Jerked his country in various public offices ^ par-
ticularly as Lord Privy Seal to ^ueen Alary, with
great Jidelity ; and was a Jleady friend of the throne^ and
of the efablifhed religion of the country, as his predecef-
fors had always been, and his fucceffors have continu-
ed to be^ even unto this daj. In the hooks of Se-
derunt, his name is found as an extraordinary Lord of
SeJJion in 1353, by the title q/Lord Lethington ; about
which time it has been thought he firfl began to write
verfes. '^hat they * have confiderable merit in every
^* point cf view, and /hew him to have been a good man
** as well as a great Jiatefman,^'' we have the teflimony
of Mr Piiikertorr, by whom they were firfl drawn
J'rom obfcurity, and given to the public in 1786, exat~
ly 200 years after the completion of the venerable vo-
lumes in which they are prefcrved, and which are now
commonly dijlinguijhed by the title of The Maitland
MSS. Sir Richard was feized with blitidnefs, apparent-
ly about 1560, and died in 1586. His principal pieces
JJiall here be placed according to the order in which we
viay fuppofe them to have been written ; being nearly the
fame with that of the Quarto MS. which was tratfcrib-
ed during his own Ife-time, ly Mifs Mary Maitland,
his third daughter.
SATIRE
SA.TIILE ON THI TOUN LADYES.
In the a,to. Maitland MS. almojl the whole of Sir
Richard's poems are placed at the beginning of the
volume, and apparently not "without fame attention to
the chronology. After ane Sonet to the author in
commendatioun of his huik^ ive fnd this Satire as the
firfl article^ which we may therefore fuppofe to he one
of his earlieji produBions. Independent of this cir^
cumjlance^ the nature of the fuhjeB would have led us
to the fame conclufon. 1.he defcription of the female
drefs is highly curious^ and mujl have been written
when the author " had all his eyes about him ," per-
haps before the death of '^nmes V. at which time
Maitland was 46 years oldy and for fever al years had
heen a favourite at Court , probably alfo a votary
of the M-ufes, 'The reader may compare it with
Lindfay's * Inveccjd agains fydes taillis and muf-
falit faces ;'* Vol. II. p. 16$. perhaps written nearly-
about the fame time.
I.
OuM wjfis of the burrouftoun
Sa wondir vane ar, and wantoun,
In warld thay wait not quhat to weir ;
On claythis thay wair monye a croun ;
And all for newfangilnes of geir.
IL
QJJEEN MART, 1 5 42 1 567.
II.
Thair bodyes bravelie thay attyir,
Of carnal luft to eik. the fyir.
I fairlie quhy thai have no fcir
To gar men deime quhat thay defyre ;
And all for newfangilnes of gelr.
III.
Thair gouns coiMie (full) trimlie traillis :
Barrit with velvout, flelf, nek, taillis.
And thair foirlkirt of filkis feir :
Of fynefl camroche thair fuk faillis ;
And all for newfangilnes of geir,
IV.
And of fyne filk thair furrit cloikls,
With hingeand fleivis, lyk geill poikis.
Na preiching will gar thame foirbeir
To weir all thing that finue provoikis ;
A^nd all for newfangilnes of geir.
V.
Thair wylie coits man weill be hewit,
Broudrit richt braid, with pafments fewit.
I trow, quha wald the matter fpeir,
That thair gudmen had caus to rew it.
That evir thair wyfes wair fic geir.
VI.
Thair wovin hois of filk ar fchawin,
Burrit abone with tafteis drawin :
With gartens of ane new maneh- ;
To gar thair courtlines be knawin-;
And all for newfangilnes of geir.
Vlt.
Sumtyme thay will heir up thair gown,^
To fchaw thair wylecot hingeand down ;
And futtttyme bayth thay will iipbeir.
To fchaw thair hois of blak or broun :
And all for newfangilnes of geir.
VHT.
78 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
VIIT.
Thair collars, carcats, and hals beidis !
With velvet hats heicht on thair heidis,
Coirdit with gold lyik ane younkeir,
Broudit about with goldin threidis ;
And all for newfangilnes of geir.
IX.
Thair fchone of velvot, and thair niuillis I
In kirk thai ar not content of ftuillis.
The fermon quhen thaj fit to heir ;
Bot caryis ciifchings lyikvaine fuillis :
And all for newfangilnes of geir.
X.
I meiii of nane thair honour dreidis.
Quhy fould thaj not have honeft weidis,
To thair eftait doand efFeir ?
I mein of thame 'thair ftait exceidis ;
And all for newfangilnes of geir.
XI.
For fumtyme wyfes fa- grave hes bein,
Lyik giglets cled wald not be fein.
Of burges' wyfes thoch I fpeik heir.
Think well cf all wemcn 1 mein
On vaneteis that waiitis geir.
XI f.
Thay fay wyfes ar fo delicat
In feiding, feifting, and bankaC,
Sum not content ar with fie cheiu
As Weill may fuffice thair eftait.
For newfangilnes of cheir, and geir.
XIII.
And fum will fpend mair, I heir fay.
In fpyice and droggis, on ane day,
Nor wald thair mothers in ane yeir.
Quhilk will gar monye pak decay,
Quhen thay fa vainlie waift thair geir.
"" ' XfV',
QUEEN MART, I542 1567. 7^
XIV.
Thairfoir, young wjfis fpeciallie.
Of all fie faultis hald yow frie :
And moderatly to leif now Icir
In meit, and clayth accordinglle ;
And not fa vainlie waift your geir.
XV.
Ufe not to Ikift athort the gait ;
Nor mum na chairtis, air nor lait.
Be na dainfer, for this daingeir
Of yow be tane an ill confait
That ye ar habill to waift geir.
XVI.
Hant ay in honeft cumpanie ;
And all fufpicious places flie.
Lat never harlot cam yow neir ;
That wald yow leid to leicherie.
In houp to get thairfoir fum geir.
xvn.
My counfell I geve generallie
To all wemen, quhat ever thay be ;
This leflbun for to quin per qucir ;
^yne keip it weill continuallie.
Better nor onye warldlie geir.
XVIII.
Leif, burges men, or jail be loift.
On your wyfis to mak fie coift, *
Quhilk may gar all your bairnis bleir .
Scho that may not want wyne and roift.
Is abill for to waift fum geir.
XIX.
Betwene thame, and nobils of blude,
Na difference bot ane velvout huid !
Thair camroche curcheis ar als deir ;
Thair utlierclaythis ar als guid ; .
And thai <ih coftlie in uther geir.
X\.
So CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETfLY.
XX.
Bot, wald grit ladyis tak gud held
To thair honour, and find remcid ;
Thai fuld thole na fie wyfes to weir,
Lyk lordis wyfis, lady's weid.
As dames of honour in ther geir.
XXT.
I fpeik for na defpyt trewlie,
/Myfelf am not of faultis frie,)
Bot that ye fould not perfeveir
Into fie folifche vanitie,
por na newfangilnes of geir.
xxir.
Of b urges wyfes thoch I fpeik plaine,
Sum landwart ladyis ar als vain.
As be thair clething may appeir ;
Werand gayer, nor thame may gain ;
On ouir vaine claythis waiftand geir.
^tod Richard Maitland of Lethingtoun,
St. xii. and xiii. ' Anends the exorbitant dtarth of viflualles and u-
th(.r ftuffc for tlic fuflentatioun of mankinde now dailie incrfaffand,"
an A(il of Parliament was oiade, anno 1551, ordaining " that na Arch.
l>i(hops, Bifliops, nor Earles haTc at thair meal bot aught diflies of
neat : nor na Abbot, Lord, Priour, nor Deanc, but in. diflies of meat ;
eor na Barronne, nor Free-halder have but four difhes : nor na Burgcs
er uthtr fubft iniious man fall have bo: three difhes, and bot ane kind
of mcate in everie difhc ; The penalties for the refpedive clalTes being,
ane hundrcih pound for the firft, ane hundrcth markcs for the fecond,
forty potindes. for the third, and twenty markes for the fourth. Thi
ircreafing diartb of provifions is again mentioned in A<51 41, anut iSSSt
where exporcation of vt6luals is prohibited, wjth the exception of ' ba-
len bread, browen aile, and aquav'ita ( uifgi-beatha in Erfe, by contrac-
tion whiflcey) to the Weft lies. For fevtral years prior to 1551, the
wo (ertile counties of Berwick and Roxburgh had been unmercifully
plundered by the Englifli, who after the unfortunate battle of Pinkey,
kept almofl un interrupted pofTcfiion of the fores of Roxburgh, Lauder,
Jiumc, tiaildington, and Dunglafs, to the conclufion of peace in 1550.
This circumftance alune vvasfuflicient to produc" 2 fcarcitv.
SATIRF.
SAtiRE OV TH AG;
(about 1548.)
I.
VJuHAiR is the blythncs that hes beln,
Bayth in burgh and landwart, fein
Amang lordis, and ladeis fchein ;
Danfing, finging ; game, and play ?
Bot weilrl wait nocht quhat thay mein :
All merrines is worne away.
II.
For nou I heir na wourde of Yule,
In kirk, on caffay, nor in fkuil.
Lordis lat thair kitchings cule ;
And drawis thame to the Abbay :
And fcant hes ane to keip their ihule.
All houflialding is worne away.
III.
I faw no gyfars all this yeir,
Bot kirkmen cled lyk men of wcif.
That never cummis in the queir.
Lyk ruffians' is thair array j
To preitche and teitche, that will not leir;
The kirk gudis thai wafte away.
IV.
Kirkmen, afFoir, war gudc of lyf j
Preitchit, teitchit, and ftaunchit llryf j
Thai feirit nother fwerd nor-knyf.
For luif of God, the fuith to fay.
All honorit thame, bayth man and wyf ;
Devotioun wes nocht away.
Vol. III. L
8z CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRTf.
V.
Our faders wys war, and difcrclt ;
Tha had bayth honour, men, and meit.
With luif thai did thair tennents treft j
And had aneuch in prefs to lay.
Thai wantit nother malt, nor quheit ;
And merrines was nocht away.
VI.
And we hald nother Yule, nor Pace ;
Bot ftik our meit from place to place.
And we have nother luk nor grace ;
We gar our landis dowbil pay :
Our tennents cry * Alace ! Alace !
* That reuth and petie is away 1'
VII.
Now we have mair, it is weil kend.
Nor our forbearis had to fpend j
Bot far les at the yeiris end ;
And never hes ane merie day.
God will na ryches to us fend,
So long as honour is away.
VIII.
We waift far mair now, lyk vane fulis,
We, and our page, to turfe our mulis,
Nor thai did than, that held grit Yulis ;
Of meit and drink faid never nay.
Thai had lang formes quhair we have ftulis :
And merrines wes nocht away.
IX.
Of our wanthrift fum wytis playis ;
And fum thair wantoun vane arrayis j
Sum the wyt on thair wyfis layis.
That in the court wald gang fa gay ;
And care nocht quha the merchand payis,
Quhil pairt of land be put away.
X.
AJJEEN MARY, I342 1567. 83
X.
Tlie kirkmen keipis na profeffioun ;
The temporaie men commits oppreffioun,
Puttand the puir from thair poffeffioun ;
Na kjnd of feir of God have thai.
Thai cummar bayth the court, and feffioun :
And chafis charitie away.
XI.
Quhen ane of thame fiiftenis wrang.
We cry for juftice, heid and hang :
Bot, quhen our neichbours we our-gang,
We lawbour juftice to delay.
Affiiclioun blindis us fa iang,
All equitie is put away.
XII.
To mak alis we have fum feil ;
God wait gif that we keip thame Weil !
We cum to bar with jak of fteil.
As we wald boift the juge and 'fray.
Of lie juftice I have na Ikeil ;
Quhair rewle, and order, is away.
XIII.
Our laws ar lichtleit for abufioun ;
Sumtyme ar clokit with colufioun,
Quhilk caufis of blude grit efFufioun ;
For na man fparis now to flay.
Quhat bringis cuntrics to confufioun,
Bot quhair that juftice is away ?
XIV.
Quha is to wyte, quha can fchaw us ?
Quha, bot our nobils, that fuld knaw us,
And till honorabil deidis draw us ?
Lat never comoun weil decay ;
Or els fum mifchief will befaw us,
And nobilnes we put^ away.
XV.
84 CHRONICLE OP SCOTTISH POETUrt
XV.
Put our awn laws to executioun ;
Upon trefpafles mak punitioun :
To crewel folk feik na remifliouu.
For peax and juftice lat us pray j
In dreid fum ftrange new inftitutioun
Cum, and our cullome put awaj.
XVI.
Amend your lyvis, ane, and all ;
Els bewar of ane fuddane fall.
And pray to God, that maid us all.
To fend us joy that leflis ay ;
And lat us nocht to fin be thrall ;
Bot put all vyce, and wrang, away.
^od Richard Maitlartd of Lfdingtoun, Jknycht^
Vrom ilansas iii. iv, and xv. it may fafely be inferred that this Satire
was compofed within fome fliort time after the murder of Cardinal
Beatoun, and while the war with England Aill continued ; i. e. between
the years 1546 and 1550. The Scottifti Clergy muft have been, at that
time, in a ftate of confiderable alarm. The admonition addrcffcd to
them by Sir David Lindfay through the mouth of Cardinal Beaton could
not eafily be forgotten ; and the objefl of the war on the part of Eng-
land appeared to be no lefs than to unite the two kingdoms under one
head and one religion, the confequence of which would be immediate
ruin to the Catholic fyftem. The counties of Mers and Teviotdale
were in a great meafure fubje(5led to the Englilh yoke, and Henry had
even proceeded to affi^n the property of them to the conqiierours. The
Scottifh Clergy being evidently fo much intercfted in the fate of the
war, an Aft of Parliament was made in 1547, by which great encou-
ragement was held out to fuch of them as would join the army to de-
fend the country againft its " auld enemies of England." This accounts!
for their being " cled lyk men of weir," a fpccies of drcfs for which
Maitland, a Baron of the Mers, feemi to have entertained no partiality ;
his eftatcs of Blythe and Lcthington being, about tTial time, probably
1^ the mercy of Englifli foldierii.
osf
ON THE MALTCE OF POETIS,
- in allujion, it may he prefumedy to Sir David Lindfaj
and other rbiming declaimers againjl the vices and
ignorance of the Clergy ; WEDDERBURNEj^or exam^
pUf whofe Satires under the title of Gude and God-
lie Ballates, although not colleBed into a volume by
Robei t Smy the unfil nearly the end of the century^
were doubtlefs publijhed feparately about the middle of
this reign. In a M.anufcript hi/lory of the Kirk^
written in 1560, they are mentioned (^meaning the
printing and circulation 0/ them) as * the particular
means luhairby came the knowledge of Goddis truth
in the time of great darknefs :" And chiefly with a
view to the author or authors of them the 2jth Ai of
Parliament 1551 was rnade^ prohibiting the public^"
tion of cillfuch *' ballates y fanges, and tragedies, alt
Weill of Kirkmen as 'Temporally without licence, had
and obtained fra our Joveraine Ladie.''* Maitland's
verfes were yiritten probably before the pajjing of
that Ai.
OUM of the poyets and makars, that ar now.
Of grit dcfpyte, and malice, ar fa fow.
That all lefingis, that can be iuventit.
Thai put in writ, and garris thame be prentit ;
To gar the peple ill opinlbun tailc
Of thame, qiihom of thai thaii ballatis maik.
With fclanderous words thai do all thinjj thai can
for to defame mony gude honeft man,
In
B6 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
In fetting furthe thair buikis, and thair rymes,
Accufand fum of improbabil crjmes.
And, thoch that fum thair Ijbells does allow,
Yit few that will thair awin warks avow.
And thoch that thai bakbytars and blafphemars,
Now at this tjme, has monj thair mantenars.
The day will cum that thai forthink fall it
That thai have put fic lefings into writ.
To fleill ane manis fame is gritter fin
Nor ony geir that is this warld within.
Tliairfoir repent, ye ralars, and refloir
To thame thair fame quhom ye iklandrit befoir ;
To that efFel apply your wordes, and deidis,
III brute to tak furthe of the peple's heidis.
Cry toung ! I leid, throw all this natioun ;
Mak buiks and rymes of recantatioun.
Sic alteratioun may cum in this land
May gar ane tak ane uther be the hand, ^
And fay. Think on Te maid of me ane hallat^
For your reiuarde now I fall brek your pallat.
Men fould bewar quhat thing thai faid or did,
For it may cum to lycht lang lies bene hid.
Tliairfoire na man mak ballats, nor indyte,
Of ill, detradioun, fldander, nor difpytc.
Put not in writ that God, or man, may greif.
All vertew love ; and all vyces repreif.
Or mak fum myrrie toy, to gude purpofe.
That may the herar, and redar bayth, rejofe ;
Or fum frutful and gude Moralite :
Or plefand things, mayftand with chirrite.
Difpytful poyets fould not tholit be
In commounweils, or godlie cumpanie :
That forte ar (redie) ay to faw feditioun ;
And put gude men into fufpitioun.
^od Sir R. M. of Ledingtoun.
ON
ON THE KEW YEIR,
(Perhaps 1537, or 1558.)
o
I.
HIE etern?.! God of micht !
Of thy gvic gr ce, giiuv L. thj licht.
With hairt and mjnd finceir.
To leif efter thj lawis richt,
Now into this new yeir.
ir.
God kelp our Quein ; and grace hir fend
This realme to gjde, and to defend j
In juftice perfeveir :
And of thir warris mak an end.
Now into this new jeir.
III.
God fend grace to our Quene Regent,
Be law to mak fic puniftiment.
To gar lymmars foirbeir
For till opprefs the innocent.
Now into this new yeir.
IV.
Lord, fchent all fawars of feditioun ;
Remove all rancour and fufpicioun,
Quhilk maj this cuntrie deir.
Put all perturbars to punitioun.
Now into this new yeir.
V.
God fend paflors of veritie.
Be quham we may inftrudit be '
Our God to ferve and feir.
And to fet furth his wourd trewlie,
Now into tliis new yeir.
VL
6 8 CHRONICLE OF SCOTtlSH POETRY.
VI.
And tak awa the ignorantis
Of tha kirkmen that iryceis hauntis
And leidis us aireir ;
That bayth gud Ijf and cunning wantis j
Now into this new yeir.
VII.
God gif our lordis temporal
Grace to gif ane trew confal,
This realme to gyd and fteir ;
To be obedient and loyal,
Now into this new yeir.
VIII.
And tak away all grit opprelTours,
Comoun mantenars of tranfgreflburs^
Movears of ftryf and weir,
For theves and revars interceiTours,
Now into this new yeir.
IX.
Lords of the Stait, mak expeditioitn,
Gar everilk man mak reftitutioun
Of wrangus land and geir ;
And we fall eik our contributioun.
Now into this new yeir.
X.
Men of law, I pray yow mend.
Tak na ill quarels be the end
For profeit may appeir ;
Invent na things to gar us fpend
Our geir in this new yeir.
XI.
God grant our ladeis chaftitie,
Wifdome, meiknes, and gravitie
And have na will to weir
Thir clathing full of vanitie,
Now into this new yeir :
Xll.
<iUEEK MARy, 15411567* 89
XII.
Bot for to weir habiljement
According to thair ftait and rent ;
And all thingis foirbeir.
That may thair barnis gar repent
Heirafter mony yeir.
XIII.
God fend our burgefs' wit and flcill
For to fef*fuTth the commounweil ;
With lawtie fell thair geir ;
And to ufe met and mefure leil.
Now into this new yeir.
XIV.
And all vane waiftours tak away ;
Regrattours that tak double pay :
And wyne fellars our deir ;
Dyvours that drinkis all the day ;
Now into this new yeir.
XV.
Grace be to the gud burges' wyfis.
That be leifsum lawbour thryvis j
And dois vertew leir ;
Thriftie, and of honell lyfis.
Now into this new yeir.
XVI.
For film of thame wald be weil fed,
And lyk the quenis ladeis cled,
Thoch all thair barnes fuld bleir.
I trow that fie fall mak ane jred
Of all thair paks this yeir.
XVII.
God fend the comouns weil to wirk ;
The grund to lawbour, and nocht irk,
To win gude quheit and beir ;
And to bring futth bayth ftaig and ftirk,
Now into this new yeir.
Vol. III. M XVIII.
90' CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT,
xviir.
And tak awa thir ydle lounis,
Crjand wakkars, with cloutit gounis ;
And-^brnars that ar fweir ;
And put thame in the galiounis.
Now into this new yeir.
XIX.
I pray all ftaitis and degree
To pray to God continwalie
His grace to grant us heir :
And fend us peax and unitie
Now into this new yeir.
^od Sir Richard Maitland.,
St. 2.1. 4. Ti/r warrij.] Mr Pinkerton's original edition reads,
' her wawis," which poffibly may fignify " her waes ;" but Queea
Mary experienced no oonfiderable afflidlions before the death of her
hufband the Dauphin in Dec. 1560: be&des, the word is never fpelt
" wawis," but " waes," or " wais." The pafiage feeming thus to be
erroneous, I have ventured to fubllitute " thir warris," weiris or wars,
applicable to the firft of the year (zjth March) either of 1557 or 1558 ;
the Eaft borders being in a turbulent ftate in IJ56, and the Queen Re-
gent having endeavoured to provoke a war with England in I557. -
The ' contribution" mentioned in St. 9th favours the laft of thefc
dates, an attempt having been made in fummer 1557 to eftabhfh a
ftanding army to be fupported by ft " contribution" of a certain pro-
portion of annual income.
St. 18. 1. 2. Cryand ivaliiars, perhaps " clamorous beggars;" but I
rather fuppofe " cryand" to be an error for Catheran or Ketheren, a
word which occurs in Regiam Majeflatcm, and feems to denote fome
fort of idle vagabonds who fubfiftcd chiefly by plunder. Sec GUJfary.
ON
OF THE WYNMING OF CALICE,
(^January 1558, *' whereby all the Englijh footing was
lojl in the Continent of France ^^^
I.
JtvEjois, Henrie, moft Chrlftine King of Fraunce !
Rejois, all peopill of that regioun I
That with manheid, and be ane happy chance,
Be thy Levetennent trew, of greit renown.
The Duik of Gweis, recover it Calice towne.
The quhilk hes bene, twa hundreth yeirs begane^
Into the hands of Inglis natioun ;
Quha never thocht be force it micht be tane.
ir.
But we may fe that mennis jugement
Is all bot vaine, when God plefis to fchaw
His michtie power : quha is omnipotent ;
For, quhen he plefis, he gars princes knaw
That it is he alane quha rewlis aw :
And mannis helpe is all bot vanitie;
Think that it wes his hand that brak the waw :
Thairfoir gif gloir to him eternalie.
III.
Sa hie ane purpois for to tak in hand
Quha gaif that prince fa grit audacitie ?
To feige that town, that fa ftranglie did (land ?
And quha gaif him fie fubftance and fupplie ?
And quha gaif him at end the vidorie ?
Quha bot grit God, the gydar of all things ?
That, quhen he plefis, can princis magnifie :
And for thair fyn tranflat realmes and kingis.
92 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
IV.
That nobil king wes gritlie till avance,
Quho, efter that his captanes of renoun
Had tynt ane field, be hafard and mifchance.
Yet tjnt na curage for that misfortoun :
Bot, lyk ane michtie valyeant campioun.
Be his Levetennent, and nobil men of weir,
Tuik upon hand to feige the llrongeft toun
Into the deidefl tym of all the yeir.
V.
Thairfoir ye all that ar of Scottis blude,
Be blyth, rejois for the recovering
Of that flrang toun : and of the fortoun gude
Of your maift tendir freynd that nobil king ;
Quhilk ay wes kynd in help and fupporting
Of yow, be men, and mony copious :
And in his hand hes inftantlie the thing
To yow, Scottis, that is maift pretious.
VT.
Sen ye love God in thingis outwardlie,
In fyris, and piocefSoun generale ;
Sua, in your hairtis, love him inwardlie.
Amend your ly Vs ; repent your fynnis all :
Do equal reflbun, bayth to grit and fmall.
And everie man do his vocatioun ;
Than God fall grant yow, quhen ye oa him call,-
Of your fayis the dominatioun.
VII.
Sen God in the begynning of this yeir.
Unto that king fa gude fortoun hes fend ;
We pray to him fie grace to grant us heir.
That wc get Berwick our merches for to mend,
Quhilk, gif we get, our bordours may defend
Agains Ingland, with His help and fupplie.
And then I wald the weiris had an end ;
And we to leif in peax, and unitie.
^^od Sir Richard Maitlajid.
OF
OF THE OJJENIS RtARYAGE TO THE DOLPHIN OF FRANCE .
(1558.)
1.
J. HE grit blythnes, and joy ineftimabil.
For to fet furth the Scottis ar nocht abil y
Nor for to rnak condigne foiemnitie,
For the gude news, and tjthings comfortabil.
Of the contraft of marjage honorabil,
Betwix the Quene's maift nobil tnajeftie.
And the grltift young prince in chriftentie.
And alfua to us the maift profitabil.
Of France the Dolphin, firft fon of King Henric.
H.
All luftie wowars, and hardie chevaleris,
Go drefs your hors, your harnes, and your geiris^
To rin at lifts, to juft, and to turnay ;
That it may run onto your ladeis eiris
Quha in the field maift valiantlie him beris.
And ye, fair ladeis ! put on your beft array.
Requeift young men to ryd in your lev'ray,
That, for your faik, tliai may bicik twentie fptiridp
For luf of you, young luftie ladeis gay.
TIL
All butrowftownis, everilk man yow prayis
To maik bainfyris, fairfeis, and clerk-playis ;
And, thtow your rewls, carrels dans, and fing :
And at your croce gar wyn rin findrie wayis ;
As wes the cuftome in our eldars' day is,
Quhpn that thai maid triumphe for ony thing.
And all your ftairs with tapcftrie gar hing.
Caftels,.
94 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY;
Caftels, fchut gunnis ; fchippis, and galayis ;
Blaw up your trumpats, and on drummis ding.
IV.
Preiflis, and clerkis, and men of that pfofeflioun;,
With devote mynd gang to proceffioun.
And in your queiris fing with melodic.
To the grit God mak. interceffioun
To fend our Princefs gud fucceffioun
With her young fpous, to our utilitie ;
That eftir hir may governe this cuntrie ;
And us defend from all oppreffioun ;
And it conferve in law and libertie.
V.
Ye lordis all, and baroyns of renowne.
And all the ftaitis of this natipun,
Mak grit triumphe ; mak banket, and gud chere,-
And everilk man put on his nuptial gowne ;
Lat it be fein into the burrowftowne
That in your coffers hes lyn this mony yeir.
Sen that your Quene hes chofin hir ane feir*
Ane potent Prince for to mantein your crown^
And enterteinye yow in peax and weir.
VI.
Lat all the world, be your proceding, fee
That thair is fayth, and treuthe in your cuntrie ;
Luif, lawtie, law, and a gud confcience ; ,
Concotd, concurrand in peax and unitie ;
Obedience to the authoritie ;
Foirficht, provifiouii, and experience ;
Honour, manheid, juftice, and prudence ;
Quhilk, gif ye have, ye fall eftemit be,
And be ilk man haulden in reverence.
VII.
f) micbtie Prince, and Spous to our Maifttes y
Refave this rcalme in luif and hartlines :
Set
QJJEEN MARY, 1542 1567. pj
Set furth our laws, mantein our libertie.
Do equal juftice bayth to mair and les :
Reward vertew ; and punifch wickitnes :
Mak us to leif in gude tranquillitie.
Defend our commouns : treit our nobilitie.
And be thy mein our commounweil increg.
That we tak pJeflbur to mak politye.
VIII.
Scottis and French, now leif in unitie.
As ye war brether borne in ane cuntrie,
Without all maner of fufpicioun.
Ilk ane to uther keip trew fraternitie,
Defendand uther bayth be land and fee.
And gif that ony man of evil conditioun,
Betwix yow twa would mak feditioun,
Scottis, or French, quhat man that ever he be.
With all rigour put him to the punitioun.
IX.
O nobil Princes, and Moder to our Quein !
With all thy hairt to God lift up thy ein.
And gif him thanks for grace he hes the fend {
That he hes maid the inftrument, and mein.
With maryage to coupill in ane chein
Thir tua realmis, ather to defend.
Think weil warit the tyme thow hes done fpend ;
And the travale that thow hes done fuftein ;
^en it is brocht faow to fa gude ane end.
^od Sir Richard Mai t land.
This marriage was folemnized on the 14th of April 1558, cich of
the parties being nearly about 15 years of age. The Dauphin ufc4iid-
cd the throne loth July 1559, and died 5th Pec. 1560. Quc.-n Mary
arrived iii Scotland 19th Aug. 1561 ; about i4^nionths af:er the death
of her mother.
<> THE ASSEMBLIE OF THE CONGREGATIOUN ; A POEME
UMJy AT NEWYEIRISMESS IN THE YEIR OF GOD 1559.
I.
XIjTERnal God, O tak awaj thj fcourge
From us Scottis for thy grit mercie !
Send us thj help this land to clenge and purge
Df a// difcord, and inamitie,
Betwix the legis and authoritie.
That we may leif in peax, withoutin deir ;
In lawtie, law ; in luif and libertie ;
With merrines, now into this new yeir.
II.
Almichtie God, fend us fupport and grace !
Of mannis help for we ar all defparit.
To mak concord that had fie tym and fpace j
And nane, as jet, hes thair lawbor wairit ;
As na man war that for thi^ country carit.
Bot, and this flryf and trouble perfeveir,
He fall be feage that fall efcape unfarit,
And nocht thole paine, now into this new yeir.
III.
Think ye nocht fchame, that ar Scottis borne,
liOrdis, and barons of authoritie.
That throw your fleuth, this realmefould be foilorne:
Your grund dellroyit ; and your policie ?
-Sum wraik fall cum upon yow hafteiie :
That ye fall fay, ' Alace ! we war our fweir,
* Quhil we hadtym that maid na uuitie !'
Amend it yet, now into this new yeir.
IV.
QJJEEN fAAtCr, 1542^X567. 97
IV.
Trow ye to Ij lurk ; and to do na mair ;
To fee quhilk (yd fall have the viftorie ?
The quhilk at laft fall not help yow ane hair.
Ryis up ! Concur all ! And thame redlifie,
Quhilk with refoun will never rewlit be.
Ye [^muft] with force, withontin fraud or feir,
Mak weir on thame, as comoun inimie ;
And thame correft, now into this new yeir.
V.
God grant his grace to the inferiourls
Of this puir realme, thair quiete to confidder :
And till obey till their fuperiouris,
That lords and leiges, [as fifter and as bridder,^
In peax and luif for to remaine togidder.
Syn we war quyt of all the men of weir ;
That all trew folk, from Berwyk to Baquhidder,
May leif in reft unceft in this new yeir.
VI.
The Quenis grace, gif that fcho hes offendit
In hir office, lat it reformat be.
And ye, all leiges, lat your fait be mendit ;
And with trew hairt ferve the authoritie.
And ye, kirkmen, do ye your hail dewtie.
And all eftaitis, fyn and vyce forbeir.
The quhilk to do i prey the trinitie
I'o fend you grace, now into this new yeir.
VJI.
God ! mak us now quyt of all herefie ;
And put us anis into the richt way.
In thy law may we fa inilruftit be,
That we be nocht begylit erery day.
Ane fayis this : ane uther fayis fraj :
That we wait not quham to we fuld adheir.
Chrift fend to us ane rewle to keip for ay.
Without difcord now -into this new yeir !
Vol. III. N VIII.
9.8 -CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETR"?.
vm.
God fend juftlce this land to lewle and gyde ;
And put away thift, reif, and all oppreffioun :
That all trew folk may furelie gang, and byde ;
Without difcord had parliament, and feflioun.
To gar trew folk bruik thair pofleffioun.
And gif us grace, gud Lord ! quhil we ar heir.
To ryis from fjn, repentand our tranfgreffioun ;
And leif in joy now into this new yeir.
^od Sir Richard Maitland.
The title of The Congngation, by which the Proteftants in Scotland
were diftinguiflied at this period, was firft ufed by thenv in the folemn
bond figned by a few of the nobility 3d Dec. 1557, where it does not
apparently denote any fort of political affbciation, but feems rather to
have been adopted cither in imitation of the Englifh refugees at Frank-
fort la^lsSA ; or perhaps as a better tranflation than " kirk" (tempLim)
of the Latin or Greek ecchfta, in which fenfe alfo it had two hundred
years before that time been ufed by Wicliff ; his definition of " Church"
being " the Cbngregation of juft men, for whom Jefu Chrifl Ihcdd his
" blood ; of which Church Jefu Chrift is the head." This was precifely
the idea of the Scottifli Reformers. After the Solemn Bond, however,
was figncd, in tlie courfe of fummer IJ58, by numbers of people all o-
ver the kingdom, the Congregation came to be conCdered as quite a
church militant; relative to whom,^ Maitland here writeth,
Ye muft with force, withoutten fraud or feir,
Mak war oa thame, as commoun innemie."
St. iv. 1. 4. will call to the reader's recolleflion " a long pull, and a
flrong pull, and a pull all together," of famous memory in the Parlia-
mentary Chronicle.
St. V. 1. 4. as fifter and as bridder."] This part of the line beings
illegible in the MS. Mr Pinkerton has fupplied it with " may na mair
muk fliddcr,"
CTN
ON THE NEW YEIR.
(March 25, 1360.)
In this new yeir IJie hot tueir ;
Na cans tojing.
In this new yeir IJie hot weir ,-
Na cans thair is tojing.
I.
A CANNOT fing for the vexatioun
Of Frenchmen, and the Congregatioun,
That hes maid troubil in the natioun.
And monye bair bigging.
In this new yeir^ \c.
II.
I have na will to fing or dans.
For feir of England and of France,
God fend thame forow and mifchance,
In caus of thair cuming.
fy this neiv yeity %c. -
m.
We ar fa reulit, riche and puir.
That we wait not quhair to be fuire.
The Bordour or the Borrow muir,
Quhair fum perchance will hing.
In this new year yeir y 'iSc.
IV.
And yit I think it befl that we
Pluck up our hairt, and mirrie be.
For thoch we wald I7 doun and die,
It will us helpe na thing.
In this new yeir, ^c.
100 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETR*".
V.
Lat us pray God to ftaunche this weir ;
That we may leif withoutin felr,
In mirfines, quhil wc ar heir :
And hevin at our ending.
In this new yeir^ i^e.
^jtod Richard Maitland of Ledingtsun^ knycht.
Although the CoH^rtgatlon had now for about nine months been in a
ftatc of open rebellion, the reader will obfcrvc, that Sir Richard in this
new yeai's ditty fpeaks of them with lefs acrimony than in theprcced-
ing : one reafon for which, no doubt, was " the fear of England and oJ
France ;" by both of whom confiderable fupplies of forces had in the
month of January been fcnt to the aid of the two contending parties;
fo that it was by no means certain at prefcnt to which of the fides vic-
tory would ultimately incline. But MaitLind had now another reafon
for expreifing himfelf in cautious terms, " His Ion Wifliam, fays Knox,
" Secretair to the Queen ," (that is, to the then prefent Queen, Mary
Stewart, not to her mother,) " upoun All-haliow-evin pcrceaving him-
" felf not oaelie to be fufpefted as one that favourit our partie, bot al-
** fo to fland in danger of his lyif, gif he fould remane amang fo ungod-
** lie a cumpanye, convoyed himfelf away, (from the Quein's partie in
" the fortrefs of Leith,) and randerit himfelf to Kircaldic of Grange,"
one of the leaders of the Congregation. Maithnd's defedion appears
thus to have taken place within a week after the Congregation had fuf-
pcnded the Queen Dowager in her office of Regent ; and to this defec-
tion his father probably alludes in the third line of tlic third ftanza.
Off
OF THE (iPENiS ARRYVALE IN SCOTLAND ;
Augujl 1 561.
I.
JCiXCELLENT Princcs ! potent, and preclair.
Prudent, peerles in bontie and bewtie !
Maift nobil Quene of bluid under the air !
With all my hairt, and micht, I wylcum thee
Hame to thy native peple, and cuntrie.
Befeakand God to gif, the grace to have
Of thy leigeis the hairtis faythfuUie,
And thame in luif and favour to refave.
II.
Now fen thow art arryvit in this land.
Our native Princes, and illufter Quene !-
I traift to God this regioun fall ftand
An auld fre land, as it lang tyme hes bene.
Quhairin, richt fone, thair fall be hard and fenc
Grit J03-, juflice, gud peax, and policie ;
All cair, and cummer, baneiil quyte and clenc ;
And ilk man leif in gud tranquillitie.
III.
I am nocht melt, nor abil, to furthfet
How thow (\ill ufe difcreitlie all thing heir :
Nor of ane Princes the dew tie and the det,
Quhilk I beleif thy hienes hes per queir.
Rot, gif neid be, thair is anew can leir
Thy majeflie, of thy awn natioun ;
^nd gif thee counfal how to rewle and fteir.
With w^fdome, all belangand to thy woune.
IV.
101 CHRONldLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY,
IV. ^
Yet I exhort thee to be circumfpefl
Of thj Counfale in the eledioun.
Cheis fajthful men of prudens and efFe^,
Qiiha will for wrang mak dew correftioun j
And do jnftice, without exceptloun.
Men of gude lyf, knawlege, and confcience,
That will nocht failje for uffeHoun ;
Bot of gude fame, and lang experience.
V.
Quhilk, gif thow do, I hope that thow fall ring
Lang in this land in grit felicitie.
Will thow pleis God, he will thee fend all thing
Is nedeful to mantene thy toyaltie.
Quha gif the grace to gyd fa prudentlle.
That all thy doing be to his plefour ;
And of Scotland to the commoditie,
Quhilk, under God, thow hes now in thy cure.
Vf.
And gif thy hienes plefis for to marie.
That thow haif help 1 pray the Trinitie
To cheis, and tak, ane hufband without tarie
To thy honour, and our utilitie ;
Quha will, and may, mantem our libertie ;
Replete of wlfdome and of godlines ;
Nobill, and full of conftance and lawtie :
With guid fucceflioun, to our quyetnes.
VII.
Madame,' I wes trew fervand to thy mother j
And in hir favour Itud ay, thankfullie.
Of my eftait all3 weil as ony other :
Prayand thy grace I may refavit be
In fiklyk favour with thy majeftie ;
Inclynand ay to me thy gracious eiris ;
And, amang other fervands, think on me.
This lall rcquelt I lernit at thefreiris,
VIIJ.
qjCJEEN MARY, 1 542 1 567. 10^
VIII.
And thoch that I ta ferve be nocht fa abil.
As I wes wont, becaus I may not lee ;
Yet in my hairt I fall be ferme and ftabil
To thy hienes, with all fidelitie.
Ay prayand God for thy profperitle ;
And that I heir thy ,peple, with hie voce.
And joyful hairtis, cry continwallie
P^iva Marie tre nohil royne (TEfcofs,
^lod Richard Maitland of Lethingtoun.
St. vii. In what capacity Sir Jilc/jard hs,d ferved the Q^ecn Reijent,
is not altogether certain ; perhaps merely as one of the Lords of her
Privy Council. This flanza bears a confiderable refemblance to a cui i-
bus pafTage in a letter from his Ion William to Secretary Cecil, dated
10th Aug. of the preceding year (1560.) ' Although I do chiefly re-
fpefl the common caufe and publick eftate, yet doth my o-wfirivjte nit
a little move me to be careful in tliis behalf. In what cafe F ftahd,
you will eafily judge by fight of the indofed, which I pray you to re-
turn to mc with fpeed. [/ tie margin, " which I pray come not to light." J
I know by my friends in France, that flie (the (^ueen) hath conceived
fijch an opinion of my afledlion towards England, that it killeih ail the
means I can have to enter in any favour. But, if it might be compaff-
cd that the Queen's Majefty, and her Highnefs (Queen Elizabeth)
might be as dear friends as they are Coulins, then were I able enough
to have as good part in her good grace as any ether bf my quality in Scot-
land. If this cannot be brought to pafs, then I fee well, at length ic
will be hard for me " to d-u-ell at Rome and fight ivith the Pope ;" That
is, he was determined at all cvent to attach himfcif to the T rvice of
the Queen ; and accordingly, in ieis than three weeks after her arrival,
we find him mentioned as her confidential Secretary ; an appoiiitmcnc
which this very poem might tend not a little to accelerate.
AGANIS
AGANIS tHE THIEVIS OF LIDDISDAIL }
written perhaps in Summer 1561.
I.
KJt Liddifdalll the commoun theifis
Sa pertlie fteillis now and reifis.
That nane may keip
Hors, nolt, nor fcheip : Nor yit dar fleip,
For thair mifcheifis.
IT.
Thay plainly throw the cuntrle rydis,
I trow the mekil devil tharae gydis.
Quhair thay onfett.
Ay in thair gait thair is na yett.
Nor dure, thame bydis.
III.
Thay leif richt nocht, quhairever thay ga ;
Thair can na thing be hid thame fra.
For, gif men wald
Thair houfis hald, Than waxe thay bald
To burn and fla.
IV.
Thay thiefs have neirhand herreit haill
Ettrick foreft, and Lawderdaill :
Now ar they gane
In Lothiane ; And fpairis nane
That thay will waill.
V.
Thai landis ar with ftouth fa focht
To extreme povertie ar brocht.
Thai wicked fchrowis
Has laid the plowis ; That nane, or few, is
That ar left ocht.
\T.
^EEN MARY, 154I 1567. 105-
VI.
Bot cotnmoun taking of blak maill,
Thay that had flefche, ad breid, and aill.
Now ar fa wraikit,
Maid puir and naikit ; Fane to be flaikit
With walter-caiil.
VIL
Thai theifs that fteills, and turlis hame.
Ilk ane of tharae hes ane io-name ;
Will of the Law is ;
Hab of the Schawls : To mak bair wawis
Thaj think na fchame.
VIII.
Thay fpuilye puir men of thair pakis.
Thay leif thame nocht on bed, nor bakis.
Bayth hen, and cok.
With reil, and rok, ^he Lairdis Jok
All with him takis.
IX.
Thay leif not fpendil, fpone, nor fpeit ;
Bed, boflcr, blanket, faxk, nor fcheit.
fohne of the Parke
Ryps kill, and ark. For all fie wark
He is richt meit.
X.
He is weil kend, Johtie of the Syidc,
A gretar thcif did never ryide.
He never tyris
For to brek byris. Our muir, and myris,
Ouii glide ane gyide.
XI.
Thair is ane, callit Clement'' s Hobf
Fra ilk puir wyfe reiffis the wob.
And all the laif
Quhaiever thay haif. The devil refavc
Thairfoir his gob.
Vol. III. O XII.
106 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY,
XII.
To fie grit ftouth quha eir wald trow it
Bot gif fum greit man it allowit ?
Rycht fair I rew
Thoch it be trew ; Thair is fa few
That dar avow it.
XIII.
Of fum grit men thay have fie gait
That redy ar thame to debait ;
And will up weir
Thair flolin geir : That nane dar fleir
Thame, air nor lait.
XIV.
Quhat caufis theifis us our-gang,
Bot want of Jufliee us amang ?
Nane takis cair,
Thoch all forfair : Na man will fpair
Now to do wrang.
XV.
Of flouth thoeh now thay cum gud fpeid,
That nother of men nor God hes dreid,
Yit, or I die,
Sum fall thame fie, Hing on a trie,
Quhlll thay be deid.
^iod Sir Richard Maitland.
In Odober 1559, the leaders of rhe Congregation ventured to adopt
the bold meafurc of depriving the Qiieen Repent of her oflice and auf
thority ; from which time, to the arrival of Queen Mary, a period o
almoft two yearj, there was no regular Government in Scotland. The
Border thieves and robbers Jiegan in fummer 1561 to take advantage
)f this circumflance by " making continuale hcirfchippis, ftowthis, and
rclffis upoun the peaceable fubjedlis dwelland in the Inn-cuntries;" i. e.
the counties of Roxburgh, Selkirk, Mers, &c. Muitlind here repre-
fents thefe depredations iiu a manner that (bon produced the deCreJ ef.
fe<fi ; one of the firft ads of Queen Mary's Gcvcrnmcnt being the pu-
niflinicnt of the Liddifdale robber;,
NA
NA KYNDNES AT COURT WITHOUT SILLER }
{perhaps 1563.)
I.
OUMTYME to court I did repair,
Thairin fum errands for to dres ;
Thinkand I had fum freindis thait
To help ford wart my befejnes.
Bot, not the les,
I fand nathing bot doubilnes.
Auld kj-ndnes helpis not ane hair.
11.
To ane grit court-man I did fpeir ;
That I trowit my friend had bene^
Becaus we war of kyn fa neir j
To him my mater I did mene.
Bot, with difdene.
He fled as I had done him tene ;
And wald not byd my taill to heir.
III.
I wend that he, In word and deid.
For me, his kynfman> fould have wrocht.
Bot to my fpeiche he tuke na heid ;
Neirnes of blude he fett at nocht.
Than Weill I thocht,
Quhan I for fibnes to him focht.
It wes the wrang way that I yeid.
IV^.
My hand I put into my fleif.
And furthe of it ane purs I drew ;
And faid 1 brocht it him to geif :
Bayth gold and filver I him fcheWif
Tdan
108 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT,
Than he did rew
That he unkindlie me mifknew ;
And hint the purs faft in his neif.
V.
Fra tyme he gat the purs in hand.
He kjndlie Coujin callit me.
And baid me gar him underftand
Mj befejnes all haillalie ;
And fvvair that he
My trew and faythfull freind fuld be
In courte as I pies him command.
Vf.
For quhilk better it is, I trow.
Into the courte to get fupple.
To have ane purs of fyne gold fow ;
Nor to the hiaft of degre
Of kyn to be.
Sa alters our nobilitie.
Grit kynrent helpis lytil now.
VII.
Thairfoir, my freinds, gif ye will mak
All courte men youris as ye wald,
Gude gold and filver with yow tak ;
Than to tak help ye may be bald.
For it is tauld,
Ky mines of courte is coft and fold,
Neirnes of kyn na thing thai rak.
^uod Sir R. M. of Ledingtoun, knycht.
Sir Richard's mother was Martha Seaton, daughter of George, third
Lord Seaton, whofe grandfon, George, the Cxth Lord, was Provoft of
Edinburgh in the time of the Queer) Dowager's Regency ; and Aiafter
of the Houfehold, and a Lord of the Privy Ccunfel to her daughter
Queen Mary. It is not unhkcly that the " Court Man" here men-
tioned was this Lord Seaton; one of the few Noblemen who continued
ftaunch friends to the Queen Dowager and her daughter in all their moft
calamitous lituationt. Sir Richard Maitland in 1563 fuccecded him as
Lord Privy Seal. The poem may have been compofed at leaft upon
that occafion.
COUNSALE
COUNSALE TO HIS SON, EEAND IN THE COURT ;
(^perhaps 1565.)
Sir Richard Maitland haviug three fons^ William,
John, and Thomas, it cannot now be afcertained tit
which of them this piec^ of fahitary " counfale*
was addrejfed ; hut we may reafonahly fuppofe, txt
William, ifz&o became more cofnpleatly a Courtier hy
profcjjion than either of his brothers. The ad-vice ia
the 4th line of fian%a \fl affuredly mjifi allude to a
time when Scotland had a King , who, if not Franda
II, mufl have been King Henr}^ Stewart, who lore
the Scottijh Crown from Jiily 1565 to February
1567. Marj's third hujhand defervcs not to he na-K-
tioned ; and ]zmes Vl.feems too lat.
I.
JVIy fone, in court gif thow plcifis remaae.
This mj counfal into thy mind imprent.
In thy fpeiking luik that thow he nocht vane ;
Behald and heir; and to the King tak tent.
Be no lear, or ellis thow art fchent ;
Found the on treuth, gif thow wald well betyd.
To governe all and reull be nocht our bent.
He reulis w^il that weil in court can gyd.
II.
Be nocht ane fcornar, nor fenyat flatterar j
Nor yet ane rounder of i^nventit talis ;
Of it thow heirs be nocht ane clatterar.
Fall nocht in plic for thyng that lytil valis :
Have
liO CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
Have nocht to do with uther tnennls falis.
Fra wickit men thow draw thee far on fyde.
Thow art ane fule gif thow with fulis dalis.
He reulis well that weil in court can gyd.
III.
Bewar quham to thy counfal thow reveil.
Sum may feim trew, and yit diflcmblars be.
Be of thy promeis and conditioun leil.
Waift nocht thy guid in prodigalitie ;
Nor put thyne honour into jeopardie :
With folk, difamit nouther gang nor ryde.
With wilful men to argue is folie.
He reulis weil that weil in court can gyd.
IV.
Be na dyfar, nor playar at the calrtisy
Bot gif it be for paftyme, and fmall thing.
Be nocht blawin with windis of all airtis,
Conftance in gude of wifdome is ane fing.
Be wyfe, and tentie, in thy governing ;
And try thame weil in quhamc thow wilt confide :
Sum fair wourdis will gif, wald fe ye Iring.
He reulis weil that weil in court can gyd.
V.
Attour all thing ay to thy Prince be trew
In thocht, and deid ; in wourde, in yerk, and ficht :
Fra treflbnabil company efchew ;
Thy Prince profit, and honour at thy micht.
Set ay forward the puir, day and nicht.
And lat na thing the commoun weil elyde ;
And at all tymc maintcine juftice and richt.
He reulis weil that weil in court can gyd.
VI.
Thoch thou in court be with the hieft placit,
In honour, office, or in dignitie,
Think that fumtyme thow may be fra it chaffit ;
As fum hes bein befoir, and yet may be.
Neidfu.
<2J7EEN MARY, 15421567. ^H
Neidful it is thairfolr to gang warlie,
That ra^leflie thow fnapper nocht, nor Hyd.
Ken ay thjfelf beft in profperitie.
He reulis weil that weil in court can gyd.
VII.
Prefs nocht to be exaltit above uther,
For, gif thow do, thow fall be fair invjit ;
Grit peral is to tak on hand the ruther,
Quhil firfl that thy experience be tryit.
Think, at the laft thy doing will be fpyit,
Thoch thow with flicht wald cover it and hyd }
And all thy craft fall at the croce be cry it.
He reulis weil that weil in court can gyd.
VIII.
Bewar in gifiing of ane hie confale.
In maters grit, and doutfum, fpeciallie ;
Q^hilk, be the wirking of the warld, may fail,
Thoch it feem never fa apparentlie.
Behald the watldis inftabilitie,
That never flill into ane ftait dois byd ;
Bot changeand ay, as dois the mone and fee.
He reulis weil that weil in court can gyd.
rx.
Gif with the peple thow wald luifit l;c.
Be gentil, lawlie, and meik in thyn eftait.
For an thow be uncourtcs, provide, and hie,
Than all the waild fall the deteft and hait.
Flie feinying, flattering, falflieid, and diflait.
Invent nathiiig that may the realmc divj'd ,
Ox fall occafioun trouble, and debait.
He reulis weil that weil in court can gyd.
X.
Grund all tiiy doing upon futhfaftnes ;
And hald the ay gnd cumpany amang.
Gadder na geir with waft and wietchitne? ;
Preis nocht to confj[ueis onv thing with wrang :
T.vlU
m CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
Evil-gottin udis leftys never lang.
Tlioch all war thyne, within this warld fa wyd,
Th -)v; fall fra it, or it fra the fall gang.
He reulis weil that wfeil in court can gjd.
