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i;i«  ^aiim[cltc  mxil  atltf  |cr(|m.^ 


Sir   Bnbxa  SDntr^sair. 


©rtginal  Scries.     ^0.  11. 

1865. 
[Swottb  ®bit:on,  1883.] 


BERLIN:  ASHER  &  CO.,  53  MOHRENSTRASSE. 

NEW  YORK:  C.  SCRIBNER  &  CO.;    LEYPOLDT  &  HOLT. 

PHILADELPHIA :  J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  &  CO. 


t-Kwnnxx^y   I    o 


7L,- 


®Iu   P^oitinicli^ 


AND   OTHER  POEMS 


Sir  ffliiijib  ^^mbesag. 


EDITED    BY 

JOHN   SMALL,  M.A.,  P.S.A.  SCOT. 


PART  I. 

[Seconlt  lElfttion,  llcDisclf,  1883.] 


LONDON: 

PUBLISHED   FOR   THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  TEXT  SOCIETY, 
BY  N.  TRtJBNER  &  CO.,  57  &  59,  LUDGATE  HILL. 

MDCCCLXV. 


1113 


©rrginal  S^ttita, 

11. 

ulnoay:    clay  and  tavluk,  tub  chauceh  pi 


ai[  ^m 


luva    ^l\\(\vh 


ma^  iimm. 


PAUT  V. 


IX 


PREFACE. 


I. 

A  SKETCH  OF  SCOTTISH  POETEY  UP  TO  THE  TIME  OF 

SIR  DAVID  LYI^DESAY,  WITH  AN  OUTLINE  OF 

HIS  WOPtKS, 

KY  JOHN  NICHOL,  B.A.,  Baliol  Coll.,  Oxford, 

PKOFESSOK  OF  ENGLISH   LIIEEAIURE   IN  THE    UNIVERSITY  OF   GLASGOW. 

The  Hfe  and  ■writings  of  Sir  David  Lyndesay  are  intimately 
associated  with  the  political  and  intellectual  movements  of  the 
transition  age  in  which  he  flourished.  The  interest  that  adheres  to 
them  is,  to  a  great  extent,  historical,  and  any  attempt  to  estimate 
their  significance  will  he  assisted  hy  a  survey  of  the  previous  course 
of  national  thought. 

Scottish  literature  properly  speaking,  that  is  to  say,  the  literature 
which  was  not  only  written  in  Scotland  and  hy  Scotchmen,  but 
which  embodied  local  ideas  in  local  language,  stretches  over  some- 
what more  than  150  years.  It  begins  in  the  14th  century  with 
Barbour  in  the  celebration  of  national  independence,  and  ends  in  the 
1  Gth  with  Lyndesay  and  Knox  in  the  advocacy  of  religious  freedom. 
The  Scotchmen  who  have  written  from  the  time  of  Drummond  to 
that  of  Carlyle  have  been,  with  a  few  exceptions,  and  in  spite  of 
certain  local  characteristics,  essentially  English  ^vriters. 

There  is  great  similarity  between  the  early  literatures  of  all 
countries  :    rudeness   of  style  and  simplicity  of  thought  mark  tlio 


X  PREFACE. 

first  efforts  of  Avriters  everywiicre ;  there  is  a  further  similarity 
between  ahnost  all  the  early  literatures  of  modern  Europe.  They 
are  from  the  tirst  largely  aftergrowths.  They  begin  in  the  natur- 
alization of  legends,  and  the  communication  of  truths  previously 
diffused  in  elder  tongues ;  in  re-translations  of  translations  neces- 
sitated by  the  fusion  of  races  Avhich  had  each  previously  possessed 
some  records  of  its  own.  Echoes  caught  from  classic  and  mediaeval 
tradition  run  through  our  earliest  romances ;  if  we  except  a  few 
purely  Celtic  and  Scandinavian  fragments  we  must,  to  find  the  roots 
of  our  old  British  literature,  go  back  beyond  itself.  This  last  remark 
may,  however,  be  applied  with  less  reservation  to  the  southern  than 
to  the  northern  section  of  onr  island,  where  continental  influences 
affected  manners  more  than  thought.  The  most  cursory  view  of 
early  Scottish  poetry  finds  it  more  nearly  indigenous,  reflecting  more 
closely  the  current  of  events  in  which  our  authors  were  more  fre- 
quently actors,  than  that  of  the  corresponding  age  in  England,  where 
a  greater  amount  of  luxury  led,  at  an  earlier  period,  to  the  develop- 
ment (if  a  distinct  literary  class. 

Authentic  Scottish  history  begins  about  the  date  of  the  Norman 
conquest  with  the  reign  of  Malcolm  Canmore,  and  stretches  down  to 
the  union  of  the  crowns  under  James  VI.  Before  the  first  of  those 
dates  it  is  the  comparatively  barren  chronicle  of  semi-barbarous  tribes; 
after  the  last  it  becomes  a  part  of  the  history  of  England.  The  in- 
tervening period  of  five  and  a  half  centuries  may  be  divided  into 
four  great  sections. 

DIVISIONS    OP    SCOTTISn    HISTORY. 

T.  The  first  extends  for  200  years,  down  to  the  death  of  Alex- 
ander III.,  and  exhibits  Scotland  as  an  independent  kingdom,  occa- 
sionally at  war  with,  and  sometimes  interfering  in,  the  affairs  of  her 
more  powerful  neighbour. 

II.  The  second,  stretching  from  1283  to  1390 — the  date  of  tlie 
accession  of  Eobert  II.,  the  first  of  the  Stewarts — is  the  period 
marked  by  the  struggle  with  the  English  Edwards. 

III.  The  third,  extending  over  the  reigns  of  Eobert  II.  and 
Ilobert  III.,  and  the  first  four  Jameses,  is  marked  by  renewed  wars 


A    SKETCH    OF    SCOTTISH    TOETRY.  XI 

with.  England, — tlie  border  raids,  giving  birth  to  the  border  ballads ; 
the  alliance,  foreshadowing  a  union  of  the  crowns ;  the  defeat  of 
Flodden ;  at  home,  by  the  Douglas  wars ;  the  first  steps  towards  the 
civilization  of  the  Highlands ;  the  re\a.val  of  classical  learning 
among  the  ecclesiastics,  and  the  establishment  of  the  Universities. 

IV.  The  fourth,  beginning  with  the  Eegency  consequent  on  the 
death  of  James  IV.,  extends  over  the  reigns  of  James  V.,  IMary,  and 
the  Scottish  reign  of  James  VI.     It  is  the  j^eriod  of  the  Reformation, 

CORRESPOXDIXG    DIVISIONS    OF    SCOTTISH    LITERATURE. 

I.  Of  the  first  of  those  periods  there  are  few  literary  relics.  There 
are  some  English  verses  about  the  Battle  of  the  Standard,  but  no 
contemporary  records  are  left  to  us  from  the  12th  or  the  early  part  of 
the  13th  century  in  Scotland.  If  any  ballads  belonged  to  that  age 
they  are  lost.^  A  little  later  we  come  to  the  oldest  authentic  frag- 
ment of  Scottish  poetry  in  the  well-known  patriotic  and  reHgious 
lament  beginning 

'  Quhen  Alysandyr  oure  king  wes  dede 
That  Scotland  led  in  luve  and  le.' 

The  13th  century  in  Scotland  is  ushered  into  the  history  of  liter- 
ature mainly  in  connection  -with  the  traditionary  verses  and  semi- 
fabulous  life  of  Thomas  Learmount,  the  rhymer  of  Ercildoune.  Of 
this  Scottish  Orj^heus  or  Merlin — whose  very  existence  has  been 
doubted  by  the  sceptical  spirit  of  modern  criticism — the  frequent 
references  of  later  writers  allow  us  to  believe  that  he  really  lived  and 
wrote,  reaching  the  height  of  his  fame  about  the  year  1280,  and 
dying  before  the  close  of  the  century.  He  comes  before  us,  like  an 
early  bard,  in  the  combined  character  of  a  poet  and  a  prophet.  His 
most  celebrated  prediction,  relating  to  the  death  of  the  king,  is  cir- 
cumstantially detailed  by  Bower,  a  chronicler  who  flourished  in  1430  ; 
but  as  it  is  given  in  the  form  of  the  announcement  of  a  blast  in 
Scotland  on  the  16th  of  March,  we  are  tempted  to  remark  that  such 
a  prophecy  was  likely  in  some  way  or  other  to  be  fulfilled,  and  as  we 

'  It  will  be  understood  that  the  writer  speaks  of  the  literature  of  Lowland 
or  Anglo-Saxon  Scotland,  and  does  not  hazard  any  opinion  on  the  question  of 
the  old  Celtic  remains.  Celtic  has  even  less  relation  to  Scottish  than  it  has 
to  English  literature. 


have  different  accounts  of  the  year  in  which  Alexander  died,  we 
cannot  lay  much  stress  on  a  coincidence  connected  with  the  day. 
Learinount  is  referred  to  in  his  prophetic  character  in  The  Bruce. 
The  clironiclers  Wyntown  and  Henry  have  agreed  to  represent  him 
as  endowed  with  a  genuine  spirit  of  divination ;  but  they  express 
suspicions  as  to  the  source  from  which  this  power  was  derived. 
Lesley,  in  liis  history  of  Scotch  affairs  (1578),  mentions  him  along 
with  the  "wizard  Michael  Scott.  The  Earl  of  Sterling,  the  poet 
Drummond — followed  in  the  middle  of  the  17  th  century  by  Arch- 
bishop Spotswood— allude  to  him  as  having  '  foretold  manj^  ages 
before '  the  union  of  the  crowns  '  in  the  ninth  degree  of  the  Bruce's 
blood.'  Unfortunately,  the  publication  of  the  volume  to  which 
those  writers  refer  can  be  traced  only  to  the  year  1603,  when  the 
union  had  actually  taken  place. 

Ercildoune's  claims  to  be  regarded  as  a  poet  have  been  con- 
sidered to  rest  on  a  somewhat  better  foundation.  Robert  Manning 
of  Brunne,  who  lived  only  half  a  generation  later  (his  works  bearing 
date  in  1303  and  1338)  distinctly  names  a  Thomas  as  the  author  of 
an  old  version  of  the  Geste  of  Sir  Tristram,^  and  the  rj-me  of  the 
third  line  of  the  Geste  in  the  Auchinleck  MS.  leaves  no  doubt  that 
*  Erceldoune '  is  the  right  word  for  the  name  of  the  author's 
dwelling  that  is  missing  from  the  first  line.^  Sir  Tristrem,  although 
one  of  the  later  Arthurian  legends,  had  at  an  early  period  become 
one  of  the  stock  stories  of  romance  on  the  continent,  and  it  may 

'  I  see  in  song,  in  sedgeyng  tale 
of  Erceldoun  &:  of  Kendale, 
Nou  Jjam  says  as  f^ai  [E.  &  K.]  }jam  wroght, 
&  in  \>ev  sayng  it  semes  noglit  : 
{)at  may  )jou  here  in  sir  Tristrem  ; 
oucr  gestes  it  has  \>e  sleem  [esteem], — 
oner  nUe  that  is  or  was — 
if  men  it  sayd,  as  made  Thomas. 

Story  of  Inglandc,  i.  3,  lines  93 — 100  ;  cd.  F.  J.  Furuivall, 
1871  (now  in  the  press). 
*  I  was  at  [Erceldoune  :] 

With  Tomas  spak  Y  thare  ; 
Ther  herd  Y  rede  in  roune, 

Who  Tristrem  gat  and  hare  .  .  . 
Tomas  telles  in  toun, 

This  autentours  as  thai  ware. 

((■d.  W.  Scott,  ISOC,  1.  1-11.) 


A    SKETCH    OF    SCOTTISH    POETRY.  XUl 

have  found  its  way  to  Scotland,  and  been  translated  there  sonic 
years  before  it  assumed  its  English  dress  in  England.  The  old 
copy  of  the  Romance  (supposed  to  have  been  transcribed  in  the  14th 
century)  which  was  jJ^iblished  by  Sir  Walter  Scott  in  1804,  opens 
Avith  an  allusion  to  the  Rhymer  in  the  third  person,  and  the  language 
hardly  squares  ^dth  our  notions  of  the  Scotch  of  the  remote  period 
to  which  it  is  referred  by  the  editor ;  but  neither  of  those  facts  is 
decisive  against  the  belief  in  an  original  work  of  the  Rhymer  that 
may  have  been  modified  by  transcription.  The  '  Geste  of  King 
Home '  has  also  been  referred  to  a  northern  source  of  the  same  date, 
but,  it  appears,  on  insufficient  authority.  Learmount's  fame  will 
continue  to  be  associated  with  faery  land  and  the  ballads  of  our 
Scottish  mythology. 

II.  There  are  a  few  remaining  fragments  of  verse — as  the  taunt- 
ing at  the  siege  of  Berwick,  and  a  pa3an  over  Bannockburn — written 
by  contemporaries  of  Wallace  and  Bruce,  but  our  main  poetical 
authority  for  the  events  and  sentiments  of  the  period  is  John 
Barbour.  Is^either  the  place  nor  the  date  of  this  author's  birth  are 
known.  He  was  Archdeacon  of  Aberdeen  in  1357  ;  died  in  1395, 
after  having  repeatedly  travelled  in  England,  and  held  some  im- 
portant offices.  In  1375  he  speaks  of  his  work  as  being  half 
finished.  On  its  completion  in  1378  be  was  presented  with  an 
annuity,  avowedly  granted  to  him  and  his  heirs  '  pro  compilacione 
Libri  de  gestis  iUustrissimi  principis  quondam  domini  regis  Roberti 
de  Brus.'  He  is  referred  to  by  Wyntown  as  the  author  of  another 
work,  '  The  Brute,'  containing  a  genealogy  of  the  kings  of  Scotland, 
from  the  everlasting  Brutus  down  to  the  time  of  the  first  Stewarts, 
for  which,  accordmg  to  one  account,  he  received '  another  pension. 
]\Ir  Henry  Bradshaw,  the  Librarian  of  the  University  of  Cambridge, 
has  proved '  that  about  2200  lines  of  two  MS.  Troy  Books  in  the 
Cambridge  University  and  Bodleian  Libraries — part  of  '  The  Brute ' 
above, — as  well  as  a  MS.  collection  of  50  Lives  of  Saints,  in  40,000 
lines,  in  the  Cambridge  University  Library,  are  due  to  Barbour. 
Two  MSS.,  transcribed  by  John  Ramsay  in  1489,  are,  with  the  ex- 

'  Transactions  of  the  Cambridge  Antiquarian  Society,  18G6. 


X:V  PREFACE. 

ception  of  the  passages  enslirined  by  "Wyntown  in  liis  Chronicle,  our 
earliest  authorities  for  the  text  of  the  '  Brus.'  The  earliest  printed 
edition  of  wliich  any  copies  have  heen  preserved,  belongs  to  about 
1570,  since  when  there  have  been  nearly  t"«'enty,  some  of  them  altered 
to  suit  the  knoAvledge  of  the  people,  with  whom  the  work  has  always 
been  a  favourite.  As  the  first  really  considerable  poem  produced  in 
the  northern  part  of  our  island,  it  has  been  compared  by  Mr  Pinker- 
ton  and  other  critics,  whose  national  zeal  is  apt  to  be  excessive,  with 
the  masterpieces  of  Homer,  Dante,  and  Chaucer ;  but  the  com- 
parison only  holds  good  as  pointing  to  a  common  freshness  and 
vigour.  If  we  are  to  look  for  prototypes  to  '  The  Bruce,'  we  may 
find  a  better  parallel  in  the  fragments  of  the  Roman  ISTsevius  and 
Ennius,  who  seem  to  have  executed  in  a  somewhat  similar  way  a 
design  similar  to  Barbour's,  and  to  have  recalled,  as  he  did,  with 
comparative  simplicity  and  sincerity,  the  great  achievements  of  a 
great  era  of  their  country's  history.  The  historical  merit  of  Bar- 
bour's book  Is  generally  admitted  to  be  considerable.  He  himself 
recommends  it  at  the  outset  by  stating  his  resolution  to  give  a 
faithful  record  ;  and  writing  within  46  years  of  Brace's  death,  he  is 
able  more  than  once  to  appeal  to  the  authority  of  eye-witnesses  as 
vouchers  for  the  accuracy  of  his  statements.  We  may  presume  that 
he  has  reported  the  main  events  of  the  struggle  he  celebrates  exactly 
as  they  were  believed  to  have  taken  place  in  the  age  during  which  he 
wrote.  The  annals  of  contemporary  warfare  still  warn  us  how  short 
a  time  it  takes  to  obscure  facts  :  ^  where  strong  emotions  have  free 
play  not  the  most  honest  can  be  expected  to  be  always  impartial;  and 
where  great  interests  are  at  stake  not  every  one  can  be  expected  to 
be  honest.  In  a  rude  age  mythological  additions  cluster  more 
thickly  around  the  memories  of  great  men  ;  but  though  Barbour 
appeals  to  the  belief  in  Divine  interposition  to  explain  a  Scottish 
victory,  and  attributes  to  his  hero  supernatural  poAvers,  and  ascribes 
his  early  disasters  to  his  sacrilege,  and  credits  the  report  of  tho 
English  king's  consulting  a  fiend,  the  wonder  is  that  his  work  as  a 
wliole  is  so  free  from  fabulous  adornments.     His  sentiment  regarding 

'  Vide  the  exapgeratod  Ptatoments  espoused  1»y  Lord  Sliaftesburj',  and  at 
one  timcwidely  credited,  regardiug  the  Indian  ilutiny. 


A  SKETCH  OF  SCOTTISH  POETRY,  XV 

tlio  reputed  prophecies  of  the  age  is  inspired  Ly  a  wholesome  in- 
credulity -which  reminds  us  of  Chaucer's  not  caring  *  three  straws ' 
for  the  oracles — 

'  Me  think,  quha  saj'is  he  knawis  thiugia 
To  cum,  he  makys  gret  gabingis.' 

But  we  see  no  trace  in  Earbour  of  the  scepticism  which  is  full- 
grown  flippancy.  The  whole  tone  of  his  writing  is  reverential,  nor 
was  he  altogether  free  from  the  influence  of  the  superstitions  in  which 
the  reverence  of  that  age  took  shape.  Cultivating  a  comparatively 
virgin  soil,  Barbour  indulges  in  comparatively  few  of  the  common- 
places of  mediaeval  fiction  :  living  without  even  Chaucer  for  a  model, 
it  was  easier  for  him  to  be  original  than  for  us  who  are  oppressed  by 
so  many  centuries  of  literature.  But  his  originality  cannot  be 
attributed,  as  the  appearance  of  originality  sometimes  may,  to 
ignorance.  He  was  too  zealous  a  student  to  bo  ashamed  to  go 
abroad  for  his  knoAvledge,  and  his  work  bears  frequent  testimony  to 
his  learning.  He  avoids  the  pedantry  of  cramming  his  pages  with 
the  names  of  ancient  authors ;  but  he  frequently  even  goes  out  of 
his  way  to  give  illustrations  from  Greek  and  Latin  history.  His 
travels  seem  to  have  had  the  efi'ect  of  liberalizing  his  mind.  The 
laureate  of  a  national  struggle  for  independence,  he  exhibits  no  un- 
reasonable inveteracy ;  and  his  patriotism,  tempered  by  a  compre- 
hensive charity,  never  degenerates  into  patriotic  rant.  In  an  artistic 
point  of  view,  his  poem,  as  a  whole,  owes  its  main  merit  to  its 
unity.  The  hero — a  model  knight — is  the  backbone  of  the  story, 
Avhich  is  at  once  a  chronicle  and  a  chivalrous  romance.  The 
exaggerations  which  here  and  there  occur  never  take  from  our  sense 
of  the  reality  of  the  picture ;  and  a  great  aim  justifies  those  efforts 
which,  in  the  case  of  Sir  Lancelot  and  Sir  Tristram,  are  apt  to 
degenerate  into  gymnastic  feats.  The  figures  of  Bruce  and  Douglas 
— '  very  perfect  gentle  knights,' — as  drawii  by  Barbour,  recall  to  our 
minds  Achilles  and  Patroclus.  But  the  implied  comparison  suggests 
a  difference.  A  long  poem  which  rests  too  much  upon  its  unity 
cannot  be  without  serious  defects.  A  smgle  highly-strung  emotion 
is  ground  for  a  perfect  lyric ;  one  great  action,  coloured  by  passion,  is 
enough  for  a  ballad  ;  but  an  epic  requires  variety.     The  conflict  of 


XVI  PREFACE. 

interests  in  the  'Iliad,'  tlie  rival  heroes,  Helen  and  Andromache,  the 
background  of  the  gods,  amply  fulfil  this  requisite.  Setting  aside 
the  difference  of  language  (and  compared  "with  the  language  of 
Homer  that  of  Barhour  is  prose)  this  makes  a  gulf  between  the  two 
poems.  National  zeal  is  needed  to  prevent  '  The  Bruce '  from 
becoming  wearisome.  There  is  too  great  a  similarity  in  the  advent- 
ures ;  and  the  characters,  Avitli  few  exceptions,  do  not  stand  out 
with  sufficient  individuality.  The  want  of  versatility  in  Barbour's 
mind  shows  itseK  in  his  style.  He  has  more  than  the  average 
power  of  painting  character.  We  often  admire  the  pathos  of  his 
simple  narrative,  and  sympathize  with  the  fervour  of  his  patriotic 
reflections  on  the  '  perfervidum  ingenium  '  of  men. 

'  Hand  caui^onantes  bellum  sed  belligeranteis.' 

But  he  seems  either  to  have  had  comparatively  little  inventive 
power,  or  to  have  avoided  exercising  it.  His  wit  is  heav}-,  and  he 
is  rarely  humorous.  The  '  glow  of  generous  sentiment '  which  per- 
vades his  poem  elevates  its  tone  ;  but  though  a  high  level  it  is  still 
a  level,  rising  at  the  highest  in  his  'Bannockburn  '  to  that  of  the  last 
canto  in  Sir  W.  Scott's  '  Marmion.' 

Andrew  of  AVyntown,  a  Prior  of  the  monastery  of  St  Serf,  a  later 
contemporary  of  Barbour's,  was  born  during  the  reign  of  David  IL, 
and  died  sometime  after  1419.  His  work,  the  '  Orygynale  Cronykil 
of  Scotland,'  so  called  because  it  professes  to  trace  the  history  of  our 
ancestors  from  their  origin,  was  edited — so  far  as  the  part  immediately 
concerning  Scotland — by  David  Macpherson  in  1789,  and  a  new 
edition  has  long  been  a  want.  Like  Barbour's,  it  is  written  in  octo- 
syllabic verse,  but  it  contains  scarcely  any  poetry,  and  its  historical 
value  is  impaired  by  an  admixture  of  legends.  To  antiquarians  it  still 
presents  an  interesting  mirror  of  ancient  manners  and  beliefs,  along 
wath  some  of  the  earliest  versions  of  the  most  popular  native  tra- 
ditions, among  others  the  story  of  the  witches  and  Macbeth,  though 
not  exactly  as  we  find  it  in  Shakespeare.  Besides  the  favourite  second- 
rate  authorities  of  the  middle  age,  he  refers  to  several  of  the  standard 
classics,  and  helps  himself  over  his  work  by  liberal  quotations  from 
Barbour  and  other  authors. 


A    SKETCH    OF    SCOTTISH    TOETRY.  Xvil 

Ht3re,  tliough  lie  flourished  at  a  somewhat  later  date,  we  may  men- 
tio]i  Henry  the  Minstrel,  for  his  poem  belongs  to  the  early  series 
of  our  metrical  chroniclers.  For  all  we  know  of  his  life  we  are  in- 
debted to  a  passage  of  Dr  iMair's  Latin  History,  in  wdiich  he  tells  us 
that  Henry  was  blind,  and  leaves  us  to  infer  that  he  flourished  about 
the  year  14G0.  He  calls  himself  a  rural  or  rustic  man,  but  it  is 
evident  that  ho  must  have  received  some  education,  for  French  words 
are  frequently  introduced  into  his  poem,  and  he  refers  to  a  Latin 
original  of  a  Maistre  John  Elair,  as  having  furnished  many  of  his 
ideas.  Henry  must  have  lived  as  late  as  1492,  when  there  is  a  record 
of  the  last  of  several  donations  presented  to  him  by  James  IV.  He 
never  alludes  to  his  blindness,  and  the  descriptions  which  are  among 
the  prominent  beatities  of  his  work  seem  inconsistent  with  it ;  but 
we  are  scarcely  justified  on  this  ground  in  setting  aside  the  positive 
testimony  of  a  contemporary  as  to  an  obvious  fact.  Popular  senti- 
ment continues  to  this  day  to  revere  Blind  Harry.  The  poem  of 
'  The  "Wallace,'  composed  in  heroic  couplets,  is  about  the  same  length 
as  '  The  Bruce,'  of  which  it  is  a  counterpart.  Henry's  verse  is  at 
least  as  smooth  as  Barbour's,  and  some  critics  have  recorded  their  pre- 
ference for  the  later  poem  ;  but  the  weight  of  authority  inclines  to  a 
different  verdict.  The  author  of  '  The  Wallace '  is  plainly  the  less 
educated  of  the  rivals,  and,  though  born  in  a  more  refined  age,  has  less 
refinement  of  feeling.  The  characters  of '  The  Bruce  '  are  limited, 
but  'The  Wallace'  has  only  one.  Everything  centres  round  the 
figure  of  the  gigantic  yeoman,  and  his  adventures  are  little  more  than 
a  series  of  scenes  of  slaughter.  The  narrative  is  often  highly  vigor- 
ous, and  the  battle-j^ieces  occasionally  stirring  ;  but  it  needs  all  the 
exaggeration  of  patriotism  to  attribute  to  the  author  '  the  genius  of  a 
second  Homer.'  A  modern  Scotch  version  of  Henry's  work  kept  up 
in  the  hearts  of  the  Scottish  peasantry,  down  to  the  close  of  last 
century,  the  tide  of  Scottish  prejudice  wdiich  Burns  says  was  poured 
into  his  veins  by  its  perusal.  It  is  the  great  authority  for  those  in- 
cidents connected  with  the  life  of  the  hero  which  have  been  repro- 
duced in  the  '  Tales  of  a  Grandfather  '  and  the  '  Scottish  Chiefs  ; ' 
and  from  the  first  scene  with  the  fisliing-rod  to  the  last  on  the  scaffold, 
these  are  narrated  wdth  a  vigour  that  has  never  been  surpassed. 


XV  111  PREFACE. 

III.  The  literature  of  Scotland  during  the  14th  century  is 
remarkably  free  from  the  mark  of  English  influence.  Its  foreign 
allusions,  mostly  continental,  are  suhsidiary.  It  stands  on  its  own 
basis,  and  is  characterized  by  the  freshness  and  vigour  of  an  inde- 
pendent nation  beginning  to  assert  a  place  for  itself  in  the  intel- 
lectual world.  The  same  phenomenon  recurs,  the  same  features  are 
present,  in  the  revolutionary  and  reforming  literature  of  the  16th; 
but  in  the  loth  century  we  have  an  interval  of  comparative  sub- 
jection, when  imitation  of  southern  models  was  the  price  jDaid  for 
greater  refinement  and  dehcacy  of  speech.  It  has  been  said  that  in 
the  generations  after  Chaucer's  death,  the  light  of  his  genius,  which 
seemed  to  have  gone  out  in  the  land  of  his  birth,  was  rekindled  in 
the  north,  as  the  sun  still  shines  over  the  Orkneys  when  the  lamps 
are  kindled  in  the  streets  of  London.  Varying  tlie  image,  we  may 
say  that  during  the  Avhole  of  this  period  a  Chaucerian  wave  passed 
over  Scottish  literature,  and  a  movement  was  set  on  foot  wliich 
largely  influenced  its  thought  and  manner,  its  tliemes  and  the  mode 
of  handling  them.  Of  this  movement,  an  English  prince,  reared  in 
England,  was  the  natural  leader  and  representative.  By  genius  and 
education  James  I.,  the  greatest  of  the  ill-starred  Stewart  line — the 
best  king  who  ever  was  a  poet  and  the  best  poet  who  ever  was  a  king 
— was  well  fitted  to  inaugurate  a  new  era  of  thought  and  expression. 
The  tragedy  of  his  life,  which  typifies  the  jDremature  struggle  of 
civilization  against  barbarism,  is  familiar  to  the  most  sui:>erficial 
reader  of  Scottish  history.  Like  Alfred  the  Great  he  at  an  early 
age  manifested  remarkable  cajiacities  in  directions  commonly  opposed. 
He  was  by  nature  a  soldier  and  statesman,  and  equally  by  nature  a 
man  of  letters.  A^Hiilc  still  a  prisoner  of  Henry's  in  the  round  tower 
of  Windsor,  he  had  converted  the  castle-yard  into  a  court  of  martial 
exercise,  and  his  chamber  into  a  study.  Out  of  doors  he  became  a 
horseman  and  a  runner;  indoors,  a  musician,  a  lawyer,  and,  studying 
'  his  maisters  dear,'  himself  a  poet.  His  fancy  is  said  to  have  been 
first  inspired  by  the  sight  of  his  future  wife  '  gathering  flowers,  her- 
self a  fairer  floAvcr,'  beneath  his  casement.  The  poem  called  firth 
by  this  beatific  vision  is  '  The  King's  Qiiair.'  This  word,  wliich  in 
Icelandic  means  a  book,  and  is  so  used  in  the  English  Ancren  Riwle 


A    SKETCH    OF    SCOTTISH    POETRY.  XIX 

of  alDOut  1220  A.D.  (p.  282),  was  perhaps  taken  by  James  from  the 
'  Complaynt  of  tlie  Black  Kniglit,'  generally,  but  probably  falsely, 
attributed  to  Chaucer, — 

'  Go,  lytell  quay  re,  unto  my  lyve's  queen.' 

James  derived  from  the  great  English  poet  much  more  than  the 
title  of  his  poem — its  verse,  which  is  a  modification  of  the  rhyme 
royal ;  its  language,  which,  with  a  few  northernisms,  is  English  rather 
than  Scotch  ;  and  many  of  its  ideas  and  images.  The  notion  of  the 
poet  rising  from  sleep,  and  hearing  the  beU  ring  for  matins,  is 
eminently  Chaucerian ;  so  is  the  description  of  the  garden,  the  address 
to  May,  and  much  of  the  subsequent  allegory.  A  more  minute  com- 
parison of  the  t^vo  writers  reveals  many  instances  of  the  imitation, 
conscious  or  unconscious,  of  the  one  by  the  other.  It  has  been  re- 
marked that  the  folloAving  coincidence  between  a  stanza  in  *  Troylus 
and  Cressida '  and  one  in  the  '  King's  Quair'  can  hardly  be  acci- 
dental : — 


0  weary  ghost  that  wanderest  to  k. 

fro, 
Why  nyht  thou  flyen  out  of  the 

wofullest 
Body  that  ever  might  on  grounde  go 

0  soule  lurking  in  this  woful  nest 

Fly  forth  without  mine  herte  & 
it  brest.' 

—  Chaucer,  T.  ^-  C.  b.  iv. 


'  0  besy  ghost,  ay  flickering  to  &  fro 

That  never  art  in  quiet  or  in  rest 

Till  thou  cam  to  the  place  that  thou 
cam  fro 
Which  is  thy  first  &  very  proper 
nest.' — K.'s  Quair, 


Chaucer  was  to  the  minor  poets  of  England  during  the  15th  cen- 
tury what  Byron  was  to  those  of  the  last,  and  Tennyson  has  been  to 
those  of  the  present  generation — a  voice  to  echo,  and  a  standard  to 
folLjw  from  a  distance.  But  James  I.  was  more  tlian  a  minor  poet ; 
he  not  only  outstrij^ped  all  his  contemporaries,  but  surpassed  one  of 
his  models — Gower — and  his  highest  flights  fell  not  far  short  of  the 
unattainable  excellence  of  the  other.  If  we  compare  the  productions 
of  our  poet  with  the  '  Canterbury  Tales,'  we  find  the  latter  to  surpass 
the  former  in  vigour,  in  life-like  reality,  in  variety,  and  in  humour ; 
but  the  case  is  not  so  clear  if  we  compare  those  productions  with  the 
corresponding  efforts  of  Chaucer's  youth.     The  '  King's  Quair ' — an 


XX  PREFACE. 

aulobiograpliie,  descriptive,  and  allegorical  poem  of  nearly  1400 
lines — was  probably  written  sometime  before  the  royal  author's 
marriage  in  1424;  a  copy  was  preserved  in  the  Bodleian  library,  and 
printed  for  tlio  first  time  in  1776.  If  Hawes  ever  saw  tills,  be  may 
have  borrowed  from  it  several  hints  in  the  composition  of  the 
'  Pastime  of  Pleasure.'  The  main  defect  of  the  earlier  work  lies  in 
its  resemblance  to  the  later.  The  age  of  allegory  in  those  days  cor- 
responded to  what  is  with  young  writers  now  the  era  of  adjectives  ; 
and  James  had  not  passed  it  when  he  wrote  his  '  Quair.'  l^either 
had  he  aA'oided  entirely  the  bad  example  of  Gower  in  mixing  up 
incongruous  scraps  of  learning.  Christian  and  Pagan  myths  are 
jumbled  in  his  pages.  The  poet  invokes  Calliope  in  the  name  of  the 
Virgin ;  Venus  and  St  John  co-operate  to  give  him  counsel,  and  he 
puts  a  quotation  from  the  Book  of  Ecclesiastes  into  the  mouth  of 
Minerva.  Hence  it  is  that  the  poem  is  appreciated  better  in  frag- 
ments than  as  a  whole  ;  but  many  of  the  descriptions,  in  richness  of  ■ 
imagery  and  harmony  of  versification,  stand  on  a  level  with  those  of 
our  greatest  poets.  In  that  of  the  Garden  and  the  Lady  there  is,  to 
borrow  one  of  its  own  lines, 

'  Beauty  enough  to  make  a  world  to  dote.' 
Of  the  minor  pieces  attributed  to  the  same  author,  the  most  cele- 
brated is  '  Christ's  Kirk  of  the  Green,'  the  popularity  of  which  in 
later  times  is  attested  by  Pope's  couplet, 

■  '  One  likes  no  language  but  the  Faeiy  Queen, 
A  Scot  will  fight  for  Christ's  Kirk  o'  the  Green.' 

Some  critics  have  referred  the  poem  to  King  James  V.,  while  one  of 
the  first  Scottish  scholars  of  the  day  summarily  dismisses  it  as  '  un- 
doubtedly the  production  of  a  far  later  age '  than  that  of  James  I. 
The  name  of  this  monarch  is  appended  to  the  poems  in  the  Bannatyne 
MS.  compiled  in  15G4.  Its  authenticity  seems  to  stand  or  fall  along 
with  that  of  a  similar  composition  to  Mduch  allusion  is  made  in  the 
opening  stanza — '  Peebles  to  the  Play,' — and  this  last  is  referred  to 
by  Mair,  wlio  lived  in  tlie  ]  5th  ccntur}-,  as  a  work  of  the  same  James. 
The  two  poems  are  in  the  same  peculiar  stanza ;  their  dialect,  adapted 
to  the  comprehension  of  the  common  people,  is  very  similar ;  and 
they  treat  similar  suT)jects  in  the  same  way,  being  didactic  satires 


A    SKETCH    OF    SCOTTISH    TOETUY.  XXi 

under  the  giiise  of  descriptive  burlesques  of  rural  games,  drawn  in 
vivid  rustic  colours.  In  both  the  same  humour  and  sprightliness  are 
conspicuous  characteristics. 

Of  the  writers  in  verse  belonging  to  the  age  immediately  succeed- 
ing it  may  suffice  to  refer  to  the  most  prominent.  Egbert  Henry- 
sox,  the  schoolmaster  of  Dunfermline  (mentioned  in  Dunbar's 
*  Lament  for  the  Makars,'  1507,  as  recently  dead),  must  be  regarded 
as  one  of  the  most  successful  of  those  who  during  the  latter  half  of 
the  15th  century  followed  uj)  the  impulse  that  had  been  given  by 
James,  and  introduced  into  the  northern  part  of  our  island  the 
literary  fashions,  the  favourite  themes,  the  smoother  measures,  and 
the  prevailing  graces  of  the  south.  All  the  educated  Scotch  minstrels 
of  this  period  were  more  or  less  imitators  of  Chaucer,  and,  for  the 
most  part,  of  his  earlier  and  minor  works.  With  the  exception  of  a 
single  fable,  there  is  no  Scotch  recast  from  the  '  Canterbury  Tales,' 
but  there  are  several  of  the  '  Flower  and  the  Leaf '  and  *  Troylus 
and  Cressida.'  Henryson's  '  Testament  of  Cresseid  '  was  avowedly 
suggested  by  the  latter,  to  which  it  is  a  sequel,  preserving  the  stanza, 
and  to  some  extent  the  manner,  of  the  original.  In  the  spirit  of 
that  poetical  justice  which  rarely  accords  with  the  facts  of  life,  the 
poem  proceeds  to  give  us  an  account  of  the  punishment  which  the 
author  imagines  to  have  ultimately  overtaken  the  infidelity  of  the 
heroine.  Deserted  in  her  turn  by  Diomed,  Cresseid  returns  to  the 
house  of  Calchas,  and  afterwards  retires  to  an  oratory  or  '  Kirk,' 
where  she  laments  her  fate,  and  pours  forth  reproaches  against  the 
goddess  of  love.  Then  follows  an  interlude  in  wliich  the  principal 
mythological  personages  of  antiquity,  though  with  some  confusion  as 
to  character,  are  introduced  sitting  in  judgment  on  the  faithless  fair 
one.  She  is  finally  condemned  to  be  stricken  -with  leprosy,  and  to 
go  begging  from  house  to  house  with  cup  and  clapper,  as  the  lepers 
were  wont  to  do  in  the  streets  of  Edinburgh.  I^athaniel  Hawthorne 
has  wrought  out  with  remarkable  power  a  similar  idea  in  his  '  Lady 
Eleanore's  Mantle,'  but  he  has  not  transferred  the  heroine  from 
Massachusetts  to  Troy.  Henryson  has  handled  another  legendary 
theme  in  the  same  fashion  in  his  '  Tale  of  Orpheus,'  represented  as  a 
king  of  Thrace  searching  in  vain  for  Eurydice  through  all  the  stars 


XXll  PREFACE. 

of  the  milky  way.  In  the  course  of  liis  journey  we  meet  with  the 
follo^\ing  classic  reference — 

'  In  his  passage  among  the  planets  all 

He  herd  a  heavenly  melody  &  sound 
Passing  all  instrumentis  musical 

Caused  by  rolling  of  the  spheres  round.' 

Orpheus  then  descends  to  the  realms  of  Pluto,  where  he  meets 
J  ulius  Ca3sar,  Herod,  Xero,  and  lesabel,  with  many  a  jpope  and  car- 
dinal. The  last  reference  is  remarkable  as  perhaps  the  earliest  indi- 
cation in  Scotch  verse  of  the  tone  of  thought  which  we  shall  find  so 
predominant  in  the  Satire  of  Lyndesay.  The  habit  of  confounding 
clironology,  and  attaching  modern  circimistances  to  ancient  names, 
may  perhajis  be  attributed  more  to  the  influence  of  Gower  and 
Lydgate  than  to  that  of  Chaucer.  The  fashion  was  set  to  them  by  the 
Gesta  Romanorum.  In  liis  poem  of  '  The  Bloody  Sark,'  Ilenryson 
has  added  an  allegory  to  one  of  the  traditionary  incidents  which 
appear  in  that  collection.  In  his  extensive  collection  of  Fables,  he 
addresses  '  Esop,'  whose  prose  seems  to  have  been  often  confounded 
by  the  writers  of  this  period  with  the  verse  of  Phsedrus,  as  a  '  poet 
laureate.'  Among  these  fables,  that  of  '  Sir  Chanticleare  and  the 
Fox,'  adapted  from  the  *  K"unnes  Priest's  Tale,'  and  the  '  Borrowstoun 
and  Landwart  IMouse,'  concluding  with  the  moral  afterwards  pointed 
by  Gay,  are  the  most  worthy  of  note.  One  of  the  most  favourable 
examples  of  Henryson's  native  style  is  the  half-humorous,  half- 
graceful  moralization  on  a  lady's  dross,  entitled  '  The  Garment.'  He 
is  probably  the  author  of  '  Eobin  and  jMakyne,'  one  of  the  earliest 
and  best  of  all  our  ballads.  In  the  two  last-mentioned  pieces  there 
is  a  directness  and  simplicity  of  thought  and  language,  favourably 
contrasting  witli  the  somewhat  involved  manner  of  his  more  elaborate 
compositions.  These  are,  however,  remarkable  for  the  prevailing 
smoothness  of  their  versification,  as  well  as  a  peculiar  sweetness  and 
delicacy,  which  throughout  distinguishes  Henryson  among  his 
compeers. 

III.  It  has  been  said  by  a  southern  reviewer  of  the  present  day, 
with  what  justice  we  will  not  attempt  to  determine,  that  *  a  Scotch- 
mau  cither  thinks  like  an  Euglishman,  or  he  thinks  worse.'     The 


// 


A    SKETCH    OP    SCOTTISH    POETRY.  Xxiii 

literary  history  of  the  northern  part  of  our  island  during  a  great 
part  of  the  loth  century  may  seem  to  confirm  this  verdict,  for,  as 
we  have  seen,  throughout  that  period  the  most  prominent  Scotch 
poets  were  mainly  employed  in  recasting  English  models.  A  few 
local  references  and  embellishments,  an  occasional  patriotic  reference 
or  touch  of  satire  foreshadowing  the  revolutionary  tendencies  of  the 
next  age,  are  almost  the  sole  indications  of  a  national  spirit.  But 
during  the  closing  years  of  the  century,  and  the  early  years  of  the 
next,  a  new  tide  had  set  in.  The  aftermath  of  political  antagonism 
to  England,  fostered  by  the  turbident  cliivalry  of  James  IV.,  evoked 
a  corresponding  antagonism  in  the  world  of  letters.  Dr  Irving  has 
remarked  that  when  the  court  became  favourable  to  foreign  alliances, 
the  leading  writers,  in  their  anxiety  to  avoid  the  forms  and  phrase- 
ology of  the  '  southern '  dialect,  were  ready  to  adopt  without 
restraint  those  of  France,  and  through  France  those  of  Eome.  A 
school  of  poetry,  characterized  by  its  classic  mannerism,  thus  arose  in 
the  north,  and  even  after  the  Eeformation  had  severed  the  main  bonds 
which  united  us  to  the  Romance  nations,  continued  to  exercise  a 
hurtful  effect  on  the  form,  if  not  on  the  substance,  of  our  literature. 
This  fashion  was  the  more  unfortunate  that  it  was  alien  to  the  true 
national  genius  of  a  country  having  little  essential  sjanpathy  Avith 
the  modes  of  thought,  and  therefore  little  real  affinity  to  the  modes 
of  expression,  of  the  south.  Campbell  justly  remarks,  in  reference 
to  the  prolific  use  of  those  '  aureate  terms,'  that  '  when  the  writers 
of  those  days  meant  to  be  eloquent,  they  tore  up  words  from  the 
Latin,  and  planted  them,  as  children  do  rootless  flowers  in  a  mock 
garden.'  But  the  growth  of  the  fashion  is  at  once  explicable 
from  history,  and  one  of  the  most  accomplished  men  of  the  time 
was  largely  instrumental  in  confirming  it.  The  two  poets  whom 
we  have  next  to  mention  make  a  sort  of  bridge  between  the  period 
we  have  marked  as  the  third,  and  that  which  we  have  marked  as 
the  fourth,  in  the  development  of  our  literature.  Inspired  in  the 
main  by  the  spirit  of  the  15th,  they  lived  over  the  first  quarter  of 
the  IGth  century,  and  witnessed  the  beginning  of  the  intellectual 
war  which  led  to  the  Eeformation.  Both,  to  the  close  of  their  lives, 
held  firmly  by  the  main  points  of  the  Catholic  creed;  but  the  one  as 

b 


XXIV  rr.EFACE. 

a  practical  reformer,  tlie  other  as  a  virulent  satirist  of  tlie  abuses  of 
the  Church,  helped  to  pave  the  way  for  the  holder  and  more  unre- 
served protests  of  the  succeeding  generation.  Of  these  two  poets, 
the  immediate  predecessors  of  Sir  David  Lyndesay,  Douglas  is  the 
representative  of  the  more  aristocratic  and  highly  cultured  element 
in  the  fancy  of  the  time ;  Dunhar,  of  its  more  democratic,  compara- 
tively untutored,  and  revolutionary  genius. 

Gawain  Douglas,  an  interesting  account  of  whose  eventful  life 
is  given  in  the  work  of  Dr  Irving,^  was  born  in  1474,  the  third  son 
of  Arcliibald  the  fifth,  sometimes  called  the  great.  Earl  of  Angus. 
His  education  was  completed  at  Paris,  and  entering  holy  orders  on 
his  return,  he  devoted  the  leisure  of  the  first  and  only  quiet  part  of 
his  career  to  literature.  In  1515  he  was  nominated  to  the  See  of 
Dunkeld,  and  becoming  involved  in  the  civO.  war  which  had  broken 
out  among  the  leaders  of  the  northern  Church,  he  sought  an  asylum 
in  England,  where,  in  1522,  he  died,  the  most  learned  and  the  most 
amiable  of  his  illustrious  race.  Douglas  informs  us  that  at  one 
period  of  his  life  he  was  requested  to  translate  Homer,  from  which  it 
has  been  reasonably  inferred  that  he  was  acquainted  with  Greek. 
Of  his  familiarity  with  Latin  we  have  abundant  proof.  His  youth- 
ful rendering  of  Ovid's  '  De  Eemedio  Amoris '  has  not  been  pre- 
served ;  but  his  version  of  the  '  ^nead,'  completed  about  the  year 
1513,  is  remarkable  as  the  first  attempt  to  transfer  the  work  of  a 
great  classic  author  directlj'  into  English.  Douglas's  translation  of 
Yirgil  is  a  monument  of  industry  and  good  scholarship,  being  a 
faithfid.  and  generally  close  representation  of  the  original,  though 
somewhat  wanting  in  polish,  a  defect  referable  to  the  fact  that  the 
whole  composition  only  occupied  sixteen  months  of  the  writer's  time. 
The  Earl  of  Surrey  is  said  to  have  had  the  plan  of  his  blank-verse 
rendering  of  the  second  and  fourth  books  of  the  same  Epic  sug- 
gested by  the  previously  existing  heroics  of  the  Bishop  of  Dunkeld. 
Douglas,  like  his  contemporaries,  confounded  ancient  and  modern 
ideas :  e.  g.  he  makes  the  Sybil  a  nun,  and  puts  into  her  mouth  an 
admonition  to  .^neas  to  persevere  in  counting  his  beads ;  but  such 
incongruities  occur  less  frequently  than  in  Ilenryson.  The  origmal 
'  To  his  recollections  of  wliich  the  writer  has  to  acknowledge  his  obl'gations. 