XI.
Above all thing, I thee exhort and pray,
To pleis thy God fet all thy bifiie cuire,
And fyn thy Prince ferve, luif well, and obey :
And, as thow may, be helpand ay the puire.
Sen erdlie thingis will nocht ay endure,
Tliairfoir in hevin ane place for the provyd ;
CHihair thair is joy, red, gloir, and all plefour ;
Onto the quhiik eternal God us gyd.
^uod Sir Richard Maitlattd,
Stained as the charader of William Maitland is with many blcmifiiei,
a Celebrated hiilorian has added one to the number, apparently without
fufiicicnt caufe. Undtr the year 1559, ^^ obferves, that " the Queen
(Regent) fufllred an irreparable lofs by the defection of her principal
y^trrf^ry, William Maitland of I.ethington." This circumftancc of ag-
gravation feems to be founded upon the ambiguous ciprcffion of
Knox, (already quoted, fee page 100,) who probably means the
Queen and Secretary of ij66, when he was compiling hishiftory, noiof
1559. In the lift of Secretaries, at the end of Scotftarvet's memoir^',
Maitland's name occurs firft in 1561 asSijcretary to Queen Mary, who
furely would not hate afligned to him that very poft which, to her
knowledge, he fo lately and fo lhamcfu!ly had delertcd.
ON
ON THE roLYE OF ANE AULp MAH'S MARYAND ANE
YOUNG WOMAN.
I,
XXMANG folyis ane grit folye I find :
Quhan that ane man, pad fyftie yeir of age,
Can in his vane confait grow fa blind
As for to join himfelf in maryage
With ane young lafs, quhais blude is in ane rage ;
Thinkand that he may ferve hir appetyte ;
Quhilk gif he fail, than will fcho him difpyte.
II.
*>till ageit men fould jois in moral talis ;
And nocht in tailis. For folye is to mary,
J'ra tyme that bayth thair ftrenth and nature falis ;
And tak ane wyf to bring thamefelf in tarye.
For frefche Maii, and cauld January,
Agreeis nocht upon ane fang in tune :
The tribbil wants that fould be fang abune.
III.
Men fould tak voyage at the laikis fang.
And nocht at evin, quhen paffit is the day.
Efter mid age the luifar lyis full lang,
Quhen that his hair is turnit lyart gray.
Ane auld gray beird on ane quhyte mouth to lay
Into ane bed, it is ane peteous lycht !
The ane crys Help 1 the uther hes no mycht.
IV.
Till have bene merchand, bigane mony yeir.
In Handwarp burges, and the toun of Bervie ;
Syne in the deip for to tyne all his geir j
Vol.111. F ~ With
J 14 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY,
With vane confal to pure hinifelfe, and herrie I
Grit peral is for to pas our the ferrie,
Into ane lekand bott, nocht nalit faft ;
To beir the fail nocht havand ane Iteif mafl.
V.
To tak ane maling, that grit lawbour requyris ;
Syne wantis grayth for to manure the land j
(Quhen feid wartis than men of teling tyiis ,)
Tlian cuuiis ane ; findis it waift lyand :
Yokis his pleuch j tells at his awin hand.
Bettir had bene the firlt had never kend it.
Nor thoil that fchame. And fa my tale is endit.
^uod Sir R. M. of Ledingtouny knychu
The remainder of Maitland'i pocmt belong to the reign of James tke
Sixth.
ALEXANDEI^
ALEXANDER SCOTT,
'* the Anacreon of old Scotti/h poetry, began to write
about the year 1550. His pieces " as obferved by
Mr Pinkerton, " are correSi and elegant for the age }
and almojl all amatory." In addition to thofe which
were puhlijhed by Lord Hailes and RamfayyVow the
Bann. MS. the reader is here prefented with a few more
from the fame four cCy being all that feemed worthy of
tranfcribing,
^0 what family or clafs of men Scott belonged f is not
jknown.
LAMENT OF THE MAISTER OF ERSKYN.
T.
JJeparte, departe, departe^ allace ? I moft dcparte
From hir that hes my hart, with hart full foir,
Aganis txxy will indeid, and can find no remeid,
I wait, the panis of deid can do no moir. '
II.
Now moft I go, allace ! frome ficht of her fweit face.
The grund of all mj grace and foverane :
Q^hat chans that may fall me, fall 1 nevir mirry be.
Unto the tyme I fc my fweit aganc,
III.
Il6 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
III.
J go, and wait nocht quhair, I wandir heir and thair,
I weip and fichis rycht fair, with panis fmart.
Now moil 1 pafs away, in wildirnefs and willful! 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 ?
I wofull wycht allone, makand ane petous mone,
Allace I my hairt is gone, for evir and ay.
V.
Throw langour of my fweit, fo thirlit is my fpreit^
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, ray joy and comforting,
My mirth and foUefing, of erdly gloir :
Fairweill, my lady bricht, and my remembrance rycht;
Fairweill, and haif gud nycht ; I fay no moir.
Alexander Scott.
Tc ii probable that tht perfon here meant was the Mafter of Erikinc,
killed at the battle of Pinkie- Cleugh. Knox fay , p. 79. " In that fame
" battel was flayne the Maifter of Erikin, deirlie belovit of the Quein,
" (Mary of Lorraine Queen-Dowager ;) for qiihomc fcho maid grit
" lamentatioun, and burc his deythc mony dayis in iftynd." This paf-
fagc in Knox may lead u to conjcdute what lady is here meant. H.
ANE
ANE NEW YERE GIFT TO THE QJJENE, QUHEN SCHO CaMK
FIRST HAME.
C1562.)
TChts poem furnijhes us with a prefent Jiate of Scotland
in 1561, (or^ perhaps, 1562,^ and on that account
is curious and inJlruEiive. I'he author affcBs impar-
tiality y and therefore it may be prefumed that the por-
traits which he draws are not much out oj" nature.
1.
VV ELCUM, illuftrat Ladye, and oure Quene ;
Welcum oure lyone, with the Flour e-de-lyce ;
Welcum oure thriffiU, with the Lorane grene f
Welcum oure rubent rois upoun the rjce ;
Welcum oure jem and jojfuU genetryce ;
Welcum oure beill of Albion to beir ;
Welcum oure plefand princes, maift of pryce ;
God gife the grace aganis this guid new yeir.
II.
This guid new yeii, we hoip, with grace of God,
Sail be of peax, tranquillitie, and reft ;
This yeir fall rycht and reflbne rewle the rod,
Quhilk fa lang feafoun has bene foir fuppreft ;
This yeir, fetme fayth fall frelie be confeft.
And all erronius queftionis put areir.
To laboure that this lyfe amang us left ;
God gife the grace aganis this guid new yeir,
III.
ilS CHROKICLE OF SCOTTISH PdETRT.
III.
Heirfore addres the dewlie to decoir.
And rewle thy rt- gne with hje magnificence ;
Begin at God to gar fett furth his gloir.
And of his gofpell get experience ;
Caus his tiew kirk be had in reverence ;
So fall thy name and fane fpred far and neir ;
Now this thy dett to do with diligence,
God gife the grace aganis this guid new jeir.
IV.
Found on the firft four vertewis cardinal!,
Oi wifdome, juftice, force, and temperance j
Applaud to prudent men, and principall
Of vertewus lyfe, thy worfchep till avance ;
Waye juflice equale, without difcrepance ;
Strenth. thy eftait with fteidfaftnes to fteir ;
To temper tyme with trew continuance,
God gife the grace aganis this guid new yeir.
V.
Caft thy confale he counfall of the fage.
And cleif to Chryft, hes keipit the in care,
Attingent notv to twentye yeir of aige,
Prefervand the fro all mifaventure.
Wald thow be fervit, and thy cuntr^ fure^
Still on the cortimoun-weill haif 6 and eis^j
Preifs ay to be protreftrix of the pure ;
So God fall gyde thy Grace this guid new yeir.
vr.
Gar ftanche all ftryfF, and ftabill thy eftaitis
In conftarice, concord, cherite, and lufe j
Be biffie now to banifch all debatis.
Betwixt kirk-men and temporall men dois mufe j
The pulling doun of policie reprufe.
And lat perverfit prelettis leif perqueir ;
To do the beft, befekand God abuve.
To give the grace ag?.nis this guid new yeir.
VIL
JQJTEEN MARY, 1342 1567, II9
VII.
At croce gar cry be oppin proclamatloun,
Undir grit panis, that nothir he nor fcho.
Of halye writ, half ony difputatioun,
Bot letterit men, or lernit clerkis thereto ;
For lymmer lawdis, and litle lafiis lo,
"Will argun baith with bifchop, preill, 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 prerogaty vis ;
For wantonnes thay wald nocht wed na wyvis.
Nor yit leif chafte, bot chop and change thair cheir ;
Now, to reforme thair fylthy litcherous lyvis,
God gife the grace aganis this guid new jeir.
IX.
Thay brocht thair baflardis with the flcrufe thay fkraip.
To blande thair blude with barrownis be ambitioun ;
Thay purcheft pithles pardonis fra the Paip,
To cans fond fulis confyde he hes fruitioun.
As God, to gif for fynnis full reraiflioun.
And faulis to faif frome fufFering forrowis feir.
To fett afyde fie fortis of fuperftitioun,
God gif the grace aganis this guid new yeir.
Thay loft baith benifice and pentioun that mareit.
And quha eit flefrh on Frydayis was fyre-fangit ;
It maid na mifs quhat madinis thay mifcareit ;
On fafting dayis, thay weie noclit bvint nor hangit :
Licence for luthiie fra thair lord belangit.
To gif indulgence as the devill did leir ;
To mend that menye hes fa monye mangit,
God gif the grace aganis this guid new yeir.
XL
110 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTKH POETRT,
XI.
Thay lute thy lieges pray to ijpkk's and ftanes.
And paintit paiparis, watti.nocht : i y meine ;
Thay bad thame bek artd liynSfH at ucia luennis banes j
OiFt-r on kneis to kife fyne faif tlian: kin :
Pilgrimes and paiiii^ii& pall with thame betwene,
Saiift Blais, Saiift Boit, bUte bodeis ein to bleir ;
Now to foi bid this grit abufe hes bene,
God gittlise grace ag^nis this guid new yeir.
XII.
Thay tyrit God with tryfiJlis tume trentalls,
And daiiit him vrith daylie dargeis ;
With owklie Abitis, to augment thair rentalis,
Maniana mort-mumlingis, mixt with monye leis.
Sic fan^tude was Sathanis forcereis,
Chrjftis fillie fcheip, and fobi. flok, to fmeir :
To ceifs all findrye fedlis of herefeis,
God gif th^ gtace agani? this guid new yeir,
XIII.
With mefs nor matynes nowayis will I mell,
To juge thame juftlie paflis my ingyne j
Thay gyde nocht ill that governis vveill thame fell,
And lelalie on lawtie layis thair lyne :
Dovvtis to difcus, for doctouris 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 icfTuviB of the fame bot foure,
So reprobatis Chriiiis buke dois rebute i
Wordis, without werkis, availyeis nocht a cute :
To feis thy fubjeftis fo in luf and fcir.
That rycht and reafoun in thy real me may rute,
God gif the grace aganis this guid new yeir.
XV
<iJIEEN MAUT, 1544 1567. I2t
XV.
The epIftoUis and evangells now ar prechit.
But fophiftrle or cerenaoneis vane ;
Thy pepill, maift pairt, trewlie now ar techit.
To put away idolatrie prophaine :
Bot in fun 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 fermbiis feme fa halye,
Singand Sanft Davidis pfalter on thUr bukis.
And ar bot bibl ftis fairfing full thair bellie,
Backbytand nychtbours, noyand thame in nuikis.
Rugging and r lifand up kirk-rentis lyke ruikis ;
As werrie wafpis aganis Godeis Word makis weir :
Sic Chriftianis to kifs with chanteris kuikis,
God gif the grace aganis this guid new yeir.
XVII.
Dewtie and dettis ar drevin by dowbilnes,
Auld folkis ar flemit fra young fayth profeflburs.
The gritted ay, the greddiar I gefs,
To plant quhair preiftis and perfonis wer pofleflburs j
Teindis ar uptane by teftament tranfgreflburs j
Credence is pad, oiF promeis thocht thay fweir:
To punifch Paplftis and reproche oppreflburis,
God gif the grace aganis this guid new yeir.
XVIII.
Pure folk ar famift with thii faffionis new.
They faill for fait that had befoir at fouth ;
Leill labourarislamentis, 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 calamiteis focowth,
God gif th6. grace aganis this guid new yeir.
Vol. IU. Q^ XIX.
12 1 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT,
XIX.
Proteftandis takis t.he freiris auld antetewme,
Reddie reflavaris bot to rander nocht j
So lairdis lipliftis mennis leifing ouir thy rewme.
And ar rycht crabit quhen thay crave thame ocht /
Ee thay unpayit, thy purfevandis ar focht.
To pund pure communis corne and cattell geir :
To vify all thir wrangus workis ar wrocht,
God gif th^' grace aganis this guid new yeir,
XX.
Poull biddis nocht deill with thingis idolatheit,
Nor quhair hypoctafie hes bene committit ;
Bot kirk- mennis curfit fubftance femis fweit
Till land-men, with that leud burd-lyme are knyttit j
GifFthou perfave fum fenyeour it hes fmfttit,
iSolift 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, fteidfafl to fland ftill.
That barrone, clerk, and burges be content ;
Thy nobillis, erlis, 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 in faitt fupeilatyve,
Caus everye ftait to thair vocatioun go,
Scolallik men the fcriptouris to defcryve.
And majeftratis to uie the fwerd alfo,
Merchandis to trafique and travell to and fro,
Mcchaniks wiik, hufbandis to faw and fcheir ;
So fall be welth and weilfaire without wo.
Be grace of God aganis this guid new yeir,
XXIII.
<^EEN MART, 1542 ^S^l' ^^2
XXIII.
Latt all thy realme be now in reddines.
With coftlie clething to decoir thy cors ;
Yung gentilmen for danfing thame addrefs,
With courtlie ladyes cuplit in confers ;
Frak ferce gallandis for feild gemi> enfots ;
Enarmit knychtis at iiftis with fcheild and fpeir.
To fecht in barrowis bayth on fute and hbrs,
Agane thy Grace gett ane guid-man this yeir.
XXIV
This yeir fall be Imbaffitis heir belyfTe,
Fox mariage, frome princes, dukis, and kingis ;
This yeir, within thy regioun, fall afyfe,
Rowtis of the ranked 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 ttiis yeir.
XXV.
Giffe fawis 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 Brucis blude fuld be :
Thow art be lyne fra him the 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 Chrifl caft thy comfort,
And chereis thame that thou hes undir charge ;
Suppone maift fure he fall the fend fupport.
And len th^ luftie liberos at large :
Beleif that Lord may harbary fo thy bairge.
To make braid Britane blyth as bird on breir.
And the extoll with his triumphand targe,
Viftoriuflie agan^ this guid new yeir,
L'Envoy,
134 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH fOT&r.
L'Envot.
XXVII.
Prudent, mals gent, tak tent, and prent the word is
Intill this bill, with will tham ftill to face,
Quilkis ar nocht Ikar, to baron far fra bowrdis,
Bot Icale, but feale, may haell avaell thj Grace ;
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 fpdc, with grace, folace, and peace, this yeir.
Lectori.
XXVIIL
Frefch, fulgent, flurift, fragrant flour, formois.
Lantern to lufe, of ladeis lamp and lot,
Cherie maift chaift, cheif charbucle and chois ;
Smaill fweit fmaragde, fmelling but fmit of fmot j
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.
St. 1. 4. a. " Wekum ourc lyone, lyith the flourc-de-lyce." This al-
ludes to the arms of Scotland, a lion with a border or treffure adorned
with flower de-luces. While the fcience of coats armorial was in high
cfleem, fuch allufions had beauty and dignity.
1. 3. The Lorane grene" In right of her mother Marie de
Lorraine. Guillim, in his Difplay of Heraldry, p. 18. has a profound
note on the colour green. " This colour is green, which confiftfth of
" more black and of Icfs red, as appcarcth by the definition. Viridis
" eft color nigredine copiofiore, et rubedine tiiiiiore contemperatus.
" This colour is blazoned vert, and is called in Latin viriJit, a vigere,
' in regard of the flrergth, frefhncfs, and liveliscfs thereof; and there-
fore befl rcftmblcth jouth, ic that mcfl vegetables, folong as they
' flouriIh>
KiUEEN MARY, 15421567^ I5
Aouriih are beautified with this verdure, and is a colour moft whole-
" fome and plcafant to the eye, except it be in a young gentlewoman's
* face.
1. 7. " Our fle/anJ ^rincci." So much has been faid of the
beauty of Mary Q_ieen of Scots, that the fuHjtdl miy fe.m cxhauftcd.
i can add one tcftimony which has been overlooked by her admirer^.
|t is from Adriani Turnek'i potmata, p. 31.
" Omnes hxc formas przllanti corpore et ore
" Esuperat, Paride ct pomu n vel juJice ferret :
'* Hate tereti filo ct proccro corpote furgit
" Primatvo fub flore."
From the fame poem, it appears that Mary Queen of Scots had the
fmall pox before her marriage with Francis II.
" Huic decus et tantum fpeciofx froniis honoren^
" Invidit Cythcrea Venus ; populatiq'ic fsevi
" Diva lue, obfcvit varii^ deformibus ora."
Her face, however, was not fpoilt ; for the author adds,
" Non tiilit invidiam Cyprite tamcn zcmula Juno,
Non Pallas." &c.
St. 6. 1. 5. " The pulling donn of polUie reprufc." Alluding to the
deftruftion of monafteries in 1559.
St. 9. 1. 2. " To blande thair bludc with barrownis be ambitioun."
The clergy were ambitious of giving their fpurious daughtcti in mar-
riage to men ol family. It would be invidious to enter into particulars.
They who are acquainted with the hitlory of SiTotland nted not be told,
that the beft blood of the nation was contamioaicd by fuch bafe mix-
tures.
St. 10. 1. I. " Thay loft baith benefice and pentioun that marcit."
Pitfcottie, p. 177. (edit. I"49.) fays, " They would thole no prcifl to
*' marry, but they would punilh and burn him to the dead ; but if he
' had ufed ten thoufand whores, he had not been burnt.**
' I. a. " And quha cit flcflh on Frydayis was fyrt-fanpt."
ranged or fcized by the fire ; i. e puniflied a heretics. Hifrotiie lays,
P- 343- " ' 'he end of February, the Qui en, Governor, Cartlinal, and
" Lords, held a Convention at St Johifton; there they cauftd hang
" feur honeft men for eating of a goofe on Friday." Mr Goodal!,
Examination, vol. 1. p. 15a. ispleafcd to lay, " TIii ftory let any nun
' believe who lifts." There fecnis to be no rcafon for diibciicf. The
paffage in Scot's poeni, ftiews that the fait was unaetftood to be true
by thofc who had better opportu.nify of infoimition than Mr Good-
all.
St. II.
fZ^ CHROWtCLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT,
St. ir. 1. 2. < And fiariif it fiaiparif, wattis nocht quhat thay meinc;*
^hey permitte'l thy lunj^ct* ro perform their devotions to coloured
prints, of wiiich they undcrftood not the fignification, as Virgil fpcaks
cf ^nea!,
" Mlratur, rerumque ignarus imagine gaudet."
- ' 1. 6. " Sanift Blais, Sanfl Boit, blare bodcis ein to bleir."
' To blear one's cycs,**^ h ufed, by Dunbar in Kennedy's Teftament,
" And yit he bleiris my Lordis ee."
The fenfe is, impofed on the credulity of the (imple, with tales of
the powerful intcrcellion of faints. Sanff Boit is probably an obfcurc
fcint called Boytban, here chofen on account of tlie alliteration.
St. 12. 1. 1. " Tunic trttitalit." A fervi^e of thirty maffrs performed
for the dead; daylie dargcs, daily dirigcs ; owklie abitis, weekly obits,
er fervice performed for th dead.
St. 13. 1. 1. Wiih me s nor matynes nowayis will I mell." The
jioet cautioufly avoids that topic, as the Qaeen had declared her fenti-
ments concerninj- it. There is a ftmarkablc paffage in Aymon, Syncits
mationaux des Eglips reformecs de France, tcni. I. p. 1 7. which has efcaped
the obfervaiion ol our hiftorians. The Cardinal Saniia Crucis write*
thus to Cardinal Bonomeo, 24th November Ij6i " Giunfe in quclla
* citta il Gran Priiire di Francia, ct Monfignore Danvilla figliolo del
" Signore Coneftabile, qu venivano di Scotia, donde portano nuova
que la R^gina D confervava nella rfligionc Cattolica conftantaniente,
* ct va rimediando e1 pin chc ella puo per il regno, In particolare
* racontano che andando un giorno alia mtlTj, furono due o tre voire
* fmorzate Ic candcle, da certi hcretici ; et che la Regina comparfe
" ntlla fua capella, er havendo havuto notitia di quefto fatto, chiamo
* un di quei Bartni il piu Luterano, et piu grandc che vi fofle, et gli
" comando che lui mcdefimo andafTc ad illuniinar quelle candrle, et
" poriarle all* altare, et fu fubbito obbedita." I tranfcribe the Italian
s I find it, althoujjh it may require correftion. Aymon tranflates
Baroni by the French l-elitrcs, and herce makes the fenfe to be, that
the Queen ordered the grcateft fcoundrcl of the company to light the
tapers which the heretics had exiinguilhed. Baroni in this place means
Bc.rons or Neblcmtr., and nothing elfe.
1 he fame letter reports mort news from tJinfe young gentkmen,
|>3nicularly, That the Queen had threatened to hang three burgomaftr..
*;f a certain territoty fi r having bariiftied the Foj.ifli piiefts.
St. 15. 20. Thcfe Oanzas contain much curious matter concerning
the Oate of Scotland in 1561. When the Reformation tock place, ma-
y of the Commons exptded to be eafcd of the payment of tithes; but
though the exa&ors were changed, payment was flill exacScdwith all
the arcient rigour. The rrlorrocd clergy exprdled iha; the tithes wouici
be applied to charitable ufcs, to the advancement of learnii.g, and the
maintenance
QtTEEN MARY, I542 1567. 127
ti'Aintcnance of the miniftry. But the Nobility, when they thsmfelves
had become the eiaAors, faw nothing rigorou'? in the payiiicnt of
tithes, and derided thofe devout imaginationi. Sec Knox, p. 256.
St. 25, In a collcdion of Prophecies publiftied by Audio Hart 1615,
there is a myfterious rhapfody called the prophecy of Berlington, which
contains the following pafiTagcs :
St. 16. 1. I, A few years before this, an A& of Parliament was made
" anent them that perturbis the Kirk ;" by one of the regulations of
which, the Di-an of Gild.kirk-maftrrs, and rewlers, wcr ordained " /#
gar leifche bairnis that maltis perturbation or impediment in the time of
divine fcrvice."
" Of Bruce's left fide fliall fpring out a Icafc
" A? near as the ninth degree,
" And fhall be fleemed of fair Scotland
*' In France far beyond the fca.
" And then fhall come again riding
" With eyes that many men may fee.
" At Aberlady, he fliall lighr
" With hempen heltcrsand horfe of tree."
" However it happen for to fall,
" The Lion (hall be Lord of all,
" The French wife fliall bear the fon
" Shall weild all Britain to t]>e fea,
And from the Bruces blooil fhall come
" As near as the ninth degree."
" Yet ihall there come a keen knight over the fait Tea,
" A keen man of courage, and bold man of armes,
*' A Duke's fon doubled, a born man in France,
" That fhall our mirths amend, and mend all our harraes, &.'C.
This prophecy was originally intended for the Duke of Albany, Re-
gent of Scotland during the minority of James V. Ah xander Duke
of Albany, the brother of James III was obli^^td, for his disloyal prac-
tices, to leave Scotland, and retire into France. He married the daugh>
tcr of the EaVl of Boulogne. By her he had a fon, John Duke of Al-
bany, born and educated in France.
I ccDJCiflure, fays 1-ord Haihs, that Uie prophecy wascompofed after
the death of James IV. and before the arrival of the Duke of A'baiiy
in Scotland, i. e. between Scptpmbtr 151.3, and June 1515. At that
period Scotland was reduced very low. James IV. and the flower of
the nobility, had fallen at Floudden ; his fon an infant ; faiSion, diftrull,
and dcfpondency, every where. This was a fit feafoa for a politic im.
poftor to revive the hopes of a fuperllitious people,
A J
128 CimONICLE OP SCOTTISH fOEtRT.
As the prophccj of Berlington had not been fulfilled in the Duke of
Albany, the next age refolved to new-model it, and to point out its
probable completion in Queen Mary.
" Scott therefore fuppofes thit the perfon who was to rule Britain, was
to be the fon of a woman defcended from Robert Brnce in the ninth
degree ; and inftitutcs his calculation thus : i. Margery Bruce. 2. Ro-
bert II. &c. whereby Mary becomes the ninth. It is not wonderful that
the prophecy Ihould hare been revived and applied to Mary in I56Z.
At that period Elizabeth, Queen of England, wa thirry ; Mary, the
rext heir, twenty ; and furely the moii likely woman of the two. Be-
fides, foreigners were apt to confider the title of Qneen Elizabeth as
principally depending on poffcflion : And Roman Catholics were apt
to confider her as an ufurper. In fuch circumftances it was not very
piefumptuous to affert that the progeny of Mary had a fairer chance of
reigning in England than the progeny of Elizabeth. It Was no more
than pYophccying on the fide of the odds. The Prophecy of Tbtmas
shi Rhymer is partly an unmeaning affemblage of the names of the Scot-
ti(h nobility, partly a relation of paft events ; (many of the lines, and
even whole flanzas copied almoft vtrhatim from that of Berlingttn.') It
is amazing that Archbifhop Spotifwood, a man of fenfe, and a fcholar,
ihould have imagined that this pretended prophecy was ancient (i. e.
written in the 13th century by 7bm3s Learmoittb, called the Rhymer.)
The author does not affume the charadler of Thomas the Rhymer;
but, on the contrary, repeats what Thomas the Rhymer, hisyiw/VM/^, i<
fuppofcd to have (hewn him. The language is not of the 13th centu-
ry, but rather (of the x6th.) approaching to Spotifwood's own times.
By language, I mean the turn of exprcflion, and cadence of the num-
bers." , /
Any ancient poem of moderate length, upon which Lord Hailes has
thought fit to make a fingle obfervation, cannot be altogether unwor.
thy of a place in a compilation of this nature. Bcfides, in tlie moflar-
eient and moft correA edition of it now extant, there appears to be a
variety of inaccuracies which feem capable of being removed, merely
by the tranfpofition of about four or five lines. Without fafther apo-
logy, therefore, I here prcfcnt the reader with a correflcd gopy of thit
popular legend.
THE
THE PROPHECY OF THOMAS THE RHYMER.
I.
Still on my wayisasT went.
Out thruch a land bcfyd a lie,
I met a bairne apoun the way,
Methochc him feimly for to fie.
II.
I afkt him hailly his intent ;
Gudc Schir, ii that your will be,
Sen that ye byde upon the bent,
Sum uncuth tydingt tell you me.
III.
Quhen [all all tha wciris be gane,
That leil men may leif in lie ?
Or, quhen fall Falfet ga fra byne.
And Lawtie blaw his horn on hie ?
IV.
Then faw I tway knichts on a lee.
And thay war airmit feimlie new,
Baith crofTcs on thair breifts thay bare,
And thay war cled in divers hew.
V. .
Of Hndrie cuntries als thay wer.
The tane on red as onie blode,
Had in a fheild ane dragoun kene,
And fteir'd his ftcid as he war wode,
yi.
V/ith crabbit wordis fcharp and kene.
Rycht fo the uther bairn him by,
Quhais hois did all of filvcr Ihine,
Hi bordour azur lyk the Iky. I <
Vll. ^
His iheild was fchapit rycht feimlie;
With filk and fabill Weill Was plot;
In it a rampaud I.youn kein
Seimlie into gold was fet.
Vol. III. R Viii.
l^O CHROKICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT,
VIII.
I luiklt than far ouer a grein,
And faw ane lady on a lie ;
The fie a ane had I neucr fcin,
Ij'ho lycht of hir fchynit fa hie.
IX.
Attour the muir quairthruch fcho fure.
The feildit methocht fayr and grein,
Scho raid apoun a fleid ful (lure,
That fic a aoe had 1 neuer fein.
X.
Hir fteid wes quhyt as onte milk ;
His mane, his taill war baith ful blae,
Ane fyde faddil, fewit with filk.
As it war goud, it glitterit fae.
Xf.
His harneifling was fylk o\ Inde,
And fet with precius ftanis frie ;
He amiit on ane nobill kinde.:
Aponc hir heid dude crownis thrie.
XII.
Hir garments war of gowels gay ;
Boi uthir colour faw I natie.
Ane flyand foul then did I fee
L,ycht befyd hir on ane ftane;.
XUI.
A fiowp iotill hir hand fcho hair.
And halie water had ready.
Scho fprinklit the feild baith heir and thair,
Said, Tbair fall mooie deid corps ly :
XIV.
At yon brig upon yone burn,
Quhdir the water rins brycht and fchein,
Thair fall monie ileidis fpurn.
And knychtift dc thruch bactail kein.
XV.
To the two knychtis than cuth fcho fay :
L.at be your ftryif, my knychtis fre.
Ye tdk your hors, and ryde your way.
As God ordainis, fa mud it be.
XVI.
iiiT\& George ! quhilk art mine awin knycht,
Ye A ill be forcit the fsild to tae :
San<a Andre ! thow has the rycht.
But thy wrangous heir* fall wirk the wac,
xvir
qjJEEN MARY, 1 5 42 1 567. 13^
XVII.
Now ar thay on thair wayis gane,
The Ladie and the knychtis tway.
To that bairn then can I mane,
And afltit tydingsby my fay.
XVIII.
(^hat kind of ficht was that, I faid
Thow fliewit me upon yon lee ?
Or quhairfrom cam yon kiiichtis two ?
They feimit of ane far countrie.
XIX.
That Lady thst I lat you fic.
That is the Quein of Hevin fa bricht.
The fowl that flew doun by her knie,
Is Sandi Michael, meikii of micht.
XX.
The knychtis twa the fcild will ta,
Quhair monie man in fcild fall ficht;
Knaw ye weill, it fall be fa.
And die fall mooie a genttjl knicht.
XXI.
With Deith fall raonye a douchtie deil;
And Lordis all be then away.
Thair in nane herrell now can tell
Quha fall witi the fcild that day.
XXII.
A crownit King, with armies thrie,
Under the banner fall be fct ;
Two falsand fainyet thair fall be.
The third fall fight and maik grit let.
XXIIl.
Banneirs fyve again fall ftryve.
And cum in on the uther fydc ;
The quhite Lyoun (ail bet thame doun.
And wirk thame wae with woundis wyde.
XXIV.
But the beiris heid, with the red Lyouo,
Sa fweitlie into red gold fett,
That day fall fliy the king with crown,
Thoch monie Lordis mak grit lett. '
XXV. *
Thair fall attour the water i)f Forth^
Set in gold the red Lyoun ;
And monie Lordis out of the North
To that battcll fall maik thame boun.
XXVi.
132 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH PaETRT.
xxvr.
Thair fall crefcentis cum full keiti,
That weirs the crocc as rctd as b'udc ;
On ilka fydc fall forow befcjn,
Defoulcd is monie doughty bredc,
XXVIi.
Befydc a loch upon a lie :
Thay fall alTembil upon a day,
And monie douchty man fall die ;
Few in quiet fall found away.
XXVIII.
Onr Scottis Kin^ fall cum full keic ;
The red LyouH beireth he :
A fedderit arrow fharp, I wein,
Sail maik him wink rycht wae to fee,
XXIX.
Out of the feild he fall be led,
Yit to his men then fall he lay,
" For Goddis luve, turn yow aganp,
'* And gif yon Soutbion folk a fray.
XXX.
" Quhy fould I lofe ? the richt is mmc ;
" My fate is not this day to die.
* Yonder is Falfett fled away,
" And Lawtie blaws his horn on hie."
XXXI.
Our bludy King that weirs the^rown,
Than bauldlie fall the battel bide ;
His banneir fall be beaten down.
And haif na boil his hcid to hyde.
xxxri.
The fternisthrie that day fall die
Quhilk bcirs the hart in filver flicin ;
Thair is na riches, gold, nor flie.
May length his lyif ane hour, I wein.
XXXIII.
Twyfs thruch the field that knycht fall ride,
And twyfs rrflcew the King with crown.
He fall maik monie a iranncr yeild.
The knycht that bcarii the toddis breion.
* XXXIV.
Bot quhan he fies the Lyoun die.
Than wait ye weill,he willbewac.
Befyd him feichtis bairnis thrie ;
Two ar quhite, the thrid is Mac.
XXXV.
^EEN MARY, I542 1567. I33
XXXV.
The toddisthair fall flay the two.
The thrid ol thame fall maik bim die.
Out of the feld fall ga na mair
ot anc knicht, and knaifis thrie.
XXXVI.
Thair cummis a bainncr red as b'udc
In a fchip of Clvcr (heyne ;
With him cummis monye ferlie brudc '
To wirk the Scotti* grit hurt and peync.
XXXVII.
Thair cummis a gaift out fra the weft,
Is of another langage than he.
To the battell bounis him in htil,
Sune as the feinye he can fie.
XXXVill.
The rachcs wirks thame grit wantcA
Quhair.thay ar rayit on a lie.
I can nocht tell yow quho hath the beft,
Ilk on of them maiks uther die.
XXXIX.
A quhite fwan fet into blae.
Sail fembyll now fra the fouth fie.
To work the Northern folk grit wac.
For knaw ye weill, thus fall it be.
XL.
The ftaikkis aucht, with filwcr fet.
Sail fembyll fra the other fide ;
Ur.fill he and the fwan he met,
Thay fall wiik vyac with woundis wide.
XLI.
Thair woundis wyde thair weids hath wtt.
So baldlie will thir bairnis byda ;
It is na reck quha gettis the belt,
Thay fall baith die in that fam tydc.
Xl-II.
Thair cummis a Lord out of the north,
Ridand upon a hors of trie,
That brade landis hath beyond Forth ;
The quhite hind beireth he.
XLUI.
And twae inches that ar blae,
Set into gold that is fo frie,
That day the eagle fall him tac.
And then put up his banner hie.
XLIV.
134 CHRONICLE 05 SCOTTISH POETRY.
XLIV.
The Lord that beirs the lozans thrie.
Set into gold with gowels two,
Befoir him fall anc battell be.
He weirs a banner that is blew.
XLV.
Set with peacock taillis thrle.
And lufcie Ladies heidis twa ;
Unfain of uthcr ilk fall be.
All through greif togidder they go.
XLVI.
The eagle grey fet into grein.
That weirs the hartis heidis thrie,
Out of the fouth he fall be fein.
To light and ray him on a lie.
XLVII.
With fyfiie fyve knichts that arc kcin^
And Earlis either two or thrie.
From Carlyl lall cum bedein,
Again fall they it nQer fie.
XLV I If.
At Pinkln Cleugh there fall be fpilt
Mukil geiitill blude ihat day ;
Thair fall the bear lofe the gylt^
And the eagill beir it away.
XLIX.
Befoir the water men calls Tyne,
And thair ourlays a brig of ftane,
The beiris thrie fall lofe the grie,
Thair fall the eagill wyn his name.
L.
Thair cummis a bcift out of the weft,
With hibi fall cum a fair menye,
His banner hath bene feldom fein.
A baftard, trow I beft, he be ;
LI.
Gottin with a LadJe Hiein,
And a knitht in privitie ;
His armis ar ful eith to know,
The red Lyoun beirith he.
Lir.
That Lyotjn fall forfaken be,
And be richt glad to be away
Into ane orchyard on a lie.
With htrbis grcne and aljcis gray.
J.1II
^TJEEN MARY, 1 542 1 567. 1^5
Lin.
Thair will he enlaked be.
His me lye fayis, harmefay ;
The eagill puts his banner on hie,
And faifs the feild he won that day.
LIV.
Thair fall the Lyoun ly ful ftill
Into a vaillie fiir and bricht.
A Lady (hunts with wordis (hill,
Andfayis, Wae wirth the, coward knicht !
LV.
Thy men ar flane apoun yon hill, ,
To deid ar monie douchty dicht.
Thereat the Lyoun lykcth ill.
And raifeth his banneir hie on hichf.
LVI.
Upon the tnuir that is fa grey,
Befyd ane heidles croce of (lane,
Thair fall the Eagil die that day,
And the red Lyqim win the natne.
LVII.
The Eagils thrie fail lofc the grie
Quiiilk thay half had this monie a day ;
The red Lyoun fall win renoun,
Win all the feild, and heir away.
LVIII.
One crow fall cum, another fall ga.
And drink the gsntill blade fa fic.
Qnhen all thef>; ferlics wer away,
Then faw I nane but I snd he.
LIX.
[Th n to the bairn f.ft cuth I fay,
Qahair dueUis th(iw ? Ii quhat cuntrle ?
Or quho (all rewl the iK Britain
Fra the North to the South (ic ?
LX.
The French wife fal heir the fon
S I rewl at Britane to the fie;
Tliat of the Bruces blude fal cum
As neir as the ninth degrie.]
LXJ.
I frainit faft what was his inme ;
Q^h I cc tl at he cam From quhat cuntrie.
}n K fl 'jrione I dwell at hame ;
''Tharjias the Rvmtr men call mc.
3<
CHRONICLE or SCOTTISH POETRT,
It is cvidint that the whole of this rhapfody, from ftanza 4. to ftanza
35, has a reference to the fatal day of Floddcn field; the latter part of
it, to that of Pirikey ; and that the two contending nations are therein
dif)in<ftly reprefented by their tutelar faints, St. George and St. An-
drew.-^The Englifh champion in ancient legends is fometimes denomi-
nated the ' Kuycht of our Lady ;" but there is fome appearance here
asif thf- author had an eye to Mirgarct, Queen of James IV. of Scot-
land, upon whofe " head ftude crownis thric;" (he being at that time
(151J) heir apparent to her brother Henry VII!. and her fecond huf-
banc' a l^night of the order of ' S:. Michael "
Be thl^, however, as it may, cveiy reader muft be fatisfied that the
< crownit king with armies thrie" is James IV. at the battle of Fiod-
den ; reprefented in ftanzas 14, a8, &c. as " beat down by the white
lyon," Howaid Earl of Surry ; and that the ' Sternis thrie" in the
32d. ftanza, with equal certainly, denote the Mailer of Angus, who,
with his brother Sir William Dotiglas, and many more of the fame fa-
mily fell there with their Soveieign.
From ftanza 36 to ^5 the allufions are all to the war of 1547 ; parti-
cularly to the battle of Pinkey. Two of the Eii>ili{h leaders, the Earl
of Warwick, and Lord Grey, are clearly dillingiiilhed by their armorial
beariugs ; viz. the S>van, and the Eight (father fix) bars acrofs the
fliield : As alfo the Earl of Huntly by the ratclus (hounds) his fupport-
er;, and the vvhite hind, his crcft. The pcrlonagc dcfcribed from ftan-
za 50 to 55 is not fo eafily made out; perhaps Matthew Stewart,
Earl of I>ennox, married to Lady Margaret l>ouglas, niece of Henry
Vlir. ^:id daughter of the Earl of Angus. The Earl of Lennox was,
at that time, entiicly under the iriioence of the Englifli Court. Some
of the particulars of this defcription arc to be found, word for word,
in Berlington's prophecy : 1 (hall not fay, borrowed from it ; for, af-
ter all, it is not quite clear which of them contains the oldeft ftanza?.
The whole of thefe ridiculous prophecie:- puhlilbcd under the names of
Eeriingtnn, Thomas the Rhymer, Merlin, Bede, Waldhave, Gildas,
Sybilla, &c. allude chiefly to Scotland, and have, in allrefptds, a great
rcfemblance to one another, being apparently made up, m a great mea-
fure, of fcraps of much older things of the fame nature. In two of
them the year I485 is enigmatically pointed out as likely to become a
remarkable epoch ; in another, Tjaa; and in a.thiiJ, 1549. In the
foi ni we now God them, however, they all probably made their appear-
ance between the years 1538 and IJ48.
The book of prophecies being very common, it is not wotth while to
point cut the few (light corrctftions which have here been made.
Tir
THE JUSTING AND DEBATE UP AT THE DRUM,
BETWIXT WILLIAM ADAMSON AND JOHNE SYME.
" Allan Ramfay imagined that the fcene of aSlion was
in the Bannatyne MS. the DoUn ; whereas it is the
Drum, near Dalkeith^ now Somerville-houfe. 'This
circumjlance feems to point out that ScOTT was an in-
habitant of Dalkeith. The humour being temporary
and iocalf is now in a great meafure loji" H.
I.
J. HE grit Debate and Turnatnent,
Of treuth no toung can tell.
Was for a lufty lady gent,
Betwix twa freikis fell ;
For Mars the God armipotent
Was not fa ferfs himfell.
Nor Hercules, that aiks uprent.
And dang the devil of hell j
Up at the Drum that day.
II.
Doutles was not fo duchty deidis
Amangis the dowfy peiris,
Nor yit no clerk in flory reidis
Of fa triumphand weiris ; .
Vol. hi. S To
138 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
To fe.fo ftoutly on thair fteidis
Tha ftalwart knjchtis fteiris,
Quhyle bellyes bair for brodding bleidis'
With fpurs as fcherp as breiris.
And kene up at the Drum that day.
in.
Up at the Drum the day was fet.
And fixit was the feild,
Quhair baith thir noble chiftaius met
Enarmit under fchield ;
They wer fae hafty and fae het,
That nane of them wad yeild,
But to debait, or be doun bet.
And in the quarrell keild,
Or flane up at the Drum that day. *
IV.
There was ane better and aue worfs,
I wald that it wer wittin.
For William wichtar wes of corfs
Nor Sym, and bettir knittin.
Sym faid. He fet nocht by his forfs,
But hecht he fuld be hittin.
And he micht counter Will on horfs,
For Sym was better fittin
Nor Will up at the Drum that day.
V.
To fee the flryfe come yunkers flout.
And mony galyiart man,
All dointies deir was thair hot dout,
The wyne on breith it ran :
Trumpettis and fehalmis, with a fchout,
Playid or the rink began,
And eikwall juges fat about
To, fee quha tint or wan
The field up at the Drum that day.
vr.
QJJEEN MART, 1542 1567. 1 39
VL
With twa blunt truncher fpeiris fquair,
It was their interpryifs
To fecht with baith their faces bair.
For luve, as is the gyifs ;
A friend of theirs, throu hap cam thair,
And hard the rumor ryifs ;
He ftall away their flings baith clair,
And hid in fecret wayifs,
For Ikaith up at the Drum that day*
vir.
Strang men of armes and of micht,
Wcr fet them for to fidder ; ^
The harrald cryd, God fchaw the ricbt,
Syn bad them go togidder.
Quhair is my fpeir ? fays Sym the knicht.
Sum man go bring it bidder ;
But wald they tary thair all nicht,
Thair launces cam to iidder
And flaw up at the Drum that day.
VIII.
Sym flew as fery as a fown,
Down frae the horfs be flaid,
Sayis, He fall rew my fliaff" has flown.
For I fall be his deid.
William his vow plicht to the powin.
For favour or for feid,
Als gude the trie had nevir grown,
Quhairof my fpeir was maid
To jufl up at the Drum that day.
IX.
Thair vowis maid to fun and mone.
They raikit baith to reft,
Them to refrcfch with their disjone.
And of their armour kefl; j
Not
140 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
Not knawing of the deid wes done,
Quhen they fuld half fawn befl.
The fjre was pifcht out lang or none,
Their dennaris fuld haif dreft.
And dicht up at the Drum that day.
X.
Then wet thay movit out of mynd,
Far mair than of beforne,
They wift not hou to get him pynd.
That them had driven to fcorn :
Ther was nae death mycht be devynd.
But aithis haif thay fworn,
He fuld dcir by, be thay had dynd,
A.nd ban that he was born.
Or bred up at the Drum that day.
XI.
Then to Dalkeith they made thame boun,
Reid-wod of this reproche, ,
There was baith wyne and yenifoun.
And barrells ran on broche.
They band up kyndnes in that toun,
Nane frae his feir to foche,
For there was nowder lad nor loun
Micht eat ane baikin-lotch
For fownefs, up at Dalkeith that day.
XTI.
Syne after denner raife the din.
And all the toun on fteir.
"U'illiam was wyifs, and held him in.
For he was in a feir.
Sym to haif bargain cowld not blin,
But bukkit Will on weir.
Says, Gif thou wald this lady win,
Cum furth and break a fpeir
With me, up at Dalkeith this day. ,
XIII.
ftlJEEN MART, I542 1567. I4I
XIII.
Thus flill for bargane Sym abjddis,
And fchoutit Will to fchame.
Will favv his faes on baith the fyddis,
Full fair he dred for blame :
Will fchortly to his horfs he flydes.
And fayis to Sjrm be name.
Better we baith were buyand hyddis
And wedder Ikynnis at hame.
Nor heir, up at Dalkeith this day.
XIV.
Now is the grume that was fae grym
Richt glad to leif in lie.
Fy, thief, for fchame, fayis littll Sym,
Will thou not fecht with me !
Thou art mair large of lyth and llm.
Nor 1 am be fie thrie.
And all the field cryd. Fy on him,
Sae cowardly tuke the flie
For feir, up at Dalkeith that day.
XV.
Then every man gave Will a mok.
And faid. He was owre meik.
Says Sym. Send for tliy broder Jok,
I fall not be to fiek ;
For were ye fourfum in a flok,
I compt yow nocht a liek,
Tho' I had rycht not but a rok
To gar your rumpill reik
Behynd, up at Dalkeith this daj -.
XVI.
There was richt nocht but haif and ga.
With lauchter, loud they leuch,
Quhen they faw Syn^ fie courage ta,
And Will mak it fae teuch.
Sym
141 GHROMICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
Sjm lap on horfeback lyke a ra,
^ And rau him till a nuche.
Sajs. Villiam. cum lyde tlcw-i this bra,
Thocht ye fuld brek. a buche.
For lufe, up at Dalkeith this day.
XVII.
Syne down the bra Sym braid lyke thunder,
And bad Will follow faft ;
To grund, for ferfenes, he did funder,
Be be mid-hill had paft.
William faw Sym in fie a blunder,
To ga he wes agaft ;
For he affeird, it was nae wounder
His courfour fuld him caft,
And hurt him up at Dalkeith that day.
XVI 1 1.
Than all the yonkers bad Will yield.
Or doun the glen to gang ;
Sum cryd the coward fuld be keild.
Sum doun the heuch they thrang ;
Sum rufcht, fum rummyld, and fum rield,
Sum be the bewches hie hang:
Thair avers fyld up all the feild.
They were fae fou and pang.
With eife, up at Dalkeith that day,
XIX.
Than gelly John came in a jak,
To field quhair he was feidit,
Abone his brand a bucklar blak,
Bail foil the beirn that baid it ;
lie flipit fwiftiy to the flak,
And rudly doun he raid it,
Before his curpall was a-crak,
Could na man tell quha maid it,
For laucluer, up at Dalkeith that d^y.
XX.
^EEN MART, I542 1567. I43
XX.
Be than the bougil gan to blaw.
For nicht had them owretane :
Alace, faid Sym, for faut of law.
That bargan get I nane.
Thufs hame with mony crack and flaw
Thej paffit every ane ;
Syne partit at the Potter- raw,
And findry gaits are gane.
To reft them within the toun that nicht.
Quod Alex. Scott,
Like Chrifi't Kirl on the Greene, this imitation of it fceiBS to have fuf-
fered by abfurd augmentatitm. The cppy in the MS." ends with the
following ftanza, to all appearance, unconnedled with any part of the
poem :
This Will has he beguild the May,
And did hir marriage fpill ;
He promift hir to let him play,
Hir purpofc to fulfill ;
Frae ftho fell few, he fled away,
And came nae mair hir till ;
Quherforc he tint ttie feild that c'ay.
And tuke him to a mill,
To hyd him as coward falfe of fay.-
St. viii. 1. 5. " plicht to the powin." Bound himfrlf by a vow ti>
thp peacock, according to the ufyal cuftom of Knights upon their un
dcruking to give fonie confpicuou? proof cf their viloar.
C0UNS>4Lr
COUKSALE TO WANTOUN WOWARIb.
[From the Bannatyne MS.]
I.
X E blindlt luvaris, luke
The reklefs lyfe ye leld.
Efpy the fnair and huke
That halds you be the heid.
Thairfoir, I reid remeid,
To leife and lat it be ;
For lufe hes non at feid
Bot fulis that can not fle.
II.
Quhat is your lufe bot lufl:,
Ane littill for delyte ;
And beftly game robuft.
To reif your reflbun quyte,
Ane fowfum appetyte,
That ftrenth of perfon waikis j
Ane paftance unperfyte.
To fmyte you with the glaikis.
III.
Quhair fenfuall luft proceids,
All honeft lufe is pynd ;
Ye ma compair your deids
Unto ane brutall kynd. -
Fra vertew be contrynd
To follow vyce, confiddcr
That reflbun, wit, and inynd,
Are all ago togidder.
IV.
qjJEEN MARY, 1 542 1567. 245
IV.
The wyfeft woman thairout.
With wirdis may be wjllit,
To do the deid, but dout
That honour hes exjllit.
How mony ar begyllit.
And few I find that chaipis ;
Thairfoir your faithis ar fylit
To frawd thay filly aipis.
V.
Ye mak regaird for grace
Qiihair nevir grace yit grew j
Ye lang to rin the race
That ane or baith fall rew ;
Ye preifs ay to perfew
Thair fyte and awin forrow ;
Ye treft to find thame trew
That nevir wes beforiow.
VI.
Ye cry on Cupeld king,
And Venus quene in vane ;
Ye fend all maner thing
With trattils thame to trane ;
Ye preitche, ye fleitch, ye frane, ,
Ye grane ay quhile thay grant ; "
Your pretticks ar profane.
Pure ladeis to fupplant.
VII.
Ye fchout as ye wer fchent,
Thay fwoun to fe you fmartit ;
Ye rame as ye wer rent.
And thay ar rewthfull hairtit.
jfjliom play is fone pervertit,
Fra that thair belly ryfs }
Thay wary yow that gart if^
And ye thame in lykwyfs.
Vol. III. t Vlil.
t^6 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH TOETKT,
VIII.
YIt thair is lefum lufe
That lauchtfullj fuld left ^
He is nocht to reprufe
That is with ane pofTeft.
That band I hald it beft.
And nocht to pafs attoar,
Bot ye can tak no reft
Quhill thay kaft up all four.
IX.
Sic luvaris feyndill meitis,
Bot ladeis ay forlorne is
Quhen thay bewaill and greitis.
Sum of you lawchis and fkornis.
Your hecht, your aith menfworne Is,
Your lippis ar lyk burd lyme j
I hald ye want bot hornis.
As bukkis in belling tyme.
X.
Ye trattill and ye tyft,
Quhill thay foryet thair fame ;
Ye trane thame to-ane hyft,
And thair ye get thame tame.
Thay fufly nocht for fchame.
Nor caftis nocht quhat cumis fyne j
Bot quhen ye claw thair wame,
Thay tummyll our lyk fwyne.
XI.
Nocht yung perverfit natouris
To palyardy applawddis,
Bot yit auld rubiatouris
That hant the laittis of lawdis.