A    SKETCH    OF    SCOTTISH    TOETRY.  XXV 

prologues  wliicli  Douglas  lias  prefixed  to  the  several  books  of  his 
"svork  are  among  the  best  specimeus  of  his  maturer  verse.  In  allu- 
sion to  these  we  have  from  an  early  Scotch  critic  the  following  some- 
what overstrained  eulogy : — '  TSHiere  he,'  the  author,  '  hath  his 
liberty,  he  showeth  a  natural  and  ample  vein  of  poesy  so  pure, 
j)leasant,  and  judicious,  that  I  believe  there  is  none  that  hath  written 
before  or  since  but  cometh  short  of  him.  And  in  my  opinion  there 
is  not  such  a  piece  to  be  found  as  his  prologue  to  the  eighth  book, 
bsginning,  "Of  drevilling  and  dreams" — at  least,  in  our  language.' 
The  introductions  to  the  seventh  and  twelfth  books  have  also  been 
highly  and  deservedly  commended.  They  abound  in  rich  and  ap- 
preciative natural  descriptions  ;  but,  with  the  rest  of  the  author's 
composition,  they  exhibit  the  defect  of  all  rapid  writing  in  being  too 
diffuse.  There  is  a  superfluity  of  second-rate  images  instead  of  a 
single  self-sufficient  one.  Every  imaginative  mind  when  it  falls  into 
a  train  of  thought  is  beset  with  pictures  :  the  task  is  to  select  from 
among  them  that  which  is  the  best,  and  make  it  do  duty  for  the  riist. 
Four  lines  from  Douglas's  description  of  the  dawn  will  illustrate  this — 

'  And  eke  the  heavenly  portals  chrj-stalline 
Unwarpis  braid,  the  warld  till  illumine, 
The  twinkling  streamers  of  the  Orient 
Shed  purple  spraying  with  gold  and  azure  blent.' 

Each  of  the.:e  lines  separately  gives  a  fair  representation  of  some 
of  the  phenomena  of  the  morning.  The  crystal  gates  bring  before 
our  minds  the  idea  of  the  clear  sky,  the  gates  opening  wide  indicate 
the  spreading  light ;  then  the  element  of  colour  is  introduced,  though 
in  a  somewhat  confused  metaphor ;  the  tAvinkling  streamers  shed 
sprays  of  purple  gold  and  blue.  It  is  an  image  more  fitting  an 
aurora  borealis  transferred  to  the  morning.  The  Avhole  is  more  i:)ic- 
turesque  than  powerfid:  there  is  something  of  that  heaping  up  of 
attributes  which  is  always  the  mark  of  a  minor  poet,  and  there  is  a 
want  of  what  INIr  Euskin  calls  '  Imagination  Penetrative,' the  inspir- 
ation which  leaps  to  the  heart  of  an  idea,  and  gives  to  it  a  perfect 
voice,  generally  in  the  simplest  words.  One  line  in  Chaucer  suggests 
more  than  the  four  above  instanced  : 

'  And  all  the  Orient  laugheth  at  the  sight.' 


XX  vi  TREFACE. 

We  have  here  at  once  the  far-rii^pling  lustre  of  the  davm,  the 
uv-qpidfioy  yfXficr/^a  of  the  sky. 

Of  Douglas's  two  extensive  original  works  the  better-known, 
*  The  Palace  of  Honour,'  has  been  compared  to  the  '  Pilgrim's 
Progress ;'  but  they  may  more  properly  be  contrasted.  Eunyan 
forged  out  of  the  Bible  and  the  fervour  of  his  own  heart,  in  the 
solitudes  of  Bedford  jail,  the  only  popular  allegory  in  the  English 
language ;  popular  because  it  appeals  directly  to  our  homeliest  con- 
sciousness. Every  peasant  may  be  Christian  on  his  way  from 
Destruction,  through  Despond  and  Despair,  over  the  Valley  of  the 
Shadow,  and  the  river  which  is  the  Eeality,  of  death,  to  the 
Shining  City.  Douglas,  on  the  other  hand,  leaves  his  court  and 
episcopal  audience-chamber,  with  his  mind  full  of  the  orators  and 
poets  of  Greece  and  Eome,  to  dream  in  a  delightful  arbour  of  a  cav- 
alcade of  ladies,  warriors,  sages,  and  patriots,  votaries  of  all  the  gods 
and  goddesses,  from  Mars  to  Venus,  trooping  to  the  Palace  of  Honour. 
This  cavalcade  he  joins,  and  under  guard  of  Calliope,  reaches  the 
Castilian  fountain,  but  is  prevented  from  drinking  of  it  by  the 
pressure  of  the  crowd.  At  length  they  reach  their  destination,  the 
Palace,  which,  like  Chaucer's  Temple  of  Fame,  is  situated  on  a  hard 
rock,  slippery  as  glass.  Like  the  Celestial  City  it  affords  a  view  of 
the  world,  and  many  striving  in  vain  to  enter  it  are  carried  down  l)y 
the  weight  of  their  crimes  into  a  dismal  lake.  The  poet  and  his 
guardian  are  admitted  by  Patience,  the  porteress ;  but,  on  attempting 
to  cross  a  narrow  bridge  Avhich  leads  to  the  garden  of  the  ]\hises,  he 
falls  into  the  moat,  and  awakens  from  his  dream  to  compose  a  lay  in 
praise  of  honour,  and  dedicate  it  to  James  IV.  Douglas's  other 
long  poem,  '  King  Hart,'  i)]aniied  after  a  similar  fashion,  is  a  complex 
allegory  of  the  progress  of  human  life,  which  has  been  compared  to 
Ele teller's  '  Purjile  Island.'  Both  works  show  a  luxuriant  imagin- 
ation and  remarkable  command  of  verse,  but  they  are  marred  by 
redundancy  and  incongruities. 

William  Dunbar — after  Burns  the  greatest  of  Scotch  poets — ■ 
was  bom  about  the  year  14G0.  He  was  educated  at  St  Andrews, 
and  took  his  degree  at  St  Salvator's  in  1479.  Early  in  life  ho 
became  a  Franciscan  friar,  and  in  the  robes  of  the  order  went  about 


A    SKETCU    OF    SCOTTISH    POETRY.  XXVH 

begging.  The  following  is  slightly  abridged  from  the  account  given 
hy  himself  in  one  of  his  humorous  poems  of  this  somewhat  ques- 
tionable portion  of  his  career.  It  is  strikingly  illustrative  of  the 
spirit  of  the  tunes  out  of  Avhich,  under  the  direction  of  more  honest, 
if  not  of  ahler,  men,  the  Eeformation  grew.  '  Before  the  dawn  of 
day  methought  St  Francis,  clad  in  religious  habit,  appeared  to  me, 
and  said,  "  Go,  my  servant,  clothe  thee  in  these  vestments,  and 
renounce  the  world."  At  the  sight  of  him  and  his  habit  I  was 
scared  like  one  who  sees  a  ghost.  "And  why,  my  son,  art  thou 
terrified  at  the  sight  of  the  holy  Aveed  ? "  "  St  Francis'  reverence 
attend  thee,  and  thanks  for  this  intended  benefit ;  but  with  regard  to 
those  garments  of  Avliich  thou  art  so  liberal,  it  has  never  entered 
into  my  head  to  Avear  them  more  ;  SAveet  confessor,  take  it  not  iU.  In 
holy  legends  have  I  heard  it  said  that  bishops  are  more  frequently 
canonized  than  friars  :  if,  therefore,  thou  Avouldst  guide  my  soul 
towards  heaven,  invest  me  Avith  larger  robes.  ]\Iy  friar  days  are 
done.  Time  was  Avhen  in  that  dress  1  made  good  cheer,  and  preached 
and  fleeched  the  folk  from  BerAvick  to  Dover,  and  even  passed  over 
to  Calais  and  Picardy;  but  tliis  life  let  me  in  for  many  a  pious 
fraud,  from  which  no  holy  water  would  cleanse  me."  "What  had  thus 
appeared  to  me  as  St  Francis  was  a  fiend  in  the  likeness  of  a  friar: 
he  vanished  aAvay  with  fiery  smoke ;  methought  he  carried  the  end  of 
the  house  along  Avith  him.'  This  recalls  to  our  minds  Piers  Plow- 
man and  Chaucer's  satires,  and  the  coming  events  of  Avhich  these 
Avords  were  shadoAvs.  But  the  Scotch  poet — fortiter  in  modo 
suaviter  in  re — acknoA\dedges  to  us  and  to  himself  that  a  bishopric 
bestoAved  in  time  Avould  have  led  him  to  take  a  more  favourable  vieAV 
of  the  Established  Church.  The  origin  of  Dunbar's  connection 
Avith  the  court  is  imknoAvn,  but  Ave  hear  of  him  between  1491  and 
1500  as  engaged  in  several  foreign  embassies  which  led  him  over  most 
of  the  continent.  In  1500  he  received  from  the  king  a  pension  of 
£10.  During  the  next  ten  years  he  appears  continually  asking  for 
more.  In  one  of  his  lighter  pieces  he  tells  of  his  actually 
'  dancing  in  the  queen's  chamber '  :  a  great  part  of  his  life  Avas  spent 
in  dancing  attendance  on  the  king's  antechamber.  The  spectacle  of 
a  poet  so  long  a  suitor  for  place  is  not  a  pleasant  one,  but  it  is  con- 


XXVm  PREFACE. 

tiiiually  brouglit  before  us  by  the  very  titles  of  his  poems,  e.  g.  *  To 
the  King  when  many  benefices  vacate,'  'Dunbar's  Complaint  to  the 
King,'  '  Dunbar's  Eemons trance  to  the  King,'  '  To  the  Lords  of  the 
King's  Exchequer,'  'On  Asking,'  '  On  Giving,'  '  On  Taking,'  &c.,  &c. 
Many  are  devoted  to  those  who  had  by  fair  means  or  foul  been  pro- 
moted over  him,  for  Avhom  he  finds  no  language  strong  enough. 
Some  of  his  tirades  against  those  fortunate  recipients  of  undeserved 
favour  are  magazines  of  IGth-century  abuse  ;  but  the  abject  com- 
plaints which  the  poet  addresses  to  the  king  in  person  almost  make 
ns  wish  he  had  restricted  himself  to  attacking  his  rivals. 

Patronage  is  not  always  judicious,  and  the  cleverest  man  about 
James's  court  may  have  had  some  reason  to  feel  aggrieved  in  being 
passed  over ;  but  the  reader  of  Dunbar's  poems  may  doubt  whether 
a  bishopric  was  his  proper  sphere.  He  pelts  vice  in  the  kennel  with 
a  coarseness  of  language  beyond  that  of  Skelton.  Dowered  with  'the 
scorn  of  scorn'  he  bursts  through  all  restraints.  The  finest  hymn  of 
our  century,  Byron's '  Ave  Maria,'  appears  in  the  same  poem  with  a 
parody  on  the  commandments  and  a  burlesque  of  the  creed.  Dunbar, 
who  has  sounded  the  depths  of  the  religious  feeling  of  his  times, 
ridicules  all  the  observances  of  his  Church.  Failing  in  his  aim  after 
promotion,  he,  however,  succeeded  in  obtaining  an  increase  of  his 
pension,  which  rose  by  degrees  to  a  very  respectable  annuity.  There 
is  a  record  of  a  portion  of  this  being  paid  to  him  in.  1513,  the  year  of 
Flodden.  A  poem  in  his  hand  refers  to  the  return  of  the  Duke  of 
Albany  to  France,  an  event  which  took  place  in  1517.  We  hear 
nothing  more  of  the  poet,  and  only  know  from  an  allusion  in  Lynde- 
saj^'s  '  Papingo  '  that  he  must  have  been  dead  in  1530. 

It  is  manifestly  impossible  within  the  space  at  our  command  to 
attempt  even  a  general  survey  of  the  works  of  an  author  whose 
genius  merits  a  distinct  and  extended  criticism.  We  must  be  satis- 
fied to  enumerate  a  few  of  the  most  familiar.  Dunbar's  Avritings 
have  been  roughly  ranged  under  three  heads — Allegorical,  INIoral,  and 
Satirical.  Of  those  falling  under  the  first  head,  '  The  Golden  Targe,' 
an  allegory  in  which  the  influence  of  the  '  Piomaunt  of  the  Pose ' 
and  '  Tlie  Flower  and  the  Leaf  is  conspicuous,  is  generally  referred 
to  tlie  early  years  of  the  poet.      It  opens  with  a  fine  description  of 


A    SKETCH    OF    SCOTTISH    rOETIlY.  XXIX 

the  dawn,  and  a  sliip  sailing  up  a  stream,  on  the  bank  of  which  the 

poet   is  loitering.     Tliis  ship  lands  a   '  world  of   ladies '  in  green 

kirtles,  who  are  represented  in  glowing  colours  ;  hut  to  recall  the 

scene  aright  would,  he  says,  exceed  the  genius  of  Tullius  or  Homer. 

In  the  assemblage  he  sees  l^ature.  Dame  Venus,  the  fresh  Aurora, 

Juno,  Latona,  Proserpine,  and  other  '  mighty  queens.'     Cupid  next 

appears,  leading  in  a  long  array  of  gods  and  other  male  personages  : 

these  join  the  troojj  of  the  goddesses,  and  they  dance  together.      At 

length,  the  poet  being  detected  by  Venus,  she  issues  an  order  for  his 

arrest.     'Eeason'  then  steps  forward  to  defend  him  with  his  golden 

targe,  and   successfully  resists  the  attacks  of  the  fair  archers,  till 

Presence  comes  and  throws  dust  into  the  eyes  of  Eeason,  and  Love 

wins    the   day.       Dunbar   concludes   with   a  eulogy   of    'reverend 

Chaucer,  rose  of  rhetors  all,'  of  '  moral  Gower  and  Lydgate  latireat,' 

and  a  modest  apology  for  his  own  humble  strains.     '  The  Thistle 

and  the  Rose,'  his  other  long  poem,  written  for  tlie  court  in  1503, 

celebrates  the  marriage  of  James  with  Margaret,  the  daughter  of  the 

English  king.     A  recent  editor  commends  the  ingenious  manner  in 

which  the  heraldic  emblems  of  the  two  countries  are  made  to  act,  and 

the  graceful  avoidance  of  personal  flattery  in  the  indirect  comphments 

that  are  paid  to  the  queen — a  mode  of  homage  wliich  she  seems  to 

have  appreciated,  for  we  are  told  that  she  remained  in  after  life, 

*  though  unstable  in  politics  and  even  in  morals,  the  steady  friend  of 

the  poet.*     Lord  Hales,  Warton,  and  Ellis,  are  all  lavish  in  their 

praises  of  this  poem.     '  Every  reader,'  says  the  first  mentioned,  '  wiU 

remember  Langhorne's  encomium — 

"  In  nervous  strains  Dunbar's  bold  music  flows, 
And  Time  still  sjDares  the  Thistle  and  the  Rose."  ' 

The  great  blemish  of  these  two  pieces  lies  in  their  classic  man- 
nerism. Such  words  as  '  aureate,'  '  mellifluate,'  '  enamellmg,'  '  celical,' 
'  illuminate '  as  an  adjective,  so  frequently  recurring,  suggest  the  idea 
of  somewhat  pedantic  translations  from  the  Latin. 

In  the  opinion  of  many  competent  critics,  Dunbar's  '  Daunce  of 
the  Seven  Deadly  Sins,'  which  lies  on  the  border  land  between  satire 
and  allegory,  is  the  most  jDowerful  of  his  works.  Its  great  merit  is 
its  intensity,  and   the  nervous  vigour  of  its   personification.     In  a 


XXX  PREFACE. 

few  sufficient  words  the  horrid  crew  are  summoned  up,  and  made  to 
pass  before  us,  each  with  its  distinguishing  characteristic.  An  inter- 
esting comparison  might  he  instituted  between  these  demons  and  the 
corresponding  groujis  in  '  Piers  Plowman,'  Sackville's  '  Induction,'  or 
even,  not  always  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  former,  with  those  in 
the  '  Faery  Queen '  and  the  'Inferno.'  Perhaps  the  most  strilving 
illustrations  of  the  poet's  descriptive  power  are  to  be  found  in  the 
somewhat  longer  composition  entitled,  '  The  Twa  Maryt  Wemen  and 
the  Wedo.'  The  night  piece,  especially,  is  elaborately  artistic  ;  but 
the  morality  of  the  whole  is  less  to  be  recommended. 

The  leading  characteristics  of  Dunbar's  genius  are  variety  and 
force.  His  volume  has  been  compared  to  TantaUon  Keep,  grim  and 
girt  with  flowers.  It  is  a  medley  in  which  tenderness  and  exuber- 
ance, blistering  satire  and  blooming  fancies,  meet.  Allowing  for 
some  superfluity  of  decoration,  his  language  is  remarkably  condensed : 
in  general,  every  line  carries  its  own  picture  or  idea.  Speakmg  more 
directly  fi-om  his  own  experience,  he  interests  us  more  than  his  con- 
temporaries succeed  in  doing.  His  writings  are  only  in  a  minor 
degree  bound  up  with  the  politics  of  his  age,  and  though  they  reflect 
its  fashions,  they  often  take  a  wider  range,  and  appeal  to  universal 
sympathies.  He  has  not  wearied  us  with  any  very  long  poem.  His 
lyrical  inspiration  and  satirical  animus  find  vent  within  moderate 
bounds,  but  they  are  constantly  springing  up  at  diflferent  points, 
and  assuming  various  attitudes.  At  one  time  he  is  a  quiet  moralist, 
like  Horace,  jDhilosopliizing  on  the  golden  mean ;  at  another  he  is  as 
fierce  as  Juvenal.  The  story  of  the  battle  between  the  '  Tailor  and 
Souter '  might  have  been  Avritten  by  Eabelais ;  the  '  Devil's  Inquest ' 
is  the  original  of  the  '  Devil's  Drive ' ;  tlie  '  Meditation  on  a  Winters 
"Walk'  is  not  unworthy  of  Cowper.  Mr  Pinkerton  writes  as  if  he 
preferred  Dunbar  to  Chaucer.  '  He  unites  in  himself,  and  generally 
surpasses,  the  qualities  of  the  chief  old  English  poets;  the  morals  and 
satire  of  Langland ;  Chaucer's  himiour,  poetry,  and  knowledge  of 
life ;  the  allegory  of  Gower ;  the  description  of  Lydgate.'  Ho 
forgets  that  the  highest  attributes  of  Chaucer's  genius  is  unrepre- 
sented in  Dunbar.  The  nobler  characters  of  the  '  Canterbury  Talcs ' 
are  absent  from  the  pages  of  the  Scotch  poet:  there  is  no  pattern  of 


A   SKETCH    OF   SCOTTISH   POETRY.  XXxi 

cliivalry,  no  pious  aud  learned  parson,  no  snow-white  Constance,  or 
all-enduring  Griselda.  AYe  have  to  strike  out  the  dramatic  element 
from  Chaucer,  and  then  begin  to  compare  them. 

Dunbar's  position  with  regard  to  the  Eeformation  is  that  of  a 
wholly  unconscious  precursor.  Like  Erasmus  he  railed  against  the 
friars  and  their  indidgences — '  quorum  pars  fuit ' — and  lashed  with 
his  scorn  the  upstarts  who  had  crept  into  places  of  dignity  in  the 
Church,  but  there  is  no  reason  to  suspect  that  he  was  more  or  less 
than  a  good  Eoman  Catholic  in  his  creed.  His  poems  on  the  Con- 
fession and  the  Eesm-rection,  his  orisons  and  hymns,  are  written  in 
the  best  spirit  of  Eomanism.  He  had  none  of  the  protagonist  spirit 
which  is  required  to  assail  the  traditions  of  a  thousand  years.  Of 
a  generally  buoyant  and  probably  luxurious  temper,  he,  like  most 
satirists,  seems  at  times  to  have  taken  a  gloomy  view  of  the  world. 
'  All  earthly  joy  returns  in  pain '  is  the  refrain  of  one  of  his  poems  ; 
*  Timor  mortis  conturhat  me '  of  another.  As  to  Catullus,  whom  he 
more  than  once  recalls,  the  '  atra  dies '  forms  a  background  to  all  his 
gaiety.     In  the  following  sonnet  he  has  summed  his  idea  of  life — 

'  What  is  this  life  but  ane  straucht  way  to  deid 
Whilk  has  a  time  to  pass  &  nane  to  dwell 
A  sliding  wheel  us  lent  to  seek  remeid 
A  free  choice  given  to  Paradise  or  Hell 
A  prey  to  death  whom  vain  is  to  repell 
A  short  torment  for  infinite  gladness 
A  short  ane  joy  for  lasting  heaviness.' 

There  is  something  in  this  morbid  morality  indicating  the  satiety 

of  an  exhausted  worldling ;  but  on  other  occasions,  as  in  the  lines 

beginning — 

'  Be  merry,  man,  &  tak  not  sare  in  mind 
The  wavering  of  this  wretched  warld  of  sorrow,' 

he  takes  a  more  cheerfid  view.  This  is  another  proof  of  his  versa- 
tility. On  one  side  we  have  '  Vanitas  vanitatum,  et  omnia  vanitas  ;' 
on  the  other,  the  FhiJosopliie  Douce. 

IV.  The  progress  of  our  rapid  and  necessarily  superficial  sketch 
has  brought  us  to  the  commencement  of  our  fourth  period  of  Scotch 
literary  history,  that  which  begins  with  the  reign  of  James  V.  The 
great  event  of  this  period  was  the  reformation  of  religion,  a  revolution 
which,  in  Scotland  even  more  decidedly  than  throughout  the  rest  of 


XXXai  PREFACE. 

northern  Europe,  was  rendered  imperative  by  tlie  moral  and  political 
degeneracy  of  the  Church.  The  first  half  of  the  16th  century  was  a 
transition  age,  exposed  to  all  the  perils  which  accompany  instability, 
and  the  process  of  shifting  from  one  set  of  convictions  to  another, 
but  in  our  island  especially  the  transition  was  inevitable.  ■  Evils, 
which  elsewhere  might  have  been  smoothed  over  or  abated,  had 
grown  up  unchecked  in  our  remote  corner  of  the  Catholic  world,  and 
attained  a  height  which  called  for  sweeping  measures.  '  The  old  na- 
tional traditions  of  Scotland,'  writes  ]\f r  Froude,  '  which  for  some 
centuries  held  it  together  in  spite  of  the  general  turbulence,  were 
broken  at  the  battle  of  Elodden ;  its  organic  life  as  a  separate  nation 
died  there ;  and  the  anarchy  which  followed  during  the  long  minority 
of  James  V.  resulted  in  the  general  moral  disintegration  of  the  entire 
people.  The  animosity  against  England  threw  them  into  a  closer 
alliance  with  France,  one  consequence  of  Avhich  was  that  most  of  the 
noblemen  and  gentlemen,  after  a  semi-barbarous  boyhood  in  their 
fathers'  castles,  spent  a  few  years  in  Paris  to  complete  their  educa- 
tion, and  the  pseudo-cultivation  of  the  most  i^rofligate  court  in  tlio 
world,  laid  on  like  varnish  over  so  uncouth  preparation,  produced  as 
imdesirable  specimens  of  human  nature  as  could  easily  be  met  with.' 
The  Scotch  Church  in  those  days  was  the  head  and  front  of  this 
offending.  The  nobles  who  held  the  crozier  differed  from  those  Avho 
held  the  sword  only  in  adding  a  transparent  hypocrisy  to  their  cha- 
racter of  profligate  feudal  chiefs.  With  the  old  monks  asceticism 
was  a  shield ;  with  the  later  ecclesiastics  it  was  a  pretext.  Professed 
celibates,  they  had  no  wives,  but  their  elder  sons  generally  succeeded 
them  in  their  benefices.  In  England  this  Avas  the  exception  ;^  in 
Scotland  it  was  the  rule.  A  sense  of  those  greater  evils  awoke  in  the 
hearts  of  the  Scotch  people,  proverbially  intolerant  of  half  measures, 
the  desire  for  a  greater  change  than  that  in  which  the  English  people, 
proverbially  prone  to  compromise,  had  acquiesced,  and  after  half  a 
century  of  persecution  and  years  of  social  war  had  goaded  them  to 
decisive  action  they  rose,  under  the  leadership  of  a  fe^v  vigorous 
minds,  to  pull  down  the  foundations  of  the  rottc 

'  Query — F.  J.  Funiivall. 


A   SKETCH   OF   SCOTTISH    POETRY.  XXxiii 

During  tlie  period  in  whicli  the  elements  of  this  movement  wevo 
fermenting,  our  attention  is  directed  to  three  classes  of  writers  : — 

1.  Those  who  either  belonged  to  the  Chiu-ch,  or  stood  apart  from 
the  stream  of  change  in  the  lighter  walks  of  literature. 

2.  Those  who  followed  with  bolder  steps  in  the  track  of  Dunbar, 
and  satirized  the  moral  corruption  of  the  Establishment. 

3.  Those  who  led  the  Keformation.  Of  the  great  literary  repre- 
sentatives of  this  last  class,  George  Buchanan  and  John  Knox,  we 
can  have  notlung  here  to  say.  We  must  be  satisfied  to  indicate  a  few 
of  the  authors  belonging  to  the  first,  and  dwell  at  somewhat  greater 
length  on  the  leading  representative  of  the  second,  Sir  David 
Lyndesay. 

1.  One  of  the  most  accomplished  of  the  Church  dignitaries  of 
those  times  was  John  Bellexden,  secretary  of  the  Earl  of  Angus, 
and  afterwards  (1536)  Archdeacon  of  Moray,  the  author  of  two  la- 
borious translations — one  from  Boyce's,  the  other  from  Livy's  history 
— among  the  best  specimens  of  Scotch  prose  that  have  come  to  us 
from  the  "writer's  age.  Besides  these,  and  some  minor  treatises,  Bel- 
lenden  is  the  author  of  a  work  of  considerable  length  in  verse,  called 
'The  Proheme  of  the  Cosmographie,'  an  amplification  of  the  ancient 
apologue  of  the  '  Choice  of  Hercules,'  that  may  in  several  passages  be 
favourably  compared  with  Hawes's  'Pastime  of  Pleasure.'  It  is  worthy 
of  note  tliat,  wliile  adhering  to  the  conservative  party  in  the  Church, 
and  an  opponent  of  religious  reform,  Bellenden  was  an  advocate  of 
liberal  measures  in  general  politics.  The  combination  is  common 
among  his  countrymen. 

Among  other  writers  in  the  same  path  during  the  same  age,  it 
may  here  suffice  to  mention  James  Inglis,  abbot  of  Culross,  author 
of  a  poem  entitled  '  A  general  satire,'  and  possibly  of  a  curious 
specimen  of  old  Scotch  prose,  '  The  Complaynt  of  Scotland  ; '  Alex- 
ander Barclay,  a  Scot  by  birth,  author  of  '  the  Ship  of  Fools  ; '  Sir 
EiCHARD  Maitland,  father  of  tlie  famous  Lethington,  and  author  in 
his  old  age  of  several  light  satirical  verses,  in  which  Protestant  and 
Roman  Catholic  errors  are  rejirimanded  with  equal  severity ;  Wil- 
liam Lauder,  a  sermonizer,  and  a  denouncer  also  of  Popish  doctrine 
and  Protestant  avarice ;  George  Bannatyne,  a  diligent  guardian  of 


XXXiV  PREFACE. 

old  verse,  himself  the  author  of  some  very  readahle  lines ;  Egbert 
Semple,  a  voluminous  versifier  of  wars,  in  which  he  seems  to  have 
had  part,  as  well  as  Adgorous  assailant  of  the  Bishop  of  St  Andi^ew's  ; 
and  AxEXAXDER  Arbuthxot,  the  learned  and  judicious  principal  of 
King's  College,  Aherdeen,  author  of  some  legal  treatises,  and  a  col- 
lection of  poems  entitled  '  The  Scholar's  Miseries,'  in  which  he  sets 
forth  in  fairly  humorous  verse  the  difficulties,  temptations,  and 
troubles  of  a  poor  scholar  striving  to  he  honest.  Among  his  other 
pieces  there  is  a  sprightly  eulogiuni  on  the  fair  sex,  entitled  '  The 
Praises  of  Women,'  which  seems  to  have  been  composed  in  answer  to 
some  satire  of  the  age.  To  a  somewhat  higher  rank  belong  the  verses 
of  Alexander  Scott,  a  gracefid  poet  of  Queen  Mary's  reign,  who  has 
been  called  the  Scotch  Anacreon.  The  date  of  his  birth,  his  profes- 
sion; and  parentage,  are  doubtful,  though  the  introduction  of  technical 
terms  into  his  writings  has  given  rise  to  the  belief  that  he  was  a 
jurist.  He  seems  to  have  leant  moderately  to  the  side  of  the  reform- 
ing party  in.  the  Church,  but  his  verses  are  for  the  most  part  personal 
and  amatory.  From  himseK  we  learn  that  he  was  married,  and  de- 
serted by  his  wife,  a  mishap  from  Avhich  his  elastic  temper  made  an 
easy  recovery,  leading  him  in  his  ripe  years  to  satirize  women  in. 
general,  and  yet  leaving  him  the  wish  to  be  a  lover  in  particular. 
The  verses  with  the  refrain,  '  Abide  with  her  thou  lovest  best,'  are 
marked  by  even  more  than  his  usual  elegance ;  as  also  the  others, 
which  open  Avith  the  stanza, — 

'  Keturn  thee,  heart,  homeward  again, 

And  bide  where  thou  wast  wont  to  he  ; 
Thou  art  a  fool  to  suffer  pain 

For  love  of  her  that  loves  not  thee. 

This  poet  is  fond  of  addressing  his  heart,  but  he  persuades  us  that 
it  Avas  incapable  of  receiving  very  deep  impressions.  His  playfid 
rondels  skim  over  the  surface  of  liglit  emotions  like  the  Carews  and 
Sucklings  of  the  next  age  of  English  verse.  Scott's  longest  composi- 
tion is  a  '  Xew- Year's  Gift  to  Queen  ?dary  when  she  first  came  home,' 
in  1562,  but  its  poetical  merit  is  inferior  to  its  historical  interest.  He 
is  also  the  author  of  a  humorous  piece,  written  after  the  model  and 
in  the  measure  of  '  Christ's  Kirk  o'  the  Green,'  entitled  '  A  Jousting 
between  Adamson  and  Sym.'     It  may  be  compared  with  Dunbar's 


A    SKETCH    OF    SCOTTISH    POETRY.  XXXV 

'Tailor  and  Souter,'  or  tlie  old  English  'Tournament  of  Tottenham.' 
These,  with  a  few  compositions  of  anonjanous  or  doubtful  authorship, 
nearly  complete  the  list  of  works  written  in  Scotland  during  this 
period,  which  were  unconnected  with  the  ecclesiastical  movements  of 
the  age. 

2.  The  powerful  minds  of  this  era  were  all  more  or  less  concerned 
in  those  movements ;  they  were  the  soul  and  body  of  the  time,  and 
its  really  influential  literature  gave  to  them  their  form  and  pressure. 
In  Scotland,  as  elsewhere  during  the  16th  century,  the  satirists  of 
the  old  were  playing  into  the  hands  of  the  advocates  of  the  new  order 
of  things,  and  with  more  or  less  of  deliberate  intention  preparing  the 
way  for  the  approaching  change.  The  interests  of  the  Protestant 
Church  were  supported  in  the  lighter  walks  of  literature  by  several 
writers  whose  efforts  may  be  classified  as  positive  and  negative,  i.  e. 
those  who  helped  to  give  currency  to  the  doctrines  and  new  forms  of 
worship  of  the  reformers,  and  those  who,  directly  or  indirectly,  threw 
various  amounts  of  ridicule  on  the  creed  and  ceremonial  of  the  Roman 
CathoKcs.  Under  the  first  head  there  fall  a  number  of  versified  trans- 
lations of  the  Psalms  and  other  parts  of  Scripture,  especially  the  par- 
ables of  the  'New  Testament,  which  became  popular  in  Scotland  during 
the  same  age  when  Sternhold  and  Hopkins  were  performing  the  same 
work  for  the  English  Puritans.  It  is  curious  to  observe  that  many  of 
the  religious  pieces  of  this  date  were  fitted  to  old  ballad  and  hunting 
tunes,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  the  airs  of  the  Latin  liturgy  were 
travestied  by  the  accomj^aninient  of  ribald  words.  The  seriousness  of 
the  new  thought  was  invading  the  province  of  the  light  music  of  the  old 
world,  while  the  burlesque  of  innovation  fastened  itself  to  the  solemn 
chants  of  the  ancient  service.  Among  the  invectives  of  those  days, 
many  of  the  most  pungent  were  anonymous.  The  best  known  among 
their  lesser  authors  were  John  Davidson,  Eegent  of  St  Leonards' 
College ;  Alexander  Cunningham,  Earl  of  Glencairn,  who,  with 
Knox,  was  zealously  employed  in  pulling  down  the  crows'  nests  ;  and 
Henry  Belnaves,  of  Kirkcaldy,  one  of  the  defenders  of  the  castle  of 
St  Andrew's.  But  the  service  rendered  on  the  continent  to  the  cause 
of  reform  by  the  learning  and  wit  of  Erasmus,  was  in  our  country 
shared  by  two  writers,  Lyndesay  and  Buchanan,  and  we  now  pass 


XXXVl  PREFACE. 

from  a  comparatively  barren  catalogue  of  minor  names  to  a  short 
survey  of  the  career  and  -writings  of  the  former. 

Sir  David  Lyndesay  was  the  eldest  son  of  David  Lyndesay  of 
the  Mount,  in  Fifeshire,  in  which  county  he  was  born,  probably 
about  the  year  1490,  the  junior  by  ten  years  of  Luther  and  Sir 
Thomas  More,  the  senior  by  ten  years  of  Knox  and  Buchanan,  In 
1508  he  was  a  student  of  St  Andrew's,  and  passed  from  the  nni- 
versity  to  the  service  of  the  court.  In  1513  he  was  present  with 
James  IV.  in  the  chapel  at  Linlithgow,  when  the  supposed  apparition 
came  to  warn  that  monarch  agamst  undertaking  the  expedition  Avhich 
resulted  in  the  disaster  of  Flodden.  Subsequently  he  was  for  some 
years  attendant,  or  gentleman-usher,  to  the  young  prince  James  V., 
a  cu'cumstance  to  which  he  alludes  in  the  course  of  those  frequent 
appeals  for  promotion  which  recall  to  our  minds  the  similar  petitions 
of  Dunbar. 

In  the  introduction  to  his  'Dreme'   (1528)  he  thus  appeals  to 

the  kindly  memories  of  the  monarch,  then  just  entering  on  his  regal 

office : — 

'  Quhen  thou  wes  young,  I  bure  the  in  myne  arme 
Full  tenderlie,  till  thou  begowth  to  gang  ; 
And  in  thy  bed  oft  happet  the  full  warme  ; 
With  lute  in  hand,  syne  sof  tlie  to  the  sang  ; ' 

'then  he  tells  him  how,  mingling  amusement  with  instruction,  he 
entertained  his  childhood  with  the  heroic  feats  of  Alexander  and 
Arthur,  with  '  tales  of  Thebes  and  Troy  divine.'  A  year  later,  in  the 
'  Complayut,'  he  again  reminds  the  prince, 

'  Quhow,  as  ane  Chapman  beris  his  pak 
I  bure  thy  grace  upon  my  bale  ; 
And,  sumtymes  strydlingis  on  my  nek 
Dansand  with  mony  bend  and  bek, 
The  first  sillabis  that  thow  did  muto 
Was,  "  pa  da  lyn,  upon  the  lute  ;  "  ' 

adding  a  suggestive  reference  to  the  gossip  of  the  court, — 

'  Than  men  tyll  uther  did  rccorde 
Said  Lyiidsay  wald  be  maid  ane  lorde, 
Thow  hes  maid  lordis,  schir,  be  sanct  Geill, 
Off  sum  that  hes  nocht  seruit  so  weill.' 

On  another  occasion  we  hear  of  his  mingling  personal  remonstrance 
with  his  characteristic  vein  of  satire.     This  circumstance  is  narrated 


A    SKETCH    OF    SCOTTISH    POETRY.  XXXVil 

as  follows  : — '  The  king  being  one  day  surrounded  by  a  numerous 
train  of  nobility  and  prelates,  Lyndesay  declared  liimself  a  candidate 
for  an  office  that  had  lately  become  vacant.  "  I  have,"  said  he, 
"  servit  your  grace  lang,  and  luik  to  bo  rewardit  as  others  are ;  and 
now  your  maistcr  taylor,  at  the  pleasure  of  God,  is  departit,  wherefore 
I  would  desire  of  your  grace  to  bestow  this  little  benefit  upon  me." 
The  king  replied  that  he  was  amazed  at  such  an  application  from  a 
person  who  could  neither  shape  nor  sew.  "  Sir,"  rejoined  the  poet, 
"  that  males  nae  matter ;  for  you  have  given  bishoprics  and  benefices 
to  mony  standing  here  about  you,  and  yet  they  can  neither  teach  nor 
preach." '  *  This  satire  is  perhaps  not  exclusively  applicable  to  Lynde- 
say's  age ;  but  as  he  liimself  appears  to  have  enjoyed  a  comfortable 
pension  in  addition  to  the  revenue  from  his  estate,  it  is  not  easy  to 
feel  much  sympathy  with  his  demands  for  a  peerage.  In  1530,  how- 
ever, two  years  after  the  accession  of  James  to  the  throne,  he  was 
knighted,  and  made  Lyon-king  of  Arms,  or  chief  court  herald,  in 
which  capacity  he  was,  during  the  following  year,  despatched  on  an 
embassy  to  the  Emperor  Charles  at  Brussels.  The  year  1535  was 
made  memorable  in  Lyndesay's  literary  career  by  the  representation  of 
the  great  and  severe  '  IMorality,'  entitled  the  '  Satyre  of  the  Thrie 
Estaitis.'  In  this  satire  he  came  boldly  before  the  public  as  a  censor 
of  ecclesiastical  corruption,  biit  it  contains  comjjaratively  Httle  that 
is  absolutely  inconsistent  Avith  the  essential  j^rofessions  of  a  good 
Catholic,  and  we  learn  from  a  letter  of  Sir  William  Eure,  dated  1540, 
that  its  publication  was  supposed  to  have  been  of  really  effective 
service  in  imposing  a  check  on  '  the  naughtiness  in  religion,  the  pre- 
sumption of  bishops,  the  collusion  of  the  Consistory  courts,  and  the 
inisusing  of  priests,'  that  were  so  prevalent.  In  the  same  year  we 
hear  of  the  poet's  being  sent  on  another  embassy  with  a  view  to  the 
negotiation  of  a  royal  marriage,  an  event  to  Avhich  he  refers  in  a  line 
of  the  remarkably  vigorous,  if  not  always  delicate,  verses,  entitled, 
'The  answer  to  the  Kingis  Fly  ting.'     The  line — 

*  Sum  sayis  thare  cummis  ane  bukler  f  urlh  of  France ' 

points  to  1536  as  the  date  of  the  composition.     In  1537  the  king's 

'  Soe  Henry  Charteris's  Preface  to  Lyndesay's  Works,  ?«//•«,  p.  4*. 


XXXVlll  PREFACE. 

wife,  Magdalene,  died,  Avithin  forty  days  after  lier  arrival  in  Scotland, 
and  before  her  coronation,  for  wliicli  great  preparations  had  been 
made,  took  place.  Lyndesay  wrote  a  dirge,  or  '  Deploratiotin,'  on  the 
event,  Avhich,  although  evidently  the  expression  of  a  second-hand 
grief,  is  marked  by  a  classic  mournfiilness,  a  sustained  dignity,  suit- 
able to  the  commemoration  of  a  nation's  loss,  and  here  and  there  by 
a  touch  of  pathos.  It  may  be  compared,  though  unfavourably,  with 
Chaucer's  '  Lament  for  the  Duchess.'  The  metre  is  the  Chaucerian 
rhyme  royal,  and  the  1 47th  line, 

'  Twynkling  lyke  sterris  iu  ane  frostie  nycht,' 

points  to  the  Avriter's  familiarity  with  the  Prologue  to  the  Canterbury 
Tales,  from  which  it  is  transcribed  verbatim.  In  allusion  to  the  un- 
timely plucking  of  the  'heuinly  flour  of  France,'  the  Rose,  from  the 
stem  of  the  royal  Thistle  on  to  which  it  had  been  grafted,  he  grace- 
fully concludes — 

'  Thocht  rute  be  pullit  frome  the  leuis  grene 
The  smell  of  it  sail  in  dispyte  of  thee 
Keip  ay  twa  Eealmes  in  Peice  &  Amite,' 

a  prediction  which  the  new  alliance  in  the  following  year,  with  Mary 
of  Guise — although  neither  very  gracious  to  the  memory  of  the  late 
queen,  nor  fortunate  for  the  interests  of  our  nation — helped  to  make 
good.  In  1542  the  poet  was  present  at  Falkland,  and  witnessed  the 
death  of  the  king,  who  had  throughout  his  career  treated  him  with  a 
conspicuous  and,  under  some  of  the  circumstances,  a  remarkable  fa- 
vour. Shortly  afterwards  Ave  hear  of  Lyndesay  as  one  of  the  adher- 
ents of  Arran's  regency.  From  1543-46,  an  interval  Avhich  indicates 
a  gap  iu  liis  literary  career,  he  sat  in  parliament  as  the  representative 
of  his  county,  and  as  late  as  1548  he  continued  to  be  employed  by 
the  government  on  important  missions  to  Holland  and  Denmark. 
MeanAvhile,  in  154G,  the  assassiiiation  of  Cardinal  Beaton,  an  event 
Avhich  the  poet  celebrates  Avithout  regret  in  his  '  Tragcdie,'  marked 
the  first  crisis  of  the  Ileformation.  Lyndesay,  AAdio  had  ahvays  been 
a  Protestant,  and  now  avowed  it  openly,  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
insurgents.  He  Avas  present  in  1547  Avith  the  garrison  in  the  castle  of 
St  AndreAv's,  and  would  have  had  a  claim  on  our  remembrance,  if  for 
nothing  else,  fi'om  the  fact  that  he  Avas  among  the  most  urgent  of  those 


A   SKETCH   or   SCOTTISH   POETRY.  XXxix 

there  assembled  in  persuading  Knox  to  assume  the  spiritual  du'ection 
of  afiairs.  In  1550  he  wrote  his  '  Squire  Meldrum,'  a  tale  of  chivalry 
grafted  on  a  basis  of  modern  manners,  the  spirit  of  which  is  some- 
what alien  to  that  of  the  sterner  section  of  the  reformers  with  whom 
the  poet  had  become  associated ;  and  thi'ee  years  later  his  '  Monarche,' 
the  most  elaborate,  if  not  the  most  striking,  of  his  works,  wliich  pro- 
bably conveys  his  matured  views  of  religious  history. 

In  1555  we  hear  of  Lyndesay  presiding  over  a  meeting  of  heralds, 
held  for  the  purpose  of  pronouncing  on  some  disputed  point  of  his 
pseudo-science.  In  his  latter  days  he  retired  to  his  family  seat,  the 
Mount,  and  died  at  some  date  previous  to  1558.  He  left  behind  him 
some  tracts  on  heraldry,  and,  according  to  one  account,  a  history  of 
his  own  times  in  Latin  ;  if  tliis  existed,  it  has  not  been  preserved, 
and  his  reputation  as  a  writer  depends  on  his  poems.  These  are  all 
more  or  less  connected  mth  the  condition  and  government  of  Scot- 
land during  the  times  in  which  he  lived.  To  the  lightest  as  to  the 
gravest — ranging  from  sombre  allegories  and  denunciations  of  na- 
tional depravity,  to  lively  ridicide  of  fashionable  follies — he  has 
attached  satirical  and  political  applications. 

'  The  Dreme,'  probably  the  earliest  of  his  Avorks,  is  one  of  the 

most  imaginative.     In  the  prologue  to  this  poem,  which  Dr  Warton 

praises  for  the  richness  of  its  style,  the  poet  is  described  as  rising 

from  his  bed  after  a  sleepless  winter  night,  and  walking  towards  the 

sea-shore. 

'  By  this,'  he  says, '  fair  Ty tane  with  his  lemis  lycht 
Ouer  all  the  land  had  spred  his  baner  biycht.' 

Wandering  on  the  beach,  and  hearing  the  birds  mourn  for  the  simi- 
mer,  he  sees  in  the  cliffs  '  ane  lytill  caue  of  stone,'  and  ensconces 
himself  there  with  the  intention  of  registering  in  rhyme  '  sum  mery 
matter  of  Antiquitie.'  But,  as  often  occurs  to  would-be  poets  in 
similar  circumstances, 

*  Bot  Idelnes,  ground  of  iniquitie, 
Scho  maid  so  dull  my  spretis  me  within 
That  I  wyste  nocht  at  quhat  end  to  begin.' 

Then  by  the  weltering  of  the  waves,  which  remind  him  of  '  the  false 
world's  instability/  he  is  lulled  asleep,  and  led  in  fantasy  by  Dame 


Xl  TREFACE. 

liemembrance,  as  Sackville  ty  tlie  sliade  of  sorroAv,  '  in  twinkling  of 

ane  ee '  '  down  tlirongli  the  eird '  to  the  nether  world.     There  he  sees 

abundance  of  popes,  kings,  emj)erors,   and  cardinals ;  among  them 

]S^ero  and  Pharaoh,  and  '  divers  princes  mo,' — '  Oppressouris  of  the 

barnis  of  Israeli,' — of  '  Emprices,  Quenis,  and  ladyis  of  hononris,'  and 

reflects  on  their  vices  ;  nest,  he  passes  to  purgatory,  with  the  safe 

remark, — 

'  But  yit  I  do  believe  and  ever  sail 
That  the  trew  kirk  can  no  waye  err  at  all. 
Sic  thing  to  be  gret  clerkis  dois  conclude, 
Quhowbeit  my  hope  standis  most  in  Cristis  blud.' 

He  is  then  hurried  through  limbo,  the  abode  of  unbaptized  infants 

— where,  as  in  Vu'gil's  hades,  'mony  babbis  ware  makand  drery  mone' 

— and  the  heathen  of  old  time,  to  the  upper  air,   and  the  seven 

spheres,  and  the  region  of  the  moon,  '  Queen  of  the  sea  and  beauty  of 

the  night.'     Lastly,  in  a  flight  beyond  the  stars,  he  ascends,  like 

Dante,  to  the  empyrean  ;  there  he  wishes  to  remain,  but  he  is  warned 

by  Eemembrance  that  he  must  first  pass  through  the  toils  of  earth. 

In  returning  there,  through  many  '  goodly  states  and  kingdoms,'  he 

catches  a  glimpse  of  the  garden  of  Eden,  the  description  of  which 

presents  some  remarkable  points  of  comparison  with  that  of  Milton. 

'Nex.t,  the  poet  sees  his  native  country,  and  breaks  into  a  soliloquy  on 

the  charm  of  her  rivers,  fountains,  forests,  the  wealth  of  her  mines, 

and  the  abundance  of  everything  needful  for  human  wants  and 

luxuries.     In  the  midst  of  this  he  wonders 

'  That  rj'ches  suld  uocht  in  this  realme  redound,' 

and  his  conductress  answers, — 

'  As  for  the  land  it  lakis  na  uther  thing 
Bot  laubour  and  the  pepylles  governyng.' 