Quhen thay begin fic gawdis,
To leif thay ar moft laith ;
Quhan thay half gottin blawdis,
With Venus bowtyne cleth.
XII.
^qtJEEN MART, 1 542 1 567, I47
XIL
Ye wantoun wowaris waggis
"With thame that hes the cunye ;
Haif ane bifmeir baggis.
Ye grunch not at her grun je.
Swa ladeis vvill nocht founje
With waiftit wowbattis rottin,
Bot proudly thaj will prounye,
Quhair geir is to be gottiu.
XIII.
Quhair money may yow moif,
I hald it averyce,
Thair is na conilant lufe,
Bot common merchandyce.
This ordour now is nyce,
Quhair lufe is fauld and coft.
It is ane dowbill vyce
To bring the Devill on loft.
XIV.
The bich the cur-tyk fannis ;
The wolf the wilrone ufis ;
The muill frequentis the annis,
And hir awin kynd abufis.
Rycht fwa the meir refufis
The curfour for ane aiver ;
Swa few i fyad excufis
Bot wemen quha will waver.
XV.
Yit pathettis few decreitis,
Saif ane hecht Pertonie.
Bot of your Sodomeitis
In Rome and Lumbardie,
In avillousltalie.
To compt how ye converfs,
I ug for villanie
Your vycis to rcherfs.
xvc
148 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
xvr.
Quhair Lechery bclappis.
All fteidfaft luve it ftoppis j
Quliair hurdome ay unhappis
With quenry, cannis and coppis^
Ye pryd yow at thair proppis.
Till hair and berd grow dapill ;
Ye covet all kyn croppis.
As Eva did the apill.
XVII.
Thus ye haif all the wyte.
And thair mifcheif ye mak it,
That fuld haif wit perfyte.
And wifdom to abftrakit.
Suld ladeis than be lakkit,
Thocht few of thame be gud.
For all diffait thay tak it.
Of your awin flelh and blude.
XVIII.
Wald ye foixfe the forme,
The faffoun, and the fek.
Ye fuld it fynd inorme,
With bawdry yow to blek.
Thairfoir fie fra fufpek.
Or than fa raot I thryfe,
Your natouris ye neglek,
And wantis your wittis fyve,
XIX.
Appardoun me of thifs,
Gif ocht be to difplefs yow.
And quhair 1 mak a mifs,
.My mynd fall be to meifs yow.
Thir reffouns ar to raifs yow
Fra crymes under coite ;
On war ye fay nocht, waifs yow !
Quod Alexander Scote,
COUNSALE
COUNSALE TO LUSTIE LADYIS.
[From Ramfaj's Evergreen, compared with the Banna,
tjne MS.]
1.
JL E lufty Ladjis, luke
The rackles lyfe ye leid.
Haunt nocht in hole or nuke.
To hurt your womanheid ;
I red, for beft remeid,
Forbeir all place prophane ;
Gif this be caijfe of feid,
I fall not fayt again.
II.
Quhat is fie luve but luft,
A lytill for delyte.
To hant that game robuft,
And beiftly apetyte ;
I nowther fleich nor flyte.
But ventie tell plain ;
Tak ye this in defpyte,
I fall not fayt again.
HI.
The wyfeft fcho may fone
Seducit be and fchent.
Syne frae the dcid be done.
Perchance fall fair repent ;
Ower late is to lament,
Frac belly dow not lane,
Therfor in tyme tak tent r
I fall not fayt again.
IV.
t'$0 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
IV.
X,icht wenches luve will fa win,
Evin Ijke a fpanjeolis lauchterj
To lat hir wyme be clawin
Be them lift geir betawcht hir;
For conyie ye may chaucht hir.
To fched hir fchankis in twane.
And nevir fpeir quhais aucht hir :
I fall not fayt again.
V.
Thocht bruckle women hantis
In luft to leid thair lyvis.
And wedow men that wantis
To fteil ane pair of fwyvis ;
But quhere that marriet wyvis
Gois by thair hufbands bane,
That houfhald nevir thryvis :
I fayt, and fayt again.
VI.
It fettis not madynis als
To lat men lowfe thair laicc,
Nor clym about mens hals,
To clap, to kifs, nor brace,
Nor round in fecreit place.;
Sic treatment is a train
To cleif thair quaver-cafe :
I fall not fayt again.
VII.
Fareweil with cheftetie,
Fra wenchis fall to chucking,
Thair followis thingis thre.
To gar them ga in gucking.
Bracing, graping, plucking ;
Tbir foure the futh to fane,
Enforfis them to bucking :
I fall not fayt again.
VIII.
QJ7EEN MARY, 134^ 15^7' '5*
VIII.
Sum luvis new cum to toun,
With jeigs to mak them jolj ;
Sum luvis danfs up and doun,
To miefs thair melancolj j
Sum luvis lang trolj lolj.
And fum of niggling fain,
Ljk fillocks full of foly:
I fall not fayt again.
IX.
Sum mone- brunt maidynis myld,
At none-tyde of the nicht,
Ar chapit up with chyld,
Bot coil or candle-licht ;
Sua lum faid, mayds has flicht
To play and tak na pane,
Syne chift thair fein fra ficht :
I fall not fayt again.
X.
Sum thinks na fchame to clap
And kifs in open wyifs ;
Sum cannot keip her yap
Frae Lnfing, as fcho lyifs ;
Sum goes fa gymp in gyifs,
Or fcho war kiffit plain,
Scho leur be japit thryifs :
I fall Hot fayt again.
XI.
Mair gentrice is to jot
Undir ane filkin goun,
Nor ane quhyt pettycot
And reddyar ay boun.
The denkeft foneft doun.
The faireft but refrain,
The gayeft greatefl loun,
I fall not fayt again.
XII.
i$% CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
XII.
The moir degeft and grave.
The grydiar to grip it j
The nyceft to reffave.
Upon the nynnis will nip it j
The quyeteifl will quhipit.
And nocht thair hurdeia hane ; "
The lefs, the larger hippit ;
I fall not fayt again.
XIIL
Lo lady is gif this be,
A gude counfale I geif you,
To fave your honeftie,
Fra iklander to releife you ;
But ballatis ma to breif you,
I will nocht break my brain,
Suppofe ye fould mifcheif you,
I fall not fayt again.
Quod Scott.
LVTZ
LUVE SULD BE USIT WITH PRUDENCE.
I.
Jr RA raige of youth the rjnk hes rune.
And reflbne tane the man to tune,
The brukle body than is wone.
And maid ane vefchell new.
For than thruch grace he is begunne
The well of wifdom for to kunne.
Than is his weid of vertew fpunne.
Treft Weill this taill is trew.
II.
For routh and will are fo conforfs.
Without that wifdome mak devorfs,
Thay rin lyk wyld undauntit horfs.
But brydills, to and fro.
Thair curage fa ourendis thair corfs,
Throcht heit of blude it hes fie forfs,
Bot gif the mynd haif fum remorfs.
Of God all is ago.
III.
This wid fantaftyk luft but lufe,
Dois fo yung men to madnefs mufe.
That thav may nouthir reft nor rufe
Till thay mifcheif thair fellis.
Haif thay thair harlottis in behufe,
Thay fufly not thair God abufe ;
Thair fame, thair wirfchip, nor reprufe
Of honour nor ocht ellis.
Vol. JII. U IV.
154 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
IV.
Ferme luve with prudens fuld be ufit,
Thocht fum allegeand to excus it.
Saying, that luve with will inclufit
Yit is not worth a buttoun.
Sic vane opinions is confuiit^
That ma but reflbun may be rufit.
Quha bene with beillly luft abufit, '
I hald him but ane muttoun.
V.
Quha wald in luve be eftimat,
Suld half thair hairtis ay elevat
With mertial mynds in doing that,
Mycht caufs thalr fais to dout thame.
Thocht women fclf be temerat,
Thay luve no man ^ffeminat.
And halds thame, bot I Wat not quhat.
That can nocht be without thame.
VI.
Yit man fuld favour thdme, howbeid
Thay be bot necefTar of neid ;
Becaufs we cum of thame, indeid,
Thair perfons filld be pryfit.
As giund is ordaind to beir feid,
So is the woman born to breid
The fruft of man, and that to feid.
As nature hes devyfit.
VII.
Schort to conclude, I wald baith knew
That luvaris fuld be leill and trew ;
And ladeis fuld all thingis efchew
That ma thair honor fmot.
Be permanent that wald perfew.
And rin nocht reklefly to rew,
Bot as I dired. Adew !
Thufs I depairt quod ScoTT,
OF
OF WEMENKYND.
I.
1 MUSE and mervellis in my mynd,
Quhat way to wryt, or put in vers.
The quent confaitis of wemen-kynd,
Or half thair havingis to rehers ;
I fynd thair haill afFeftioun
So contrair thair complexioun.
II.
For quhy ? no leid unleill thay leit,
Untrewth exprcfsly thay expell ;
Yit thay ar planeift and repleit.
Of falfet and diflait thair fell :
So find I thair afFeftioun
Contrair thair awin complexioun.
III.
Thay favour no wayis fuliche men,
And verry few of thame ar wyifs.
All gredy perfonisthay mifken,
And thay ar full of covettyifs.
So find I thair afielioun
Contrair thair awin complexioun.
IV.
I can thame call but kittie unfellis.
That takkis fie maneris at thair motheris,
To bid men keip thair fecreit counfailis.
Syne fchaw the fame againe till uthiris ;
So find I thair affeftioun
Contrair thair awin complexioun.
V.
15^ CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
V.
Thay lawch with thame that thay difpyt,
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 mcnis ;
Thay wald be trowit, and hes no trewth j
I'hay wifs thair will that Ikant weill wenys :
So find I thair affeftioun
Contrair thair awin complexioun.
VH.
Thay forge the friendfchip of the fremmit,
And fleis the favour of thair freinds ;
Thay wald with nobill men be nemoait.
Syne laittandly to lawar leinds :
So find I thair affeftioun
Contrair thair awin complexioun.
VIII.
Thay lichtly fone, and cuvettis quickly ;
Thay blame ilk body, and thay biekit ;
Thay kmdill faft, and dois ill lickly ;
Thay fklander faikles, and *fufpeftit :
So find I thair affeftioun
Contrair thair awm complexioun.
IX.
Thay wald haif all men bund and thrall
To thame, and thay for to be fre ;
Thay covet ilk man at thair call, '
And thay to leif at libertie :
So find I thair affeftioun
Contrair thair awin complexioun.
* MS. and thay fnfpeAIt,
X.
^EEN MARY, I54I 1567, I57
X.
Thay tak deljt in martiall deidis.
And ar of nature tremebund ,
Thay wald men nureift all thair neidis.
Syne confortles lattis thanae confound :
So find I thair affeftioun
Contrair thair awin complexioun.
XL
Thay wald haif wating on alway.
But guerdoun, genyeild, or regaird ;
Thay wald haif reddy fervands ay.
But recompans, thank, or rewaird ;
So find I thair afFeftioun
Contrair thair awin complexioun.
XII.
The vertew of this writ and vigour.
Maid in comparifoie it is,
That famenene ar of this figour,
Quilk clippit is antiphrafis :
For quhy ? thair haill afFedioua
Is contrair thair complexioun.
Xill.
I wat, gud wemen will not wyt me.
Nor of this feduU be efchamit ;
For be thay courtas, thay will quyt me ;
And gif thay crab heir 1 quytclamc it ;
Confeffand thair affeftioun
Conforme to thair complexioun.
Quod Scott.
X.UVfi
I-UVE ANE LEVELLAR.
I.
. X-iUVE preyfis, but comparefone.
Both gentill, fempill, generall ;
And of fre will gevis warefone.
As fortoun chanfis to befall :
For luve makis nobill ladeis thrall.
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, or feid,
Of riche nor pur to fpeik fuld fpair j
For luve to hienes hes no heid.
Nor lychtleis lawlines ane air,
But puttis all perfonis in corapair : ,
This prowerb planelj for to preve.
That men and women, lefs and mair,
Ar cumd of Adame and of Eve,
III.
Sa thocht my liking wer a leddy.
And 1 no Lord, yet nocbt the lefs,
Scho fuld my ferwice find als reddy.
As Duke to Duches docht him drefs ',
For as proud princely luve exprefs
Is to haif foverenitie,
So fervice cummis of fympilnefs,
And leileft luve of law degre.
IV.
<^EEN MARY, 1542 1567. Ij^
IV.
So luvarls lair no leid fuld lak,
A lord to lufe a fiUj lafs,
A leddy als, for luf to tak,
Ane propir page, hir tym to pafs.
For quhy ? as bricht bene birnelfl brafs
As filver wrocht at all dewyfs ;
And als gud drinking out of glafs
As gold, thocht gold gif grittar pryfs.
Quod Alex. Scott,
THE
THE BLAIT LUVAR.
I.
vJuHEN 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 mofl defyrus of thair pray ;
I hard a lufty luvar raene,
I luve, hot I dar nocht aflay.
II.
Strang ar the panis I daylie prufc,
Bot yet with patience I fuftene ;
I am fo fetterit with the lufe
Onlie of my Lady fchene ;
Quhllk for her bewty mycht be Quene,
Natour fa craftely alwey,
Hes done depaint that fweit fcherenq,
Quhome I luf I dar nocht aflay.
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 on that duke amene.
S^ cumly cleir ar hir twa ene.
That fcho ma luvaris dois effrcy.
Than evir of Grice did fair Helena.
Quhome 1 luf I dar nocht aflay.
GRATULATIOUN
GRATULATIOUN TO THE MONETH OF MAI.
I.
JVlAY is a moneth malfl ainene
For tham in Venus fervice bene.
To recreate thair havj hartis :
May cauffis outage fra the fplene.
And every thing in May revertis,
II.
In May the pleafant fpray uufpringis,
In May the mirthful maveis fingis j
And now in May to madyunis fawis,
"With tymmer wechtis to trip in ringis.
And to play upcoil with the bawis.
III.
In May gois gallandis bringin fymmer,
And trymly occupyis their tymmer.
With " hunt up^' evry morning plaid :
In May gois gentlewemen gymmer,
In gardynnis grene their grumes to glaid.
IV.
In May quhen men yied everichone,
With Robene Hoid and Littil John,
To bring in bovvis and birkin bobbynis j
Now all fie game is fall lings gone,
Bot gif it be amangs clowin Robbynis.
IV.
Abbotts by rule, and Lords but reflbne,
Sic fenyeoris tynes our Weill this felTone ;
Upon thair vyce war lang to waik,
Quhais Falfit, Feiblenefs and Treflbne,
Hes rung thryfs owie this zodiak.
Von. III. X VI.
i()^ CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POEXaT.
VI.
In May begins the golk to gail ;
In May drawls deir to doun and dale j
In May men mells with famynie.
And ladys meitis thair luvaris leil,
Quhen Phebus is in Geminie.
VII.
Sutter, new cheife, and beir in May,
Connans, cokkillis, curds and quhey,
Lapfters, lempets, muflels in fchellis,
Grein leiks, and all fie men may fey,
Suppofe fum of thame fourly fmellis.
VIII.
In May grit men within thair boundis.
Sum halkis the waiters, fum with houndis
The hares out throw the foreftis cachis,
Syne after them thair ladeis foundis.
To fcent the rynning of the rachis.
IX.
In May frank archers will affix
Ane place to meit fyne marrows mix.
To fchute at butts, at bankis and brais ;
Sum at the revers, fum at the prikkis.
Sum laich and lo beneth the clais.
X.
In May fowld men of amouris go.
To ferve thair ladies and na mo.
Sen thair releifs in ladies lyifs j
For fum may cum in favouris fo,
To kifs his loif on Buchone wyifs.
XL
In May gois damofells and dammis
In gardynnis grein to play lyk lammis ;
Sum at the barris thay brace like billers ;
Sum rinnis at barlabreikis like rammis.
Sum round about the ftandan pillars.
XII.
QJJEEN MARt, 1542 1 567. 163
XII.
In May gols madynis till Lareit,
And hes thair mynyeons on the ftreit.
To horfe them quhair the gate is ruch :
Sum at inchbuckling-brae thay meit,
Sum in the middis of Muflelburch.
XIII.
So May and all thir monethis thrle.
Are het and dry in thair degrie ;
Therefore ye wanton men in youth.
For health of body now haif ee.
Not oft to mell with thankles mdiith,
XIV.
Sen every paftyme is at plefure,
I council you to mel with mefure.
And namely now May, June, and July,
Delyt nocht lang in luvaris leifure.
But wcit your lipps and labour liuly.
Quod Scott.
St. 2. 1. 4. " ^ tymir.er wechtis ;" i. c. tansbour fieves. In
fiiape, fize, and materials, they referrble the upper part of A drum, and
arc ftill commonly ufcd in the winnowing of corn. Both tlie words
are more immediately of Bclgic origin; -wcchts from ivaegin, vacillare,
commoveri ; tymmer, a variation of tamboety tympanum. " Upcoil with
the bawis." to play with hand-bails, perhaps by throwing up, and a-
gain kepping or catching them ; a diverfion which was greatly prac-
tifed about this feafon of the year : As were alfo the games of Robin
Hoid, Lictil John, and the Abbot of Unreafon, mentioned above, p.
161, for the fuppreflion of which, our poet cxprtffe* no fmall regret;
accompanied with a fatirical allufion, we may fuppo/ic, to the Lords of
the Congregation about 1562. Sir Walter Scot of Buck-cleugh, to
whom the poet might probably be allied, Was one of the Queen's moft
firm and zealous fupporteri*.
St. 9. 1. 4. ' rcvers and prikkis ;" the long and (hoit dii^an-
ces-at (hooting with the bow and arrow. Moll of \\x other May revel*
here enumerated, arc well knowi:.
IN PRAIS OF THE TWA FAIR ENE OF HIS MISTRESS.
I.
T.
HOW well of vertew, floure of womanheid.
And patrone uuto patiens,
Ladj of lawtj baith in word and deid,
Rycht fobir, fweit, full meik of eloquens,
Baith gude and fair : To your magnificens
I me commend, as 1 haif done befoir,
My fempill heart for now and evirmoir.
11.
For evirmoir I fall you fervice mak.
Sen, of befoir, into my mynd I made.
Sen firft I knew your ladyfchip, bot lak,
Bewtie, youth of womanheid ye had,
Withouten reft my hart couth nocht evade.
Thus am I youris, and ay fenfyne haif bene
Commandit by your gudly twa fair ene.
HI.
Your twa fair ene makis ine oft fyis to fing.
Your twa fair ene makis me to fych alfo,
Your twa fair ene makis me grit comforting.
Your twa fair ene is wyt of all my wo.
Your twa fair ene may no man keip thame iro,
Withouttin reft that gets a ficht of thame.
Thus of all vertew weir ye now the name*
IV.
qjJEEN MARY, IJ42 1 567. 165
, IV.
Ye beir the name of gentilnefs of blude.
Ye beir the name, that mony for ye dels.
Ye beir the name, ye are baith fair and gude.
Ye beir the name that farier than yow feis.
Ye beir the name, fortune and you agreis.
Ye beir the name of lands of lenth and breid,
The well of vertew and floure of womanheid.
Quod Scott.
TO
TO HIS HEART.
IFrom the Bann. MS.]
I.
H.
LfiKCE hairt with hir that muft departe,
And hald the with thy foverane.
For I had lever want ane harte
Nor haif the hairt that dois me pane.
Therefore go with thy luve remaine,
And let me leif thus unmoleft ;
Se that thou cum not (back) againe,
Bot byd with hir thou luvis beft.
ir.
Sen fcho that I haif fervit lang
Is to depairt fo fuddanly,
Addrefs the now, for thou fall gang
And beir thy lady company.
Fra feho be gon, hairtlefs am I ;
For why ? thou art with hir pofleft.
Thairfor my hairt ! go hence in hy.
And byd with hir thou luvis beft.
III.
Thocht this belappit body heir
Be bound to fervitude and thrall,
My faithful heart is fre inteir,
And mynd to ferf my lady at all.
Wald God that I wer perigall
Under that redolent rofe to reft !
Yit at the leift, my hairt thow fall
Abyd Vv'ith liir thow lufis bed.
IV.
QUEEN MARY, 1542^1567. idj
IV.
Sen in your garth the lilly quhyte
May not remane amang the laif,
Adew the flour of haill delyte !
Adew the fuccour that ma me faif !
Adew the fragrant balmie fuaif.
And lamp of ladies luflieft !
My faithful hairt fcho fall it haif,
To byd with hir it luvis beft.
V.
Deploir ye ladeis cleir of hew,
Hir abfence fen fcho mod departe.
And fpecially ye luvairis trew,
Tliat woundit bene with luvis darte. "*
For ye fall want yow of ane hairt '
Als Weill as I, thairfore at laft
Do go with myn with rnynd inwart.
And byd with hir thou luvis beft.
Quod Scott.
PJT
DN THE DELYTE OF A LUVAR*S IN WART MURNYNQ.
[^Ftom the Bann. MS.]
1.
V^UHA is perfyte to put in wrjte
The inwart murnyng and tuifchance,
Or to indite the grit delyte
Of luftie lufis obfervance.
But he that may certane
Patiently fufFer pane.
To wyn his foverane
In refervance.
II.
Albeit I knaw of luvis law
The plefTour and the painis fmart ;
Yit I ftand aw for to furth fchaw
The quyet fecretis of my hart.
For it may Fortune raith
To do hir body Ikaith,
Quhilk wait that of them baith
I am expcit.
iir.
Scho wait my wo that is ago ;
Scho wait my weilfair and remeid ;
Scho wait alfo, I lufe no mo
Bot hir the well of womanheid.
Scho wait withoutten fail
I am hir luvar leil ;
Scho has my hart alhaill
Till I be deld.
TV
QJJEEN MARY, 1 5 42 1567.
IV.
That bird in blifs in beauty is
In card the only A per fe^
Quhais mouth to kis is worth, I wifs,
The warld full of gold to me.
Is nocht in erd I cure,
Bot pleifs mj lady pure,
Sjne be hir fervitur
Unto I die.
V.
Scho has my lufe at hir behufe j
My hart is fubjed, bound, and thrall,
For fcho dois moif my hart aboif.
To fe hir proper perfoun fmall.
Sen Icho has rewth at will
That natur may fulfill,
Gladlie 1 gif hir till
Body and all.
VI.
Thair is no wie can eftimie
My forrow and my fichingis fair j
For I am fo done fothfuUie,
Tn favour with my ladie fair.
That baith our hartis ar ane,.
Luknyt in lufis chene ;
And everilk greif is gane
For evir mair.
169
Quod Scott.
Vol. III.
XAMENT
LAMENT QIJHEN HIS WYFE LEFT HIN5.
T.
J. O luve unluvit it is ane pane ;
For fcho that is my foverane,
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 Maj,
To dance, to fing, to fport, and play.
And oft tjmes in my armis plet hir ;
I do now murne both nycht and day.
And breke my hairt, and nocht the bettir.
III.
Quhair I wes wont to fje hir go,
Rycht trymly pafland to and fro,
"With cumly fmylis quhen that 1 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 myfelf 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 thow may nocht hir pleis,
Adew ; as gude lufe cumis as gais.
Go chufe ane udir, and forget hir j
God gif him dolour and difeis.
That breks his hairt, and nocht the bettir.
QyoD Scott. cupid
CUPID QJJARELD FOR HIS TYRANIE, BLINDNES, AND
INJUSTICE.
I.
vjuHOME fould I wyt for my mifchance,
But Cupid king of variance?
Thy court, without confiderance,
Quhen 1 it knew ;
Or evir made the obfervance,
Sair, fair I rew.
11.
Thou and thy law ar inftrumentia
Of diverfs inconvenimentis ;
Thy fervice mony fair repentis,
Knawing the quarrcll,
Quhen body, honor and fubftance fchentis,
And faul in perel.
III.
Quhat is thy manrent but mifcheif,
Sturt, anger, grunching, yre and greif,
111 lyfe, and langour bot releife.
Of woundis fae wan,
Difplifour, pain, and hie repreife
Of God and man.
IV.
Thou luves all them that loudeft leis,
And follows falleft them that fleis ;
Thou lichtlies all trew properties
Of luve exprefs,
And marks quhen neir a ftyme thou feis,
And hits begefs.
1^2 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
V.
Blind buk ! but at the bound thou fliutes,
And them forbeirs that the rebutes ;
Thou ryves thair hartis fra the rutes,
Quilk ar thy awin,
And cures them that cares not three cutes
To be milknawin.
VI.
Thou art in ^iendlhip with thy fae.
And to thy beft freinds fremit ay,
Thou fleims all faithful men thee frae,
Of ftedfaft thocht, -
Regarding nane but? them perfay
That cures the nocht.
VII.
Thou chirriefs them that with the chyds.
And bannicfs them with thee abyds :
Thou hes thy horn ay in thair fyds
That cannot flie.
Thay furder warft in thee confyds,
I fay for me.
Quod Scott.
RONDEL
RONDEL OF LUVE.
1-jO quhat it is to lufe,
Lerne ye that lift to prufe.
Be me, I fay, that no ways may.
The grund of greif 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 difpkfour ;
Repentance is the hyre ;
Ane pure treflbur, v/ithout meflbur j
Lufe is ane fervent fyre.
III.
To lufe aud to be wyifs.
To rege with gud advyifs ;
Now thus, now than fo gois the gamp,
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.
Quod Scott.
TO
TO HIS HEART,
I.
IS ETURNE the hamewaft, hairt, aganc.
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 fic fantefie,
Luve nane bot as thay mak the caufe,
And lat her feik. ane hairt for the ;
For feind a crum of the fcho fawis.
If.
To quhat effe6l fould thou be thrall ?
But thank fen thou hes thy fre will ;
My hairt be nocht fa befliall.
But knaw quha dois the guid or ill.
Remane with me, and tarry Hill,
And fe quha playis beft their pawis,
And lat fiUok 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.
IV.
QJIEEN MARY, 1 542 1 567. 175
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.
Mj hairt be mirrj 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.
Quod Alex. Scott.
This poem is ftrangely interpolated in the Evergreen. The burden,
" For feind a crum of the fcho fawis," is literally, D a bit of thee
befalls her ; i. e. fhe has no fhare in thee.
St. 4. 1. 7. " And let her fallow ane filly fair."' Let her match her-
felf with a fair filly, here ufed for a handfome young man, or fellow.
A LUVARI?
A LUVARIS COMPLAINT.
I.
C^UHAIR luve is kendlit comfortles,
Thair is no fever half fo fell ;
Fra Cupid keifl his dart be gefs,
I had na hap to faife mj fell.
Lyik as my wofuU hairt can tell,
My Inwart painis and fiching fair.
For Weill I watt the painis of hell
Onto my pane is nocht compair.
II.
For ony mellady ye ma ken.
Except peuir luve or than ftark deid.
Help may be had fra handis of men.
Throw meddecyne to mak remeid.
For harmis of body, hands, and held.
The pottingaris will purge the painis ;
Bot all the membaris are at feid
Quhan that the law of lufe remainis.
III.
As Tantalus in water llandis,
To ftanche his thirfty appetyte,
Bewaling body, held, and handis,
The revar flyis him in defpyte.
So dois my lufty lady quhyte,
Scho flyis the place quhair I repair ;.
To hungry men is fmall delyte
To twich the meit, and eit na mair.
IV.
<U7EEN MARY, 1 542 1 567. l^J
IV.
The nar the flamb, the hettar fyre ;
The moir I pyne, jit I per few ;
The moir enkcndills my defyre,
Fra I behald her hevi-ily hew,
Peuir Piramus him felfe he flew,
Maid faul and body to deflaver j
He iyit bot anis, fairwell, adew !
I daylie de, and dyis never.
V.
Yit Jafone did injoy Medea,
And Thefcus gat Adriane ;
Dido diflavit was with Enea,
And Demophon his lady wan^
Gif women trowd fie traytours than
For till enjoy the frutte of lufe,
Quhy wald ye flay your faikles man,
Quha myndis never to remufe ?
VI.
The ferfs Achill, ane worthy knicht.
Was flane for luve, the futh to fay.
Leander, in ane llormy nicht,
Dyit fleittand on the fludis gray.
Trew Troyallus, he langerit ay.
Still waitand for his luvis returne.
Had nocht fie pyne, it was bot play.
As daylie dois my body burne.
VII.
As poill to pylattis dois appeir
Moir brichtar than the fl;arris abowt.
So dois your vifage fchyne als cleir
As rofe amang the rafchell rowt.
War Paris levand now, no dowt,
And had the goldin ball to ferve,
I wait he wald fone waill you owt.
And leiflf baith Venus and Minervc.
Vol. III. Z VIII.
1)8 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
VIII.
Now paper pafs and at her fpeir,
Gif pleis hir prudence to imprent it.
My faithful hairt I fend it heir.
In Cgne of paper I prefent it.
Wald God my body war foment it,
That I micht ferve hir grace but glammer ;
To be hir knaiff I am contentit.
Or fraallefl varlet in her chammer.
Z* Envoy,
The hairt did think, the hand did frem,
The body fend to yow the fame.
This poem is placed here on account of fome refemblance which it
bears to the produdions of Alexander Scot. Allan Ramfay afcribes it
to King Henry Stewart, but apon what authority is now unknown,
there being no name to it in the Bann. iVIS.
The whole of Scot's pieces, excepting his Addrtf" and " 'Jupig"
being in the amatory ftile which had fcarcely at all been attempted by
any preceding Scottifh poet, it feems more than probable that he was no
ftranger to the gallant fonnets and poems of Henry Howard, Earl
of Surrey, which were firft publifhed in I557,andfcvcral times reprint,
ed in the courfe of a few years.
BARNLEY 3
DARNLEY'S BALL4J.
I.
(jriFE langour makis men licht,
Or dolour thame decoir.
In erth thair is no wicht
May me compair in gloir.
Gif cairfull thoftis reftoir
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 micht avance,
My hairt is haill polTeft :
Gif 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 painc.
In paffing to and fro,
I laubor all in vane.
For lo hes mony mo.
That hes nocht fervit fo.
In futing of thair fweit.
The nare the fyre I go.
The grittar is my heit.
IV.
l8o CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
IV.
The turtour for hir maik,
Mair dule may nocht indure ;
Nor 1 do foi hir faik,
Evin hir quha hes in cure
My hairt, quilk fal be fure.
And fervice to the deid.
Unto that lady pure
The well of womanheid.
V.
Schaw, fchedull, to that fueit.
My pairt fo permanent.
That no mirth quhill we meit.
Sail caufe 'Tie be content :
Bot Hill my hairt lament.
In forrowfuU fiching foir.
Till tyme fcho be prefent.
Fair Weill, I fay no moir.
Quoth King Henry Stewart.
The iignatnre being in an ancient hand, I have ventured (fays Lord
Hailc?:) to give this fong the title of Damltyt Ballot.*' It may be ad-
ded, that by far the greater part, if noi the whole, of the Bannatyne MS.
having been compiled within lefs than three years after the death of
Darn ley, there feems to be no room for entertaining any doubt with rc-
fpedl to the author. The Biihop of Winton, in his preface to the works
of James the Sixth, mentions Lord Darnley as the tranflater of Valerius
Maximum ; fo that he is not altogether deflitutc of claim to a place a-
mong Scottilh authors.
COUNSALE
COUNSALE TO HUNTARIS. '
(J3j/ Balnevis.)
I.
O GALLANDis all, I cry and call,
Keip ftrenth quhill that jow have it ;
Repent ye fall, quhen ye ar thrall,
Fra tyme that dub be lavit.
With wantoun youth, thocht ye be couth,
With curage hie on loft,
Suppois grit drouth is in your mouth,
Bewar dtink not ouer oft.
11.
Tak bot at lift, fuppois ye thrift,
Your mowth at lafer cule ;
In mynd folift weill to refift
Langer leftis yeir nor Yule.
Thocht ye ryd foft, caft not ouer oft
"Your fpeir into the reift ;
With ftuff uncoft fett upon loff,
Aneuch is evin a feift.
III.
In luvis grace fuppoifs ye trace,
Thinkand your fell abone.
Ye may percaifs, caft dewifs efs,
And fwa be lochit fone.
Fra tyme ye ftank into the bank.
And dry point puttis in play.
Ye tyne the thank man, bald ane bank
Or all be paft away,
IV.
l8a ' CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY. j
IV.
Fra thow ryn towme, als I prefowme,
Thow hes bayth fkaith and Ikorn
The to confowme, with fire allowme,
That bourd may be forborne.
For m that, play, gif I futh fay,
Gud will 13 not allowit.
Gif thow nocht luay, Ga way, ga way,
Thau art thow all forhowit.
V.
Cofiderance hes no luvance,
Fra thow be bair thair ben ;
At t/ictt, Semlance is no plefance
Qahcn pithlefs is thy pen.
Quhen thow hes done thy'dett abone,
Forfochin in the feild,
Scho will fay fone, Get the ane fponc
Adew baith fpeir and fcheild.
VI.
Fra thow inlaikis to lay on flraikis,
Fra hyne, raj fone, adew I
Than thy rowme vaik, ane uder taik,
That folace to pcrfew.
Quhill branys are big abone to lig,
Gud is in tyme to ceifs ;
To tar and tig, fyne grace to thig,
That is ane petoufs caifs.
Vil.
Thairfor be war, hald the on far
Sic chaif wair for to pryifs ;
To tig and tar, fyne get the war.
It is evill merchandyifs.
Mak thow na vant our ofc to hant
In places dern thair down,
Fra tyme thow want, that lluiF is fkant.
To borrow in the town,
VIH.
QJ7EEN MART, 1542 1 567. 183
viir.
Few honor wjnnis, Into that innys.
For fchutting at the fchellis ;
Out of your fchjnnis the fubftance rynnis,
Thaj get no gain jell ellls.
In tjme lat be, I counfal the,
Ufe not that offerand ftok ;
Quhen thay the fe, thay blere thair ee.
And mak at the ane mok.
JX,
Thocht thow, fuppolfs, haif at thy choifs
I reid the for the nanis,
Keip fluff in poifs, Tyne not thy hoifs,
Wair nocht all in that wanis.
Fra tyme fcho fe undir thine ee,
The brawin away doun rauntis.
Than game and gle ganis not for the,
Thow man lat be fie huntis.
X.
Fra thow luk cheft, adew that feifl,
To hunt into that fchaw ;
Quhen on that beift at thy requelft.
Thy kennettis will not kaw.
Witliin that flowp fra tyme thow fowp,
And wirdis to be fweir,
And mak a flop quhen thay fuld hop,
Adcw the thrlflll deir.
XI.
Thairfor albeid, tliy hounds haif fpeid,
To ryn our oft latt be ;
In thy maifl neid, fum tyme but dreid,
Thay will rebutit be.
Ouer oft to hound in unkowth ground,
Thow ma tak up unbaittit ;
Thairfoir had bound thocht fcho be found,
Or dreid thy doggis be Tiaittit.
XII.
184 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
xri.
Scho is nocht ill that fittis ftill,
Perfewit in the fait ;
That beift fcho will gif the thy fill,
Quhiil thow be evin chak mait.
Suppois thow renge our all the grenge.
And feJk baith'fyk and feuche.
Still will fcho mcnge and mak it ftrenge.
And gif the evin aneuche.
XIII.
Than with avyifs, fuppois fcho ryifs,
Laich under thy fute,
Bot thow be wyifs, fcho will fuppryifs
Thy hounds, and thame rebute.
In tyme abyd, the feilds ar wyde,
I counfal the, gude briider,
Evill is the gyde that faillis. but tyde.
Syne raklefs is the ruder.
XIV.
Huntaris^ adew^ ! gif ye perfew
To hunt at every beift,
Ye will it rew, thair is anew,
Thairto haif ye no haift.
With ane and ane.
Ye huntaris all and fum,
Quhen beft is play, pafs hame away,
Or dreid war eftir cum.
Quod Balnevis.
It i not altogether improbable that this may be Henry Balnavis, the
fticnd of Sir David Lindfay, and one of the moft aftive promoters of
the reformation. At different periods of this reign, he filled the offices
of Qneen's Advocate, Juftice Clerk, and Lord of Seffion. M'Kenzic
fays he wrote a Catechifm and Confcflion of Faith, which perhaps
niay be that which wc find in vcrfc at the beginning of the Book of
Godlle Ikllats.
THE
THE BANKIS OF HElICONi:.
1.
De - clair ye banks of He - li-con, Par-
naffus hill, and daills ilk on. And
^b ^ . - j .
fountain Ca - bell - ein, Gif
E^
o - ny of your Mufes all, Or
;i"
nymphis may be pe - re - gall Un
Vol. III. A a
l86 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
to my la dj fchein.
Or
^iiiiiiiig
if the Ladeis that did lave Thair
bodies hy your brim, So fein^ - lie
gi^i
^
war or yet fo fuave So beautiful or
^^y^O' 'i "~ ' W ""' "y~~~^ ""*
m
trim. Con - tern - pill ex - em - pill Tak
be her proper port, Gif o - nie
'^ -J tS-- '-W~?~ i"~~"3~T^'~
fa bo- nie, Amang you did re - fort.
tyjEEN MART, 1542^X567. 187
II.
No, no. Forfuith wes never none
That, with this perfeft paragon.
In bewtie micht compair.
The Mufes wald have gevin the grfe
To her, as to the A per fe^
And peirles perle preclair.
Thinking with admiratioun
Hir perfone fo perfyte.
Nature, in hir creatioun.
To forme hir tuik delyte.
Confes then, expres then,
Your nymphes, and all th^ir racC;,
For bewtie, of dewtie
Sould yeild, and give hir place.
III.
Apelles, quha did fa decoir
Dame Venus' face and breift befoir.
With colours exquifeit ;
That nane micht be compair'd thairtill ; -'
Nor yit na painter had the kill
"The bodye to compleit :
War he this lyvelie goddes' grace.
And bewtie, to behauld.
He wald confes his craft and face
Surpaft a thoufand fauld.
Nor abill, in tabill
With colours competent.
So quiklie, or liklie,
A forme, to reprefent.
IV.
Or had my ladye bene alyve
Quhen the thrie goddeffis did ftryve,
And Paris wes made judge ;
Fals Heicne, Mcnelaus* maik.
Had ne'er caus'd king Priamus* wiaik ;
In
1 88 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
In Troy nor had refudge.
For ather fcho the pryis had wone.
As Weill of womanheid ;
Or els with Pario, Priam's fonc,
Had gone in Helen's fleid.
EfVemed, and demed.
Of colour twjis fo cleir :
Far fuetar, and metar
To have bein Paris' feir.
V.
As Phebus' trefs hir hair and breeis j
With angel hew, and criftall eeis ;
And toung mofl eloquent.
Hir teithe as perle in curall fet -y
Hir lips, and cheikis, pumice fret ;
As rofe maift redolent.
With yvoire nek, and pomells round/
And comelie intervall.
Hir lillie lyire fo foft and found ;
And proper memberis all,
Bayth brichter, and tichter,
I'hen marbre poleift clein ;
Perfyter, and quhyter.
Than Venus, luifis quein.
VI.
Hir angell voice in melodie'
Dois pafs the hevinlie harmonic.
And Siren's fong moft fueit.
For to behauld hir countenance,
Hir gudelie grace, and governance.
It is a joy compleit.
Sa wittie, verteous, and wyis ;
And prudent bot compair.
Without all wickednes and vyce :
Maifl douce and debonair.
In veflure, and gefture.
Maift
^EEN MARY, 1542 1567. I^
Maift feimlie, and modeft.
With wourdis, and bourdis.
To folace the oppreft.
VII.
Na thing thair is in hir at all
That is not fupernaturall,
Maift proper and perfyte.
So frefche, fo fragrant, and fo fair,
As Dees, and dame Bewties air,
And dochter of Deljte.
With qualetels, and forme, divine,
Be nature fo decoird.
As goddes of all feminine
Of men to be adoird.
Sa bliffed that wifled
Scho is in all mens' thocht.
As rareft, and faireft.
That ever Nature wrocht.
viir.
Hir luiks, as Titan radiant,
Wald pers ane hairt of adamant.
And it to love alleur.
Hir birning beawtie dois embraylg
My breift, and all my mind amajis
And bodye haill combuire.
I have no fchift bot to refing
All power in hir handis ;
And willinglie my hairt to bring,
To bind it in hir bandis. t
To langwis in angwis,
Soir woundit, and oppreft :
Forleitit, or treitit,
As fcho fall think it beft.
IX.
1 houp fa peirles piilchritud
Will not be vovdfe of rinanfuetud ;
i\ C
!> CHRONIClfE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
Nor cruellie be bent.
Sa, ladje, for thy courtefie.
Have pitie on my miferie ;
And lat me not be fchent !
Quhat prayis have ye to be fvveir^
Or crewellie to kill
Your woful woundit prifoneir.
All youldin in your will ?
All preifing, but celfing,
Maift humlie for to ferve.
Then pruif me, and luif me
As deidis fall deferve.
And, gif ye find diflait in me.
Or ony quent confait in me
Your bontie till abufe.
My dowbill deling be difdaine
Acquyt, and pay me hame againe y
And flatlie me refuife.
Bot fen I mein finceritie,
And trew luif from my hairt ;
To quyt me with aufteritie
Forfuith war not your patrt.
Or trap me, or wrap me
Maifl wrangfuUie in vvo ;
Forfaiking, and wraiking
Your fervand, as your fo.
XI.
Alace ! let not trew amitie
Be quyt with fo greit creweltie ;
Nor fervice be difdaine !
Bot rather, hairt, be reuthfull.
And ye fall find me treuthfuU,
Conftant, fecreit, and plaine.
In forrow lat me not confome.
Nor langer dolour drie,
Bot
<iUEEN MART, 154215^7. I^t
Bot fuddanlie pronounce the dome,
Gif I fall leif, or die.
That having my craving,
Mirthfull I may remaine ;
Or fpeid fone the deid fone,
And put me out of paine.
Thefe muGcal notes arc printed from a little book in Mi. of an an-
cient hand, bearing the date of 1639, and confiding of airs, fongs, p-
venes, Scottifli pfalms, &c. in the pcffcflion of Mr Campbell, luthor
of the hiftory of Scotcifli Poetry. Near the beginning of the Banna-
tyne MS. is a pious poem " On the Creation," by Sir Richard Mait-
land, dirfcSled to be fung " to the tone of the Bankis of Helicotie,"
which therefore can fear cly be of later date than between 1550 and
lj6o, and on that account alone, independent of its imrinfic merit, ig
an obj<ySl of fome curiofity. It appears, as naturally n^.ay be fuppofed,
to have been a favourite melody among the learned, but probably was
never much known among the vulgar, to whom t!ie words muft have
appeared incomprehenfible, and of courfe tlic muCc uftlcfs. To this
circumftance alfo muft be afcribed its Cnking into an obfoletC ftate in
lefs than a century, while 'John cum kifs me noiv, Voull mver be like my
auld gudemarif Cauld and ra-u>, Gramachree, I-otv doivn In the broom, Roh'int
yoi, nnd others, beyond ^ doubt, cf higher antiquity, have conftaiitly
maintained their ground down to the prtfent day. No other liberty-
has been taken with the Air, excepting to fuppiy it witl'. bars, and to
print it in clofe inftead of open notes, to prevent inittei^tive reader*
from pronouncing it to be " a mere draWl "
The poem is from Mr Pinkerton'g Maitland Colu<*lIon," and
probably may be an early compofition of Montgomery, author of the
Cherry and Slae, to be taken notice of in due time. Such an unconMnoo
meafiire required a fkilful mufician to compofe an appropri'.ted air ;
and the talk feems to have been executed with fuccefs, otherwifc wc
fhould not have found new words to tlie fame tune fo early as 1568 i
as alfo various other cnmpoGuons within twenty years afterwards.
There is ro probabiliiy, >hercfort, |hat a nevy or different " iJanks of
Helicon" was compofed before 1639.
o
O LUSTY MAV.
From the Bann; MS.*
VJ LUSTY Maj, with Flora quene \
Quhois balmj drapis frome Phebus fchenSj
Preluciand beimes befoir the day ;
Be the Diana growis grene,
Thruch glaidnefs of this lufty May.
Than iifperus, that is fo bricht
Till wofall haiitis, cads his lycht
On bankis and blumes on every brae ;
And fchuris ar fched furth of that fichjt,
Thruch glaidnefs of this lufty May. '
Birdis on bowis of every birth,
With rewfing nottis makand thair mirth,
Richt plefandly upon the fpray
With fluriffingis, our feild and firth,
Thruch glaidnefs of this lufty May. *
All luvaris that are in cair,
To thair ladeis than do repair
In frefch mornyngis befoir the day,
And ar in niirth ay mair and mair,
Thruch glaidnefs of this lufly May.
Of everie moneth in the yeir
To mirthfuU May thair is no peir,
Hir gliftrin garments ar fo gay.
You lovaris all mak merie cheir,
Thruch glaidnefs of this luftie May.
WELCUM
f Compared with the copy in Forbes's Song book 1 666. It is men-
tioned in the Complaint of Scothnd I549.
WfeLCUM TO MAY.
From the Bann. MS.
I.
JjE glaid al ye that luvaris bene,
For now hes May depaynt with grene
The hillis, valis, and the mcdis j
And flourls haftily upfpredis.
Awalk. out of your fluggardy.
To heir the birdis melody ;
II.
Qubois fuggourit nottis loud and cleir.
Is now ane parradife to heir.
Go walk, upon fum revir fair ;
Go tak the frefh and holfum air ;
Go lake upon the flurift fell ;
Go feil the herbis pleafand fmell ;
III.
Quhilk will your connfort gar incresj
And all avoid your harinefs.
The new cled puipour hevin efpy,
Behald the lark now in the iky,
With befy wyng fcho Ctowrs) on hicht.
For grit joy of the dayis licht.
IV.
Behald the verdour frefh of hew^
Powdderit with grene, quhyt, and blew,
Quhair with dame Flora, in this May,
Dois richely all the feild array ;
And how Aurore, with vifage pale,
Inbalmis with her criilall hale,
Vol.111. B J) V.
194 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY*
V.
The grene and tender pjlis ying,
Of every grefs that dois upfpring ;
And with berall droppis bricht,
Makis the graffis gleme of licht ;
Luk on the purple firmament.
And on the enammellit orient.
VI.
Luk on Phebus put up his held.
As he dois raifs his baneris reid,
He dois the eift fo bricht attyre.
That all feimis birning in a fyre,
Quilk comfort dois to every thing,
Man, bird, beift, and flurifling.
VII.
Quhairfor luvaris be glaid and licht,
For fhortened is your havy nycht.
And lenthit is your mirry day.
Thairfor ye welcum now this May,
And bridis do your haill plefance
With mirry fong and obfervance,
VIII.
This May to welcum at your mycht^
At frelh Phebus upryfing bricht ;
And all ya flowris that dois fpred.
Lay furth your levis upon breid,
And welcum May with bemys cheir.
The quene of every moneth cleir,
IX.
And every man thank in his mynd
The God of natur and of kynd,
Quilk ordaint all for our behufe.
The erd under, the air abufe ;
Bird, beift, flour, tyme, day, and nycht,
"With planets haill to gif us licht.
WA
WA WORTH MARYAGE.
I.
In Bowdoun, on Blak-money day,
Quhen all was gadderit to the Play,
3ajth men and wemen femblit thair,
I hard ane fweit ane fich and fay
Wa worth maryage for evermair I
II.
Madinis, ye may have grit plefance
For to do Venus obfervance,
Thoch I inclulit be with cair.
That I dar nother fing nor dance.
Wa worth maryage for evermair I
HI.
Quhen that T was ane madein ying,
Lichtlie wald I dance and ling.
And fport and play, bayth lait and air.
Now dar I nocht luik to fie thing.
Wa worth maryage for evermair !
IV.
Thus am I bunden out of blis.
Onto ane churle fays I am his,
That I dar nocht luik our the ftair,
Scantlie to gif Schir Johne ane kifs.
Wa worth-maryage for evermair !
V.
Now war I ane madin, as I was,
To mak me lady of the Bas, -
And thoch that I wer never fo fair.
To weddin fuld I never pas.
Wa worth maryage for evirmair !
VI.
19^ CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
VI.
Thus am I thirlit onto ane fchrew,
Quhilk. dow nothing of chalmer glew ;
Qf boure-bourding bayth bafk and bair.
Qod wayt gif I have cans to rew !
Wa worth maryage for evermair !
VII.
All nicht I clatter upon my creid,
Prayand to God gif I wer deid :
Or ellis out of this world he wair ;
Then fuld I fe for fum remeid.
Wa worth maryage for evermair !
VIII.
Ye fuld heir tell, and he war gane.
That I fuld be ane wantoun ane.
To leir the Jaw of Luffis layr
In our toun lyk me fuld be nane,
Wa worth maryage for evernaair I
IX.
I fuld put on my ruflet gowne,
My reid kirtill, my hois of brown ;
And lat thame fe my yallow hair,
Undir my curche hingand down.
Wa worth maryage for evermair.
X.
LufFaris bayth fuld heir and fe
1 fuld lulf thame that wald luif me.
Thair harts for me fuld never be fair. 1.1,
Bot ay unweddit fuld I be.
Wa worth maryage for evermair !
Quop Clappzhtoun.
" Blak-money day," that is, "annual rent day," is here fubftituted
for " Blak Monunday," in Mr Pinkct ton's edition. The inhabitants
of Bowdcn proh;ibIy paid Black-mail to their I^icge-lord, Kerof Halie-
^'.n, or Ccfsford. Sec fomcJfartticr reir.aikgfubjojned to tbe next article,
GOD
Go& GTP I WER WEDa NOW.
I.
U.
' NDER ane brekkin bank on hie
I hard ane hejnd cheild mak his mane ;
He ficht, and faid richt drerelie.
Evil is the wyf that I have tane !
Forthy to yow I mak my mane,
Ye tak gud tent quhair that ye wow.
Thoch it "is fcant ane twelf-month gane-
Goa gif I wer wedo now !
II.
"War T ane wedo, forouttin weir.
Full Weill I culd luik me aboute
In all this land, bayth far and neir ;
Of wyfing I fuld have na doute.
Upon my hip I have ane clout,
Quhilk is nocht plefand for my prow.
Quhen fcho is in, I am thairoiit.
God gif I wer wedo now !
irr.
Qiihen fcho is in, T am thairouf.
Scho lift; nocht at my layr to leyr :
In all this land, forouttin dout,
Of fturtfumnes fcho hes no peir.
Scho garris me fay with fempill cheir
That 1 have notlier come nor kow.
I mak my mane, as ye ma heir,
(pod gif I wer wedo now i
IV.
X98 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
IV.
Scho luikis doun oft, Ijk ane fow,
And wiU nocht fpeik quhen I cum in ;
I fpak ane wourde, nocht lor my prow.
To ding her wcill it war na fyn.
Syne on hir fut (up) couth fcho wyn ;
And to the rude fcho maid anc vow,
* For I fall hit thj fpindill ichyn.'
Gpd gif I wer wedo now !
V.
With that fcho raucht me fie ane rout
Quhill to the erde fcho gart me leyn ;
Suppois my iyf wes oft in dout,
Hir malice I culd nocht refrein.
Scho gars me murne, I bid nocht feyn,
And with fair flraiks fcho gars me fow.
Thus am I cummsrit with ane queue.
God gif 1 wer wedo now !