While  she  is  further  expatiating  on  the  causes  which  have  ham- 
pered its  prosperity,  they  encounter  the  figure  of  an  old  man  with 
lean  visage,  who  declares  himself  to  be  Sir  Commonweal,  resolved  to 
quit  a  country  Avhose  Policy  has  gone  to  France,  where  Justice  has 
lost  her  balances,  where  A\'"rong  is  captain  of  the  ordinance,  and  it  is 
impossible  betwixt  the  Merse  and  Lochmabcn  to  tell  an  honest  man 
from  a  thief.  Tliis  leads  to  a  general  satire  on  all  classes  of  the  com- 
munity, in  the  course  of  which  the  ecclesiastics  come  in  for  their  full 


A    SKETCH    OF    SCOTTISH    POETRY.  xli 

share  of  censure.  Sir  Commonweal  then  takes  his  departure.  The 
poet  is  carried  back  to  his  cavern,  and  roused  from  his  dream  by  the 
firing  of  cannon  from  a  neighbouring  vessel.  He  concludes  with  an 
exhortation  to  the  king  to  rule  his  realm  in  unity  and  peace,  to 
maintain  justice,  live  temperately,  and  take  an  honest  wife,  remem- 
bering that  the  day  will  come  when  he  too  must  stand  at  the  same 
judgment  bar  as  all  those  emperors  and  popes. 

In  one  of  the  lines  of  the  above-mentioned  poem.  Sir  Common- 
weal is  made  to  exclaim — 

'  Wo  to  the  realme  that  has  ouir  young  ane  king. 

In  Lyndesay's  '  Complaynt,'  written  in  the  follo-\\ing  year,  this 
thought  is  enlarged,  and  the  poet,  in  a  remonstrance  addressed  to 
James  liimself,  laments  the  evil  results  of  the  premature  committal 
of  the  government  into  his  hands,  and  the  false  system  of  education 
into  which  he  was  betrayed  by  his  flatterers.  The  freedom  of  this 
expostulation  is,  at  least,  as  remarkable  as  its  vigour ;  and  it  reflects 
no  small  credit  on  the  youtliful  monarch  that  he  was  content  to 
.  answer  the  appeal  of  his  outsj)oken  adviser  by  some  verses  of  his 
own.  In  the  course  of  the  '  Complaynt,'  Lyndesay  indicates  that  he 
had  already  gone  more  than  half  across  the  border-line  of  Protestant 
and  Eoman  Catholic  beliefs,  for  he  prays  his  grace  to  cause  the 
spiritualitie  of  the  realm 

'  To  preche  •with  unfenjeit  intentis 
And  treuly  use  the  sacramentis 
Efter  Christis  institutionis, 
Leujaig  thare  vaine  traditiounis 
Quhilkis  dois  the  syllie  seheip  illude 
Quhanie  for  Christ  lesug  sched  his  blude — 
As  superstitious  pylgramagis 
Prayand  to  ffvaiihi  ymagis 
Expres  agan'is  the  Lordis  command.^ 

The  date  1530  is,  on  the  authority  of  the  earliest  printed  edition, 
that  of  the  '  Testament  of  the  Papyngo,'  in  which,  under  the  mask 
of  two  epistles  to  the  king  from  a  favourite  and  mortally-wounded 
parrot,  another  direct  attack  is  made  on  the  more  flagrant  corruptions 
of  the  Church.  It  has  been  observed  that  in  this  poem  Lyndesay  fol- 
lows the  steps  of  Wyclyffe,  in  attributing  the  profligacy  of  the  clergy 
in  great  measure  to  their  wealth,  and  in  insisting  on  the  desirability 


Xlii  PREFACE. 

of  a  return  to  the  poverty  of  the  apostolic  age.  This  error  of  ex- 
aggeration— if  it  be  so — was  more  consistently  upheld  by  the  English 
than  by  the  Scotch  reformer,  whose  own  personal  requisites  showed 
no  genuine  disdain  of  the  good  things  of  the  world ;  but  it  was  a 
sentiment  naturally  engendered  by  the  study  of  Church  history,  and 
the  observation  of  the  parallel  growth  of  luxury  and  indifference 
among  the  higher  ecclesiastics. 

Perhajjs  the  most  remarkable  verses  in  Lyndesay's  '  Papyngo  '  are 
those  in  which,  folloAving  in  the  track  of  Juvenal  and  all  later  satirists, 
he  dilates  on  the  text  of  Horace— 

'  f eriuntque  summos 
Fulmina  montes.' 

The  history  of  the  Stewarts,  which,  in  the  soberest  record,  reads 
like  a  series  of  chapters  from  the  '  De  casibus  virorum  illustrium,^ 
supplies  him  with  ample  material  for  the  enlargement,  and  he  puts  it 
to  effective  rhetorical,  if  not  poetical,  use.  The  tragedies  of  the  luck- 
less race  are  brought  before  us  in  a  review,  which  is  sufficiently  im- 
pressive, even  though,  when  Lyndesay  wrote,  the  crowning  tragedy 
of  the  Stewart  Queen  had  not  yet  been  enacted.  From  the  fate  of 
James  IV.  the  poet  passes  to  a  consideration  of  the  rise  and  temporary 
disgrace  of  James  Beaton,  Archbishop  of  St  Andrew's,  who,  as 

Chancellare  and  primate  in  power  pastorall 
Clam,  nyxt  the  kyng  most  heycli  in  this  rogioun 
The  ledder  schuke,  he  lape,  and  gat  ane  fall.' 

He  then  proceeds  to  discourse  of  Wolsey  in  terms  that  might  have 
afforded  a  hint  to  Shakspeare.  Sixteen  years  afterwards,  when  David 
Beaton,  the  nephew  of  the  former  chancellor,  had  risen  to  still  greater 
eminence  and  notoriety,  and,  similarly  abusing  his  poAver,  had  paid  by 
his  own  death  for  the  murder  of  Wishart,  Lyndesay  was,  as  Ave  have 
seen,  found  consenting  to  his  fate.  In  the  '  Tragedy  of  the  Cardinal ' 
he  puts  into  the  mouth  of  the  dead  potentate  a  confession  of  his  pat;t 
ambitious  treasons,  a  vivid  narrative  of  his  doleful  end,  a  solemn 
warning  to  liis  brother  ecclesiasts  to  take  warning  from  his  fate,  and 
an  exhortation  to  princes  to  clioose  their  servants  warily  and  well. 
Some  of  the  lines  in  this  piece  are  among  the  most  impressive  in  the 
author's  works.     It  was  avowedly  suggested  by  Boccaccio,  and  may 


A    SKETCH    OF    SCOTTISH    POETRY.  xliii 

be  compared  witli  Dunbar's  'Testament  of  Kennedy.'  Lyndesay 
more  than  once  Ijorrowed  from  Chaucer.  It  is  im2:)ossihle  to  read 
the  '  Mirror  for  jMagistrates  '  side  by  side  vnih  the  '  Papyngo,'  and 
the  verses  on  Beaton,  without  feeKng  convinced  that  Sackville  must 
have  afterwards  borroAved  from  Lyndesay 

Of  Lyndesay's  other  minor  pieces,  the  most  prominent  are  tlie 
'  Complaynt  of  Bagsche,'  an  old  dog  of  the  court,  who,  having  been 
replaced  by  a  fresh  favourite,  is  made  the  mouth-piece  of  a  lament 
on  the  changes  of  fortune,  and  some  good  advice  thus  indirectly 
proferred  to  the  new  courtiers  of  the  time ;  the  *  Jousting  of 
Watson  and  Barbour,'  Avhich  again  recalls  Dunbar's  '  Tailor  and 
Souter,'  ridiculing  at  once  the  medical  profession  to  Avhich  those 
gentlemen  belonged  and  the  fantastic  fashion  of  tournaments ;  '  the 
Supplication  to  the  King  in  contemplation  of  Syde  Taillis,'  a  satirical 
assaidt  on  the  long  trains  which  appear  to  have  been  worn  by  the 
court  ladies  of  that  age,  whose  robes  and  veils  seem  to  have  excited 
a  greater  amount  of  indignation  in  the  mind  of  the  morahst  than  the 
occasion  could  well  have  called  for;  and  'Kitteis  Confessioun,'  a  some- 
what elaborate  attack,  belonging  to  about  the  year  1541,  on  one  of  the 
most  essential  ceremonies  of  the  Church.  Many  of  Lyndesay's  refer- 
ences point  to  abuses  of  the  confessional,  as  an  instrument  of  inquisi- 
tion into  the  details  of  private  life,  precisely  similar  to  those  which 
are,  with  Avhatever  amount  of  justice,  complained  of  in  this  century. 
In  one  suggestive  passage  the  girl,  into  whose  mouth  the  verses  are 
I")ut,  refers  to  the  substitution,  not  peculiar  to  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  of  scarce  intelligible  formularies  for  good  works, :'  She  is 
speaking  of  her  confessor — 

'  And  melde  Latin  he  did  mumniil 
I  hard  na  thing  but  hummil  bumniil 


He  bade  me  nocht  to  Christ  be  kynd 
To  keip  his  law  with  hart  and  mynd 

And  lufe  my  neighbour  as  my  sell 
Of  this  na  thenlc  he  could  me  tell 
But  gave  me  penance  ilk  ane  day 
An  Ave  Marie  for  to  say 

Of  all  this  penance  I  was  glaid 
I  had  thame  all  parqueir  I  said 


Xliv  PREFACE. 

To  mow  &  steill  I  ken  the  pryce 

Yet  is  it  noclit  bot  mennis  drame 
The  people  to  confound  &  schame.' 

He  ends,  however,  with,  a  commendation  of  confession  as  iiractised 
in  the  'gude  kirk  primitive,'  to  which,  with  equal  confidence,  the  re- 
formers of  the  Church  have  in  all  times  been  wont  to  refer. 

In  his  history  of  '  Squyre  IMeldram,'  of  a  later  date  (1550), 
Lyndesay  comes  before  us  in  another  light,  weaving  into  the  form  of 
a  metrical  romance  the  career  and  exploits  of  a  contemporary  Scotch 
laird.  This,  both  from  the  liveliness  of  the  narrative,  which  is  fre- 
quently entertaining,  the  frequent  elegance  of  the  descriptions,  and 
the  general  smoothness  of  the  verse,  is  one  of  the  most  pleasing  of 
the  author's  works.  It  opens  with  a  reference  to  the  antique  tales, 
after  which  it  is  avowedly  modelled ;  in  particular,  to  Chaucer's  Troylus 
and  the  Lancelot  of  Arthurian  tradition,  with  whom,  it  is  averred, 
the  hero  will  bear  a  very  favoiu'able  comparison ;  he  is  then  de- 
scribed in  glowing  colours,  stalwart,  and  stout  of  frame,  brave,  and 
courteous,  and  honourable,  a  lamb  among  ladies,  a  lion  among  men. 
"We  are  then  told  of  his  feats  of  prowess,  when  the  Scotch  admiral 
sailed  against  England,  and  of  his  rescuing  a  lady  who  was  beset  by 
ruffians.  The  Squire  then  proceeds  to  France,  where  he  wrought 
great  deeds,  under  the  Earl  of  Arran,  overpowering  in  a  tournament, 
which  is  described  at  graphic  length,  a  notorious  Enghsh  champion, 
who  was  something  of  a  braggart.  After  more  feats  in  ISTormandy,  he 
sets  sail  with  his  companions  for  Scotland ;  on  the  way,  they  en- 
counter an  English  man-of-war,  and,  from  its  superior  size,  are  in 
danger  of  being  overpowered ;  but  the  squire  leads  an  assault  on  the 
enemies'  vessel,  and,  defeating  the  captain  in  single  combat,  takes 
Iiim  prisoner,  after,  in  remarkably  courteous  terms,  sparing  his  life. 
In  reaching  his  native  country,  the  knight  lodges  in  a  castle,  possessed 
by  a  fair  young  widow,  to  whom,  as  ^neas  to  Dido,  and,  with  a 
Bimihir  result,  he  narrates  his  adventures.  The  love  scene  which 
follows  is  very  lively,  and,  though  recalling  some  of  the  passages  from 
the  old  '  Morte  D' Arthur,'  original  in  its  details.  The  squire  and  lady 
arc  virtually  affianced,  but  obstacles  intervene  to  prevent  tlieir  formal 
union.    Meanwhile,  his  good  fortune  excites  the  jealousy  of  an  evilly- 


A    SKETCH    OF    SCOTTISH    POETRY.  xlv 

disposed  neiglibour ;  he  is  beset  "by  a  number  of  ruffians,  and,  after 
a  scuffle,  nearly  resembling  that  of  the  brave  knight  in  the  *  Braes  of 
Yarrow,'  is  nearly  done  to  death.  The  tragedy  is  that,  when  his 
wounds  are  healed,  he  finds  his  lady  married  to  another.  The  whole 
poem  is  a  remarkable  instance  of  the  successful  adaptation  of  the 
manners  of  one  age  to  the  facts  of  another. 

The  earlier  of  Lyndesay's  two  longest  works,  the  '  Satyre  of  the 
Thrie  Estaits,'  is  interesting  in  itself  as  a  well-sustained  invective 
against  the  follies  and  vices  of  the  time,  and  as  being  the  first 
approach  to  a  regular  dramatic  comj^osition  in  Scotch  literature,  the 
ground  having  been  previously  occupied  only  by  some  of  the  rudest 
of  the  old  mysteries  and  pageants.  This  play,  wliich  is,  in  fact,  a 
*  Morality '  on  a  large  scale,  was  acted  at  Cupar,  in  1535.  "\Ve  are 
informed  that  the  court  of  King  James  sat  nine  hours  to  listen  to  it, 
and  are  reheved  to  learn,  from  lines  1910 — 25,  that  there  was  a 
break  in  the  middle,  to  allow  the  audience  to  refresh  and  restore 
themselves. 

The  '  Satyre '  is  introduced,  after  the  fashion  of  the  moralities, 
by  a  prologue,  put  into  the  mouth  of  '  Diligence,'  who,  in  some  re- 
markably alliterative  lines,  beginnuag — 

'  The  Father  &  founder  of  faith  &  felicite 
Tliat  your  fashion  formed  to  his  similitude 
And  his  sone  our  Saviour  scheild  in  necessitie,' 

ushers  in  King  Humanity.  This  monarch  enters  on  the  stage  with  a 
speech  fidl  of  the  best  resolutions,  but  presently  he  is  seduced  by 
the  arguments  of  three  evil  counsellors,  Wantonness,  Placebo,  and 
Solace,  to  send  for  a  notorious  beauty,  called  Sensuality,  who, 
serving  Queen  Yenus,  corrupts  his  court,  especially  his  clergy,  and, 
for  a  season,  himself.  In  her  train  are  three  other  personages.  Flat- 
tery, Falsehood,  and  Deceit,  who,  after  discoursing  for  some  time  in 
propria  j^ersond,  take  the  names  of  Devotion,  Wisdom,  and  Discre- 
tion, and  are  installed,  like  Avolves  in  sheeji's  clothiiag,  as  Confessor, 
Counsellor,  and  Treasurer  to  the  king,  Avhom  they  address  in  charac- 
ter. Flattery  telling  him,  in  a  passage  where  there  is  an  amusing 
jumble  of  little  and  great,  that  he  is  destined  to  conquer,  among 
other  nations — 


Xlvi  TREFACE. 

'  Spittelfield  &  the  realm  of  Spain, 
Kenfrew  and  all  the  reahne  of  Franc^ 
Yea  Rugland'  and  all  the  realme  of  Eome       ['  Rutliergien] 
Corstorphine  and  all  Christendom.' 

The  unsuspicious  sovereign  welcomes  tlie  impostors,  wliose  first 
eflforts  are  successfully  directed  to  resist  three  new-comers,  who  try- 
to  bring  back  better  manners  to  the  court.  First,  Good  Counsel,  on 
false  information  given  to  the  king,  is  driven  into  exile ;  then 
Veritie  appears  with  good  ad\dce  to  princes  on  her  lips, 
'And  in  hir  hand  beirand  the  New  Testament ; ' 
but  as  this  is  '  in  English  toung  &  printit  in  England,'  the  first  estate 
sjnritual  unanimously  denounce  her  as  a  heretic,  who,  with  '  all  thir 
Lutberians,'  sbould  be  destroyed  by  fire.  Refusing  to  recant  her 
opinions,  Truth  is  finally  laid  in  the  stocks,  having  first  given  utter- 
ance to  the  boldly  emphatic  words  : — 

'  For  our  Christ's  sake  I  am  richt  M-eill  content 
To  suffer  all  thing  that  sail  pleis  his  grace 

Howheit  ye  put  ane  thowsand  to  torment 

Ten  hundreth  thowsand  sail  rise  into  their  place. 

Get  up  !  thou  sleipis  all  too  lang,  O  Lord, 

And  mak  sum  ressonabill  reformatioun 

On  them  that  dois  tramp  doun  thy  gracious  word.' 

Next,  Chastity  comes  forward ;  being  indignantly  repulsed  by  the 
second  estate,  the  lords  temporal,  she  seeks  refuge  with  tlie  third,  that 
of  the  craftsmen,  but  she  is  driven  away  by  the  citizens'  wives,  and 
laid  in  durance  along  with  Truth. 

A  varlet  now  enters,  announcing  the  approach  of  '  King  Divine 
Correction,'  who  turns  out  to  be  a  more  powerful  champion  of  the 
right.     Deceit,  Flattery,  and  Falsehood  take  fright : 

'  Remaine  we  heir,  be  God  him  sell 
We  will  be,  al  thre,  hangit,' 

and  ultimately  run  away  with  the  strong  box  of  their  master.  Then 
Correction  comes  on  the  stage  in  person,  and,  after  delivering  a 
sermon,  in  which  a  very  modern  view  of  sovereignty  is  set  fortli, — 

•  Quhat  is  ane  king  ?  nocht  but  ane  officiar 
To  caus  his  leiges  live  in  equitie,' 

compels  Humanity  to  reinstall  Good  Counsel,  Trath,  and  Chastity  in 
l)is  service,  warning  him  of  the  fates  of  Sardanapalus  and  Tarquin. 


A   SKETCH    OF   SCOTTISH   POETRT.  xlvii 

*  Sensuality '  is  allowed  to  depart  for  Rome,  to  dwell  among  bishops 
and  cardinals.  The  king  is  advised  to  assemble  parliament  for  the 
redress  of  grievances,  and  with  a  proclamation  summoning  this,  the 
first  part  of  the  play  comes  to  an  end. 

The  second  opens  with  an  interview  between  Diligence  and  a 
poor  man,  called  Pauper,  who  tells  how,  when  his  family  fell  into 
misfortunes,  his  father  and  mother  dying,  the  neighbouring  vicar  and 
his  clerk  preyed  ujion  their  property,  till  he  was  stripped  of  every- 
thing, down  to  a  single  groat,  Avhich  he  had  reserved  in  the  vain 
hope  of  obtaining  legal  redress.  Diligence  scouts  his  folly,  and 
while  Pauper  lies  down  to  sleep  over  his  cares,  a  new  personage 
steps  upon  the  stage — the  favourite  butt  of  Langland,  "Wyclyffe,  and 
Chaucer,  the  immediate  provoker  of  Luther's  first  challenge  to  Eome, 
— a  Pardoner,  with  his  relics  for  sale.  After  complaining  that  his 
business  had  been  seriously  injured  by  the  wicked  translators  of  the 
New  Testament,  he  proceeds,  in  the  fashion  of  an  auctioneer,  to 
vaunt  his  wares,  among  wliich  are  oyster-shells  from  Tartary,  the 
horn  of  Colin's  cow,  the  gruntil  of  St  Antony's  sow,  and  the  cord 
that   hanged   John  Armstrong,  proclaiming   to   his  audience,  lilce 

Tetzel— 

'  Thocht  ye  have  na  contritioun 
Ye  sail  have  full  remissioun 
With  help  of  Bulks  ic  bells.' 

This  worthy  is  then  received  into  the  house  of  a  shoemaker,  whom, 
by  a  strange  rite,  he  divorces  from  his  mfe.  Then  follows  a  dialogue 
between  Pauper  and  Pardoner,  in  the  course  of  which  the  latter  takes 
from  the  former  his  solitary  groat.  At  the  end  they  have  a  scuffle, 
and  the  relics  are  thrown  into  the  water.  The  Three  Estates  are  next 
represented  as  coming  from  the  palace,  'going  backwards,  led  by 
their  vices.'  Summoned  before  the  king  in  parliament,  they  suffer  a 
long  rebuke  from  '  Sir  John  the  Commonweill,'  who  comes  forward 
in  person  to  accuse  them,  and,  in  the  course  of  a  long  conversation 
with  Good  Counsel,  Correction,  and  others,  gives,  as  the  sum  of  a 
good  Christian's  belief,  what  amounts  to  an  old  Scotch  version  of  the 
Apostles'  Creed,  followed  up  a  little  later  by  a  plain  practical  sermon 
from  '  Doctour.'     "While  the  various  vices  and  abuses  of  the  day  are 


xlviii  PREFACE. 

coming  in  for  tlieir  share  of  reprehension^  Pauper  again  renews  his 

complaints,  and  gives  the  following  ludicrous  account  of  his  suit  for 

the  recovery  of  a  lost  horse  : — 

'  Many,  I  lent  my  gossip  my  mare,  to  fetch  hame  coals, 
And  he  her  drounit  into  the  quarry  holes; 
And  I  ran  to  the  couslstoiy,  for  to  i)leingie. 
And  there  I  happenit  amang  ane  greedy  meingie. 
They  gave  me  first  ane  thing  they  call  cltandum  ; 
Within  aucht  days  I  gat  but  lihcllandiim  ; 
Within  ane  month  I  gat  ad  opponendum  : 
In  half  ane  year  I  gat  i nter-loquendum, 
And  sj'ne  I  gat — how  call  ye  it  1 — ad  rejillcandiim. 
But  I  could  never  ane  word  yet  understande  him, 
And  then  they  gart  me  cast  out  mony  jilacks, 
And  gart  me  pay  for  four-and-twenty  acts. 
But  or  they  came  half  gate  to  concludendvm, 
The  fiend  ane  plack  was  left  for  to  defend  him. 
Thus  they  postponed  me  twa  year  with  their  train. 
Syne,  liodie  ad  veto  bade  me  come  again  ; 
And  then  thir  rooks  they  rowhit  wonder  fast. 
For  sentence,  silver,  they  cryit  at  the  last ; 
Oipro)iinicla?idum  they  made  me  wonder  fain, 
Hut  I  gat  nccer  my  gude  gray  mare  again.'' 

Shortly  after,  Sir  Commonweal  is  promoted  to  his  j)rop)er  place  of 
dignity  in  the  realm,  and  Diligence  reads  a  set  of  new  Acts  for  its 
"better  regulation,  conspicuous  among  which  are  the  administration  of 
justice  without  respect  of  jDersons,  the  prohibition  of  pluralities  in 
church  livings,  and  the  permission  of  honest  marriage  to  the  clergy. 
Falsehood  and  Deceit  are  then  stripped  of  the  religious  robes  which 
they  have  sacrilegiously  assumed,  and  executed  along  witli  Theft,  wlio 
appears  as  a  personification  of  the  border  clans.  Flattery  escapes  by 
turning  hangman.  At  the  close.  Folly  appears  on  the  stage  with  a 
variety  of  jests,  and  preaches  on  the  text,  '  Stidtorum  numerus 
infinitus.' 

Lyndesay's  'Dialog  concerning  the  Monarche,'  the  longest  and 
also  the  latest  of  his  works,  was  ■written  in  1553,  five  years  before  his 
own  death,  and  twelve  after  that  of  the  king,  the  want  of  Avhose  guid- 
ance, and  the  absence  in  France  of  the  youthful  queen,  he  deplores  in 
the  introductory  Epistil.  In  the  same  prefiice  he  warns  his  reader 
against  looking  in  this  work  for  any  of  the  flowers  of  rhetoric, — it  is 
to  be  a  plain  simjile  history,  Avith  a  moral  attached,  conveying  a  lesson 
of  warning  to  governors,  Avho  are  to  learn  from  it  the  causes  of  the 


A    SKETCH    OF   SCOTTISH    TOETRY.  xlix 

decline  and  fall  of  nations.  In  tlie  opening  of  the  poem  itself,  lio-\v- 
ever,  Lyndesay  reverts  to  the  allegorical  manner  of  his  '  Dreme,'  re- 
presenting himself,  under  the  name  of  Courtier,  as  entering  a  park 
on  a  May  morning,  and  being  met  hy  an  old  man  who  turns  out  to 
be  Experience,  and  to  whom  he  expresses  his  intention  of  retiring 
from  public  life  in  search  of  tranquillity.  Experience  tells  him  that 
this  is  scarcely  to  be  attained  in  this  world,  '  sen  mennis  lyfe  bene 
bot  battel,'  full  of  storms  and  tribvdations.  A^niereuj)on  the  poet 
proposes  to  set  down  what  he  can  hear  from  his  instructor  regarding 
'  the  miserable  estate  of  tlie  world.'  Before  entering  on  liis  task  he 
offers  an  apology  for  writing  in  his  native  tongue,  unlike  those  clerks 
who  wish  to  prohibit  the  people  from  reading  even  the  Scriptures  for 
themselves.  He  defends  himself  by  a  series  of  examples.  '  Moses 
did  not  promulgate  his  laws  in  Greek  or  in  Latin,  nor  did  Plato 
philosophize  in  Dutch,  nor  did  Virgil  write  in  Arabic.  St  Jerome 
translated  the  Bible  into  "his  proper  toung  Eomane"  :  had  he  been 
born  in  Argyleshire  he  Vv'ould  have  turned  it  into  Irische.'  There- 
fore, the  poet  proceeds — 

'  Therefore  I  thynk  one  gret  divisioim 
To  heir  thir  Nimnis  &  Systeris  iiycht  and  day 
Syngand  and  sayaud  psalmes  &  orisoun 
Nocht  imderstandyng  quhat  tbay  syng  nor  say 
Bot  lyke  ane  stirlyng  or  ane  Papingay 
Quhilk  leirnit  ar  to  speik  be  lang  usage 
Thame  I  compair  to  byrdis  in  ane  cage.' 

The  poem  then  proceeds,  in  some  6000  lines,  beginning  with  the 
creation,  to  recount  the  rise  and  fall  of  the  great  ancient  kingdoms  of 
the  earth.  The  early  chapters  are  occupied  with  a  somewhat 
wearisome  version  of  early  Bible  history;  then  follows  a  long  account 
of  the  Assyrian  monarchy  from  Ninus  to  Sardanapalus.  This  tiresome 
narration  is  relieved  at  one  point  by  a  digression,  suggested  by  one 
of  the  interruptions  of  Courtier  (who  plays  the  part  of  one  of  the 
tame  interlocutors  in  a  Socratic  dialogue)  on  Idolatry.  Lyndesay 
takes  this  occasion  of  giving  his  own  view  regarding  the  proper  use 
of  images,  which  is,  to  serve  as  reminders  of  the  true  objects  of 
worship,  and  never  to  be  substituted  for  them.  He  then  passes,  in 
•some  vigorous  eio-ht-line  verses — remarkable  as  forming  a  link  between 


1  PREFACE. 

the  Cliaiicerian  heptasticli  and  the  Spencerian  stanza — to  his  favoinite 

theme,  the  reproof  of  the  friars  and  Inshops  of  his  own  day,  who 

are,  to  his  mind,  the  worst  of  idokters.   Prayer,  he  maintains,  shouhl, 

after   the   pattern    of   the    Paternoster,   'one    schort    compendious 

orison,'  be  addressed  to  neither  saint  nor  angel,  only  to  God  himself. 

He  ends  with  a  verse,  slightly  modified  from  one  in  the  '  Satyre  of 

the  Thrie  Estaits ' — 

'  Gett  up  !  thow  slepist  all  to  Ling,  0  Lorde, 
And  mak  ane  haistie  reformatioim 
On  tliame  quliilk  doth  tramp  doim  ye  gratious  worde 
And  lies  ane  deidly  Indignatioun 
On  thame  quliilk  makith  trew  narratioun 
On  thy  Gospel],  schawing  the  verytie. 
0  Lord  !  I  mak  the  supplicatioun, 
Supporte  our  Faith,  our  Hope  and  Chaiytie." 

Fortunately  for  our  patience  Lyndesay  passes  over  the  history  of 
the  three  remaining  monarchies  of  Daniel's  prophecy — the  Persian, 
the  Greek,  and  the  Eonian — in  comparatively  few  pages.  In  his 
survey  of  the  last,  he  takes  occasion  to  give  an  account  of  the  siege 
of  Jerusalem,  and  then  of  the  crucifixion  of  Christ,  which  brought 
down  the  divine  anger  on  the  guilty  race.  He  concludes  this  part 
of  the  book  with  the  reflection  that  as  all  those  monarchies  have 
passed,  *  the  great  empires  are  melted  clean  away,'  so  the  world  itself 
seems  drawing  to  an  end.  But  first,  in  another  section,  he  prophesies 
the  overthrow  of  the  fifth  and  worst  monarchy  of  all,  the  great 
tyranny  of  modern  times,  that  of  the  Church.  This  gives  him  an 
opportunity  of  once  more  inveighing  against  the  luxury,  covctous- 
ness,  and  hypocrisy  of  the  court  of  Rome,  and  again  calling  aloud 
for  a  general  reformation.  Lastly,  after  a  reference  to  the  Pope 
himself  as  Antichrist,  he  ventures  on  an  attemjit  to  calcuhvte  the 
date  of  the  millennium  itself.  He  thinks  the  earth  destined  to  endure 
altogether  6000  years.  Of  these,  2000  passed  from  Adam  to 
Abraham,  2000  between  Abraham  and  Christ ;  as  he  Avrites,  1553  of 
the  remaining  2000  have  passed — 447  are  to  come.  If  Lyndesay  is 
right,  317  of  these  have  now  passed,  130  are  yet  to  come.  Kapler, 
a  contemporary  of  the  poet,  less  cautiously  fixed  the  date  of  the  same 
event  in  1688,  Avhich  year  only  saw  ilic  advent  of  AVilliam  (if 
Orange.       Towards    the    close    of    the   '  Monarchc '   wc  have    some 


A   SKETCH    OF   SCOTTISU   rOETRY,  ll 

powerful  verses  about  tlie  signs  of  tlie  times  boding  the  last  judg- 
ment.    The  following  is,  for  the  author,  unusually  i^oeticul — ■ 

'  "We  see  the  gret  globe  of  the  firmament 
Continuallie  in  moveyng  mai-vellous 
The  Sewin  Planetes  contraiy  thare  intent 
Are  reft  about,  with  course  contrarious 
The  wynd  and  See  with  stormys  furious 
The  trubblit  air  with  Frostis,  Snaw,  and  Rane 
On  to  that  day  they  travell  ever  in  pane.' 

The  whole  concludes  with  a  description  of  the  sunset,  and  an  ap- 
peal to  the  charitable  judgments  of  the  gentle  readers. 

In  the  Prologue  to  his  '  Monarche,'  L}Tidesay  sj)eaks  modestly  of 
his  own  skill  as  a  poet.  Like  the  Eoman  Persius,  he  acknow- 
ledges that  he  has  never  slept  on  the  summit  of  Parnassus,  nor  kept 
company  with  the  Muses,  nor  drunk  of  HeHcon's  mellifluous  fresh 
stream  :  his  inspiration,  religious  rather  than  secular,  is  draAvn  from 
the  contemplation  of  the  hill  of  Calvary ;  and  he  prays  that  the 
miracle  of  Cana  may  be  renewed  in  his  case,  converting  the  cold 
water  of  his  instruction  into  wine.  This  criticism  of  the  poet  by 
himself  may  be  accepted  as,  on  the  whole,  correct.  He,  in  coimnon 
with  many  other  authors  of  his  country,  is  rather  a  man  of  keen 
thought  and  action,  bent  on  recording  and  popularizmg  his  intense 
convictions,  than  a  professional  writer.  The  predominatmg  bent  of 
his  own  mind  and  the  temper  of  the  times  were  alike  unfavourable 
to  the  production  of  finished  works  of  art.  He  had  no  inclination, 
like  Plato's  ideal  philosopher,  to  take  shelter  in  solitude.  His  Avholo 
life  was  spent  amid  the  politics  of  a  stormy  age,  and  we  need  not 
wonder  that  the  pressure  of  public  affairs,  similar  to  that  which 
during  the  period  of  his  secretaryship  held  in  abeyance  even  the 
mighty  genius  of  Milton,  exercised  an  unfavourable  influence  on  the 
literary  productions  of  a  man  who  had  more  talent  than  genius,  and 
who  wrote,  currente  calamo,  on  such  various  themes  with  an  almost 
'fatal  facility.'  Lyndesay's  greatest  admirers  have  confessed  that 
*  he  has  written  so  many  verses  that  they  cannot  always  be  expected 
to  reach  a  very  high  standard.'  Ellis  compares  him  unfavourably 
with  Dunbar,  and  even  with  Douglas,  and  attributes  his  wide 
popularity  as  much  to  the  opinions  which  he  professed  as  to  his 
poetical  merit.     There  are  passages  in  the  *  Dreme,'  and  in  *  Squire 


Hi  PREFACE. 

Meldrum/  and  in  tlie  '  Monarclie,'  especially  in  the  descriptions  of 
the  morning  and  evening  voices  of  the  birds,  which,  for  harmony  of 
versification  and  grace  of  imagery,  may  be  safely  laid  alongside  of 
any  corresponding  to  them  in  the  works  of  his  j)redecessors.  But 
his  wiitmgs  are  unequal,  and  in  the  main  more  distinguished  by 
humour  and  good  sense  than  by  high  flights  of  imagination.  He 
himself  speaks  of  his  '  raggit  rural  verse,'  and  passes  not  unwillingly 
from  more  delicate  fancies  to  discourse  on  the  grave  matters,  with 
the  rehearsal  of  which  he  desires  rather  to  edify  than  to  delight  his 
readers.  Vivacity,  force,  and  courage,  are  liis  leading  characteris- 
tics, and  to  these  we  ought  to  add,  as  enhancing  the  interest  of  his 
work,  a  keen  power  of  observation — quickened  by  a  varied  know- 
ledge of  courts  and  cottages — which  could  seize  on  the  main  features 
of  the  society  around  him,  and  depict  them  in  a  faithful,  though  a 
somewhat  rough  outline.  His  learning  in  Latin,  law,  history,  and 
divinity  must  have  been  considerable;  but  his  reference  to  Hesiod 
as  '  the  perfyte  poet  soverane '  of  Greece,  throws  an  imputation 
either  on  his  familiarity  with  Greek  or  on  his  taste  as  a  critic.  His 
style  is  generally  clear  and  incisive,  and,  though  frequently  dis- 
figured by  a  superabundance  of  aureate  terms,  leaves  us  little  room 
to  doubt  of  tlie  author's  meaning. 

Spotswood,  speaking  of  Lyndesay's  skill  in  heraldry  and  other 
public  affairs,  says  that  '  he  was  much  hated  by  the  clergy  ' — a  fact 
which  is  not  surprising ;  yet  that  he  *  went  unchallenged  and  was  not 
brought  in  question ' — a  fact  which,  in  face  of  the  works  we  have 
roughly  analyzed,  is  very  much  so.  During  the  life  of  James  V.  he 
was  probably  protected  by  the  forbearance  or  even  the  connivance  of 
a  monarch  who,  although  a  Eomanist,  was  too  much  of  a  free-liver 
to  be  inspired  by  the  spirit  of  persecution,  and  Avho  relished  the 
somewhat  broad  wit  of  the  guardian,  on  whose  shoulders  he  had 
ridden  in  childhood,  more  than  he  objected  to  his  theological  theories. 
On  the  death  of  the  king  the  prestige  of  this  favour  may  have  re- 
mained witli  him  ;  theEoman  Catholic  party  were,  perhaps,  not  bold 
enough  to  harass  a  courtier  who  wielded  so  keen  a  pen  ;  and,  after 
1546,  when  war  had  been  openly  declared,  the  Protestants  showed 
that  they  could  defend  themselves. 


A   SKETCH   OP    SCOTTISH   POETRY.  liii 

Lyndesay  seems  to  have  "been  by  nature  predestined  to  forward  the 
great  national  movement  of  the  1 6  th  century  in  Scotland — a  movement 
■which,  the  attitude  and  social  position  of  some  of  its  leaders  have 
caused  to  be  misinterpreted.  ^  It  was  in  its  essence  an  uprising  of 
the  mass  of  the  people,  necessarily  finding  its  mouthpieces  in  men 
of  a  higher  rank,  and  such  the  author  of  the  '  Satyre  of  the  Thrie 
Estaits  '  fairly  recognized  it  to  he.  He  may  almost  be  said  to  have 
been  born  a  Protestant.  His  earliest  differ  from  his  latest  works  in 
being  someAvhat  less  explicit,  less  fully  developed  in  the  doctrinal 
views  which  they  enunciate  ;  but  in  his  '  Complaynt '  and  '  Papyngo ' 
we  already  find  more  than  the  germs  of  an  afterwards  fully-developed 
revolt  against  the  most  fundamental  principles  of  the  Eoman  Church. 
In  the  '  Satyre  of  the  Thrie  Estaits,'  as  in  the  *  Monarche,'  he 
directly  attacks  almost  all  those  points  of  faith  and  practice  peculiar 
to  Eoman  Catholicism,  and  lays  down  as  the  true  basis  of  Christian 
belief  an  adherence  to  the  leading  tenets  ui:)held  by  the  Reformers  of 
his  age.  Beyond  their  range  Lyndesay  had  never  ventured.  He  is 
a  Calvinist  of  the  16th  century,  with  a  firm  belief  in  original  sin  and 
reprobation,  more  tolerant  of  sins  of  blood  than  errors  of  brain, 
rejoicing  with  Tertullian  over  the  agonies  of  the  damned. 

'  So  thare  loyis  salbe  without  missour 
Tliey  sail  Kejoyis  to  se  the  gi-et  dolour 
Off  dampnit  folk  in  hell,  and  thare  torment 
Because  of  God  it  is  the  luste  Judgement.' 

He  rejects,  as  fiercely  as  Milton  rejected,  all  intervention  of  mere 
human  authority  in  religious  matters ;  he  will  listen  to  neither  priest, 
nor  cardinal,  nor  pope;  but  the  question  of  the  meaning  and  extent 
of  inspiration  never  occurs  to  him.  To  have  the  Bible,  and  to  read 
it  literally,  is  enough  for  him,  as  for  Knox ;  and  we  may  question 
whether  the  great  satirist  would  not  have  been  ready  to  ajjprove  the 
most  intolerant  acts  and  sentences  of  the  great  preacher.  A  German 
bishop  at  the  Eoman  conclave  has  just  found  it  necessary  to  remind 
Ms  audience  that  they  do  not  live  in  the  14th  century.     We  ought, 

'  I  especially  refer  to  the  error  of  Mr  Buckle,  who,  while  giving  a  perfectly 
accurate  representation  of  the  present  state  of  theological  feeling  in  Scotland, 
has  misapprehended  the  springs  of  the  Scotch  Eeformation. 


liv 


PREFACE. 


on  the  other  hand,  to  remember  that  Lyndesay  and  his  compeers  did 
not  live  in  the  19th;  that  in  the  storms  through  which  they  fought 
there  was  more  need  of  the  hot  heart  and  strong  arm  than  the  phHo- 
sopliic  head;  that  in  liistory,  and  especially  the  history  of  Scotland 
the  thunder  and  the  whirlwind  of  iconoclasm  have  often  had  to  come 
before  the  still  small  voice. 


i  gitte  Jiiilau  Mm 
^x^iimtt  ami  m^ 

m  tlie  JilKtrnliiiH  fetnit  nf  tlit  t^Tiirllt, 

S^  CompgUt  lie  ^c|}tr  ©autU  HguKc^ 

sag  of  ije  IHont,  i^ngcljt,  alias  ILgone 

^Ltgng  of  ^rmcs* 

^ntr  is  ©cuiUit  in  jFourc  partis, 

^s  efter  folloijjts,   &c. 

^ntr  intprcntit  at  t|)e  Conmautr 

anti  lExprusts  off  ©octor 

MACHABEYS, 

In  Copma^^liouin* 

^    2^    t    ([^ 

Absit  Gloriari,  Nisi  in  Cruce  Domini 
nostri  lesu  Christi. 

MONARCHE,  I.  B 


ABBUEYIATIONS. 


P.  First  edition  of  Lyndsay,  printed  at  St.  Andrews  by  John  Scot 
in  1552.  This  is  the  basis  of  our  Text.^  Its  Scripture-reference 
Sidenotes  are  printed  in  our  edition  in  italic. 

L.  Lambeth  MS.,  preserved  in  the  Library  at  Lambeth  Palace,  l^To. 
332  in  Todd's  Catalogue  of  the  Lambeth  MSS. 

E.  Edinburgh  MS.,  preserved  in  the  Library  of  the  University  of 
Edinburgh.     It  is  dated  1566. 

As  the  present  Edition  is  for  the  Early  English  Text  Society's 
Rep'ints,  every  page  must  contain  the  same  number  of  lines  as  its 
representative  in  the  Society's  first  edition,  in  order  that  the  same 
Index  and  Glossary  may  serve  for  both  editions.  But  as  this  Eeprint 
has  collations,  which  the  Society's  first  edition  has  not,  thinner  leads 
between  the  lines  here  are  often  used,  to  make  room  for  the 
collations. 

'  The  copy  from  which  the  Society's  1st  edition  was  printed  is  now  in  the 
British  Museum.  The  copy  with  which  the  present  text  is  collated,  is  in  the 
University  Library,  Edinburgh. 


THE   EPISTIL.^ 


HOV  LytiP  quair,  of  mater  This  book 
miserabyll, 

Weil  auclitest  tlwu  couerit 
to  be  \fiih  sabyl, 

Renu?;cea?2d  grene,  the  pur- 
pur,  reid,  &  qubit. 

To  delicat  nie?i  thoit  art  nocht 


delectabyll,  4 

!N"or  ^it  tyU  amorous  folkis  amiabyll: 
To  reid  on  tbe  thai  wyll  haue  no  delite, 
Warldlye  Peple  wyll  haue  at  the^  dispyte, 
Quliilk  fyxit  hes  thare^  hart  and  hole  intentis  8 

On  sensuall  Luste,  on  Dignitie,  and  Rentis. 

IT  We  haue  no  Kyng,  the  to  present,  allace  ! 

QuhUk  to  this  countre  bene  ane  cairfull  cace  : 

And  als  our  Queue,  of  Scotland  Heretour,  1 2 

Sche  dueUith^  in  France  ;  I  pray  God  saif^  hir  grace. 

It  war  to  lang,  for  the  to  ryn  that  race. 

And  far  langar,  or  that  ^oung  tender  flour 

Bryng  home  tyll  ws,  ane  Kyng  and  Gouernour.  16 

Allace,  tharefor,  we  may  with  sorrow  syng, 

QuhUk  moste  so  lang  remane  without  one  kyng. 

^}3^  I  nott  quhome  to  thy  Simpylnes  to  sende : 
With  Cunuyng  Men,  frome  tyme  that  tliou  be  kende,  20 
Thy  Yaniteis  no  waye  thay  wyll  aduance  ; 
Thynkand  the  proude,  sic  thyngis  to  pretende. 
Nochtwithstanding,  tliQ  straucht  way  sal  tliou  wende 


will  be  scornoJ  by 
the  worldly. 


We  have  now  no 
King; 


And   a^xA-  c^v-ajgj^- 

and  hence  I  am  «, 

sad. 


Tlie  simplicity  of 
this  booli  will  bar 
its  acceptance. 


■  Not  in  E  or  L.     Later  copies  add  '  To  the  Redar.' 

=^  E  litill         =*  L  y«  at         •*  L,  E  yare         ^  L  duellis 

«  L  sauf 


Kevertheless, 


B   2 


THE    EPISTIL. 


not  to  be  heeded. 


Tliose  in  pniyer 


I  commend  it  to     To  tliame  quhilk  hes  tlie  realme  in  gouernance  :  24 

our  Governors. 

Declare  thy  mynde  to  tliame  with  circumstance. 

Go  first  tyll  lames,  our  Prince  and  Protectour, 

And  his  Brother,^  our  Spirituall  Gouernour 

V^  And  Prince  of  Preistis  in  this  Natioun.  28 

Efter  Eeuerend  Eecommendatioun, 
Under  ^/iare  feit  thow  lawlye  the  submyt, 
And  mak  thame  humyll  supplicatioun, 
Geue^  thay  in  the  fynd  wrang  Narratioun,  32 

That  thay  wald  pleis  thy  faltis  to  remyt : 
ifthey  are  suited   And  of  thare  grace,  geue^  thay  do  the  admyt, 

witli  it,  otliers  are 

Than  go  thy  ways  quhare  euer  thow  plesis  best  : 

Be  thay  content,  mak  reuerence  to  the  rest.  36 

y-J^  To  faithfiill  Prudent  Pastouris  Spirituall, 

To^  Nobyll  Erlis,  and  Lordis  Temporall, 

Obedientlye  tyll  thame  thow  the  addres, 

Declaryng  thame  this  schort  memoriall,  40 

Quhow  Mankynd  bene  to  miserie  maid  thrall. 

At  lenth  to  thame  the  cause  planelie  confesse, 

Beseikand  thame  all  lawis  to  suppresse 

Inuentit  be  Mennis  Traditioun,  44 

Contrar  to  Christis  Institutioun  : 

And  cause  thame  cleirlye  for  tyll  vnderstand 

That,  for  the  brekyng^  of  the  Lord/*'  command, 

His  Thrynfald  wande  of  Flagellatioun  48 

Hes  Scurgit  this  pure  Eealme  of  Scotland, 

Be  mortall  weris,  baith  be  sey  and  land. 

With  mony'5  terrabyll  trybulatioun. 

Tharefor  mak  to  thame  trew''^  narratioun,  52 

That  al  thir  weris,  this  derth,  hunger,  and  Pest 

"Was  nocht  bot  for  our  Synnis  mauefest.^ 

Declare  to  thame  quhow,  in  the  tyme  of  Noye, 
Alluterlye,  God  did  the  warld  distioye,  56 


are  prayed  to 
christianize  tlie 
laws. 


and  are  admon- 
ished 


Re.  xxiiii.  * 
The.  .ii. 

that  the  woes  of 
Scotland  are 
owing  to  its  sins, 
1.  Cor.  iii. 


'   L,  E  Broder         "  L,  E  Gyf         =>  L,  E  gef         '  E  No 
*  E  brakia         •*  L  mony  ouo         ^  E  New         ^  E  iiiauifest. 


THE    EPISTIL. 


As  Holy  ^  Scripture  maketh  mentioun ; 
Sodom,  Gomor,  with  fJiare  Eegioun  and  Eoye  ; 
God  sparit  notliir  Man,  Woman,  nor  Boye ; 
Bot  all  wer  brynt  for  thavG^  offentioun. 
Iherusalem,  that  moste  tryumphant  town, 
Distroyit  Aves  for  ^7;are  Iniqnytie, 
As  in  the  Scripture  planelye  thay  may  se. 


Holy  Scripture  is 
vouched  for  paral- 
lel instances. 
Gene,  xix. 


60 


64 


H  Declare  to  thame  this  mortall  miserie. 

Be  s weird  and  fyre,  derth,  pest,  and  pouertie, 

Procedis  of  Syn,  gyf  I  can  rycht  discryue, 

For  laik  of  Faith,  and  for  Ydolatrye, 

For  Fornicatioun,  and  for  Adultrye,  68 

Off  Princis,  Prelat^5,  -with  mony  ane  man  &  wyue.^ 

Expell  the  cause,  than  the  effect  belyue 

Sail  cease  :  quhen  that  tlie  peple  doith*  repent, 

Than  God  sail  slak  his  bow,  quhilk  ^it  is  bent.  72 

Mak  thaim  requeist  quhilk  lies  the  Gonernance 
The  Sinceir  word  of  God  for  tyll  Auaiice 
Conforme  to  Christis  Institutioun, 
Without  Tpocrisie  or  dissimulance  : 
Causyng  Justice  hauld  ewinlye  the  Ballance ; 
On  Publicanis  makyng^  punyssioun  ; 
Commendyng''  thame  of  gude  conditioun. 
That  beyng  done,  I  dout  nocht  bot  the  Lorde 
Sail  of  this  couutre  haue  Misericorde. 


Matthew,  xxxiii. 


Sin  breeds  all 
misery; 


76 


but  penitence  will 
earn  pardon. 


Tlie  Rulers  ai-e 
implored  to  see 
tlie  word  of  God 
duly  taught,  and 
justice  adminis- 
tered : 


80    then  the  Lord  will 
have  mercy 


Y-^  Thoucht  God  with  mony  terrabyll  effrayis 
Hes  done  this  cuntrie  scurge  by  diuers  wayis, 
Be  luste  lugement,  for  our  greuous  offence, 
Declare  to  thame  thay  sail  haue  niery  dayis 
Efter  this  trubyll,  as  the  Propheit  sayis  : 
Quhen  God  sail  se  our  humyll  Eepentence, 
Tyll  strange  pepyll  thoucht  he  hes  geuin  lycence 
To  be  our  scurge  Induryng  his  desyre, 
Wyll,  quhen  he  lyste,  that  Scurge  cast  in  the  fyre. 

1  L  Haly,  E  Holye         "^  L,  E  thair         '  E  vyffe. 

*  L  dois.  E  doithe         "^  L  makand,  E  making 

®  L  coj/imendand,  E  commending 


84 


88 


If  the  people  re- 
pent, it  will  again 
be  well  with  them. 


Trust 
in  God 


Psaime  cxvii. 


will  disarm  their 
enemies. 


This  book 


THE    EPISTIL. 

Pray  thame  that  thay  putt  noclit  thave'^  esperance 

111  mortall  Men  ouelj^e,  thame  tyll  aduance, 

Bot  principallye  in  God  Omnipotent : 

Than  neid  thai  not^  to  charge  the  realme  of  France 

With  Gounnis,  Galayis,  nor  vther  Ordinance. 

So  that  thay  be  to  God  Obedient, 

In  thir  premyssis^  be  thay  nocht  negligent, 

Displayand  Christis  Banar  liie  on  heycht, 

TV^are  Ennimeis  of  thame  sail  haue*  no  mycht. 


92 


96 


Go  hence,  pure  Buke,  quhilk  I  haue*  done  indyte     100 
In  rurall  ryme,  in  maner  of  dispyte, 
Contrar  the  warldlis  Variatioun  : 
eschews  rhetoric,    Off  Rethorick  hcir  I  Proclame  the  quyte. 

Idolatouris,  I  feir,  sail  with  the  flyte,^  104 

Because  of  thame  thoAV  makis  !N^arratioun. 

Bot  cure  thow  nocht  the  Indignatioun 

Off  Hypocritis  and  fals  Pharisience, 

Quhowbeit  on  the  thay  cry  ane  lowde  vengence.       108 


and  will  disdain 
the  spite  of 
hypoeiites  and 
sucli-like. 


It  has  no  eie-         H  Eequcist  the  Gcutyll  Redar  that  the  redis, 

Thocht  Ornat  termes  in  to^  thy  park  not  spredis, 
As  thay  in  the  may  haue'^  experience. 
Thocht  Barran  feildis  beris  nocht  bot  weidis,^  112 

3it  brutall  beistis  sweitlye  on  thame  feidis, 

and  the  reader  is    Desyre  of  thame  none  vther  recompance 

only  to  have  t  n        ■  i     i 

patience  with  it.     Bot  that  thay  wald  reid  the  with  pacience  : 

And,  geue^  thay  be  in  ony  Avay  offendit,  116 

Declare  ^*^  to  thame,  it  salbe  weill  amendit. 

FINIS.ii 

HEIR  ENDIS  YE  EPISTIL  &  FOLLOUIS  YE 
PROLOGE,  &c. 


'  E  thair         '  L,  E  nocht         '  L  proniyssis         *  E  haif 
*  E  flytt         "^  not  in  L         ''  E  haif         '  E  vcidis 
"  L  gif,  E  gyff         '"  E,  L  declair         "  not  in  E,  L 


THE  PROLOGE. 


VSINGr  And  maruelling  on  the  miserie 
Frome  day  to  day  in  erth  quhilk^  dois  Musing  on  mnta- 

incres, 
And  of  ilk  stait  the  instabUitie       120 
Proceding  of  the  restles  besynes 
Quhairon  the  most  part  doith  thair  mynd^  addres 
Inordinatlie, — on  houngrye  couatyce, 
Vaine  glore,  dissait,  and  vthir  sensuall  vyce  :  124 

H  Bot  tumlyng  In  my  bed  I  mycht  nocht  lye  ; 
Quliairfore  I  fuir  furth,  in  ane  Maye  mornyng, 
Conforte  to  gett  of  my  malancolye, 
Sumquhat  affore  fresche  Phebus  vperysing,' 
Quhare"*  I  mycht  heir  the  birdis  sweitlie  syng 
Intyll  ane  park  I  past,  for  my  plesure 
Decorit  "weUl  be  craft  of  dame  Nature. 


128    early,  one  May 
morning, 


I  sallied  forth  into 
a  park. 


IT  Quhov  I  ressauit  confort  naturall 

For  tyll  discryue  at  lenth  it  war  to  lang ; 

Smelling  the  holsum^  herbis  medicinall, 

Quhare  on  tho,  diilce  and  balmy  dew  down  dang, 

Lyke  aurient^  peirles  on  the  twistis  hang ; 

Or  quhov  that  the  Aromatik  odouris 

Did  proceid  frome  the  tender  fragrant  flouris ; 

H  Or  quhov  Phebus,  that  king  etheriall, 
Swyftlie  sprang  vp  in  to  the  orient, 
Ascending  in  his  throne'^  Imperial!, 
Quhose  brycht  and^  buriall  hemes  resplendent 

'  L  yat         *  E  tham,  L  mj'ndis  dois         '  E  vprysing 

*  E,  L  Quhair         ^  L  hailsum,  E  holsoum 

®  E  orient,  L  aureant         ^  L  trone         ®  not  in  L 


132    There  I  was  much 
comforted. 


136 


smelling  the 
sweet  odours. 


\  40   and  seeing  the 

rising  of  the  sun, 


THE    PROLOGE. 


who  liatl  left  hi3 

niiflit-robe 

behind. 


and  put  on  a  glo- 
rious garb. 


Ulumj'nit  all  on  to  the  Occident, 

Confortand  eueiye  corporall  creature 

Quhilk  formit  war,  in  ertli,^  be  dame  Nature ; 

Quliose  donke  impurpurit^  vestiment  nocturnal], 
With  his  imbroudit  mantyll  matutyne, 
He  lefte  in  tyll^  his  regioun  aurorall, 
Quhilk  on  hym  watit  quhen  he  did  declyne 
Towarte  his^  Occident  palyce  vespertyne, 
And  rose  in  habyte  gaye  and  glorious, 
Brychtar  nor  gold  or  stonis  precious. 


144 


148 


152 


The  raoon  paled ;    Bot  Synthea,  the  hornit  nychtis  quene, 

Scho  loste^  hir  lycht,  and  lede  ane  lawar  saill, 
Frome  tyme  hir  souerane  lorde  that  scho  had  sene, 
And  in  his  presens  waxit  dirk  and  paill,  156 

And  ouer  hir  visage  kest  ane  mistye^  vaill ; 
So  did  Yenus,  the  goddes  amorous, 

and  30  the  planets.  With  Jupitcr,  ]\Iars,  and  Mercurius. 

Saturn  set;  (C?"  Eyclitso  the  auld  Intoxicat  Saturnc,  160 

Persauyng  Phebus  powir,  his  beymes  brycht, 
Abufe  the  erd  ^  than  maid  he  no  sudgeourne,'^ 
Bot  suddandlye  did  lose^  his  borrowit  lycht, 
Quhilk  he^  durst  neuir  schaw  bot  on  the  nycht.        1G4 

and  the  northern    The  Polo  artick,  wrsis,  and  sterris  all 

Quhilk  situate  ar  in  the  Septemtrionall, — 

Tyll  errand  schyppis  quhilks  ar  the  souer  gyde, 

Conuoyand  thame,  vpone  the  stromye  nycht,  168 

Within  thare  frostie  circle, — did  thame  hyde. 

Quhowbeit  that  sterris  haue  none  vthir  lycht 

Bot  the  reflex  of  Phebus  hemes  brycht. 

That  day  durst  none^"  in  to  the  heuin  appeir,  172 

Till  he  had  circuit  all  our  Ilemispeir.i^ 

Me  thocht  it  was  ane  sycht^^  celestial], 
To  sene  Phebus  ^^  so  angellyke  ascend 

'  L  erd,  E  erthe         ^  E  impurpurat         '  E  to         *  E  tliis 

*  L  loist,  E  lost         "  L  lusty         '  L  siidiorne 

'  L  loiss,  E  loss         "  L  sche         '"  L  nocht         "  L  Ileviiispeir 

''  L  thing         ■'  L  Venus 


hid  themselves. 


THE   mOLOGE. 


Ill  tjll  liis  fjrie  cliariot  tryumphall,  176 

Quhose^  bea-wte'^  bryclat  I  culd  nocht  comprehend. 

All  warldlie  cure  anone  did  fro  me  wend,  au  care  left  me 

at  sight  of  the  gay 

Quhen^  fresche  flora  spred  furtn  hir*  tapestrie,  flowers; 

A7roclit  be  dame  JSTature  quent,  and  curiouslie  180 

Depaynt  with  mony  hundreth.  lieninlie  hewis  ; 
Glaid  of  tbe  rysiiig  of  ^/iare  royall  Eoye, 
"With  blomes  breckand  on  the  tender  bewis ; 
Quhilk  did  prouoke  myne  hart  tyl  natural  loye. 
Neptune,  that  day,  and  Eoll  held  thame  coye, 
That  men  on  far  niycht  heir  the  birdis  sounde, 
Quhose  noyis  did  to  the  sterrye  heuin  redounde. 


J  5  4    II" d  I  was  glad  at 
heart. 


The  plesand  Powne  prun3eand  his  feddrem  fair;       188 

The  myrthfull  Maues  maid  gret  melodie ; 

The  lustye  Lark  ascending  in  the  air, 

Numerand  hir  naturall  notis  craftelye^; 

The  gay  Goldspink;  the  Merll  rycht  myrralye;        192 

The  noyis  of  the  nobyll  Nychtingalis  ; 

Eedundit  throuch^  tliQ  montans,  meids,''  and  vaHs. 

Contemphng  this  melodious  armonye, 

Quhov  euerilke  bird  drest  thame  for  tyl  aduance,       196 

To  saluss  !N"ature  with  tliBxe  melodye. 

That  I  stude  gasing,  halfling/*'  in  ane  trance, 

To  heir  thame  mak  tliaxQ  naturall  obseruance 

So  royaUie  that  all  the  roches  rang  200 

Throuch  repercussioun  of  ^Ziare  suggurit  sang. 

I  lose^  my  tyme,  allace  !  for  to  rehers 

Sick  vnfrutful  and  vaine  discriptioun. 

Or  wrytt,  in  to  my  raggit  rurall  vers,  204 

Mater  without  edificatioun  ; 

Consydering  quhov  that  myne  intentioun 

Bene  tyll  deplore  the  mortall  misereis,^ 

"With  continual^*'  cahfull  calamiteis,  208 


Hearing  the 
melody  of 


the  birds. 


saluting  nature,  I 
was  lialf  en- 
tranced. 


But  a  truce  to 
vain  description. 


seeing  my  pur- 
pose is  to  deplore 
mortal  miseries. 


'  L,  E  Quhoss         ^  L  beaulte,  E  bewtie         ^  L,  E  Quhene 

*  L,  E  his     *  L  meralie      ®  L  throw      '  E,  L  montanis,  meidis 

*  L  loiss,  E  loss         '  L  miserieis         '"  L  contiuewall 


THE    PROLOGE. 


My  theme  is 
mournful,  and  my 


diction  will  be 
lustreless. 


I  invoke  no 


pagan  Muse, 


or  god ; 


for  I  have  never 
slept  on 
Parnassus, 


Rhamnusia,  if  I 
chose  a  JIuse, 
would  best  befit 
mo. 


H  Consisting  in  this  wraclieit  ^  vaill  of  sorrow. 

Bot  sad  sentence  sulde  liaue  ane  sad  indyte ; 

So  termes  brycht  I  lyste  noclit  for  to  'borrow. 

Off  murnyng  mater  men  lies  no  delyte  :  212 

"With  roustye  termes,  thaTeior,  w}d  I  wryte,^ 

With  sorrowful  seychis^  ascending  frome  the  splene, 

And  bitter  teris  distellyng  frome  myne  eine;^ 

U  Withoute  ony  vaine  inuocatioun  216 

To  Minerua  or  to  ]\Telpominee  : 

Nor  3itt^  wyll  I  mak  supplicatioun, 

For  help,  to  Cleo  nor  Caliopee  : 

Sick  marde  Musis  may  mak  me  no  supplee,  220 

Proserpyne  I  refuse,  and  Apollo, 

And  rycht  so  Ewterp,  Jupiter,  and  Juno. 

H  Quhilkis  bene  to  plesand  Poetis  conforting. 
Quharefor,  because  I  am  nocht  one  of  tho,  224 

I  do  desyre  of  thame  no  supporting. 
For  I  did  neuer  sleip  on  Pernaso, 
As  did  the  Poetis  of  lang  tyme  ago, 

And,  speciallie,  the  ornate  Ennius  ;  228 

IsoT  drank  I  neuer,  Avith  Hysiodus, — 

II  Off  Grece  the  perfyte  poet  souerane, — 
Off  Hylicon,  the  sors  of  Eloquence, 

Off  that  mellifluus,  famous,  fresche  fontane  :  232 

Quharefor  I  awe  to  thame  no  reuerence. 

I  purpose  nocht  to  mak  obedience 

To  sic  mischeand  Musis  nor  malmontrye 

Afore  tyme  vsit  in  to  poetrye.  236 

^  Eaueand^  Ehamnusia,  goddes  of  dispyte, 

Mycht  be  to  me  ane  Muse  rycht  conuenabyU, 

Gyff  I  desyrit  sic  help  for  tyll  indyte 

This  murnyng  mater,  mad  and  miserabyll.  240 

I  mon  go  seik  ane  muse  more  confortabyll, 


'  E  vrachct 

*  E  3et 


E  vrytt         '  L  sichis         *  L  ene 
*  E  Reauand,  L  Ravand 


THE    TROLOGE. 


And  sic  vaine  superstitioun^  to  refuse, 

Bt'seikand  the  gret  God  to  be  my  muse ; 

Be  quliose  -wysdome  al  maner  of  ^  thing  bene  wrocht, 

The  heych  heuinnz's,^  \jith  all  thair  ornamentis ; 

And  without  mater  maid  all  thing  of  nocht ; 

HeU  in  myd  Centir  of  the  Elementis. 

That  heuinlye*  Muse  to  seik  my  hoill  intent  is^ 

The  quhilk  gaif  sapience  to  king  Salomone, 

To  Dauid  grace,  strenth  to  the  Strang  Sampsone, 

And  of  pure  Peter  maid  ane  prudent  precheour  ; 

And,  be  the  power  of  his  deitee. 

Off  creuell  Paule  he  maid  ane  cu?myug  techeour. 

I  mon  beseik,  rycht  lawly  on  my^  knee. 

His  heych  superexcellent  Maiestie, 

That  with  his  heuinlye  spreit  he  me  inspyre 

To  wrytt  no  thyng  contrarye  his  disyre, 

U  Beseikand  als  his  Souerane  Sonne,  lesu, 

Quhilk  wes  consauit  be  the  haly  spreit, 

Incarnat  of  the  purifyit  Virgin  trev, 

In  to  the  quhome  the  Prophicie  was  compleit, — 

That  Prince  of  peace,^  moist  humyll  &  mawsweit, 

Quhilk  onder  Pylate  sufferit  passioun, 

Upone  the  Croce,  for  our  saluatioun. 

IT  And  be  that  creuell '  deith  intollerabyll 

Lowsit  we  wer  frome  bandis  of  Balyall ; 

And,  mairattouir,  it  wes  so  proffitabyll 

That  to  this  hour  come  neuir  man,  nor  sail, 

To  the  tryumphant  ioye  Imperiall 

Off  lyfe,  quhowbeit  that  thay  war^  neuer  sa  gude, 

Bot  be  the  vertew  of  that  precious  blude. 

IT  Quharefor,  in  steid  of  the  mont  Pernaso, 
Swyftlie  I  sail  go  seik  my  Souerane ; 


But  I  beseech  God 
to  be  my  Muse. 


Genes,  i. 

He  created  all 

things, 


248 


252 


in.  Re.  Hi. 
Psalme  Ixxxix. 
luges  Hi, 

Mat.  iiii, 

Actis  ix. 

and  endowed  men 
of  old  with 
various  gifts. 


256 


Luc.  i. 

And  I  beseech 

Jesus, 

260    the  Virgin-born, 


264 


Luc.  xxiii. 
and  crucified. 


whose  death 
loosed  our  bonds. 


268 


272 


and  whose  blood 
alone  saves. 


I  betake  myself, 
not  to  Parnassus, 


'  L  reperstitioun         *  L  omitted         "'  E  havinnis,  L  hevinis 

*  E  havinlie         *  E  myn         ®  E  paice         ^  E  ere  wall 

*  L  tJiai  be 


10 


THE    PROLOGIi;. 


but  to  Ciiivary,      To  Moiit  Caluai'e  the  straiiclit^  waye  luon  I  go, 
to  taste  the  fount-  To  gett  ane  taist  ^  of  tliat  moist  f resclie  f ontane. 

ain  opened  in  liis  -i  t        ■ 

sidebyLonginus;  That  soi's  to  seiK  my  hart  may  nocht  refrane 

Off  Hylicone,  quhilk^  wes  boith  deip  and  wyde, 
iho.xix.  That  Longeous*  did  graue  in  tyll  his  syde. 


276 


a  fountain,  the 
etreara  from 
wliich 


purges  all  the 
faithful  of  sin. 


From  ^/iat  fresche  fontane  sprang  a^  famous  flude, 
Quhilk  redolc?;t  Eeuer  throuch^  the  warld  3it  rynnis, 
As  christall  cleir,  and  mixit  bene  with  blude ; 
Quhose  sound  abufe  the  heyest  heuinnw  dinnis, 
All  faithfull  peple  purgeing  frome  f/iare  sjmnis. 
Quharefor  I  saU  beseilc  his  Excellence  284 

To  grant  me  grace,  "wysedome,  and  Eloquence  ; 

May  I  be  washed    And  bayth  me  with  those  dulce  &  balmy  strandis 

witli  the  blood  of     ^,.,,  t       /~i  ti  it 

Christ,  Quhilk  on  the  Croce  did  spedalie  out  spryng 

Erome  his  moste  tender  feit  and  heuinly  handis  ;      288 
And  grant  me  grace  to  wrytt  nor  dyte  no  thyng 
Bot  tyll  his  heych  honour  and  loude  louyng  ; 
But  quhose  support  //lare  may'''  na  gud  be  wrocht 
Tyll  his  plesure,  gude  workis,^  word,  nor  thocht.      292 


and  saved  from 
writing  amiss. 


Through  Him 


may  my  efforts 
have  a  fruitful 
issue. 


H  Tharefor,^  0^°  Lorde,  I  pray  thy  Maiestie, 

As  thov  did  schaw  thy  heych  power  Diuyne 

First  planelie  in  the  Cane^^  of  Galelee, 

Quhare  thov  conuertit  cauld  watter  in^^  wyne,  296 

Conuoye  my  mater  tyll  ane  fructuous  fyno, 

And  saue^^  my  sayingis  baith  frome  schame  and  syn. 

Tak  tent ;  for  now  I  purpose^'*  to  begyn. 

IT  FINIS. 

HEIR  ENDIS  THE  VROhOG'&  AND  BEGINGIS 

THE  MATER. 

'  E  straycht         *  E  test         '  L  tliat         ^  L  Longenus 

*  L  one         ®  E  throycht         ^  L  can  '  E  warkis,  L  werkis 

''  L  Thaireforo         '"  L  gude         "  E  Canee         '^  L  iuto 

'*  E  eaif         "  E  purposs 


11 


THE  FIRST  BVKE  OF  THE  MONARCHE. 


y^  INTO  that  Park  I  sawe  appeir 

One^  ageit  man,  quhilk  drew  me  neir, 

Quhose^  beird  wes  "weil  thre  quarteris^  lang ; 

His  hair  doun  ouer^  his  schulders^  hang, 

The  quhilk  as  ony  snaw  wes  quhyte  ; 

Quhome^  to  behald  I  thocht  delyte  ; 

His  habitt  Angellyke  of  hew, 

Off  culloure  lyke  the  Sapheir  blew. 

Onder  ane  Hollyng  he  reposit, 

Off  quhose  presens  I  was  reiosit. 

I  did  hym  saluss  reuerendlye  ; 

So  did  he  me,  rycht  courteslye. 

To  sitt  down  he  requeistit  me, 

Onder  the  schaddow  of  that  tre. 

To  saif''^  me  frome  the  Soimis  heit, 

Amangis  ^  the  fl.o\vris  sof te  and  sweit ; 

For  I  wes  werye  for  walking. 

Than  we  began  to  fall  in  talking  : 

I  sperit^  his  name  with  reuerence. 
"I  am,"  said  he,  "Experience." 

COURTIOUR. 

II  "  Than,  Schir,"  said  I,  "  ^q  can  nocht  faill 
To  gyff  ane  desolate  man  counsaill. 

3e  do  appeir  ane  man  of  faime  ; 
And,  sen  Experience  bene  30iir  name, 
I  praye  jow,  Father  i°  venerabyll, 
Geue^^  me  sum  counselP^  confortabyll." 


300    In  that  park  I 

saw  an  aged  man. 


304 


His  appearance. 


308 


We  saluted ;  and 
he  asked  me  to  sit 
down  by  him. 


312 


316 


His  name  was 
Experience. 


320    I  entreated  liim  to 
give  me 


324    some  comfoiting 
counsel. 


1  E  ane         '^  L,  E  Quhos         '  L,  E  quarter         *  E  owr 

*  L,  E  schoulderis        "  E  Quhowm        '  L  sauf        "  L  Aniaii' 

*  L  speirit         '"  L  Fader         "  E  g)ff         '^  L  counsall 


12 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


EXPERIENCE. 

He  demanded  my  H  "  Quliate  bene,"  quod  he,  "  thy  vocatioun, 
Makand  sic  supplycatioun  1 " 


I  have  long  been  a 
courtier,  but. 


with  your  advice, 


am  minded  to 
leave  tlie  Court 
and  learn  to  die. 


I  have  found  rest 
nowhere. 


but  only  dis- 

ajipoiutmeut. 


Teach  me  to  be 

cmiti'iil  with  quiet 
and  a  competency. 


Since  all  Courts 
are  full  of  cliungo 
and  envy.I  prefer, 
now  I  am  old,  to 
rcat,  if  it  may  be. 


COURTIOUR. 

IF  "  I  haif,"  quod  I,  "  bene,  to  this  hour,  328 

Sen  I  could  ryde,  one  ^  Courtiour  ; 

Bot  now,  rather,^  I  thynk  it  best, 

With  30UX  counsel!,  to  leif  in  rest. 

And  frome  thyne  furth^  to  tak  myne  eais,^  332 

And  quyetlie  my  God  to  pleais,^ 

And  renunce  Curiositie, — 

Leueyng  the  Court, — and  lerne  to  de. 

Oft  haue  I  salit*^  ouer  the  strandis,  336 

And  traualit  throuch''  diuers  landis 

Boith^  south,  and  north,  and^  est,  and  west ; 

3itt  can  I  neuer  fynd  quhare  rest 

Doith  mak  his  habitatioun,  340 

Withoute  3our  supportatioun. 

Quhen  I  beleif  to  be  best  easit,^° 

Most  suddautlye  I  am  displeasit ;  ^^ 

Frome  trubbyll  quhen  I  fastast  fle,  344 

Than  fynd  I  most  aduersate. 

Schaw  me,  I  pray  jow  hartfullye, 

Quhow  I  may  leif  most  plesaudlye. 

To  serue  my  God,  of  kyngis  Kyng,  348 

Sen  I  am  tyrit  for  trauellyng  ; 

And  lerne  me  for  to  be  content 

Off  quyet  lyfe  and  sobir  rent, 

That  I  may  thank  the  kyng  of  glore,  352 

As  thocht  I  had  ane  Myl3eoun^2  more. 

Sen  euerdki^  Court  bene  variant, 

Full  of  Inuy,  and  inconstant, 

Mycht  I,  but  trubbyll,  leif  in  rest  356 

JS^uw  in  my  aige,  I  thynk  it  best." 

'  L,  E  ane         ^  L  Fader         '  E  tliinfurtli         ■*  I,  eisa 

*  L  pleiss,  E  pleis         ®  L  saillit         '  L  iii         "  E  Boytu 

"  L  ouiittud         "*  L  eisit         "  E  displesit 

'^  L  milliouu         "  L  euery 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OP    THE   MONARCHE. 


13 


EXPERIENCE, 

IT  "Tliow  art  ane  gret^  fuill,  Sonne,"  said  he, 

"Tliyng  to  Jesyre  quhilk-  may  noclit  be, — 

3arnyng  to  haue  prerogatyue  360 

Aboue  all  Creature  on  lyfe.^ 

Sen  Father  Adam  creat  bene 

In  to  the  Campe  of  Damassene, 

]\Iycht  no  man  say,  on  to  this  hour, 

That  euer  he  fand  perfyte  plesour, 

Nor  neuer  sail,  tyll  that  he  se 

God  in  his  Diuyne  Maiestie  : 

Quharefore'*  prepair  the  for  trauell,  368 

Sen  mennis  lyfe^  bene  bot  battell. 

All  men  begynnis  for  tyll  de 

The  day  of  thave  Natiuite  : 

And  lournelly  thaj  do  proceid,  372 

Tyll  Atrops®  cute  the  fatell  threid  ; 

And,  in  the  breif  tyme  that  thai  haue" 

Betuix  ^^are  byrth  on  to  ^Aare  graue, 

Thow  seis  quhat  mutabiliteis, 

Quhat  miserabyll  Calamiteis ; 

Quhat  trubbyll,  trauell,  and  debait 

Seis  thow  in  euere  mortall  stait  !  ^ 

Eegyn  at  pure  lawe  Creaturis, 

Ascending,  sj'-ne,^  to  Synaturis, 

To  gret  Princis  and  Potestatis, 

Thow  sail  nocht  fynd,  in  non  estatis. 

Sen  the  begynning,  gennerallie,  384 

Nor  in  our  tyme  now,^*^  speciallie, 

Bot  tiddious,^^  restles  besynes 

But  ony  maner  of  sickarnes." 

COURTIOUR. 

"  Prudent  Father,"  quod  I,  "  allace  !  388 

36  tell  to  me  one  cairfull  cace  ! 
36  say  that  no  man,  to  this  hour, 

'  E  gryt         '  L  that         »  L  live,  E  lyflfe 

*  E  Quhairfor,  L  Quhairefore         *  L  livis         "  E  Atropus 

^  E,  L  haif         »  L  estait         ^  L  vp         '"  L  omitted 

"  L  tediiis 


You  desire  the 
impossible. 


364  Perfect  bliss  on 
earth  is  not  for 
man. 


Job  vii. 

On  the  very  day 
of  his  birth  he 
begins  to  die. 


376    ^""l  '^  alw.iys  full 
of  care. 


380    whether  he  he 
high  or  low. 


And  such  is  the 
rule  for  all  time. 


This  is  a  distress- 
ful state  of  things. 


u 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


Happiness  here  is 
imperfect  and 
alloyed. 


Why,  then,  do  we 
strive  after  wealth 
and  rank  ? 


Death  is  sudden. 


I  would  have  you 
tell  me  of  the 
want  of  others. 


That  there  are 
fellow-sufferers  is 
a  consolation  to 
the  unfortunate. 


Hes  found,  in  erth,^  perfyte^  plesour, 

AVitliout  infortunat  variance,  392 

Sen  we  bene  tlirall  to  sic  myschance, 

Quhy  do  we  set  so  our  Intentis 

On  Eyclies,  Dignitie,  and  Eeutis  1 

Sen  in  the  ertli  bene  no  man  sure  396 

One  day  but  trubbyll  tyll  Indure  ; 

And,  werst  of  all,  quhen^  we  leist  wene, 

The  creuell  deith  we  mon  sustene. 

Geue*  I  3our  Fatlierheid^  durste  demand,  400 

The  cause  I  wald  faine  vnderstand  : 

And  als,  Father,  I  30W  Implore, 

Schaw  me  sum  trubbyll  gone  afore  ; 

That,  heryng  vtheris  Indigence,  404 

I  may  the  more  half  patience. 

Marrowis  in  trybulatioun 

Bene  Wracheis  consolatioun." 


Misery  comes  of 
sin. 


to  which  all  are 
prone. 


EXPERIEKCE. 

Quod  he  :  "  efter  my  small  cunnyng  408 

To  the  I  sail  male  answeryng. 

Bot,  Ordourlie  for  to  begyn, 

This  Misarie  procedis  of  Syn. 

Bot  it  wer  lang  for  to  defyn  it  412 

Quhow  all  men  ar  to  Syn  Inclynit. 

Quhen^  Syn  aboundantlye"  doith^  ryng, 

lustly  God  makith^  punyssing  : 

Quharefore^*^  gret  God  in  to  his  handis,  416 

God's  divers  rods,  To  dant  the  Avarld,  lies  diners  wandis. 

Efter  our  euyll  conditioun 

He  makis  on  ws  punytioun'^' 

"With  hunger,  darth,  and  Indigens  ;^2  42O 

Sum  tyme,  gret  plagis  and  pestilens  ;^3 

And  sum  tyme  with  his  bludy  Avand, 

Throw  creuell  weir^*  be  sey  and  land  : 

Concludyng,  all  our  misarie  424 

Proceidis  of  Syn,  alluterlie." 

'  L  erd         '  E  parfyt         '  L  quhan         *  L  gjf,  E  gyff 

*  L  Faderheid         "  L  Quhan         '  L  haboundanlie         *  L  dois 

"  L  niakis         '"  L,  E  Quhairefor         "  E  punissioii 

"  E  plagis  and  pestilens         '^  E  groyt  darthe  and  indigens 

'*  L  weiris 


for  punishment, 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OF    TUE    MONAUCIIE. 


15 


COURTIOUU. 

IF  "Father,"  quod  I,  "  declare^  to  me 

The  cause  of  this  Fragylhtie, — 

That  we  bene  all  to  Syu  inclyiide,  428 

In  werk,  in  word,  and  in  our  mynde. 

I  wald  the  veritie  wer^  schawiu, 

Quho  lies  this  seid  amang  ws  sawin  ; 

Aud  quhy  we  ar  condampuit  to  dede  ;  ^  432 

And  quhow  that  we  may  get  remede."^ 

EXPERIENCE. 

Quod  he  :  "  the  Scripture^  hes  concludit 

Men  frome  felicitite  wer  denudit 

Be  Adam,  our  Progenitour,  436 

Umquhyle  of  Paradyse  possessour  ; 

Be  quhose^  most  wylfuU  arrogance 

"VVes  Mankynd  brocht  to  this  myschance, 

Quhen~  he  wes  Inobedient,  440 

In  breking^  God^s  commandinient. 

Be  solystatioun  of  his  wyfe 

He  loste  that  heuinlye  plesand  lyfe. 

Etand^  of  the  forbiddinio  tre,  444 

Thare^^  began  all  our  miserrie.^^ 

So  Adam  wes  cause  Eadicall 

That  we  bene  fragyll  Synnaris,  all. 

Adam  brocht  in  this  Nationn  448 

Syn,  Deith,  and  als  Dampnatioun. 

Quho  wyll  say  he  is  no  Syniiar, 

Christ  sayis  he  is  ane  gret  lear. 

Mankynde  sprang  furtli  of  Adamis  Loynis,  452 

Aud  tuke^^  of  hym  flesche,  blude,^'*  and  bonis  ; 

And  so,  efter  his  qualytie 

All  ar  Inclynit  Synnaris  to  be. 

H  Bot^^  3it,  my  Sonne,  dispare^^  thow  noclit ;  456 

For  God,  that  all  the  warld  hes  wrocht, 

Hes  maid  ane  Souerane  remede,^''' 

'  L,  E  declar  ^  L  war  ^  L,  E  deide 

*  L  remeid         *  E  Scriptour         ^  L,  E  quhois         '  L  Quhan 

»  L  breikiii         »  L  Eitand,  E  Ettand         '"  L  forbodia 

"  L,  E  Thair         '^  E.  L  miserie         "  E,  L  tuik 

"  E,  L  bluid         '^  L  For    '     "^  L  dispair         "  E,  L  remeid 

MONARCHE,  I. 


A  proup  of  ques- 
tions toudiing 
man's  nature  and 
end. 


Through  Adam's 
pride, 

Gen.  in. 


and  Eve's  impor- 
tuning Adam, 


Rom.  V. 
we,  sinners  all. 


are  as  we  are. 


But  God  has 
wrought  a  remedy 


16 


THE   FIRST   BVKE   OF   THE   MONARCHE. 


to  save  us, 


To  saif  ws  boitli^  frome  syn  and  dede,^ 
And  frome  etarne  dampnatioun  :  460 

Tliarefor^  tak  consolatioun. 
For  God,  as  Scripture  doith^  recorde, 
Haueyng  of  man  Misericorde, 

Send  doun  his  onelye  Sonne,  lesu,  464 

Quhilk  lyclitit  in  one  Virgin  trew, 
And  cled  his  heych  Diuynitie 
With  our  pure  vyle  Humanytie ; 

Syne  frome  our  synnis,  to  conclude,  468 

He  "wysche  ws  with  his  precious  blude.^ 
Quhowbeit  throw  Adam  we  mon  dee, 
Throuch  that  Lord  we  sail  rasit  bee ; 
And  euerilk  man  he  sail  releue  472 

Quhilk  in  his  blade ^  doith^  ferme  beleue,^ 
And  bryng  ws  all  vnto'''  his  glore 
The  quhilk  throw  Adam  bene  forlore  ; 
but  for  our  lack  of  Without  that  we,  throw  laik  of  faith,  476 

Off  his  Godheid  incur  the  wraith  : 
But  quho  in  Christ  fermely  beleuis 
lofi.  in.  5.       Sail  be  releuit  frome  all  myscheuis." 


ill  sending  bis 
only  Son,  Jesus, 


Apocal.  n, 
whose  blood 
Rom.  V. 


Heb.  X. 
redeems, 


Wliat  is  firm 
failh  ? 


COURTIOUR. 

^  "  Quhat  faith  is  that  that  ^e  call  ferme  1 
Schir,  gar  me  vnderstand  that  terme." 


480 


Hebr.  xi. 
The  answer. 


EXPERIENCE. 

*'  Faith  without  Hope  and  Charitie 
Aualit  nocht,  my  Sonne,"  said  he. 


And  charity  ? 


COURTIOUR. 

"  Quhat  Charite  bene,  that  wald  I  knaw." 


484 


EXPERIENCE. 

Quod  he  :  "my  Sonne,  that  sail  I  schaw. 
1  Corin.xiii.      First,  lufe  thy  God  aboue  all  thyng, 
our'nlighbJur."^     And  thy  iN'ychtbour  but  fen3eyng  ;  » 


'  L,  E  boyUi         ^  E,  L  deid         ^  E,  L  Tliairefor 
*  L,  E  doirt         =  E,  L  bluid         "  I,  beleif,  E  belife 
'  L  vntill         "  E  faing^eiug 


laco.  it. 
Of  faith,  real 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE.  17 

Do  none  Iniure  nor  villaiiie,  488  Do  as  yon  would 

be  done  by. 

Bot  as  thow  wakl  ■wer^  done  to  the. 

Quyk  faith  but  cheretabyll  werkis'' 

Can  neuer  be,  as  wryttis  Clerkis, 

More  than  the  fyre,  in  tyll  his  mycht,  492 

Can  be  but  heit,  nor  Sonne  but  lycht. 

Geue^  charitie  into  the  failis,  laco.a. 

Thy  Faith  nor  Hope  no  thyng  auailis.  and  spurious. 

The  Deuyll  hes  Faith,  and  trymlis  for  dreid ;  496 

Bot  he  wantis  Hope  and  lufe  in"*  deid. 

Do  all  the  gude  that  may  be  -wrocht ; — 

But  charitie,  all  auailis  nocht. 

Quharefore^  pray  to  the  Trinite  500 

For  tyll  support  thy  Charite.  P'ay  for  charity. 

H  'Novr  haue  ^  I  schawin  the,  as  I  can, 

Quhow  Father  Adam,  the  first  man.  Recapitulation. 

Brocht  in'''  the  warld  boith  Syn  and  Dede,  504 

And  quhow  Christ  lesu  maid^  remede, 

Quhilk,  on  the  day  of  lugement, 

Sail  ws  delyuer  frome  torment, 

And  bryng  ws  to  his  lestyng  glore,  508 

Quhilk  sail  indiire  for  euer  more. 

Bot  in  this  warld  thow  gettis  no  rest, 

I  mak  it  to  the  manifest. 

Tharefore,^  my  Sonne,  be  diligent,  512  Be  diligent,  pa- 

.      ,  1  i>       ,      1  ,  •       .  tient,  and  trust  in 

And  lerne  tor  to  be  patient ;  God. 

And  in  to  God  sett  all  thy  traist :  ^'^ 
All  thyng  sail,  than,  cum  for  the  best." 

COURTIOUR. 

H  "  Father,  I  thank  30W  hartfullye  516 

Off  30ur  conforte  and  cumpanye, 

And  heuinlye  consolatioun ; 

Makand  30W  supplicatioun, 

Geue^i  I  durst  put  30W  to  sic  pyne,  520 

That  3e  wald  pleis  for  to  defyne, 

'  E  war         =  E  varkis         "  L.  E  Gyff         *  L  is 

'  L,  E  Quhairfor         «  E  haif         '  E  into         "  L  fand 

"  E  Thairfor         '"  E  trest         "  E  Gyf 

0  2 


18 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


Questions  aboat 
Adam  and  bis 


And  gar  me  cleii'lye  vnderstand, 
Qiihow  Adam  brak  the  Lord/i-  command ; 
And  qulLOW,  throw  his  transgressioun, 
War  punyst  his  Successioun." 


524 


others  have  dis- 
coursed eloquent- 
ly of  Adam. 


I  will  tell  bis 
Btory  as  best  I 
can. 


EXPERIENCE. 

**  My  Sonne,"  quod  he,  *'  wald  thcw  tak  cure 
To  Inke^  on  the  Diuyne  Scripture, 
In  to  the  Buke  of  Genesis  528 

That  storye  thave  thow  sail  nocht  mis. 
And  alswa  syndrie  cunnyng  Clerkis 
Hes  done  rehers,  in  to  thave^  werkis, 
OS  Adamis  fall  full  Ornatly,  532 

Ane  thoiisand  tymes  better  nor  I 
Can  Avrytt  of  that  vnhappy  man. 
Bot  I  sail  do  the  best  I  can 

Schortlie  to  schaw  that  cairfull  cace,^  536 

With  the  support  of  Goddis  grace." 


E  luik         *  E  thaire         '  E  caice 


19 


THE  FIRST  BVKE. 


ANE  EXCLAMATIOVN  TO  THE  EEDAR,  TWYCHEYNG' 

THE  WKYTTYNG  OF  VULGAKE  AND 

MATERNALL  LANGVAGE. 

GEXTYL  Eedar,  haif  at  me  now  dispyte, 
Thynkand  that  I  presumptuously  pretend, 
In  vulgair  toz^ng  so  lieycli  mater  to  writ ; 
Bot  quhair  I  mys  I  pray  the  till  ame?id, 
Tyll  vnlernit  I  wald  the  cause  wer  kend 
Off  our  most  miserabyll  trauell  and  torment, 
And  quhow,  in  ertli,  no  place  bene  parmanent. 


OiO    I  write  in  my 
niollier  tongue, 
from  a  wisli  to 
instruct  the  un- 
learned, 

544 


Quhowbeit  that  diuers  denote  cunnyng  Clerkis 

In  Latyne  toung  lies  wryttin  syndrie  bukis^ 

Our  vnlernit  knawis  lytill  of  thare  werkis, 

More  than  thay  do  the  rauyng  of  the  Ptukis.  548 

Quharefore^  to  Col3earis,  Caiitaris,  &  to  Cukis, — 

To  lok  and  Thome, — my  Eyme  sail  be  diractit, 

With  cuHnyng  men  quhowbeit  it  wylbe  lactit. 

Thocht  euery  Co??2moun^  may  nocht  be  one  Clerk,  552 

IS:  or  lies  no  Leid  except  thare  toung  maternall, 

Quhy  suld  of  god  the  maruellous  heuinly  *  werk 

Be  hid  frome  thamel     I  thynk^  it  nocht  fraternall. 

Tlie  father  of  heuin,  quhilk  wes  &  is  Eternall,  556 

To  Moyses  gaif  the  Law,  on  mont  Senay, 

Nocht  in  to  Greik  nor  Latyne,  I  heir  say. 

He  wrait  the  Law,  in  Tablis  hard  of  stone. 

In  thare  awin  vulgare*^  language  of  Hebrew,  560 

That  all  the  bairnis  of  Israeli,  euery  one. 


who  know 
nothing  of  Latin. 

I  address  myself 
to  folk  of  low 
estate. 


Tlie  vulgar  should 
know  of  God's 
works. 


Exo.  XX. 
Moses  delivered 
tlie  Law  in  He- 
brew, tlie  lan- 
guage of  the 
Israelites. 
Exod.  xxi. 


E  Tuicliyng        -  L  Quhairfor,  E  Quhairefor        '  E  commond 
""  E  havinlye         *  L  hald         «  L  naturall 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


Latin  or  Greek 
would  have 
mocked  them. 


Myclit  knaw  the  law,  and  so  the  sam  ensew. 
Had  he  done  wryt  in  Latyne  or  in  Grew, 
It  had  to  thame  bene  hot  ane  saAvrles  lest :  ^ 
^e  may  weill  wytt  God  wrocht  all  for  the  best. 


564 


The  Greeks  did 
like  Moses; 


and  so  did  the 
Romans, 


5^  Arristotyll  nor  Plato,  I  heir  sane, 

Wrait  nocht  thare  hie  Philosophie  naturall 

In  Duche,  nor  Dence,  nor  toung  Italiane,  568 

Bot  in  thare  maist  ornate  toung  maternall, 

Quhose^  fame  and  name  doith  ryng  perpetuall. 

Famous  Virgvll,  the  Prince  of  Poetrie, 

Nor  Cicero,  the  flour  of  Oratrie,  572 


in  writing 
In  Latin. 


Wrait  nocht  in  Caklye  language,  nor  in  Grew, 
Kor  3it  in  to  the  language  Sara3ene, 
Nor  in  the  naturall  language  of  Hebrew, 
Bot  in  the  Romane  toung, — as  may  be  sene, — 
Quhilk  wes  thair  proper^  language,  as  I  wene, 
Quhen  Eomanis  rang  Dominator/*'  in  deid. 
The  Ornat  Latyne  wes  fhave  propir  leid. 


576 


And  the  Romans 


founded  Latin 
schools. 


hoping  that  their 
rule  would  last 
for  ever. 


In  the  mene  tyme,*  quhan  that  thir  bauld  Romance 

Ouer  all  the  warld  had  the  Dominioun,^ 

JMaid  Latyne  Scolis,  tJmre  glore  for  tyll  auance, 

That  thavQ  language  mycht  be  ouer  all  co/huiouu  ; 

To  that  intent,  be  my  Opinioun, 

Traistyng  that  ^Z^are  Impyre  sulde  ay  Indiire  : 

Bot  of  fortune  alway  thay  wer  nocht  sure. 


580 


584 


Genesis  xi. 
God's  curse 


has  multiplied 
hiiiKuaKCS  from 
one  to  seventy- 
two. 


U  Off  Languagis  the  first  Diuersytio 

AVes  maid  be  Goddis  INIalcdictioun.  588 

Quhen  Babilone  wes  beildit  in  Calde, 

Those  beUdaris  gat  none  vther  afflictioun  : 

Affore  the  tyme  of  that  jmnyssioun 

AYes  bot  one  toung,  quliilk  Adam  spak  hym  self,     592 

Quhare  now  of  toun'ris  //<are  bene  Ihve  score  and  twelf. 


'  E  gest 


L,  E  Qiilioss         '  E  pi-opir         *  E  meiiityme 
*  E  dominatioun 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


21 


Nochtwithstaiidyng,  I  thyiik  it  gret  plesour, 
Quhare  cunnyng  men  hes  languagis  anew, 
That,  in  tJmve  30utli,  be  deligent  lauboiir, 
Hes  leirnit  Latyne,  Greik,  and  aid  Hebrew. 
That  I  am  nocht  of  that  sorte  sore  I  rew  : 
Quharefore^  I  wald  all  bukis  necessare 
For  our  faith  wer  in  tyll  our  toung  vulgare. 


still,  I  admire 
the  leaniiiis  of 
divers  toiifjues  by 
c  Q  /•    the  clerkly, 


whereof,  alas !  I 
am  not. 


600 


Christ,  efter  his  glorious  Ascentioun, 

Tyll  his  Disciplis  send  the  holy  Spreit, 

In  toungis  of  fyre,  to  that  intentioun, 

Thay,  beand  of  all  languagis  repleit, 

Throuch  all  the  warld,  with  wordis  fair  and  sweit, 

Tyll  eiiery  man  the  faith  thay  suld  furth  schaw 

In  thare  awin  laid,  delynerand  thame  the  Law. 


604 


The  tongues  of 
fire  were  given. 


that  all 

might  know  the 

Law. 


508    The  Latin  services 
of  nuns  and  sis- 
ters 


Tharefore^  I  thynk  one  gret  dirisioun 

To  heir  thir  !N"unnis  &  Syster/s  nycht  and  day 

Syngand  and  sayand  psalmes  and  orisoun, 

I^ocht  vnderstandandyng  quhat  thay  syng  nor  say, 

Bot  lyke  one  stirlyng  or  ane  Papingay,  612 

Quhilk  leirnit  ar  to  speik  be  lang  vsage  : 

Thame  I  compair  to  byrdis^  in  ane  cage.  derided; 


Eycht  so  Childreyng*  and  Ladyis^  of  honouris 

Prayis  in  Latyne, — to  thame  ane  vncuth  leid, —       616 

Mumland  thaiv  matynis,  euinsang,  &  thave  houris, 

Thare  Pater  Noster,  Aue,  and  thare  Creid. 