In the Maitland Folio MS. this poem or foiig immediatclj fucceedj
JVa fForth Maryage, to whicii it feems intended as a counter part, and
therciore may perhaps be another compofition of Claphrton. Of
the author no particulars are known ; bat we may conjeflure that he
belonged to the county of Roxburgh, from his mentioning the village
of B<)wdean as the fcene of peculiar merriment and gayety, which
rioub"!. fs it was upon particular occafions, fo long as the powerful Kcr of
Ceft'ord (now of Roxburgh) refided chiefly at his magnificent feat of
Halieden, in it< immediate vicinity. The caflle or tower, firuated in
thc-ct-ntcr of a deer park of 5C0 acres, appears to have been built in
'^Si'^i 'rom the following Infcription on a lintel :
Peer God,
Flc from fin,
Mak to the Iyf
Everlafling
To the end.
Dcm Ifbel Ker, 1550.
This dame Ifbel Ker was the gratfdmother of the firft Earl of Rti-
burgh 5 herfelf alfo a Kcr of tlie family of Fernie-hirft It is a little
fmgular that her name fliould appear in the infcription without that of
her hufband, Sir U'llter, to whom fhe then but lately had been marri-
ed, and who lived till about 1584. The burying place of the Roxburgh
family isftill at BowJcn-kirk.
TIIF.
THE LAMENT OF A PURE COURT-MAN.
iro/w Mr PiNiiERTON's edition of the Maitland Poems.
Gc
roD, as thow weill can,
Help the flie court-man !
His banes may I fair ban
Firft lerat me to ryde.
Thre brether wer we.
All borne of ane cuntre ;
The hardeft fortoun fell me.
Grit God be my gyde !
The eldeft. brother was na fule,
Quhen he was young yeid to the fcule
And now he fittis on ane ftule,
Ane prelot of pryde.
My fecund brother bure the pak,
Ane lytil quhyle upon his bale ;
Now he hes gold and warld's wrak,
Lyand him befyde.
Now mon I to the court fayr,
Baith thriftlefs and threid-bair :
Quhairevir I found, or I fayr
la barrat to byde.
All men makis me debait.
For heirifchip of horfmeit 5
Fra I be femblit on my feit.
The out-home is cryde.
Thay rais me all with ane rout^
And chafis me the toun about j
And cryis all with ane fchout,
< O tray tor full tryde !'
Quhea
200 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRTi
Quhen I have ridden all day.
He wer wyfe that can fay,
Gif the court-man well lay ;
Na, na, be Sand Bryde.
At nicht is fome gaine, .
This is our auld a rayne ;-^
I am maifl wilfum of wane,
Within this warld tvyde.
Now man I the court fle.
For fait of meit, and na fe ;
With na mair gude na ye fe.
Upon this gald glyde.
Syn, but devotioun, furth fair.
And fenye me ane Pardonair,
With bag, and burdone full bayr.
To beg, and noeht hyde.
Now in my mind me remordis.
As the court- man recordis,
All my lippining upon lordis
Is layd me befyde.
Man, thow fe for thyfelf j
And purches the fum pelf,
teyd not thy lyfe lyke ane elfe,
That our feild can flyde.
Thelaftaanza. f.vc two. Is fufScient evidence that the poem was
v^ritten before the Reformation. The trade of felling pardons proba-
bly never was lucrative in Scotland after repeated exhibition, of Srf
David Lindfay's Play.
THE
THE MAKING OF THE LAIRDIS BED.
From the Bann. MS.
I
I.
SAW, me thocht, this hinder njcht,
A Squyar and ane madin bricht,
Untill a chalmer faft thame fped,
Bot onj uthir erdly wicht,
Allonp to mak the lairdis bed.
II.
Quhen that the bed wes rcddy maid.
He braift her in his armes, and faid,
Wald ye your fchankels latt me fched.
Ye fuld be myne, and therein laid,
Gif we durft fpill the lairdis bed.
III.
He put his hand in at hir fpair,
And graipit downwart, ye wait quhalr.
Quod he, this mounth wald fane be fed ;
He fichit, and his hairt was fair.
But durft not fpill the lairdis bed.
IV.
To fpill the bed it war a pane,
Quod he, the laird wald not be fane
To find it towtit and ourtred.
Quo fdio, I fall mak it agane.
And ye wald fpill the lairdis bed.
V.
And I had you in fum place quhair
That I micht fpeik, and no thing fpair.
Quo fcho, ye ma haif me un-led,
Suppois it war ane myill and mair,
With yow to fpill the lairdis bed.
Vol. III. Cc VI.
207 CllROKICLE 09 SCOTTISH FOETRT:'
VI.
Yit I wald thraw yow down, he fayis,
Wer not for fyling of your clayis.
Quhat rek, quo fcho, I am weill cled ?
Ye ar our red for windil ftrayis,
That dar not fpill the lairdis bed.
VII.
Thair wes na bouk intill his breyk ;
His doingis wes not wirth a leik.
Fy on him, fowmart ! sow is he fled.
And left the maidin fwowning feik.
And durft not fpi4 the lairdis bed.
^Kfi
ANE AVEl^XUR ON WEDDiNSDAi*
From the Bann. MS.
i.
In Sommer quhen flouris fweitt fmell.
As I fure ouir feild and fell.
Alone I wanderit by ane well
On Weddinfday,
J met a cleir under a kell,
A weil-fard may.
II. ^
Scho had ane hat upon hir heid.
Of claver cleii, baith quhyte and reid*
With cat-lukis ftrynklit in that fteid.
And fynkill grein.
"VVit ye Weill to weir that weid,
Wald well hir feim.
III.
Ane pair of beids about hir throt,
Ane agnus Dei with nobill not,
Jyngland weill with mony joitt.
War hingand doun.
It was full ill to iind ane moitt
Upon hir goun.
IV.
Als fone as I that fchene cuth fe,
I halfit hir with hart maift fre,
I luve yow weill, and nocht to le,
Wald ye me lane
" Out hay ! * quod fcho, * My joy lat be j
** Ye fpeik in vane,
V.
204 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
V.
*' Quhat is the thing that ye wald haif ?"
Nathing bo*; a kyfs 1 craif,
As I that lufis yow owr the laif,
Wald ye me trow.
** Gif that yow may of forrow faif,
** Cum tak it now."
VI.
Than kiffit I hir anis or twyifs.
And fcho gan gruntill as a gryifs ;
** Allace ! quo fcho, I am unwyifs
** That is fa meit
** Tifs lyk that ye had eiten pyifs,
*' Ye ar fa fweit.
VIL
*' My hatt is yours of proper dett :'*
And on my heid fcho couth it fett.
Than in my armis I did hir plett.
And fcho to thraw.
Allace I quo fcho, ye gar me fwett,
Ye wirk fa flaw.
VIII.
Than doun we fell bayth in feir.
** Allace ! quo fcho, that J cam heir :
** I trow this labowr I may yow leir,
" Thocht I be yung.
' Yit I feir I fall by full deir
* Your fweit kyfling."
IX/
Than to ly ftill fcho wald nocht blin.
" Allace I" quod fcho, ** my awin fweit thing*,
" Your courtly foedding garris me fling,
" Ye wink fa weill j
** I fall yow cuver quhen that ye cling j
" Sa haif I feill.
X.
<3LPEEN MART, 1 542 1 567. SOJf
X.
** Sen ye ftummer not for niy Ikyppis,
** Bot hald your taikill be my hippis,
/ I byd a quhaflil of your quhippis.
* Thocht it be mirk,
'* Bot an ye will I fchrew the lippis,
That fyrft fall irk."
XI.
Als fone as we our deid had done,
Scho reifs fone up and alkit hir fchone,
Als tyrit as fcho had wefchin a fpone.
To yow I fay.
This aventur anis to me come
On Weddinfday.
There is fomething in the manner of this and the preceding poena
that inclines one to afcribe them to the author of " Wa worth ma-
^yagc," page 195. I obferve that a brother of Sir Walter Ker of Cefs-
ford was, at this time, abbot of Kelfo : Probably Clapperton might be-
long to the fame Monaftery ; or to that of Mclrofe, within three miic
k to the north of Bowdcn.
THE
tlrt LTIVARIS LAMEl^T.
Trbfn the Bann. MS.
I.
Jp ANSING m hairt, with fpreit oppreft.
This hindernjcht bygon.
My corps for walking wes moleft.
For lufe only of on.
All ace ! quhome to fuld I mak mon.
Sen this com e to lait :
Cauld cauld culis the lufe
That kendills ou'r het.
II.
Hir bewty, and hir maikles maik,
Dois reif my fpreit me fro.
And cauffis me no reft to tak,
Bot tumbling to and fro.
My curage than is hence ago.
Sen I may nocht hir gett :
Cauld cauld culis the lufe
That kendills ou*r het.
iir.
Hir firft to lufe quhen I began,
I troud fcho luvit me ;
Bot I, allace ! wes nocht the man.
That beft pleifit her e :
Thairfoir will I let dolour be.
And gang ane_uthir^gett :
Cauld cauld culis the lufe
That kendills ou'r het.
IV.
^yjEEN MARY, 1544 1557* J7^
rv.
Firft quhen I keft my fantefy,
Thair fermly did I (land.
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 ou'r het.
V.
flir proper makdome fo perfyt,
Hir vifage cleir of hew ;
Scho raiffis on me fie appetyte.
And cauffis me hir perfew.
^llace ! fcho will nocht on me rejy.
Nor gre with myne eft ait :
Cauld cauld culis the lufe
That kendills ou'r het.
VL*
3en fcho hes left me in diftrefi,
In dolour and in cair, *'
Without I get fum uthir grace.
My lyfe will left no mair ;
cho is ou'r proper, trym, and fair,
Ane trew hairt to ourfett :
Cauld cauld culis the lufe
That kendills ou'r het.
VII.
Suld I ly doun in havinefs,
I think it is bpt vane,
I will get up with mirrinefs.
And cheifs als gud againe ;
For I will maik to yow in plane.
My hairt it is ourfett :
Cauld cauld julis the lufe
That kendills ou'r het.
VIIL
29^ CHRONICLE or SCOTTISH POZTJIT,
vni
No, no, I will nocht trow arg yet,
'Ch'dl fcao will le.if me fo, .
Nor yit rhir fcho will chenge or flit.
As t'-'ocb fcho be cay fo.
Thairfoir w'il I lat dolpurgo^
And gang ane uthir gait :
Cr'.'ild cauld culls the lufo
That kendills ou'r het.
FzTHr,
In the " Complaint of Scotjand, 1549," two difTcreoc Tongs of 72#
JBretm feetn to be mentioned. Onr of them probabljr vrisLoiu down mi
tii* brum, to which air the meafurc of this Lament appears ro corref-
pond w;th peculiar exadlnefs. In Mr Piiikerton's hil. thf name is by
miftake Selhy inftead of Fctbj^ of whom no other monument now re-*
luains.
m
I5AN0
SANG ACANIS THE XADYE3.
from Mr Pinkerton's edition of the MaIT. Toenn,
1.
V-zF ladjes bewtie to declair
J do rejois to tell ;
Quhan thai ar young, men think tham fair,
And luftie Ijk to fell;
Thay do appeir for to excell,
Sa wounderous moy thai mak it,
Sueit, fueit is thair bewis,
Aj quhil thay be contraftit.
II.
Quhan thai have thair virginitie,
Thay feim to be ane fanft ;
Seim as thay knew divinitie.
Na propertie thai want.
Quha fwers thame trew, and feims conftanty
And trefts in all thay fay,
Sune, fune he is begylit.
And lichtlied for ay.
III.
Sen Adam, our progenitour
Firft creat be the Lord,
Beleiv'd his wickit paramour,
Quha confal'd him difcord ;
Perfuading him for to accord
Unto the deil's report ;
Dull, dull dreis the man
That trefts into that fort.
Vol. III. ^ Dd IV.
3IO CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH PPETEV.
IV
Bot thair is monj Adams now
And evir in this land ;
Sic Jjeftlie men fubjeftit bow,
Ay redie at command ;
Quhateir thair wyfes dois thame demand,
Thay wirk. it many wayis j
Ay fraydant at the man,
Quhil thay bring him our ftayis.
V.
Our lords ar fo degenerat,
Syn ladeis take fic Iter,
Thay fpend thair rents upon thair weids ^
And banelft hes gud cheir.
Thair goldfmyth wark it gois fo deir.
To counterfit grit princis ;
Lords, your ladye-wyfes, but weir.
Put yow to grit expencis.
VI.
Thair belts, thair 'broches, and thair rings,
Mak biggings bair at hame ;
Thair hudes, thair chymours, thair garnyfings.
For to agment thair fame,
Scho fall thairfoir be calt Madame ;
Botand the laird maid Knycht.
Grit, grit is thair grace.
Howbeit thair rents be flicht.
VII.
The lairds that drank guid wyn, and alcj
Ar now faine to drink fmattis ;
Thay top the beir, and cheips the mejl.
The iadie fawis the aittis.
Tlic jakmen and the laird debaitis 5
-Diftionorit is thair name.
Fy, fy on thame all.
For thai regard no fcbame.
VIII.
QJJEEN MARY, 1542-^1567. 2li
Vfll.
Scho fayis, an the laird had men,
That he wald wodfet land,
Quhilk waifltit is by hir wemen.
Mdhoun refave that band !
For thay will waift mair under hand.
Nor quhat us weil ftaik may.
Ladyes and lairds, gar hound your dogs.
And hoy the queins away.
IX.
Sen hunger now gois up and down.
And na gud for the jakmen j
The lairds and ladyes ryde of the toun,
For feir of hungerie bakmen.
The ladyes at the yet dois ihack thame.
Regarding no remeid.
Short, fhort be thair lyvis ;
And duleful be thair deid.
St. 1. 1. 4. " to fell" is probably incorreA, but nO preferable read-
ing fcems fufficjcntly obvious to warrant an alteration. . '
St, 9. 1. 5. " {back thame," i. c. chack or check them. About this
time the great Land-holders began to difpenfe with the attendance of
jack-men, or armed men on horfe-back ; and the Ladies to employ a
greater number of female fervants. Upon this circumftance a great
part of the fong fcems to turn.
AITB
B
ane ballat of evill wyffis.
By Flemyng.
I.
E mirry, bretherene, ane and all,
And fett all fturt on fyd j
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 deid him ftreks, he wait nocht quhany
And chair gis him to hyd.
II.
The riche than fall nocht fparit be,
Thocht thay haif gold and land.
Nor yit the fair, for thair bewty.
Can nocht that chairge ganeftand :
Thocht wicht or waik wald fle away,
No dowt hot allmon ranfone pay ;
Quhat place, or quhair, can no man far.
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 flout,
Mone thoill that puniffing.
IV.
QJJEEN MART, 1542 1567. 4t j
IV.
Quhat man but ftrjf, 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 Ijfe,
He failis on the fie ;
For he knawis nowdir flurt 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 ftryft-,
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,
Onlefs he be hir Iklaif :
Bot of that fort I knaw nane udcr,
But owthir a kukald, or his bruder ,
Fondlars and kukald s all togidder,
May wifi thair wyfis in graif.
VH.
Becaus thair wyfis hes maiftery,
That thay dar nawayis cheip,
Bot gif it be in privity,
Quhan thair wyfis ar on fleip :
Ane mirry in thair cumpany,
Wer to thame worth baith gold and ue ;
Ane menftrall could nocht bocht be,
Thair mirth gif he could beic,
VIIT.
ai4 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.'
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 fing :
Quha lift nocht heir to mak gud cheir,
Perchance his guds ane uthir yeir
Be fpent, quhen he is iJrocht to beir,
Quhen his wjfe taks the fling.
IX.
It lies bene fene, that wyfe wemen,
Eftir thair hufbands deid,
Hes gottin men> hes gart thame ken,
Gi thay mycht beir grit laid.
With ane grene fling, hes gart thame bring,'
The geir quhilk won wes be ane dring ;
And fyne gart all the bairnis fing
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.
XL
Ye neigartis, then example tak,
And leir to fpend your awin ;
And with gud freynds ay mirry mak.
That it may be weill knawin.
That thow art he quha wan this geir :
And for thy wyfe fe thou nocht fpair.
With gud freynds ay to mak repair.
Thy honefty may be fliawin.
xir.
<JJJEEN MARY, I542 1567. 2.1$
XII.
Finis, quoth I, quha fettis nocht by,
The ill wyffis of this toun,
Thocht for difpyt, with me wald flyt,
Gif thay micht put me doun.
Gif ye wald knaw quha maid this fang,
Quhiddir ye will him heid or hang,
plemyngis his name quhair evir he gang.
In place, or in quhat toun.
Flemyng.
St. T. I. 8. " And chairgis him to byd." This i law phrarc and
is nearly fynonymous with the Englifti phrafc, " arrefts him." A
charge is an order iffucA in the name of the Sovereign, and intimated
to the party by fomg one legally authorifed to that effedl.
Every reader will perceive a want of connedion in this poem : The
firft and fecond ftanzas contain moral refledJ'ons on the certainty of
death; the third is a religious inference; the fourth mentions the dan-
gers attending the profeflion of a failor ; tht fifth infenfibly Aides into
an inveflive on froward wives ; and this fubjetft is carried on through
the reft of the poem, with fomc wit, and much acrimony of exprefiton.
St. 7. 1. 5. " Ane mirry in thair cumpany," &c. The meaning is,
to fuch henpecked hnfbands a chearful companion would be a moft
valuable acquifition. A mufician that could keep thtm in tune, would
be worth any money.
St. 9. 1. 5. " With ane grene fling." Probably fling, a flender haz2!:
* ftick new cut, for the purpofe of giving moderate corie(?iicn to a wife.
This was a power which our rude Icgiflaturc in former times commit-
ted to hufbanda.
AMK
.^WE D:5:3C!RT.iP( . -... coifeis,
.EioTn the iviuu;. ColkBion*
I.
It Is my purpo's to difcryve
This holy ptrfyte genologie
Of pedder knavis-fuperlatyv,
Pretendand to awtoretie,
Tl'-it wait of nocht bot beggarti^.
Ye burges fonis prevepe thir Ipwnisj
That wald diftroy nobilitie.
And baneis it all borrow townis.
.II-
Thaj ar declarit in feven pairtis,
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 fellisjhair eggis,
Regraitandly on thame he wynnis,
And fecondly his mcit he beggis.
III.
Ane fxvyngeour coife, amangis the wyvir..
In land-wart dwellis with fubteill naenis,
Exponand thame auld fanlis lyvis.,
Ard fanis thame with deid mennis banis ;
Lyk Rome-rakaris, with awllerne granii,
Speikand curlyk ilk ane till uder;
Peipand peiivly with pettfous graais,
Lyk fenyeit Symmie and his bruder.
IV.
QJJEEN MARY, 1 542 1 567. ^217
IV.
Thif cur coffels that failis oure fone.
And thretty fum abowt ane pak,
With bair blew bonattis and hobbeld fchone.
And beir bonnokis with thame thay tak ;
Thay fchamed fchrewisj God gif thame lak.
At none quhen merchantis makis gud cheir,
Steilis doun, and lyis behind ane pak,
Drinkand bot dreggis and barmy beir.
V.
Knaifatica coflf mifknawis himfell,
Quhen he gettis in a furrit goun ;
Grit Liiciferj maifter of hell.
Is nocht fa helie as that loun ;
As he cummis brankand throw the toun^
With his keis clynkand on his arme.
That calf clorin-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 than his obligatioun j
Quhilk dois the marchands defdmatioun ;
Thay ar reprevit for that regratour.
Thairfoir we gif our declaratioun.
To hang and draw that common tratour.
VII.
Ane cuilorous 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 ;
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 rakketti
Vol. hi, % t VlU,
21 8 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
VIII.
Ane cathedrall coffe, he is ouir riche,
And hes na hap his gude to fpend,
Bot levis Ijk arte wareit wreche.
And treftis nevir till tak ane end ;
With falflieid evir dois him defend.
Preceding ftill in averice.
And leivis his faule iia gude comend,
Bot walkis ane.wilfonae wey^ I wifs.
IX.
I you exhort all that is heir.
That reidis this bill, ye wald it fchavv
Unto the proved, and him requeir.
That he will geif thir coffis the law.
And baneis thame the burges raw.
And to the fcho flreit ye thame ken ;
Syne cut thair luggis, that ye may knaw,
Thir peddir knavis be barges men.
What the author meant by cofeis, he explains St. i. 1. 3. where he
fpeaks of " pedder ina-vis." CoJ'e^ in the modern Scottifh Unguaj,
means ruftic. The fenfe here is peddling merchants. The feven fort*
are, i. An higgler and foreflaller ; a. A lewd parifli pried ; 3. A mer-
chant who traffics in company upon too fmall a ftock ; 4. Though ob-
fcurely cxprefled, is a low born fellow, who intrudes himfelf into the
magiftracy of a royal burgh ; 5. A fraudulent bankrupt ; 6. A mifcr ;
7. A dignified churchman : the charaflcr of each is drawn from the
living manners of that age.
St. a. 1. 3. " Sornand all and Undry airli" This fcroppit or con--
temptible dealer is reprefented as going about in every c^nwttx foniand ^
a contradion itom/ojouming. Hence fbrnets, or fojourners, which \o
often occurs in our more ancient ftatutes. He is here defcribed as fo-
licitous in purchafing fowls, profiting by the fale of their eggs, forcftall-
ing the market, and drawing advantage from a dearth. Thefe are to-
pics of popular difcontent, which the legiflatoie has fometknes faniSifi-
ed by inextricable flatutps.
My reafon for imagining that fcroppit means contemptible, is found-
ed on the following paflagc in Kiloi, p. ^z- Thair was prcfentit to
the
<iUEEN MARY, 1542-^1567. tsi^
the Queiu Regent a calfe having two hcidis ; whalrat fce fcorppit ,
' and faid, it was hot a common thing."
St. 3. A rafcally wencher among the inarried women, refides in the
country, vcrfant in the arts of Aibtilty ; he interprets to thep> the le-
gends of the faints, and fanftifies them with dead men's bones or relics.
Such perfons feem to have raked the (Ireets of Rome for every fuper-
ftitious foolery. Sometimes they growl like dogs, in the offices of re<..
Jigion ; fometimes they pitifully whine like the hyppcritical Symmye
and his brother. See vol. I. p. 360.
The firfl part of this defcription alludes to the lacivious and inordi-
nate lives of the fecular clergy. The defcription of their employment
in the country refembles that which the younger Voflius profanely gave
of a friend of his : " Efl facrificulus in pago quodam, ct decipit rufti-
" COS."
St. 4. 1. I. 3, " Thir curcoffeis that failU osre fune,
' And tbretty-fum about anc pak."
By a<Sl 24. pari. 4. James V. it is provided, " That na merchand
" faill, without he have ane halfe laft of gudes of his awin, or elfe in
' governance, as fadour, to uthir merchandes." And by aft 45.
That na Ichip be frauchtcd out of the realmc, with ony ftaple gudes,
" fra the feaft of Simon's day and Judes, (28. 0(3.) 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 offended, who,
to the number of thirty, were joint adventurers in one pack of goods.
St. 5. 1. r. " Knaifutica coff miflcnawis himfelf." The word knaifalica
has been invented to defcribe a pedlar of mean fervile original. Every
one knows, that knave formerly meant a fcrvant. It is probable that
this flanza was aimed at fome living charadcr, remarkable for the in-
folence of office.
[Thofe who moft frequently held the office of Provoft of Edinburgh
during the latter part of this reign, were Lord Seaton, Douglas of
Kilfpindie, and Symon Preftoun of Preftoun]
1. 6. " With his kcis clynkand on his armc." The keys of a
city are conCdered as the fymbols of truft and power, and therefore
they may have been borne by Magiftrates. It is an ancient cuftom for
the chief magiflrate of a city to deliver the keys to the Sovereign, upon
his firft entry.
St. 6. 1. I. " Ane dyvour coffe." Thisftanza defcribes, in very em-
phatical terms, the offence of one who, while unable or unwilling to
pay, deals upon credit with foreign merchants.
St. 7. 1. 7. " And eitis thame in the buith that fmaik." The word
fmaik means a pitiful ignominious fellow. It occurs in a curious poem
' by the Earl of Glcncairn, prefcrvcd in Knox. Ssc p. ^\. of this vol.
They
220 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POET^T*
" They fmaikis dois fet their hatll intent,
To reid the Inglifche New Teftament."
The churl here defcribed, after having carefully numbered his caltesy
conveys one of them under his cloaths, and eats it in his booth or fhop,
St. 9. J. 6. 7. And to the fcho-flrait ye thamc ken,
** Syne cut thair luggit," &c.
Shoes are ftill fold at Edinburgh in the upper part of the Grafsmarke^*
Tvhich formerly was alfo the place of execution. It is probable that lefler
puni(hments, fuch as that of cutting off the ears of delinquents, were an-
ciently inflidted in the fame place. It has been fuggeiled to the editor,
that by Scho-flreit, a ftrcet in Perth, ftill termed the Shoc-gate, is un-
derftood : But there feems no rcafon for fuppofing that this poem was
compofed at Perth, or that the Shoe-gate in Perth Was a place of pu
nifhmcnt. ?
aEiJERA;:.
0ENERAL SATYRE,
Jprom the Bank. ColkEihn^
I.
XTLLL rychtous thing the quilk dois now proceid^
Is crownit lyk untp 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 cumtnis beforne,
Following the trace of peifyte ftabilnefs,
Als evin be lyne rycht as a rammis home.
II.
Princis of cuftome naantenis rycht in deid.
And prelettis levis in clyne perfytnefs ;
Knychtis luvis, God wat, bot littiil faliheidj.
And preiflis hes refFufit all riches j
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 littiil hede,
Thair ufury is fetterit with difcrefs ;
And for to fpeik alfo of womanhedc,
Baneift frome thame is all new fangilnefs ;
Thay haif left pryd, and takin to meiknefs,
C^hois pacience is bot newly watt and fchorne j
Thair tungis hes no tuiching of fcherpnefs ;
Als leill by lyne rycht as a rammis home.
IV.
#1X CHRONICLE OP SCOTTISH POETR?.
IV.
Pure men complenis now, bot for no neid,
The riche gcvis aj feik almoufs, as I gefs ;
With plenty ay the hungry thay do feid,
Clethis the nakit in thair wrechitnefs j
iVnd cherite is now. a cheif tnaiftrefs ;
Sklander fra her toung hes puUit out the thorne^
Difcretioun doi^ all hir lawis exprefs,
Als leill by lyne ryeht as a rammis home.
^.
Out of this land, or ellis God forbede,
Baneifl: is fraud, falflieid, and fekilnefs ;
Flattery is fled, and tliat for verry drede ;
Both riche and pure hes takin thame to fadnefs j
I^auborans wirkis with all thair beflinefs ;
Day nor nycht, nor hour, can be forborne
Bot fwynk and fueit, to voyd all ydilnefs ;
Als leill by lyne rycht as a rammis home.
VI.
Princis rememberis, and providently ta^is hede,
How vertew is of vyce a he goddefs ;
Oar faith nocht haltis, we leif evin as our crede
In wird and deid, as wark berris witnefs ;
All ipocritis hes left thair frawardnefs ;
Thus weidit is the poppill fra the corne j
And every ftait is governit, as I gefs,
Als leill by lyne rycht as a rammis home.
St. 1. 1. 3. " Law he defyit guerdoun and his mcid." The beft
commentary that I can make upon this iiiic is to tranfcribe, aft 104.
parliament 7. Jamo V. 1540. " It is ftatute and ordained, That for
^ b meikle as ii has bene hcavilic murmured to our Soveraine Lorde,
that his licgjes has bene greatlie hurte in times bygane be judges,
" baith fpiri'ual and temporal, qyha hes not been allanerlie judges, bot
' plalne foiiiftarcs, partial counfelioyres, affifters and partakers with
" fujn of the partie?, and hes tane great gcarc and profite.
' Therefore
QUEEN MARY, IJ42 1567. 2 2^
" Therefore it is ftatute and ordained, in times cuitiming. That all
" juftice, fchircffes, Lordes of Seflion, bailiies of regalities, provoft and
" bailiies of burrowes, and uther deputes, and all uther judgei, fpiritual
" and temporal, alfweill within regalities as royaltie, fall do trew and
" equal juftice to all our Sovcraine Lordis lieges, without ony partial
" councell, rcvvardes.or buddes taking, further chen is permitted of the
" hw, (meaning fentence money,) under the paine of tinfell of their
" honour, fame, and dignitie, gif they be tainted and convi(5led of the
" famin : And gif ony raaner of perlon murmuris ony judge, temporal
" or fpiritual, allweill Lordes of Scffion, as uthers, and proves not the
" fame fufficientlie, he fall be puniflied in femblablc manner and forte,
" as 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 ot file perfones ; providing alwaies, gif ony fpiritual maa
* failyies, that he be called before his judge ordinar."
1.5. " Hcsy7jy/V with fraud," Sec. Has retnoved from fraud.
Flytt is vertere folum, particularly ufed of tenants who quit their pofief-
fion. The word Jlit, in modern Englifti, implies not fo much the remo-
ving from any one place, as the flu6luating from one place to another.
St. a. 1. a. " And prelcttis levis in clyne perfytnefs," In a Provincial
council held 1549, one great caufc of herefy t^ras declared to be, " in
perfonis ccclefiafticis, omnium fere graduum, morum corruptela a<
" vita prefana ohfcttnitas ;" Wilkios's Concil. torn. 4. p. 46. to. p. 60.
' 1. J. " All religioun levis in holincfs." The word religioun
is here ufed for monaftic orders.
St. 3. 1. 6. " Quhols pacience is hot flewly watt and fchome." Tn
allulion to the manner of dreffing cloath ; as if he had faid, Womens
paCience is juft cut out of the loom, aod aothing th worfi^of the wear-
ng.
;flF>
6r MEN EVILL t6 PLEIS3.
From the Bann. CoUeSiion,
I.
X OURE niener of men are evill to pleifs 5
Ane is, that riches hes and eifs.
Gold, iilver, corne, cattell, and kj.
And waid half part fra uthiris bj.
Ane uthir is of land and rent.
So grit a loid, and fo potent.
That he may not it rewill nor gj.
And yet wald haif fra uthiris by.
II.
The thrid dois elk fo dourly drink,
And aill and wyne within him fink,
Quhill in his vvame no rowm be dry.
And yet wald haif fra Uthiris by.
The lad that hes, of nobill blude,
Ane lufty lady fair and gude,
Boith vertewis, wyifs, and womanly,
Bot yet wald haif ane uthir by.
III.
In end, no wicht I can perfaif
Of gude fo grit aboundance haif.
Nor in this warld fo welthful wy^
Bot yet he wald haif uthir by.
Bot yet of all this gold and gud.
Or uthir conyie, to conclude,
Quha evir it hais, it is not I ;"
It goia fra me to uthiris by.
PRUDENT
PRUDENT COONSALE ANENT LEKDIKG.
From the Bannatyne MS.
I.
vJft times is better hald npr len.
And this is my Ikill and reffone quhy j
Full evill to knaw ar miony men.
And to be crabbit fettis littil by,
Thay hald the for his innemy
To craif the thing that thpw hes lent.
Therefor I red the verrely,
Quhome to thou lennis tak rycht gud teot.
n.
To mony men it dois grit hurt.
And oft of freindis it makis fais.
And baith the pairties haldis in Hurt,
Quhen that the ane the uthir cravis.
So wretchitnefs a man diflavis ;
Within himfelf he thinkis a paine.
Of thing that he pofleffione havis.
For to reflore or gif againe.
III.
Thairfor is better hald nor draw.
Gar nocht thy awin geir ftryve with the ;
The perfone bot thou rycht weill knaw.
That he micht treft and licker be.
For thou may oft tymes heir and fe.
That mony man his awin thing lenis,
Quhairthrow he winnis grit raawgre,
OIF thankles men that it mifkenis.
Vol. III. Ff IV,
22^ CtlRONICLE OF SGOTtlSH POETRlT^
IV.
Thairfor me think is better than.
To hald ill thy poflefHon,
Nor crave it fra ane uthir man
That is of evill condition,
Quha keipis no piomiiBon.
Quhat dois thou than bot flyttis and fechtisy
Or thou gett reftitution
Of him that keipis no^ his hechtis !
V.
It war mor treft in to thi purfs.
Nor puttit in to rakles handis.
To gar the wary, ban and curfs,
Seikand thy dettouris in fundry landis.
Be war and keip the fro fie bandis.
My counfale i$, gud freind, and bruder ;
This fals warld now fa it ftandis.
That rycht few ar treftis in anodder,
VI.
Gife ony man hes (he at feid.
For thy awin gud I counfale the.
Ay with full hand fe that thou pleid^
Sua gife it may no better be.
Thy geir to want and win maugrc.
To the it is bot double Ikaith.
Man, for thy mair fecuritie.
Of ane be ficker, and t^nc not baith,
iH
iij #RAISE or THE WORTHY KNYCHT SIR PENNT.
From the Bann. Colteiion,
I.
JtVYCHT fane wald I my quentans inak
With Sir Penny , and wat ye quhy ?
He is a man will undertak
Lands for to fell, and als to hy.
Thairfoir, me think, rycht fane wiild I^
With him in fellofchip to repair ;
Becaus he is in tumpany
Ane noble gyd bayth lait and air.
II.
Sir Penny for till hald in hand.
His cumpany thay think fo Iweit,
Sum givis na cjiir to fell his land.
With gud Sir Penny for to meit 3
Becaufe he is a noble fpreit,
Ane furthy man, and forfeand j
Thair is no mater to fend compleit^
Quhill he fett to his feiU and hand;>
III.
Sir Penny is i vailyeant man.
Off mekle ilrenth and dignitie.
And evir fen the Warld began.
In to this land autoreif^ is he ;
With king and quene may ye nocht i^f
They ^rej,t him ay fo tendirly.
That thair can na thing endit be.
Without him in thair cum^gaa^ ?
IV.
228 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
IV.
Sir Penny is a man of law,
Witt ye Weill, bayth wyis and war.
And mony reffonis can furth fchaw,
Quhen he is ftandand at the bar \
Ts nane fo wyis can him defar,
Quhen he proponis furth ane pie.
Nor yit fa hardy man that dar
Sir Penny tyne, or diflbbey.
V.
Sir Penny is baith fcherp and wyis.
The kirks to fteir he takkis on hand ;
Difpo^ar he is of benefyis.
In to this realme, our all the land.
Is none fo wicht dar him ganeftand ;
So wyifly can Sir Penny wirk,
And als Sir Symony his fervand,
That now is gydar of the kirk.
VL
Gif to the courte thow maks repair.
And thow haif materis to proelamc,
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 he is bot feyndill fene,
Sa fall thairain they can him lleik.
That pure commownis can nocht obtene
Aac day to byd with him to fpeik.
St. 5
QJJEEN MARY, 1342 1 567. 2 2^
St. 5. 1. 7. " And als Sir Symony his fervand." Upon the death of
William Douglas, Abbot of Holyrood, Buchanan fays, " Sacerdotium
" ejus Robertus Carnitrucius, homo humili loco natus, fed pecuniofus,
" a Rege, turn a pecuniis inopi, redemit ; novo genere fraudis ehisa
" lege ambitus, qua facerdotia venire vetat ; fponfione fcilicet vicSlus,
' qua, magna pccunia depofusl, contcnderat, Regem non cum proximo
*' facerdotio vacuo donaturunr;" 1. 14. c. 35. He wagered with the
king, That he Ihould not be provided to the firft vacant benefice ; and
he loft This childifh popular talc has been occaiionally revived. It
is to be found in a recent publication of fecrec and fcandalous hiftory.
The origin of this burlefque allegory, and of another in the fame
flylc, (fee vol. i. p. 139.) is probably to be found in the following fong,
publifhed by Mr Ritfon, partly in Anglo Saxon charader, from the
Sioane MS. in the Britilh Mufeum, of the time of Heniy Vi. if roc
earlier.
Peny is an hardy knyght,
Peny is mekyl of myght,
Peny of wrong he makyth ryght,
In every cuntrie quer he go.
Thow I have a man yflawc,
And forfetyd the kyngis un-Iawe^
I fcha! fyndyn a man of lawe
Wyl takyn myn peny and let me go-
lf I have to don, fer or ncr.
And Peny be myn mefTenger,
Than am I no thing in dwer,
My caufe fchal be wol do.
If I have pens bothe good and fyn.
Men wyl byddyn me to the wyn,
That I have fchall by thyne,"
^ Sckyrly thei wil fcyn fo.
And quan I have non in myn pur.,
Peny bet ne peny wers.
Of me thei holdyn but lytil fors,
H was a man let hym go.
THt
tHE WOWING OF JOK AND jyN^Nf.
From the Bann. ColleBion,
I.
iv OBEYNS Jok comd to wow our Jjnny,
On our feift evin quhen we wer fow ;
Scho brank.it faft, and maid hir bony.
And faid, Jok, come ye for to wow ?
Scho burneift hir baith brelfl and brow.
And maid her cleir as ony clok ;
Tlian fpak hir deme, and faid, 1 troW,
Ye come to wow our Jynny, Jok.
II.
Jok faid, Forfnth I yern fall fane.
To lut my heid, and fit doun by yow.
Than fpak hir modir, and faid agane.
My bairne hes tocher-gud to ge yow.
Te he, quoth Jynny, keik, keik, I fe yow.
Muder, yone man maks you a mok.
I 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 gryce, aine 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 :
Come ye to wow our Jynny, Jok ?
JV,
<U7EEN MART, 15441567. gsji;
IV.
Ane blanket, and ane wecht alfo,
Ane fchule, ane fcheit, and ane lang flail,
Ane ark, ane almry, and laidills two,
Ane milk-fyth, with ane fwyne-taill,
Ane rowfty quhittill to fcheir the kaill,
Ane quhcill, ane mell the beir to knok,
Ane coig, ane caird wantand ane naill ;
Come ye to wow our Jynny, Jok ?
V.
Ane furme, ane furlet, ane pott, ane pek,
Ane tub, ane barrow, with ane quheilband,
Ane turs, ane troch, and ane meil-fek,
Ane fpurtill braid, and ane elwand.
Jok tuk Jynny be the hand.
And cryd, Ane feift ; and flew ane cok.
And maid a brydell upaland ;
Now half 1 gottin your Jynny, quoth Jok.
' vr.
Now, deme, I haif your baime mareit ;
Suppois ye mak it nevir la tuche,
I lat you wit fqhois nocht miflsareit.
It is Weill kend I haif anuch :
Ane crukit gleyd fell our ane huch,
Ane fpaid, ane fpeit, ane fpur, ane fok,
Withouttin oxin 1 haif a pluche
To gang togiddir Jynny and Jok.
VII.
I haif ane heller, and eik ane hek,
Arje coird, ane creill, and als an cradill,
Fyfe fidder of raggis to fluff ane jak,
Ane auld pannell of ane laid fadill,
Ane pepper-polk maid of a padell,
Ane fpounge, ane fpindill wantand ane nok,
Twa lufty lippis to lik ane laiddill.
To gang togidder Jynny and Jok.
* VIII
>3* CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETHr.
viir.
Ane brechame, and twa brochis fyne
Weill bakl''t with a brydill renye,
Ane fark maid of the linkome twjne,
Ane gay grene cloke that will nocht ftenyc j
And yit for mifter I wjU nocht fenye,
Fjve hundlrth fleis now in a flok.
Call je nocht tham 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 maikene-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 feifl ;
It is Weill knawin I am weill bodin j
Ye may nocht fay my parte is leift.
The wyfe faid, Speid, the kaill ar foddin.
And als the lyiFeroch is fuftand loddin ;
Quhen ye haif done tak hame the brok.
The roll wes tuche, fa wer thay bodin ;
Syn gaid togiddir bayth, Jynny and Jok,
This well known poem, given faithfully from the MS. exhibits a Iu
dicrous pidure of the curtayupellex of the Scottiih Commons in the i6th
century. Probably it has been intended to ridicule the mifcellaneous
lift of moveables which, by eftablifhed cuftom in Scotland, belonged to
certain heirs of line, fomewhat like the Englifli heir-looms. See appen-
dix fo Hope's Minor Pradicks 1734, p. 538.
St. 1. 1. T. "^e%njJokj" i.e. Jok the fon of Robin, or Robin's
fun. Proper fiioames came lace Into Scotland.
Sm.
QJJEEN MARY, I542 ^S^T' ^33
St. 1. 1. 3. " Scho iranilt fad,' and maid hir iany." She tiipt away
haftily, and drcffed herfelf out to the bcft advantage. [BranAit faji,
dreffed herfelf hattily. E.]
,11 I I. 1. 6. " Cleir a ony clot." Clear as a c/oi, or beetle ; a pro-
verbial expreffion, alluding to the bright polilh on the body of that in-
fea.
St. 2. 1. 1. 2. " I yern full fane,
" To lui my held, and fit down by you." MS.
1 underftand this to mean, (fays Lord Hailes,) I earnettly long to fit
" down at your fide, after having tirft fearched my head, that there be
" no animals about me." A refinement in ruftic courtftiip ! [Perhaps
rather an error of the ttanfcriber for ' lout," or lower my head. E.J
1. 7. I fchro the lyar, full leis me yow." The young
hdy having told her mother, that ftie fufpcded the fincerity of her
wooer, he tenderly anfwers, Curfe you for a liar, 1 love you heartily,"
St. 3. 1. 3. " Ane fute-braid fawing." Corn fufficient to fow a foot-
breadth, or a foot-breadch of ground on which one may fow. Here
the author, draining to make a ludicious defcription of braggart po-
verty, has tranfgreffed the bounds of probability. The idea, however,
has pleafed ; for in a more modern Scottifli ballad, the following lines
occur.
** I ha a wie lairdfchip down in the Merfe,
" Tie nynctenth pairt of a guffes gerfe,
" And I wo' na cum every day to wow."
[Fute-braid perhaps ought to he/ute-gait, what he could delve; in op-
pofition to plough-gate.]
St. 7. 1. 3. " Fyfe fidder of raggis to fluff an jak." A quanity of rags,
wherewith to quilt my coat of mail. By the 87th ftatute, parlia-
ment 6. James V. it was provided, " That all ytamen have jaikes ef
flatt."
1. 6. " Ane fpounge." This probably means a ffung, or
purfe, which clofes with a fpring. A. S, bung or fung. In Scotland the
woid fpung is ftill ufed for a fob. Skinner gives an example of what
he calls lingua myjlicu trronum, or Gypfy cant. " To nip a bung :" This
is from A. S. niipeit. digitis vellicare, and bung or puag, marfupium. It
would be curious to inquire, whether the cant of Gypfies be any
thing more than corrupted Anglo Saxon, oi- corrupted French, juft as
thofe outcafts from civil focicty arc of Anglo Saxon or French origi-
nal.
St. 8. 1. 3. " Ane fark maid of the linkeme twync." A fliirt made of
the Lincoln twine ; a fort of doath fo called. Thus, in Chryftis feir k
oi the grene, St. a. 1. 5. ' JJwir kirtillis wer of lincomc light." \_Lin.
komt, linen. E. Sec Glojfary.']
Vol. III. G g st. lo.
234 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
St. lo. 1. I, " Tak thair for my parte of the feift." Such are my
cH'cAb, fufficient to fet off againft yours ; or, in the vulgar phrafc, to
pay my (hare of the reckoning.
1. 5. The MS. reads, " And ah the lavtroi \*fuji andUddln ;"
i. e. (fays Lord Hailes,) " The lark is roaded and fvvollan. It fecms ta
" be a cant-proverbial expreffion for dinner is ready." [I rather fuppofe
the line has been crroneoufly tranfcribed, it being highly improbable
that any fuch dilh was ever common among the peafantry of Scotland.
The meaning of wHat I have fubftituteJ is, " nur mefs (probably fomc
kind of pottage or flummery) is fufficiently boiled and lythed, or thick-
ened." Belg. {iif-vocren, cibus, alimentum ; Teut. llfuara, cibaria ;
Scot, livery, (meal,) a certain allowance of oat-meal to an out-of-door
fervant for aliment, or fubfiftence ; whence alfo perhaps Hvery ftablc.
Loddin, for lythen or lythed, which is ftill a common word : fujland
probably denotes fome appearance of the flummery when boilmg in
that thickened fl;ate.]
1. 6. " When ye have done, tak harae'the ' irei." After you
have dined, you may carry the remnants home.
This is another of the few Scottifli fongs for th afitiquity of which
there \i any poGtive evidence.
WEDDERBORNE'a
WEDDERBURNE'S COiMFLAINT.
From the Bann. MS.
I.
jVIy luve was fals, and full of flatterle.
With cullerlt lefingis full of dowbilnefs.
Quhen that fcho fpak, her toung was wonder fle^
With fals femblance and fenyeit humylnefs,
And inconftance pajntit with lleidfaftnefs ;
Hir frane was cuverit with ane piteous face,
Quhilk was the caufs that oft I cryit, allace !
II.
Scho lufit ane udir better than fcho lulit me,
Betwix thame twa thay draif me to grit fkorn ;
For it that I tald her in privitie^
Scho tald it to her lufe opon the morne j
And fa betwix thame twa I gat the home.
Yet I could nocht perfaif thair fals confait,
Becaufe thrueh birnand lull I was growin blait.
III.
The fkorne that I gatt micht bene maid ane farfo,
Quhilk excedit the ikorne of Abfolome,
Quhan the hett culter was fchott in his harfs^
Be clerk Nicolus, and his lufe AUefone,
As Canterburne tailis maiks mentioun.
Yet I fufpekkit nocht bot fcho was trew,
Bot I was all begylit, quhilk fair I rew.
236 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
IV.
Yung PIrance, the fone of erie Dragabald,
"Was dirlit with lufe of fair Meridiane ;
Scho promift him hir luve evin as he wald.
And in ane fecreit place gart hiai remane,
Blawand ane kandill be art magicane.
In frofl and fnaw, quhill day licht in the morne j
Bot my fiUok did me far grittar Ikorne.
V.
Virgin, quhilk was prudent, graive, and faige.
Was lichtleit be his luve without remeid,
And for difpyt fcho hang hym in ane caige.
And Ariftotill, quhilk diverfs docktrines maid,
His lady patt ane brydill on his heid.
Bot all thay ikornis can nocht comparit be
Till half the fchame that my luve gart me 'drie.
VI.
Siclyk fcho wald be grit fubtiltie
Reflaif fra me luve drureifs, belt, and ring,r
And than thay fame giftis offer wald fche
Hir paramour, and lait him want no thing.
Upoun the morne the fame ring he wald bring.
And weir thame for difpyt befoir my face.
To gar me ken he was mair in hir grace.
vir.
God wait quhat wo had Troyelus in deid,
Quhen he beheld the belt, the broche, and ring,
Hingand upon the fpeir of Diomede,
Quhilk Troyellus gaif to Creffeid in luve taking.
On that fame fort fcho did to me maling ;
For the giftis that I gafe till hir all hour.
With thame fcho did poffefs hir paramour.
VIII.
Bot quhan fcho was into neceffitic,
Than flatter me fcho wald with woirdis fair J
Ane fenyeit teir fcho wald thrift fra hir e,
Lyk
QJJEEN MARY, 1 542 1 567, 237
Lyk as for luve of me fcho wald forfair.
Hir fenyeit no did fop my hart with cair.
Than petie gart me grant till hir defyre,
Becaufs that luve brunt me lyk. the wuld fyre.
IX.
So day be day fcho plaid with me buk hud,
With mony Ikornis and mokkis behind my bak j
Hir fubtyll wylis gart me fpend all my gud,
Quhill that my clayis grew threid bair on my bak.
My vane perfut gart me in fchame and lak,
Quhill fra fie foly my hart dois now refrane ;
The devill refiave me and I doid agane.
QupD Wedderburne,
WEDDERBURNE.
WEDDERBURNE.
// has already he6n dbferved that the reformation of
^religion in Scotland was greatly promoted through thi
means of Wedderburjue^s " Pfalms and Ballands of
Godlie purpofes." The earUefl edition of them now
extant, is that printed at Edinburgh by Robert Smyth,
Nether-bow J 1599: But, from the manner in which they
are mentioned in a *' Hiflory of the kirk of Scotland MS*
1 560," they miifl have made their appearance foThe con-
fiderable time before the date of that Manufcript^ and
probably are alluded to in a canon of the Provincial
Council 1549, which denounces fever e puntfhment a-
gainfl thofe who kept in their poffefjion " aliquos libros
*' rythmorum feu cantilenarum vulgarium, fcandalofa
** ecclefiaflicorum, aut quamcunque hcerefim in fe
*' continentia." Of the author nothing is known, or
with reafonable probability can be conjeSiured, unlefs
that he may he the fame Wedderburne, who in the
Jiarleian catalogue is named as the author of " The Com-
plaint of Scotland 1549," or to whom the preceding
poem and two others of no great merit^ are afcribed in
the Bannatjne MS. Pfalms and paraphrafes are not
precifely fuitable to the plan of this compilation. But
nxie fijid intermingled with them a variety of fatirical
inve&ives againji the corruption and ahufes of the efla-
hlrJJjed Kirk ; artfully enough devi/ed for the illumina-
tiqn of the vulgar, who, although they were incapable of
reading pamphlets, might eq/ily be taught to fng ballads^
efpscially when adapted, as many of them feem to be^ to
popular airs, A ftw of thefe are therefore curious in
more
.QJJEEN MAR7, I54I 1367. 2^g^
more rejpecls than one. 'The others are fuited to the
intention fet forth in the prologue^ -for the ufe of
** yong perfouns and Jik as are . nocht exercijit in the
'* fcripture, quho will fooner confave the trew word nor
** quhen thay heir it fung in Latine, the quhilk tha'y
" wat nocht quhat it is ; Bot quhen 1;hay heir it fung^
*' or fngis it themfelvi^ into thair vulgair toung with
*' fweit mclodiey than fall thay love thair God and
*' put away bawdrie and unclein fangs . Praife to God.,
" Amen:*
Andro Hart in his edition 1621, reduced the p'r-
thography to the Jiandard nearly of his own time^ in the
fame manner as he had treated Barbour's Bruce in thk
preceding year, and indeed every other Scottijh compoji-
fion that iffucd from his prefs.
GUDE AND GODLY BALLATES.
TELL ME NOW, AND IN WHAT WISE,
X ELL me now, and in quhat wife.
How that I fuld my lufe forga.
Baith daj and nicht ane thoufand fife,
Thir tyrannis waikens me with wa.
At midnight mirke thay will ivs take,
And into prifon will us fling,
There mon we ly quhilfc we forfake.
The name of God quhilk is our King.
Then faggots man we burne or beir.
Or to the deid they will us bring ;
It does them gude to do us deir.
And to confufion us down thrin^.
Ala^'ift
14^ CHRONICLE or SCOTTISH POETRY.
Alice your Grace hes done greit wrang.
To fuffer tyrannis in fie fort.
Day lie your lieges till ouergang,
That does but Chriftis word report.
Chrifl, fen your Grace wald cry ane cry.
Out throw the rcalme of all Scotland,
' The man that wald live faithfully,
*' Ye wald him fufFer in the land.'*
Then fuld we outher do or die.
Or els our life we fuld lay for'd.
And ever to live in cheritie.
Be Chrift Jefu quhilk is our Lord.
Pluck up your herts and make yow bowne,
Fox Chriftis word fee ye ftand for'd,
Their crueltie it fall come downe
Be Chrift Jefus quhilk is our Lord.
Thow King of Glory grant us thy blifle.
Send us fupport ana comforting^
Agains our fais that bifie is.