It  wer  als  plesand  to  thare  spreit,  in  deid, 

*  God  haue  mercy  on  me,'  for  to  say  thus,  620 

As  to  say  *  Miserere  Mei,  Dens.' 


and  so  those  of 
children  and  high- 
born ladies. 


Sanct  lerome  in  bis  propir  toung  Romane 
The  Law  of  God  he  trewlie  did  translait. 
Out  of  Hebrew  and  Greik,  in  Latyne  plane. 


Of  S.  Jerome's 
versions  of  the 
Testa.uents, 


624 


'  L  Quhairfore         -  E  Thairfore         '  E  beirdis 
"  B  Childrenff         ^  E  Lar'eis 


22 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


Had  he  been  an 
Argyleman,  lie 
would  have  writ- 
ten in  Erse. 

1  Cor.  xiiii. 
S.  Paul  on 


intelligible 
ejieech. 


The  unlearned 
should  be  preach- 
ed to  in  their 


mother  tongue, 
the  proper  me- 
dium 


for  their  religious 
inatructiou 


and  devotions. 


And  the  laws 
sliould  ho  in  a 
language  Rcner- 
ally  known, 


Quliilk  has  bene  hid  honiQ  ws  lang  tyme,  god  wait, 

Onto  this  tyme :  hot",  efter  myne  consait, 

Had  Sanct  lerome  bene  borne  in  tyll  Argyle,^ 

In  to  Yrische  to?ing  his  bulcis  had  done  compyle.     628 

Prndent  sanct  Panll  doith  mak  narratioun 

Twycheyng^  the  diners  leid  of  euery  land, 

Sayand  thaie  bene  more  edificationn 

In  fyue  wordis  that  folk  doith  vnderstand  632 

Nov  to  pronunce  of  wordis  ^  ten  thousand 

In  strange  langage,  sine  wait  not  quhat  it  menis  : 

I  thynk  sic  pattryng  is  not  worth'*  twa  prenis. 

{^  Vnlernit  peple,^  on  the  holy  day,  636 

Solemnitlye  thay  heir  the  Euangell  soung, 

Nocht  knavvyng*^  quhat  the  preist  dois'^  sing  nor  say, 

Bot  as  ane  Bell  quhen  that  thay  heir  it  roung  : 

3it,  wald  the  Preistis  in  to  fJiave  mother  touiig  610 

Pas  to  the  Pulpitt  and  that  doctryne  declair 

Tyll  lawid  pepyll,  it  wer^  more  necessair. 

H  I  wald  Prelattis  and  Doctouris  of  the  Law 

With  Avs  lawid  peple  wer  nocht  discontent,  614 

Thocht  we  in  to  our  vulgare  toung  did  knaw 

Off  Christ  lesu  the  lyfe  and  Testament, 

And  quhow  that  we  sulde  keip  commaniliment ; 

Bot  in  our  language  lat  ws  pray  and  reid  648 

Our  Pater  IsToster,  Aue,  and  our  Creid, 

*I  I  wald  sum  Prince  of  grot  Discrotioun 

In  vulgare  language  planelye  gart  translait 

The  neidfuU  lawis  of  tliis  Ilegioun  :  652 

Than  wald  thare  nocht  be  half  so  gret  dcbait 

Amang  ws  peple  of  the  law  estait. 

Geue^  euery  man  the  veryte  did  knaw, 

"We  ncdit  nocht  to  treit  thir  men  of  law.  656 

'  L  Ei-ffile,  E  Argyll         '  L,  E  Twychinp;         '  E  voiinlis 

*  E  vyrtli         ^  L  pepill         '  L  viidorstaiiding 

^  L  i/ia[         '  E  war         »  L.  E  GvlT 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OF    THE    MOXARCIIE. 


23 


Tyll  do  our  nj^clitbour  wrang  we  wald  be  war, 
Gyf  we  did  feir  the  lawis  punysinent : 
Thare  wald  nocht  be  sic  brawlyng  at  the  bar, 
Nov  men  of  law  loup  to  sic  royall  rent. 
To  keip  the  law  gyf  all  men  war  content, 
And  ilk  man  do  as  he  wald  be  done  to, 
The  lugis  wald  get  lytill  thyng  ado. 


GGO 


for  tlie  public 
benefit. 


H  The  Propheit  Dauid,  Kyng  of  Israeli,  6G4  i^avid 

Compyld  the  plesand  Psalmes  of  the  Psaltair^ 

In  his  awin  propir  toung,  as  I  heir  tell ; 

And  Salamone,  quhilk  wes  his  sone  and  air, 

Did  mak  his  bake  in  tyll  his  toung  "vulgair.  GG8 

Quhy  suld  nocht  ^7iare  sayng^  be  tyll  ws  schawin 

In  our  lan^uacje?  I  wald  the  cause  wer  knawin. 


and  Solomon 
wrote  in  their 
mother  tongue; 

and  we  should 
luive  tlie  Psalter 
in  ours. 


Lat  Doctoris  wrytt  thare -^  curious  questionis. 
And  argumentis  sawin  full  of  Sophistrye, 
Thare  Logick,  and  if/; are  heych  Opinionis, 
Thare  dirk  lugementis  of  Astronomye, 
Thare  Medecyne,  and  thare  Philosopliye  ; 
Latt  Poet/s  schaw  tJi,are  glorious  Ingyne, 
As  euer  thay  pleis,  in  Greik  or  in  Latyne ; 


Let  the  learned 


G72 


(570    and  poets  use 

Latin  and  Greek 
at  their  pleasure; 


^  Bot  lat  ws  haif  the  bukis  necessare 

To  commoun*  weill  and  our  Saluatioun 

Justlye  translatit  in  our  toung  Vulgare.  680 

And  als  I  mak  the  Supplicatioun, 

0  gentyll  Redar,  haif  none  Indignatioun, 

Thynkand  I  mell  me  with  so  hie  matair. 

l^ow  to  my  purpose  fordwart^  wyll  I  fair.  684 


but  let  the  boolis 
necessary  for  the 
common  weal  and 
for  our  salvation 
be  translated  into 
the  vulgar  tongue. 


FINIS. 


E  Psalter 


L  sayinp:ia         ^  L  tJie 
*  E  fordvart 


"•  E  coramond 


24 


h^  HEIR  FOLLOWIS  THE  CREATIOUN  OF  ADAM 
AND  EUE. 

After  the  creation  QVHEN  Gocl  had  maid  fJw  lieuiiiis^  tryclit, 

of  tlie  lieaveiis, 

sun,  moon,  The  Sone  &  2  IVIone  for  to  geue  lycht, 

The  sterry  heuin  &  Christellyne, 
aene.  i.        And,  be  his  Sapience  diuyne,  688 

and  planets.  The  planet/*",  in  tlimv  circlis  round 

Quhirling  about  \fif.li  merie  sound, — 

Oif  quhome  Phebus  was  principal], 

luste  in  his  Lyne  Eclipticall, —  692 

And  gaue,^  be  Diuyne  Sapience, 

Tyll  euery  Ster  thare  Influence, 

With  motioun  continuall, 

Quhilk  doith*  indure  perpetuall ;  696 

And,  farrest^  frome  the  heuin  Impyre, 
g.hJ  made  the        The  ertli,  the  ■waiter,''  air,  and  fyre  : 

'        He  cled  the  erth  with  herbis  and  treis  ; 

All  kynd  of  fysches  in  the  seis,  700 

and  their  tenants,  All  kynd  of  best,'^  he  did  prepair, 

AVith  fowlis  fleyngS  in  the  air. 

Thus,  be  his  word  all  thyng  was  Avrocht 
all  out  of  nothing.  Without  matcriall,  maid  of  nocht :  704 

So,  be  his  wysedome  Infinyte 

All  wes  maid  plesand  and  perfyte. 

Quhen  heuin  and  erth,^  and  ///are  contentis, 

AVer  endit^  with  ///are  Ornamentis,  708 

Lastly,  He  fash-     Than,  last  of  all,  the  Lord  began 

Off  most  vyle  erth  to  male  the  man. 

Nocht  of  the  Lille,i<'  nor  the  Kose, 

Nor  Syper  tre,^^  as  I  suppose,  712 

Nother  of  gold,  nor  precious  stonis  ; 
and  of  clay,  Olf  erth  he  maid  flesche,  bludc,^-  and  bonis. 

To  that  intent  God  maid  hym  thus, 

'  E  tliat  havinis         =  E  the         '  E  gaif         *  L  dois 
*  L  fcrrest        ®  L  watter.  E  vattir         '  L  beistis         '  L  floind 
9  L  cnl,  E  cirth  '"  E  Lyllie         "  L  Cipertre         "  E  bhiid 


THE    FIRST    liVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE, 


25 


That  man  sulde  iioclit  be  glorious,  716 

Not  in  hym  self  no  tliyng  suld  se 

Bot  matere  of  humylite. 

Quhen  man  wes  maid,  as  I  haue  tald, 

God  in  liis  face  did  hym  behald,  720 

Braithand  in  hym  ane  lyflie  si^reit. 

Quhen  all  thir  werkis  wer  compleit, 

He  maid  man,  to  his  simylitude, 

Precellaud  in  to  pulchritude,  724 

Dotit  with  gyftis  of  Nature 

Aboue^  all  erthlye  creature; 

Syne  plesandlye  did  hym^  conuoye 

To^  ane  regioun  repleit  with  loye,  728 

Off  aU  plesour  quhilk  bair  the  pryce. 

And  callit  erthly*  Paradyce  ; 

And  brocht,  be  Diuyne  prouience,^ 

All  beistis  and  byrdis^  tyll  his  presence.  732 

Adam  did  craftelye  Impone 

Ane  speciall  name  tyll  euery''  one, 

And  to  all  thyngis  materiall, 

He  namyt^  thame  in  speciall :  736 

Quhow  he  thame  namyt  ^itt  bene  kend, 

And  salbe  to  the  warldlis^  end. 

In  to  that  gardyng  of  plesance 

Two  treis  grew — most  tyll  auance, 

Aboue^  all  vther  quhilk  bair  the  pryce, — 

In  myddis  of  that  Paradyce. 

The  one  wes  callit  the  tre  of  lyfe ; 

The  vther  tre  began  our^<^  stryfe, — 

The  tre  to  knaw  boith  gude  and  euyll, — 

Quhilk,  be  perswatioun  of  the  Deuyll, 

Began  our  misarie  and  wo. 

Bot  lat  ws  to  our  purpose  go.  748 

H  Quhow  God  gaue^^  Adam  strait  comma?ide 

That  tre  to  twyche  nocht  with  his  hand  : 

All  vther  fructis  of  Paradyce 


that  he  should  be 
meek. 


He  was  created 
comely 


and  most  talented. 


and  was  placed  in 
Paradise. 


Adam  named  the 
animals 


and  all  other 
objects. 


740    Of  the  two  trees 
in  Eden. 


744 


Adam  was  not  to 
touch  the  tree  of 
knowledge. 


'  L  Abufe         =  L  thame         '  L  Till         *  L,  E  erthlie 

*  L  sapience         *  L  fouUis,  E  beirdis         '^  L  euerilk 

*  L  nemmit  ^  L  warldis  "*  E  to  "  L  gaif 


26 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


To  cat  of  it  would 
be  death  to  liim. 


Adam  was  alone. 


He  was  sent  to 
sleep, 


a  nb  was  taken 
from  him. 


and  woman  was 
made  therefrom. 


She  was  called 
Virago, 


and  tlien  Eve. 


They  were  sancti- 
fied. 


Men  Bhould  cling 
to  llieir  wives; 


for  they  two  are 
one,  bodily. 


He  bad  hyin  eit^  at  his  deuyce ;  752 

Sayand,  gyf  thow  eit  of  this  tre, 

With  dowbyll  deith  than  sail  thow  dee  : 

Tharefore  I  the  command,  be  war,^ 

And  frome  this  tree  thow  stand  afar.  756 

3itt  Father  Adam  wes  allone, 

But  cumpanye  of  ony  one. 

Than  thocht  the  Lord  it  Necessare 

Tyll  hym  to^  Great  ane  helpare.  7G0 

IF  God  patt  in  Adam  sic  Sapour 

That  for  to  sleip  he  tuke  plesour, 

And  laid  hym  down  ajDone  the  grounde  ; 

And  quhen*  Adam  wes  slepand  sounde,  764 

He  tulce  ane  Eib  furth^  of  his  syde, 

Syne  fyld  it  vp  with  flesche  and  hyde, 

And  maid  ane  Woman  of  that  bone  : 

Fairar  of  forme  wes^  neuer  none.  768 

Than  tyll  Adam  Incontinent 

That  fair  Lady  he  did  present, 

Quhilk  schortlye  said,  for  to  conclude, 

Thow  art  my  flesche,  my  bonis,  and  blude;''  772 

And  Virago  he  callit  hir,  than, — ■ 

Quhilk  is,  Interpreit,  maid  of  man, — 

Quhilk  Eua  efterwart  wes  namyt, 

Quhen,8  for  hir  falt,^  sche^''  wes  dillainyt.  776 

Tlian  did  the  Lord  thame  Sanctyfie, 

Sayingii  'Incres  and  Multyplie.' 

Be  this  men  suld  leif  all  thare  kyn, 

And  with  thave  Wyffis  mak  dwellyn,  780 

And,  for  thave  saik,  leif  Father  and  Mother, 

And  lufe  thame  best  aboue  all  vther  : 

For  God  lies  ordanit  thame,  trewlye, 

To  be  two  saulis  in  one  bodye,  784 

II  My  wytt  is  walk  for  tyll  Indyte 

Thare  heuinlye  plesouris  Infmyte. 

Wes  neuer  none  erthl^'e^-  Creature 


'  E  ait         *  E  vare         '  E  cum  to         *  L  quiian         *  L  out 

®  E  vas         '  L  niv  bonis,  flesclie  and  blade         '  L  Qulian 
»  E  f.-inio         '"  E  scho         "  L  Sayand         ''^  L  erdlie,  E  crtbly 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OF    THE    MONAUCHE. 


27 


Sen  syne  liad  sic  perfyte  plesoure. 
Thay  had  puyssance  Iniperiall 
Aboue  all  thyng  materiall. 
Als  cunnyng  Clerkis  dois  conclude, 
Adam  preceld^  in  pulchritude 
INfost  l^aturall, — and  the  farest  man 
That  euir  wes,  sen  the  warld  began, 
Except  Christ  lesu,  Goddis  Sonne, 
To  quhome  wes  no  comparisone ; 
And  Eua,  the  fairest  Creature 
That  euer  wes  formit  be^  nature, 
Thocht  thay  wer  naikit  as  thay  wer  maid. 
'Ko^  schame  ather  of  vther  haid. 
Quhat  plesour  mycht  ane  man  half  more 
!N^or^  half  his  Lady  hym  before, 
So  lustye,  plesand,  and  perfyte, 
Eeddy  to  serue  his  appetyte  ! 
Thay  had  none  vther  cure,  I  wys, 
Bot  past  tJmve  tyme  with  loye  and  blys. 
Wyld  Beistis  did  to  thame  repair ; 
So  did  the  Fowlis  of  the  air, 
With  noyis^  most  Angelycall 
Makand  thame  myrthis  Musicall ; 
The  fyschis  soumand'^  in  the  strandis 
"Wer  holelye^  at  tJiave  commandis  : 
All  Creatuxi'^,  with  ane  accorde, 
Obeyit  hym^  as  thave  soiierane  Lorde. 
Thay  sufFerit  nother  heit  nor  cald, 
"With  euery  plesour  that  thay  wald. 
Als^  to  the  deith  thay  wer  nocht  thrall ; 
And  rychtso^  suld  we  haue^*>  bene  all : 
For  he  and  all  his  Successouris 
Suld  haue^"  possedit  those  plesouris. 
Syne  frome  that  loye  materiall 
Gone  to  the  glore  Imperiall. 
Thay  had,  geue^^  I  can  rycht  discryue. 


788   Great  was  their 
happiness. 


792    Adam 


79G 


800 


and  Eve  wore 
passing  fair. 


They  were  naked, 
but  not  asliameJ. 


Of  Eve's  graces. 


804 


The  beasts, 
808    birds, 


and  fishes  were 
under  them. 


812 


816    They  wanted  for 
nothing ; 


820    an*!  ths'f  Pos- 

terity  misht  have 
been  equally 
favoured. 


L  precellit         '  E  off        ^  L  Na         "  L  Than         '  L  ioyis 
*  L  swemand,  E  swouraand         ^  L  lialalye         *  L  tJiame 
^  L  richtsua,  E  rycht  so  *  E  haif         "  L  gif,  E  gyue 


28 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OF    THE    MOXARCHE. 


They  enjoyed 
greatly  the  senses 
of 


liearing, 

taste, 

smell, 


Were  they 
chaste  ? 


They  were  to  in- 
crease. 


Delectable 


Probably  their 
abode  in  it  was 
but  brief. 


Giet  loy  in  all  tlmxQ  "wyttis  fyue, —  824 

In  heiryng,  seyng,  gustyng,  smellyng, 

Induryng  ^/iare  delytesum  d^yellyng  : 

Heiryiig  the  byrdis  armoneis, 

Taistyng  the  fructis^  of  diuers  treis,  828 

Smellyng  the  balmye  dulce  odouris 

Quhilk  did  proceid  frome  fragrant  flo\A'ris, 

Seyng  so-  mony  heuinlye  hewis 

Off^  blomes  brekyng^  on  the  bewis;  832 

Off  twycheyng,  als,  thay  had  delyte 

Off  vtheris  bodeis  soft  and  quhyte, 

But  doute.     Induryng  that  plesoui", 

Thay  luffit  vther  Paramour, —  836 

No  maruell  bene  thoclit  swa  suld  be, 

Consyderyng  thare  gret  bewte. 

Als,  God  gaue  ^  thame  command  expres 

To  multyplie  and  tyll  incres,  840 

That  tlmxQ  seid  and  successioun 

Mycht  pleneis  euery  ^atioun. 

H  I  lyst  nocht  tarye  tyll  declare 

All  properteis  of  that  place  preclare  : —  844 

Quhow  herbis  and  treis  grew  ay  grene, 

Nor  of  the  temporat  air  serene  ; 

Quhow  fructis  Indeficient, 

Ay  alyke  rype  and  redolent ;  848 

Nor  of  the  Fontane,  nor  the  fludis, 

Nor  of  the  flowris  pulchritudis. 

That  mater  Clerkis  dois  declare  ; 

Quharefore^  I  speik  of  thame  na  mare.  852 

The  Scripture  makis  no  mentioun 

Quhow  lang  thay  rang  in  that  Eegioun ; 

Bot  I  beleue  the  tyme  wes  schorte. 

As  diuers  Doctouris  dois  reporte.  856 


*  FINIS.  * 


'  L  frute 
*  L  brekautl,  E  breiking 


L  sa         '  L  WaA 
*  E  gaif        *  L,  E  Quharfore 


29 


V^  OF  THE'  MISERABYLL  TRANSGRESSIOUN 
OF  ADAM. 


C0URTI0UR.2 

\-9  "FATHER,  Hov  happinnit^  that  mischance?" 

(Quod  I)  :  "  schaw  me  the  circumstance, 

Declaryng  me  that  cairfuU  cace, 

Quhow  Adam  lost  that  plesand  place  860 

Frome  hym  and  his  Successioun, 

Quhow  did  proceid  that  transgressioun  1 " 


How  did  Adam 
lose  Eden,  for 
himself  and  Ids 
descendants  ? 


EXPERIENCE/ 

Quod  he  :  "  ef  ter  my  rude  Ingyne 
I  saU  rehers  the  that  rewyne. 

Quhen  God,  the  Plasmatour  of  all, 
In  to  the  heuin  Imperiall 
Did  Great  all  the  Angelh's  brycht, 
He  maid  one  Angell  most  of  mycht, 
To  quhome  he  gaif  preheminence, 
Aboue  thame  all,  in  sapience. 
Because  all  vther  he  did  prefer, 
Namit  he  was  brycht  Lucefer. 
He  wes  so  plesand  and  so  fair 
He  thocht  hym  self  without  compair. 
And  grew  so  gay  and  glorious 
He  gan*  to  be  presumptuous. 
And  thocht  that  he  wald  sett  his  salt 
In  to  the  north,  and  male  debait 
Agane  the  Maiestie  Diuyne  ; 
Quhilk  wes  the  cause  of  his  rewyne. 
For  he  iucurrit  Goddis  Yre, 
And  banyst  frome  the  heuin ^  Impyre 

'— '  L  Heir  followis         '  E  omitted 

*  E  begane         ^  E  bavin 


8G4 


God  made, 


868    among  the  angels, 
one  superior  to  all, 


872    Lucifer. 


876    He  grew  proud, 


and  opposed  God, 


880 


who  banished 
him. 


E  hapnit 


30 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OP    THE    MONARCHE. 


with  maiij'  of  liis 
fellows. 


Wbei'e  they  went. 


Tliey  envied 
Ailiun. 


Satan  entered  into 
the  serpent, 


who,  to  beguile 
Adam, 


addressed  himself 
to  fickle  Eve. 


Wliy  does  she 
shun  tlie  tree  of 
knowledge? 


licr  reason. 


^Vitli  Angellis  moiiy  one  Legioun, 

Quliilk/s^  wer  of  his  opinioun.  884 

Innumerabyll  with  hym  thare  fell : 

Sum  lychtit  in  the  law  est  hell, 

Sum  in  the  sey  did  mak  repair, 

Sum  in  the  erth,  sum  in  the  air.  888 

That  most  vnhappy  cumpanye 

Att  Father  Adam  had  Inuye, 

Parsaueyng-  Adam  and  his  seid 

In  to  thave  places  to^  succeid.  892 

The  Serpent  wes  the  subtellest 

Aboue  all  beistis,  and  craftyest. 

Than  Sathaii,  with  ane  fals  intent, 

Did  enter  in  to  that  Serpent ;  896 

Imagenyng  sum  crafty e  wyle, 

Quhow  he  mycht  Adam  best  begyle, 

And  gar*  hym  brek  commandimeut. 

Bot  to  the  woman  first  he  went :  900 

Traistyng  the  better  to  preuaill, 

Full  subtellye  did  hir  assaill. 

"With  facund  wordis,  fals  and  fair, 

He  grew  Avith  hir  familiair,  904 

That  he  his  purpose  mycht  auance  ; 

Beleuand  in  hir  Inconstance. 

^  'Quhat  is  the  cause,  INIadame,'  said^  he, 

'  That  je  forbeir  3one  plesand  tre,  908 

Quhilk  bene,  but  peir,  most  pretious, 

Quhose  fruct  bene  moste  delytious  ? ' 

'I  Nyll,'^  quod  sche,''  'thare  to  accord  : 

We  ar  forbyddin  be  the  Lord,  D12 

The  quhilk  lies  geuin  ws  lybertie 

Tyll  eait^  of  euery  fruct  and  tre 

Quhilk  growls  in  to  Paradyse  : 

Brek  we  command,  we  ar  nocht  wyse.  916 

He  gaue  ^  tyll  ws  ane  strait  command 

That  tre  to  twyche  nocht  with  our  hand  : 


L  Quhilk         *  L,  E  Persaueyng         '  L  plnco  for  (o 
*  K  gai-t         *  L  quod         ^  L  will  not         ^  E  scho 
"  E  eit         "  L,  E  guff 


THE   FIRST   BVKE   OF   THE   MONARCHE. 


31 


Eit  "we  of  it,  without  remede, 

He  said,  but  dout,  we  sulde  be  dede.  920 

Beleue  nocht  that,  said  the  Serpent : 

Eit  36  of  it,  Incontinent 

Eepleit  ^e  sail  be  with  Science, 

And  haif  perfyte  Intelligence,  924 

Lyke  God  hym  self,  of  ^  euyll  and  gude. 

Than,  haistellye  for  to  conclude, 

Heiryng  of  this  prerogatyue,^ 

Sche  pullit  doun  the  fruct  belyue,  928 

Throw  counsall  of  the  fals  Serpent, 

And  eit  of  it,  to  that  intent,^ 

And  patt  hir  Husband  in  beleue, 

That  plesand  fruct  gyf  he  wald  preue,  932 

That  he  suld  be  als  Sapient 

As  the  gret  God  Omnipotent. 

Thynk  je  nocht  that  ane  plesand  thyng. 

That  we,  lyke  God,  suld  euer  ryng'?  935 

He,  herand  this  ISTarratioun, 

And  be  hir  solistatioun, 

Mouit  be  prydefull  ambitioun. 

He  eit,  on  that  conditioun. 

The  principall  poyntis  of  this  offence 

"War  pryde  and  Inobedience, 

Desyring  for  to  be  Equall 

To  God,  the  Creature  of  aU.  944 

AUace  !  Adam,  quhy  did  thow  so  1 

Quhy  causit  thow  this  mortall  wo  ? 

Had  thow  bene  constant,  firme,  and  stabyll, 

Thy  glore  had  bene  Incomparabyll.  948 

Quhare*  wes  thy  consyderatioun, 

Quhilk  had  the  Dominatioun 

Off  euery  leuyng  Creature 

Tliat  God  had  formit  be^  IS'ature,  952 

Tyll  vse  thame  at  thy  awin  deuyse  1 

Wes  thow  nocht  prince  of  Paradyse  1 


The  serpent 
rejoins. 


She  ate,  and  urged 
Adam,  who. 


seduced, 


940    did  likewise. 

The  nature  of  the 
offence. 


What  did  not 
Adam  forfeit  by 
it! 


L  in         '  E  omits  from  1.  927  to  1.  958 
^  L  Quhan         *  L  of 
MONARCHE,    I. 


^  L  incontinent 


32 


THE   FIRST   BVKE   OF   THE   MONARCHE. 


Till  then  he  ex- 
celled in 


strength, 
wisdom, 


beauty. 


natural  pliilo- 

Bopliy, 

poetry. 


and  oratory. 


Had  not  he  free- 
will not  to  Bin  ? 


He  was  without 
excuse; 


overcome  of 
woman. 


like  many  a  man 
since ; 


as  history  teaches. 


Nalced,  they  felt 
shame,  and  made 
themselves 

breeches,  for 
decency. 


Wes  neuer  man,  sen  syne,  on  lyue 

That  God  gaue  sic  Prerogatyue  :  956 

He  gaif  the  strentli  aboue  Sampsone, 

And  sapience  more  than  Salomone ; 

3oung  Absolone,  in  his  tyme  moste  fair, 

To  thy  bewte  wes  no  compair ;  960 

Arestotyll  thow  did  precell 

In  to  Phylosophie  natui'ell ; 

Virgin,  in  tyll  his  Poetrye, 

Nor  Cicero,  in  tylP  Oratrye,  964 

"War  neuer  half  so  Eloquent. 

Quhy  brak  thow  Goddis  commandiment  ? 

Quhare  wes  thy  wytt,  that  wald  nocht  flee 

Far  frome  the  presens  of  that  tree  1  968 

Gaif  nocht  thy  Maker  the  fre  wyll 

To  take  the  gude  and  leif  the  euyll  1 

Quhow  mycht  thy  forfalt  be  excusit, 

That  Godd/s  commandiment  refusit,  972 

Throuch  thy  wyffis  perswasioun  1 

Quhilk  hes  bene  the  occasioun, 

Sen  sjTie,  that  mony  nobyll  men,^ 

Be  the  euyll  counsall  of  wemen,  976 

Alluterlye  distroyit  bene, 

As  in  the  Storeis  may  be  sene, 

Quhilk  now  we  neid  nocht  tyU  declair, 

Bot  ford  wart  tyll  our  purpose  fair.  980 

Quhen  thay  had  eaitin  of  the  frute, 
Off  loye  than  wer  thay  destitute. 
Than  gan^  thay,  boith,'*  for  to^  thynk  schame, 
And  to  be  naikit  thocht  defame,  984: 

And  maid  thame  Breik/s  of  leuis  grcne, 
That  thair  secreit/s  suld  nocht  be  sene. 
Bot  in  the  stait  of  Innocence 

Thay  had  none  sic  experience ;  988 

Bot,  quhen  thay  war  to  Syn  subiectit, 
To  schame  and  dreid  thay  war  coactit. 


L  his 


'  E  man 


^  E  began e 
'  E  till 


*  L,  E  lioyth 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OF   THE    MONARCHE. 


33 


And  in  ane  busk  tliay  hid  thame  cloce,^ 

Aschamit  of  the  Lordis  voce, 

Qnhilk  callit  Adam  be  his  name. 

Quod  he  :  my  Lord,  I  thynk  gret  schame 

iN'aikit  to  cum  to  thy  presence. 

Thow  had  none  sic  experience, 

Quod  God,  quhen  thow  wes  Innocent. 

Quhy  brake  thow  my  commandiment  1 

Allace  !  quod  Adam  to  the  Lorde, 

The  veritie  I  sail  recorde  : 

This  woman  that  thow  gaif  to  me 

Gart  me  eit  of  ^one  plesand  tre. 

Rychtso  the  woman  hir  excusit. 

And  said  :  the  Serpent  me  abusit. 

Than  to  the  Serpent  God  said  thus  : 

0  thow  Dissauer  venimous,^ 

Because  the  woman  thow  begylit, 

Frome  thyne  f  urth  sail  thow  be  exylit : 

Curst  and  waryit^  sail  thow  be; 

So  sail  thy  seid  be,  efter  the  : 

Cauld  erth*  salbe  thy  fude,  also, 

And  creipand  on^  thy  breist  sail  go : 

Als,  I  sail  putt  Inamite^ 

Betuix  the  woman,  euer,  and  the  : 

Betuix  thy  seid  and  womanis  seid 

Salbe  continualF  mortall  feid. 

Quhowbeit  thow  lies  wrocht  thir  myscheuis. 

It  sail  nocht  be  as  thow  beleuis  : 

Sic  seid  salbe  in  woman  saw  in. 

That  thy  power  salbe  doun  thrawin ; 

Treddyng  thy  heid  that  thow  may  feill; 

And  thow  sail  tred  hym  on^  the  heill. 

This  was  his  promys  and  menyng. 

That  the  Immaculat  Uirgyng 

Sulde  beir  the  Prince  Omnipotent, 

Quliilk  suld  tred  doun  that  fals  Serpent, 


992 


996 


They  hide  them- 
selves. 

God  calls  to 
Adam. 


Adam's  reply. 


God's  rejoinder. 


1000 


Adam  and  Eve 
confess  in  full. 


1004 


The  serpent 


1008 


to  feed  on  clay, 
1012    to  grovel. 


1016    to  be  hated  of 
man. 


1020    an<J  to  be  worsted 
by  him. 


By  this,  the 
.    mission  of  Christ 
i.\}.ai    was  mystically 
denoted. 


L  closs         ^  E  vennemoiis,  L  venomus         ^  E  vareit 

*  L  erd         ^  E  onder         *>  E  Inanimitie 

^  L  perpetuall  ®  E  doun 


D   2 


34 


THE   FIRST   BVKE   OF   THE   MONARCHE. 


and  the  confusion  Sathan,  and  all  liis  companye, 

And  tliame  conf  imde  ^  alluterlye. 


1028 


Questions  about 
the  serpent. 


COURTIOUR. 

Quod  I :  gene^  Sathan,  prince  of  hell, 
Spak  in  the  Serpent,  as  ^e  teU, 
And  beistis  can  no  way  syn  at  all, 
Quhy  wes  the  Serpent  maid  so  thrall  1 
I  heir  men  say,  affore^  that  hour 
The  Serpent  had  ane  fair  figour. 
And  3eid  straucht*  vp  vpone  his  feit, 
And  had  his  membris  all  compleit, 
As  vtheris  beistis  vpone  the  bent. 


1032 


1036 


He  was  the  tool 
of  Satan,  and  was 
punished  accord- 
ingly. 


An  analogy 
instanced  from 
the  common  law. 


Eve  is  sentenced 


to  suffer  dolor  in 
child-birth, 


and  to  bo 


EXPERIENCE. 

Quod  he  :  for  he  wes  Instrument 
To  Sathan,  in  this  ]\Iiserie, 

Puneist  he  wes,  as  ^e  may  se;  1040 

As,  be  experience,  thow  may  knaw, 
Expres  in  to  the  commoun^  Law, 
Ane  man  conuickit  for  bewgrye, 

The  beist  is  brynt,  als  weill  as  he,  1044 

Quhowbeit  the  beist  be  Innocent : 
And  so  befell  of  the  Serpent. 
It  was  the  Feynd,  full  of  dispyte, 

Off  Adamis  fall  quhilk  had  the  wyte,  1048 

As  he  hes  had  of  mony  mo  : 
Bot  tyll  our  purpose  lat  ws  go. 
U  Than  to  the  woman,  for  hir  offence, 
God  did^  pronunce  this  sore  sentence :  1052 

All  plesour  that  thow  had  afforrow 
Sail  cheangit  be  in  lestyng  sorrow  : 
Quhare'''  that  thow  suld  with  myrth  and  loy 
Hane  borne  thy  byrth,  butt  pane  or  noy,  1056 

Now  all  thy  bairnis^  sail  thow  hair 
AVith  dolour  and  contiiniall  cair ; 
And  thow  salbe,  for  oucht  thow  can. 


'  L  confound         =*  E  gyff         ="  E  affoiv 
*  L  canuoua         *  E  dois         ^  E,  L  quhair 


*  E  strayclit 
*  E,  L  baruia 


THE   FIRST   BVKE   OF   THE   MONARCHE. 


35 


Eucr  subiectit^  to  the  man. 

Be  this  sentence  God  did  conclude 
"Wemen  frome  lybertie  denude, 
Qubilk,  be  experience,  3e  may  se, — 
Quhow  Quenis  of  moste  hie  degre 
Ar  vnder  moste  subiectioun, 
And  sufFeris  moste  correctioun ; 
For  thay,  lyke  byrdis  in  tyll^  ane  cage, 
Ar  keipit  ay  vnder  thirlage  : 
So  all  wemen,  in  thare^  degre, 
Said  to  thare^  men  subiectit  be. 
Quhowbeit,  sum  3it  wyll  stryue^  for  stait. 
And  for  the  maistrye^  mak  debait, 
Quhilk  gyf  thay  want,  boith  ewin  and  morrow 
Thare  men  wyll  suffer  mekle  sorrow. 
Off  Eue  thay  tak  that  qnalite. 
To  desyre  Soueranite. 

And  than  tyll  Adam  said  the  Lord  : 
Because  that  thow  hes  done  accord 
Thy  wyll,  and  harknif^  to  thy  wyfe, 
Now  sail  thow  lose  this  plesand''  lyfe. 
Thow  wes  tyll  hir  obedient ; 
Bot  thow  brake  my  commandiment. 
Curste  and  baren  the  erth^  salbe, 
Quhare  euer^  thow  gois,  tyll  that  thow  de : 
But  laubour,  it  saU  beh'  no  corne, 
Bot  Thirsyll,  Nettyll,  Breir,  and  Thorne  : 
For  fude  thow  gettis  none  vther  beild, 
Bot  eait  the  herbis  apone  the  feild  : 
Sore  laubouryng,  tyll  thy  browis  sweit, 
Frome  thyne  furth  sail  thow  wyn  thy  meit. 
I  maid  the  of  the  erth,^  certane ; 
And  thow  in  erth  sail  turne  agane. 
Than  maid  he  thame  Abiljement,^** 
Off  skynnis  ane  raggit  rayment, 
Thame  to  preserue  frome  heit  and  cauld  : 


1060    subject  to  her 
man. 


10G4 


1068 


Women  are  still 
so  subject; 


1072 


1076 


and  so  they 
should  be. 


In  striving  for  tlie 
mastery. 


they  do  after 
Eve. 


Adam  is  sen- 
tenced. 


1080 


For  his  dis- 
obedience, the 
earth  is  to  be 
1084    barren, 

to  need  tilling, 

and  to  be  weedy ; 


1088 


1092    and  he  is  to  die. 

He  and  his  wife 
are  clothed. 


'  L  subject         '  E  omitted,  L  intill         ^  B,  L  thair 

*  E  stryf,  L  strive         ^  L  maisterie         *  L  herkint 

'  E  present       ^  E  erd       ®  E  Quhair  evyr       '"  L  Habiljement 


35 


THE   FIRST   BVKE   OF   THE   MONARCHE. 


Divine  irony. 


The  expulsion 
from  Eden. 


A  cherub  is  set  to 
guai'd  it. 


lest  they  should 
taste  of  the  tree 
of  life. 


and  live  for  ever. 


The  fhiit  of 
original  sin. 


Than  grew  tliare  dolour^  inony  fauld.  109 G 

Now,  Adam,  ar  je  lyke  tyll  ws, 

With  jour  gay  garment  ^  glorious  : 

To  thame  thir  wordis  said  the  Lorde. 

Than  cryit  thay  boith  Misericorde,  1100 

Quhen  frome  that  Garth,  with  hartis  sore, 

Baneist  thay  wer,  for  euer  more, 

On  to  this  wracheit  vaill  of  sorrow, 

With  dayhe  laubour,  eAvin^  and  morrow.  1104 

Efter  quhose  dolorous  departyng. 

The  Lorde  gaue  Paradyce  in  kepyng 

Tyll  ane  Angell  of  lerubin, 

That  none  suld  haue^  entres  thare  in;  1108 

Att  the  quhilk  entres  he  did^  stand, 

With  flammand  fyrie  sweird**  in  hand, 

To  keip  that  Adam  and  his  wyfe 

Sulde  nocht  taist  of  the  tre  of  lyfe  :  1112 

For,  geue^  thay  of  that  tre  had  preuit, 

Perpetuallye  thay  mycht  haue  leuit. 

So  Adam  and  his  Successioun 

Off  Paradyce  tynt  possessioun ;  1116 

And  be  this  syn  Originall 

War  men  to  Miserie  maid  thrall. 

My  Sonne,  now  may  thow  cleirly  se. 

This  warld  began  with  misere ;  1120 

With  miserie  it  doith  proceid, 

Quhose  fyne  saU  dolour  be  and  dreid. 


COURTIOUR, 

Father,^  quod  I,  quhat  kynd  of  lyfe 
How  then  fared  it  Led  Adam,  witli  his  lustye  wyfe, 
Efter  thare  baUf uU.  banesyng  ]  ^ 


1124 


They  wept, 


and  wandered  to 
and  fro, 


EXPERIENCE. 

Quod  he  :  continuall  womentyng  : 
My  hart  hes  jitt^"  compassioun, 
Quhow  thay  went  wandryng  vp  and  doun. 


1128 
E  evyn,  L  evin 


E  dolor,  L  dollour         ^  L  garmond 

*  E  haiff         =  L  doith         «  L  suerd         ^  E  gyff 
»  L  Fader         "  L  banissing         '"  E  jeit 


THE   FIRST   BVKE   OF   THE   MONARCHE. 


37 


Weipyng,^  witli  mony  lowde  '  allace  ! ' 
That  thay  had  lost  that  plesand  place, 
In  wyldernes  to  be  exilde,^ 
Quhare  thay  fand  nocht  bat  beistis^  wylde, 
Manesyng  thame  for  tyll  deuore, 
Quhilkis  all  obedient  war  affore. 


regretting  Para- 
dise, 


1132    "n^  dreading  the 
wild  beasts. 


COURTIOUR. 

Father,'*  quod  I,  in  quhat  countre 
Did  leif  Adam,  efter  that  he 
Was  banesit  fronie  that  delyte  1  ^ 


1136 


Where  did  they 
tlien  dwell  ? 


where  is  Adam's 
tomb. 

Gene,  iiii. 


Of  their  two 
eldest  sons. 


Cain 
slew  Abel. 


EXPERIENCE. 

Clerkis,  quod  he,  hes  put  in  wryte 
Quhow  Adam  dwelt,  with^  mekle  baUl, 

In  Mamber, — in  that  lusty  vaill  1140  inMamre, 

Quhilk  efter  was  the  lowis  land, — 
Quhare  jit  his  Sepulture  dois'^  stand. 
I  lyste  nocht  tary  tyll  discryue 

The  wo  of  Adam  nor  his  wyue ;  ^  1 144 

Nor  tell  quhen^  thay  had  Sonnis  two, 
Cayn^**  and  Abell,  and  no  mo; 
'Nov  quhow  curst  Cayn,^*'  for  Inuy, 
Did  slay  i^  his  Brother  creuelly  ;  12  1148 

Not  of  thare  murnyng  nor  thare  mone, 
Quhen  thay,  but  Sonnis,  wer  left  allone, — 
Abell  lay  slane  vpone  the  ground, 
Curst  Cayn  flemit  and  Uacabound ;  1152 

Nor  quliow  God,  of  his  speciall  grace, 
Send  thame  the  thrid  Sonne,  fair  of  face, 
Most  lyke  Adam  of  liesche  and  blude, — 
Seth  was  his  name,  gratious  and  gude  ; —  1156 

Not  quhow  blynd  Lameth  raikleslye^^ 
Did  slay  Cayn,^*^  vnhappelye. 
Adam,  as  Clerkis  dois  discriue, 
Begat  with  Eue,^*  his  wofull  wyue,  1160 


Of  their  third 
son. 


Laraech,  who 
killed  Cain. 


Adam, 
by  Eve, 


'  E  Weping         *  E  exilid 

^  L  delite         ^  L  ia 
L  quhow         '"  L  Cay  am 
'*  L  rekleslie 


'  E  baistis  "  L  Fader 

^  L  doith  8  E  wytfe 

"  L  sla  ''  L  crewally 
•''  L  Ewe 


38 


THE   FIRST   BVKE   OF   THE   MONARCHE. 


had  32  sons, 
and  as  many 
daughters. 


Oene.  v. 
He  lived 
930  years, 
and  in  sorrow. 


looking  back* 
wards 


and  forwards. 


and  died, 
and  went  to 
Hades, 


for  8000  years 
and  more, 

till  Christ  came. 


when  he  was 
released. 


Off  men  Childryngi  tliretty  and  two, 

And  of  Docliteris  alyke  also. 

Be  this  thow  may  weill  vnderstand 

That  Adam  saw  mony  ane  thowsand  1164 

That  of  his  body  did  discend, 

Or  he  out  of  the  warkl  did  wend. 

Adam  leifit  in  erth,  Ijut  weir, 

Compleit  nyne  hundreth  and  tliretty  3eir;  1168 

And  all  his  dayis  war  hot  sorrow, 

Eememberyng,  boith.  ewin  and  morrow, 

Off  Paradyce  the  prosperitie, 

Syne  of  his  gret^  miseritie  :  1172 

His  hart  mycht  neuer  be  reiosit, 

Eemembryng  quhow  the  heuin  wes  closit 

Frome  hym  and  his  successioun, 

And  that,  be  his  transgressioun.  1176 

Efter  his  deith,  as  I  heir  tell. 

His  Saul  discendit  to^  the  hell. 

And  thare  remanit  presoneir. 

In  that  Dimgeoun,*  thre  thousand  ^eir  1180 

And  more, — so  did  boith  euylP  and  gude, — 

Tyll  Christ  for  thame  had  sched  his  blude  : 

Than,  be  that  most  precious  ransoun, 

Thay  wer  delyuerit  of  presoim.  1184 

I  haue*^  declarit  now,  as  I  can, 

The  miserie  of  the  first  man. 


riNis. 


'  E,  L  cliildrene 


'  E  gryt 
'  L  ewill 


'  E  into 
«  E  half 


E  Doungeoua 


39 


HEIR   FOLLOWIS'    QUHOV   GOD   DISTROYIT   ALL 

LEUEAND'   CREATURE^   IN   ERTH,  FOR   SYN, 

AND   DROWNIT   THAME,  BE   ANE 

TERRIBYLL   FLUDE,^  IN  THE 

TYME    OF   NOYE.* 

e^     (^)     =0) 

COURTIODR. 

PRVDENT  Father^  Experience, 

Declare  to  me,  or  3e  go  hence,  1188 

Quhat  wes  the  cause  God  did  distroye 

All  Creature,  in  the  tyme  of  ISToye. 


Wliy  was  the 
flood? 


1192    From  a  deplorable 
cause. 


1196 


EXPERIENCE. 

Quod  he  :  I  trymmyll''^  for  to  tell. 
That  Infortune,^  quhow  it  befell ; 
The  cause  bene  so  abhominabyll. 
And  the  mater  so  miserabyll. 
Bot,  for  to  schaw  the  Circumstance, 
Manefestlye,  of  that  myschance, 
First  I  mon  gar  the^  vnderstand 
Quhow  Adam  gaif  expresse  command 
That  those  ^'^  quhilk/s  come^^  of  Sethis  blude, 
Because  thay  wer  gratious^^  and  gude,  1200 

Suld  nocht  contract  ^^  with  Cainuis^^  kyn, 
Quhilkzs  wer^^  Inclynit,  all,  to  Syn. 
Tyll  obserue  that  commandiment, 
Cain^^  past  in  the  Orient, 
With  his  wyfe,  callit  Calmana, — 
Quhilk  was  his  awin  Syster  alswa, — 
Quhare  his^^  of  spry  ng  did  lang  remaue, 
Besyde  the  Montane  of  Tarbane.^^  1208  inTaprobane. 

*  E  beginnis         ''  L  leving         *  E  creatoure         *  E  fluid 

*  L  Except  Noye  and  his  cumpany         ®  L  Fader 

^  L  trimbill         **  L  infortoun         "  L  3ow         '"  L  thoia 

"  L  war         '^  L  gracius         "  E  contrack         '^  L  Cayamis 

'^  L  wer  all         '"  L  Cayam         "  E  Quhais         '^  L  Terbane 


Oene.  vi. 
Adam's  command 
to  Seth's  children 


touching  inter- 
marriage. 


1204    OfCainandhis 
wife  Calmana, 


40 


THE    FIRST    BVKB    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


Of  Sethand 
his  wife  Delbora. 


Adam,  only  while 
living,  was 
obeyed. 


Seth's  sons, 
beholding  the  fair 
daughters  of  Cain, 


concupiscent, 
wedded  with 
them; 

and  sin  waxed 
rife. 


The  poet's 
modesty. 


Of  lust 
antiphysical 
and  otherwise. 


See  Paulus 
Orosius,  for 
particulars. 


And  Seth  did  lang  tjme  lede^  liis  lyfe; 

"With  Delbora,  his  prudent  "vvyfe, 

Quhilk  wes  his  Syster,  gude  and  fair, 

In  Damassene^  maid  thare  repair  :  1212 

In^  that  countre  of  Sethis  clan 

Discendit  mony  holy  man. 

So  lang  as  Adam  was  leueand,^ 

The  peple^  did  obserue  command  ;  1216 

Qiihen  he  wes  dede,  and  laid  in  ground, 

And  peple  greitly**  did  abound,'^ 

And  Cayn^  slane,  as  I  haue  schawin, 

And  Sethis  dayis  all  ouer^  blawin,  1220 

The  Sonnis,  than,  of  Sethis  blude, 

Seand  the  plesand  pulchritude 

Off  the  Lady  is  of  Caynnisi°  kyn, 

Quhowbeit  thay  knew  weill  it  wes  Syn,  1224 

Opprest  "with  sensuall  lustis  rage, 

Did  tak  thame  in.  to  Mariage  : 

And  so  corruptit  wes  that  blude, 

The  gude  with  euyll,  and  euyll  with  gude.  1228 

Than,  as  the  peple  did  incres, 

Thay  did  abound'''  in  wickitnes,^^ 

As  holy  Scripture  dois  rehers  : 

Quhilk  I  abhor  to  putt  in  vers,  1232 

Or  tell  with  toung  I  am  nocht  abyll ; 

The  suthe  bene  so  abhominabyil, — 

Quhow  men  and  wemen^-  schamefullye 

Abusit  thame  seliis  vnnaturallye ;  1236 

Quhose  foull  abhominatioun 

And  vncouthe  fornicatioun 

I  thynk  gret  schame  to  putt  in  wryte. 

All  that  Paull  Orose  doith  indyte ;  1240 

Quhilk  gyf  I  wald  at  lenth  declair. 

It  wer  yneuch^^  to  fyill  the  air. 

Gret  Clerkis  of  Antiquiteis 

Hes  wryttin  mony  trew  storeis,  1244 

'  L  leid         ^  L  Dawimassyne         '  L  Off        ■•  L,  E  levand 
*  L  pepill      *  E  grytlie      '  L  habound      *  L  Cayam      '  E  owr 
'"  Cayamis         "  E  vekidnes         "  E  vomen         "  L  aueucli 


THE    FIRST   BYKE    OF    TUE   MONARCHE. 


41 


Quliilkis  ar  worthy  to  be  commendit, 
Quliowbeit  thay  be  noclit  comprehendit 
At  lenth  in  the  Diuyne  Scripture  : 
Bot  I  sail  do  my  besye  cure 
To  tak  the  best, — as  I  suppose, — 
That  moste  pertenis  ^  my  purpose ; 
And,  with  support  of  Christ,  our  kyng, 
I  purpose  to  confirme  no  thyng 
Off  the  Auld  Hystoricience 
Contrarious  tyll'-^  his  excellence. 
Quhowbeit,  sum  mennis  Traditionis, — 
Contrar^  Chrystis  Institutionis, — 
Off  thame  thocht  sum  thyng  I  declair, 
!Now  latt  ws  proceid  forthermair. 
And,  with^  ane  Language  lamentabyU, 
Declare  this  mater  miserabyll. 


From  among 
divers  legeuds 


1248 


I  pick  only  the 
most  pertinent ; 


1252 


resolved  to  keep, 
iZuv    authentic  facts. 


1260 


COURTIOUR. 

II  Father,*  the  causis  wald  I  knaw 
Quhy  thay  of  nature  brak  the  Law. 


Why  was  the  law 
of  nature  broken  ? 


EXPERIENCE. 

I  traist,  quod  he,  that  wyckitnes 
Generith,  throw  ^  sleuthfull  ydilnes. 
The  DeuyU,  with  all  the  craft  he  can. 
Quhen  he  persauis  ane  ydill  man, 
Or  woman  geuin  tyll'^  ydilnes, 
He  gettis  eaisalye^  entres  ; 
And  so,  be  this  occasioun. 
And  be  the  Feindis  perswasioun, 
The  hole^  warld,  vniuersalye, 
Corruptit  was  alluterlye. 


1264 


Wickedness  is  the 
child  of  idleness. 


1268 


1272 


COURTIOUR. 


Quhat  wes  the  cause  thay  ydill  ware  1 
That  cace,  quod  I,  to  me  declare. 


Why  were  folK 
idle? 


'  E  partenis         *  L  to         ^  L  contrar  to         *  L  in 

*  L  Fader         «  Generit  of         ^  L  to         »  E  eissaly,  L  esalie 
9  E  boll 


42 


THE   FIRST   BVKE   OF   THE   MONARCHE. 


For  lack  of 

virtuous 

occupation. 


There  was  little 
need  for  ineu  to 
exert  themselves. 


from  Adam's  time 
till  Noah's. 


The  bounty  of 
nature  dispensed 
them  from  toil, 


to  their  harm. 


God  repents. 


Noah  is  warned  of 
the  world's 
destruction. 


It  is  put  off  for 
liJO  years. 


EXPERIENCE. 

Quod  he :  be  my  Imaginatioun, 
For  laik  of  vertuous  Occupatioun  :  1276 

For  of  Craft/s  thay  had  small  vsage, 
Off  Marchandyce,  nor  lawhorage. 
The  erth,  than,  ^ves  so  plentuous 

Off  fruct^  and  Spyce  delicious  ;      ,  1280 

The  herbis  wer  so  confortabyll, 
Delytesum,  and  Medicinabyll ;  ^ 
The  Fontannis,  fresche  and  redolent ; 
To  laubouryng3  thay  tuke  lytill  tent.  1284 

AU  maner  of  beistis,  at  thare  plesour, 
Did  multyplie,  without  laubour. 
The  tyme  betuix  Adam  and  'Noje 
To  se  the  erth*  it  wes  gret  loye,  1288 

Plantit  with  precious  treis  of  pryce. 
Four  famous  Fludis  of  Paradyce 
Ean  throw  the  erth,  in  syndrie  partis, 
Spreddyng^  thare  branchis  in  all  airtis.  1292 

The  waiter  was  so  Strang  and  fyne, 
Thay  wald  noclit  laubour  to  mak  wyne ; 
The  fruct^  and  herbis  Aver  so  gude, 
Thay  maid  no  cair  for  vther  fude  :  1296 

And  so  the  peple  tuke  no  cure, 
Bot  past^  thare '^  tyme  at  thare  plesure,^ 
Ay  fyndand  new  Inuentionis, 

To  fulfyll  thare  Intentionis.  1300 

So  that  the  Lord  Omnipotent 
That  he  maid  man  did  hym  repent. 
And  schew  on  tyll  his  Seruand  ISToye 
That  he  wald  all  the  Avarld  distroye,  1304 

Except  hym  self  and  his  Meinje. 

AUace  !  quod  N'oye,  quhen  sail  that  be  1 
Than  said  the  Lord :  sen  thow  so  speris, 
I  sail  Prolong  sax  score  of  ^eris,  1308 

Tarying  vpoiie^  thare  repentence, 

'  L  frute         *  L  medicionabill 

'  E  lawbowring,  L  lauborage         *  L  warlJ         ^  L  sjireiding 

*^  E  passit         '  L  the         '  E  plosour         ^  L  apuuu 


THE   FIRST   BVKE   OF   THE   MONARCHE. 


43 


Or  I  fulfyll  my  lust  Sentence. 
In  the  mene  tyme  fall  tliow  to  warke 
Incontinent,  and  beild  ane  Arke  ; 
Quhilk^  IsToye  began,  Obedientlye, 
And  wrocht  on  it  Continuallye, 
And  to  the  peple  day  lie  ^  precheit : 
To  cry  for  grace  he  to  thame  techeit, 
And  to  thame  planelye  did  declair 
That  God  his  Avand  no  more  wald  spair, 
Bot  on  thame  he  wald  "wryk  vengence.^ 
To  ISToye  3it  gaue'*  thay  no  credence; 
And  so  thay  wer  Incounsolabyll, 
Usyng  thare  luste  abhominabyll, 
And  tuke  his  precheyng  in  dispyte, 
Ay  followyng  thare  foull  delyte, 
More  and  more,  tyll  that  dulefull  day 
Quhilk^  all  the  warld  pat*^  in  affray. 


By  commanil, 


1312 


131G 


Noali  builds  an 
ark. 


and  meantime 
pieaclies. 


IoIjO    Men  would  none 
of  his  sermons, 


1324    but  went  on  from 
bad  to  worse. 


COURTIOUR. 

H  Father,'''  je  gart  me  vnderstand, 
Quhen  Adam  brak  the  Lordfs  command,  1328 

Tyll  agment  his  afflictioun, 
God  gaue  his  Maledictioun 
On  to  the  erth,  quhilk^  wes  so  fair, 
That  it  suld  barren  be  and  bair,  1332 

And,  without  laubour,  beir  no  corne 
Nor  fruct,^  bot  thirsyll,^*^  breir,  and  thorne. 
"Now  say  je,  in  the  tyme  of  i^oye 
To  SB  the  erth  it  wes  gret  loye,  1336 

Plantit  with  fructis  gude  and  fair. 
The  suthe  of  this  to  me  declair : 
Thir  sayingis  two  gar  me  consydder, 
Quhow  3e  mak  thame  agre  to  gydder.  1340 


If  God  cursed  the 
earth  witli 
barrenness. 


how  was  it  bo 
fruitful  In  tlie 
days  of  Noali  ? 


EXPERIENCE. 

God  maid  that  promys,^^  sickerlye  ; 

'  L  than         ^  L  dalie         *  L  wengeance         *  E  goff 

*  L  That         ^  L  put         '  L  Fader         «  L  that         *  L  frute 

'"  E  thrissill         "  E  promes,  L  promis 


The  curse  took 


44 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OF    THE   MONARCHE. 


not  full  effect  at 
once, 


but  after  the 
flood. 


Even  so, 
Adam 


was  to  die,  but 
died  not  straight- 
way; 

E$ay.  ix. 

and  the  Messiah 
was  to  come. 


but  came  not  for 
long  3'ear3. 


With  God  is  no 
time. 


Description  of  the 
ark. 


Its  build. 


dimensions. 


and  lack  of 
working  gear. 


Quliowbeit,  it  come  noclit  instantlye, 

Quod  he,  as  Clerkis  dois  conclude ; 

Bot,  efter,  quhen  the  furious  Flude  1344 

Distroyit  the  erth^  alluterlye, 

Than  come  that  promys,  sickerlye. 

Ewin  siclyke  as  God  gaue^  command 

Adam  to  twyche  nocht  with  his  hand,  1348 

'Nov  eait  of,  the  forbiddin  tree, — 

Gene  ^  he  did  so,  that  he  sulde  dee ; 

Quhowbeit,  he  deit  nocht,  but  weir, 

Efter  that  day  nyne  hundreth  ^eir.  1352 

Eychtso,  the  Propheit  Esayas, 

Speikand  of  Christ,  the  gret  Messias, 

Say  and,  the  Bairne*  is  tyll  ws  borne, 

To  saif  ^  mankynd  quhilk  is  forlorne,  1356 

As  he  had  bene  borne  Instantlye ; 

3it  wes  he  nocht  borne,  veralye, 

Efter  that  saying  mony  one  3eir, 

As  in  the  Scripture  thow  may  heir.  13G0 

Ane  thousand  3eir,  cpiho  reknyth^  ly^^^^j 

Is  bot  one  hour  in  Goddis  sycht. 

Exemplis'^  mony  I  mycht  tell, 

Wer  it  nocht  tedious  for  to  dwell,  13G4 

Tyll  our  purpose  latt  ws  proceid, 

Schawand  the  heycht,  and^  lenth,  and  breid, 

And  qualitie  of  Noyis  Arke, 

Quhilk  wes  ane  rycht^  excellent  warke, —  13G8 

Off  Pyne  tre  maid,  bound  weill  about, 

Laid  ouer  with  pik,  within  ^°  and  out, 

lunit^i  full  close  with  nalis  strong. 

And  wes  thre  hundreth  Cubitt/*^  long?  1372 

Fifty  in  breid,  thretty  in  heycht ;  ^^ 

Thre  Chalmeris,  lunit  weill  and  wycht,"" 

And  euerilk  loft  aboue  ane  vther ; 

"Withouttin  anker,  air,  or  ruther.  1376 

Ane  rycht  Cubeit,  as  I  heir  tell, 

'  L  erd       '  L,  E  gaif       =>  E  geff,  L  gif       "  L  barno       *  li  sanf 

^  L  rekins        '  L  Exampillis         ^  L  omitted         ^  E  ryclit  and 

'«  L  baith  in         "  L  loynit         "  L  hicht         '^  E  veycht 


THE    FIRST    BYKE    OF    THE    MONARCIIE.  45 

Off  misour"^  now  myclit  be  cane  ell. 

In  the  myd  syde  ane  dur  thare  wes,  it  had  a  door, 

For  Beistis  ane  easy^  entres.  1380 

This  Ark,  quhilk  was  boith  lang  and  lairge,^ 

Maid  in  the  bodum*  lyke  one  Bairge,^ — 

Couerit  with  burdis  weill  abufe, 

Moste  lyke  ane  housse  with  sett  on  rufe, —  1384  a  roof, 

Quhose  rigyng*^  wes  ane  Cubeit  braid, 

Quharein  thare  wes  ane  wyndo  maid, —  a  window,— 

Sum  sayis,  weill  closit  with  Christall  cleir,  glazed,  hapiy. 

Quharethrouch  the  day  lycht  mycht  weil  appeir.    1388 

This  work  the  more  wes  to  be  prysit, 

Because  be  God  it  was  deuysit.  cene.  vu. 

The  makyng  of  this  Ark,  but  weir,  it  took  a  century 

.  lonn    to  construct  it. 

Indurit  weill  ane  hundreth  3eir,  loyj 

H  Quhe?i  Noye  had  done  compleit  this  wark, 
God  did  hym  close '^  within  the  Ark; 
"With  hvm,  his  wyfe,  and  Sonnis  thre,  Noah  and  hia 

-lor^/.    family  embark. 

With  thare  thre  wyns,  but  mo  men3e;  lo9o 

And  of  all  foulis  of  the  air 

Off  euerilk  kynd  enterit  ane  pair  :  ^>th  birds 

and  beasts, 

Eychtso,  two  Beistis  of  euerilk  kynde ;  in  pairs, 

For  quhy  it  wes  the  Lordis  mynde  1400 

That  generatioun  suld  noclit  faill : 

Quharefor  of  Fameill  and  of  ^faill 

Off  euerilk  kynd  wer  keipit  two.  for  propagation's 

sake 

Bot  to  rehers  myne^  hart  is  wo  1404 

The  dolent  Lamentatioun, 

That  tyme,  of  euerilk  JiTatioun, 

Sayand  '  allace  ! '  ane  thousand  syis, 

Quhen  wynd  and  rane  began  to  ryis  :  1408 

The  Eoik^s  with  rerd  began  to  ryue, 

Ouhen  vglie  cluddis^  did  ouerdryue,  The  flood  is 

.    ^         .  .  ushered  in 

And  dirkynnit  so  the  Heuinnis^''  brycht 

That  Sonne  nor  Mone  mycht  schaw  no  lycht :        1412 


E  mesour         ^  L  esy         ^  E,  L  large         *  E  boddom 
*  E,  L  Barge         *  E  rigin         ''  L  cloiss         *  L  my 
^  E  cloudis         '"  E  Hevj^nnis 


46 


THE   FIRST   BVKE   OF   THE   MONARCHB. 


with  a  great 
commotion  of  the 
elements. 


It  rains  for  40 
days  and  nights. 


Consternation 


and  death. 


How  dumb 


The  terrabyll  tryraling^  of  ertla^  qiiaik 

Gart  Biggyngis'  bow,  and  Cieteis  schaik; 

The  thounder  raif  the  cluddis  sabyll, 

"With  horrabyll  sound  appouentabyll ;  1416 

The  fyreflauchtis  flew  ouerthorte  the  fellis  ; 

Than  wes  thare  nocht  bot  30wtis  and  ^ellis  : 

Quhen  thay  persanit  without  remede 

All  Creature  to  suffer  dede.  1420 

All  Fontains  frome  the  erth  vp  sprang, 
And  frome  the  Heuin  the  rane  doun  dang 
Fourty  day  is  and  fourty  nychtis. 

Than  ran  the  Peple  to  the  heychtis  :  1424 

Sum  clam  in  cragis,  sum  in  treis. 
And  sum  to  heychast'*  montanis  fleis, 
With  more  terrour  nor  I  can  tell. 
Bot  all  for  nocht :  the  fludis  fell,  '  1428 

And  wynd  did  rowt  with  sic  ane  reird 
That  euerilk  wycht^  waryit^  his  Aveird, 
Cryand,  allace  !  that  thay  wer  borne, 
Into  that  flude  to  be  forlorne,  1432 

Men  mycht  no  help  mak  to  thare  wyfis, 
!N"or  ^it  support  thare  bairnis'^  lyfis. 
The  Fludis  rose^  with  so  gret^  mychtis 
That  thay  ouer  couerit  all  the  heychtis  :  1436 

Thay  mycht  no  more  thare  lyuis  lenth, 
Bot  swame  so  lang  as  thay  had  strenth, 
And  so,  with  cryis  Lamentabyll, 
Endit  thare  lyuis  TNIiserabyll,  1440 

Aboue^**  montanis  that  wer  moste  hie 
Fifty  Cubitis  rose  the  see. 
Men  may  Imagyne,  in  thare  mynd, 
All  Creature,  in  to  thare  kynd,  1444 

Boith  Beistz's  and  Foulis  in  the  air. 
In  thare  maneir  maid  mekle^^  cair. 
The  Fyschis  thocht  thame  euyll  begyld,i2 
Quhen  thay  swame  throuch^^  the  woddis  wyld^     1448 


'  E  tr3'nibling,  L  trimbling         *  E  erd 

'•'  E  begynnis,  L  bigiiigs         ''  L  hiest         '  E  Veycht 

*  E  wareit       ''  L  baruis       *  L  roiss  so        ^  L  witli  sic  iiivchtis 

">  L  Abufe         "  L  mekill         "^  E  bcgylit         '^  L  tbrow 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


47 


Quhalis  tumbland^  amang  the  treis, 
"Wyld  Beistis  swomand^  in  the  seis. 
Byrdis,  with  mony  pietuons^  pew, 
Atferitlye  in  the  air  thay  flew 
So  lang  as  thay  had  strenth  to  flee, 
Syne  swatterit  doun  in  to  the  see. 
No  thyng  in  erth  wes  left  on  lyne, 
Beistis  nor  FouUs,  IMan  nor  Wyue  :  ^ 
God  holelye^  did  thame  distroyo, 
Except  thame  in  the  Ark,  with  Noye, 
The  quhilk  lay  fleittand  on  the  flude  : 
Welterand^  amang  the  stremes  wode, 
With  mony  terrabyll  affrayis, 
Eemanit  ane  hnndreth  and  fyfty  dayis, 
In  gret  langcur  and  heuynes,''' 
Or  wynd  or^  rane  began  to  ceis  ; 
Sumtyme  efFectuouslye  prayand, 
Sumtyme  the  Beistis  vesiand  : 
For,  be  the  Lordis  commandiment, 
He  maid  prouisionn  sufiecient. 

For  ISToye  dwelt  in  that^  Ark,  but  dout, 
Ane  3eir  compleit,  or  he  come  out ; — 
Quhow,  at  more  lenth  in  holy  wryte 
This  dulefull  storye  bene  Indyte, 
And  quhow  that  !N"oye  gan^^  to  reiose, 
Quhen  Conductis  of  the  heuin  did  close, 
So  that  the  Eane  no  more  discendit,^! 
Nor^2  l;]^e  flude  no  more  ascendit.^^ 
Quhen  he  persauit  the  heuinnis  cleir. 
He  send  furth  Corbe,  Messingeir, 
In  to  the  Air,  for  to  espy 
Geue  ^^  he  saw  ony  montanis  dry. 
Sum  sayis  the  Eauin  did  furth  remans, 
And  come  nocht  to  the  Ark  agane. 
Furth  flew  the  Dow,  at  ISToyis  command. 
And,  quhen  scho  did  persaue  dry  land, 


comported 
•I  A  nn  themselves 
140 J    thewhUe. 


1456 


All  living 
perished, 


save  Noah  and 
Ilia  party. 


1460 


For  150  days 
it  %vas  heavy 
weather. 


1464 


1468 


Noah  was  shut 
up  for  a  whole 
year. 

Gen.  via. 


1472 


It  clears  up. 


1476 


The  raven  is 
sent  forth  to 
explore. 


1480 


1484 


and  then  the 
dove. 


'  E  tumlancl         ^  L  swemand         ^  E  piteous         "*  E  wyffi 

^  L  halelie         ®  L  weltering         "^  E  havines         "  L  and 

"  L  the         '"  begane         "  E  assendit         '^  L  Nor  3it 

'3  E  line  1476  omitted.         '*  E  gef,  L  gif 

MONARCHE,  I. 


48 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OP    THE    MONARCHE. 


The  dove  brings 
back  an  olive- 
branch, 


in  token  of 
land  again. 


The  ark  rests  in 
Armenia. 


Noah  opens 
the  doors 


to  his  charge. 


The  patriarch  is 
happy  to  be  at 
large  once  tnoi'e. 

He  sacrifices. 


looks  abroad, 


and  is  grieved, 
seeing  tlie  eartli 


bare, 


the  trees 
uprooted. 


Off  ane  Olyiie^  sclio  brak^  ane  branche, 

That  JSToye  inyclit  knaw  the  waiter  ^  stanche ; 

And  thare  no  more*  scho  did  sudiorne, 

Bot  with  the  branche  scho  did  returne,  1488 

That  'Noje  mycht  cleirly  vnderstand 

That  felloun  Flude  was  decressand  : 

And  so  it  did,  tyll,  at  the  last, 

The  Ark  vpone  the  ground  stak  fast,  1492 

On  the  tope  of  ane  Montane  hye, 

Into  the  land  of  Arroanye. 

And,  quhen  that  Noye  had  done  espye 

Quhow  that  the  erth^  began  to  drye,  1496 

Than  dang  he  doun  the  durris  all, 

And  lowsit  thame  the  quhilk  wes  thrall. 

The  foulis  flew  f urth  in  the  air, 

And  all  the  Beistis,  pair  and  pair,  1500 

Past  furth  to  seik  thare  pastorages.*^ 

Thare  wes,  than,  bot  audit  Personages, — 

Noye,  his  thre  Sonnis,  and  thare  wyuis,'^ — 

On  erth^  that  left  was  with  thare  lyuis  ;^  1504 

Quhome  God  did  blys  and  Sanctyfie, 

Say  and,  incres  and  multyplie. 

God  wait  geue^*^  Noye  wes  blyith  and  glaid, 

Quhen  of  that  presoun  he  wes  fraid.  1508 

Quhen  Noye  had  maid  his  Sacrifyce, 

Thankand  God  of  his  Benifyce, 

He  standand  on  mont  Armanye, 

Quhare  he  the  countre  mycht  espye,  1512 

3e  may  beleue  his  hart  was  sore, 

Seyng  the  erth, — quhilk  wes  affore 

The  Fludc^^  so  plesand  and  perfyte, 

Quhilk  to  behald  wcs^^  g^et  delyte, —  151G 

That  now  was  barren  maid  and  bair. 

Afore  ^■^  quhilk  fructuous  was  and  fair. 

The  plesand  treis  beryng  fructis  ^* 

Wer  lyand  rewin  vp^^  be  the  rutis  ;  1520 

'  L  Olivo  '  E  braik         »  L  wattcr         '  E  moir 

*  L  land  ^  L  pasturageis         '  L  wj-ffis         *  L  erd 

9  L  liffis  '"  E  watt  fjcf         "  E  fluid,  P  Foilde 

"  E  wes  so  "  E  Afoir         '*  L  frutis         "  E  oup 


THE    FIKST    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


49 


The  holsum  herbis  and  fragrant  flouris 

Had  tynt  boitli  vertew  and  cullouris ; 

The  feildis  grene  and  fluryst  meidis 

"VVer  S23ul3eit^  of  thare  plesand  weidis. 

The  erth,  quhilk  first  wes^  so  fair  formit, 

Wes,  be  that  furious  flude,  deform  it ; 

Quhare  vmquhyle  wer  the  plesand  planis, 

Wer  holkit  Glennis  and  hie  montanis : 

Frome  clattryng  cragis,  gret  and  gray, 

The  erth  was  weschin  quyte  away. 

Y^  Bot  !N"oye  had  gretast  displesouris, 

Behauldand  the  dede  Creatouris, 

QuhUk  wes  ane  sycht  rycht  Lamentabyll ; — 

Men,  Wemen,  Beistis,  Innumerabyll, 

Seyng3  thame  ly  vpone  the  landis. 

And  sum  wer*  fleityng  on  the  strandis  : 

Quhalis  and  Monstouris^  of  the  seis 

Stickit  on  stobbis,  amang  the  treis ; 

And,  quhen  the  Flude  was  decressand, 

Thay  wer  left  welteryng*'  on  the  land. 

Affore'''  the  Flude  duryng  that  space, 

The  sey  wes  all  into  ane  place  ; 

Rycht  so  the  erth,  as  bene  desydit, 

In  syndrie  partis  wes  nocht  deuydit, 

As  bene  Ewrope  and  Asia 

Deuydit  ar  frome  Africa, 

3e  se,  now,  diuers  Famous  His 

Stand  frome  the  mane  land  mony  my  lis  : 

All  thir  gret  His,  I  vnderstand, 

War,  than,  equall  with  the  ferme  land. 

Thare  wes  none  sey  Mediterrane, 

Bot  onely  the  gret  Occiane, 

Quhilk  did  nocht  spred  sic  bulryng^  strandis 

As  it  dois,  now,  ouirthort  the  landis. 

Than,  be  the  ragyng  of  that  flude, 

The  erth  of  vertew  wes  denude. 


vegetation 
blasted 


1524    ^nd  ravaged ; 


1528 


1532 


instead  of  plains, 
inequalities ; 


and  carcases 
strewed  about. 


some  of  them  in 
strange  positions. 


1536 


1540 


Before  the  flood, 
-  „  .  .     tlie  earth  was  un- 
1544    divided; 


1548 


there  were  no 
islands : 


1552  and  there  was  but 
one  sea,  and  that 
placid. 


1556 


E  spoibeit         ^  E  vas  first,  L  so  fair  was         '  L  seand 

■•  L  lay         ^  E  monstris         ®  E  valtering         ^  L  For 

*  E  bulrin 


E    2 


50 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OF    THE   MONARCHE. 


And  so  God's 
curse  came  to 
pass. 


During  the  flood, 
the  wind  raged 
from  the  S.VV. : 


of  which  fact 


we  have  proof 


Travellers  appeal- 
ed to  in  evidence. 


The  quhilk  afore  wes  to  be  prysit,^ 

Quhose  "bewtie  than  wes  dissagysit.^ 

Than  wes  the  Maledictioun  knawin 

Quhilk  wes  be  God  tyll  Adam  schawin.  1560 

I  reid  quhow  Clerkis  dois  conclude, 

Induryng  that  moste  furious  flude 

With  quhilk  the  erth  wes  so  suppresfc, 

The  wynd  blew  furth  of  the  southwest ;  1564 

As  may  be  sene,  be  experience, 

Quhow,  throw  the  wattert^  violence, 

The  heych^  montanis,  in  euery  art, 

Ar  hair  forgane  the  southwest  part;  1568 

As  the  Montanis  of  Parraneis, 

The  alpis,  and  Eochis  in  the  seis  ; 

Rycht  so,  the  Eochis,  gret  and  gray, 

Quhilk  standis  into  Norroway;  1572 

The  heychast^"  hyllis,  in  euery  art ; 

And  in  Scotland,  for  the  moste  ^  part, 

Throuch  weltryng"^  of  that'^  furious  flude. 

The  Cragis  of  erth  war  maid  denude  :  1576 

Trauellyng^  men  may  consydder  best 

The  montanis  bair  nyxt^  the  southwest. 


COURTIOUR. 

How  long  did        5[  Declare,  quod  I,  or  2e  conclude, 

Noah  survive  the     ^~,  ,  ,.--^p  ini 

flood?  Quhow  lang  leuit  JNoye  efter  the  flude. 


1580 


From  his  six  hun- 
dredth year, 


Oene.  ix. 


for  350  years, 


EXPERIENCE. 

Quod  he  :  in  Genesis  thow  may  heir 
Quhow  that  JSToye  wes  sax  hundreth  3eir, 
The  tyme  of  this  gret  punysment, 
And  aye  to  God  obedient ; 
And  Aves  the  best  of  Sethis  blude ; 
And  als  he  leuit,  efter  the  Flude, 
Thre  hundreth  and  fyfty  jeris, — 
As  the  sam  scripture  wytnes^^  ijeris, — 


1584 


1588 


'  E  so  soprj'sit         ^  E  Hues  15,"8  to  15C3  omitted         ^  L  hech 

''  L  hiccliest         ^  L  maist         "  L  Throw  weltering 

'  L  the         •*  L  Trawellit         »  L  omitted         '"  E  vitiies 


THE    FIRST    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


51 


And  wes,  or  he  Eanderit^  tlie  spreit, 

iNyue  liuudreth  and  fyfty  -^evis  compleit. 

To  scliaw  this  storie  Miserabyll 

At  lenth  my  wyttis  ar  nocht  abyll :  1592 

And  als,  my  Sonne,  as  I  suppose, 

It  laugis-  nocht  tyll  our  purpose 

To  schaw  quhow  JSToyis  Sonnis  thre 

Gan^  to  Incres  and  multyplie;  1596 

Nor  quhow  that  Noye  plantit  the  wyne, 

And  drank  tyll  he  wes  dronkin,  syne, 

And  sleipit  "vvith  his  membris  bair ; 

And  quhow  Cham  maid  for  hym  no  cair,  IGOO 

Bot  leuch  to  se  his  Father'*  so, 

Quhowbeit  his  Brether  wer  rycht  wo  ; 

'Nor  quhow  Xoye,  but  restrictioun, 

Gaue^  Cham  his  Maledictioun, 

And  put  hym  vnder  Seruytude 

To  Sem  and  laphet,  that  war  gude ; 

Nor  quhow  God  maid  ane  conuenent 

AVith  Noye,  to  male  no  punysment,  1608 

Nor  be  no  Flude  the  peple  droun  : 

In  signe  of  that  conditioun. 

His  liane  Bow  sett*'  in  to  the  air, 

Ojff  diuers  Heuinlye^  colouris^  fair,  1612 

For  to  be  ane  perpetuall  sing 

Be  Flude  to  mak  no  punyssing. 

This  Story  geue  thow  lyste  to  knaw, 

At  lenth  the  Bibyll  sail  the  schaw.  1616 


and  died  at  950. 


Men  multiply. 


Of  Noah's  wine- 
bibbing,  self- 
exposure. 


1604  ^"d  dealings  with 
Shem,  Ham,  and 
Japhet. 


In  token  of  no 
second  flood. 


the  rainbow  is  set 
in  the  firmament. 


FINIS. 

/^  HBIB  ENDIS  THE  FIRST  PAET,  AND  FOLLOWIS 
THE  SECUNDE  PART. 


E  randrit         *  L  langith         '  E  Begane         ■*  L  Fader 
*  E  gefif,  L  Gaif        «  L  omitted        ''  E  Havinlye 
*  L  cullouris 


52 


IN  THE  FIRST,  THE  BEILDYNG  OF  BABILONE  BE 

NEMROD  ; '   AND  QUHOW  KYNG  NYNUS  BEGAN 

THE  FIRST  MONARCHE  ;   AND  OF  THARE 

YDOLATRYE  ;  AND  QUHOW  SEMERAMIS 

GOUERNIT  THE  IMPYRE  EFTER  HIR 

HUSBANDE,  KYNG  NYNUS  : 

AS^  FOLLOWIS. 


Who  first,  after 
tlie  flood,  set  great 
evils  on  foot  ? 


COURTIOUR. 

Y9  FATHER,3  I  pray  90W  to  mo  teU 
The  First  Infortune*  that  befell 
Immediatlye  efter  the  Flude, 
And  quho  did  first  sched  saikles^  blude, 
And  quho  Ydolatrye  began. 


1620 


We  may  pass  at 
once  to  NimroJ, 
Gene.  x. 


of  On, 

who  built  Baby- 
lon, 


EXPERIENCE. 

IT  Quod  he  :  I  sail  do  as  I  can. 
Efter  the  Flude  I  fynde  no  Storye 
Worthy  to  putt  in  Memorye, 
Tyll  !N"emrod '  began  to  Eyng 
Aboue^  the  Peple  as  ane  Kyng, — 
Quhilk  wes  the  Principall  man  of  one,- 
That  beilder  was  of  Babilone. 


1624 


1628 


Whj'  (lid  he  rear 
his  tower  ? 


COURTIOUR, 

3:^  That  Story,  Maister,  wald  I  knaw, 
Quod  I,  geue'^  36  the  suthe  wald  schaw, 
Quhy  and  for  quhat  occasioun 
Thay  beildit  sic  ane  Strang  Dungeoun. 


1632 


EXPERIENCE. 


IT  Than  said  to  me  Experience  : 
FatherExperience  I  Sail  declare,  with  Dcligencc, 

Those  Questionis,  at  thy  command. 


L  Nembroth         *  E  eftir         '  L  Fader         *  E  infortoua 
*  E  scbakles         *  L  abufo         '  L  gif 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


53 


Nimi'od's  gene" 
alogy,  &c.. 


1640   are  scanted  by 
Moses, 


1 6  4:4   Other  writers  are 
more  minutiose 
about  Mm. 


Bot  first,  Sonne,  thow  mon  vuJerstand  1636 

Oif  ^N'emrod^  the  Genologie, 

His  strenth,  Curage,  and  Quantitie ; 

Quliowbeit  Moyses,  in  liis  first  Buke, 

That  Story  lychtlye  did^  ouer  Luke  :^ 

Off  hym  no  more  he  doith  declare, 

Except  he  was  ane  Strang  Huntare. 

Bot  vtheris  Clerkis  Curious — * 

As  Oroce^  doith,  and  Josephus — 

Discryuis*^  Nemrod^  at  more  lenth, 

Boith  of  his  stature  and  his  strenth. 

This  Kemrod^  was  the  fourt  persoun 

Frome  Noye  be  lyne  discendyng  doun :  1648 

Noje  generit  Cham,  Cham  generit  Chus,  His  descent. 

And  Chus,  I^emrod  :  ^  the  suthe  bene  thus. 

This  K'emrod^  grew  ane  man  of  mycht ; 

That  tyme  in'^  erth^  wes  none  so  wycht :  1652 

He  wes  ane  Gyane^  stout  and  Strang ; 

Perforce  wyld  beistis  he  doun  thrang. 

The  peple  of  that  hole^*^  Eegioun 

Come  vnder  his  Dommioun  :  1656 

1^0  man  thare  wes,  in  all  that  land, 

His  stalwartnes  that  durst  ganestand. 

No  maruell^^  wes  thocht  he  wes  wycht : 

Ten  Cubitis  large  he  wes  of  hycht, 

Proportionat,  in  lenth  and  breid, 

Afferand  to  his  hycht,  we  reid. 

He  grew  so  gret  and  glorious, 

So  prydefull  and  presumptuous,^^ 

That  he  come  Inobedient 

To  the  gret  God  Omnipotent. 

This  ISTemrod^  was  the  principall  man 

That  first  Ydolatrye  began.  1668 

Than  gart  he  all  the  peple  call 
To  his  presens,  boith  gret  and  small, 
And,  in  that  gret  conuentioun, 

'  L  Nembroth         '^  E  doith         ^  L  oureluke         ■•  L  curius 

*  E  Gross        ^  L  describis        '^  E  on        *  L  erd        *  L  gyaud 

'"  L  haill         "  E  mervell,  L  marwell         '^  E  presumptious 


He  became  a 
king. 


1660   Of  his  great 

stature  and  huge 
bulk. 


1664    Forgetting 
himself. 


he  introduced 
idolatry. 


Convoking  an 
assembly. 


54 


THE   SECVND   BVKE   OF   THE   MONARCHE. 


he  harangues 
about  the  flood. 


In  provision 
against  tlie  con- 
tingency of  a 
second. 


he  proposes  the 
building  of  a  city, 
and  of  a  tower 


to  the  stars, 
and  to  dethrone 
God. 


A  Bite  is  chosen 
for  them, 


in  the  plain  of 

Shinar, 
in  Clialdea. 


The  people  lay 
the  foundation. 


under  Niinrod's 
instructions, 


and  ply  with 
great  diligence. 


Did  propone  his  Intentioun.  1672 

My  Freindis,  said  lie,  I  mak  it  knawin 

The  gret  wengeance  that  God  hes  schawin, 

In  tyuie  of  our  fore  Father  ^  i^oye, 

Quhen  he  did  all  the  warld  distroye,  1676 

And  dround^  thame  in  ane  furious  flude : 

Quharefor  I  thynk  we  sulde  conclude 

Quhov  we  niaye  make  one  Strang  defence 

Aganis  sick  walteris^  violence,^  1680 

For  to  resyste  his  furious  Yre, 

Contrarye^  boith  to  flude  and  fyre. 

Latt  ws  go  sjjye  sum  plesand  feilde, 

Quhare  one  Strang  biggyng  we  maye  beilde, —        1684 

One  Cityie,  with  ane  Strang  Dungeoun, 

That  none  Ingyne  may  ding  it  doun ; 

So  heych,  so  thike,  so  large,  and*^  lang, 

That  Gode  tyll  ws  sail  do  no  wrang  :  1688 

Itt  sail  surmonte  the  Planetis  sewin. 

That  we  frome  Gode  may  wyn  the  hewin. 

Those  peple,  with  one  ferme  intent, 

All  tyll  his  counsel!  did  consent,  1602 

And  did  espy  one  plesand  place 

Harde  on  the  flude  of  Euphratace.'^ 

The  peple  thare  did  thame  prepair, 

In  to  the  plane  feilde  of  Synear,^  1696 

Quhilk  now  of  Caldie  beryth^  the  name, 

Quhilk  did  lang  tyme  flureis  in  fame. 

H  Thare  gret  Fortres  than  did  thay  founde, 

And  kaiste  tyll  thay  gat  souer  grounde  j^"  1700 

All  fell  to  warke,  boith  man  and  cliylde ; 

Sum  holkit  claye,  sum  brynt  the  tylde. 

Nembroth,  that  curious  Campioun, 

Deuysar^^  wes  of  that  Dungeoun.  1701 

"No  thyng  thay  sparit  thare  laubouris, 

Lyke  besy  beis  vpone  the  flouris, 

Or  Emottis  trauellin;'  in  to  lune  : 


'  E  Forfader,  L  Forefader  ^  L  drownit 

^  L  watteris,  E  valteris  ''  E  wiolence  ^  P  Contrnye 

'  L,  E  so         ^  E  Evvi)hratece         "  L  Si'nnair         ^  L  beiris 

'**  r  groune  "  E  devyser 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONAUCHE. 


65 


Sum  vncler  wrocht,  and  sum  abone  :  1708 

With  strong  Ingenious  masonrye, 

Upwarte  tliare  werk  did  fortifye. 

With  brynt  tylde,  stonis  large  and  wyclit, 

Tliat  Towre^  thay  rasit  to  sic  hycht  1712 

Abufe  the  airis  Regioun, 

And  lunit^  of  so  strong  fassioun, 

With  Syment^  maid  of  pyk  and  tar, — 

Thay  vsit  none  vther  mortar, —  1716 

Thocht  fyre  or  waiter  it  *  assalit, 

Contrare  that  Dungeoun  nocht  aualit. 

The  land  aboute  wes  fair  and  plane ; 

And  it  rose  lyke  one  heych  montane.  1720 

Those  fuliche^  peple  did  intende 

That  to  the  Hewin  it  sulde  ascende. 

So  gret  one  strenth  "wes  neuir  sene,*' 

In  to  the  warld,  with  mennis  eine.''^  1724 

II  The  wallis  of  that  wark  thay  maid 

Two  and  fyftye  faldome®  braid. 

One  faldome,^  than,  as  sum  men  sayis, 

Mycht  bene  two  faldome^  in  our  dayis :  1728 

One  man  wes,  than,  of  more  stature 

INor  two  be^  now  :  thareof  be  sure. 

IT  Josephus^'^  haldis  opinioun, 

Sayand  the  heycht  of  this^^  Dungeoun 

Off  large  pasis^^  of  mesure  bene 

Fyue  thousande,  aucht  score,  and  fourtene. 

Be  this  raknyng,  it  is  full  rycht 

Sax^^  mylis  and  ane  half  in  hycht :  1736 

Ane  thousande  pais^"^  tak  for  ane  myle, 

And  thow  sail  fynd  it  neir  that  style. 

This  towre,  in  compass  round  aboute, 

Wer^^  mylis  ten,  withouttin  doute  :  1740 

Aboute  the  Cetie  of  stagis 

Poure  houndreth  and  four  score,  I  wys ; 

And,  be  this  nommer,^'^  in  compas, 

'  L  Tour         '^  L  junit         '  E  Symond         "  L  it  had 
*  L  folisch         *  L  with  mennis  ene         ^  L  was  neuer  sene 

*  E  fadowm,  L  faddum         ®  L  bene         '"  L  losaplius 

"  L  that         '^  E  spacis,  L  passis         "  L  Five 

"  E  pace,  L  pass         '^  L  was        '^  E  number,  L  aomber 


How  the  tower 
was 

substantial, 

lofty, 

■well-compacted, 


proof  against  fire 
and  water. 


and  altogether 
an  unrivalled 
structure. 
Its  walls  were 
fifty-two  long 
fathoms  in  thick- 
ness. 


According  to 
1  Y  Q  9    Josephus, 


its  height  was 
five  and  a  half 
miles. 


and  its  circuit 
some  ten  miles  j 


and  the  city  had 
a  girth 


56 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


of  about  sixty 
miles, 

and  a  hundred 
gates. 


The  translator  of 
Orosius  declares 
that  the  shadow 
of  tlie  tower  mea- 
sured, at  midday, 
upwards  of  six 
miles. 


Aboute  three  score  of  mylis  It  was  :  1744 

And,  as  Orotius  reportis, 

Thare  was  fyue  score  of  brasin^  portis. 

IT  The  translatour  of  Orotius 

lu  tyll  his  Cronicle  wryttis  thus,  1748 

That,  quhen  the  Sonne  is  at  the  hycht, — 

Att  nonne^  quhen  it  doith^  schyne*  most  brycht, — 

The  schaddow  of  that  hydduous'^  strenth 

Sax  niyle  and  more  it  is  of  lenth.  1752 

Thus  maye  -^e  luge,  in  to  jour  thocht, 
Gyfe  Babilone  be  heych,  or  nocht. 


FINIS. 


E  brassin  ^  E  nown  "  L  dois 

E  shene  ^  L  hiddius 


57 


QUHOV  GOD  MAID  THE  DYUERSITIE  OF  LANGUAGIS, 

'AND  MAID  IMPEDIMENT  TO  THE  BEILDARIS 

OF  BABILONE.' 

©^      ^      -^ 
EXPERIENCE. 


HAN"  the  gret  God  Omnipotent,  God, 

To  qiihom  al  tliingis  bene  p?-esent;  1756 
That  ■wer,^  and  is,  and  euir  salbe, 
Ar  present  tyll  his  IMaiestie  ; — 
The  hid  secretis  of  nia?inis  hart 

From  his  p?'esens  may  not^  depart; —  1760 

He,  seand  the  Ambitioun 

And  the  prydefull  Presumptioun, 

Quhov  thir  proude  peple  did  pretende 

Upe  throuch  the  heuinnis  tyll  ascende, — 

Qiihilk  wes  gret  folye  tyll  deuyse 

Sick  one  presumptuous  interpryse  : — 

For,  quhen  thay  wer  moste  *  delygent, 

Gode  maid  thame  sick  impediment, 

Thay  wer  constranit,  with  hartis  sore, 

Frome  thyne  depart,  and  beild  no  more. 

Sick  Languagis  on  thame  he  laid. 

That  none  wyste  quhat  ane  vthir  said  : 

Quhare  wes^  hot  ane  Language  affore, 

Gode  send  thame  Languagis  three  schore.^ 

IT  AfFore  that  tyme  all  spak  Ebrew ; 

Than  sum  began  for  to  speik  Grew, 

Sum  Duche,  sum  language  Sara3yne, 

And  sum  began  to  speik  Latyne. 

The  ]\Iaister  men  gan'^  to  go  wylde  : 

Cry  and  for  treis,  thay  brocht  thame  tylde  :  1780 

'— '  L  quhair  throw  he  stopit  the  beilding  of  Babilone 

'  L  was         *  E.  L  nocht         ■*  L  maist         ^  P  wos,  L  was 

®  E  thre  scoir,  L  thre  score         ''  E  began 


all-knowing, 


seeing  the  ambi- 
tion and  pre- 
sumption 


1764    oftheBabeUtes, 


1768    balked  their 
project. 


by  diversifying 
^  w,__    the  one  language. 


Instead  of 
1  hrfjn    Hebrew  alone, 
i-  I  I  0    sprang  up  Greek, 

Dutch,  Saracenic, 


The  overseers  and 
the  labourers 


58 


THE   SECVND   BVKB    OF    THE   MONARCHB. 


became  mutually 
unintelligible. 

Nimrod 
stormed ; 


but  liis  men  un- 
derstood him  not, 

and  thought  him 
mad. 

His  mood  of  mind 
at  their  striking 
work. 


God  was  gracious. 


in  not  breaking 
their  legs  or  arms, 

and  in  only  con- 
founding their 
speech. 


They  disperse  in 
every  direction. 


and  leave  their 
undertaking  un- 
finished. 


Sum  said,  'biyng  mortar  heir  atonis;' 

Than  brocht  thay  to^  thame  stoks  and  stonis. 

IT  And  Nemhroth,  thare  gret  Campioun, 

Ean  rageand  lyke  one*^  wylde  Lyoun,  1784 

Manassyng  thame  with  wordis^  rude  : 

Bot  neuu'  one  worde  thay  vnderstude. 

Affore^  thay  fand^  hym  gude  and  kynde ; 

Bot  than  thay  thocht  hym  by  his  raynde,  1788 

Quhen  he  so  furiouslie  did  flyte. 

Than  turnit  his  pryde  in  to  dispyte, 

So  dirk  Eclipsit  wes  his  glore, 

Quhen  thay  wald  wyrk  for  him  no  more.  1792 

II  Beholde-^  quhov  God  wes  so  gratious 

To  thame,  quhilk  wer  so  outtragious : 

He  nother  braik  thare  leggis  nor  armis, 

Nor  jit  did  thame  none  vther  harmis,  1796 

Except  of  toungis  diuysioun. 

And,  for  fynall  conckisioun, 

Constranit  thay  wer  for  tyll  depart, 

like  cnmpanye  in  one*'  syndrie  arte  :  1800 

Sum  paste ''^  in  to  the  Orient, 

And  sum  in  to  the  Occident, 

Sum  south,  sum  north,  as  thay  thocht  best ; 

And  so  thare  poleysie  left  west.^  1804 

Bot  quhov  that  Citie  wes  reparit 

Heir  efter  it  salbe  declarit. 


FINIS. 


L  omitted 
*  L  Behald 


'  E  wourdis 
^  L  ane 


^  E  afoir 
'  E  passit 


*  L  thocht 
^  L  waist 


59 


OF    THE    FIRST    INUENTIOVN    OF   TDOLATEIE  : 

QUHOW  NEMBROTH   COMPELD'  THE  PEPLE 

TYLL  ADORE  =  THE  FYRE  IN  CALDIA. 


COURTIOUR. 


N"0"W^,  Scliir,-'^  said  I,  scliaw  me  the  man 
Quhilk  first  Ydolatrie  began. 


1808    Who  Hrst 

idolatrized  ? 