Thy ftveipe to ftroy baith aald and ying.
In houre of deid grant us thy ftrength,
Glaidly to thoill their crueltie,
And that we may with thee at length.
Receive thy joy eternallie.
St. 3. 1. 1. Faggots.*^ Part of the ceremony of recantation was to-
burn a faggot, called by Knox or fome other contemporary hiftoriaK
a bill," which perhaps implies the articles of herefy with which the
iulprit was charged.
The jth ftanza alludes to the banifhment of Knox, Balnavis and o-
ther promoters of the reformation, in IJ48*
O Christ
O CHRIST (liJHILK ART THE LIGHT OF DAT.
Church Tunef " Chrifte qui lux es & dies."
O Christ quhilk art the licht of day.
The elude of nicht thou dryves away,
I'he beam of gloire belevit richt,
Shawand till us thy perfite licht.
This is na nicht as naturall,
Nor yit na elude materiall.
That thow expels, as I heir fay,
O Chrift quhilk art the licht of day.
This nicht I call [dolatrie,
The elude ouerfpred, Hipocrifie,
Send from the Prince of all unricht,
O Chrift, for till obfcure thy licht.
Quhilk twa hes had dominion
Lang ledand to deftruftion
The maift part of this warld aftray
Fra Chrift, quhilk is the licht of day.
Turnand till Goddis infinite,
Puttand their hope and their delyte
In markis inventit with the flicht
Of Sathan, contrair to thy licht.
Sum makis Goddis of fticks and ftane.
Sum makis Goddis of Sainftis bane,
Quhilk wer they livand heir wald fay,
Idolatrie do way, do way !
To us give nouther laud nor glore/
O fulis gif ye fpeir quhairfoir ;
We had na thing throw our awin micht,
Bot all we had throw Chrift our lichtt
Vol. III. H h To
24* CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
To that, exempill fall be Paull,
At Liftra quha refufit all
Maner of gloir, and thus did fay.
Give gloir to Chrift, the licht of day.
Give nane to us, we are but men,
Mortall as ye, your felfis may ken ;
O fulis, quhairfoir take ye flicht
Rinnand fra Chrifl the perfite licht.
Sum makis Goddis of freiris caip.
Thay monftours mot in gallons gaip j
For they have led us lang allray
Fra Chrift, quhilk is the licht of day.
Sum mumlit aveis, fum raknit creidis.
Sum makis Goddis of thair beidis,
Quhilk wot not quhat they fing nor fay,
Alas ! this is an wrongous way.
St, laft, 1. a. " Sum makis Goddis of thair beidic." In Becoh's Xi-
liquts of Rtm:, wc have the following account of the manner of praying
on or byJding the beads, and of the betieftts that accrued from going
through that piece of fervicrf in a correcfl and proper manner : ' Ye
ftall have (fay the priefles) for everye word in the Pater-iiofter, Ave
Maria and Credo faid on the Five pardon beades three hundred days o
pardon iu purgatorie : Urito all thofe that the beades do ftring, or caufe
to be ftringed in time of neceffitye, eighcyc days of pardon : Alfo ye
rnufl fay firfl on the five beads five Pater nofters, five Avie Maries, and
a Crede in the worfliip of the five woundes of our Saviour Chrift : And
tiien after every Cred^, fay on the fitft white bead of the fyve, ^tfu
fur thy holy name ; and then on the red beade, and for thy Utter pajion ;
then on the firfl black beade,yi2i> us from f.n and thame ; then on the
I'tcond black beade, and endlefs damnation ; and then on the lafl white
beade, bring us tothyblijfe, That never Jhall myjfe fiveet fefu ! Amen;
the pardon whereof, (remembryng all the woundes great and fmall,) i$
fyve thoufand four hundred fevcnty -fyve yearc, <!//>/ jci</Vnj."
MUSANZJ
MUSAirii CREltLY- IN Mt MINDfi.
To the tune, probably, of ** Downe, bellj, downe.*'
JVlusAND greitly in myminde.
The cruell kirkmen In their kinde,
Quhilk bene indurit and fa blinde.
And trowes neuer to cum downe,
Thocht thow be Paip or Cardinal!,
So heich in thy pontiflcall,
Refill thow God that creat all,
Then downe thow fall cum dowrie.
Thocht thow be Archbifchop or Deane,
Chantour, Chancelair, or Chaplane^
Refill thow God, thy glore is gane.
And downe thow fall cum downe.
Thocht thow flow in philofophie.
Or graduate be in theologie.
Yet and thow fyll the veritie,
Then downe thow fall cum downe.
Thocht thow be of religioun
The flraiteft in all regioun.
Yet and thow glaike or gagioun
The trueth, thow fall cum downe.
Where is Chore and Abirpn ?
Jamnes, Jambres, and Dathan become ?
To rcfifl God, quhilke made them boune.
Are they nought all cummit downe.
And quhere is Balaam's falfe counfell ?
Quhere is the prophets of Jefabell,
And Belis prciftes be Daniell,
Downe they were all put downe.
And
244 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
And mony ma I culd you fchaw,
Quhilke of thair God wald Hand na aw,
Bot him refiftit and his law,
And downe thej ar cum downe.
Thair is na kingdome nor Empriour,
Erie nor Duke of greit valour,
Fra tjme je knaw their falfe errour.
But he fall plucke them downe.,
Ophni and Phenis gat no grace,
Hely brak his necke, alace.
And his offspring put from their place.
King Salomon put^them downe.
And King Achab and Helyas,
The fals prophets deftroyit hes.
And als the nobill Jofias,
Put all thefe prophets downe.
Is there na roa ? quhy faid I all ?
Yet many thoufand fall have ane fall,
Quhilke haldis Chriften men in thrall.
Princes fall put them downe.
Wald they na mair impung the trueth.
Syne in their office be not flueth.
Then Chrift on them fuld have fie rueth.
That they fuld nocht cum downe.
I pray to God that they and wee.
Obey his- word in unitie,
Throw faith workand by cheritie,
And let us never come downr.
St. 5. 1. 4. Gagioun (or gagoian) is probably erroneoui, ot ibmeaeiv-
coined word from difguife.
The original words, Lowne, belly, dtwnt, may be feen in Hawkiu's
Hift. of Mulic, III. 18.
WAT
Wat is the HIRDIS of ISRAEtt*
VV AY is the hirdis of Ifraell,
That feicis nocht Chrillis flock.
But dantilj they feid them fell
Sjne does the pepill mock.
The filly fheep was all forlorne,
And was the wolfis prey,
The hirdis teindit all the corne.
The fheep culd get na flray.
They gadderit up baith wool! and mllk^
And fyne tuke na mair cure,
Bot cled them with the coftly filk.
And ficlyke cled their hure.
Therefore fayis God, I will require,
My fcheip furth of their hands :
And give them hyrds at my defire.
To teich them my commands.
And they fall nouther feid them fell^
Noi yit hunger my fheep :
I fall them from my kirk expell,
And gif them fwyrie to keip.
Two hundred years before this time, John Widiff taught, ih a fimilif
ftrain, that " in many caas fujets may Icfully withfloiid tythts; the CU-
rates being more curfed of God for withdrawing of teaching in Word
and deed in good cnfampie, than the fujr ts in withdrawing tythcs. when
the pricfts don not well their godly office but live in covetifle and
glotony, drunkenefs and lechery, with fair liorfe, and jolly and gay
faddlesand bridles ringing by ihc way, and himfelf in coflly cloths and
ptlurc, while their poor neighbours periih for hunger and cold."
GOtr
GOD SEND EVERY ?REiST ANE WYFE.
VjroD fend everie Preift ane wyfe.
And everie Nunne a man,
That they maj live that halj lyfe.
As firft the kirk began.
Sanft Peter, qiihom nana can reprufe,
His life in mariage led.
All gude Preiftis quhom God did lufe,
Their niaryit wyfis hed. '
Grelt caufis then I grant had they,
Fra vvyfis to refraine :
Bot greiter eaufes have they may.
Now wyfis to wed againe.
For then fuld nocht fa roony hure.
Be up and downe this land :
Nor yit fa mony beggers pure.
In kirk and mercat ftand.
And not fa meikill baftard feid
Throw out this cuntrie fawin.
Nor gude men uncouth fry fuld feid.
And all the fuith were knawin.
Sen Chriftis law and common law.
And Doftours will admit,
That Prieftis in that yock fuld draw,
Quha dar fay contrair it !
THE
THE WIND BLA.WIS CALD, FURIOUS AND BAj-D.
t^onhtlefsf to the tune of " Up in the morning early.?'
X HE wind blawis cald, furious and bald,
This lang and mony day :
Bot Chri'fl's mercie we men all die.
Or keip the cald wind away.
This wind fa keine, that I of meine,
It is the vyce of auld j
Our faith is inclufit, and plainly abufit.
This wind hes blawin too cald.
This wind has blawin lang the pepill amang,
And Winded hes their wit j
The ignorant pepill, fa lawit bene and febill.
That they wot nocht quhom to wyte.
Gods worU and lawis, the pepill miflcnawis,
Na credencfe hes the fcripture ;
Quha the fuitji does infer, priefts fay they erre,
Sic bene their ^ufie cure.
Quha dols prefect the New Teflamenl,
Quhilk is our faith furelie :
Priefts callis him like ane heretike,
And fayis, burnt fal\ he be.
This cryis on hie, the Spiritualtie,
As nane them fuld defy;
But their illufion and fal^ abufion,
The pepill dois now efpy.
Quhom fuld we wyte of this difpyte,
That hid fra us Gods law :
But Priefts and Clarkis, and their evil warkis,
Quhilk dois their God miflinavr.
r Their
^48 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
Their greit extortion, and plaine oppreffion,
Afccndis in the aire.
"Without God puneis their cruell vice.
This warld fall all forfair.
The theif Judas did greit trefpas.
That Chnft for filver fald :
But Preifts will take, and his price make.
For les be mony fald.
With wrang abfalutions, and deceitful pardons,
For lucre to them given :
They blinde us now, and gars us trow.
Sic will bring us till hevin.
Gif eirdlj pardons might be our falvations,
Then Chrifl dyit in vaine :
Gif geir micht buy Gods greit mercy,
Then fals is the fcripture plaine.
Syne for our fchoir, he died thercfoir.
And tholit paine for our mis :
Is nane but he that may furelie
Bring us to hevinsiilis.
Then be na way, fee that ye pray.
To Peter, James, nor Johne :
Nr yit to Paull, to fave your faull.
For power have they none.
Saif Chrift onlie that died on trie,
He may baith lowfe and bind.
In uthers mo gif ye traift fo.
On yow blawes cald the winde.
Now fee ye pray baith night and day,
To Chriil that bought us deir ;
For on the rude he fhed his blude,
To faif our faulls but weir.
PRIESTS
:^REISTIS CHRIST BELIEVE.
Jl REisTis Chrift beleve.
And only traift into his blude,
And nocht into your warkis gude,
As plainly Paull can preve..
Preiftis learne to preich.
And put away your ignorance ;
Praife only God, his word avance.
And Chriftis pepill teich.
Preiftis cut your goune,
Your nukit bonet put away.
And cut your tippit into tway.
Go preich from toune to toune.
Preiftis take your ftaSe
And preich the Evangell on your feit,
And fet on fandellis full meit.
But caft your pantons of.
Preiftis keip no ^oldj
Silver nor cunye in your purs.
Nor yit twa cotes with you turs,
Bot flioone to keip fra cold.
Preiftis thole to preich,
Sen ye your felf can preich na thing,
Or we your brawling downe fall brings
And na mair with you fleech.
Vol. in. I i Preiftis
250 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
Preiftis take na teind,
Except the word of God ye fhavv.
Thocht ye alledge your ufe and law,
]t is nocht as ye weind.
Preiflis take nakyis,
The umoll claith ye fall quite-claime
Fra fax pure bairnis with their darac,
A vengeance on you cryis.
Preiftis burne na ma.
Of wrang delation ye may hyre,
And fals witnes na mair inquire.
And let abjuring ga.
Preiftis all and fum
Suld call ane counfell generall,
And dies all thingis fpirituall.
But there they will nocht cum.
Preiftis read and write.
And your falfe common lawes let bee,
Quhair Paipis contraire fcripture lie.
And contrair Doftoures write :
Preiftis pryde yow nocht,
Quhat your counfels does conclude,
Contrair the write and Chriftis hlude,
The quhilk fo deir us bocht.
Preiftis curfe no more,
And not your heartes indure,
Bot on your flockes take cure.
Or God fall curfe yow fore.
Preiftis leve your pryde.
Your fcarlat and your velvate foft^
Your horfe and mulis coftly coft,
And jack-men be your fyde,
Preiftis
qpZEN MARY, 1542 1567. 251
Prelftis fober bee,
And fecht not, nouther boift nor fchoir,
Mifreule the realme and court no moir,
And to your kirkis flee.
Preiftis mend your life.
And leif your foull fenfualitie,
And vyld ftinkand chaftitie.
And ilke ane take ane wife.
Preiftis pray ncf more.
To Sand Anthone to fave your fow.
Nor to Sanft Bride to keipe your cow.
That greives God right foie,
Preiftis worfchip God,
And put away imagerie,
Your pardons and fraternitie,
To hell the way and rod.
Preiftis fell no mefie,
Bot minifter that facrament,
As Chrift in the New Teftament,
Commandit yow exprefle.
Preiftis put away
Your paintit fire of purgatrie.
The ground of your idolatrie,
It is neir domefe-day.
Preiftis change your tune.
And fing into your mother tung,
Inglis pfames and ye impung,
Ye dyne afternoone.
Preiftis prief yow men.
And now defend your libertie,
For France and for your dignitie,
Ye brak the peace ye ken.
Preiftis
2j* CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRt*
Preiftis now confefle.
How ye fo lang did us begyle,
"With many haly bellie wyle,
To live in idilnefle.
I yow exhort,
Your office to doe perfito.
For I fay nothing in difpite,
Sa God mot me fupport.
tn Piert Plougbmatu Crede, written about A. D. 1380, a prleft is tliu
reprefenced wheedling a man out of hi: money, on pretence of bvild'
ing a church :
We haven forfaken the world, and in wo liveth,
In penaunce and poverte, and prccheth the puplc
By enfample of our liif, foulis to helpen.
And in poverte preien for all our parteneres
That gyveth us any good, God to honouren,
Other bel, other book, or bred to our foode.
Other cartel, other cloth, to covercn with our bones;
Moneyc, other money wotth here mede is in heven.
For raighteflou amenden us with moncye of thy owen.
Thou chouldefl knel bifore Chrift, in compas of gold,
In the wydc window weftward, wel neigh in the mydel.
And St. Francis himfclf ihallfold the in his cope.
And prefent the to the Trinitc, and pray for thy fynnci;
Thy name {hall noblich ben wryten and wrought for the nooex,
And in remembranc: of the y'raid there for ever.
RMEMB6^
REMEMBER MAN, REMEMBER MAN.
Mr, prohahlj/y No. IX. in Forbes's Songs, Aberdeen,
1660.
R
r.
EMEMBER man, remember man.
That I thy fauU from Sathan wan ;
And hes done for thee quhat I can,
Thow art full deir to me.
Is, was, nor fall be none,
That may thee fave but I allone,
Onely therefore beleive me on.
And thow fall neuer die.
II.
Wolves, quhom of mj Evangeliftes write ^
And Paull and Peter did of dite,
Allace, have yow deceived quite.
With falfe hypocrifie.
My New Teftament plaine and gude,
For quhilk I flied my precious blude,
With crewal fufFering, on the rude,
They hald for herefie ;
III.
And hes fet up their falfe dolrine
For covetice infteid of mine.
With fire and fword defendes it fyne,
Contrare my word and mee.
The Antichrift is cumit bot dout.
And hes yow trapped round about ;
Foorth of his girne therefore come out,
Gif ye wald fayed bee.
IV.
254 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
IV.
Hts pilgrimage and purgatrie.
His worfchiping of imagerie,
His pardouns and fraternitie,
With zeill and good intent :
The quhilfperit finnes callit th' Eir-confeflioun,
With his Prieltes mumblit abfolutioun.
And mony other falfe abufioun.
The Paip hes done invent.
Y.
With rtieffis fauld be Pried and Freir
For land and money wonder deir,
Quhilk is the ground-ftone of their queir.
And rute of all their pryde.
His Pater-iiofter bocht and fauld.
His numered Aveis and Pfalmes tald,
Quhilk. my New Teflament nor my Auld,
On no wayes can abide.
\I.
Their haly Matines faft they patter.
They give yow breid, and felles ypw water,
His curfinges on yow als they clatter, '
Thocht they can hurt yow nocht
Gif ye will give them caip or bell.
The cling thereof they will yow fell,
Suppofe the faull fuld go to hell.
They get nathing unbocht.
VII.
They fell yow als the Sacramentis fevin,
They micht have made als weill eilevin :
Few, or mony, od or evin.
Your purfes for to pyke. ^
Wald they let bot twa ufit be.
Of Baptifme and of ray bodie.
As they wer inflitute.be me,
Men wald them better like.
vni.
QJJEEN MARY, I542 1367. '^SS
VIII.
Marlage is an blefled band,
Quhilk 1 gave men in my command.
To keepe, but they my word withltand,
Ane Sacrament it maid.
Unto the other Sacramentes fyve,
Our Salvatioua they afcryve,
From my trew falih yow for to dryve.
In vaine to make my deid.
IX.
Their trifles all are made by men,
Quhilk my Gofpell did never ken.
My law and my commandements tea
They hyd from mens eine :
My New Teftament they wakl keep downe,
(Quhilk fuld be preached from towne to towne,
Caufe it wald cut their lang tailit gowne,
And fliaw their lyve uncleine.
And now they are with dolour pinde.
And like to rage out of their minde,
Becaufe from them we are inclinde.
And will no lefings heir.
Therefore they makefo greit uproir,
Contrare the itocke of Chriftis ftoir,
l)etermit or they will give it ouer, -^
To fecht all into feir.
XI.
Bot hald yow at my Teftment fall.
And be no quhite of them agaft.
For I fall bring downe at the laft,
Their pride and crueltie.
Then cleirly fall my word be ftiawne.
And their falfet fall be knawne,
That they into all landes have fawne,
e their idolatrie.
XII,
1j6 CIlRO.vrCLE OF SCOTTISH FOETIIT.
xii.
And ye fall live In reft and peace,
Iiiftruded with my word of grace.
For I the Antlchrift deface
Sail and true preachers fend.
Repent your finne with all your hertj
And with true faith to me convert.
And hevinlie glore fall be your part,
With me to bruke but end.
xiir.
We pray thee Chrifl Jefus our Lord,
Conforme our lyvis to thy word.
That we may live with ane accord,
In perfite charitie.
And forgive us our finfulnefTe,
And cleith us with thy righteoufneffe,
Of thy favour and gentllnelTe,
We pray thee that fo be.
The vcrfes in " Forbes's Colledlion" are quite in the devout {lyle.'-
The (econd ftrain of the mufic deferves attention, Irom its ftriking rc-
fembla'ce to, or rather identity with, the fame part of the favourite
/,ir, God Save thi King. See Edin. Voc. Mag. Vol. I. Song VIII.
St. 6. 1. I. " The word " hag" is here omitted, it being difficult to
conjedure the meaningof " haly hag." Perhaps it has been originally
wriiten, fomewhat in the Anglo Saxon {oTm,halyeh for holy. It Airely
can have no reference to the Matines of Our Lady, who in ihefe godlf
ballads is repeatedly nnentioncd with the higheft rcfpcft.
WITB
Tune " The hunt is up^ The hunt is uff
And now it is almoji day ,
And he thafs in bed with another mail's viyje,
Jt^s time to get away.'^
W ITH huntis up, with huntis up.
It is now perfite day :
Jefus our King is gane in hunting,
Quha Ijkes to fpeid they may.
Ane curfit fox lay hid in rox
This lang and mony ane day,.
Devouring fcheip ; quhyle he micht creip,
Nane micht him fchape away.
It did him gude to laip the blude
Of yung and tendir lammis :
Nane could hitfi mis, for all was his.
The yung anis with thair dammis.
The hunter is Chrift, that huntis in haift,
The hundis are Peter and Paul :
The Paip is the fox, Rome is the rpx,
That rubbis us on the gall.
That cruell beift, he never ceill
Be his ufurpit powr,
Under difpence to get our pence,
Our faullis to devoure.
Quha could devyfe lie merchandyfe,
As he had there to fell,
Unles it wer proud Lucifer,
The grit mailer of hell.
He had to fell the Tantonie bell,
And pardons therein was ;
Remiffioun of finnis in auld fcheip ikinnis^
Or fauls to bring from grace.
Vol. HI. Kk With
2$S CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT^
With buls of leid, quhite wax and reid.
And uther quhiles with grene,
Clofit in ane box, this ufit the fox ;
Sic peltrie was never fene.
With difpenfations and obligations,
According to his law :
He wald difpence for money from hence.
With them he never faw.
To curs and ban the fempill poore man.
That had nocht to flee the pairie :
Bot quhen he had payt all to ane myte.
He mon be abfolvit then.
To fum, God wot, he gave tot quot.
And uther fum pluralitie.
Bot firft with pence he mon difpence.
Or els it will nocht be.
Kings to marie, and fum to tarie.
Sic is his power and micht ;
Quha that hes gold, with him will be bold,
Thocht contrair to all richt.
O bliffit Peter, the fox is ane Her,
Thou knawis weill it is nocht fa,
Quhill at the laft, he fall be downe caft.
His peltrie pardons and a\
The original fong was compofed by one " Gray," in the reign of
Henry VIII.
St. 7. " Tantonie bell," St. Anthony's bell. Duratidus, in his Ritual
rf divine fervid, fayth that " bels be of foche vertuc, that when they be
roung they prefcrve the ftutes of the earth ; they kepe both the mmdes
snd the bodies of the faithful from al daunger, and put to flight
the hofles of our enemycB. They drive away alfo all wicked fpirits and
devills ; for (fayth he) the devills arr wonderfully afrayde when they
Jjear the tronipettcs of the church militaunt, atvJ immediately trudge a-
vVay,"
HAY
HAY TRIX; TRIM GO TRIX,
UNDER THE GRENE-WOD TRIE,
I.
J. HE Paip, that Pagane full of pryde,
He hes us blindit lang :
For quhair the blind the blind 4Qis^gy;^>;_ ,,
Na wonder baith ga wrarig } , , ' ^ \. _ ' ,
l.yke Fnnce and King he led the ting.
Of all iniquitie,
Haj trix, trim go trix, Under the grenewod trie;
II,
Bot his abhoniinatiouni* "- -- -
The Lord hes brocht to licht ;
His Popifche pryde and thrinfald croan,
Almaifl hes loft thair micht :
His plak pardounis ar bot lurdounis
Of new found vanitie.
Hay trix, trim, &c., ,,. .
IIL^i; hus
His Cardinallis hes cans to murnCj
His Bifchoppis borne a back :
His Abbotis gat an uncouth turnfe,
Quhen fchavellingis went to fack.
With burges wyfis they led thair lyAsj
And fure better nor we.
Hay trix, trim, &c.
IV.
His Carmelites and Jacobinis,
His Dominikes had great do ;
His Cordeileiris and Auguftinis^
Sana
26o CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
Sant Francis ordour to.
The filly Freiris mony yeirls.
With babling bleirit our ee.
Hay trix, trim, &c.
V.
The Sifters Gray before this day,
Did crune within thair clofter ;
Thay feeit ane Freir, thair keyis to beir.
The feind reflave the fofter ;
Syne in the mirk he weill culd wirk.
And kittil them wantonlie.
Hay trix, trim, &c.
VI.
The blind Bifchop he culd nocht preich.
For playing with the laflis.
The fyllie Freir behuifit to fleich.
For almous that he affis.
The Curat his creid, he culd nocht leid,
Schame fall the companie.
Hay trix, trim, &c.
VII.
The Bifchop wald nocht wed ane wyfe ;
The Abbot nocht perfew ane,
Thinkand it was ane luftie life.
Ilk day to have ane new anfe ;
In every place an uncouth face.
His luft to fatisfie.
Hay trix, trim, &c.
Vllt.
The Perfoun wald nocht have an hure,
Bot twa and thay wer bony.
The Viccar als thocht he was pure,
Behuifit to have as mony.
The pareis Preift, that brutall beift.
He polit thame wantonlie.
Hay trix, trim, &.c.
IX.
<3JJEEN MARY, 15421^^7. a6l
IX.
Of Scotland Well, the Freirs of Faill,
The limmery lang hes laftlt
The Monkis of Metros made gude kalll
On Fridayls quhen thay faflit.
The feily Nunnis keift up thair bunnis.
And heifit thair hippis on hie.
Hay trix, trim, &c.
X.
Of late I faw thir limmers ftand^
Like mad men at mifchief,
Thinkand to get the upper hand,
Thay luke after relief.
Bot all in vaine, ga tell them plaine,
That day will never be.
Hay trix, trim, &c.
xr.
O Jefu, gif thay thocht grit glle,
To fee Goddis word doune fmorit.
The Congregation made to flie,
Hypocrifie reftorit,
With meffis fung, and bellis rung.
To thair idolatrie,
Mary God thank yow, we fall gar brank yow,
Before that time trewlie.
St. 3. 1. 4. " Quhen fchavclingis went to fack;" when the rafcaily
tnob, as Knox calls them, proceeded to pull down the religious houi'ci
(in IJ59.) Thofe of Scotland-Well in Kinrofs-fhire, and faill, (Failc-
furd in Ayr-fliirc ?) mentioned in St. 9. were pethaps among the firft
that fuffered. I fufpedl the two firft words of St. 10. were originaUj
" At Leith," the fucceeding lines fceming to allude to the ftiameful
Hight of the Congregation to Stirling in Nov. 1559, and the cor.fcqucot
re-cftabliflinBent of the Romifli worfliip in Edinburgh and other place*
that favoured the Queen Dowager's party.
B \LLAD
BALLAD IN DERISIODN OF THE POPISCIIE MES.
I.
l^NAw ye not God omnipotent.
He creat man and maid him fre,
Quhill he brak his commandement>
And eit of the forbiddin tre.
Had n6t that bliffit bairne bene borne.
Sin to redres,
Eowreis your lyves had bene forlorne.
For all your Mes.
H.
Sen we war all to fin made fure.
Throw Adamis inobedience,
Saif Chrift there was na creature
Maid facrifice for our oflfence.
There is na Sanft may faif your faull
Fra ye tranfgres,
Suppois San6l Peter and Sanfl Paull
Had baith faid Mes.
Tir.
Knawing there is na Chrill bot ane,
Quhilk rent was on the rude with roddis,
Quhy geve ye glore to ftock and ftane^
In worfchipping of uther Goddis :
Thir idolis that on alters ftandis,
Ar fenyeitnes :
Ye gat not God amang your handis,
Mumling your Mes.
IV.
"^ QSSEE^ MARY, 1542 1567. 26^
TV.
And fen na Sand your faull may faif,
Perchance ye will fpeir at me than, ,
How may the Paip thir pardounis haif.
With power baith of beift and man.
Throw nathing hot ane fenycit faith
For halynes :
Invent! t wayis to get them graith,
Lyke as the Mes.
V,
Of mariage you maid you quyte.
Thinking it thraldome to refraine :
Wanting of wyfisis appetyte.
That courage micht incres againe.
Thay hony lippis ye did perfew,
Grew gall 1 ges.
Thinking it was contrition trew.
To dance ane Mes.
VI,
Gif God was maid of bittis of breid,
Eit ye not oukely fax or fevin.
As it had bene ane mortall feid,
Quhill ye had almaift hcryit hevin ?
Als mony devils ye men devoir
Quhill hell grow les.
Or doutles we dar nocht relloir
Yow to your Mes.
VII.
Gif God be tranfubftantiall
In breid with hoc ejl corpus meum,
Quhy arc ye fa unnaturall
To take him in your teeth and fla him ?
Tripairtit and dcvydit him
At your dum drefle,
Bot God knawis how ye gydit him,
Mumling your Mes.
VIII.
2^4 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETJtf,
VIII.
Ye partit with dame Poverty,
Tuke Property to be your wyf^
Fra Charity and Chaftity,
With Lechery ye led your lyfe.
That laifit the mother of mifchief
Your Gredines,
Beleiving ay to get lelief
For iaying Mes.
IX.
O wickit vaine veneripnis,
Ye are nocht Sancls, thoch ye feme haly,
Proud poyfonit Epicurienis,
Quhilk had na God but your awih belly,
Beleve ye lounis the Lordallowi^
Your idlenes ?
Lang or the fweet cum ouer your browis.
For faying Mes,
X.
Had not your felf begun the weiris,
Your ftepills had bene ftandand yit j
It was the flattering of your Freiris^
That ever gart Sanift Francis flit.
Ye grew fa fuperftitiou^
In wickitnes,
It gart us grow malicious
Contrair your Mes.
XI.
Your Bifchopis are degenerate,
Thocht they be mountit upon mulis.
With huredome clene effeminate :
And Freiris oftymes previs fules.
For Duftifit and Bob-at-eviq,
Do fa incres,
Hes driven fum of them to tein,
For all their Mes.
XII.
<2JJEEN MARY, 1 3 42 1567. 26$
XII.
Chrifl keip faithful Chriftiens
From perverft pryde and Papiftrie :
God grant thame trew intelHgens
Of his law, word, and veritie :
God grant they may theif lyfe amend.
Syne blis pofles,
Throw faith on Chrift all that depend,
And nocht on Mes.
XIII.
Syn Mes is nathing els to fay,
Bot ane wickit inventioun.
Without authority or flay
Of fcripture, or foundation
Gif Kings wald Mes to I^ome hence dryve
With haiftines,
Suld be the meane to have belyve
An end of Mes.
St. 7. The author might as well have avoided this indecent manner
of treating tHe " holy houfel," as it was termed by our Saxon forefa-
ihcrs, who, by the by, fecm not to have been quite orthodox in the ar-
ticle of tranfubftantiation : " Certainly (fays one of their preachers)
this hufell that now beith hallowed at God's altar, is only a taknung
of Chriflis lichama (body) that be for us ofiVode, and of hit blode that
he it us (hcd, Uc."
Vol. III. LI OP
OF THE FAL3E FIRE OF PURGATORIB-
Ly F the fals fyre of Purgatorie,
Is nocht left in ane fponke :
Thairfor fayes Gedoe, Wayis me.
Gone is Preift, Freir, and Monke !
The reik fa wounder deir thay folde.
For money, gold, and landis,
Quhill halfe the riches on the molde,
Is feafit in thair handis.
They knew nathing but covetice.
And luv^e of paramouris.
And let the faulis burne and bis;
Of all their foundatouris.
For Corps-prefence they wald fing ;
For riches flocken the fyre ;
Bot all pure folk that had na thing,
Was fkaldit bane and lyre.
Yit fat they heich in Parlement,
Lyke Lordis of grit renowne,
Quhill now that the New Teftament,
Hes it and thame brocht downe.
And thocht they fuffe at it, and blaw
Ay quhill thair bellies ryve,
The mair they blaw, full weil they Is naw,
Th6 mair it does millhryve.
AVf
AW MY HERT THIS IS MY SANO.
J\.w my hert ! this is my fang,
With double mirth and joy amang,
Sa blyth as bird my God to ling ;
Chrift hes my hert ay.
Quha hes my hert but hevins king,
Quhilk caufis me for joy to fing,
Quhom that I lufe attour all thing !
Chrift hes my hprt ay.
He is fair, fober, and bening,
Sweit, meik, and gentle in all thing,
Maift worthyeft to have louing ;
Chrift hes my hert ay.
For us that bliffit bairne was borne.
For us he was baith rent and torne,
For us he was crounit with thorne j
Chrift hes my hert ay.
For us he fched his precious blude,
For us he was nailit on the rude.
For us he mony batell ftude ;
Chrift hes my hert ay.
Nixt him to lufe his Mother fair
With ftedfaft hert for evcrmair ;
Scho bure the birth fred us fra cair;
Chrift hes my hert ay.
We pray to God that fittis above,
Fra him let neuer our hert remove.
Nor for no fudden worldlie love.
Chrift hes my hert ay.
H
226 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT*
He is the love of lovers all,
He cunimis, on him quhen we call j
For us he drank the bitter gall ;
Chrift heS my hert ay.
Fe\|r readers need to be informed that the pradlicc of tranflating the
pfalms of David and other parts of Scripture into rhyme, for the pur-
pofe of being fung, began about this time to prevail in various parts of
Europe. Flanders feems to have led the way in 1540 ; and the exam-
ple was immediately followed in France by Clement Marot, who in
154a publiflied thirty pfalms in French metre, and twenty more in the
following year. At firft they were fung to the airs of popular balla Js,
and were fo much admired at the Court of Francis the Firft, that every
L.ady had her favourite pfalm, in the fame manner as they now have
minuets and contrey dances. J. Calvin, who at that time was projetSling
a new form of worfhip, availed himfelf of this prevailing rage, and a-
doptsd Marot's pfalms, fitted, however, with folemn mufic, as an ap-
pendix to the Catechifm of Geneva 1553. Upon the return of John
Knox from Geneva to Scotland in 1555, we may prefumc that he was
inftrudled to introduce the lame pradicc among his countrymen.
Wedderburne, the Clement Marot of Sccthnd, did not, however, con-
fine his genius to the pfalms of David, Lord's prayer. Greed, and Ten
Commands, but attempted to foar aloft in original compofition, affum-
ing probably for the model of his ftylc, " The Canticles of Solomon
done into Englilh Meeter 1549." How tar he fucceedcd, the Reader
will be enabled to judge from this and the fucctedirg fpccioienj.
T
To the tune, it would /eem, of
WhA is at Mr CHAMBER DORE ?
O WIDOW AR YE WAUKING.
Q
UHo is at my windo, quho, quho,
Goe from my windo, goe, goe.
Quha callis there, fo Ijke ane ftrangere,
Goe from my windo, goe, goe.
Lord, 1 am heir ane wratchit mortal,
That for thy mercie dois crie and call ;
Unto the, my Lord celeftiall,
Sie quho is at my windo, quho, quho.
How daris thow for mercie eric,
Sa lang in finne as thow dois lye ;
Mercie to have thow art not worthie,
Goe from my windo, goe.
My gylt, gude Lord, I will refufe.
And the wicked life that I did ufe ;
Traiftand thy mercie fall be my excufe,
Se quho is at my windo, quho.
To be excufit thow wald richt faine.
In fpending of thy lyfe invaine,
Having my gofpell in greit difdaine,
Goe from my windo, goe,
Lord, I have ofFendit th<5,
Excufe thereof there can nane be ;
1 have followit thame that fa teichit me,
Se quho is at my windo, quho.
Nay, I call the nocht fra my doore I wi,
Lyke a flranger that unkuawin is ;
Thou art my brothir, and my will it i?
In at my doore that thou goe.
AVith
fjO CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
With richt humble hert. Lord, I the pray,
Thj comfort and grace obtaine I may ;
Schaw me the path and ready way
In at thy doore for to goe.
I am chief gyde to rich and poore,
Shaw and the pathway richt to my doore ;
I am their comfort in every houre.
That in at my doore will go.
But thay that walk, ane other way.
As mony did teich them from day to day.
They war indurit, my gofpell did fay.
And far from my door fall goc.
Gracious Lord, comfort of all wicht !
For thy greit powei and cheif excelling micht,
Sen thow art gyde and very light.
In at thy doore lejt me goe.
Man, I gave the nocht free will,
That thow fuld my gofpell fpill ;
Thou dois na gude, but evir ill,
Thairfore from piy doore that thou goe.
That will, alace, hes me begylit.
That will fa farre hes me defylit.
That will thy prefence hes me exylit j
In at thy doore let pie goe.
To blame that will thow does not richt,
1 gaif thee reffoun quhereby thou micht
Have knawin the day be the dark night,
In at my doore to goe.
O Lord, I pray the with all my hart.
Of thy greit mercie remufe my fmart ;
Let ane drop of thy grace be my part,
That in at thy doore I may goe.
I have
QUEEN MARY, I542 IJ67. 271
I have fpoken in my fcripture,
1 will the deid of na creature ;
Quha will alk mercie fall be fure
In at my doore for to goe.
Lord, quhais mercy is but endj
Quherein ocht to the I did offend,
Grant me fpace my life to amend.
That in at thy doore I may go.
Remember thy fin, and als thy fmarr,
And als for the quhat was my part ;
Remember the fpeir that thirlit my hart,
And in at my doore thou fall goe.
And it war fit to do againe.
Rather as thow fuld lye in palne,
1 wald fuifer mair in certaine,
That in at my doore thou may goe.
I afk na thing of the, thaiifore,
Bot lufe for life to ly In (lore ;
Give me thy hart, I afk no more.
And in at my doore thou fall goe.
O Gracious Lord celefliall,
As thow art Lord and King eternall,
Grant us grace that we may enter all,
And in at thy doore let me goe.
Quho is at my windo, quho,
Go fra my windo, go ;
Cry no more there like ane ftrangere,
But in at my doore thou gop.
Tii.r.
TILL OUR GUDE-MAN, TILL OUR GUDE-MAW^
KEIP FAITH AND LOVE TILL OUR GUDE-MAN,
Jf OR our gude-man in hevin does ring,
-In glore and bliffe without ending j
Quhere angels fingis ever Ofan,
In laude and praife of our gude-man.
Our gude-man defjris thre thingis,
Ane hart quaere fra contrition fpringis,
Syne love him beft our fauls that wan,
Quhen we wer loft fra our gude-man.
And our gude-man that euer was kind,
Requyres of us ane faithfull mind,
Sjne cheritable be with every clan-,
For luve onlie of our gude-maft.
Yit our gude-man requyres more,
To give no creature his glore ;
And gif we doe, doe quhat we can.
We fall be loft fra our gude-man.
Adame, our fore-father that was,
Hes loft us all for his trefpas ;
Ouhais brukle banes we may fair ban,
That gart us lofe our awne gude-raan.
And our gude-man he promeift fure,
To everie faithfull creature,
His greit mercie that now or than
Will call for grace at our gude-man.
Yet our gude-man, gracious and gude,
For our falvation flied his blude
Upon the croce, quhere there began
The mercifulncffe of our gude-man.
This
QJJEfiN MARY, 1542 1567. 273
This is the blude did us refrefli.
This is the blude that muft us wafli.
That blude that from his hart farth ran,
Maid us free aires till our gude-man.
Now let us pray baith day and hour,
Till Chrift our onely Mediatour,
Till fave on the day that quhen
We fall be judged be our gude-man.
Whoever will compare this with the common fong, *' You'll nivtr he
tike my auld gude-man" beginning with " Late in an tvntngfurth I went"
muft be facisiied that the profane ballad, or part of it, was in exiftencc
at the time this fanatic parody was compofed ; and that the mudc, in
all probability, was the fame fimple beautiful air to which it continues
to be fung at this day. That fuch a ftrange burden could be affumed
in an original devout hymn, without having any reference to a jQinilar
burden in a profane fong, is utterly incredible.
Vol, III, Mm mt
MY LVF MURNIS FOR ME, FOR IklE-
IVlY lufe murnis for me, for me.
My lufe that murnis for me ;
1 am not kinde, hes not in mindc
My lufe that murnis for me.
Quha is my lufe but God abuve,
Quhilk. all the warld hes wrocht ;
The King of blifle my lufe he is.
Full deir he hes me bocht.
His precious blude he fched on rude.
That was to make us fre ;
This fall I prove by Goddis love.
That my lufe murnis for me.
This my lufe came from abuve.
And borne was of ane maid.
For to fulfill his father's will.
Till fill furth that he faid.
Man ! have in minde, and thou be kinde,
Thy lufe that murnis for thee.
Now he on rude that fched his blude, -
From Sathan to make us free.
There is feme appearance that the hint has here beeu taken iruni
" He's low doun, he's in the broom
" Thac's waiting for me, &c."
One fong, or rather apparently two, with a bnrden fomcwhat of thi.-
isrt, being mecticned in the " Ccfrplaint of Scotland 15/19
To
^0 the original air, douhtlefs, of
Leave thee, leave thee,
I'll never leave thee ;
the modern rmtfic ofiuhich is prohahly a little corrupted.
J\vf my love ! leif me not,
Leif me not, lelf me not.
Aw ! my love leif me not,
Thus mine alone.
With ane burding on my bak,
I may not beir it, I am fo waik ;
Love ! this burding from me tak.
Or elfe I am gone.
With finnes I am laden fair,
Leif me not, leif me not,
With finnes I am laden fair,
Leif me not allone.
i pray the Lord, therefore,
Keip not my finnes in ftore,
Lowfe me or I be forlome,
And heir my mone.
With thy hand is thow hes me v/rocht,
Leif me not, leif me not.
With thy handis thow hes me wrocht,
Leif me not allone.
I was fauld, and thow me bocht.
With thy blude thow hes me coft,
Now I am bidder focht,
To thee Lord allone.
I cry
376 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
I cry and I call to thee.
To leif me not, leif me not,
I crj and I call to thee.
To leif me not allone.
All they that laden be,
Thow biddes thame cum to the.
Then fall they favit be,
Throw thy mercie allone.
Thow faves all the penitent.
And leifs them not, leifs them not,
Thow faves all the penitent.
And leifs them not allone.
All that will their finnes repent,
Nane of them fall be fpent,
Suppofe the bow be ready bent.
Of them thow killes none.
Faith, Hope, and Gharitie,
Leif me not, leif me not.
Faith, Hope, and Charitie,
Leif me not allone.
1 pray the Lord, grant to me
Thir godly giftis three,
Then fall I favit be,
Dout have 1 none.
To the. Father, be all gloie.
That leifs us not, leifs us not.
To the. Father, be all glore.
That leifs us not allone.
Sonne and Haly Ghoft, evermore.
As it was of before,
Throw Chrift our Saviour,
We are all faif every one.
To
To ihe common Tune,
J ohne cum kifs me noxvy
yohne cum kifs me noiv^
Johne cum kifs me by and hy^
And mak no more adow.
The Lord thj God I am.
That Johne dois thee call,
[Johne reprefentis man
Bj grace celefliall ;
For Johne Goddis grace it Is,
Quha lift till expone the fame ;
Johne thow did amifs,
Quhen that thow loft this name.]
Hevin and eirth of noucht
1 maid them for thy lake,
, For evermore 1 thoucht.
To my likenefs thee make*
In Paradice I plantit thee.
And maid x\\ Lord of all
My creatures, not forbidding thee
Nathing but ane of all.
Thus wald thow not obey,
Nor yit follow my will,
Bot did caft thyfelfe away.
And thy pofteritie fpill.
My juftice condemned thee
To everlafting paine.
Nan culd na remedie
To buy man free againe.
pure
2^8 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
O pure life and mere mercie.
Mine awin Sonne downe I fend,
God become man for thee.
For thy fin his life did fpend.
Thy atonement and peace to make,
He fched his blude maiil halj,
Sufiering death for thy faik,
Quhat culd he do more for thee ?
Thus quhen thow was in dangerous race^,
Ready to fink in hell,
Of my mercie and fpeciall gtacc,
I fend thee my gofpell.
My prophites call, my preachers cry,
Johne cum kifs me nov/,
Johne cum kifs me by and by,
And mak no more adow,
Ane fpreit I am incorporat,
No mortailis eye can fee,
Yet my word does intimat, '
Johne how thow mud kifs me now.
Repent thy finne unfeinyeitlie,
Eeleve my promife in Chriftis death..
This kifs of faith will juftific thee.
As my fcripture plafnlie faith.
Make no delay, cum by and by,
Quhen tliat I do thee call,
J^cifl do ilrike thee fuddenly,
And fo cum nocht at all.
A itvv n-iore of thefe fanatical rhapfodies feem cvii!ent'y wrltrcn t^
the JTiiificof fongs whicli at that time muft have been popular, als hough
now eithsr unknown, or not nfcerrainablr, hy the few li.ies prfcrtfed
in the paroc'i- s.
I'herc
QUEEN MARY, I542 1567. 2^g
There is, however, good reafon to fuppofc that the following was
fung to Gramacbrei, or fomeching very like it. See Edin. Vo(vMag.
Vol. II. Song XXVIII,
Intill ane mirthfull May morning,
Quhen Phcbus up did fpring,
Waking I lay in ane garding gay,
Thinkand on Chrift fa fiie ;
Quhilk nieikly for mankind,
Tholit to be pynd
On croce cruellie, La-la, &c.
. And the following, with fome appearance of truth, is fald to have
been fung to the tunc of Hay tutti tjtti.
Hay now the day dallis.
Now Chrift on us callii).
Now welth on our wallis
Appeiris anonc :
Now the word of God ringis,
Q_uhilk is king of all kingis,
Now Chryftis flock fingis
The nicht is nere gone.
To the tune of Beiv lu la la (perhaps the Gaelic JSubon mo hnav) is
" Ane fang of the birth of Chrift."
This day to yow is borne ane childe,
Of Alarie meeke and virgine niylde.
That blillit barne bening and kynde,
Sail yow rejoycc baith hart and mynde. ....
But I fall prais the cvir moir.
With fangis fueit unto thy gloir.
The kneis of my hert fall I bow,
And fing that richt Bulu la lew.
In Mr Ritfon's AncitDt fonga 1790, tr.sy be fccn the (Ei'glifli^ origi-
Ualof
Cry vous is my forrow ,
Both at evin and morrow, Stc.
SUPER.
SUPER FLUMINA BAEYLONIS
is fubmitted to the reader as a fpecimen of WeddER-
burne's verjion of the Pfalms,
I.
jr\.T the rivers of Babjlon,
Quhair we dwelt in captivitie,
Quhen we remembrit on Sjon,
We weipit al full forrowfullie.
On the fauch tries our barpes we hang,
Quhen they requirit us an fang.
Thej hald us into fie thraldoune,
Thej bad us fing fum pfalm or hymme.
That we in Sjon fang fum tyme,
To quhome we anfwerit full fune.
n.
Noeht may we outher play or fing,
The Pfalmis of our Lord fa fueit.
Until ane uncouth land or ring.
My richt hand firft fall that forleit.
Or Jerufalem foryettin be.
Faft to my chaftis my tung fall be
Clafpit, or that I it foryet.
In my maifl gladnes and my game,
I fall remember Jerufalem,
And all my hart upon it fet.
III.
QJJEEN MARY, 1542 1567. 28l
III.
O Lord, think, on the Edotniteis,
How thej did at Jerufalem.
Thej bad deftroy with cruelteds.
Put all to facke, and it ouerquhelm,
Bot wratchit fall thow be, Babyloun I
And bleffit is that champioun
Sail ferve the as thow fervit us !
And he that fall thy bairnis plaig.
And rafh thair harnes againft ane craig,
Is happy and full glorious !
In this manner "Weddcrburne tranflaced about twenty-one of David's
pfalnis, which probablf were fung in the private meetings of the " Con-
gregation of the Lord" for a few years before the eftablilhment of the
jreformed religion, when the veifion of Sternholdand Hopkins was uni-
verfally adopted in the kirks of Scotland as well as of England, and an
edition of it printed in Edinburgh in I564. At the fame conventicles,
in all probability, were alfo fung fuch of the foregoing ballads as were
mofl likely to render the eflablilhed clergy contemptible and odious ; a
more effeAual method than which could not have been devifcd for ferv-
ing the purpofes of the reforming party. The others, fuch as Our auld
Cudcman. "John turn kifs me noio, &c. undoubtedly belong to the fame
party ; although it has been alledged that they were compofcd by the
Catholicks with a view of ridiculing the fanatcifm of their adverfariesi
Vol, IIL N n ane
AN'E SANG or THE SPIRIT AND THE yLESCHi;.
Ai
.LL Chriftin men tak tent and Her,
How faull and body ar at wier
Upon this eird baith lait and air.
With cruell battell identlie.
And ane maj nocht ane uther flie.
THF FLESCHE.
The flefche faid, Sen I haif haill
In will in youth with luftis daill.
Or age with forrow me aflaill.
With joy 1 will my time ouerdryve.
And will not with my luftis ftryve.
THE SPIRIT.
The fpirit faid. Thocht I charge the nocht,
Dreid God, and have his law in thocht ;
Thow hecht quhen thow to font was brocht,
Efter his law luft to refraine.
And nocht to wirk his word agane.
THE FLESCHE.
The flefche faid, 1 am ftark and wycht.
To wacht gude wj'ne, frefche, cauld and bricht.
And tak my plefour day and nicht,
"With finging, playing, and to dance.
And fet on fax and fevin the chance.
THE SPIRIT.
The fpirit faid, Think on the rich man,
Quhilk all tyme in his luftis ran ;
Body and faull he loifllt than.
And fynde was buryit into hell.
As Jefus Chrift hes faid him fell,
THE
<}UEEN MARY, 1 542 1 567. 283
THE FLESCHE.
The flefche faid, Quhat hald I of this ?
Lafer aneuch and tjme thair is.
In age for till amend my mifle.
And from my vicious lyfe convert,
Quhen fadnes hes ouerfet my hert.
THE SPIRIT.
The fpirit faid, Power thow hes none.
In youcht nor yit in cild bygone ;
With tvyinkling of ane eye anone,
God fall the tak at evin or morn6.
No certayne tyme fet the beforne.
THE FLESCHE.
The flefche faid, All tyme air and lait,
I fe all warldly wyfe eftait,
Hald lull vertew in thair confait.
With thame I will perfew my weird,
Als long as I leve on this eird.
THE SPIRIT.
The fpirit, Yit fall cum the day
The fauU fall part the body fray ;
Than quhat fall help thjr game of play,
Quhen thow man turnit be in as.
As firfl in eird quhen thow maid wag.
THE FLESCHE.
The flefche faid, Thow hes vincuft me,
I traift eternall gloir to fe.
Chrift grant that I may cum thairby*
Now will I to my God returne,
Repent my fin richt, fore I murne.
THE SPIRIT.
The fpirit, Nane to fchame I dryve,
Ane contreit hert help God alyve.
The flefche man die, with pane and ftryve,
For it was borne to that intent.
In eird with wormes for to be rent.
THE
a 84 CHRONICLfi OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
THE FLESCHE.
The flefche faid, O Lord God of peace.
Help me to turne throw Chriftis grace !
O Holy Goft, my faith increfle.
That I may thole this eirthlie noy,
My hope is in eternall joy.
THE SPIRIT.
The fpirit faid, Now I haif my micht,
Thoch 1 be ane unworthie knycht.
Thow God ! the quhilk is onlie richt,
Thow faif me from the Devillis net !
Thairfore thow on the croce was plet,
TilE DYTER.
Now hes this ballat heir an end,
God grant ilk man his hart amend.
To fin na more, fyne to Chrift wend ;.
Than fall he turne agane to us.
And give us his eternall blys.
Of the firft introdudlion of finging (the Magnificat, Te Dium, &.C.).
into the fcrTice of the Church, thus wiiteth Seeon in his Reliquescf Rome\
" Pope Vitalidn, A. D. 660, being a luflye finger and a frefhe coura-
gious mufition hymfelf, brought into the Church prickfong, defcant,
and all kynde of fweetc and pleafaunt melodye ; and bycanfe nothing
fhould want to delight the vaync, folyfh eares of fantaftical men, he
joyned the organs to the curious mufike, unto the great lofle of tytnc
and the utter undoing of chriflen msns foules." Here mufl be a miftake
with refpe.l to the time, for Auguftine in the fourth century, ' aikcth
forgeveneffe of God, bicaufe he had geven more heede, and better earc
to the finging than to the weighty matter of the holy wordes." Cor-
nelius Agrippa, A. D. 1530, compares the defcant of the children " to
the neying of cokes ; the tenonre, to the bellowing of oxen ; the coun-
terpoynt, to the barking of doggis ; the treble, to the roaring of bulles ;
nnd the bafe, to the grunting of hogges ; fo that an evil favoured noyfe
U made, and the matter itfelf is nothing underflanded."
JOHN
JOHN ROLLAND.
To the earlier pari of this reign belongs " The Seviiv
Seages, tranjlatit out of prois into Scottis meitery hy
John Rolland, in Dalkeith, with ane moralltie af~
ter everie Tale?'* The original is the noted romance
o/" Prince Eraftus ; from the names and manner ^pro-
hahly compofed by a Greek in the iniddle ages. In
early times ^ it appears to have been a favourite hook,
having been tranjlated into various European langua-
ges ; and isjlill to be found upon the falls under the
form of a two-penny volume in profe^ intituled. The
famous hiftory of the Seven Mafters of Rome, to
which the curious are referred for farther iuforma-^
tion, not one of the verftfied Jlories poffejjing a finglc
quality to jufify a re -publication. Of the morality
of the fable, '^oiA.AiiJi prefents us with the followit:^
ridiculous explication, by way of preamble.
TO KNOW QUEAT THE EMPEROUR, THE EMPRlCE, AND
THE YOUNG CHILDE, AND THE SEVEN
DOCTOURS DOE SIGNIFIE.
I.
X-jRE we precede yet furthermare.
Of this matter fumethlng will I fchaw,
Quhat each thing meanis for to declare ;
The matter better ye will knaw,
Thf
286 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
This Emperour that leades the law.
He lignifies a man's perfoun.
That waiters betwixt winde and waw,
Into this world aje up and doun.
ir.
His Sonne betokens the foule of man,
Quhilk in the corps is aye incluife :
The Emprice fignifies Sathan,
Quho ever open malice muife :
The feven Dodoups are feven vertues,
Fechting contiare feven deadly linnes :
Quhiik that the fillie foule perfues,
Quhen deflruflioun it beginnes.
II r.
The feven dayes this childe is dumbe.
Of mannis life they are the fpace ;
For in this world fra he firll come,
He never hath perfedl folace.
Quhile that God take him in his grace.
And forget all this worldlie lull,
Then fpeakes he to God face to face,
Quhen that the devill he hath vincuft.
IV.
Even fo is of this Emprice tale,
Tolde for to tempt the Emperour,
Trowing perfecllie to prevale ;
And of this childe to be vijflour,
Tels on tills tale for his pleafour :
Of quhiik the Emperour was content.
As ye fall hear, gude auditour,
Thercfoir to purpofe let us went.
The tiire and place of compofitlon are thus mcnticr.ed ic ihc Tp -'
Iose:
So
QJJEEN MART, I542 1567. zSj
80 in feven weeks this quair was dene compleit,
Out of plainc proff , now keiping meters feit :
Witliin the fort and towre of Tamtalloun,
Quhen the Engli(h float befydc Inchkeith did fleir,
Upon the fea in that great burning hcate.
Both Scottis and loglifch of Leith iay at the touti,
With fch.irp alliege, and garneifl. garifoun.
On ather fort quhair fundrie loft the fweit,
'Jhat fame tyme 1 maid this tranfiaticun.
This fpccification fcems to point either to 1544 or 1547, after whicii
there was no Euglifii fleet in the frith of Forth unti! the beginning of
winter 1559.
In the Prologue, he mentions another of his poetical efTort*, the title
of which is, ' Ane Treatife callit The Court of Vinus, devidit into four
buikis : Compylit by Johnc Rolland in Dalkeith, [printed 1575, 4tOi"]
It is reported to be no lefs abfurd and pedantic than the Se-uin Stages.
In the fame Prologue he thus celebrates the names of contemporary
ScottiOi poets, when he wrote his Court of Venus,
In Court that tyme was gudc Sir David Lyndefay,
In vulgaretoung he bure the bell that day,
To mak meter richt cunning and expert ;
And Maftcr Jehn Ballentlne footh to fay,
Mak him marrow to David, well we niay.
And for the third, Matter William Sieivart,
To mak in Scors he knew richt well the airt.
Bifchop Z)r/f, fomerime of Galloway,
For his pleafour fomctime wald tak thair palrt.
From this we learn the Chriftian name of one of the two Stewarts
who flourilhed in the reign oC James the Fifth. No poetical monument
of Bilhop Duric feems to rcmam, or at letft is ki'.own as fuch. The
Court of Venus was probably writt'^n about 1540 ; and if any one were
jntlmed to afcribe the I're'fs of Ptblis to the lame author, I fhould
think it a difficult taflc to controvert his opinion.
In this metriial vcrfion of Prince Erafus, the whole fourteen (lories
arc not, throughout, the fame with thofe in the French etiitJon 1564,
Holland, or perhaps the Englilh profc tranfiater, havitig taken the liber,
ty of fubflituting iheEphclian matron and fcvcral more in the mom of
others that did not fo well fuit his talie.
THf.
TfiE BATTLE OF HARLAW,
if here given from the Evergreen, nuhere it
Jeems to have been originally puhlijhed. Some difference
of opinion prevails with refpeEi to its antiquity. Mr
Pinkerton thinks^ ** from its manner, it might have been
written foon after the event in 1414." Mr RitfouyJy^,
that " ;/ may^ for any thing that appears either in or
out of it, to the contrary, be as old as the fifteenth cen-
tury.^'' Without hejitation- however, I concur in opinioti
with Lord Hailes, who ohferves, that " it appears to
'* have been at leaft retouched by a more modern hand :
" It does not f peak in the language or in the verfification
** of the fifteenth century, and will probably be found to
*^ be as recent as the days of Qneen Mary or James the
*< Sixth." It may be added, that the ** fiaughter'*
mentioned in the fecond fianza mofi probably allude to
fome bloody engagement between the Knglifh and the
Scots. If fo, Under what auld King Henrj did this
happen ? No battle anfwers fuch a defcription excepting
that of Floddcn in 15 13 ; and I venture to fay the au-
thor meant no other, notwithfianding the abfurd anach-
ronifm with which he is chargeable. It may alfo admit
of a quefiion whether " drums'^ were ufed in the Scot'
tiff} army fo early as the reign of James tlie Firft, or
even the regency of the Earl of Arran, when the Com-
plaint of Scotland was written. Lafily,fome old words
feem g^ of sly mis- applied in various parts of the poem,
particnLirly ^* bandoun," in the 'jth fianza. I fijould
be glad to hear^ however^ that an ai^hcnticated copy
could
<JUEEN MARY, I542 1567. 289
could he produced of the age even of James the Sixth.
But y from a refpeSl to the opinion of thofe who are more
competent judges f I here give it a place.
I,
JC* RAE Dunideir as I cata throuch,
Doun by the hill of Banochie,
Alangft the lands of Garioch,
Grit pitie was to heir and fe
The nojs and dulefum hermonie.
That evir that dreirj day did daw,
Cry and the Corynoch on hie,
Alas ! alas ! for the Hailaw,
II.
I marvlit quhat the matter meint.
All folks war in a fiery fairy :
I will nocht quha was fae or freind,
Yit quietly I did me carry.
But fen the days of auld King Hairy^
Sic flauchter was not hard nor fene ;
And thair I had nae tyme to tairy.
For biffinefs in Aberdene.
III.
Thus as I walkit on the way.
To Inverury as 1 went,
I met a man and bad him ftay,
Requeifting him to mak me quaint.
Of the beginning and the event.
That happenit thair at the Harlaw.
Then he entreited me tak tent,
And he the truth fould to me fchaw.
Vol. III. Oo IV^
apO CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETHT.
IV.
Grit Donald of the Yles did claim.
Unto the lands of Rofs fum richt.
And to the Governour he fame.
Them for to half gif that he micht.
Quha faw his intereft was but flichr.
And thairfore anfwerit with difdain.
He haftit hame baith day and nicht, "
And fent nae bodward back again.
V.
Eut Donald richt impatient
Of that anfwer Duke Robert gaif,
lie vowd to God Omnipotent,
All the hale lands of Rofs to haif,
Or ells be graithed in his graif.
He wald not quat his richt for nocht.
Nor be abufit Ijk a flaif :
That bargin fould be deirly bocht,
IV.
Then haiftylie he did command.
That all his weir-men fliould convene.
Ilk ane well harnifit frae hand.
To meit and lieir quhat he did mein.
He waxit wiath, and vowit tein,
Sweirancf he wald furpryfe the North,
Subdew the brugh of Aberdene,
Mearns, Angus, and all Fyfe, to Forth.
VII.
Tims with the weir-men of the Yles,
Quha war ay at his bidding bown,
With money maid, with forfs and wyles,
Richt far and neir baith up and doun.
Throw mount and muir, frae town to town;,
Alangft the land of Rofs he roars,
And all obeyit at his bandown,
Svin frae the North to Suthren Uxoars.
VIIL
QJJEEN MART, I542 1567, Z<^X
yiii.
Then all the countrle men did yeild.
For nae refiftans durft they mak,
IsTor offer battill in the feild,
Be forfs of arms to beir him bale.
Sjne thay refolvit all and fpak.
That befl it was for thair behufe,
Thay fould him for thair chiftain tak,
Believing weil he did them lufe.
JX.
Then he a proclamation maid.
All men to meet at Invernefs,
Throw Murray Land to mak a raid,
Frae Arthurfyre unto Spey-nefs.
And further mair, he fent exprefs.
To fchaw his collours and enfenyie.
To all and lindry, mair and lefs,
Throchout the boundis of Boyn and Enyie. ^
X.
And then throw fair Strathbogie land.
His purpofe was for to purfew.
And quhafoevir durft gainftand,
That race they ihould full fairly reW.
Then he bad all his men be trew.
And hirii defend by forfs and flicht.
And promift them rewardis anew.
And mak them men of mekle micht.
XI.
Without refiftans, as he faid.
Throw all thefe parts he ftoutly paft,
Quhair fum war wae, and fum war glaid^
But Garioch was all agaft.
Throw all thefe feilds he fped him faft.
For fie a ficht was never fen6 ;
And then, forfuith, he langd at laft
To fe the Bruch of Aberdene,
XII.
igi CHRONICLE or SCOTTISH POETIy',
XII.
To hinder this prowd enterprife,
The ftout and michty Erie of MarRj
With all his men in arms did ryfe.
Even frae Curgarf to Craigyvar,
And down the fjde of Don richt far,
Angus and Mearns did all convene
To fecht, or Donald came fae nar
The rjall bruch of Aberdene.
XIII.
And thus the martial Erie of Marr,
Marcht with his men in richt array,
Befoir the enemie was a-ware.
His banner bauldly did difplay.
For weil enewch they kend the way.
And all their femblance weil they faw,
Without all dangir, or delay,
Came haiftily to the Harlaw.
XIV.
With him the braif Lord Ogilvi*,
Of Angus SherrifF prmcipall.
The conftabill of gude Dunde,
The vanguard led before them all.
Suppofe in number they war fmall,
Thay firft richt bauldli^ did purfew.
And maid thair faes before them fall^
Quha then that race did fairly rew.
XV
And then the worthy Lord Salton,
The ftrong undoubted Laird of Drum,
The ftalwart Laird of Lawriston,
With ilk thair forces all. and fum.
Panmuir with all his men did cum.
The Provoft of braif Aberdene,
With trumpets and with tuick of Drum,
Came fchortly in thair armour fchene.
XVL
iiJJEEl? MARY, 1542 15^7. 3Qi
XVI.
Thefe with the Erie of Marr came ohj '
In the reir-ward richt orderlies
Thair enemies to fett upon ;
In awfull manner hardilie,
Togither vowit to live and die.
Since they had marchit mony mylis
For to fupprefs the tyrannic
Of douted Donald of the Yles, '
XVII.
But he in number ten to an^;
Richt fubtilie alang did ryde,
"With Malcomtofch and fell Macleacj
With all their power at thair fyde,
Prefumeand on thair ftrenth and prydcj
Without all feir or ony aw,
Richt bauldlie battill did abydc.
Hard by the town of fair Harlaw.
XVIII.
The armies met, the trumpet founds.
The dandring drums alloud did touk,
Baith armies byding on the bounds,
Till ane of them the feild fould bruik.
Nae help was thairfoi, nane wald jouk,
Ferfs was the fecht on ilka fyde.
And on the ground lay mony a bouk
Of them that thair did battill byd.
XIX.
With doutfum vi^lorie they dealt j
The bludy battil laftit lang.
Each man his nibours forfs thair felt ;
The weakeft aft-tymes gat the wrang.
Thair was nae mowis thair them amang/
Naithing was hard but heavy knocks,
That echo maid a dulefull fang,
Thairto refounding frae the rocks,
XX.
2^4 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRt.
XX.
But Donald's men at laft gaif back ;
For thej war all out of array.
The Earl of Marris men throw them brak^i
Purfewing ihairply in thair way,
Thair enemys to tak or flay,
Be dynt of forfs to gar them yield,
Quha war richt blyth to win away.
And fae for feirdnefs tint the feild.
XXI.
Then Donajd fled, and that full fafl:.
To mountains heich for all his micht j
For he and his war all agafl:.
And ran till they war out of ficbt :
And fae of Rofs he lofl his richt,
Thocht mony men with him he brocht.
Towards the Yles fled day and nicht.
And all he wan was deirlie bocht.
XXII.
This is, quod he, the richt report
Of all that I did heir and knaw,
Thocht my difcourfe be fumthing fchorty
Tak this to be a richt futhe faw.
Contrairie God and the Kingis law,
Thair was fpilt mekle Chrifl;ian bludC;,
Into the battil of Harlaw ;
This is the fum, fae I conclude.
XXIII.
But yit a bony quhyle abyde.
And I fall mak the cleirly kep'
Quhat flauchter was on ilkay fyde,
Of Lowland and of Highland men,
\ Qwha for thair awin haif evir bene.
Thefe lazie lowns micht weil be fpalrd,
Cheflit lyke deirs into thair dens,
.\nd gat thair waiges for rewair^.
XXIV.
QJJEEN MARY, 1 542 1 567. 295
XXIV.
Malcomtofli of the clan heid cheif,
Macklean with his grit hauchtj held,
With all thair fuccour and releif,
War dulefullj dung to the deid.
And now we are freid of thair feid,
Thej will not lang to pum again ;
Thoufands with them without remeid,
On Donald's fjd that day war flain.
XXV.
And on the uther fyde war loft,
Into the feild that difmal daj.
Chief men of worth, of mekle coft,
To be lamentit fair for ay.
The Lord Saltoun of Rothemay,
A man of micht and mekle main ;
Grit dolour was for his decay.
That fae unhappylie was flain. '
XXVI.
Of the beft men amang them was, -^
The gracious gude Lord Ogilvy,
The Sheriff-Principal of Angus ;
Renownit for truth and equitie.
For faith and magnanimitie ;
Had few fallows in the feild,
Yit fell by fatall deftinie,
For he nae ways wad grant to yeild.
XXVII.
Sir James Scrimgeor of Duddap, Knicht,
Grit conftabill of.fair Duude,'
Unto the UulefuU deith was dicht.
The Kingis cheif bannerman was he,
A valyiant man of chevalrie,
Quhais predeceflbrs wan that place
At Spey, with gude King William frie,
Gainft Murray and Macduncans race.
XXVIII.
S^d CHROliriCLE OF SCOTTISH yOETRY*
XXV III.
Gude Sir Alexander Irving,
The much renownit Laird of Drum,
JJane in his days was bettir fene,
Quhen thej war fcmblit all and fum,
To praife him we fould tiot be dual,
For valour, witt, {fnd worthynefs,
To end his dajs he there did cum,
Quhois ranfom is remeidylefs.
XXIX.
And thair the Knicht of Lawrifton
. Was flain into his armour fchene,
And gude Sir Robeft Davidfon,
Quha Proved was of Aberdene,
The Knicht of Panmurc, as was fene,
A mortall man in armour bricht,
Sir Thomas Murray ftout and kene.
Left to the warld thair laft gude nicht,
XXX.
Thair was not fen King Keneth's days
Sic ftrange inteftipe crewel flryf
In Scotland fene, as ilk man fays,
Quhair mony liklie loft thair lyfe ;
Quhilk maid divorce twene man and wyfCj,
And mony childrene fatherlefs,
Quhilk in this lealnie has bene full ryfe j
Lord help tliefe lairds, our wrangs redrefs.
xxxr.
Jn July, on S^int Jatnes his even,
That four and twenty difmal day,
Twelve hundred, ten fcore and eleven
Of yeirs fen Chryft, the futhe to fay :
Men will remember as they may,
Quhen thus tl;e veritie they knaw,
At>d mony a aue may mum for ay.
The brim battil of the Harlaw.
JAMES
JAMES VI. 1567 1603,
was himfelfnot only a votary of the Mufes^ hut
at the early age of eighteen ^ compofed a treatife under the
title of " RewUis and Cautelis of Scottis Poefic."
Hence perhaps it was that poets abounded more in this
than in any of the preceding reigns. Almofi every man of
education wrote verfes titJ^er in Englifh or X.atin j many
of which were publi/hed in the life- time of the authors^
and well known to thofe who have turned their attention
to this fuhjeB. The greater part of them^ however ^ ap^
pear to have been compofed cfter the union of the crowns
in 1603 , and, in fouthern phrafeology, as /^^' Poetical
Recreations (f Alexander Craig of Rofe-craig, 1609 ;
thofe of 'D'a.^iA. Murray, Scoto-Britan, 161 1 ; of Va-
trick. Hannay, 1622 j of Drummond of Hawthorn-
dean, 1616} of the two Hudfons, William Fowler,
Robert Ay ton, &c. Others, of the nature of popular
balladsy are not confidered as properly belonging to the
plan of this publication. The produBions of Montgo-
mery, Arbuthnot, Hume of Polwart, Sempil, (jtot
including thofe which have lately been re-printed ;} ioge^
ther with the works of the King himfelf feem to' be all
that come within the prefcribed limits.
A few remaining pieces cf Sir Richard Maitland claim
the firfl attention.
Vol. Iir. P p OK
plf THE MISERIES OF THE TIME. ISl^*
By Sir Richard Maitland.
' foon after the Regent Murray's death f when the
nation being divided under the titles of Queen's men and
King's men, ** citizen fought againfl citizen^ and brother
againfi hrothery with keen animqfity^^
L
y_} GRACIOUS God I alraichtie, and eterne^
For Jefus faike, thi fone, we afk at the.
Us to defend. Confarve us, and gnberne.
And tak fra us, Lord, for thi grit mcrcicj
Thir plaigis that apperis prefentlie ;
Peft, povertie, and moll unkindlie weir ;
Hungir, and darthe, that now is lyk to be,
Throw deid of beifts, and Ikant of corne this yeir,
II.
Bot, Lord, this cumis, of thi juft jugement.
For puneifment of our iniquitie ;
That never of our fynnis will repent ;
Bot perfaveris in impietie.
We ar fo fowpit in feufualitie,
Bayth fpiritual, and temporal eftait.
The pepil ar mifgydit haillelie.
Nocht regneth now, bot Troubil and Debait.
III.
Sumtyme the preiftis thocht that thai did weil,
Quhon that thai maid thair beirds, and fliuif thair croun j
Ufit round caps ; and gounis to thair heil :
And mes, and mateyns, faid of thair faffoun.
Thoch that all vyces rang in thair perfoun,
Lecherie, gluttunrie, vain gloire, avarice ;
"With fwerd and fyre, for rew of religioun,
Of chrillin peple oft maid facrifice.
IV.
JAMES VI. 1567 1603. 299
IV.
For quhilk God hes thame punelft ricbt fcharplle.
Bot had thai left thair auld abufioun,
And turnit thame fra vjce to God trewlie.
And fjne forthocht thair wrang intrufioun
Jnto the kirk, be fals elufioun ;
The word of God fjn preitchit faythfulli,
Thaj had nocht cum to fie confufioun.
Nor tholit had as yit fie miferie.
V.
Now is Proteftalns ryfin us amang.
Sayand thay wil mak reformatioun ;
Bot yet as now ma vyces never rang,
(In ony former tyme, nor ony natioun,)
As pryd, invy, and fals diffimulation ;
Thift, reif, flauchtir, oppreflioun of the puir ;
Of policy a plaine alteratioun :
Of wrangous geir now na man takis cuir.
VI.
ITiay think it weil (and thay the Paip do call
The Antechryft ; and mefs, idolatrie :
And fyne eit flefche upon the Frydays all ;)
That thay ferve God rycht than accordinglie :
Thoch in all thing thay leif maift wickitlie.
Bot God commandis us his law to keip ;
Fyrft honour him ; ahd fyne have cheretie
With our n^ichbours ; and for our fynnis welp.
VII.
Think weil that God, that puneift the papeifts,
Is yet on lyve, and yow to puneis abil,
(As he did thame,) that in your fyns infifts
As Godis word war halden bot ane fabil.
Jiot gif your hairt on God be ferme and ftabil,
(Thoch that his worde into your mouthe ye have,)
Except your lyf thairto be conformabil
In word and wark ; ye bot yourfelf diflave,
vm.
300 CHROKICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
VIII.
1 mene nocht here of faythful chriftianis ;
Nor minifters of Godis word trewlie ;
Quha at the famen ftedfaftlie remanis.
In word, and wark, without hypocrify.
Bot I do mene of thame allenarlie
That callit ar the flefchlie gofpellaris ;
Quha in thair words apperis rycht godlie,
Bot yit thair warks the plain contrair declaris.
IX,
Bot, thoch of papifts, and proteftans, fum
Hes bayth gane wrang, and Godis law tranfgrefl }
Keip us, gud Lord, that never mair we cum
To fie errour ; bot grace to do the beft.
That with all men thy trew fayth be confeft ;
That chriftane folk may leif in unetie ;
(Vertew fet up, and all vycis fuppreft,}
That all the warld, gud Lord, may honour thie.
^od Sir Richard Maitlandy 1 5 70,
In another poem of the fame date our venerahle Baron * punns com-
fortably" upon the name of his cftatc ol Blytb, (in I^audcrdale,) which
at that time had been plundered by a detachment of the Englifli arnriy
iiuUcr the command oPthe Earl of Suffolk :
Blind man be blyth, ahboch that thow be wrangit t
Thoch Biythc be herreit, tak no melancolic.
Thow fall be blyth, quhan that ihay fall be hangit,
That Blythe hes fpulyeit fa malitiouflie.
Be blyth, and glaid ; that nanc pcrfavc iu the
That thy blythne coniifts into ryches;
Bot that thow art blyth that eternalie
Sail ring with God in eternal blythnes.
" Quod Schir Richard Maitland of Lethingtoun Knycht. Quhan his
' landisof Blythe washeriet be RoUent Fofler Ingliftnan. Qtiha fpulyeit
' furthe of the faid baronie fcve thoofand fchcip, youn^r, and cldar :
'^wa hundrithc nowt : Threttie hors, and raeiris, &c. the xvi. day of
" Maij, the year of M. D. LXX. yeiris."
SOLA.CE
SOLACE IN AO,
Perhaps 1571.
1 HOCH that this warld be verie ftrange ;
And thevcs hes done my rowmis range.
And teynd my fald :
Yit wald I leif, and byde ane change ;
Thoch I be aid.
Now me to fpulyie fum not fpairis ;
To talc my geir no captane cairis ;
Thay ar fa bald.
Yit tyme may cum, may mend my fairis ^
Thoch ^ be aid.
Sum now, be force of men of weir,
My hous, my landis, and my geir,
Fra me thay hald.
Yit, as I may, fall mak gud cheir ;
Thoch I be aid.
So Weill is kend my innocence.
That I will not, for nane offence,
Flyte lyk ane fkald :
Bot thank God, and tak patience ;
For I am aid.
For e Id, and my infirmitie,
Warme clayths ar bettir far for me.
To keip fra cald :
Nor in dame Venus' chamber be ;
Now being aid.
Of
3<a CHRONicu: of Scottish poetrt.
Of Venus plaj paft is the belt ;
For 1 may not the miftirs beit
Of Meg, nor Maid.
For ane joung las I am not meit ;
I am fa aid.
Tlie fairaft wenche in all this toun,
Thoch I hir had in hir l)efl goun,
Rycht braivlie braid ;
With hir I micht not play the loun ;
I am fa aid.
My wyf furatyme wald talis trow.
And monj leifings weill allow.
War of me tald :
Scho will not eyndpl on me now ;
And I fa aid.
My hors, my harnes, and my fpeir ;
And all uther my hoifting geir,
Now may be fald.
J am not abill for the weir ;
I am fa aid.
Quhan young men cumis fra the grene,
(Playand at the fute-rball had bene,)
With brokin fpald ;
I thank my God, 1 want my ene j
And am fa aid.
Thoch I be fweir to ryd or gang,
Thair is fumthing, I've wantit lang.
Fane have I wald
Thame punyfit that did me wrang ;
Thoch I be aid.
^wd R. Maitland of Lethlngton.
tOMfLAlKT
Complaint aganis I'tiE lang LAW-sijtEs,
Probably 1381.
I.
IjAiR is the recent murmoiir, and regreit,
Amang the leigis rifin of the lait.
Throw all the countrie, bayth of rich and puir j
Plenand upon the Lordis of the Sait,
That thair lang proces may no man induirc.
11.
The Barouns fay that they have far mair rpcndit
Upon the law, or thair mater weis endit.
Nor it wes wourth. Thairfoir richt fair thay ro''
To found ane plie that ever thay pretendit :
Bot left it to thair airis to perfew.
III.
The puir folk fay that thay, for fait of fpendint^,
Man leif the law, it is fa lang in ending :
Lang proces thame to povertie lies brocht.
For of thair fkayth be law can get na meiidintVj
That thay ar faine to grie for thing of nocht.
IV.
Sum geves the wyte that thair is on the Seffioun
Sum not fa cunning, nor of fa gud difcretiouii,
As tliair befoir into that ro'wme hes bcin j
Quhilk, doing juftice, keipit thair profelfioun ;
Of quhom thair wes na caus for to complein.
V.
Now, ye that ar nocht of this Sait content,
Pas to the Prince ; to him your caus lament.
And him exhort, and pray affedliouflie.
That in that Sait he wald na man prefent.
In tyme to cum, bot thay that ar worthie.
vr.
304 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
VI.
Gud cunning men, that ar wyis and difcreit ;
Praftitiours gud ; and for that fenat meit.
Men of gud confcience, honeftie, and fame ;
That can with wit and treuth all maters treit :
And hes be prudence purchaft ane gud name.
VII.
And fyne gar call the College of Juftice,
All thair dependers, and uthers that ar wyis,
And try the caus of law the langfumnes ;
And gar thame fone fum gud ordour devyis
To furder juftice, and fchorten the lang proces,-
VIII.
Bot gif this mater unmendit be ourfein,
The leigis can na greter fcayth fuflein ;
For na man fall be fuir of land or geir.
The trew and peur fall be opprellit clein ;
And this CoUedge fall not lang perfevcir,
IX.
And gif this Sait of Senetors gang doun,
The fpunk of juftice in this regioun,
I wait not how this realme fall rewlit be.
Better it had gud reformatioun.
Nor let it perifche fo imprudentlie.
X.
For gif this Sait of Juftice fall not ft and.
Than everie wicked man, at his awin hand,
Sail him reveng-a as be fall think it beft.
Ilk bangeifter, and limmer, of this land
With frie brydil fall (quham thay pleis moleft.)
XI.
Our Soverane Lord ! to this mateir have ee j
For it perteinis to thy majeftie
This CoUedge to uphauld, or lat it doun.
Bot, will thow it uphauld, as it fould be.
It will the help for to mantein thy croun.
XII.
JAMES VI. 1567 1603. 305
XII.
Caufis ilk daj fo faift dois multiplie,
That with this Sait cannot ourtaken be ;
Bot wald thj hienes thairof eik the nummer.
Of Senatours ; men cunning and godlie
Wald monie mater end that makis cummer.
XlTl.
Schir, at thy gift is monye Abeceis,
Perfonagis, Proveftrcis, and Prebendareis,
Now fen doun is the auld religioun.
To eik fum Idrdis gif fum.benefeis ;
And fum to help the auld fundatioun.
XIV.
Becaus the lordis hes our litil feis,
Bot of uncertaine cafualiteis.
Of quhilk thay never get payment complei.
And now fie derthe is refin, all men fayis,
"What coift ane pound befoir, now coftis thrie,
XV.
Schir, thou may gar, (unhurt thy propertie,)
The Sait of Juftice weill advancit be.
Quhilk being done, thair daylie fall incres.
Into this land gud peice, and policie :
And thow be brocht to honour, and riches.
XVI.
O loving Lord ! fupport this cruell Sait ;
And give thame grace to gang the narcil gait
Juflice to do with expeditioun :
And bring all thing againe to gud eftait.
Following the firfl; gud inftitutioun.
S. R, M.
This poem being partly an addrefs to the young King, we may infer
that it was notcompofcd before the year 1580, When he firft began to
aflert his own authority, and when Lord LeiUington was at leaft in his
84th year-
Vol. III. Qjl aoanis
AGANIS OPPRESSIOUN OF THE C0IIMCfU2fTS
I.
'3 9fi3 lo 3n I
XT is grit petie for to fe
How the commouns of this cuntre.
For thift, and reif, and plane oppreffiounj,
Can nathing keip iti thair poflcffioun,
Quhairof that thay may mak ane Ijfe :
Yit nane will puneis that tranfgreffioun ;
Till nocht be left to man nor wyfe.
II.
Sum with deir ferme ar hirreit haill,
That wount to pay bot penny maiU.
Sum be thair lordis ar oppreft ; :^'^''f^ ^
Put fra the land that thay pofleft.
Sair fervice hes fum hirreit fone. "" .-whfRH?
For carrage als fum hes no reft ;
Thoch thair awin wark fould ly undone.
III.
Sum comounsy that hes bene weill ftakkit
Under kirkm'en, ar now all wrakit}
Sen that the teynd, and the kirk landis.
Came in grit teinporale mennis handis.
Thay gar the tennents pay fie fowrhes.
As thay will aik ; or, quha ganeftandis,
Thay will be put fone fra thair rowmes/ ^Visn -'
t\r -.i u ifiili snifiri J b. I 'J. _
The teynd, quhilk tennents had befoi^ ^'^ ^^^^ ^T ^^^
Of thair awin malings, corne, and ftoii^^ '^^ 5nuonn>^ b'O.
'J hair laird hes tane it our thair heid :" " X*^ ^<^^^
And gars thame to his yaird it leid.
Bot
JTAMES VI. 15671603. 307
Bot thair awin flok thay dar not fteir ;
Thoch all thair bairnis fould want breid,
Quhill thay have led that teynd ilk; yeir,
V.
Sic extortioun and taxatioun
Wes never fene into this natioun,
Tane of the comouns of this land.
Of quhilk fum is left waift Hand,
Becaus few may fie chairgis beir.
Mony hes quhips now in thair hand,
That wont to haye bayth jak and fpeir.
VI.
Quhairthrpw the haill comm unite
Is brocht now to fie povertie.
For thay, that had gude hors and gelr,
Hes fkantlie now ane crukit meir ;
And for thair fadils thay have foddis.
Thay have na weipens worthe for weir ;
Bot map defend with ft&nes and cloddis.
VII.
Thairfore, my lordis, I yow pray
For the puir comouns find fura way.
Your land to thame for fie pryce geif.
As on thair maling thay may leif
Sufficientlie to thair eftait.
Syne thame defend, that nane thame greif j
That thay may ferve yow ayre and lait.
VIII.
Riche comouns ar richt profitable,
Quhan thay, to ferve thair lord, ar able
Thair native cuntrie to defend
Fra thame that hurt it wald pretend.
For we will be ouir few a nummer,
Gif comouns to the weir not wend.
Nobils may not beir all the cummer.
IX.
3o8 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
IX.
Help the comouns bayth Lord and Laird !
And God thairfore fall yow rewaird.
And gif ye will not thame fupplie,
God will yow plaig thairfore juftlie. '
And your fucceffioun, eftir yow,
Gif thay fall have na mair pietie
On the comouns, nor ye have now.
:^iod Sir R. Mai t land.
As Mr Pinkerton juftly obfervcs, this poem " does the higheft ho-
nour to the philanthropy of the author ; and merits praifcs fuperior to
any that genius Ciin procure." The oppreflion of the commons, here
inveighed againft, feems to have been occafioned chiefly by their ex-
changing fpiritual for temporal exacSors of tythcs. " Every thing in
the Book of Difcipline, that repugned to the corrupt altedliouns of the
r.obllity, (faith yobn Kno, the principal compiler,) was tearmed in
thair mockage Jcvoif itnaginativunit. Sum of them had gredily gprippic
the poffeffiouns of the kirk, and uthers thocht they wald not lack thai?
jartc of Chriftis cote ; yea and that befoir that evirhe was hangit.
Thare war nane mair urimercifdlto the^uir ininifteris thane war they
that had the gritted rentes (A the klfkes. Bot, according to the auid
piowerbe, The bcllie has na earle^'
BeCdes poem?, Sir R. Mairland left in MS. a Hiftorte of the houfe
rnd furname of Seaton ; and a ColIe<Sti<Jii of DeciCons of the Court of
Sedion frcm 15th Dec. l5.';o, till 30rh July 15^5.
James VI, in one of his letters, acknowledges the faithful fervice of
Sir Richard to his Grandfir (James V.) Goodfir (^at^bew Earl of
Lennox;) Gcodc'm (Mairy of Goife;) his mother Q^eea "Mary, an4
himfelf.
AOANIS
AGANIS 5KLANDER0US TOUNGIS. 157*.
^hts piece might prohably have efcaped the ohfermition
of Mr Pinkerton in the Maitland MSS. had it not
been for the colophon *' Quod John Maitland, &c."
He was the fecond fon of Lord Lethington, and
through him the line of the family was carried on,
his nephew (fon of the Secretary) having died with-
out iffue. Being a Jleady adherent of Queen Mary
after fhe was cruelly driven from the throne, the
ruling powers deprived him of his benefice of Colding-
ham, and offi,ce of Lord Privy Seal ; after nvhich,
being taken prifoner at the furrender of Edinburgh
cafile I573 he was condemned to a fpecies of confine-
ment^ from which he was not liberated until the fall
of the regent Morton in 1578. He then found mfaiis
to ingratiate himfef completely with the young Prince ;
andy " as no fubjeEi enjoyed a greater fijare of his
favour, fo none deferved it better.'''' A full account
of his life may be found in Cravvford and Macken-
TAt; and feveral Latin poems by him in the Delicijc
poetarum Scotorum. He died in 1^^^.
I.
vjrir bluie-branit bodeis yqw bakbyte ;
And of fum wickit wittis ye ar invyit,
Quha wald deprave your doings for difpyte ; '
Difpyis thaix devilUche cleming, and defy it.
Foi
^10^ CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH PpETRY.
For fra that tyoje and trewthe thair talis have tryi}.^
The fuj'the fall fchew itfelfc out to thair fchamc.
And be thair fpeche thair fpyte fal be efpyit, i tig ^foi'
And have na fajth, nor foute aganes your fame. '*
Mifknavv thair craft ; and Uythe not as ye kead it :
Thair doings will thair deling fone,dete(9.
For gif ye frieit, find fait, or be offendit,
Thair fawis to be fuythe fum -will fufpeft.
Bot gif thair leyis ye lychtlie,and fteglefl.
And lat thame lie, and tax yovv as thay lift ;
Fra tyme thay find thair fabils faill efieft,
Thay will deny thair ^eljng and defift.
111.
^5 furious fluds with gritter force ay fiovvis,
And ftarkar ftevin, quhen ftoppit ar the ftremis
And gorgit waters ever gritter growis ;
And forcit fyres with gritter gleids out glemis ;
And ay moir bricht and burning is the beymis
Of Phebus' face, that faftaft ar reflex it ;
So gude renoun, quhilk railars' rage repremiu,
Advanfis mpir, the moir invyars vex it.
IV.
The moir thay fpeik, the fonar ar thay fpyit.
The moir thay lie, your lak will be the les.
The moir thay talk, the treuth is fonar tryit.
The moir planelie thair poyfone thay expres, , ;jj[(,jy t,'*
The les thay caus thair credit to incres.
The moir thay wirk, the les thair wark avanci...
The moir thay preis your prayfis to oppresj^
The gritter of your gl-Jir ia the glancis.
V.
Do quhat ye dow, detra^iours ay will deme yow,
Qnhais crafre is to calumpniat but caus :
JJakbytars ay be brutis will blafpheme yow ;
Althoch the contrair all the cuntrie knausi
And,
X JAMES VI, i567-i-io3. ^i ^
And, walde ye ward yow up betwene tua wais,
Yit fo ye fall not from thair facings favc yow,
Bot, gif thay fee ye fufiie of thair fais,
Blafone thay will, how evet* ^e behave ybvi^;' '
\h
Gif ye be fecreit, fad, and folitair ;
Peirtlie thay fpeik that privalie ye play ''" '""'/
And gif in publick places ye repair, '^ '-^ "^^^
Ye feke to fe, and to be fene, thay fay. '''^ '"^'^'
War ye a fan^, thay fuld fufped yow ay.
Be ye humane, our humill thay will hald you.
Gif ye beir ftrange, thay yow efleme owr ilay'^r ^-^ '''',/
And tfows it is we, or fum els hes it taltf ybiir^ ^^'' ""
VII.
Gif ye be blythe^ your lychtnes thay wilt fefef*''"* ^'^
Gif ye be grave, your gravite is clekit.
Gif ye lyk raafk, and mirthe, or mime mak,
Thay fweir ye feill ane firing, and bowns to brek It,
Gif ye be feik, film flj'Chtis af fufpeftit ;
And all your fairris callet fecreit funyeis.
Claiths thai difpyte, and be ye daylie dcckit,
* Perfave,' thay fay, * the papingo that pruinyeis*
VIII.
Gif ye be Wyis, and wfcll in vertew verfi?^^^^ ironi ae l'
Cunning, thay call, uncunalie for your kynd'.
And fay it is bot flychtis ye have feirfit
To clok the crafte, quhairto ye ar inclynd.
Gif ye be mfeik, yit thay inifliak your mind j
And fwer ye ar far fchrewdar nor ye feme.
Sua do your beft-, thus ^11 ye b'e defynd :
And all your deidis fall detraftours deme,
IX.
Yit thay will lelf thair Iding at the laif,
Fra thay advert invy will not availL
Bakbytars' birutis bydis bot ane blaft :
Tliayflureis fone, but forder fru6le thay faill.
Rek
iti
CH&OVICLE OF SCOTTISH FOETRi'.
Rek not thairfoir how rafchlie ravars raill :
For never wes vertew yit without invy.
Sua promptlie fall your patience prevaill,
Quhen thay perhap fie demyng fall deir by.
^uod John Maitland, Commendator of Coldlnghamtf
and /one aftir Lord Thirljlane, arid Chancellor of
Scotland,
The genfral idea ot this poem, Mr Pinkerton remarks, i thit excel-
lent one of Tacitus, Injuriieft irafearh agnita videntur ; ffreta eKoUfcunt :
a ir.axim which Lord Thirlftane expands, but does not weaken.
St. 6. I. 8. " and trows it is ye or els fum, &c. MS. Accord-
ing to Mr Pinkerton, this obfcure line feems to mean, " They wilt
" ironically fay, ITiey think it is you, {you ivho are baiighty naturally : ) or
" elfe, you art a weak man, and are proud bicaufe fomelody has tUd you to I'c
" fo."A% the poem may, however, he confidcred perhaps of flniilar
purpofe with the fuccecding " Admonition," and compofed, apparent-
ly, for the ufc of the fame iiluftrious pcrfon, I hate fubftituted
wi for ye ; that is, " we the ^een's party," who at that time were
fuppofed to pofTcfs confidirabk influence with the regent Mar, and
perhaps expctSlcd that in proper time he would take a decided pait in
her faveiif
Avi
ANE ADMOJJITIOUN TO MY LORD OF MAR, JRECrliSt'J.
Suppofed by LoRD Thirlstane, A. D. 1571.
JVXAIST lojal lord, ay for thy lawtie lovitj
Now be not lakit for delojaltie !
Thoch to the Princis place thow be promovit.
Be not abuiit be authoritie.
Bot fchaw thy treuth, and thyne integritie.
Sene we fo far ourfelfis have fubmittit.
Arid king, and cunttie, laws, and libertle.
Unto thy cuir, and credit, hiaif coramittit.
" y II. '-
Thy hoiis hes ay bene ttuftie, and inteir ;
Defamit ndcht with fraud, or fickilnes.
Bot fchaw thyfeif bayth fage, fcharp, and finceir j
Indewit with vertew, wit, and worthines,
Ingyne, jugeraent, juftes, and gentilnes ;
Craft, conduft, cair, and knawlege to cotnTnand \
Heroik hartj honour, and hardines :
Or in this ftorme thy llait will never iland.
III.
We half the chofin to the cheifeft charge.
Our tofTit gal ay to governe, and to gyde.
Bewar with bobbis ! Scho is ane brukill barge^
And may nocht bitter blaftls weill abyde.
Thow may hir tyne, in turning of ane tyde.
Cad Weill thy cours ; thow hes ane kittil cure.
Of perals pance, and for fum poit provyde ;
And anker ficker quhair thow may be fure.
Vol. hi. R r ]V.
314 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH FOETRT,
IV.
All Boreas' bittir blaftis ar nocht blawin
I feir fum bold, and bobbis be behind.
Be tjde and tempeft thow may be ourthrauirt ;
And mony fairlie fortouns thow may find :
As chanels, craggis, bedds, and bankis blind ;
Lekkis, and wanluk?, quhairby thow may be loft".
Bewar, thairfoir, with weddir, waw, and wind,
With uncouth courfis, and unknawin cofl^
V.
Thow may put all into appeirand perrell,
Gif Inglis forcis in this realme repaii*.
Sic ar nocht meit for to decyde our querrell ;
Thoch farland fules feime to haif fedders fair.
Cum thay acquaint, thay will creip inner mair f
And will be noyfum nycbbours^and enorme :
And fchortlie will fit to our fydes as fair,
As now thy rebells, quhome thay fould reforms.
Vf.
That freindlhip is ay faythfuUeft afar ;.
And langeft will indure with lytle daill.
I feir with ufe and tyme it work to war,
Fra thay aganes our partie anes prevail.
Quha wait bot fyne ourfelfs thay will afiaill :
Auld fayis ar findill faythful freyndis found :
Firfl helpe the halfe, and fyne ourharl the haill,-
Will be ane weful weilfair to our wound.
VII.
Be thair exempill learne experience,
Ane forane mache, or maifter, to admit.
Reid, quhane the Saxons gat pre-eminence.
How fone thay focht as foverans for to fit.
Reid how thay forcit the Briton folks to flit j
And yit pofleids that peipils propertie.
Bewar ! We may be wolterit or we wit :
And Ivkways lois our land, and libertie.
Via.
JAMES VI. 15671603. JI5
VITI.
Ane thoufand fie exempils I could fchaw ;
And monj noble natipun I may name,
Quho loft at lenth thair libertie, and law,
And fufFerit lies bajth forow, ikayth, and fchame ;
That for to helpe thair harmes, and hurt at hame,
Fetcht forane forcis in to thair fupport,
Quha fulyeit fjne thair fredome, force, and fame ;
And thame fubduit in the famin fort.
IX.
Fleand Caribde bewar in Scyll to fall ;
And fa efchew cruill diflentioun,
That our eftate to ftrangers be not thrall.
The cankers of our auld contentioun
Will keip no conand nor conventipun.
And, gif yow gif thame crcdeit to corredl us.
Be craftie way, will, and inventioun,
And fubtell flychts, thay will feik to fubjeft us.
X.
Scotland cum nevir yit in fervitude,
Sene Fergus fiift ; bot evir hes bene frie.
And hes bene always brukit be a blude ;
And king of kings defcendit grie be gric.
Gif that it be in bondage brocht be the.
Thane wareit war thy weirdia and wanhap !
Thairfoir thir forane feiris fa foirfee.
That catcht we be nocht with ane efiir^clap.
XI.
Mark and mynt at the honour, laud, and prais.
The vertew, worfchip, word, and vaflilage.
Of fie as hes done doichtelie in his dayis
To keip this realme from thraldome and boundage J
Mark als the vyld vitupour, and the wage
Of untreuth, trefoune, and of tyrannie :
And how fome honour hes, and heretage.
And lyfis loft, for thair diloyaltie,
XIL
3l6 CHRONICLE ,0E SCOTTISH POET|lX.
XII.
So for thy fads thow will be fuir to find
The Ijke rewaird of vertew or of vjce.
Be not thairfoir fyld as ane Bellie-blind j
Nor lat thyfelf be led upon the yce.
Nor, to content thy marrow's covatyce,
Put not thyfelf in perrell for to pereia.
Nor beir the blame, quhair uthers tak the prycc i
Nor beit the bus, that uthers eat the herein.
XIII.
The trone of tryell, and theatre trew,
Is for to regne, and rewle above the reft ;
Who lies the woyne, him all the world dois vew ,
And magiftrat the man dois manifeft.
Sua, fen thow hes the princis place poffeft^
Louk to be praCt as thow plays thy pairt.
And, as thow luifis, fo luifit be and left ;
And always delt with eftir thy defert.
Th5 excellent flate poem is believed to be by the fame author with
the prcccd ng, from its great fimilarity of ftyle, but flill m<Jre from its
being marked in the Maitland Folio MS. after the title " y J. M.
Y. cf L." i. e. Tounger of Lethington, or perhaps of Coldingham ; the
L. anc' C. bemg icartely diilinguiihable \u the Manufcripts of that time.
The Earl of Viar was chofen Regent September 1571, and died in Oc-
tober of the following year. Upon the cletSion of the Earl of Morton
to fucceed him, the C^ecn's party daily declined, and in lefs than fix
months Mary had not a vtftige of fovereignty in any part of the king-
dom.
St. 12. I. 5. " thy marrow's covatyce.] " The chcif grit man
" (fays John Knos)*<hat rcluific to fubfcryve the Buik of Diftipiine
" was the Lord Erskine ; and no wonder, for bcfyds that he has a very
" Jefabell to hi* wyfe, if the piiir, the fcuillis, and the minii>ers had
" thair awin, his kitching wuld want twa pairtcs and mair of that
" quhilk he now otijultly poffeffes."
ADYTCS
ADVYCE TO BE BLYTH IN BAIL.
Pfrhaps by Lord Thirlstane, or one of the fam^
Family, From the Maitland Collection.
I.
In bail be blyth, for that is beft.
In barret gif thow be bowne to bjde,
Lat comfort clenlie in the reft; ;
Ijat never thy cair in court be crjd.
Thy harmis het luik that thow hyde j
Have houp in him that ay fall left; j
Fra forow fone be fet on fyde.
In bail be blyth, for that is beft,
II.
Gif thow will not in bail be blyth,
Sone of this blis thow iriay be bair :
Albeit thow lich ane thoufand fyth.
It will nocht fauf the of thy fair ;
Nor yet rcmeid the of thy cair.
Lat comfort cleinlie in the reft ;
Thow leyr this Icffoun at my lair,
In bail be blyth, for that is beft;.
Deir on deis and thow, be dicht.
And fyne fits drowpand lyke ane da,
Fayn will thay all be of that ficht ;
And thay that onlie is thy fa,
Thay will nocht gruge to lat ye ga.
Thair is no gle with fic ane geft.
Oftfys fayis the fempill fua,
In bail be blyth, for that is beft.
IV^
3l8 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRTf.
IV.
Lat never thy inne meis with thy mis.
Nor inak the mirth on na maneir ;
How ever thay fay with the it is.
Of thy mifcheif lat thame nocht heir.
Thay will be blyth, as bird on breir,
Jn payn to fee the punift and prefl :
Thairfoir in countenance ay be cleir.
In bail be blyth, foi that is bell.
V.
For ay blyth I reid that we be.
That ever in blis we may be kend j
For this I fay, be ma than me,
That murning may nothing amend,
Fra the feynd God us defend.
For bayth fute and hand wes fall.
Of this mater I mak ane end.
In bail be blyth, for that is befl.
St. 3.1. I. " Drir on del/s and thow be dicht." Mr Pinkerton er-
plains thug, Though you be dearly (richly) dreft, and fitting in the
place of honour. Deir in this paflage may, however, be put for dem,
" retiredly, in a folitary manner ;" and deifs may Cgnify, as at prefcnt,
a feat made of earth or fod, as it common in gardens and parks. " Syne
fits," in the next line, ought probably to be " fene fit." I conceive tha
poem to have been written by John Maitland while in a ftate of con-
finement to the houfe and parks of tlie Drum near Dalkeith, and the
bint to have been borrowed from his father's
Blind man be blyth, &c. p. 300. ,
AULD
AtJLD KYNDNES FORYETT,
*^ffom tie Bann. Q.QiA.Y.zi\o^y feems partly alter
ed from a Jinnlar Ballad hy SiR R. Maitlant>.
X HIS warld is all bot fenyeit fair.
And als unflable as the wind,
Gud faith is flemit, I wat nocht quhair,
Treft fallowfliip is evil to find ;
Gud confcience is all maid blind.
And cheritie is nane to gett,
Leill, loif, and lawte lyis behind.
And auld kjndnes is qujt forjett.
II-
Quhill I had ony thing to fpend,
And ftuffit Weill with warldis wrak,
Amang my freinds I wes weill kend :
Quhen 1 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.
III.
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 belt,
Thay latt me (land bot on the flure,
Sen auld kyndes is qyt foryeu.
IV
3id CHRONICLE OP SCOTTISH TOETRt.
IV.
Suppois I mene, I am nocht mendit.
Sen I held pairt with poverte,
Awaj fen that my pak wes fpendit,
Adew all lifberalitc.
The proverb now is trew, I fe,
** Quha may nocht gife, will littill gett ;
Thairfoir to fay the varit^,
Now auld kyndnes is quyt forj'ett.
V.
Thay wald me hals with hude and hatt,
Qahyle I wes riche and had anewch,
About me fieindis anew I gatt,
Rycht blythlie on me thay lewch ;
Bot now they mak it Avondir tewch.
And lattis me Hand befoir the yett :
Thairfoir this warld is verry frewch.
And auld kyndnes is quyt foryctt.
VI.
Als lang as my cop ftud evin,
1 yeid bot felndill myne allf^ne ;
I fquyrit wes with fex or fevin,
Ay quhyle I gaif thanie twa for ane j
Bot fuddanly fra that wes gane,
Thay padit by with handis plett,
With purtye fra 1 wes ourtane,
Than auld kyndnes was quyt foryett.
VII. '
Into this warld fuld na man trow ;
Thow may weill fe the reflbun quhy j
For evir bot gif thy hand be fow,
Thow art bot littill fettin by.
Thou art nocht tane in cumpany,
Bot thair be fum fifch in thy nett ;
Thairfoir this fals warld I defy,
Sen auld kyndnes is qnyt foryett.
lit
JN COMMENDATION OF THE RIGHT HOKOURABLE SYP.
JOHNE MAITLAND OF THIRLSTAINE, SECRETAIR TO
THE KING, HIS MAJESTIE. (^Marcb 1 5 85-6.)