EXPERIENCE. 

That  sail  I  do  with  all  my  hart, 
My  Sonne,  said  he,  or  we  depart. 
Quhen  !N"embroth  saw  his  purpose  falit, 
And  his  gret  laubour'*  nocht  aualit, 
In  maner  of  contemptioun 
Departit  furth  of  that  regioun. 
And,  as  Orotius  doith^  rehers. 
He  past  in  to  the  land  of  Pers, 
And  mony  one  ^eir  did  thare  remane, 
And  syne  to  Babilone  come  agane, 
And  fand  huge  peple  of  Caldie 
Eemanand^  in  that  gret  Citie, 
That  wer  glaid  of  his  retm*nyng. 
And  did  obey  hym  as  thare  kyng, 
ISTembroth,  his  name  for  tyll  auance,''^ 
Amang  tham  maid  new  ordinance, 
Sayand,  I  think  36  ar  nocht  wyce,^ 
That  to^  none  God  makis  Sacrifyce. 
IT  Than,  to  f ulfyll  his  fals  desyre, 
He  gart  be  maid  ane  fiammand  ^'^  fyre^ 


1812 


Kimrod,  on  his 

failure. 


departed, 


1816    sojonrnecl  long 
in  Persia, 


returned  to 
Babylon, 


1820 


was  welcomed, 
and  was  rein- 
stated as  king. 


1824 


He  disapproves 
tlie  total  neglect 
of  sacrifice. 


1828    establishes  a  fire. 


'  L  compellit  *  L  adorne  =>  L  Fathir  ^  L  laubouris 

*  L  dois         ^  L  Remanyng,  E  Ramanand         '  E  aduance 

«  E  wyss,  L  wise         ^  L  till         '"  L  flamband 


60 


THE    SECVND   BVKE    OF    THE   MOXARCHE. 


great  and  per- 
petual. 


and  commands 
his  lieges  to  adore 


He  argues  the 
reasonableness  of 
the  new  cult, 


and  is  obeyed. 


Thus,  prior  to 
ieonolatry,  fire 
was  idolized. 


Of  Nimrod's 
fanatical  piety. 


Abraham  and 
Haran  withstand 
him; 


andsodoesThara. 


They  urge,  tliat 
fire,  being  but  an 
element,  is 
inferior  to  God, 

Creator  of  the 
heavenly  lights, 


And  maid  it  of  sic  breid  and  hyclit,i 

He  gart  it  b;yTn  boitli  day  and  nycht. 

Than  all  the  peple  of  that  land 

Adorit  the  fyre,  at  his  command,  1832 

Prosternit  on  thare  kneis  and  facis, 

Beseikand  thare  new  God  of  gracis. 

To  gyf  thame  more  occasioun, 

He  maid  thame  gret  perswasioun  :  1836 

This  God,  said  he,  is  moist  of  mycht, 

Schawand  his  bemys  on  the  nycht : 

Quhen  Sonne  and  Monne  ar  baith  obscure. 

His  hewinlie  brychtnes  doith^  indure  :  1840 

Quhen  mennis  memberris  sufferit^  calde, 

Fyre  warmyth  thame,  ewin  as  thay  walde. 

H  Than  cryit  the  Peple,  at  his  desyre, 

Thare  is  no  God  except  the  fyre.  1844: 

Or  thare  was  ony  Ymagerie, 

Began  this  first  Ydolatrie  : 

Att  that  tyme  thare  wes  none^  vsage 

To  carue  nor^  for  to  paynt  Image.  1848 

Thau  maid  he  proclamatioun, 

Quho^  maid  nocht  adoratioun 

To  that  new  God,  without  remede 

In  to  that  fyre  sulde  suffer  dede.  1852 

I  fynd  no'^  man,  in  to  that  lande. 

His  tyrrannie  that  durste  ganestande, 

Bot  Habraham,^  and  Aram  his  brother : 

That  disobeyit  I  fynd  none  vther,  1856 

Quhilk  dwelland  war  in  that  cuntre, 

"With  thare  Father,  callit  Thaire.^ 

Thir  brether  Kembroth  did^*'  repreue,^i 

Sayand  tylU^  hym,  Lord,  with  3our  leue,^^  1860 

This  fyre^^  is  bot  ane  Element : 

Praye  ^e  to^^  God  Omnipotent, 

Quhilk  maid  the  Heuinnisi''  be  his  mycht, 

Sonne,  Monne,  and  sterris,  to  gyf  lycht :  1864 


'  E  hccht         '  L  dois         '  L  sufferis  ■•  L  thai  had  small 

^  L  or         ®  L  Quha         '  L  na  °  E  Abraham 

»  E  Thare,  L  Tharie          '"  E  doith  "  L  repreif         '*  L  to 

"  L  leif         '^  L  thing         '*  E  till  '"  E  Havynnis 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MOXARCHE. 


Gl 


He  n;aiJ  the  fyschis  in  the  seis, 

The  ei'th,  with  beistis,  herhis,  and  treis  : 

And,  last  of  all,  for  to  conclude. 

He  maid  Man,  to  his  similitude  :  1868 

To  that  gret  God  gyfe  pryse^  and  glore, 

Quhose  Ring  induris-  euermore, 

IT  Than  Nembroth,  in  his  furious  yre, 

Thir  brether  boith  keste  in  the  fyre  :  1872 

Habraham^  be  God  he  wes  preseruit, 

Bot  Aram  in  the  fyre  he  staruit.* 

Quhen  Thara^  harde  his  sonne  wes  dede, 

He  did  depart  out  of  that  stede, 

With  Habraham,^  Il^achor,  and  thare  ■wyffis, — 

As  the  Scripture  at  lynthe  discryffis,^ — 

And  left  the  land  of  Caldia, 

And  paste  to'^  INIesopotamia, 

And  dwelt  in  Tharan^  all  his  dayis, 

And  deit  thare,  as  the  story  ^  sayis. 

The  lyfe  of  Habraham,-^  I  supose, 

1^0  thyng  langith  tyll  our  purpose  :  1884 

In  to  the  Bibyll  thov  may  reid 

His  verteous^"  lyfe  in  worde  and  deid, 

ISTow  to  the  I  haue  ^^  schawin  the  man 
That  12  firste  Ydolatrie  beran.  1888 


and  of  all  Uiings 
else, 

gofUike  man 
included; 

and  that  He  is 
worthy  of  all 
honour. 


bums  Haran 
alive. 

1876    Tliara,  thereupon, 
with  his  kins- 
men, 


1880   migrates  to 

Haran,  in  Meso- 
potamia, and 
dwells  and  dies 
there. 


For  Abraham, 
see  the  Bible. 


Thus  began 
idolatry. 


FINIS. 


'  E  prayce,  L  prayss         *  L  for  eueiTnore         '  L  Abrahame 

*  E,  L  stervit  ^  L  Tliarie         ®  E  descryuis,  L  discribis 

''  L  past  in  *  L  thairin  "  E  storie,  L  scripture 

'"  L  vertuus         "  E  haif,  L  haue  I         "  L  The 


62 


OF  THE  GRET  MISERE  AND  SKATTHIS  THAT  CUMIS 

OF  WERIS,  AND  QUHOW  KING  NYNF5  'BEGAN 

THE  FIRST  WERIS,  AND  STRAIK  THE 

FIRST  BATTELL.i 


Who  first  waged 
war, 


Blighting  the  law 
of  Christ? 


War,  cruel, 
works  great 
misery 


and  Church, 


to  families. 


and  to  learning. 


COURTIOUR. 

FATHEE,2  I  pray  30V,  with  my  barfc, 
Declair  to  me,  or  we  depart, 
Quho  first  began  thir  mortall  Weris, — 
Quhilk  euerilk  faithfuU  hart  efferis,  1892 

And  euere  polasye  doun  thrawis, — 
Express  agane^  the  Lordis  lavns  ; 
Sen  Christe,  our  kyng  omnipotent, 
Left  Peace  in  tyll^  his  Testament.  1896 

Quhov  doith^  proceid  this  creueltie^ 
Aganis  Justice  and  Equitie  1 
In  lande  quhare  ony  Weris  bene, 

Gret  Miserrie  thare  may  be  sene  :  1900 

All  thyng  on  erth'^  that  God  lies  wrocht 
"Weir  doith^  distroye,  and  puttis  at  nocht : 
Ceteis,  with  mony  Strang  Dungeoun, 
Ar  brynte,  and  to  the  erth  doung  doun ;  1904 

Uirginis  and  Matronis  ar  deflorit ; 
Templis^  that  Eychelie  bene  decorit 
At  brynt,  and  all  thare  Preistis  spid3eit ; 
Pure  Orphelenis^  vnder  feit  ar  ful^eit,  1908 

Mony  auld  men  maid  chUderles, 
And  mony  childer  fatherles  ; 
Oft'  famous  ScuUs  the  i<^  Doctryne, 

Boith  natural  science  and  Diuync,  1912 

And  euerilk  vertew,  trampit  doun  ; 

'— '  L  began  the  first  battel!  with  anc  schort  discriptioun 
of  the  four  Monarcheis. 

*  L  Fader         ^  E  apainis,  L  aganis         *  L  into 

6  L  dois         ^  L  crewaltie         '  L  in  erd         *  L  Tempillis 

»  E  Orphelins,  L  Orphanis         '"  L  Scolis  the  gret 


1916 

Of  its  olTect  on 

women, 

work-people. 

1920 

inercliants. 

craftsmen. 

1924 

THE    SECVXD    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE.  63 

Xo  reuerence  done  to  i  clcgioun ; 

Strenthis  distroyit  alluterlie ; 

Fair  Ladps  forcit  schamefullie  ; 

3oung  Wedowis  spuljeit  of  tliare  spousis, 

Pure  Lauborars  hoimdit  frome  tliare  housis. 

Thare  dar  no  Mercliand  tak  ou  hand 

To  trauell  nother^  be  sey  nor  land, 

For  Boucbeouris,  qubilk  dois  thame  confoundc 

Sum  mnrdrist  bene,  and  sum  ar  drounde  : 

Craftis  men  of  curious  Ingyne 

Alluterlie  put  to  rewyne  : 

The  Bestiall  reft,  the  commonnis  slane, 

The  land  but  lauboring  doith^  remane. 

Off  PoUesye  the  perf yte  warkis, — 

Beildingib,  Gardyngis,  and  plesand  parkis, —  1928  nnsiwndiy, 

Alluterlie  distroyit  bene  : 

Gret  graiugis^  brynt  thare  may  be  sene : 

Eyches  bene  turnit  to  powertie, 

Plentie  in  tyll-^  penuritie.  1932 

Deith,  Hounger,  Darth,  it  is  "weill  kende,  it  is  fatal  to  life. 

Off  AVeir  this^  is  the  FateU  ende  : 

lustice  turnit  in  tyrrannye, 

All  plesour  in  aduersitye.  1936  to  comfort. 

The  Weir  alluterlie^  doun  thrawis 

Boith  the  Ciuill  and  Cannoun^  lawis  :  to  the  laws, 

AVeir  generit  Murthour  and  myscheif, 

Sore  lamentyng  withoute  releif.  1940 

"Weir  doith  ^  distroye  Eealmes  and  kyngis ;  and  to  rulers. 

Gret^  Princis  weir  to  presoun  bryngisj 

Weir  scheddis  mekle  saikles  blude. 

Sen  I  can  saye  of  weir  no  gude,  1944 

II  Declare  to  me,  Schir,  gyf  ^e  can,  who  initiated  it  ? 

Quho  first  this  Miserrie  began. 

FIOTS. 

'  L  nouther         *  L  dois         ^  E  grangis,  L  grangeis 

■»  L  Plante  into         =  E  that         ^  L  vterly 

^  L  cannoun  and  ciuill         "  E  gryt 

SIONARCHE,   I.  F 


64 


It  was  grasping 
kingi  tliat  origin- 
ally made  war. 


ami  Ninus,  to 
begin. 


who  also  first 
devised  imagery. 


His  descent : 

Noah, 
Ham,  Cush, 
Nirarod,  Belus, 

Ninvis. 

Ninus  was  king 
of  Assyria,  and 
founded  Nineveh, 


the  earliest  of 
monarchies. 


f^  HEIR  FOLLOWITH  '  ANE  SCHORTE  DISCRIP- 

TIOUN=  OF  THE  FOUR  MONARCHIS, 

{f^   AND  QVHOW  KYNG  NYNUS   BEGAN  THE  FIRST 

MONARCHIE. 

EXPERIENCE. 

OF  Weris,  said  lie,  the  gret  outtrage 
Began  in  to  the  secunde  aige,  1948 

Be  creuell,^  prydefull,  couytous  kyngis, 
Reuarris,*  but  rycht,  of  vther/s  ryngis. 
QuhoAvbeit  Cayam,  afore^  the  flude, 
Wes  first  schedder  of  saikles  hkide,  1952 

J^ynus  was  first  and  prineipall  man 
Quhilk  wrangus''  con(|uessing  began, 
And  was  the  man,  withouttin  faill, 
In  erth  that  straik  the  first  battell,'''  1956 

And  first  Inuentit  Imagerye, 
Quhare  throw  came  giet  Idolatrye. 
IT  We  moste  knaw,  or  we  forthair  wend, 
Ofi"  quhome  king  Nynus  did  discend.  1960 

Nynus,  gyf  I  can  rycht  defyne, 
He  was  frome  Noye  the  fyft,  be  lyne  : 
Noye  generit  Cliam,  Cham  generit  Chus, 
And  Clius,  Nerabroth,  ISTembroth,  Bellas,  1964 

And  Bellus,  ]S''yiuis, — but  losing, — 
Off  Assiria  the  secund  king, 
And  beildar  of  thar  gret  Citie, 

The  quhilk  was  callit  ISTyniuOj^  1968 

And  wes  the  first  and  i)rincipall  man  ^ 
Quhilk  the  first  JNIonarchie  began. 

'  L  followis         *  E  (liscriptioiine         '  L  crewall 

*  L  revaris         ^  E  afoir         ^  E  vraiigous,  L  Tliat  wranguss 

"  L  battaill         "  E,  L  Niuivie         "  E  omitted 


THE    SECVXD    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE,  65 

COURTIOUR. 

H  Father,  said  I,  declaire  to  me  What  is  meant  by 

...  1  ni-m    ^  monaicliy  ? 

Quliat  signiiyis  one  Monarchie.  1972 

EXPERIENCE. 

The  suith,  said  he,  sonne,  gyfe  thov  knew, 
j\Ionarchie  bene  one  terme  of  Grew  :  The  woi-d  is 

.  .       .      ,,  Greek, 

As,  quhen  one^  Prouince  principall 

Had 2  hole  power ^  Imperiall,  1976  and  denotes  a 

T-,.       .  .,  -r--         .       ,.       .  State  to  whioli  all 

During  thare  Uommationis,  others  are  suu- 

Abufe"^  all  Kyngis  and  !N"ationis, 
One^  Monarchie  that  men  doith^  call; 


ordinate. 


Off  quhome  I  fynd  four  principall  1980    There  have  been 

Quhilk  heth^  rong  sen  the  war  Id  began. 


COURTIOUR. 

Than  said  I :  Father,  gyf  ^e  can, 
Quhilk  four  bene  thay,  schaw  me,  I  pray  30W.  Their  names? 

EXPERIENCE. 

My  sone,  said  he,  that  sail  I  say''^  30W :  1984 

IF  First,  rang  the  kings  of  Asserianis  ;  The  Assyrian, 

Secundlye,  rang  the  Persianis ;  Persian, 

The  Grekis,  thridlye,  with  swerd  and  fyre  Grecian, 

Perfors  optenit  the  thrid  Impyre ;  1988 

The  fourte  Monarche,  as  I  heir, 

The  Romanis  brukit  mony  one  3eir.  and  Roman. 

Latt  vs  first  speik  of  !N"ynus  king.  As  to  Niims, 

Quhov  he  began  his  Conquessing.  1992 

H  The  auld  Greik  Historitiane 
Diodorus  he  wrvttis  plane,  niodorus  writes 

•'■''.  of  him,  and  of 

Att  rycht  gret  lenth,  of  Nynus  king. 

Off  his  Impyre  and  conquessing ;  1996 

And  of  Semeramis,  his  wyfe,  semiramis. 

That  tyme  the  lustyest  one  lyfe. 

Itt  wer^  to  lang  to  putt  in  wryte  at  great  length. 

Quhilk  Diodore  heth^  done  indyte ;  2000 


L  ane         ^  E  and         ^  E  pouir         *  E  abouf         *  L  dois 
«  L  hes         ^  E,  L  schaw         «  L  It  war         ^  E  haith 


F  2 


66 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


When  Nimrod 
died,  and  Belus, 


Ninns  acceded  to 
the  throne. 


Not  content  with 
his  own. 


but  covetous  of 
more,  he  prepared 
to  aggress  on 
Babylon  and 
Clialdea,  with  a 
view  to  annex 
tliein. 


Masterful,  be 
proceeded  as  I 
sliall  sliow. 


Tbe  Babylonians 
and  Cliakieans, 
liearing  of  his 
design. 


resolved  to  resist 
biin. 

Though  unused 
to  war,  they  en- 
countered Ninus 
firmly,  on  tlieir 
frontier. 


Bot  I  sail  sella w,  as  I  suppose, 
Quhilk  maist  belangith  thy  purpose, 

H  Qulien  ^enibroth,  Prince  of  Babilone, 
Oute  of  this  wrechit^  warld  wes^  gone,  2004 

And  his  Sonne,  Bellus,  deid,  alswa, — 
The  first  Kyng  of  Asseria, — 
This  K^yniis,  quhilk  wes^  secunde  kyng, 
Tryumphandlie  began  tylH  vxng,  2008 

And  wes  nocht  satifyit^  nor  content 
Off  his  awin  Eegione  nor  his  rent : 
Thynkand  his  glore  for  tyll  aduance 
By  his  gret  peple  and  puissance,  2012 

Throuch  Pryde,  Coiiatyce,  and  vaine  glore, 
Dyd  hym  prepare  to  conques  more, 
And  gadtherit*^  furth  ane  gret  Arniie 
Contrare  Babilone  and  Caldie,  2016 

Quhareof  he  had  ardent  desyre 
TylF  lune  that  land  tylF  his  Impyre, 
Quhowbeit  he  had  thareto  no  rj'cht : 
Bot,  by  his  tp-ranry^  and  mj'cht,  2020 

Withouttin  feir  of  God  or  man, 
His  Conquessing  thus  he  began. 

H  His^  peple  beand  in  array e, 
To  Caldia  tuke  the  reddy  waye.  2024 

Qahen  that  the  Babilonianis, 
To  gidther^*^  with  the  Caldianis, 
Hard  tell  Kyng  l^ynus  wes  cumand. 
Maid  proclamationis  thi'ouch  the  land,  2028 

That  ilke  man,  efter  thare  degre, 
Sulde  cum,  and  saif  thare  awin  cuntre. 
Quhowbeit  thay  had  no  vse  of  weir, 
Thay  pastel  fordwart  withouttin  feir,  2032 

And  pat  thame  selfis  in  gude  order. 
To  meit  kyng  JiTynus  on  the  border. 
In  that  tyme,  je  sail  vnderstande, 
Thare  wes  no  harnes^-  in  the  lande,  2036 


'  L  wrachit         *  E  is         ^  E  was  the,  L  was  secound 

^  E  to,  L  till         *  E  satefeit         *  E  gatherit,  L  gaderit 

^  L  To         «  L  tirrany         »  This         '»  E,  L  Togidder 

"  E  passit  '"  L  harness 


THE    SECVXD    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


67 


For  tyll  Jefende  nor  tyll  Iniiaid, 
Quharethrow  more^  slaucliter  thare  "\7es  maid: 
Thay  fauclit,  throw  strenth  of  tliare  bodeis, 
With  gaddis  of  Irne,  with  stonis,  and  treis. 

IT  With  sound  of  home,  and  hydduous^  cry, 
Thay  ruschit  to  gidther'  ryclit  rudly, 
With  hardy  hart'*  and  strenth  of  handis, 
Tyll  thousandis  deid  lay  on  the  landis. 
Quhare  men  in  battell  nakit  bene, 
Gret  slaixchter,  sone,  thare  may  be  sene. 
Thay  faucht  so  lang  and  creuellie, 
And  with  vncertane^  victorie, 
'No  man  mycht  luge,  that  stude  on  far, 
Quho  gat  the  better  nor  the  war  : 
Bot,  qulien  it  did  ajiproche  the  nycht, 
The  Caldianis  thay  tuke  the  flycht. 
Than  the  kyng  and  his  cumpanye 
War  rycht  glaid  of  that  victorye, 
Because  he  wan  ihe  first  battelP 
That  strj^kkin  wes  in  erth,  but  faill ; 
And  peceably  of  that  Eegioun 
Did  tak  the  hole  DominiounJ 
Than  wes  he  king  of  Caldia, 
Alsweill  as  of  Asseria, 
As^  for  the  king  of  Arrabie, 
In  his  conquest  maid  hym  supplie. 

H  Off  this  3it  wes  he^  nocht  content, 
Bot  to  the  Eealme  of  JMede  he  went, 
Quhare  Farnus,  king  of  that  cuntre. 
Did  meit  hym,  with  one^*'  gret  armie. 
Bot  king  N"ynus  the  battell  wan, 
Quhare  slane  wer  mony  nobyll  man ; 
And  to  that  king  wald  gyf  no  grace, 
Bot  planelie,  in  one^^  publict  place. 
With  his  sewin^^  Sonnis  and  his  Ladie, 
Creuellie  did  thame  Crucifie. 


Description  of  tlie 
rude  style  of 
warfare  then  in 

2040  '"s"^- 


Desperate  was  the 
figliling. 


2044 


2048 


2052 


and  dire  tlie 
Blaugliter ;  but 
the  victory  was 
long  uncertain. 


At  night-fall  the 
Chaldeans  beat  a 
retreat ; 


2056 


and  thus  Ninus 
became  tlieir 
sovereign. 


2060 


2064    Then  he  passed  to 
Media,  and  van- 
quislied  Pharnus, 


2068 


wliom  lie  cruci- 
fied, with  his 
seven  sons  and 
207^    his  queen. 


'  E,  L  mair         ^  E  hiddowous,  L  hiddius         '  E,  L  togidder 

*  L  hert         *  L  incertaine         *  L  battaill 

'  E  haill  dominatioun         ^  L  And         "  E  omitted 

'0  L  ane  "  E,  L  seviu 


68 


THE   SECVND   BVKE    OF   THE   MOXARCHE. 


Next  he  conquered 
many  other 
lands, — 


all  Africa  and 
Asia,  save  India 
and  IJactria ;  and 
these  he  seized 
subsequently. 


A  digression 
announced. 


Off  that  tryumplie  he  did  reiose  ;^ 
Syne  fordwart  to  the  feilde  he  gose  i^ 
Than  conquest  he  Armenia, 
Perce,  Egypt,  and  Pamphelia, 
Capadoce,  Leid,  and  Maritane, 
Caspia,  Phrigia,  and  Hyrcane, — 
All  Affrica  and  Asia,^ 
Except  gret  Ynde  and  Battria, 
Quhilk  he  did  conques  efterwart 
As  3e  sail  heir,  or  we^  depart. 
Now  wald  I,  or  we  further  wend, 
That  his  Ydolatrye  wer  kend  ; 
Syne,  ef ter  that,  withoute  sudiorne, 
Tyll  our  purpose  we  sail  returne. 


2076 


2080 


2084 


PINIS. 


'  E,  L  reioss 


E,  L  goiss 


'  L  Asia  and  Affrica 


69 


QUHOV  KING  NYN  VS  INUENTIT  THE  FIRST 
YDOLATRIE  OF  YMAGIS, 


I^TYNVS  one^  Ymage  lie  gart  mak 
For  King  Bellas  his  Fatlieris  sailc, 
Moist  lyke  his  Father  of  figoure, 
Off  quautite,  and  portratoure  : 
Off  fyne  Golds  was  that  figour^  maid  ; 
Ane  crafty  Croun  apone  his  haid, 
AVith  precious  stonis,  in  toknyng 
His  father  Belliis  wes  ane  Kyng. 
In  Eabilone  he  ane  tempyll  maid, 
Off  crafty  work,^  boith  heych*  and  braid, 
Quharein  that  Ymage  gloriouslie 
Wes  thronit  vpe  tryumphandlie. 

IT  Than  Nynus  gaif  ane  strait  command 
Tyll  all  the  peple  of  that  land, — 
Alsweill  in  tyll  Asseria 
As  in  Synear  and  Caldia, 
Under  his  Dominatioim, — 
Thay  suld  make  Adoratioun, 
Apone  thare  kneis,  to  that  figour, 
Under  the  pane  of  forfaltour. 
Thare  wes  no  Lorde,  in  all  that  land, 
His  summonding^  that  durst  ganestand  : 
Than  3oung  and  auld,  boith  gret  and  small, 
Tyll^  that  Ymage  thay  pray  it,  all. 
And  cheangit  his  name,  as  I  heir  tell, 
Frome  Bellus  to  thare'''  gret  God  Bell. 
In  that  tempyll  he  did  deuyse 


Ninus  makes  an 
oAQQ    effigy  of  his 
^UOO    father,  Belus, 


2092 


2096 


of  fine  gold, 
crowned  and 
embellished. 


and  enthrones  it 
in  a  temple  in 
Babylon. 


2100 


The  people,  far 
and  near,  are  com- 
manded to  do  it 
homage. 


2104 


under  penalty ; 


2108 


and  they  all 
submit. 


2112    From  Belua  camo 
the  name  of  Be:. 


'  L  ane         ^  L  image         ^  L  werk,  E  wark         "*  L  heicli 
*  E  sommoiiding         "  L  to         ^  L  that 


70 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE   MONARCHE. 


Sacrifices  to  it 
were  enjoined; 
and  no  otlier  god 
was  to  be  recog- 
nized. 


The  right  of  sanc- 
tuary was  granted 
to  transgressors 
tliat  loolied  upon 


Preistis,  for  tyll^  niak  sacrifyse. 
Ee  conswetud  than  come  one^  law, 
None  vther  God  that  thay  wald  knaw  : 
And  als  he  gaif  ^  to  that  Ymage 
Off  Sanctuarie  the  Priuilage  ; 
For,  quhat  snm^  euer  transgressour, — 
One 2  homicede  or  oppressour, — 
Seand  that  Ymage  in  the  face, 
Off  thare  gylt  gat  the  kyngis  grace. 


2116 


2120 


Was  there  no 
further  idolatry  ? 


COURTIOUB. 


II  Declare  to  me,  sweit  schir,  said  I, 
Wes  there  no  more  Ydolatry, 
Efter  that  this  fals  Idole  Bell 
"VVes  thronit^  vp,*^  as  ^e  me  telll 


2124 


The  example  set 
by  Ninus 


was  universally 
iuiitated. 


The  famous  dead 
were  deified, 


and  images  made 
of  them,  in  various 
substances. 


Hence  Saturn, 
Jupiter,  Neptune, 


EXPERIENCE. 

IT  j\Iy  Sonne,  said  he,  incontinent 
The  nowellis  throuch  the  warld  thay  went,  2128 

Quhow  king  ISTynus,  as  I  liaif  said. 
One  curious  Image  he  had  maid, 
To  the  quhilk  all  his  natioun 

Maid  denote  adoratioun.  2132 

Than  euerj'e  cuntre  tuke  consait, 
Thay  wald  king  JSTynus  coutrafait : 
Quhen  ony  famous  man  wes  deid, 

Sett  vp'^  one  Image  in  his  steid,  21 3G 

Quhilk^  thay  did  honour,  from  the  splene. 
As  it^  Immortall  God  had  bene. 
Imagis  sum  maid,  for  the  nonis. 

Git'  fyne  gokl,  sum  of  stokis  and  stonis,  2110 

Off  syluer  sum,  and  Euyr  bone. 
With  diners  namis  tyll  cueryone  :  ^° 
For  sum  thay  callit  Saturnus, 

Sum  lupiter,  sum  Neptunus ;  2144 

And  sum  thay  callit  Cupido, — 

'  E  till,  L  to         -  L  ane         ^  E  lies  gaifin         *  L  omitted 

*  L  tronit         "  E  wpo         '  E  oupe         ^  L  quhomo 

*  E  it  tlie         '"  E  euerychoiie,  L  euerilk  oue 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OP    THE    MONARCIIE. 


71 


Thare  god  of  lufe, — and  sum  Pluto  : 

Tliay  callit  sum  Mercurius, 

And  sum  the  wyndie^  Eolus, 

Sum  Mars, — maid  lyke  ane  man  of  weir, 

Inarmit  AveilP  witli  sword  ^  and  speir, — 

Sum  Bacchus,  and  sum  Apollo  : 

Off  namis  thay  had  ane  houndreth  mo. 

H  And,  quhen  one'*  Lady  of  gret  fame 
Wes  dede,  for  tylP  exalt  hir  name, 
One*  Image  of  hir  portratour 
Wald  set  vpe^  in  one*  oratour, 
The  quhilk  thay  callit  thare  goddes, — 
As  Uenus,  luno,  and  Palles, 
Sum  Cleo,  sum  Proserpina, 
Sum  Ceres,  Uesta,  and  Diana ; 
And  sum  the  gret  goddes  Mynarue 
AVith  curious  collouris  thay  wald  carue. 
Amang  the  Poetis  thow  may  see 
Off  fals  godis  the  genologee. 

IT  So  thir  abhominationis 
Did  spred  ouerthort  all  nationis, 
Except  gude  Habraham,  as  we  reid,''^ 
Quhilk  honourit  God  in  word  and  deid  ; 
For  Habraham  had  his  beginnyng 
In  to  the  tyme  of  J^ynus  king. 
Nynus  began  with  tyrranrie, 
And  Habraham  with  humylitie  : 
Nynus  began  the  first  Impyre  ; 
Habraham  of  weir  had  no  ^  desyre  : 
J^ynus  began  Idolatrye ; 
Habraham,  in  spreit  and  veritye. 
He  prayit  to  the  Lorde  allone. 
Pals  Imagry  he  wald  haue  none. 
Off  hym  discendit,  I  heir^  tell, 
The  twelf  gret  Trybis^^  of  Israeli. 
Those  peple  maid  adoratioun, 


2148 

and  the  other 
gods  of  the 
Komniis. 


2152 


The  pagan  god- 
desses  had  a 
Zlou    simiUir  origin. 


of  whom  were 
Venus,  Juno, 
PalUis,  &c.,  &c. 

2160 


2161 


The  poets  gene 
alogize  them. 


Abraham, 


2168 


and  Ninus,  con- 
temporaries. 


2172 


contrasted. 


2176 


The  former  ab- 
horred images. 

2180    The  tribes  of 

Israel,  bis  seed, 
worshipped. 


E  vindie         "^  E  veill         ^  L  suerd         ■•  L  ane         *  L  to 
^  E  oup         ''  L  Abrahame  and  his  seid         *  L  na 
^  E  hard  '"  Trybbis 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


not  dead  idols, 
but  the  God  of 
life. 


Witli  liumyll  supplicatioun, 

Tyll  liym  quliilk  Aves^  of  kyngis  king, 

That  lieA\in  and  erth^  maid  of  no  thing  :  218-i 

Dede  Ymagis  thay  held  at  nocht, 

That  wer  with  mennis  handis  wrocht, 

Bot  the  almychtie  God  of  lyue. 

My  Sonne,  now  haif  I  done  discryue  2188 

Thir  questionis,  at  thy  command, 

The  quhdkis^  thow  did  at  me  demand. 

COURTIOUR. 

IT  Quhat  wes  the  cause, — schir,  mak  me  sure, — 
wiiy  did  idolatry    Ydolatrye  did  SO*  laug  iudure  2192 

last  so  long?  "^  ° 

Outthrouch  the  waiid  so  generalie, 
And  with  the  Gentilis,  specialie  ? 


EXPERIENCE. 

Quod  he  :  sum  causis  principall 
I  fynd  in  my  memoriall.  2196 

First,  wes  throuch  princis  command  iment, 
Quhilk  did  ydolatrye  inuent ; 
Syne,^  siogulare  proffeit  of  the  preistis, 
Payntours,  Goldsmythis,  Masonnis,^  Wrycht/.5  :      2200 
Those  men  of  craft  full  curiouslio 
Maid  Imagis  so  plesandlie, 
And  sauld  thame  for  ane  sumptuous'^  pryce. 
So,  be  thare  crafty  Merchandyce,  2204 

Thay  wer  maid  ryche  abone  ^  mesure. 
As  for  the  Priestis,  I  the  assure. 
Large  proffeit  gat,  ouerthort  all  landis, 
Throuch  sacrifyce  and  offerandis,  2208 

And,  be  thare  fayned^  sanctitude, 
Abusit  mony  one^"  man  of  gude; 
As,  in  the  tyme  of  Daniell, 

The  preistis  of  this  Idoll  BeU.  2212 

Quhen  Nabuchodonosor^^  king 
In  Babilone  royallie  did  ring. 


Prescription, 


lucre  of  gain, 


priestcraft, 
account  for  it. 


Daniell  xiii. 
Thus,  in  the  time 
of  Daniel,  the 
priuats  of  Bel, 


'  L  is         '  L  erd         '  L  quliilk         *  L  sa         *  L  And 

"  L  and         ^  E  sowniptiouss  *  L  abufe 

E  fen3Ct,  L  feinjcit         '"  L  ane         "  L  Nabingodouo.sar 


THE    SECVKD    BVKE    OF    TUE    MONARCHE. 


73 


Those  preistis  the  kyng  gart  vnJerstanJ, 

That  ymage,  maid  he  mennis  hand,  2216 

He  wes  one  glorious  God  of  lyfe/ 

And  had  sic  ane  prerogatyfe, 

That,  by  2  his  gret  power  deuyne, 

"VVald  eait  Beif,  Muttone,  Breid,  and  wyne  : 

And  so  the  king  gart,  euery  daye, 

Affore  Bell,  on  his^  Aulter,  laye 

Fourty  fresche  "Wodderis,  fatt"*  and  fyne. 

And  sax  gret  Rowbouris  ^  of  wycht  wyne, 

Twelf  gret  Louis  ^  of  bowtit  floure, 

Quhilk  wes  all  eaitin  in  one'^  houre, — 

Nocht  be  that  Image,  deif  and  dum, 

Bot  be  the  prestis,  all  and  sum, — 

As  in  the  Bibill  thow  may  ken, — 

Quhose  nummer^  wer  thre  score  and  ten  ; 

Thay  and  thare  wyfis,  euerilk  day, 

Eait  all  that  on  the  Aulter  lay. 

Than  Daniell,  in  conclusioun, 

Schew  the  king  thare  abusioun, 

And  of  thare  subtlety^  maid  hym  sure, 

Quhow,^**  onderneth  the  tempyll  flure,  2236 

Throuch^''  ane  passage  they  cam,  be  nycht. 

And  eait  that  meit  with  candell  lycht. 

The  king,  quhen  he  the  mater  knew, 

Those  preistis,  with  all  thare  wyffis,^^  he  slew 

Thus  subtellie  the  kyng  was  sylit. 

And  aU  the  peple^^  wer  begylit. 

My  Sonne,  said  he,  now  may  thow  ken 

Quhov,  by  the  Preistis  and  craftismen, 

And  be  thare  craftines  and  cure, 

Idolatrye  did  so^^  lang  indure, 

^  Behauld^*  quhow  Ihone  Boccatious 
Hes  wryttin  workis  wounderous  2248 

Off  Gentilis  superstitioun, 
And  of  thare  gret  abusioun, — 


extolling  their 
idol. 


2220    led  Nebuchadnez- 
zar to  believe  it 
voracious. 


and  to  make  it 
bounteous  offer- 
2224    ings  of  victual 
and  drink. 


2228    The  priests, 
seventy  in 
number. 


and  their  wives, 
consumed  tlie 
2Jo2    viands,  of  course. 


Daniel  unmasked 
the  imijosture. 


2240    Fatal  retribution. 


2244    Idolatry  was  kept 
up  by  craft  and 
greed. 


See  Boccaccio  on 
pagan  supersti- 
tion, 


'  L  on  live         ^  L  be         '  L  the         *  L  wedderis  gude 

E  rubbouris        ^  E  lavis        ^  L  an        *  E  number,  L  nomber 

"  L  subtillite         '"  L  throw         "  L  wivis         ''  E,  L  pepill 

'»  L  sa         '*  E  behold,  L  behald 


74 


THE    SECVXD    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


oil  the  descent  of 
the  gods,  and 
chiefly,  on  Demo- 
gorgon, 


Dagon,  and  such- 
like. 

I  sliriiik  to  tell 
how  the  princes 
of  Israel  fell  into 
idolatry. 


iii,  Reg.  xi. 

Solomon,  in  Iiis 
senility,  to  plea- 
sure his  wives, 


adored  Moloch, 
Cliemosh,  and 
Ashtaroth. 


Therefore  his 
descendants  were 
punished, 


in  losing  the 
headship  of  the 
ten  tribes. 


As  in  his  gret  Buke  thow  may  see, — 

Off  fals  Goddis  the  geneologie, 

OS  Demogorgon,  in  sj^eciall, 

Fore  Grandschir^  tyll^  the  Goddis  all, 

Honourit  amang  Archadience,^ 

And  of  the  fals  Philistience,* 

With  thare  gret  deudische  god  Dagone, 

With  vtheris  Idolis  mony  one. 

Bot  I  ahhore  the  treuth  to  tell 

Off  the  Princis  of  Israeli, 

Chosin  he  God  Omnipotent, — 

Quhow  thay  brak  his  commandiment. 

Kyng  Salomone,  as  the  scripture  sayis. 

He  doitit  in  his  latter  dayis  : 

His  wantoun  wyfhs  to  compleis, 

He  curit  nocht  God  tylP  displeis, 

And  did  committ  Idolatrye, 

Wyrschipyng  caruit  Ymagerye, — ^ 

As  Moloch,  god  of  Ammonitis, 

And  Chamos,  god  of  ]\[oahitis, 

Astaroth,  god  of  Sydoniains.' 

So,  for  his  inohediens 

And  fowle  abhominatioun, 

Wer  puneist  his  successioun  : 

His  Sonne  Eoboam,  I  heir  tell, 

Tynt  the  ten  Trybis  of  Israeli, 

For  his  fatheris^  Ydolatrye, 

As  in  the  scripture^  thow  may  see. 


2252 


2256 


2260 


2264 


2268 


2272 


2276 


FINIS. 


Granscliir         '  L  to         ^  L  Arclmdianis         ■•  L  Philistianis 

*  L  his  God  for  to         ^  L  Ymagrie         ^  L  Sedoniauce 

*  L  faderis         "  E  schriptour 


75 


^  OFF  IMAGEIS  VSIT  AMANG  CEISTIN  MEN. 


COURTIOUR. 

FATHER,!  ^it  f^ne  thyng  I  wald  speir. 
Behald,  iu  euerv"  kirk  and  queir  2280  wesee,  in 

.  .  ,^  cliurclies  and  else- 

Throucii^  Cnristindome,  lu  burgh  and  land,  wiiere,  images  of 

-r  ■  ■  1        ■l.^  ■     T.         1  Christian  saints : 

imageis  maid  with  meiinis  hand,  • 

To  quhome  bene  gyffin*  diners  names  : 

Sum  Peter,  and  Paull,  sum  Ihone,^  &  lames;         2284  ss. peter,  Paul, 

Sanct  Peter,  caruit  with  his  keyis  ; 

Sanct  ^fychaell,  with  his  wyng/s  and  weyis  ;  ss.  Michael  ana 

Sanct  Katherine,^  with  hir  swerd  and  quheill ; 

Ane  hynde  sett  vp  besyde  sanct  Geill.  2288  s.  Giles, 

It  war  to  lang  for  tylF  discryue 

Sanct  Frances,  with  his  woundis  f  yiie.  ss.  Francis  and 

Tredwell, 

Sanct  Tredwall,  als,  tliere  may  be  seiie, 

Quhilk  on  ane  prik  heth^  boyth  hir  eine;  2292 

Sanct  Paull,  weill  payntit  with  ane^  sworde, 

As  he  wald  feycht  at  the  first  worde ; 

Sanct  Apollin  ^°  on  altare  standis,  s.  ApoUonia, 

With  all  hir  tethe  in  tyll  hir  handis  ;  2296 

Sanct  Eochee,^^  weill  seisit,  men  may  se,  ss.  Roch 

Ane  byill  ^^  brokin  on  his  thye  ;  ^^ 

Sanct  Eloy^*  he  doith  staitly  stand,  andEUgius, 

Ane  new  hors  schoo  in  tyll  his  hand ;  2300 

Sanct  ringane,^^  of  ane  rottin  stoke  ;  ss.  Ninian, 

Sanct  Duthow,!^  boird  out  of  ane  bloke ;  Duthak,  Andrew, 

Sanct  Androw,!''  with  his  croce  in  hand ; 

Sanct  George,  vpone  ane  hors  rydand  ;  2304 

'  L  Fader         ^  E  euerilk         ^  L  Throw         ■•  E  gevin 

^  E  lohune         ^  E  Katrene         ^  L  to         ^  E  haith,  L  hes 

^  L  a         '"  L  Appollonce         "  P  Eochoe,  E  Roclie,  L  Eoke 

'^  L  byle         ''^  L  thee         '*  L  Heloy         '^  L  lUugjeane 

'6  Duthe  '^  E,  L  Audro 


&c., 


76 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MOXARCHE. 


SS.  Antony  and 
Bridget, 


SS.  Cosmas, 
Damian,  Cris- 
pinian,  and  a 

thousand  more. 


To  these  we  do 
vvorsliip  and  put 
up  supplications. 


Wherein  differs 
tliis  from  gentle 
idolatry  ? 


Sanct  Antlione,  sett  vp  ^  witli  ane  soow ;  ^ 

Sanct  Bryde,  -weill  caruit  with  ane  koow,^ 

With  coistlye  coUoiiris  fyne  and  fair : 

Ane  thousand  mo  I  mycht  declair,  2308 

As  sanct  Cosma,  and  Daniiane,* 

The  SoAvtars^  sanct  Crispaniane. 

All  thir  on  altare  staitly  standis, — 

Preistis  cryand  for  thare  offrandis, — ■  2312 

To  quhome  we  Conimunnis,^  on  our  kneis, 

Doith'''  wyrschip  all  thir  Ymagereis  ; 

In  Kirk,  in  Queir,  and  in  the  closter, 

Prayand  to  thame  our  Pater  noster;  2316 

In  pylgramage  frome  town  to  toiui, 

With  offrand  and  with  orisoun, 

To  thame  aye  bahland^  on  our  beidis, 

That  thay  wald  help  ws  in  our  neidis.  2320 

Quhat  diffen's  this, — declare  to  me, — 

Frome  the  Gentilis  Idolatryel 


In  little,  if  you 
tell  aright. 


Images  are  tlie 
books  of  the 
unlearned. 


and  serve  as 
reminders 


of  Christ, 


and  of  S.  Mary, 


EXPERIENCE, 

IT  Gyff  that  be  trew  that  thow  reportis. 
It  goith^  rycht  neir  thir^*^  samyn  sortis  :  2324 

Bot  we,  be  counsall  of  Clargye, 
Hes  lycence^^  to  mak  Imagery e, 
Quhilk  of  vnleirnit  bene  the  buikis ; 
For,  quhen  lauid^^  folk  vpone  thame  luikis,  2328 

Itt  bringith^^  to  rememberance 
Off  Sanctis  lyuis  the  circumstance, — 
Quhow,  the  faith  for  to  fortifye, 

Thay  sufferit  pane  rycht  pacientlye.  2332 

Seand  the  Image  of  the  Eude, 
Men  suld  remember  on  the  Blude 
Quhilk  Christ,  in  tyll  his  Passioun, 
Did  sched  for  our  Saluatioun  :  2336 

Or,  quhen  thow  seis  ane  portrature 
Off  blyssit  Marie,  Uirgen  pure. 


'  E  owp         -  E,  L  sow         ^  E,  L  kow         ''  L  Doniane 

*  L  Sowteris         ^  E  Commondis,  L  Commonis         '  L  Dois 

8  L  baibland         "  L  fiais         '"  L  tlie         "  L  licience 

''  L  lawit         '^  L  briiiLna 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCIIE. 


77 


One  bony  Babe^  vpone  hir  kne, 
Than,  in  thy  mynde,  remember  tlie 
The  wordis  quhilks  the  Propheit  said, — 
Quhow  sche  suld  be  boith  Mother^  and  Maid. 

IF  Bot  qxiho  that  sittis  doun  on  thare  kneis, 
Prayand  tyll  ony  Imagereis,^ 
With,  oritioun*  or  offerand, 
Kneland  with  cap  in  to  thare  hand, 
Ko  difference  bene,  I  say  to  the, 
Frome  the  Gentilis  Idolatrye. 

IT  Rycht  so,  of  diners  nationis 
I  reid  abominationis,^ — 
Quhow  Grekis  maid  thare  deuotioun  haill 
To  Mars,  to  saif^  thame  in  battaill; 
TylF  lupiter  sum  tuke  thare  vayage, 
To  saif  ^  thame  frome  the  stormys  rage ; 
Sum  prayit  to  Uenus,  from  the  splene. 
That  thay  thare  kiffis^  mycht  obtene  ; 
And  sum  to  luno,  for  ryches, 
Thare  pylgramage  thay  Avald  addres. 

IT  So  doith  our  commouii^  populare, 
Quhilk  war  to  lang  for  tyll''  declare 
Thare  superstitious  pylgramageis 
To  mony  diuers  Imageis  ; — 
Sum  to  sanct  Rochee,^*'  with  deligence, 
To  saif  thame  frome  the  pestilence ; 
For  thare  teith,  to  sanct  Apollene ; 
To  sanct  Tredwell,  to  mend  thare  eine  : 
Sum  makis  offrande  to  sanct  Eloye,^i 
That  he  thare  hors  may  weill  conuoye  : 
Thay  ryn,  quhen  thay  haif  loAvellis  tynte. 
To  seik  sanct  Syith,  or  euer  thay  stynte ; 
And  to  sanct  Germane,  to  get  remeid. 
For  maladeis  in  to  thare  ^^  held. 
Thay  bryng  mad  men,  on  fuit  and  horsse, 
And  byndis  thame  to  sanct  IMongose  crosse :  ^^ 


23-iO    ami  tlie  prophecy 
touching  her. 


2344    But  to  pray  to 
them 


is  sheer  idolatry. 


2348 


As  it  was  when 
tlie  ancients  paid 
tlieii"  devotions  to 
Mars, 


2352 


Jupiter, 


Venus, 


2356 


Juno, 


so  it  is  when  our 
0  o  r  A    commonalty 
ZouO    repair  to 


S.  Roch, 


2364 


SS.  ApoUonia, 

Tredwell,  and 
Eligius, 


2368 


SS.  Swithe  and 
Gerraauus, 


2372 


SS.  Kentigern 


'  L  Ane  bony  bab         ^  L  Moder         ^  L  Imagryis 

■*  E,  L  orisoun         ^  E,  L  Abhominationis         ®  L  sauf 

^  L  To  «  L  wivis  *  L  commonis  '»  L  Eoks 

"  L  Heloy         '-  E,  L  the         ''  L  corss 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MOXARCHE, 


and  Barbara, 


SS.  Gabriel  and 
Margaret, 


SS.  Antony, 
Bridget,  and 
Sebastian, 


or  visit  Crail- 
cross. 