^e /bllowing four fonnets are much in the manner bf
James Vf. Lord Thirlftane, on account of his %ea'
ious attachment to the intereji of Queen Mary, was
kept in a fiate of confinement^ at leafl of banijhment
from Court y until the death of the Earl of Morton.
The King's grace, upon Maitland's reforation to
Courty is exemplified in the fpeech made hy CH'id, con-
irafling his oiun perpetual exile with the happier for-
tune of Lord Thirleftane, luho is here faid to have
been received into favour " at his good Lord's re-
queji ;" that isy through the intercefjion of his father
Lord Ledington.
THE FIRST VISIOUN.
jjEFORE my face, this night, to me appeir'd
Mj filent Mufe in forow all confound ;
And, all difmay'd, this queftion at me fpeir'd ;
* Quhy do we not his glorious praife refound ?
* Quhofe goodnes we beyond our hope hes found :
* Quhofe favour hes furmounted our defert.
' And, as he dois in pouer maifl abound,
* So to our ayd the fame he dois convert '
** O Mufe," quod I, " even with a willing hairt
*' I fall fulfill this chairgc with bent defy re ;
Vol. III. S s "So
322 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
*' So that to me your furye ye impart,
" And thir my verfes with leru'd fkill Infpyre^
** For, fen I fould the maid renoum'd commend ;
'' Ye ]ykwyfe ought your ayde and help extend.
THE SECOND VISIOUN.
Thus as I fpak I faw the Mufes nyne,
With harpB in hand, about me fone repair ;
Sa that tliair hymns, and voces, maift devyne.
By iimpathie refounded in the air.
* Sing ! Let us ling ; and by our fongs declair
* His worthie Stock, bayth valiant, ftout, and vvyfe,
* From quhilk he's fprung, (of Mufes all the cair,
* Yea of the Gods, from quhom all grace dois ryfe,)
* His Father deir, quha neir his burial lyes ;
* Ane Homer auld of everlafting fame j
* A judge maift juft ; a lox'd quha hes the pryfe
* For confcience pure, and ane unfpotted name ;
* Of princes lov'd ; in honour lang he livis,
* Quhofe memorie his learned fones revivis.*
THE THRID VISIOUN.
And heir they ftay^d till they had drawn thair breath.
Than they begun with fchiller toons of joy.
Auterpe fang, ' His fame furviveth death.'
And Clio faid, * No force fall him deftroy.'
Thalia fpak, * Lat us our fangs employ
* To blaife his praife, and eternife his gloire.'
Polhymna fayde, * I will and fall convoy
* His confell-wit, quhilk he hes in great (lore,
* Through all the warld. And will him fa decore,
* That, as he now furpaffis with his Prence
* In grace and love all others, fo before
* He fallthame pafs in credit, but offence.
* Lang
JAMES VI. 1567- 1603. ^2^
* Lang fall he live in joy. In blifs, and helth ;
* And on his bak fall leane this comounwcUh.'
THE FOURT VISIOUN.
As they did end, than Ovide from exyle
Of Pontus cam, quhair he till death remainM,
Induiring cauld, and hounger ; all that quhyle
Confeum'd with woe Auguftus him difdain'd.
* Alace,' faid he, * In vayne have I complain'd
* For to afuage Auguftus' yre, and wrath.
* And thocht that thoii in prefoun wes detain'd,
' Yet happy thow, quho favour'd is ere death I
' Thy Monarch, and thy great Auguftus, hath
* Extend his grace, at thy good lord's requeift,
' Quhofe honour thou, till waifted be thy breath,
* Sail keip in mynde within thy thankful breift.
* Thou fall his glore with his defairts proclame,
* And celebrat within the kirk of Fame.
Mujisjine tempore tempus.
Wlien thcfc Vifions were written, Sir John Maitland was only Sc-
retary to the King, but oflSciated as Chancellor; Captain James Stew-
art, who held the office, having been banilhed from the royal prefence,
and deprived of the title of Earl of Arrjn in November 1585. Within
a few months after the execution of the Queen, or about May 1587,
Stewart preferred an accufation againft the Secretary, " as if by fomc
" underhand dealing he had been acceffary to that unparalleled -aA of
" blood ; but failing to make good the charge, and not even appearing;
" at the time appointed, he was inftantly deprived of the oflice, and the
' fame was confened upon Sir John Maitland." The King's favour-
able intentions are, however, fufficiently declared in various parts of
thefe Vjfion
THE
THE COMPLAINT OF SCOTLAND,
Probably 1570.
from the Edinburgh Magazine ^ December J 7913
where it is faid by the furniJJjer of the article to
have been tranfcribed from a black letter fheet. and to
relate to the death c/" King Henry Stewart Various
circumjlances mentioned in the poem evince^ howeverf
that it alludes to the murder of the regent Murray by
Hamilton of Bothwel-haugh, in Feb. 1569-70, the
particulars of which may be feen in Crawford
and other hiftorics of that period. Ames, in his
Scottifh Typography, enumerates about half a do"
tuen Deploratiouns and 'Tragedies on the fame fub-
jeEiy all of themfingle Jheets, and printed in 1570
Whether this be one of themy is neither a matter of
^certainty nor of importance ^ but it feems to be a genuine
produEiion of the time.
I.
x\dew all glaidnes, fport, and play 1
Adew, fair weill, baith nycht and day !
All things that may mak merrie cheir I
Bot fich rycht foir ip hart, and fay,
,A.llace I to graif is gone my deir.
",
JAMES Vr. 1567 1603. 32j
II.
My lothfoum lyfe I may lament.
With fixit face, and mynde attent.
In weiping wo to perfeveir.
And alking ftill for punifchement,
Of thame hes brocht to graif my deir,
III.
Bot long allace I may complaine,
Befoir I find my deir againe,
To me was faithfuU and inteir,
As turtill trew on me tuke paine ;
Allace to graif is gone my deir.
IV.
Sen nathing may my murning mend,
On God maift hie I will depend.
My cairfull caute for to npreir :
For he fupport to me will fend,
Althocht to graif is gone my deir,
V.
My havie hap, and piteous plycht,
Dois peirs my hart baith day and nycht,
That lym nor lyth I may not fteir.
Till fum revenge with force and mycht
The cruel murther of my deir.
vr.
This cureles wound does greif me foir.
The lyke I never felt befoir,
Sen Fergus firft of me tuke fteir ;
For now allace decayis my gloir.
Throw cruell murther of my deir.
VII.
O wickit wretche unfortunat !
O favage feid infatiat I \
Mycht thow not, frantik fule ! forbear
To fla with dart intoxicat,
And cruellie devoir my deir ?
VIII.
3?6 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY/
VIII.
Wa worth the wretche, wa worth the clan,
Wa. worth the wit, that firft began
This deir debait for to upfteir,
Contrare the lawis of God and man.
To murther cruellie my deir.
IX.
Throw the is lawles libertie.
Throw the mifcheif and crueltie.
Throw the fals men thair heidis upbeix'.
Throw the is baneift equitie,
I'hrow the to graif is gone my deir.
X.
Throw the mae Kings than ane dois ring,
Throw th^ all tratours blythelie fing,
Throw the is kendlit civill weir,
Throw the murther wald beir the fwing.
Throw the to graif is gone my deir.
XI.
Throw the is rafit fturtfum ftryfe.
Throw the the vitall breith of lyfe
Is him bereft, did with the beir,
Quhen gallow-pin, or cutting knyfe,
Suld flranglit the, and faift my deir..
XII.
Ungraitfull grome I fic recompence
Was not condigne to thyne offence,
With glowing gunne that man to teir^^
From doggis deith was thy defence :
To the fic niercie fchew my deir.
XIII.
O curfit Cain, O hound of hell,
O bludie bairn of Iflimaell,
Gedaliah ! quhen thow did fteir.
To vicis all thow rang the bell,
Throw cruel murther of my deir.
X\V.
JAMES VI. 1367.! 1603. 327
XIV.
Allace my dcir did not forfie,
Quhen he gaif pardone unto the,
Main wickit vvretche, to men linceii'
Quhat paine he brocht, and miferic,
With reuthfull ruin to my deir.
XV.
Bot trew it is, the godly men,
Quhilk think no harme, nor falfet ken.
Nor haitret dois to uthers beir,
Ar foneft brocht to deithis den ;
As may be fene be this my dcir.
XVI.
Thairfoir to the I fay no moir,
Bot I trail! to the King of Gloir,
That thow and thyne fall yit retcir
Your camps with murning mynd richt foir,
For cruell murther of my deir.
XVil.
O nobill Lordis of renoun,
O baronis bauld, ye mak yow boun.
To fute the field with freche effeir.
And dintis doufe, the pride ding doun
Of thame that brocht to graif my deir.
XVJII.
Revenge his deith with ane aflent.
With ane hart, will, mynde, and intent ;
In faithfull friendfchip perfeveir :
God will yow favour, and thame fchent,
Be work or word that flew my deir.
XIX.
Be crous ye Commouns, in this cace.
In a venture ye cry allace,
Quhen murtherars the fwing fall beir,
And from your native land yow chace,
Unles that ye revenge my deir.
XX.
l8 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRTi
XX.
Lat all that fifche be trapt in net.
Was counfall, art, part, or refet,
"With thankfull mind and hartie cheir;
Or yit with helping hand him met,
Quhen he to graif did bring my deir.
XXI.
Defend your King, and feir your God,
l*ray to avoyde his feirfull rod,
Left, in his angrie wrath aufteir,
Ye puneift be, baith even and and od,
Foi not revenging of my deir.
XXII.
And do not feir the number fmiall,
^hocht ye be few, on God ye call.
With faithful! hart, and myiide finceif,'
He will be ay your brafin wall,
Gif ye with ipeid revenge my doir.
XXUI.
Remuve all fluggifche flewth away,
Lat lurking invy clene decay,
Gar commoun Weill your baner beir,
And peace and concorde it difplay,
Quhen ye pas to revenge my deir.
XXIV.
With fobbing fych I to yow fend
This my complaynt with dew commend/
Defiring yow all, without feir.
My pure Scotland for to defend,
Sea now to giaif is gone my deir.
ALEXANDER
ALEXANDER ARBUTHNOT
. is ktiovon as a Poet by the two following pieces
which have been preferved in the Maitland Manufcript.
S^Qlivioodi fays that Alexander Arbuthnot, Principal of
the King's College Aberdeen, who died in 1583, " was
expert in all the fciences, and a good poet." / can
therefore fee no reafon why we may not fafely confider
him as the author of the Miferies of a poor Scholar,
particularly as one of the difiinguifhing traits of his
charaBer appears very prominently in various parts of
the poem. '* He wasy fays the Archbifhop, in fuch
" account, for his moderation, with the chief men
** of the North, (i. e. about Aberdeen,') that with^
*' out his advice they could almofl do nothingt which
" put him to great fafljery^ Principal Arbuthnot was
the third fon of Robert Arbuthnot, domlnus ejufdem,
in the flnre of the Merris, and was educated for the
Bar ; but upon his declaring himfclf in favour of the
Preformation, he was prevailed upon to enter into orders^
and about the year 1568 is defigned Parfon 0/* Arbuth-
not, and Logy-Bucban. In that year he was appointed
hy the General Affenibly to call in and revife a book en"
titled " The Fall of the Church of Rome," wherein
the King had been called the head of the Church ; and a
Pfalm book with a lewd fong at the end of it, called
Welcome fortunes. /// 1569 he was made Principal of
the College of Aberdeen, in the room o/" Alexander An-
dcrfon, fnperfeded for refufmg toftgn the Confejion of
Faith. Farther particulars of his life may he found in
Vol. in. T t Mackenzie's
330 ^CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
Mackenzie's Scots Writers, Vol. 3^. where he is /aid
to be the autlwr of Orationes de origene & jdignitate
juris ; Edinburg. 1572, 410.
THE MISERIES OF A PURE SCOLAR.
I.
\j WRATCHiT warld I O fals fenjeat Fortoun !
O hecht unhappie ! O cruel deftanie !
G clen'e miftemperit conflellatioun I
O evil afpedl in my nativitie !
weird fifteris, quhat alis yow at me ?
That all dois wirk thus contrair my intent.
Quhilk is the caufe that 1 mourne and lamefitr.
II.
Air thing dois quyt proceid aganes my will ;
Bayth hevin and erth ar contrair me conjuric. ^
1 luif the gude, and cummerit am with ill j
With wickit bait I daylie am allurit.
To cheis my lyf I cannot be affurit ;
Now till ane thing, now till another bent.
Qiihat marvel is thoch I murne and lament ?
III.
My hairt dois luf the trew religioun,
And the trew God wald trewlie ferve, bot dout 3
Bot atheifme, and fuperftitioun,
Hes fa me now environit about,
That fcantlie can I find quhair to get out,
Betwix thir twa I am fo daylie rent,
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament ?
IV. .
Under my Grod, I wald obey my prince ;
Bot civile weir dois fa trouble the cais.
That fcarcelie wait I quham to reverence ;
Quhat
JAMES VI. 1567 1603. 33t
Quhat till efchew, or quhat for till embrace.
Our nobils now fa fickil ar, alace !
This day thay faj, the morne thaj will repent.
Quhat marvel is thoch 1 murne and lament ?
V.
Faine wald I leif in concord, and in peice ;
Without deviiioun, rancour, or debait.
Bot now, alace ! m every land and place,
The fyr of hatrent kindlit is fo hait.
That cheretie doth ring in nane eftait ;
Thoch all concur to hurt the innocent.
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament ?
VI.
I hate thraldome ; yet man I binge, and bek,
And jouk, and nod, fum patroun for to pleys.
I luf fredome ; yet man I be fubjeft ;
I am compellit to flatter with my feys.
I me torment fum uther for till eis,
Quha of my travale fcantlie is content.
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament ?
VII.
I luif na thing bot pure fimplicitie }
And to diflemble man my tung aflyle.
The plane hie pathe is maift plefand to me j
Yit fumtyme man I arm me with a wyle.
Or, do I not, men fall me foune begyle j
Firft me diflave fyn lauch quher I am fchent.
Qiihat marvel is thoch I murne and lament ?
viir.
I luif larges, and liberalitie ;
Yet povertie to fpend dois mak me fpair.
I hate averice, and prodigalitie ;
To get fum geir yet maun I haif grit cair.
]n vanitie fyn I man it outwair
Woun be ane wretche, and into waiftrie fpent !^
Quhat marvel is thoch. J murne and lament ?
"^ - IX
33 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
IX.
I luif the vertew honeft chaiftitie ;
To bawdlfche bourdis yet man I oft gif ear ;
To fatisfie ane flefchlie cumpanie,
Lyk ruffian I man me fumtyrae beir.
In Venus' fcule I man fum lefToun leir,
Gif I wald comptit be courtes and gent.
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament 2
X.
I luif del jt J and wrappit am in wo.
I luif plefour j and plungit am in pane.
I lift to reft i yet man I ryde and go.
And quhen I lift to flie I maun remain.
With warldlie cair a gentil hart is (lane !
I feil the fmart, and dar nocht mak my plent.
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament ?
XI.
I hait flatterie ; and into wourdis plane.
And unafFeftit language, 1 delyte ;
Yet man I leir to flatter, glois, and fayne,
Quhidder I lift to fpeik, or yit to wryte j
Or els men fall nocht compt me worth a myte,
I fall be rakintt rude or negligent.
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament ?
XII.
Scorning I hait ; yet maun I fmyle, and fmirk;,
Quhen I the mokks of uther men behald.
Yea oft-tymes man I lauch, fuppofe I irk,
Quhen bitterlie thair tauntis thay have tauld.
And fumtyme als, quhidder I nyl or wald.
And fcorne for fcorne to gif I man tak tent.
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament ?
XIII.
I luif modeft fober civilitic,
Mixit with gentil courtes lawlines ;
Bot Quther man I ufe fcurrilitie_,
Or
JAMES VI. 15671603. ^^^
Or els fie flraunge and uncouth fremmitnes,
That I wait nocht quhane to mak naerines ;
Nor be quhat mene with men me to acquent.
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament ?
XIV.
With temperance I wald ufe meit and drink ;
And hes all furfat-banket in defpyt ;
And yit at feiil and banket maun 1 wink ;
And at thame hant quhair I have no delytc.
I ufe the ewil, and hes withall the wjte ;
Thoch body bow yet dois the hairt diffenf.
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament ?
XV.
All coftlie clayths I compt nocht worthe ane preine,
Quhilk dois bot fofter pryde and vanitie ;
Yit dar I nocht in commoun place be fene,
Les I be cloth it fumquhat gorgeouflie.
And be I nocht, thane men fall talk of me ;
And call me owther Wretche or Indigent.
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament ?
XVI.
With hairt and myad I luif humilitie ;
And pauchtie pryd richt fair do I deteft ;
But with the heich yet man I heichlie be :
Or with that fort 1 fall na fit in relt.
This warld hes maid the proverb manifeft,
Quha is ane fcheip the woulf will fune him rent.
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament ?
XVII.
With patience richt ferme I wald ouercum,
And uther mens infirmities endure ;
Bot thane am I comptit ane batie-bum ;
And all men thinks a play me till injure.
No fufferance, but vice, dois thame allure ;
The mair 1 thole, the mair thay me torment.
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament ?
XVII [.
334 CHROKICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY,
XVIIf.
I luif illence and taciturnitie ;
And in few wordis wald my purpois tell ;
Yet fumtymc man I wourdis multiplie,
And mak irty toung to ring as dois ane bell :
With wyliuU folk. I man bayth cry and yell.
Or yeld to thame and quyt the argument.
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament :'
J halt all fchameles gloridtie ;
And me delyte in modefl fchamefaftnes ;
Yet fall I nocht be comptlt worth ane flie,
Without I fpeik of all mater be ges ;
Glojr, and brag out, and tak a face of bres ;
Nathing miiknaw under the firmament.
Quhat Uifirvel is thoch 1 murne and lament ?
XX.
To charge, to alk, to put ane man to pane I
I wald be courtts, gentil, and difcreit ;
Bot quhyle I am, an ganand tyme remane,
I am ay fervit at the later meit ;
And fum uthar is placit in my feit,
Tiiat thocht no ftiame for to be impudent.
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament i'
xxr.
I hiif the vertew callit gratitude.
And lyk for lyk I yarne to yeild agane ;
Yet can I nocht refave bot ill for gude.
And thay, in quhais danger I remane,
I cannot quyt, albeit I wald richt fane.
I want all micht ; na powar is me lent.
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament ?
XXII.
I luif juftice ; and wald tliat everie man
Had that quhilk richtlie dois to liira perteine j
Yet all my kyn, allj^a, or tny clan.
In
JAMES VI. 1567160^. 335
In richt or vvrang I man alwayis mantene.
I maun applaud, quhen thay thair matters mene,
Thoch confcience th.aivp&4.o not confent.
QiAat marvel is thoch I murne and lament ?
XXIII.
Sua thoch I luif the richt, and nocht the wrang.
Yet, gif ane freyndis cafe fall cum in hand.
It to aflift I maun bayth ryde and gang :
And, as ane fcolar, leir to imderftand.
That it is not repute vyce in this land, 1
For wrang to rander wrang equivalent.
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament ?
XXIV.
Of trew freyndis faine wald I have gud floir.
With thame the Icig of amitie to bind :
Bot thoch I feik amang ane hundreth fcoir,
Ane faythful frende now fcantlie can I find,
That is nocht lycht, lyk weddercok in wynd.
It is thocht vyce now to be permanent.
Quhat marvel is thoch I uiurne and lament ?
XXV.
In poetrie I preis to pas the tyme,
When cairfull thochts with forow fallyes mc ;
Bot gif I mcll with meter, or with ryine,
With rafcal rymours I fall rakint be.
Thay fal me bourdin als with mony lie,
In charging me with that quhilk neuer I mcnt.
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament,
XXVI.
I wald travel ; and ydlenes I halt ;
Gif I culd find fum gude voca^loun.
Bot all for nocht: in vain lang may I v/ait.
Or I get honeft occupatioun.
Letters ar lichtliet in our natioun.
For lernyng now is nother lyf nor rent.
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament ?
XXVII.
]^6 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTJSH POETRY.
xxvir.
' . . i fchortlle now, at ane wourde to conclude,
c this warld fa wrappit in mifcheif,
:. .t glide is ill ; and ill is callit glide.
All thing I fee dois hot augment my greif,
1 feil the wo, and can nocht fe releif :
The Lordis plaig thronchout the warld is went.
Quhat marvel is thoch I murne and lament ?
^iod Maijler jilexander- Arhuthnot. 157;
That Principal Arbuthnot, and Arbuthnot the Printer, were difTs-
rent perfonp, yiirwx not unlikely; bur, notwithftatiding of all that
has beth advanced upon the fuhjecft by Mr Chalmers in his Life of
Ruddimar,p, 71. it is by ro mean?! afrerrained that the Principal was
not the perfon ia whom Buchanan commitred the cre of publifhing his
Jiifiory, although the Edinburjjh Arbuthnot might be the a5iual prin-
ter. Mackenzie, p. 192. vol. J,i. is fo circumnantia! in his account <.f
this matter, that one can fcarcely withhold afUntinp to the truth of his
liarrative. Perhaps there is equal rotm for doubt with rcfpp<S to the
identity of the perfcn who was appointed to call in Biiffendynt's edi-
tion of the Pfalms. For it would be fomewliat fingular if the General
Aflembly fhould in 1568 fiit upon Alexander Arbuthnot, Parfon of
Logy-Biichan, to revile aijd pubiilh pfalms for the ufe of the kitk of
Scotland, and yet that anollir Alexander Arbuthnot, in kfs than a do-
zen years afterwards, fhonlJ be appointed to prir.t and pubiilh an edi-
tion of the Bible, while the former was lUll in the rrime of life, in the
higheft favour with the Protellant Cler'fjy, and had fiiown himfclf anx-
ious for fomc lucrative employment. In ftanza 8th of the above potm.
lie fays.
I hate averice and prodigalitic;
To get funi gcir yet maun I half grit cair.
And again, in ftanza 26tli.
I wald labour, and ydlcncfs I hilt,
Gif I culd get fum guile vocatioun ; . . .
Bot Letters ar lichtliet in our natioun
Is it not rather probable that this very poem procured him the appoitit-
ment of King's printer ' The circumflance of the puhlifncr of Buchanan
being a Burgefs of Edinburgh, is nothing to the purpofe. So was
Gawin Douglas, BIfhop of Dunkeld, though not a trafiicker.
THE
THE PRAISES OF WEMEN.
ffy the Same, From the BIaitand Collection,
VJuHA dewlie wald decerne.
The nature of gud wemen ;
Or quha wald wis or yairne
That cumlie clan to ken ;
He hes grit neid, I fay indeid.
Of toungis ma then ten :
That plefand foxt ar all confort.
And mirrines to men.
The wyfeft thing of wit
That ever Nature wrocht ;
Quha can fra purpofe flit,
Bot fickilnes of thocht.
Wald ye now wis ane erthlie blisj,
Solace gif ye have focht ;
Ane marchandyce of griteft pryce
That ever ony bocht.
HI. ,
The brichteft thing, bot baill.
That ever creat bein ;
The luftieft, and maift leil ;
The gayeft, and beft gain ;
The thing faireft, and langeft left ;
From all canker maift clein ;
The trimmeft face, with gudlie grace,
That lichtlie may be fein.
Vol. III. U a IV.
338 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRV.
IV.
The bly theft thing in bour ;
The bonyeft in bed,
riefant at everie hour ;
And eithe for to be fled ;
An innocent, plaine and patent ;
With craftines oncled ;
Ane fimple thing, fueit and bening,
For deir nocht to be dred.
V.
To man obedient,
Evin Ijk ane willie wand ;
Bayth faythfuU, and fervent.
Ay reddie at command.
Thay luif i)[iaift leill, thoch men do feill^
And fchaikis oft of hand.
Quhair anes thay love thay not remove -^
Bot fteidfaftlie thay ftand.
VI.
And, rychtlie to compair,
Scho is ane turtill trew ;
Hir fedderis ar rycht fair.
And of an hevinlie hew.
Ane luiflng wicht, bayth fair and bricht,
Gad properteis anew.
Freind with delyte : fo but difpytc,
Quho laves hir fall not rew.
VII.
Suppofe fcho feim ofFendit,
Quhen men dois hir conftraine ;
That fait is fone amendit,
Hir mynde is fo humaine.
Scho is content, gif men repent
Thair fait ; and turne agane.
Scho has no g>lc, nor fubtil wyle ,
Hir patliis ar ay plane.
VIIL
^ JAMES VI. 15671603. S39
VIII.
Ane lyife full of delyite
Gif ye your dayis wald drie ;
In paftyme maifl perfyite
Gif that ye lift to be ;
In gud eftait, bayth air and lait,
Gif ye wald leif or die ;
With wenien deill. Its trew T tell J
Yeis luik I fall not lie.
IX.
Gif ony fault thair be,
Alace ! men hes the wyit
That geves fa gouketlie
Sic rewleris onperfyte ;
Suld have the blame, and beir lyk fchame,
Thoch thay wemen bakbyit,
Wer thay wittie, wemen wald be
Ane happie hairte's delyit.
X.
The properteis perpend
Of everie warldlie wicht ;
Sa comlie nane ar kend.
As is a ladye brycht.
Plefand in bed, bowfum and red j
Ane daintie day and nycht.
Ane halefum thing, ane hairtes lyking,
Gif men wald rewl thame richt.
XI.
Quhen God maid all of noch't,
He did this weill declare.
The laft thing that he wrocht,
It was ane woman fair.
In workes we fee the laft to be
Maift plefand and preclair,
Ane help to man God maid hir than :
Q^ihat will ye I fay mair ?
XII.
34 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRr.
XII.
The papingo In hew
Excedis birdis all ;
The turtill is maift trew j
The pawne but peregal,
Yit nevir the les, ye may confes.
Woman is worth thame all ;
Fair, fueit, plefant ; trew, meik, conflaat j
Without all bitter gall.
XIII.
And thoch for wemennis faik
Greit trouble hes bein fein,
Yit that dois naways maik
That wemen wicked bein.
We fie that kingrs, for pretious thingis,
Dois greteft weir fuftein.
And yit the geir, for quhilk thay weir.
Is not the worfe a prein.
XIV.
Realmes and grit impyris
Than fould be worthe na thing j
For cruell bluid, and fyris,
Ar fein in conquefing.
All precious gcir we fould forbeir j
Refuis to be ane king ; ;j
Ya Chriftis worde fould be abhor'd
For all dois troubills bring.
XV.
Confes thairfoir for fchame.
For fo ye mull indeid,
That it is na defame
To prys of womanheid.
Suppofe that men, for luve of thame.
In battels oft did bleid :
That fets thame furthe to the maift worthe ;
And fo thay ar indeid.
XVI.
JAMES VI. 1567 16CJ3. 34 i
XVI.
Ye wemen vicious,
Gif ony fie be now.
Grow not owr glorious j
I fpak no thing of yow :
Thair is anew, bayth traift and trew,
Quhom onlie I allowe.
Thoch fum be ruid, monye at gud.
Ilk man cheis him ane dow.
^wd Mr. A. Arhuthnoi.
Here are omitted fome ftanzas containing trite examples of the vir-
tHOus and vicious conduifl of women, fcledled from ancient hiftory, fa.
crcd and prophane ; and ferving no other purpofc but to add to- the pro-
liiity of the poem.
In addition to what was offered in p. 336, it may be obfervcd, that
the only books which appear with the name of Atbuthnot a printer
arc, ifl. " The Bible," in folio, 1579 id. " Buchanan's Hiftory;"
3d. " Welwood's De aqua in altum exprimcnda demonilratio," both
in 158a. To the two former of thefe, the reverend Principal has at
leaft a fpccious claim \ and I believe that Welwood's pamphlet (Edir.
Coll. Lib.) will be found to have ilTued from the fame preD. Impref-
lions by the contemporary printers of Scotland arc common .* Sec A-
nies's Hid. of Scottifh printing. Even although one ot two more ed!>
tionsby Arbuthnot Oiould be difcovered, this argument will not be in-
validated, unlefs the typographical ornaments are di/TercDt from thofs
of Buchanan's Hiftory, or the date fubl'cquent tu xjSj.
ALEXANDER
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERY*
is chafa Be fifed hy Mr Pinkerton as a *' quaint
affcBed writer j and a great dealer in tinfcl ," whiley on
the other hand, by Lord Hailes he is defigtied " the ele-
gant author of the Cherrie and Slae," a compliment
ivhich has not fallen to thefhare of many of our ancient
poets from a pen fo eminently qualified to appretlate their
merits. To what family Montgomery belonged^ and
how he became entitled to the appellation of Captain,
/v circiimfiances which have not been afcertained
There feems no appearance of his being nearly allied to
the houfe of Eglinton ; but we cannot do'ubt that the La~
dy Margaret Montgomery whom he celebrates in his
fmaller pieces, was the etdefl daughter of Hugh, third
Karl of Eglinton ; afterwards, or about 1 57 5, married
to Robert, Earl of Winton, for whofe benefit probably
th^y were compofed, rather than for that of the author
himfelf The Cherry and Slae has been fuppofid to con^
tain fame allvfion to the poet's choice of a wfe or mif-
trefs. Tie true fcope rf the alhgory feems, howeiicr,
to be nothing more than ivhat is exprejfed in the title of
the Latin Verfion^ 1 631, "oi^. Opus poematicum de vir-
tutum & vitiorum pugna, live, Eleftio llatus in ado-
Itfcentia. Per T. D. &c. In the fame title Montgo-
mery 2'^ defigned nobilis ; and, from his Flyting with
Polwart, it appears that he was the intimate friend of
Scmpill, probably Robert the third Lord, whom 1 take
to be the author of feme facetious pcems in the Ever
green. He married the younger fifier of the JLcdy
Marsraret
JAMES VI. 15(171603, 343
Margaret Montgomery, and is thus mentioned hy PoU
wart in one of his poetical epiflles to our author.
FarJer thow fleyis with iither fowlls wingis,
Oer clade with colours cleirer than thy awn,
But fpeciallie with feme of Semple's thingis.
Whether this alludes merely to the Flyting, is uncertain^
Polvvart alfo reprefents him as a fchijmatichy coming
from Argylcy **fidging andfykatid with Heiland cheir^*
which leads to a recolleEiion that nhout this time (^1580)
there was a Robert Montgomery* Miniffcr in Stirling^
who was fnade Archhijhob of Ghifgoiu in 1581, hut in
a Jew years furrendered the See and became Mini/ler of
Symontoun in Kyle in 1587. /// the Bannatync MS
are two or three pjalms tranjlated by Robeit Montgo-
mery, probably the fame confcientious Parfon^ and per-
haps the brother of Captain Montgomer) ,
THE CflERKIE AND THE SLAE.
X ABOUT an bank with balmy bewis,
Qnhair Nychtingales thair notis renewis.
With gallant GoldfpiuUs gay ;
The Mavis, Merle, and Progne proud,
The Lintquhyt, Lark, and Lavrock loud,
Siilutit mirthful May.
Qnhen Philomel had' fweitly fung,
To Progne fclio deplord,
)Iow Tereus cut out hir tung.
And falifly hir deflord ;
Quhilk ftory fo forie to fchaw hirfcif fclio felmt,
To lieir hir fo ncir hir, I doutit if I dvL-imt.
The
344 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY*
The Cufhat crouds, the Corbie crys.
The Coukow couks, the prattling Pyes,
To geek hir they begin.
The Jargoun or the jangling Jayes,
The craiking Crawsi, anc^ kec^ling Kays,
They deavt me with thair din.
The painted pawn with Argos eyis.
Can on l^is maypck call j
The Turtle wails on vyitherit tries,
And Eccho anfwers all,
Repeting with greiting, how fair Narciffas fcU^
Cy lying and fpying hi^ fch^dow in the ^yell.
J faw the Hurcheon and the Hare
In hidlings hirpling heir and thair.
To mak thair niorning mange*
The Con, the Cuning, and the Gat,
Quhais dainty downs with dew were wat.
With ilif muflachis ftrange.
The Hart, the Hynd, the Dae, the Rae,
The Fulnpart and falfe Fox ;
The beardit Buck clam up the brae,
With birfly Bairs and Brocks ;
Sum feidlng, fum dreiding the hunters fubtile fnairs,
With fliipping and tripping, they playit them in pairs.
The air was fobir, foft, and fweit,
Nae mifty vapours, wind nor weit.
But quyit, calm, and cleir.
To fofter Flora's fragrant flowris,
Quhairon Apollo's paramouris)
Had trinklit mony a teir j
The quhilk Ijke filver fchaikers fliynd,
Embroydering bewties bed,
Qubairwith their heavy heids declynd,
Jn ATayis coUouris cled.
Sum knoping, fum droping, of balmy liquor fweit,
Excelling and fmelling, throw Phebus hailfum heit.
Methccht
JAMES VI. 1567 1603. 345
Methocht an heavenlie heartfuni thing,
Quhair dew lyke Diamonds did hing,
Owre twinkling all the treis,
To ftudj on the flurift twifts.
Admiring Nature's alcumifts.
Laborious bufTie beis,
Quhairof fum fweiteft honie focht.
To (lay thair lyves frae fterve,
And fum the waxie vefchells wrocht, '
I'hair purchafe to preferve ;
So heiping, for keiping it in thair hjrves they hyde.
Precifely and wyfely, for winter they provyde.
To pen the pleafurcs of that park.
How every bloflbm, branch, and bark,
Againrt the fun did fhyne,
I pafs to Poetis to compyle.
In hich heroick ftaitiie ftyle,
Quhais Mufe furmatches myne.
But as I lukit rayne alanc,
I faw a river riti
Outowre a fteipie rock of ftane,
Syne Hchtit in a lin.
With tumbling and rumbling amang the roches rouhd,
Devalling and falling, into a pit profound.
Throw rowting of the river rang.
The roches founding lyke a fang,
Quhair defkant did abound ;
With triple, tenor, counter, mein,
And Ecchoe blew a bafle betwene,
In diapafon found,
Set with the c-fol-fa-uth cleif.
With lang and large at lift ;
With quaver, crotchet, ftmibreif,
And not an minum mift,
Compleitly mair fvveitly fcho fridound flat and fcharp,
Nor Mufes that ufcs to pin Apollo's harp.
Vol. hi. X x Quha
346 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTI&H POETHY.
Qiiha wald haif tyrt to heir that tune,
Quhilk birds corroborate ay abune.
With lays of luvefam Larks,
Quhilk dim fae high in chryftal Ikys,
Quhyle Cupid walk ens with the crys,-
Of Natures chappel clerks,
Quha levlng all the Hevins abuve,
Alichted on the eird.
Lo how that little Lord of luve.
Before me thair appeird,
Sac myld and chyld lyk, with bow three quarters fcant,
Syne moylie and coylie, he lukit lyk ane Sant.
Ane cleinly crifp hang ovvre his eyis.
His quaver by his nakit thyis.
Hang in an filver lace ;
Of gold betwixt his fchoulders grew,
Twa pretty wings quhairwith he flew.
On his left arm ane brace.
This God fone aff his geir he fchuke,
Upon the graflle grund ;
I ran als lichtly for to luke,
Quhair ferlies micht be fund :
Amafit 1 gafit to fee his geir fa gay j
Perfaifing myne hareing, he countit me his prey.
His youth and ftature made me ftout,
Of doubknefs I had na doubt.
But bourded with my boy.
Quod I, how call th(^ thee, my chyld ?
Cupido, Sir, quod he, and fmyld,
Pleafe you me to imploy ;
For I can feive you in your fuite.
If you pleafe to impyre.
With wings to file, and fchafts to fchute
Or flamis to fet on fyre.
Mak choice then of thofe then, or of a thoufand things.
But crave them & have them, with thati wo'dhiswings.
Quhat
JAMES VI. 15671603. 347
Qnhat wald thou gif, my freind, quod he,
To haif thir wanton wings to flie.
To fport thy fprit a quhylp ;
Or quhat gif I fuld lend the heir.
Bow, quaver, fchafts, and fchuting geir.
Sum body to begyle !
That geir, quod I, cannot be bocht,
Yit 1 wald haif it fain.
Qubat gif, quod he, it coft thee nocht,
But rendering all again :
His wings then he brings then, and band them onmybak
Go flie now, quod he, now, and fa my leif I tak.
J fprang up with Cupidoes wings,
Quha bow and fchuting geir refinga.
To lend roe for a day.
As Icarus with borrowit flicht,
I mountit hichar nor 1 micht ;
Owre perrelous ane play.
Then furth I drew that double dart
Quhilk fumtyme fchot his mother,
Quhairwith I hurt my wanton hart.
In hope to hurt ane uther:
It hurt me or burnt me, quhyl either end 1 handill j
Cum fe now in me now the butteiflie an4 candilli
As fcho delyts into the low,
Sa was I browdin of my bow,
Als ignorant as fcho ;
And as fcho flies quhyl fcho be fyirt.
Sua with the (Jart that I defyirt.
My hand has hurt me to ;
As fulifli Phxton be fute
His father's cart obteind,
Sa langt I in lufis bow to fchute.
Not marking quhat it meind ;
Mair wilful than ikilful, to flie I was fa fond.
Defy ring, afpyring, and fa was fene upond.
Too
348 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH P0ETR7.
Too late I knew quha hewis to hie.
The fpail fall fall into his eie,
Too late I went to fchuils ;
Too late I heard the fvvallow preich.
Too late Experience dois teich.
The fchuiUmaifter of fails ;
Too late to fynd the ncft I feik,
Quhen all the birds ar flovvin ;
Too late the ftabil dore I ileik,
Quhen all the fleids ar ftowin ;
Too late ay thair (late ay, all fulifti folk efpy^
Behind fa, they find fa reraeid, and fa do I.
Gif I had ryplie bene advyft,
1 had not rafchly enter pryft,
To foir with borrowit pens j
Nor yit had feyd the archer-craft.
To fchute my fell with fie a fchaft,
As reafon quyte milkens :
Frae wilfullnefs gaif me my wound,
I had riae force to flie,
Then came I graihand to the ground,
Freind ! welcum hame, quod he ; [the buting i
Quhair flew ye ? quhom flew ye? or quha brings ham^
1 fe now, quod he, now, ye haif bene at the fchuting.
As flcorn cunis commonly with ftaith,
Sa I behuift to byde them baith, n
Sae flakkering Was tny fliait !
That undir cure I gat fie chek,
Qnhilk I micht nocht remuif nor nek,
But either ftail or nftait ;
My agony was fa extreme,
I fwelt and fwound for feir,
But or I walkynt of my dreme,
He fpulyied me of my geir ;
With flicht then on hicht theafprang Cupid in the iky 5,
^oryettirg and fetting at nocht my caiiful crys.
Sae
JAMES VI. 1567 1603. 34.9
,Sae lang with ficht I followit him,
.Quhjle baith vny dazelit eyes grew dira
With (lairing on the flarns,
Quhilk flew fae thick, befoir my ein,
Sum rpid, fum yellow, blew, fum greiie,
Qi^hilk trublit all my hams,
lliat every thing apperit twac
To my barbulyeit brain,
But lang micht I ly luiking fae.
Or Cupid came again j the air
Quhais thundering, with wondering, I hard up throw
Throw cluds fo he thuds fo, and l|ew I wift not quhair.
Then frae I faw the God was gane,
And I in langour left allane,
And lair tormentit to ;
Sumtyme I ficht, quhyl I was fad,
Sumtyme 1 mufit and maift gane mad,
I wift not quhat to do j
Sumtyme I ravit, half in a rage.
As ane into difpair.
To be oppreft with He a page.
Lord gif my heart was fair.
"Lyke Dido, Cupido, I widdlll and I warle,
.Quha reft me and left me in fie a fcirie faile.
Then felt I Curage and Defyre
Inflame my heart with uncouth fyre.
To me befoir unknawn ;
But now nae blude in me remains
Unbrunt and boyld within my vaincs,
By luve his bellies bla\vin ;
To quench it or I was devorit,
With fichs I went about,
But ay the raair I fchupe to fmorit.
The baulder it br;ik out ;
Ay preifir.g bot ceifiug, quhyl it micht brek the bounds,
JVly hew fo furth fchew fo the dolour of mj wounds.
With
350 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRJT.
With deldly vifage, pail and wan,
Mair Ijke ane atomy than man,
I widdcrt clein awaj ;
As wax befoir the fyre, I felt
Mj heart within my bofom melt.
And peice and peice decay,
l\Iy veines with brangling lyk. to brek,
My punfis lap with pith ;
Sae fervency did me infek,
That I was vext thairwith :
IVIy heart ay did dart ay, the fyrie flamis to flie,
Ay howping, throw lowping, to leap at libertie.
But, O alace ! it was abufit,
My cairfuU corps keipt it inclufit.
In prefoun of my breift ;
With fichs fae fowpit and owre-fet,
Lyk to ane fifch faft in the net.
In deid thraw undeceift,
Quha thocht in vain fcho ftryve by flrenth
For to pull out hir heid,
Quhilk profits naething at the length.
But haiftning to hir deid :
With wrifting and thrifting, the faller ftill is fcho,
Thair I fo did ly fo, my death advancing to.
The mair I wreftlit with the wind,
The fafter ftill my felf I find,
Nae mirth ray mynd micht meife ;
Mair noy, nor I, had nevir nane,
I was fae altert and owre-gane,
Throw drowth of my difeife :
Yit weakly as I micht, I raife.
My ficht grew dim and dark,
I ftakkerit at the v^indilUftraes,
Nae takin J was ftark ;
Baith fichtles and michtles I grew almaift at ains.
In angwifche I langwifche, with mony grievous grains.
With
JAMES VI. 15671605'. 3$t
With fober pace I did approche
Hard to the river and the roche,
Quhairof I fpak. befoir i
The river fie a murmur maid,
As to the fea it faftly flaid.
The craig hich, ftay and fchoir ;
Then Pleafure did me fae provok
Thair partly to repair,
Betwixt the river and the rock,
Quhair Houp grew with Difpaire ,
A trie than I fie than of Cherries on the brae^y
Below to I faw to ane bufs of bitter Slacs.
The Cherries hang abune my heid,
Lyke twynkland rubies round and reid.
Sac hich up in the hewch,
Quhais fchaddowis in the river fchew,
Als graithly glancing as they grew
On trimbling twiftis, and tewch,
Quhilk bowed throw burding of thair birth^
Declyning doun thair toppis,
"Reflex of Phebus off the fii th.
New colourit all thair knoppis ;
With danfing and glanfing in tryl, as dornik champ,
Quhilk ftreimedandleinnedthiow lichuicfs of that lami?.
With earned eie, quhyl I efpy
The fruit betwixt roe and the Iky,
Half-gaite almaill to hevin ;
The craig fae cumberfum to dim.
The trie fae tall of growth, and trim,
As ony arrow evin :
I calld to mynd how Daphne did
Within the laurcil fchrink,
Quhen from Apollo fcho hir hid
A thoul'and tymes 1 think ;
That trie thair to me thair, as he his laurell thochf,
Afpyring, bot tyring, to get that fruit I focht.
To
35* CHRONfCtE OF SCOTTISH rOETRT.
To dim the craig it was nae buit,
Let be to preifs to pull the fruit
In top of all the trie ;
I faw nae way quliairby to cum,
Be ony craft to get it clum,
Appeirladlie |kpe :
The craig was ugly, Hay,- and dreich,
The trie lang, found and fmall,
I was affrayd to dim fa hich,
For feir to fetch a fall ;
Affray it to fey it, I luikit up on loft, [eft.
Quhyls minting, quhyls Hinting, my purpofe changit
Then Dreid ,with Danger and Difpair,
rorbad my minting onie mail''
To rax abune my reiche.
Q^hat, tufche, quod Curagc, man go to/
He is but daft that has to do.
And fpairs for every fpeiche :
For I haif aft hard fuith men fay.
And we may fee ontfells.
That fortune lielps the hardy ay.
And pultroncs plain repells ; [Difpair,
Then feir nocht, nor heir nocht, Dreid, Danger, c
To fazarts hard hazarts is deid or they cum thair.
(^ha fpeidi, but fie as heich afpyris ?
Quha triumphs nocht, but lie as tyres
To win a nobill name ?
Of fchrinking, quhat but fchame fucceids ?
Then do as thou wald haif thy deids
In reglller of fame :
I put the cais thou nocht prex-aild,
Sae thou with honour die -,
Thy lyfe, but not thy courage, faild/
Sail poets pen of thee :
Thy name than from fame than fall ncvir be cut afF,
Thy graif ay fall haif ay that honcfl: cpitafF.
Quhat
JAMES VI. 15671603. 353
Ouhat can thou lofle, quhen honour lives ?
Renown thj vertew ay revives,
Gif valiauntlie thou end :
Quod Danger, hulj, freind, tak heid,
Untymous fpurring fpills the fleid ;
Tak tent quhat ye pretend :
Thocht Courage counfell thee to dim.
Beware thou kep nae Ikaith ;
Haif thou nae help but Hope and him,
They may begyle thee baith :
Thyfell now may tell now the counfell of thae clerks.
Quhairthrow yit I trow yit thy bireift beiris the marks.
Brunt bairns with fyre the danger dreids,
Sa I belief thy bofome bleids.
Sen lall that fyre thou felt :
Befyds that, feindle tymes thou feis
That evir Courage keips the keis
Of knawledge at his belt.
Thocht he bid fordwart with his guns,
Small powder he prpvyds.
Be not ane novice of that nunnes,
That faw nocht baith the fyds ;
Fule-haift ay, almaifl ay, owre fyles the ficht of fum,
Quhahuks not, nor luks not, quhat eftlrward may cum,
Yit Wifdom wifches thee to wey
This figure in philofophy,
A Icflbun worth to leir,
Quhilk is in tyme for to tak tent.
And not quhen tyme is paft, repent.
And buy repentance deir.
Is thair nae honour eftir lyfe,
Except thou flay thyfell ?
Quhairfoir has Atropos that knyfe ?
I trow thou cannot tell.
Quha but it wald cut it, quhilk Clothe flcairs hes fpunj
Diftroying thy joying befoir it be begun.
Vol. hi. Y y All
3\S^4 CHROlfICLE OF SCOTTISH POIItRY".
All owres ar repute to be vyce,
Owre hich, ovvre law, owre rafch, owrc nyce,
Owre het or yit owre cauld.
Thou feims unconftant, be thy figns.
Thy thocht is on a thoufand things.
Thou wats not quhat thou wald.
Let fame hir pitie on the poure,
Quhen all thy banes ar brokin,
Yone Slae, fuppbfe thou think it foure,
May fatisfie to flokkin l^defyre.
Thy drouth now, of youth now, quhilk drys thee with
Afwage than thy rage, man, foul water quenches fyret
Quhat fule art thou to die of thrift.
And now may quench it, gif thou lift,
Sae eafylie bot pain I
Mair honour is to vanquifch ane
Than feicht with tenfum and be tane.
And owther hurt or flain.
The prattick is to bring to pas,
And not to enterpryfe ;
And als gude drinking out of glas.
As gold in ony wyfe ;
I levir haif evir a foul in hand or tway.
Nor fieand ten flieand about rae all the day.
Luke quhair thou licht befoir thou lowp,
Amd flip na certainty for howp,
Quha gyds thee but begefs.
Quod Courage, cowards tak nae cure
To fit with fchame, fae they be fure,
I lyke them all the lefs.
Quhat plefure purcheft is bot pain ?
Or honour win with eife ?
He will not ]y quhair he is flain,
- That douttis befoir he dies :
For feir then 1 heir then, but only ane remeid,
Quhilk lat is, and that is for to cut off" the heid.
Quhat
JAMES vr. 1567 1603. $S5
Quhat 13 the way to heil thy hurt ?
Quhat is the way to flay thy fturt ?
Quhat meins may mak thee mcrrie ?
Quhat is the comfort thar thou craivs ?
Suppofe thir fophifts thee defaivs :
Thou knaws it is the Cherrie.
Sen for it only thou but thrifts,
The Slae can be nae buit ;
In it alfo thy helth confifts,
And in nae uther fruit. [ftryfe ?
Quhy quaiks now, and fchaiks thow and ftiidys at our
Advyfe thee, it lyes thee, on nae lefs than thy lyfe.
Gif ony patient wald be panft, *
Quhy fuld he lowp quhen he is lanft.
Or fchrink quhen he is fchorn ?
For I haif hard chirurgians fay,
Aftymes defFerring of a day,
Micht not be mend the morn.
Tak time in time, or time be tint ;
For time will not remain.
Quhat forces fyre out of the flint.
But als hard match again !
Delay not, and fray not, and thou fall fie it fae.
Sic gets ay that fets ay, ftout ftomaks to the brae.
Thocht all beginnings be maift hard.
The end is plefand afterward ;
Then fchrink not for a fchowre ;
Frae anes that thou thy grcining get,
Thy pain and travel is foryet ;
The fwcit exceids the fourc.
Gae to then quicklie, fcir not thir.
For Howp gude hap hes hecht.
Quod Danger, be not fudden. Sir,
V The matter is of wecht ; {"iH^
Firft fpy baith, and try baith, advyfement does nane
1 fay then, ye may then, be wilfull quhen ye will.
But
35^ CHROKICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
But yit to mjnd the proverb call,
** Qiiha ufes perrils perifh fall,"
Schoit quhyle thair lyfe them lafts.
And I half hard, quod Howp, that he
Sail nevir fchaip fo fail the fe,
That for all pei rills cafts.
How mony throw difpair are deid.
That nevir pei rills preivit ?
How mony alfo, gxf thou reid,
Of lyves have we releivit ?
Quha being evin dicing, bot danger, but difpaird ^
A hunder, I wonder, but thou hafl hard declaird.
Gif we twa hald not up thy hart,
Quhilk. is the cheif and nobleft part,
Thy wark wald not gang weil ;
Coafidering tliae companions can
Difwade a filly fimple man,
To hafard for his heil,
Suppofe they haif defavit fum,
Or they and we micht meit ;
They get nae credence quhair we cum,
With ony roan of fpreit ;
By reafoun thair treafoun be us is firft efpyt.
Revelling thair deiling, quhilk dovv not -be denyt.
With fleikit fopblfms fciming fweit.
As all thair doings war difcreit.
They wifli, thee to be wyfe,
Poftponing tyme frae hour to hour.
But faith in ifnderneath the flowr,
Tlie lurking lerpent lyes ;
Suppofe thou fcis her not a ftyme,
Till that fcho ftings thy fute.
Perfaifs thou nocht quhat precioxis tyme.
Thy llewthing does owrefchute ?
Allace man I thy cafe man, in lingring I lament,
Qo to now and do now, that Courage be content.
Quhat
JAMES VI. 1567 1603. 357
Quhat glf Melancholy cum in,
And get ane grip or thou begin,
Than is thj labour loft ;
Yor he will hald thee hard and faft.
Till tjme and place and fruit be pad,
And thou give up the ghoft.
Than fall be graivd upon the ftane,
Quhilk, on thj graif is laid,
Sumtjme thair lived fie a ane ;
But how fall it be faid ?
Here lyea now, but prjfe now into dllhonours bee],
An cowart as thou art, that from his fortune fled.
Imagyne man, gif thou wer laid
In graif, and fync micht heir this faid,
Wald thou not fweit for fchame ?
Yes, faith I doubt nocht but thou wald ;
Therefoir gif thou has ene bchald,
How they wald fmoir thy fame.
Gae to and mak nae niair excufe,
Or lyfe and honour lofe ,
And outher them or us refufe,
'Hiair is nae uther chofe-
Confidder togidder, that we can nevir dwell,
At length ay by ftrength ay thne pultroncs v.c espell.
Quod Danger, fen I underftand,
That counfell can be nae command,
I have nae mair to fay,
Except gif that ye thocht it good,
Tak counfell yit or ye conclude
Of wyfer men northay;
They are but r.tcklefs, yungand rafclie ;
Suppofe they think us fleit ;
Gif of our fellowfchip you fafche,
Gang with them hardly bcit,
God fpeid you, they leid you, that has not mcikle wit.
Expell us, yeil tell us, heiraftir comes not yit.
QuhyU
3^8 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH fOETRT.
Quhylc Danger and Difpair retjrt,
J^xperience came In and fpeirt
Quhat all the matter meind ;
With him came Reafon, Wit, and Skill,
And thev began to fpeir at Will,
Qjihair mak ye to my freind ?
To pluck yone lufty Cherr.ie loc.
Quod he, and quyte the flae.
Quod they, is there nae mair ado,
Or ye win up the brae,
But to it, and do it ? perforce the fruit to pluck
Weil, brother, fum uther were better to condu6l,
We grant ye may be gude aneuch ;
But yit the hazard of yon heuch,
Requyris ane graver gyde ;
As wyfe as ye are niay ga^ wrang ;
Thairfore tak counfail or ye gang
Of fum that ftand befyde
Quod Wit, ane way ther is of thre,
Quhilk I fall to ye fcbaw,
Qiihairof the firfl twa cannot be.
For ony thing 1 knaw.
The way heir fae ftey heir, is that we cannot dim,
Evin owr now, we four now, that will be hard for him.
The 1next, gif we gae doun about,
Quhyle that this bend of craigs lin out.
The (Ireim is thair fae (lark,
And alfo pafTeth waiding deip.
And braider far than we dow leip,
It fuld be ydlc wark.
It grows ay braider to the fea,
Sen owre the lin it came.
The rinning dcid dois fignifie
'Ihc dcipnefs of the fame :
I leive now to deive now, how that it fwyftly flyds,
As fleiping and creiping, but nature fae provyds.
Our
JAMES vr. 1367 1663. ijjgl
Our way then Ijcs about the Hn, ^
Quhairby I warrand we fall TA'in, ^
It is fae ftraight and plain,
The water alfo is fae fchald.
We fall it pafs, evin as we wald,
With plcfour, and hot pain.
For as we fe a mifcheif grow
Aft of a feckles thing,
Sae lykways dois this river flow
Forth of a prettie fpring ; [ueive-.
Qnhois throt, Sir, I wot. Sir, ye may flap with yoiu
As you. Sir, 1 trow, Sir, Experience can preivc.
That, quod Experience, 1 can,
And all ye faid fen ye began,
I ken to be a truth.
Quod Skill, the famyn I apiuve j
Quod Reafon, then let us remuve,
And fleip nae mair in fleuth :
"Wit and Experience, quod he.
Sail gae befoir a pace.
The Man fall cum with Skill and me
Into the fccond place ;
Attowre now you four now fall cum into a band,
Proceiding and leiding i.k uther be the hand.
As Reafon ordert, all obeyd,
Nane was owre rafch, nane was afiVayi!,
Our counfell was fae wyfe.
As of our journey, Wit did note,
We fand it trcw in ilka jot,
God blifs the enterpryfe. -'
For evin as wc came to the trie,
Quhilk as ye heard me tell,
Could not be clum thair fuddenlie,
The fruit, for rypenefs, fell ;
Quhilk haifting and taifting, I fand myfelf relicvJ
Of cairs all and fairs all that mynd and body grievJ.
3^c
CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY".
A tcf^loiu debite on the choice of a guide is here omitted, we hope
v^'ithout iuj'jry to the poem.
P. 35t. St. a. ' III tryl as dornik-champ." So this line is found in
fcveral ohl editions : and in the Evergreen 1724, *' In tyrles dornick
camp;" both of them obfcure. The paffage is thus rendered in the
I^tin verfion,
rubet fub gurgitc daro
Umbra vclut rutilo ardentes prx fole pyropi.
D'lrrick is a fort of cloth, in-wrought with flowers or figures; fo that
the meaning may be, " like the variegated appearance of Dornick, or
Tournay cloih."
la a poem called " The Woman's Univerfe," 1652, we have
The weVifier with his j:imbling hand.
And Dorniik champion rapries,
Wili nidke the coyeft wench to {> ind
A prer';<e *.o li's fop'ries.
SAVr;
^^NG ON THE LADY MARGARET MONTGDMERIE.
By the Same.
I.
JL*uiFARis leive of to loif fo hie
Your ladeis ; and tharae ftyel no mair
But peir^ the eirthlie A per fe.
And flour of feminine maid fair :
San thair is ane withq^Ut compair.
Sic tjtillis in your langs deleit ;
And prais the pcreles (pearl) preclair,
Montgomrie maikles Margarcit.
II.
Quhofe port, and pereles pulchritude,
Fair forme, and face angelical].
Sua meik, and full of manfuetude.
With vertew fupcrnaturall ;
Makdome, and proper members all,
Sa perfyte, and with joy repleit,
Pruifs hir, but peir or peregall.
Of maids the maikles Margareit.
III.
Sa wyfe in youth, and verteous,
Sic reflfoun for to rewl the reft.
As in greit age wer marvelous.
Sua manerlie, myld, and modeft ;
Sa grave, fa gracious^ and digeft ;
And in nil doings fa difcreit ;
The maift bening, and bonieft,
Mirrour of madins Margareit.
Vol. III. Z z IV.
352 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
IV.
Pigmaleon, thai ane portratour.
Be painting craft, did fa decoir,
Hirofalf thairwith in paramour
Fell fuddenlie ; and fmert thairfolr.
Wer he alyve, he wald deploir
His folic ; and his love forleit,
This fairer patrane to adoir, ..
Of maids the maikles Margareit.
v:
Or had this nymphe bene in thefe dayis
Quhen Paris judgit in Helicon,
Venus had not obtenit fie prayis.
Scho, and the goddeflis ilk one,
Wald have prefert this paragon,
As marrowit, but matche, mod meit
The goldin ball to bruik alone ;
Marveling in this Margareit.
VI.
Quhofe nobill birth, and royal bluid,
Hir better nature dois exceid.
Hir native giftes, and graces gud.
Sua bonteouflie declair indeid
As waill, and wit of womanheid,
That fa with vertew dois ourfleit.
Happle is he that fall pofleid
in marriage this Margareit !
vir.
Help, and graunt hap, gud Hemene .
Lat not thy pairt in hir inlaik.
Nor lat not dolfnl deftanie,
Mifhap, or fortoun, work hir wraik.
Grant lyik unto hirfelf ane maik !
That will hir honour, luif, and treit ;
And I fall ferve him for hir faik.
Fairweill, my Maiftres Margareit.
A. AI. A POEME
A POEME ON THE SAME LADY.
By the Same.
I.
X E hevins abone, with heavenlie ornaments,
Extend your courtins of the criftall air !
To afuir colour turn your elements,
And foft this feafon, quhilk hes bene fchairp and fair.
Command the cluds that they diffolve na mair ;
Nor us moleft with miftie vapours weit.
For now fcho cums, the faireft of all fair.
The mundane mirrour maikles Margareit.
II.
The myildeft May ; the mekeft, and modeft ;
The failed flour, the frefcheft flourifhing j
The lamp of licht ; of youth the luftieft ;
The blytheft bird, of bewtie maift bening ;
Groundit with grace, and godlie governing,
As A per fe, abone all elevat.
To quhame comparit is na erthlie thing ;
Nor with the gods fo heichlie eftimate.
III.
Tlie goddes Diana, in hlr hevinlie throne,
Evin at the full of all hir majeftie,
Quhen fhe belcvit that danger was thair none,
Bot in hir fphere afcending up maift hie,
Upon this nymph fra that fcho caft hir ei,
Blufching for fchame, out of hir fchyne fhe flippis.
Thinking fcho had bene Phebus verilie,
At whofe depairt fcho fell into th' edippis.
IV,
364 CHRONICLE OF SCOXtlsH POETRr.
TV.
The afters cleir, and torch! s of the nlcht,
Quhilk. in the fterrie firmament wer fixit,
Fra thay perfavit Dame Phoebe los hir licht,
Lyk diamonts with criftall perls mixit.
They did difcend to fchyne this nymph annixit ^
Upon hir fchoulders twinkling everie on.
Quhilk to depaint it wa'.d be owr prolixit.
How thay in ordour glifter on hir gown.
V.
Gif fhe had bein into the dayis aiild,
Quhen Jupiter the fchape of bull did tak,
Befoir Europe quhen he his feit did faukl,
Quhill fcho throw courage clam upon his bak.
Sum greater mayck, I wait, he had gart mak,
Hir to have ftolin be his flichtis quent ;
For to have paft abone the zodiak.
As quein, and goddes of the firmament.
VI.
With golden fchours, as he did Clement,
He wald this virgine furteoufly defave.
Bot I houp in the goddes Hemene,
Quhilk to hir brother fo happie fortoun gave^,
That fcho fall be exaltit, by the laif,
Baith foT^hir bewtie, and hir noble bluid.
And of myfelf ane fervand fcho fall haif
Fnto I die : and fo I doe concluid.
^tod A. Montgcmerie.
TUB
THE SOLSEQJJIUM, OR THE LOVER COMPAIRIN'G illK-
SELF TO A SUN-FLOWIR.
By the Same.
I.
J_jYK 9S the dum Solfequium with cair owrecuni
Dois forrow, quhen the fun gois out of ficht,
Hings doun his heid, and droupis as deid, and will n.^'^
fprcid,
But lukis his levis throw langour all the nicht,
Till fulifch Phaeton aryfe with quhip in hand
To purge the chriftal llcvis, and lioht the land.
Birds in thair bower wait on tJiat hour,
And to thair King ane glade gude-morrow give .
Frae than that flowir lifts not to lour,
But lauchs on Phebus lowfing out his Icivs.
II.
Swa (lands with me, except I be quhair I may fr-
My lamp of licht, my lady and niy luve,
Frae fcho depairts, a thoufand dairts in findry aiit'
Thirle thruch my heavy hcait, bot reft or ruve.
My countenance declairs my inward greif,
And houp almaift difpairs to find rcleif.
I die, I dwyne, play dois me pyne,
I loth on every thing 1 luke, allace !
Till Titan myne upon me fchyne.
That 1 revive thruch favour of hif face.
III.
Frae fcho appeir into hir fphere, begins to cleir
The dawing of my lang defyrit day.
Then courage cryis on houp to ryfe, quhen he efpyis
The noyfum nicht of abfens went away ;
No
566 CHROKICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.'
No nojis, frae I awalke, can rae impeiche,
But oil my ftaitlj ftalk 1 flurifche frcfche,
I i*pring, I fprout, my leivs ly out,
My collour chahgis in ane hairtfum hew ;
Na mair I lout, but ftand up flout.
As glad of hir for quhome I only grew.
happy day ! go not away, Apollo ftay
Tliy chair frae going doun unto the weft,
Of me thou niak thy Zbdiak, that I may tak
My plefour to behald quhome I luve heft.
T'hy prefens me reftoris to lyfe from deth.
Thy abfens lykways fchoris to cut my bretb,
1 wifs in vain thee to remain.
Sen primum 7nohile fays me always nay,
At leift thy wane bring fune again,
Farcweil with patiens per fcrfa till day.
From Pfalm xsxvi.
BY THE SAME. '
Leswe fin ere f;n leave thee ; do gudc
And both without c!elay.
I cf? fit he will to morrow be"
' ot fit to--dav.
ALEXANDER
ALEXANDER HUME,
Par/on ofLogiCfWas the /econd /on of Patiick, ^i
J^arofi of Polwarth, the lineal anc:Jlor of the family of
Marchmont. From his poems, printed in 1599 hy Ro*
bert Wa-ldegrave, he appears to have been intetided for
the bar ; buty like his contemporary Arbutbnot, he re-
linquijhcd that purfuit for reafons which he afjigns in an
excellent poetical epijllc to his fiend Dr. MoncriefT, the
King\s phyfcian ; and after making afrtiitlcfs attempt tQ
obtain fome promotion at Court, he entered into the fcv~
vice of the Church. His Poems are dedicated to " La-
die Elizabeth Mal-vill, Ladie Ciimrie, from Logie^
Dec. 1594/' and contain various internal marks of ha-
ving been compofed between the years 1575 and 1 590.
7he time of his death is uncertain^ but that he was born
about 1550 fecms probable ^ as one of his younger bro-
thers was Provojl of Edinburgh in 1391, and bis fa-
ther died '* at a great age*' in the following year. I
fufpeB him to be the pcrfon who, under the name of Pol-
wart, carried on a Fljting correfpondencc with Mont-
gomery, in imitation of that hy Dunbar .. ' " .\\c-},y.
ANE rnsTr.E to maisthr cilbfrt mont-creit, mfdi-
CINER TO THP. KING*S MAJFsn IK, VVilERMIJ IS SET
DOWN THE iNTxrmrr.N'CF. OF T!:r: "^-:;'s yol'Tii.
iViy tender freind, Mont-creif Medicinar,
To Kings is keud thy knawledgc fingular j
Thow
368 * CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT.
Thow fhawis thj Tc-lf, by practic? evident,
Of Nature's warks obferver diligeut ;
Thy quiet lyfe, and decent modeflie,
Declares the cunning in philolbphie.
Sen firft. we v^r acquaint, I faad thee kinde :
Sum niedecine afligne me for the minde :
My ficknes be the ij-niptomc fall appeare
Into my difcourfe, if thow lift give eare.
happy inan is he (I have hard faj)
A faithful freind that hes, with whom he may
Of everie thing as with himfelf confer
As I may do, difert Mediciner !
Quhen pubertie my freedome did enlarge,
And Mercurie gave place to Venus charge,
1 knew not yet the wavering vane eftait
Of humaine kind ; I knew of na debait,
Na lurking hait, invie, nor curfit ftryfe
As followis faft our fliort unhappie lyfe :
J traiiled not, believe me weill, Mont-creif !
The bitter palnes, the forrowes, and the greif ^
I^or miferie quhilk daylie dois betide
And compafTis mans lyfe on everie fide ;
Bot like a chafte and pudick virgine clein,
Inbrought to bide where fhe had never bein ;
Into the houfe of women let for hyre,
Quhen (he bchalds all plefour at defyrc,
A loftie troup of ladyies in array,
Sum in a luth, fum on a fiilre play :
Sum fangs of love begin, and fweitly fing.
And 11 inyionlie fmg danfing in a ring :
A lover here, 4ifcourfing all his bed,
Ane uther there delighting all the reft :
The buirdes decored -with daintie difties fine.
With divers drogs, and wafers wet in wine :
Anone to dwell, the msid dois condifcend,
lucertanc quhat fall be her cative end.
Swa
JAMES VI. 1567 1603. 369
Swa inexpert yet at that time and houre,
\ felt the fweit, but had not cund the fowre.
I thoucht that nocht was able to remove
From men on earth, trueth, equitie, and love ;
Nor banifhe from thair hearts humilitie,
Ruth, pittie joynd with afFabilife ;
Bot that the force of reafon fuld manteine
The binding band quhilk laftinglie has bein
Be nature knit, and ordained till indure.
Mens amitie and freindfhip to mak fure.
For this 1 oft reduced and brought to mind.
How fall men be but untill uther kind ?
Lo ! all the wichts that in this valley wuns
Are brethren all, are thay not Adam's funs ?
Quhy fuld a freind his freind and brother greive,
Sen all are born of a firft mother Eve ?
Upon this earth, as in a citie wide,
Like citizens we dwell and dois abide :
And nature has preferred us to the hearts.
By printing reafon deeply in our breads :
The Barbar' rude of Thrace or Tartaric,
Of Bohcme, Perfe, of Weirly Getulie,
Of barrwin Syrt, and waftie Scythia,
Of Finland j Frefland, and of India,
Of reafon they are made participant
With them that dois the civill cities hant .
The facund Greece, the learnd Athenian,
The Roman flout, the ritch Venetian,
The Fienflies frank of great civilitie,
Ar oblift all to this focietie.
, Then with myfelf I reafond on this fort,
If this be true quhilk truelie I report,
How mekill mair fall love and lawtie ftand
Amang the pepill native of a land,
Quhilk dois imbtace, obey, and onelie knaw
A kirk, a king, a language, and a law.
Vol. III. A a a Oj*
3-7^ CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
Or fik as in a citie dois remane.
Participant of plefour and of pane j
Or of a race has lineally difcended,
And hes thair time and life together fpendedv
All this and mair 1 toiled in my thought.
And thefe efFels to fie I douteJ noucht :
As for my parr, 1 plainely did pretend
My life in peace, in joy and eafe till end ;
Into the way to walk, and happy rod
Prefcrived be the law and word of God,
To love my freind and neighbour as my fell,
With lippes but lies the limple treuth to tell j
Till everie man to keip my promife dew,
And nocht but right (bot rigour) to perfew j.
From vice to Hie, and vertew till embrace.
An upright heart to have in everie sace ;
Contending hearts againe to reconceill
Was my pretence, and tender ay their weill ;
To fortifie my friend in time and need
With good report, with counfell and good deede ;
And finallie, quhat reafon taught to crave,
I thought to doo, and ay the like receave.
Bot thoughts are Vaine, my labour was but lofl,
*' He counts agane that counts without his hoft."
Through tradl of time, quhilk fwiftlie Aides away,
And findric Schts occurring day by day.
At laft I learnd to mark, and clearly ken
The courfe of mortal things and mortal men.
From thee L learnd, with painfull diligence,
The maiftres fharp of fuiles. Experience 1
I fee the \yit, the nature, and the mind
Of waildlie wights to wickednes inclind ;
And naturallie ane auftere frawardnes
The hardened hearts W mortal men poflefs.
Bchald na realme, na cietie nor eftait
Ar void of ftrvfe, contention and debait.
Ilk
JAMES VI 1367 T603. 371
ilk man his fo, like roiring lyons kein.
Waits to devore with rigor tj-gerrein :
How few regairds, we dailie may efpj,
Their fallows lofs, if thay may gain thairby :
Sa hautie minds fulfilled with difdaine,
Sa deip deccat, Ilk glofling language vainc.
Mens doubill tungs are not afliamed to lie ;
The mair thay heght, the wors to truft thay be.
Particular gaine dois fa manis reafon blind,
That fkarfe on earth ane upright can I find ;
Sa poyfoned breafta with malice and envy.
Sum deidlie haitis, and cannot fhaw yow why.
monrtrous beaft, Invy I O cruell peft !
Quhair thow remains there is na quiet reft.
Thow waftes the bains, thow blackens flelh and blude,
Ay glad of ill, ay enemie to gude.
Thow vexed art to fee thy brothers weill,
Quhilk vailes thee nocht, nor harmes him never a deil.
1 try na truth, nor na fidelitie,
J fie na reuth, nor na nobilitie,
Na tender Jove, nor humble gentilnes,
A 3 firft they fay our fathers did pofles.
Bot fremmidncs, bot rude aufteritie,
Bot feinyed fraud, and feebil uncourtefie.
Quhen that I had employd my youth and painc
Four years in France, and was leturnd againe,
I langd to learn, and curious was to knaw
The confuetudes, the cufton>e^ and the law
Quhalrby our native foil was guide aright.
And juftice deme to eyerie kind of wiglit.
To that efFeft three yeares, or near that fpace,
1 hanted maift our higheft pleading place,
And Senate, quhair gieat caufes reafoned war,
My breafl was bruifit with leaning on the bar.
4VTy buttons brift, I partly fpitted blood,
My gown was traild and trampid quhair I flood ;
Mv
j';i CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY.
My eares war deifd with maiflars cryes and diu
Quhilk procutoris and parties callit in :
1 daylfe learnit, bot could not pleifit be ;
I faw fik things as pitie was to fee.
Ane houfe owerlaid with procefs fa mifguidir.
That fum to late, fum never war decydic ;
The puir abufit ane hundreth divers wayes
Poflpond, differd with fhifts and mere delayes ;
Confumit in gudes, ouerfet with greif and paine '^
Your Advocate maun be refrelht with gaine ;
Or elfe he faints to fpeake or to invent
Ane gude defence, or weightie argument.
Ye fpill your caufe; ^ye truble him to fair
Unlefs his hand annointed be with mair.
Not ill beftowit, be he's confuked oft ;
Ane gude devife is worthie to be coft.
Bot fkafFay clerks with covetice infpyred^
Till execute thair office maun be hyred.
Na caus thay call unlefs they hyrelings have ;
if not, it ^ill be laid beneath the lave :
Quha them controlls, or them otfends, but dout
Thair proces will be lang in feiking out.
In greateft need fome pieces will be loft,
And than, to late, fund at the parties coil.
In everie point thay will be flack and lan^ ;
The minutes of th? procefs may be wrang :
For a6ls, decreits, thay maun have doubil pryce j
If there be haift, but hyre, thay mak it nyce.
As fanguifugs quhilk finds the feeding gud,
Cleaves to the fkin quhill thay be full of blud,
Quhill all the vanes be blndeles, dry, and tume :
Na uther wayes the fimple thay confume.
The agent als maun have his wage provided,
Leift al the caus in abfence be mifguided :
He will let paiTe on wilful! indignation
Agains the aflor ane flollen proteftution ;
The
JAMES VI. 1567 1603. 3^3
l^e poore defender, if he lacke expenfes,
Sail tyne his caufe perhaps for null defenfes ;
The peires fhaw he will, and caufe reveill
For greiter gane, be he not pleifed Weill.
And though the Lords fuld tak gud heid thereto,
Yet are thay laith to make the houfe ado.
The Cenfor is impropre to correck,
That in himfdf hes ony kinde of bleck.
Jven they themfelves the order partlie fpills.
With bringing in of heapes of bofome bills ;
Their oulks about on freinds thay do beQoW,
With fmall regard of tattle, or of row.
Allace ! fik Lords had neede of reformation,
Quhair juilice maift confifts in folliflation.
Yit all foUiftars cannot juftice have,
3ot fik as may acquit them by the lave.
A Lord, ane Earle, or a wealthie man,
A courtier that meikil may, and can,
Without delay will come to their intent,
Howbeit their caufe it be fum deill on fldent :
Bot fimple fauls, unfkilfull, moyenles,
The puir quhome ft rang oppreflbrs dois oppre?j
Few of their rij^ht or tauircs ^ill take keip ;
Their proces will fa lang ly oner and fleip,
Quhill often tymes (there is na uther bute)
For povcrtie they maun leave of perfute.
Sum Senators, as weill as ikafHng fcribes,
Ar blindit oft with blinding buds and bribes ;
And rnair refpffts tl>e pcrioii nor tlie cauff,
And finds for divers peifons divers laws.
Our civil, canon, and municipjli,
Suld equallie be minftred to all :
They mon Ihaw favour to their awn depender-;,
Quhatfa they be, perfcwers or defenders.
I faint to Icll their jjcrvers partial pailions,
And how they all devidea are in fa^ions ;
Confcdetttti.
374 CHRONICLE of Scottish poetrt.
Confederate haill with fubtiltie and flight,
A way to vote in voting wrang or right.
O men I in quhom no fear of God is ludged ,
O faithlcs judges I worthie to be judged.
Kfchame ye not, or fland ye not ni aw
Laws to profefs, and erre agains the law.
O members meete, for meere iniquitie.
Of Rliadamanth or Minos court to be.
The haill abufe were ouer prolix to tell ;
That Council houfe it is maift like ane hell.
Quhere there is thrang affeare, and awfull cryes,
Quhere on the bar without puir parties lyes,
As on the rive of Acheron for fin,
Awaiiting fall: quhill Charon take them in ;
Quhair everie man almaift is mifcontented,
Q^hair filly fauiis ar greevouflie tormented.
Ay forrie, fad ; ay plungd in paine and greii",
Penfive in heart, and mufing of mifcheif.
Their bowells, entraills, with the robbed rout
Of gredie Ilarpyes, they are rugged out.
To lead that kind of life I wearied fail,
In better hope I left it at the laft.
And to the Court I fborkly me addreft,
Beleeving weill to chufe it for the bell :
But from the rocks of Cyclades fra hand^
I'ftruik into Charybdis finking fand*
For reverence of Kings I will not drive
To flander Cou'^Si but them I may defcrive,
As learned men hes them depaint before.
Or neare the fuith, and I am wo therefore.
In Courts, Montcrief ! is pride, invie, contention,
I")ifi"umulance, defpite, difceat, dilTcntion,
Fear, whifperings, reports, and new fufpition,
Fraud, treafcn, lies, dread, guile, and fedition ;
Great gredines, and prodigalitie ;
Tiiifts fenfnal], and partialitic ;
Impudence
JAMES VI, 1567 166^. .}':',
Impudence, adultcrie, and drunkinnes ,
Delicacie, and flouthful idilnes ;
Back- biting, lacking, mocking, mutenie,
Difdainefulnes, and fliameles flatterie ;
Meere vanitie, and naughtie ignorance ;
Inoonftancie, and changing with mifchance ;
Contempt of all religion and devotion,
To godlie deids na kind of perfite motion.
Thefe qualities in generall, I fay,
Into all Courts are common everie day.
1 need not now iik properties apply,
Thow knawes our Scottifh Court as weill as f.
Our Princes ay, as we have heard and feeu,
Thir mony yeares infortunat hes been :
And if 1 fuld not fpeak with flattering tung,
The greater part hot fluggifhlie hes rung.
Our Earles and Lords, for their nobiiitie,
How inexpert and ignorant they be,
Upon the Privie Counfell mon be chufed, ,
Or clfe the King and Counfell are abufcd j
And if the Prince augment not ay thair rent?.,
Ouhat is there mair ? they will be mal- contents.
Quhat fuld the Court quhair virtew is ncgltLleJ .
Quhair men of fpreit fa little are rcfpefted ?
Quliilk is to be lamented all the mair,
That few of learning luld tak keip or cuv-' ;
As Cicero of Julius Cefar fayes,
Even in his tyme, governemcnt, and daye?,
Quhilk eafllic excells all uther kings
In learning, fpreit, and all fcholuilik thinr'?.
Sum oftiters we fee of naughtie bralne,
Meere ignorants, proud, vicious, and vainc ;
Of learning, wit, and vertue all denude,
Maid blockiih men, raili, riotous, and lud.;.
And flattering fallows oft are mair regarded :
A lying flave will rather be rewarded,
N'or
t> CUR.ONICLE OF SCOTTISH rOETRY.
r- or tiiey that dots with reafons rule conferre
Their kind of life and aftions, leaft they erre.
Nor men difcpcit, wife, vertous, and modeft.
Of gallan.l Tpreit have trew and worthie trell j
Quhiik far Ira haroe clvilitie hes fene,
And be their maners fliaws quhair thej have bene :
Quhiik have the word of God before their eyes,
And Weill can ferve, but cannot Princes pleyfe.
For fum with reafon will not pleifed be.
But that quhiik with thair humour dois agree.
Has thow not heard in oppin audience,
The purpos vaine, the feckles conference ;
The informal reafons, and impertinent
Of courteours ? quhilks in accoutrement
War gorgious, maid glorious, jong, and gaj ;
Bot, in efrecl, compare them weill I may,
Till image-, quhilks are in temples fet,
Decor'd without, and all with gold ouerfrett,
With colours fine, and carved curiouilie,
The place quhair fhey arc fet to beautilie ;
Bot quhen they are I'emarked all and fum.
They are bot flocks and ftanes ; bos, deif aad dumb.'
Bot now the Court I will not difccKimend,
1 may it mane, bot may it net amend.
As for offence of fpeech, 1 nathing fear it,
For upright men are therebie nathing deirit ;
And fik as are with wickednes bewitched,
I fuffie not how vifelie they be tuitched.
And If, perhaps, fum wjld alledge that I
Have this invaid on m.ilice and invie.
As he quhom in the Court few did regaird.
And got na gaine thereby, nor na rewaird.
I grant that may be trew : Bot quhat of that ?
] little gaine deferved, and les I gat.
Bot, men I behald his Hienes royal trine,
His palaces/ and their.apparel fine.
Behald
JAMES VI. 1367 1603. 377
Behald his houfe ! behald his yeirly rent !
His fervants, heir if they have caule to plent.
Pbferve this realnae throughout from eaft to weft,
From fouth to north, if ony be oppreft
Quhilk juftice lacks ! behald the common-weill.
Then judge if I be writer fals or leill.
Bot fik as fuld it mend, lat them lament
1 hantid Court to lang : now I repent.
Thefe curfed times, this wors than iron age,
Quhair vertue lurks, quhair vice dois reign and rage,
Quhair faith and love, quhair freindfhip is neglcfted,
Contagiouflie with tinoc has me infefted.
As uthers are, of fors fa mon I be ;
How can I doe bot as men doe to me ?
In bordels vile a virgine chaift and peure,
Becomes with time a vile efFrontcd heuic :
A trew man tane with pirates on the fea.
Is forfl to tak a pairt in piracie.
O fentence futh ! I fay for to conclude, *
111 companie corrupteth maners gude.
Trew Damon's pairt to play I wald me bind,
Bot Pythias kind yet can I never find.
Love mutual wald be, for all in vaine
I favour fhaw, if nane I find againe.
My heart is ftane within, and yron without ;
With triple bras my breift is fet about ;
For quhen of ftrife and great mifchance I heir.
Of death, debate, they do me little deir.
For uthers harme me tuitches not at all,
Swa I be free, quhat rak I quhat befall ?
The line of love I have almaift forget it.
For quhy, think I, to nane I am addettit.
Not threltie times as yet the Ihining fun
His carrier round and propre courfe has run.
Sen nature firft me buir to 'joy his light.
And yet I wald (if juftly wiih I might)
Vou III. B b b Diflblved
37'^ CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY,
Diflblved be, renewed, and be with Chrift,
Or flefli to farder foUie me intifl :
I fear the warld, I dread allurements fair.
And ftrang aflaults corrupt me raair and mair^
Let 3a,than rage, let wickednes incres,
I thank my God I am not comfortles.
Mj comfort, Jo ! my haill felicitie
Confifts in this I may it fhaw to thee :
To ferve the Lord, and on his Chrift repofe.
To ling him ptaife, and in his hechts rejofe ;
And ay to have my mind lift up on hie
Unto that place quhair all our joy fall be.
My life and time I knaw it is fa Ihort,
That here to dwell I think it hot a fport :
I have delight in heart maift to behald
The pleafant works of God fa manifald ;
And to my minde great pleafour is indeid.
The nobil writts of learned men to reid :
A* Chremes had, I have ane hiimaine hart,
And takes of things humaine na little part :
Be word jtnd writt, my mind I mak it plaine
To faithful! freinds, and they to me a^aine.
?IIE
the triumph of the lord after the manner ob
men : alluding to the defait of the
Danish navie, 1588. ^
By the Same.
T.
riomphand Lord of armies and of hofles,
Thou hes fubdu'd the univerfall coaftes ;
From fouth to north, from eaft till Occident,
Thow fhawes thy felfe great God armipotent.
O Captaines, Kinges, and chriftian men of weir,
Gar herraulds haift in coats of armor cleir
For to proclame with trumpet and with fhout,
A great triumph the univers throughout ;
For certainlie the Lord he will be knawin,
And have that praife quhilk juftlie is his awin.
O ye that wuns amang the plefaund feilds,
Quhair fertile crofts their yearlie profite yeilds,
And all that heigh up in the hieland dwells
Amang the mures, the mountaines, and the wells.
And ye that in the foreft fare remaine
Far from the bdrghs, ga to the burghs againe.
Baith man and maides, put on your garments gay,
And ornaments made for the holie-day ;
Leave of your wark, let all your labour be
This bi'ave triumph, and royall feaft to fe.
Let cities, kirks, and cvcric noble towne
Be purified, and decked up and downe \
Let all the ftrects, the corners, and the rewis
Be ftrowd with leaves, and flowies of divers hewis,
With
380 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRT*
With birkes and lawrell of the woddis wild j
With lavendar, with theme, and chammamild ;
With mint and medworts, feemlie to be feen.
And lukin gowans of the medowes green.
Let temples, flairs, the porches, and the ports.
And windows wide quhair luickers on reforts,
With tapillrle be hung, in Turkic fought,
With claith of gold, and filver richly wrought.
Let every place and palace be repleat
With fine perfume and fragrant odors fweat }
Saffumigat with nard and cinnamon,
With myrrhe and niuile, camphyre, and bdellium j
With incenfe fi-ank, aloes, calamus ;
With fafFran, maftick, and juniperus,
Expofe your gold, and fhynlng filver bright
Gn covered cop-buirdes fet in opin fight ;
Ouer gilted coups, with carved covers clear,
Fyne- precious flanes, quhair thay may beft appear ;
Lavers in ranks, and filver baiflings fhine,
Saltfats out fhorne, and glaffes cryftalline :
Make feaflPalds clare for cumlie comedies.
For pleafant playes, a:nd morall tragedies ;
All to decore with joy, and ane accord.
This new triumph, and faboth of the Lord.
Right as the point of day begins to fpring,
And larks aloft melodiouflie to fing.
Bring foorth all kind of inftruments of weere,
To ga before and make a noyifs cleere.
Gar trumpets found the awfuU battels blaft ;
On dreadful drums gar flrik alarum fafl }
Mak fhouting fhalms, and perfing phipbers fhill,-
Clear cleave the cluds, and piers the higheft hill".
Caufe mightely the weirly notis breik
On Hieland pypis, Scots and Hibernik.
Let beir the fkraichs of deadly clarions,
And fyne let of a volie of cannons.
Quhiil
JAMES VI. 15671603. 3^1
Qnhill quhat for reick, rude rummilhing and reard,
The heavens refound, and trembling take the card.
Let enter finC in proper painted carts.
The buting rich, brought from the fea-coifl parts ;
The ampleft pray quhilk greit Jehovah wan.
From his iierfe fais, fen firft the warld began.
Sa fall be feen the fio-oures of the flots,
"With fearful flags and weill calfuterd bots ;
Of gallays fwift, and many gallias,
Quhilk through the feas, but perrell thought to pas.
Faire fecmcly fhippes of four, five hundreth tuns.
All furniflit full of fire-warks, and of guns ;
Quhairof be force thair was fum captive led,
Sum clean deftroit, fum fugitivelie fled.:
Yet from the Lord na way could find to flic,
Bot in thair flight wer tofled on the fie.
The weltering wals, and raging windie blaft,
Maid up their towes, and caufd them hew their mail .
And fine wer caft, for all their brags and bofi,
Sum on a fchald, fum on an yrin coft ;
Sum gaid in tua buird on ane forrain land,
Sum on a rock, fum on a whirling fand,
Quhill nane were fafe unperilht to be found,
Bot men and all went to the water's ground.
Let follow next, in order to be fein.
Their armour cleare, and warlike wcapins fliein,
Hard halecrets, helmets, and hewmonts bright,
Ticht haberfchens, habriks, and harncis light ; ^
Murrions for men of fute, and fliining fljields ;
Barding for horfe appointed for the fields ;
Gantlets ouergilt, wanibraillls gainand weill ;
Corflets of pruif, and monie targe of fteill ;
Sum varneift bright, fum dorrit diverlTic,
That men may mufe fie precious geir to fie.
Thilk famin wayis, example for to give,
Draw in on heaps their armour oftenfive.
Grea?
5^i CHRONICLE OP SCOTTISH rOETRY-
Great ordinance, and feilding peices fell ;
Mafkets maid meet with men of armes to mell ;
Hagbuts with lunts, piftoUes with rowels fine ;
Swift fierie darts devifd with greit ingyne ;
Crofbowes of waight, and Gnofik gainyeis kein ;
Strang poufllng picks the charge plaift to fuftein ;
Bunflies of fpeirs, and launces light and lang ;
Steill ax and made tor barded horfles ftrang j
Fjne arming fwords, and uther grunding glaves,
Qnhilk maid na flead quhen they were rendered flaves.
Tiiair guns mifgave, their fpeirs lyk bun-wands brak,
Thair fainted hearts for feare retird aback.
Thair threfours rich, quhairin they. put thair treft,
To all tlic warld fall be made manifeil :
Let men expres appointed be to beare
Thair filver heaps in plaits of filver cleare :
Thnir cofllie wark, and precious ornament,
Sail follow nixt in order fubfequent.
Not to thair praifc, but to thair fchame and ikorne,
Thair cuinyeid gold in baiffings fall be borne j
Thair meltin gold full maffive fall be fein.
With precious ftains quhilk fed thaii; gredie ein ;
Thair goldfmith wark, and veiTels of greit weight,'
To ken fik fooles agains the Lord to feight.
Let publikely be caried throw the towncs.
The diadems, the fcepters, and the crowncs ;
The honour fwerds of many puiffat king,
Qnhom Jah our God down from thair throne did thring.
Then Einpriours and Kings fall walk behinde,
(For greiter nane was on the earth to fiude)
As roen defdit, cled all in dulefuU black,
In cofchis traynd with flander, fchame and lack.
Thair children yong, and menyonis in a rout,
Dreft all in dule fall march thair cofch about.
With bitter teares, with fighes and cm age cald,-
Wbtn they thair Loids in fik array behald.
Thair
JAMES VI. 1567 1605. $9^
Thidr counfelors fall gang with drerie chere,
And count thair wit to be bot foUie mere.
The multitude then diverflie fall deim,
And of that fight fall diverflie efteim.
For fum fall ryn and gaze them in the face.
And fair bewaile to fee them in fik cace.
Yea they that wifst thair wrack, and death before,
Thair mifcrie fall mein and pittie fore ;
Bot fum, fa foone as they tharae fie ga by.
Sail heave thair hands, and with a michty cry.
Deride thair force, and fchout into thair eir :
Take this, ye kings ! quhilk on the Lord made wei;*.
Ane uther fort fall fich, and quhifper thus :
Heir is, behald ! ane matter marvelus I
Thir Monarchs grit confided in thair flrenth,
Adid thocht be forfe to win the warld at lenth ;
To way the bils, and right up to the fkies,
Bot now thair pryde and puiflance brokeu lies.
Kings are bot men, men are bot wormes and daft,
The God of Heaven is onely greit and jufl I
Als far as light the darkenes dois deface,
Or hell is from the higheft holy place ,
Als far as fclaves arc from the flait of kings,
Or widdring weids from everir.iling thi::gs,
Als far God's might furmounts the might of man,
His pompe and pride, and all the craft he can.
For, lo ! his wraith confumes lyke burning coles ;
He turnes the heavens upon the (table poles ;
Heigh ouer the earth he rydes apoun the Ikie,
Na mortal eyes may face to face efpie
Tlie Lord and live : His chariots are of fyrc.
He makes the earth to trimble in his yre.
The angels bright ftill compafs him about ;
Thunder and tempell form his army flout.
Heave up, therefore, ye ChrilUan men of wel;-,
.your hands, your har^s, youocyes and voces cicir,
Unto
384 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRY,
Unto the high and grcit triumpher ftrang.
This folemn daj prolong your joyful! fang :
O King of Kings ! that fits above !
Thy might, thy mcrcie, and thy love.
Thy works are wonderful! to tell !
In earth thy name mot praifed be,
And in thy holie places hie.
For none is lyke unto thy fell.
Upon the firmament thow rydes.
And all the world divinely gydes.
To Hell the power dois extend ;
Men may imagine, men may devife,
^len may conclude, and interprife,
But thow dois modifie the end.
This day we magnifie thy name,
, For thow hes put til! oppin fchame,
*** And turn'd thy fellon faes to flight ;
Thair idols and thair armies grit,
Thair force availd them not a whit !
For thow, O God ! did for us fight.
O Jah ! our God : Be thow our gyde,
in battels be thow on our fide,
And we fall neither fall nor flee.
Throw Chrift thy fonne our finnes forgive,
^nd make us in ihy law to live,
So Ihall vve praife and worfhip thee.
THANKS.
THANKS FOR A SUMMER DAT.
By the Same.
5
PERFITE light ! quhilk fchald av\ray
Tlie darknes from the light.
And fet a rixler ouer the daj,
Ane uther ouer the night.
Thy glorie quhen the day forth flies,
Mair vivelj dois appeare,
Nor at midday unto our eyes.
The fhining fun is cleare.
The fhaddow of the earth, anon.
Removes and drawis by ;
Sine in the eaft quhen it is gone,
Appeares a clearer iky.
QuhiJk funne perccaves the lytill larkis.
The lapwing and the fnype,
And tunes thair fangs like nature's clarki5|
Ouer medow, muir, and ftrype.
Bot everie bauld nocturnal beafl
Na langer may abide.
They hy away, baith maid and leaft,
Themfelves in houfe to hide.
Tliey dread the day, fra they it fee.
And from the fight of men.
To feats and covers faft they flee.
As lyons to their den .
Vet. HI. C c c Oar^
386 CHRaNICLE OF SCOTTISH POETA'/.
Oure hemifphere is poleift clein,
And lightened more and more,
Quhill everie thing be clearlie feia
Quhilk femit dim before.
Except the g^iftering aftres bright,
Quhilk all the night were cleare,
OfFuflced with a greater light,
Na langer dois appeare.
The golden globe incontinent.
Sets up his fhining head,
And ouer the earth and firmament,
Difplajs his beims abread.
For joj the birds, with boulden throats,
Agains his vifage fliein.
Takes up their kindlie mufike nots
In woods and gardens grein.
Up Ijraids the cairfull hulbandman,
His cornes and vines to fee,
And everie tjTnous artifan
In buith work befilie.
The paftor quits the floithfull fleepe,-
And pafles forth with fpeede.
His little camow-nofed flieepe.
And rowtting kie to feede.
The paflenger from perrels fure,
Gangs gladlie forth the way.
Breife everie living creature
Takes comfort of the day.
The fubtile motty rayens light
At rifts they are in-wonne ;
The glanfing thains, and vitre bright,
Refplends agains the funne.
The dew upon the tender crops,
liike pearls white and round,
Or
JAMES VI. 1567 169^. 3^^
Or like to melted filver drops,
Refrefhes all the pound.
The miftie rock, the clouds of raine
From tops of mountains Ikails ;
Clear are the higheft hills and plaine.
The vapors takes the vails.
Begaried is the fapphire pend
With fpraings of Ikarlet hew,
And preciouflj from end to end,
Damafked white and blew.
The ample heaven of fabrik fur?,
In cleannes dois furpafs.
The cryftall and the filver pure.
As cleireft poleift glafs.
The time fa tranquil is and llilJ,
That na where fall ye find,
Saive on ane high and barren bill,
Tlie aire of peeping wind.
All trees and fimples, great and fmall^
That balmie leaf do beir,
J^or thay were painted on a wall,
Na mair they move or fteir.
Calm is the deep and purpour {6,
Yea fmoother than the fand j
The wallis that woltring wont to be.
Are ftable like the land.
Sa filent is the ceflile air.
That everie pry and call,
The hills and daills, and foreft fair,
Againe repeats them z\\.
The rivers frelh, the callar ftreams
Ouer rocks can foftlie rin ;
'J'he water clear, like cryftal fearos,
And makes a pleafand din.
Tho
388 CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POETRV.
The feilds and earthly fuperfice
With verdure grene is fpredd.
And naturallie, but artifice.
In partie colours cledd.
The flurifhes and fragrant flowres.
Throw Phaebus foftring heit,
Refrefht with dew and filver fhowres.
Calls up an odor fweit.
The clogged buffie humming bels.
That never thinks to drowne.
On flowers and flourifhes of treis,
Collefts their liquor browne.
The funne maift like a fpeidie poft.
With ardent courfe afcends.
The beauty of the heavenly hoft
Up to our Zenith tends.
Nocht guided by a Phseton,
Nor trayned in a chayre,
Bot by the hie and holie On,
Quhilk dois all where empire.
The burning beims down from his face,
Sa fervently can beat,
That man andbeafl; now feeks a ])lace.
To fave them fra the heat.
The breathlefs flocks drawes to the fliade,
And frechure of their fald ;
The ftartling nolt, as they were madde^,
Runnes to the rivers cald.
The beards beneath fome leafy treis,
Amids the flowrs they lie ;
The ftabill fliips upon the feis.
Tends up their fails to drie.
i The hart, the. hind, and fallow deare,
Aie tapifht at their reft ,
The
JAMES VI. 1567 1603. 389
The foules and birdes that made th6 beare,
Prepares their prettie neft.
The rajons durcs defcending down.
All kindles in a gleid.
In cittie, nor in borroughs-towne.
May nane fet furth their heid.
Back from the blew paymented whunn|
And from ilk plaifler wall.
The hot reflexing of the funne
Inflames the air and all.
The labowrers that timelie raifs,
All wearie, faint, and weake.
For heate down to their houfes gaifs,
Noon-meate and fleip to take.
The callour wine in cave is fought,
Mens brotheing breifts to cule ;
The water cald and cleir is brought.
And fallets fteipit in ule.
Sum pluckcs the honie plown and peare,
The cherrie and the pefche ;
Sum likes the rime, and London -beare.
The bodie to rcfrefchc.
Forth of their fkeppes fum raging beis
Lyes out, and will not caft ;
Sum uther fwarmcs hyves on the treid
In knots togidder fait.
The korbeis, and the kckling kais
May fcarce the heat abide ;
lialks prunyeis on the funnie brais,
And wedders back and fide.
With gilted eyes, and open wings,
The cock his courage ihawis ;
With clnps of joy his breaft he din^;,
And twcntie times he crawis.
Ihc
399 CHRONJCLE OF SCOTTISH POE'ifRy.
The dow, wi/ch whiflling wings fa blew.
The winds can faft colledl ;
Her purpour pennes turnes merrj hew,
Agains the funne direct.
Now noone is wenf, gane is mid-daj.
The heat dois flake at laft ;
The funne defcends downe weft aw^y
Fra three o'clock be part.
A little cule of breathing wind
Now foftly can arife,
!^"The warks throw hcit that lay behind.
Now men may enterprife.
Farth faires the flgcks to feek their fude
On everie hill and plaine,
Quhilk labourer as he thinks gude.
Steppes to his turn againe.
The rayons of the funne we fee
Diminifli in their flrenth ;
The fchad of everie towre and tree.
Extended is in lenth.
Great is the calr^i for everie quhair.
The wind is fcttin downe ;
The reik thrawes right up in the air,
Frona eyerie towre and towne.
Their firdoning the bony birds.
In banks thay do begin ;
With pipes of reeds the jolie birds
Ilalds up the mirrie din.
The maveis and the philomeen.
The (lirling whiflels loud,
The cufchetts on the. branches green.
Full quietly they crowd.
The gloming copies, the day is fpent.
The fun goes out of fight,
And
JAMES vr. 1567 1603. 391^
And painted Is the Occident
With purpour fanguine bright.
The ikarlet, nor the golden threid,
Who would their beautie try.
Are nathing like the color reid,
And beautie of tlie Ikie.
Our weft horizon circuler,
Fra time the funne be fet,
Is all with rubeis, as it wer,
Or rofes reld ouerfrett.
What plefour wer to walk and feo,
Endlang a river cleir.
The perfeft form of everie tree
Within the deepe appeir !
The falmon out of cruives and creills,
Uphailed into fkoutts ;
The bels and circles on the weills.
Throw lowping of the trouts.
O ! their, it wer a feemlie thing
While all is ftill and culme,
The praife of God to play and fin^.
With cornet and with fchalme.
Bot now the birds with mony Ihout
Calls uther be their name.
Ga, Billie ! turne our gude about.
Now time is to ga hame.
With bellie fow, the beafts belyve
Are turned fra tlie come,
Quhilk foberly they hameward dryvfe
With pipe and lilting home.
Throw all the land great is the gild
Of ruftik folks that cry ;
Of bleiting (heep, fra they be fild,
Of calves and rowtting ky.
AH
r^l CHRONICLE OF SCOTTISH POfcTRT.
All labourers draws hame at even,
And can till iither faj,
Thanks to the gracious God of heaven,
Quhilk fent this fummer day.
The eftantjof Polwarth came info the poffcflion of Hume of Wcd-
derburne by the marriage of Sir Patrick H. with Margaret Sinclair-
Polwart of Polwarr. It is therefore not imjirobable that the name of
Polwarth might be conjoined with that of Hunie ; or at lead that it
might, on fomc occafions, be appl ed to particular individuals of the
family ; fuch, for example, as the Flytlng between onr po;:t and Mont-
gomery. This abfurd and rare correfpondencc having had the honour
of being quoted by the royal author of the Art of Poejit:, fome reader?
may not be difpleafcd with a fpecinien.
MoNTGOMERr TO PoJ.WART.
Polwart, ye peip like a moufe among thorns,
No cunning ye keep, Polwart ye peip,
Ye look like a fiif ep and ye had twa horns,
Polwart ye peip like a moufe among thorns.
Bewar what thou fpeaks, little foul-earth tadr.
With thy Cannigate breiks beware what thou fpeaks.
Or there fliall be wat chicks for tlie laft thou madt ;
Bewar what thou fpeaks, thou little foul. earth tadc.
Foul mifmade myting, born in the Merfe
Polwart to Montgomerv,
Thy ragged roundels, ravcand royt.
Some fhort, fome larg, fome out of lync,
With fcabrous co'ours, fulfome flnyt,
(Procecdand from a pynt of wine,)
Which haults for fault of feet like mire.
Yet fool thou thought no fhame to write them.
At mens commands that laiks engine.
Which doited dyvours gart thee dite them.
When thou believes to win a name,
Thou fhalt be baniflit of all bield,
And fync receit baith fkaith and (hame,
And fac be forc'd to leave the field. : . . ,
Only betaufe, Ovwle, thou dois ufe it,
1 will write verfc of common kind,
And, fwirgeour, for thy fake refufe it;
To crabc thee humbter by thy mind.
Pedlar.
JAMES VI. 1567 1603. 393
Pf dlar ! I pit'ye that opyncd
'i'o buckel with him that brcs the belK
Jackftio I be better anes cngyn'd.
Or I fhall fljrte againU my fell
Firft of thy juft genealogie,
Tyke ! I fhall tell thee truth I trow ;
Thou was begotten, fomc fayes me.
Betwixt the deil and a dun kow
A night that when the fiend was fow.
At banquet bridland at the beir.
Thow fowked fync a fwcit bred fow,
Amang the middings mony a year.
On ruites and runches in the feild.
With noltthou nouri(h'd wai a year,
While (hat thou paft baith poor and peild
Into Argyle fomc lair to leir ;
As the lad night did well appeir.
When thou flood fidging it the fire.
Fad fykand with thy Hciland chear ;.
My Flyiing forc'd thee fa to tyre.
Into the land where thou was born,
I read of nought but it was ikant
Of cattel, ciething, and of corn,
Where wealth and well-fair baith doth want.
Now, tade-face, take this for no tant,
I hear your houfing is right fair,
Where howlring howlcts ay doth hant.
With Robin-red-breaft but repair.
The Lords and Lairds within that land
I knaw are men of mekil rent,
And living, as I underlland.
While in an innes they be content
To leive and let their houfe in {ent.
In lentron month and the lang fommer.
Where twelve Knights kitchens hath a vent,
Quhilke for to futnifh dois them cummer.
MofTOOMEBY TO PoLWART.
Vile venemous viper, wanthrificfl of things.
Half an elf, half ane aip, of nature denyit,
Thou flait with a country the quhilk y/is the Klngn,
But that bargan, falfe beaft, dear ihall thou buy it ;
The cuff is well wared that tw 