The  poor  creatures 
mean  well; 


but  t1ie  priests 
and  bishops, 
because  oCtlieir 
encouraging  false 
religion,  will  have 
to  give  answer 
hereafter. 


To  sanct  Barbara^  thay  cry  fall  faste, 

To  saif  2  thame  frome  the  thoiider^  blaste  :  2376 

For  gude  nouellis,  as  I  heir  tell, 

Sum  takis  thare  gait'^  to  Gabriell : 

Sum  wyffis  sanct  Margret  doith  exhort 

In  to  thare  byrth  thame  to  supjDort ;  2380 

To  sanct  Anthony,  to  saif  the  soow ;  ^ 

To  sanct  Bryde,  to  keip  calf  and  koow  :  ^ 

To  sanct  Bastien  thay  ryn  and  ryde. 

That  frome  the  schote  he  saf  thare  syde ;  2384 

And  sum,  in  hope  to  gett  thare  harll,'^ 

Eynnis  to  the  auld  Paide  of  Kerrail.^ 

Quhowbeit  thir  simpyll  peple^  rude 

Think  thare  intentioun  be  bot  gude,  2388 

"Wo  be  to^°  Priest/5,  I  say  for  me, 

Quhilk  suld  schaw  thame  the  verratie. 

Prelatis,  quhilkis  hes  of  thame  the  cure, 

Sail  mak  answeir  thareof,  be  sure,  2392 

On  the  gret  day  of  lugement, — 

Quhen  no  tyme  beis  for  to  repent, — 

Quhare  manyfest  Idolatrye 

Sail  puneist  be  perpetuallye.  2396 


'  L  Berbera         *  L  sauf         ^  L  thunderis         ••  E  gett 

E,  L  sow        "^  E,  L  kow        ^  E  heill        «  E  Karreil,  L  Carail 

"  pepill         "*  L  Wo  to 


79 


Y^  HEIR  FOLLOWIS  ONE  EXCLAMATIOUN  AGANIS 
IDOLATRIE. 


EXPERIENCE. 

IMPRVDEI^T  Peple,!  Ignorant  and  blynd, 
By  2  quhat  reasons,  law,  or  autlioritie,  wiiat  warrant  is 

Or  quliat  attentyck  scripture,^  can  36  fynd  atiy? 

Leifsum^  for  tyll  commit  Idolatriel  2400 

Quhilk  bene  to  bow  3ovir  bodye,  or^  ^our  kne, 
With  denote  humyll  adoratioun, 
Tyll  ony  Ydoll  maid  of  stone  or  tre, 
Geiieand  "^  tliame  offerand  or  oblatioun.  2404 

Quhy  did  ^e  gyf  the  honour,  laude,  and  "^  glore,  why  is  God's  sole 

Perteynyng  God, — quhilk  maid  all  thyng  of  nocht,  inl^es?" 

Quhilk  wes,  and  is,  and  salbe  euirmore, — 

Tyll  Ymagis  by  mennis  handis  wrochtl  2408 

0  fulysche  ^  folke,  quhy  haif  30  succour  socht 

Oif  thame  quhilk  can^  nocht  help  30W  in  distres  1 

3it  reasonably  reuolfe,  in  to  30ur  thocht, 

In  stok  nor  stone  can  be  non  holynes.  2412 

^  In  the  desert  the  peple  ^  of  Israeli, —  OfMosesand  tiie 

golden  calf. 

IMoyses  remanyng  in  ^•^  the  mont  Synaye, — 

Thay  maid  one  moltin  Calf  of  fyne  mettell,  exocU.  xxxh. 

Quhilk  thay  did  honour  as  thare  God  verraye  j  ^^    2416 

Bot,  quhen  Moyses  discendit,  I  heir  saye, 

And  did  consydder  thare  Ydolatrye, 

'  L  Pepill         ^  L  Be  ^  E  Scriptoure         *  L  lesum 

^  E  on         "^  E  gevand  ^  L  or         **  L  fulage         ^  L  may 

'"  L  at  "  E  wen-aye 

MONARCHE,    I.  0 


80  THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHB. 

Oif  tliat^  peple  thre  thousand  gart  lie  slaye, 

As  the  scripture  at  lenth  doith^  testifye.  2420 

Danieii,  xuu.         ^  Because  the  holye  propheit  Daniell 
In  Babilone  Ydolatrie  repreuit, 
And  wald  nocht  worschip  ^  thare  fals  Idoll  Bell, 
Of  Daniel,  Bel,       The  hole  *  peple  at  him  wcr  SO  aggreuit,  2424 

and  the  seven  tit  t-j. 

ramping  lions.       To  that  eifect  that  he  suld  be  myscheuit, 

Delyuerit  hym  tyl]  ^  rampand  Lyonis  sewin  : 

Bot  of  that  dangerous  den  he  wes  releuit 

Throuch  myrakle  of  the  gret  God  of  hewin.  2428 

Dan.  in.  ^  BehaM  quhow  ;N"ahuchodonosor  '^  king 

Into  the  vaill  "^  of  Duran  did  prepare 
One  Image  of  fyne  Gold,  one  meruallous  ^  thing, 
Of  Nebuchadnez-    Thre  score  of  cubyts  heycht,^  and  sax  in  square, —  2432 
As  more  cleirlye  the  scripture  doith  declare, — 
To  quliome  all  peple,  by  proclamatioun. 
With  bodeis  bowit,  and  on  thare  kneis  bare, 
Eycht  humelye  maid  adoratioun.  2436 

IT  Ane  gret  wounder,  that  day,  wes  sene,  also, 
Quhow  N'abuchodonosor,^  in  his  yre, 
and  of  shadi-aeh,    Tuke  Sydracli,  Misacli,  and  Abednago, — i" 
AbednegCin  ti>e    Quhilks  wald  noclit  bow  thare  kne,  at  his  desyre,  2440 
^'^-  Tyll  that  Idoll,— gart  kast  thame  in  the  fyre, 

For  to  be  brynt,  or  he  sterit  of  that  steid  : 
Quhen  he  beleuit  thay  wer  ^^  brynt,  bone  ^^  and  lyre, 
Wes  nocht  consumit  one  small  hair  of  thair  held.  2444 

H  The  Angell  of  the  Lord  wes  ^\ith  thame  sene, 
In  that  hait  furneis  ^^  passing  vpe  ^^  and  doun, 
In  tyll  ane  rosye  Garth  as  thay  had  bene, — 
No  harm  came  to   Xone  spott  of  fyre  distcuyng  cote  ^5  nor  goun.         2448 
Off  victorie  thay  did  obtene  the  croun. 
And  wer,  to  thame  that  maid  adoratioun 
To  that  Ydoll,  or  bowit  thare  body  doun, 
One  wytnessing  of  thare  dampnatioun.  2452 

'  L  thois         ^  L  dois         ^  E  virschip         ^  L  hoill  '-  L  to 

*  L  Nabugodonosar         ^  L  land         *  L  merwaliis 

'  E  cubitis  lieiche,  L  hiecht         '"  L  Abduuago 

"  E  var,  L  war         '*  L  baine         ''  L  hoit  fourniss 

'*  E  owp  ■'  E  coit 


THE    SECVXn    BVKE    of    the    MOXAnCIIE. 


81 


Qiiliat  wes  the  cause,  at  me  tliow  may  demande, 

That  Sahimone^  vsit  none  Ymagrye^ — • 

In  his  tryumphand^  Tempyll  for  tyll  stande — 

Off  Abraham,  Ysac,  lacobe,  nor  lesse,  2456 

Nor  of  Moyses,  thare  sanegarde*  throuch  the  see, 

Nov  losue,  thare  valjeant  Campioun. 

Because  God  did  command  the  contrarye^ 

That  thay  sukle  vse  sic  superstitioun.  2400 

H  Behald  quhow  the  gret  God  Omnipotent, 
To  preserue  Israeli  frome  Idolatrye, 
Derectit  thame  one  strait  comraandiment, 
Thay  suld  nocht  mak  none  caruit  ymagrye, 
Nother  of  gold,  of  syluer,  stone,  nor  tre, 
Nor  gyf  ^  worschip  tyll  ony  simlytude 
Beand  in  hewin,  in  erth,  nor'''  in  the  see, 
Bot  onelye  tyll  his  souerane  celsitude. 

^  The  Propheit  Dauid  planely  did  repreue 
Ydolatrye,  to  thare  confutioun 
In  grauit  stok  or  stone  that  did  beleue, 
Declaryng  thame  thare  gret  abutioun;^ 
Spekand,  in  maner  of  dirysioun, 
Quhow  dede  Idolis,  be  niennis  handis  wrocht, 
Quhain  thay  honourit  with  humyll  orisioun, 
Wer  in  the  markat  daylie  sauld  and  bocht.  24-76 

{i:^  The  Deuyllis,^  seand  the  euyll  conditioun 
Off  the  Gentylis,  and  thare  vnfaithf nines, 
For  tyll  agment  thare  superstitioun. 
In  those  Ydolis  thay  maid  thare  entres,  2480 

And  in  thame  spak,  as  storyis  doith  expres  : 
Than  men  beleuit  of  thame  to  gett  releif, 
Askand  thame  help  in  all  thare  besynes  ; 
Bot,  finallye,  that  turnit  to  thare  myscheif.  2484 

H  Traist  weill,  in  thame  is  none  Diuinitie, 
Quhen  reik  &  rowst^*'  thare  fair  colour  doith  faid  : 

'  L  Salamon  *  E  Imagerye  '  E  tiyiiraquhant,  L  trivmphant 
''  L  saufgard  ^  E  coutray,  L  contraire  "  E  ^it  '  L  or 
"  L  habusioun         ^  E  Dewillis         '"  E  ruist,  L  roust  and  reik 


Famous  ancients 
that  escliewcd 
idolatry. 


Exodi.  XX. 
Deut.  V. 


2464    It  is  divinely 
prohibited. 


2468 


2472    David  denounced 
and  derided  it. 


Tlirough  idols  the 
devils  worked 
their  will  of  the 
gentiles. 


No  gods, 


G    2 


82  THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MOKARCHE. 

Tlioclit  thay  liaue  feit,  one  fute  thay  can  not  flee, 
Quhowbeit  tlie  tempyll  byrn  abone^  tliair  haid  :     2488 
images  are  only      lu  tliauie  IS  notlier  frcindschip  nor  remaid.2 

images,  t        •     j> 

In  SIC  lyguris  quhat  fauour  can  38  fynd  ] 

With,  mouth,  and  eris,  &  eine  thocht  tliay  be  maid. 

All  men  may  se  thay  ar  dum,^  deif,  and  blynd.      2492 

Qnliowbeit  thay  fal  doun  flatlyngis  on  the  flure, 
Thay  haif  none^  strenth  thare^  self  to  rais  agane  : 
and  can  help         Thocht  Rattonis  ouir  thame  ryn,  thay  tak  no  cure  : 

neithei-  tlicm-  _  _  ^     '  j 

selves  nor  others.    Quhowbcit  thai  breik  thare  neck,  thay  feil  no  pane.  2496 
Quhy  sulde  men  psalmes  to  thame  sing  or  sane  1 
Sen  growand  treis  that  3eirly  beritli*^  frute 
Ar  more  to  pryse — I  mak  it  to  the  plane — 
Nor  cuttit  stockis,  wanting  boitb  crope  and  rute.    2500 

{!^  Off  Edinburgh  the  gret  Idolatrye 

And  manifest  abominatioun,'^ 

On  thaxe  feist  day,  all  creature  may  se  :  2503 

Edinburgh  Thay  beir  ane  auld  stock  Image  throuch^  the  toun, — 

idolatry.  With  talbroue,  troumpet,^  sclialme,  and  Clarioun, — 

Quhilk  hes  bene  vsit  mony  one  3eir  bigone ; 

With  preistis  and  freris  in  to^*^  processioun, 

Siclyke  as  Bell  wes  borne  throuch  Babilone.  2508 

H  Aschame  36  nocht,  30  seculare  prestis  and  freris, 
Tyll  so  gret  superstitioun  to^^  consent  1 
Ydolateris  30  haue  bene  mony  3eris, 
The  poet  dehorts,   Expressc  agane  the  Lordis  commandiment :  2512 

Quharefor,  brether,  I  counsall  30W,  repent : 
Gyff  no  honour  to  caruit  stock  ^-  nor  stone  ; 
Geue  laude  and  glore  to  God  Omnipotent 
AUanerlie,  as  wyselie  -wryttis^^  Ihone.^*  2516 


'  E  about         *  L  force  nor  feid         ^  E  rloiim         *  I.  no 

*  L  tJinme  *  L  qnhilk  ^oirlic  beiris         ^  L  abhominatioim 

*  L  tbrow         ^  L  talbcroun.  tninipat         '"  L  omitted 

"  E  till  '•-  E,  L  stok         '=  L  writith         "  E  loliime 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE.  83 

^  Fy  on  30W  Frcris  that  vsis  for  to  preclie, 
And  (iois  assist  to  sic  Idolatrye ! 
Quhy  do  36  noclit  the  Ignorant  peple  teche 

Qnhow  ane  dede  Image,  caruit  of  one^  tre,  2520  and  inveighs, 

As  it  wer  holy  sulde  nocht  honourit  be, 
Kor  borne  on  Burges  backis  vp  and  doun  1 
Bot  3e  schaw  planely  30ur  Ipocrasie, 
Quhen  je  passe  formest  in  processionn.  2524 

^  Fy  on  90W  fostraris^  of  Idolatrye, 
That  tyll  ane  dede  stock  dois  sic  reuerence. 
In  presens  of  the  peple,  jiublykelie  !'^ 
Feir  je  nocht  God,  to  commit  sic  offence?  2528  and  forecasts 

-^  dreadful  conae- 

I  counsall  30W,  do  3it  30ur  diligence  quenees. 

To  gar  suppresse  sic  gret  abusioun.^ 

Do  30  nocht  so,  I  dreid  30ur  recompence 

Salbe  nocht  ellis  bot  clene  confusioun.  2532 

Had  sanct  Frances  bene  borne  ont  thronch  the  ^  toun, 

Or  sanct  Domnick,*' — thocht  36  had  nocht''  refnsit 

With  thame  tyll  haif  ^  past  in  processionn, —  The  Edinburghers 

degenerate. 

In  tyll  that  cais  sum  wald  haif  30W  excusit.  2536 

'Now  men  may  see  quhow  that  30  haue  abusit 
That  nobyll  town,  thronch  30ur  Ipocrasye  : 
Those  peple  trowis  that  thay  may  rycht  weil  vs  it, 
Quhen  36  pas  with  thame  in  to  cumpanye.  2540 

H  Sum  of  30W  lies  bene  quyet  counsallouris^ 
Prouocand  princis  to  sched  saildes  blude, 
Quhilk  neuir  did  3our  prudent  predecessouris  : 
Bot  26  lyke  furious  Phariceis,  denude  2544  and  exciters  to 

■>       ''  _  wrongful  bluod- 

Otf  charitie,  quhilk  rent  Christ  on  the  rude  :  shedding. 

For  Christis  floke,  without  malyce  or  yre, 

Conuertit  fragyll  faltouris,  I  conclude, 

Be  Goddis  worde,^*^  withouttin  sweird  or  fyre.         2548 

'  L  ane         "^  L  fosteris         ^  L  pul  lictlie         ''  L  babusiouu 

*  L  that         «  E,  L  Dominik         ^  E  bene         ^  L  to  haue 

'  E  consallovvris         '"  E  vord 


84 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHB. 


Forgiveness 
inculcated. 


Eeiil  36  noclit  quhow  that  Christ  lies  gyffin^  co?7zmand, 

Gyff  thy  brother  doith  oucht  the  ijW  offend, 

Than  secretlye  correct  hym,  hand  for  hand, 

In  freindly  maner,  or  thow  forther  Avend  :  2552 

Gyff  he  wyll^  nocht  heir  the,  than  mak  it  kend 

Tyll  one,  or  tAvo,  be  trew  narrationn  : 

Gyf  he,  for  thame,  wyll  nocht  his  mys  amend, 

Declare  hym  to  the  congregatioun  :  2556 


but  consistently 
with  discipline. 


H  And,  gyf  he  3it  renianith  obstinat. 
And  to  the  holy  kirk  Incounsolable,^ 
Than  lyke  ane  Turke  hald  hym  excomminicat,^ 
And  with  all  faithfull  folk  abhominabyll ; 
Banysing  hym,  that  he  be  no  more  able 
To  dwell  amang  the  faithfull  cumpanye  : 
Quhen  he  repentis,  be  nocht  vnmerciable, 
Bot  hym  ressane^  agane  rycht  tenderlye. 


2560 


2564 


H  Bot  our  dum  Doctoris  of  Diuinitie, 
And  36  of  the  last  fonde^  religioun. 
Off  pure  Transgressouris  36  haue  no  petie. 
The  contemporary  Bot  cryis  to  put  thame  to  confusioun  :  2568 

As  cryit  the  lowis,  for  the  effusioun 
Off  Christis  blude,  in  to  thare  byrnand  yre, 
Crucifige  !  so  3e,'^  with  one  vnioun, 
Cryis  'fy,  gar  cast  that  faltour  in  the  fyre.'  2572 


Roma.  xvi. 
Ephe.  V. 


for  their 
malpractices, 


TJnmercifull  memberis  of  the  Antichrist, 
Extolland  30ur  humane  traditione 
Contrar  the  Institutione  of  Christ,^ 
Effeir  3e  nocht  Diuine  punytione  1 
Thocht  sum  of  30AV  be  glide  of  coiulitione, 
Eeddy  for  to  ressaue  new  recent  wyno, 
I  speik  to  30W  auld  bosis  of  perditione  : 
Eeturne  in  tyme,  or  3e  ryn  to  reAvyne,^ 


2576 


2580 


'  E,  L  gevin         '  L  wcill         '  L  incouii?alabill 
L  excomunicat         ^  resauv         ®  E  found,  L  fund 
7  E  omitted         *  E  Cryst         "  L  ruwyne 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE.  85 

IF  As  ran  tlie  peruerst  Proplietis  of  Baall, —  »«•  Jiecf-  xi-m, 

Ouhilkis  did  consent  to  the  Idolatrye  are  menaced 

*-  _  •'  witli  the  fate 

Oif  wickit  Achab,  king  of  Israeli, —  of  tiie  prophets 

Qahose  nommer^  wer  four  hundreth  and  fyftie,      2584 

Quhilkis  honourit  that  Idoll  opinlye  : 

Bot,  quhen  Elias  did  preue  thare  abusioun,^ 

He  gart  the  peple  sla  thame  creuellye ; 

So  at  one  hour  came  thare  confusioun.  2588 

{^  I  pray  30\v,  prent  in  30ur  remembrance' 
Quhow  the  reid  Freris,  for*  thare  Idolatrye, 
In  Scotland,  Ingland,  Spane,  Italy,  &  France, 
Upone  one  day  wer  puneissit^  pietuouslye.  2592  and  that  of  the 

Eehald  quhow  30ur  awin  brether,  now  laitlye, 
In  Duchela?2d,  Ingla?id,  De?jmark,  and  Noro^yaye, 
Ar  trampit  doun,  with  thare  Ipocrasye, 
And,  as  the  snaw,  ar  meltit  clene  awaye.  2596 

I  maruell  /7;at  our  Byschoppis  thynk/*^  no  schame 

To  gyf  30W  freris  sic  prelieminens, — 

Tyll  vse"  thare  office,  to  thare  gret  difFame,  The  influence  of 

...  /^/-irw    ™o"'^*  decried, 

Precheing  for  thame  in  opin  audiens  :  2600 

Bot,  mycht  /.  Byschope  eik  tjlV  his  aAvin  expens, 

For  ilk  Seriij  one,^  ten  Ducatis  in  his  hand, 

He  wald,  or  he  did  want  that  recompens, 

Go  preche  hym  self,  boith  in  to  burgh  and  land.    2604 

H  I  traist  to  se  gude  reformatione 
Frome  tyme  we  gett  ane  faii'hfull  prudent  king 
Quliilk  knawis  the  treuth  and  his  vocatione : 
All  Publicanis,  I  traist,  he  wyll  doun  thring,  2608  and  reformation 

AT  11  1  fv>       •      1  •  •  hoped  for, 

And  wyll  nocht  sufier  m  Ins  realme  to  ring 
Corruppit^  Scry  bis  nor^*^  fals  Pharisiens, 
Agane  the  treuth  quhilk  planely  doith^^  maling  : 
Tyll^-  that  kyng  cum  we  mon  tak  paciens.  2612 

'  E  number,  L  nomber        ^  L  liabusioun        ^  L  remcmberance 

"  L  throw       ^  L  pvnist       "^  E  vss       ^  L  to       ^  E,  L  Sermond 

^  L  Corrupt         '"  L  aud  "  dalie  dois         '-'  L  Quhill 


86 


THE   SECVND   BVKE   OF   THE   MOKARCHE. 


'Now  fairweill,  fieindis  ;  because  I  can  nocht  flyte  : 
QuhoAvbeit  I  culde,^  39  nion  hald  me  excusit, 
Thocht  I  agane  Ydolatrye  Indyte, 
Or  tliame  dispyte  that  Avyl  noclit  3it  refus  it.  2616 

in  the  suppression  I  praye  to  God  that  it  be  no  more  vsit 

practices.  Amang  the  rewlaris  of  this  Regioun, 

That  commoun  peple  be  no  more  abusit,^ 

Bot  gyf  hym  glore  that  bair  the  creuelP  crouu ;     2620 


The  Paternoster 
recommended, 


Quhilk  techeit  ays,  be  his  deuine  Scripture, 
Tyll  rycht  prayer  the  perfyte  reddy  way ; 
As  wrytith  IMatthew,'*  in  his  sext  Chepture, 
In  qiihat  maner  and  to  quhome  we  suld  pray 
One  schort -compendious  orisone,  euerilk  day, 
Most  proffitabyll  for  boith  body  and  saull ; 
The  quhilk  is  nocht  derectit,  I  heir  say. 
To  Ihone^  nor  lames,  to  Peter  nor  to  Paull, 


2624 


2628 


which  is 
addressed  to  God, 


IT  Nor 6  none  vther  of  the  Apostlis'^  twelf, 
Nor  to  no  Sanct,  nor  Angell  in^  the  Hewin, 
Bot  onely  tyll  our  Father,^  God  hym  self ; 
Quhilk  orisione  it  doith^"  contene,  full  ewin, — 
Most  proffitabyll  for  ws, — petetionis  sewin  ; 
Quhilk  we  lavvid'i  folk  the  Pater  E'oster  call. 
Thocht  we  say  Psalmis  nyne,  ten,  or  alewin, 
Off  all  prayer^-  this  bene  the  principall ; 


2632 


2636 


and,  on  many 
grounds,  is  the 
chief  of  prayers. 


Be  reasoun  of  the  makkar^^  quhilk  it  maid, 
Quhilk  wes  the  Sonne  of  God,  our  Saluiour ; 
Be  reasoun,  als,  to  quhome  it  suld  be  said,— 
Tyll  the  Father^  of  hewin,  our  Creatour, 
Quhilk  dwellis  nocht  in  tempyll  nor  in  tour. 
He  cleirlye  seis  our  thocht,  wyll,  and  intent : 
Quhat  nedith  ws^*  at  vtheris  seik  succour, 
Quhen  in  all  place  his  power  bene  present  ? 


2640 


2614 


'  L  couth       ^  L  babusit      ^  L  crewall       *  E  ^\Tyttetb  Matbovv 

*  E,  L  lobnue         "  L  Nor  to         '  L  Appostillis         *  L  of 

'  L  Fader         '"  L  orisoun  it  dois         "  L  laude 

"  L  pi-ayeris         '^  E  nuilier         '*  E  neid  was 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE.  87 

IF  5e  princLs  of  the  preistis,  that  suld  preche, 
Quhy  suffer  36  so  gret  abutioun  1 
Quhy  do  ^e  nocht  the  sempyll  peple  teche 
Quhow  and  to  quhome  to  dresse  thare  orisoun'?      2648  why  do  not  the 

bishops  teach  to 

Quhy  thole  3e  thame  to  ryn  frome  toun  to  toun,  pray  aright? 

In  Pylgramage  tyll  ony  Ymagreis, — 

Hopand  to  gett,  thare,  sum  Saluatioun, — 

Pray  and  to  thame  deuotlye  on  thare  kneis?  2652 

^X^  This  wes  the  prettike^  of  sum  pylgramage : 
Quhen  fillokis,  in  to  Fyfe,  began  to  fon, 
"With  loke  &  Thorn  thaw  tuke  thay  thare  vayage- 
In  Angusse,  tyll  the  feild  Chapell  of  Dron  :  2G56  wiiat  is  done  on 

pilgrimage. 

Than  Kyttoke  thare,  als  cadye  as  ane  Con, 

Without  regarde  other  to  Syn  or  schame, 

Gaiff  Lowre^  leif  at  layser  to  loupe  on  : 

Far  better  had  bene  tyll  haif  biddin  at  liame.         26G0 

IT  I  haue  sene  pass  one  meruellous  multytmle, 
3ong  men  and  wemen,  llyngand  on*  thare  fi'it. 
Under  the  forme  of  fey  nit  ^  sanctytude, 
For  tyll  adore  one  Image  in  Loreit.**  2G64  and  at  the  chapel 

.  .J,  .  ofLoreit, 

Mony  came  with  thare  marro"\vis  for  to  meit, 

Committand,  thare,  fowll  fornicatioun  : 

Sum  kyst  the  claggit  taill  of  the  Armeit :" 

Quhy  thole  3e  this  abominatioun ]  2G68 

IT  Off  Fornicatioun  and  Idolatrye 
Apperandlye  3e  tak  bot^  lytill  cure, 
Seand  the  maruellous^  Infelicitye 
Quhilk  heth^*^  so  lang  done  in  this  land  indure,      2G72  scenes  of 

dissoluteness. 

In  3our  defalt  quhilk  heth^*^  the  charge  and  cure. 
This  bene  of  treuth,  my  Lordis,  -with  30ur  leue,^^ 
Sic  pylgramage  heth^°  maid  mony  one  hure, 
Quhilk,  gyf  I  plesit,  planelye  I  mycht  preue.^^       2676 

IT  Quhy  male  36  nocht  the  scripture  manifest  Why  are  not 

To  pure  peple,  twyching  Idolatrye  1 

'  L  practik  -  L  woyage         ^  L  Lowrie         ^  L  by 

*  E.  L  fen3eit         ^  L  Laureit         '  L  Henueit         ^  E  omitted 

»  L  mervvalus      '"  E  haitb,  L  lies      "  E,  L  lelf      '^  E  preif 


88 


THE    SECVXD    BVKE    OF    THE    IIOXARCHE. 


the  fruits  of  old 
idolatry  set  forth  ? 


Hi.  Reg.  xiii. 


In  3001-  preclieing  qiiLy  haif  ^e  noclit  exprest 
Qiihow  mony  kyng^V  of  Israeli  creuellye^ 
Wer  puneissit,  te  God,  so  rigorouslye  1 
As  leroboam,  and  mony  mo,  but  doute 
For  wyrscliippyng  of  caruit  Imagerye, 
War  frome  thare  realmes  rudlye  rutit  oute. 


2G80 


2684 


Buffered, 


IF  Quhy  thole  36,  onder  ^our  Dominioun, 
Ane  craftye  preist  or  fen3eit  fals  armeit 
Abuse  2  the  peple  of  this  Regioun, 
Onely  for  thare  perticular  profeit,  2G88 

\viiy  is  priestcraft  And,  spBciallye,  that  Heremeit^  of  La^\1■eit  1 
He  pat  the  comoun^  peple  in  beleue 
That  blynd  gat  seycht,  and  crukit  gat  thare  feit, 
The  quhilk  that  pal3ard  no  way  can^  appreue,        2692 


3e  maryit  men  that  lies  trym  wantoun  wyffis. 
And  lusty  dochteris  of  30ung  tender  aige, 
Quhose  honestie  30  suld  lufe  as  30ur  lyffis, 
Permyt  thame  nocht  to  passe  in  pylgramage,  2696 

To  seik  support  at  ony  stok  Image  : 
For  I  haue  wyttin  gud  wemen  passe  fra  hame, 
Quhilk  hes  bene  trappit  with  sic  lustis  rage, 
Hes*^  done  returne  boith  \fith  gret  syn  and  schame.  2700 


to  the  special 
detriment  of 
womankind  ? 


Domine,  usque- 
quo! 


IF  Gett  vpe  !'^  thow  slepist®  all  to  lang,  0  Lorde; 
And  mak  one  haistie  reformatioun 
On  thame  qnhilk  doith  tramp  doun  /7a  gratious^  worde, 
And  hes  ane^*'  deidly  Indignatioun  2704 

Att  thame  quhilk  makith  trew  narratioun 
C)fF  thy^^  Gospell,  schawing  the  verytie. 
0  Lord  !  I  mak  the  supplicatioun, 
Supporte  our  Faith,  our  Hope,  and  Charytie.^^       2708 


Fmis. 


'  L  crewallie         '  P  Abufe         ^  L  Hermit         *  E  comond 

*  L  culd        ^  L  Haue        '  E  oup        *  E  slcpit        "  L  gracius 

'"  L  haith  one         "  L  tl>e         '^  E  Cheritie 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


89 


HEIR  FOLLOUIS  QVHOV  KYNG  NYNUS  BEILDIT  THE 

GRET  CITIE  OF  NTNIUE  ;  AND  QUHOW  HE 

UINCUSTE  ZOROASTES,  THE  KYNG 

OFF  BACTRIA.' 


EXPEKIENCE. 


HIS  !N"ynus,  of  Asseria  king,^ 
Quhen  he  had  maid  his  corequessi?ig, 
To  beild  one  Citie  he  hym  drest, 
Chosi»g   the   place   quhare    he    tlioeht 
best,  2712 

Quhare  he  had  first  domiuioun, 

In  Asseria,  his  awin  regioun. 

Thocht  Assur,^  as  the  scriptur  says, 

Quhilk  come  affore  king  Nynus  dayis,  27 IG 

And  found  it  that  famous  Citie, 

The  qidiilk  was  callit  K'yniue ; 

Bot,  as  rehersis*  Diodore, 

I^ynns  that  Citie  did  decore  2720 

So  maruellous^  tryumpliantlye 

As  je  sail  heir  Immedeatlye, 

Upone  the  flude  of  Euphrates, 

Quhilk  to  behauld  gret  wounder  wes.  2724 

One  hundreth  and  fyftye  stagys 

That  Citie  wes  of  lenth,  I  wys  : 

The  wallis,  one  hundreth  fute  of  heycht, 

No  wounder  was  thocht  thay  wer  wycht :  2728 

Sick  breid,  abufe^  the  wallis,  thare  Avas, 

Thre  cartis  mycht  sydlingz's  on  thame  j  as  : 

Four  hundreth  stageis  and  four  score 

In  circuit,  but  myn  or  more.  2732 


Nimis  builds  a 
city. 


Gene.  x. 

An  apparent 
discrepancy 
between  Holy 
Scripture 

and  a  statement 
of  Diodorus. 


Nineveh  was  on 
the  Euphrates, 


and  was  of  great 
extent, 


with  huge  wails. 


E  Bactis 


^  L  the  king 
^  L  marwfilus 


L  als  sure 
*  E  abone 


''  L  rehei'sith 


90 


THE    SEC  VXD    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


and  many  lofty 
towers. 


Jonah  attests  its 
magnitude. 


It  was  named 
after  its  founder. 


Ninas  sets  out  for 


Bactria, 


witli  an  immense 
army. 


Oxyartes,  Uing  of 
15actria, 


and  autlior  of 
magic. 


encounters  witli 
Ninus. 


Off  towris,  aLoute  those  wallis,  I  Avene, 

Ane  thousand  and  fyue  hundreth  bene, 

Off  heycht  two  hundreth  fute^  and  more, 

As  wryttis^  famous  Diodore.  273G 

H  The  scripture  makis  mentioun, 
Quhen  God  send  lonas  to  that  toun, 
To  schaw  thame  of  his  puneisment, 
Outthrouch  the  Citie  quhen  he  Avent,  2740 

Thre  dayis  lornay  tylP  hym  it  "\ves  : 
The  Bybill  sayis  it  Aves  no  les. 

My  Sonne,  noAV  haif  I  schaAvin  to  the 
Off  the  beildyng  of  Is^yniue  :  2744 

For  the  agmentyng*  of  his  fame, 
Nynus  gart^  call  it  efter  his  name. 

ff^  Quhen  he  that  gret  Citie  had  end  it, 
To  conques  more  ^it*^  he  intendit,  2748 

And  did  depart  frome  K'yniue, 
And  rasit  vp'^  one  gret  arme 
Off  the  most  stalwarte  men  and  stoute 
Off  all  his  Eegionis  rounde  aboute  :  2752 

In  gret  ordour  tuke  thare  lorna 
ToAvarte  the  realme  of  Bactria. 
Off  Avycht  fute  men,  I  vnderstande, 
He  had  scAvintene  hundreth  thousande,  2756 

Withoute  hors  men  and  Aveirlyke  cairtis, 
Quhome  he  ordourit  in  sindry  partis  ; 
Quhilk  tyU^  discryue  I  am  nocht  abyll, 
Quhose  nummer°  bene  so  vntroAA-abyll.  27G0 

II  Zoroastes,  that  nobyll  kyng, 
Qidiilk  Bactria  had  in  gouernyng, — 
That  prudent  Prince,  as  I  heir^°  tell, 
Did  in  Astronomye  precell,  27G4 

And  fand  the  Art  of  ^Nlagica, 
With  naturall  science  mony  ma, — 
Scand  king  N'ynus  on  the  feilde, 
Ford\A'art  he  cam,  Avith  .spcir^^  and  scheilde, —        27G8 


'  E  hunih-et  fat         ''  L  writilh         ^  L  to 

*  L  And  for  asuieutiiiij         ^  L  lie  giirt  it         "  L  omitted 

'  E  oiip         "  L  to         "  L  nomber         '"  L  bard         "  E  spere 


THE    SECVXD    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


91 


Foure  hundreth  thousand  men  lie  "wes  : 
In  his  Armie  thare  wes  no  les, — 
And  mett  king  Nynus,  on  the  bordoure, 
Eycht  vail3antlie,  and  in^  gude  ordoure, 
On  the  Uangarde  of  his  Armie, 
On  thame  he  ruscheit  rycht  rndelie, 
And  of  thame  slew,  as  I  heir^  saye, 
One  hundreth  thousand  men,  that  day  : 
The  rest  that  chapit  wer  vnslane 
To  iSTynus  gret^  oiste  fled  agane. 

H  Off  that  king  ISTynus  wes  so  noyit, 
He  res  tit  neuer  tyll  he  distroyit 
All  hoill  that  Eegioun,  vpe  and  donn, 
And  frome  the  King  did  reif  the  croun, 
And  maid  the  realme  of  Bactria 
Suhiectit  tyll  Asseria. 
And  in  that  samyn  land,  I  wys, 
He  tnk  to  wyfe  Semeramis, 
Quha,'^  as  myne  Author  dois  discryue, 
Was,  than,^  the  lustiest  on  lyue. 
That  beand  done,  without  sudgeorne^ 
Tyll  jSTyniue  he  did  returne. 
With  gret  tryumphe  of  victorie. 
As  myne  Authore  dois  specific, 
Boith  Occident  and  Orient 
"War  all  tyll  hym'''  obedient. 
It  wald  abhore  the  tyll  heir  red  ^ 
The  saikles  blude^  that  he  did  sched, 
Quhen  he  had  roung,  as  thow  may  heir, 
The  space  of  thre  and  fourtye  jeir, 
Beand  in  his  excelland  glore. 
The  dolent  deith  did  hym  deuore, — 
In  quhat  sorte,  I  am  nocht  certane  : 
Sum  Author  sayis  that  he  wes  slane, — 
And  left,  tyll  bruke  his  Heretage, 
One  lytill  Babe^*^  of  tender  aige  : 


A  fierce  battle 
ensues, 

2772 


2776 


and  horrid 
r,  p    slaughter. 


Ninus  perseveres, 


2780 


reduces  Bactria, 


2784 


marries  Semi- 
ramis. 


and  returns 
home. 


2792 


Mighty  con- 
queror. 


2796  and  shedder  of 
much  innocent 
blood, 

after  reigning  43 
j'ears,  he  dies. 


2800 


How  he  dies  is 
not  clear. 


2804 


'  L  wail^eandlie  and  with         ^  L  herd         '  E  omitted 

■•  L  And      *  L  That  tyme     ^  L  sudeorne     ''  L  Till  him  war  all 

«  E  reid         ^  E  bluid         '«  L  litill  bab 


92  THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 

Ninyas  3^1-^ng  Nynus  "wes  tlie  cliyldis  name, 

Quhilk  efter  fluryste  in  gret  fame. 

Sum  sayis  that,  be  his  wyffis^  treasoun 
is  left  heir  at         Kyng  Nynus  dsit  in  presoun  ;  2808 

As  I  sail  schaw,  or  I  hyne  fair, 

Quhow  Diodore  hath  done^  declair, 

*     FINIS.     * 
'  E  vyffis  '  E  donne,  L  doith 


D3 


HEIR  FOLLOWIS  SUM  OF  THE  WOUNDERFULL 
DEDIS  OF  THE  LUSTIE  QUENE  SEMERAMIS. 


EXPERIENCE. 

NY:N^VS  luffit  so  Ardentlye 
Semeramis,  liis  fair  Laclye, 
Thare  wes  no  thyng  scho  wald  command  ^ 
Bot  al  obey  it  2  wes  fra  hand. 
Sclio,  seand  hym  so  Amorous, 
Scho  grew  proude  and  presumptuous,^ 
And  at  the  king  scho  did  desyre 
Fyue*  dayis  to  gouerne  his  Impyre; 
And  he,  of  his  beneuolence, 
Did  grant  hir  that  preheminence, — 
With  Sceptour,  Crown,  and  Eob  royall, 
And  hole^  power  Imperial!, — 
Tyll  ijue  dayis  wer  cum  and  gone. 
That  scho,  as  king,  sulde  ring  allone. 

IT  Than  all  the  Princis  of  the  land 
Duryng  that  tyme  maid  hir  ane  band  : 
With  bankat  Royall  myrrellie*^ 
Scho  treatit  thame  Trj^umphantlie. 
So,  the  first  day,  the  peple  all 
Came  tylP  hir  seruyce,  bound  and  thrall ; 
Bot,  or  the  secunde  day  wes  gone, 
Scho  tuke  sic  glore®  to  ryng  allone, 
Be  one  decreit,  maid  thame  amang. 
The  king  scho  patt^  in  presone  Strang. 
I  reid  weill  of  his  presoning, 
Bot  nocht  of  his  delyuering  : 
Quhow  euir,  it  wes  in  tylP**  his  flowris 


Ninus,  uxorious. 


2812 


2816    allowed  Queen 
Semiramis, 


2820    with  aU  regal 
ensigns  and 
prerogatives. 


2824 


to  reign  for  five 

days. 


2828 


Merrymaking. 


The  first  day,  all 
the  people  vvaited 
on  her; 


2832 


on  the  second 
day,  she  cast  the 
king  into  prison. 


2836 


He  was  in  full 
glory 


'  L  demand         ^  E  all  obeit         ^  E  presomptious 

^  E  Fyffe         *  L  haill         «  E  merelye,  L  meralie 

'  L  to         **  L  plesour         ^  L  put         '"  L  into 


94 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


when  he  dieJ, 


a  sanguinary 
monster. 


So  writes 
Uiodorus. 


The  moral  of  his 
story. 


He  did  of  deitli  suffer  the  scliowris, 

And  mycht  nocht  lenth  his  lyfe^  one  houre, 

Thocht  he  wes  the  first  Concreoure  :  ^  2840 

Quhose  Conquessing,  for  to  condude, 

Wes  nocht  hot^  gret  scheddmg  of  blude. 

'Now  haiie^  36  hard  of  ISTynus  king,- 
Quhow  he  began,  and  his  ending ;  2844 

Quhowheid  myne  Author,^  Diodore, 
Off  hym  haith  wryttin  mekle  more. 
Princis,  for  wrangus  conquessing, 
Doith'^  mak,  oft  tyrnes,  ane  euyll  ending  :  2848 

Thocht  he  had  lang  prosperities 
He  endit  with  miseretie. 


FINIS. 


E  lyff         ^  L  conqueriour         ^  E  hot  be,  L  but 

''  E  haif         *  L  my  Autour         **  L  dois 

'  L  omits  lines  2819-2850. 


96 


>^   OFF  KYNG  NYNUS  SEPULTURE. 


EXPERIENCE. 


HE  Quene  a^  sepultur  sche^  maid,     2851 


Quhar  sche-  ki«g  Nyiiws  body  laid,— 
Off  curi«s  crafty  wark^  &  wycht, 
The  Quhilk  had  stagis  ix.^  of  hycht, 
&  ten  stagis  of  breid  it  wes  : 


Diodore  saith*  it  wes  no  les. 
For  aucht  Stagis  one  myle  thow  tak, 
And  thairefter  thy  nummer^  mak  ; 
So,  be  tliis  comiDt,  it  wes,''  full  rycht, 
One  myle  als  and  one^  stage  of  hycht. 
Excei^t  the  Towre  of  Babiloue, 
So  heych  one  wark^  I  reid  of  none. 
H  Semiramis,  tliis^  lusty e  Quene, 
Consyddring  quhat  dainger  bene 
To  haif  on^^  King  of  tender  aige, 
Quhilk  mycht  nocht  vse  no  vassalage, 
Scho  tuke  one  curagious  consait, 
Thinkand  that  scho  wald  mak  debait, 
Geue^^  ony  maid  rebellioun 
Contrar  hir  Sonne,  or  his  Eegioun, 
Quhome  sche  did  foster  tenderly, 
And  kepit  hym  full  quyetly. 
Scho  laid  apart  hir  awin  cleithyng, 
And  tuke  the  Eayment  of  ane  king : 
Quhen  scho  wes  in  tyll  Armour  dycht, 
Mycht  no  man  knaw  hir  be  one  knycht. 
Scho  val3eantlye^2  went  to  the  weir, 
And  to  gyf  battell  tuke  na  feir, 


2856 


2860 


2864 


His  was  a  right 
noble  mimsoleuin, 


according  to 
Diodorus, 


and,  in  height, 
was  second  to  the 
tower  of  Babylon 
only. 


Semiramis, 


2868 


287: 


to  secure  the 
succession. 


tendered  her  eon 
diligently. 


2876 


and,  herself, 
played  the  man 
valiantly. 


'  L  ane         '  E,  L  scho 
L  sayis  *  L  nomber 

»  L  liis         '"  E,  L  one 
MONARCHE,    I. 


'  L  werk         *  E,  L  nyne 

'  L  is  '  L  and  als  ane 

'  L  gif         "  E  wail  jean  tlie 


96 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


She  was  feared 
and  fortunate. 


Babylon  she 
strengtliened  and 
adorned  j 


and  she  completed 
what  Niravod  had 
begun ; 


employing,  in  the 
work,  1,200,000 
men  at  once,  and 
more,  if  we  may 
credit  Diodorus. 


She  enlarged  the 
city, 


and  built  strong 
bridges, 


and  fortified 
them. 

The  size  of 
Babylon, 

and  its  walls, 
as  to  height  and 
width. 


Dantyng  all  Eealmes  roiinJe  aboute, 

That  all  the  waiid  of  hir  had  doute ;  2880 

More  fortunat,  in  hu'  conquessing, 

jSToi'i  wes  hir  Husband,  Nynus  king. 

IT  Babilone  scho  did  fortyfie, 
Templis  and  towris,  tryumphandlie,  2884 

So  plesandlye^  did  thame  prepair, 
Quhilk  in  the  erth  had  no  compair. 
Quhowbeid  Nenirod,^  of  quhome  I  spake, 
The  hydduous  dungeoun  he  gart  make,  2888 

And  of  the  Citie  the  Fundiment/ — 
To  quhome  God  maid  Impediment, — 
Quhare  Nemrod^  left,  thare  scho  began, 
And  pat  to  Avark  mony  one  man  2892 

Off  all  the  Eealmes  round  aboute  : 
Off  most  Ingyne  scho  socht  thame  oute. 
Scho  had,  wyrkand  with  tre  and  stonis, 
Twelf  ^  bundreth  thousand  men  at  onis  :^  2896 

Go  reid  the  buke  of  Diodore, 
And  thow  sail  fynd  the  nummer''  more. 
On  euerilk^  syde  of  Euphrates 

That  nobyll  Citie  beildit  wes  ;  2900 

And  so  that  ryuer  of  renown 
Ean  throuch  the  mydpart  of  the  town. 
Ouerthort  that  flude  scho  bryggis^  maid 
Off  maruellous^*^  strentli,  boith  lang  and  braid  :      2904 
Thay  wer  fyue  stagis  large  of  lenth  : 
On  euerilk  bryg  scho  maid  ane  strenth. 
The  11  circuit,  as  I  said  affore, 

Foure  bundreth  stagis  and  four  score ;  2908 

The  Avallis  bjxht,  quho  wald  discryue, 
Thre  hundreth  fute,  thre  score,  and  fyue. 
Sax  Cairtis  mycht  pas,  rycht  easalie,!^ 
Abufei3  the  wallis  of  that  Citie,  2912 

Sydlingis,  withoutei'*  Impediment. 
Consydder,  be^^  3our  lugement, 

'  L  Than  ^  E  plesantlie 

'  E  Quliowbeit  Nembrod,  L  Nembroth 

*  E  foiindemcnt,  L  foundment         ^  P  Twell         *  L  attonis 

^  L  nomber     **  E  every    '^  L  brigis    '"  E  marvalus.  L  inorwalua 

"  L  ia      '=  E  asalye      "  E  aboue      '^  L  but      '*  L  thau  be 


THE    SECVNl)    BVKE    OF    THK    MONARCHK.  97 

Geue^  those  wallis  wer  liie,^  or  nocht,  xiicywerea 

And  also  curiouslye  wer  wrocht,  2916 

As  Diodore  lies  done  defj^ne — 

Quhilk  doith  transcend  my  rude  Ingyne — 

Off  Babilone  the  magnificens ;  The  magnificence 

To  quhome  36  wald  gyf  no  credens,  2920  been  increcUbiy 

Geuei  I  at  lenth  wald  put  in  wryte,  Diodoms!'^ 

Quhilk  Diodore  hes^  done  indyte. 

Compare  of  Cities  fynd  I  none 

Tyll  Nyniue  and  Babilone.  2924 

Frome  Xyniue,  in  Asseria,  Nineveu  and 

Tyll  Babilone,  in  Caldia,  JtmSLTby 

By  Bryggis*  plesandlye  36  may  pas  EuTreter'  "" 

Upone  the  flude  of  Euphratas.  2928 

Amang  the  fludis  of  Paradyce 

This  Euphratas  maye  beir  the  pryce.  r  Hoiiie  stream. 

All  warkis  quhilkis  the^  Queue  began 

Transcendit  the  ingyne  of  man.  2932 

The  proude  Quene  Pantasilia,  Neither  was 

m^       -I-,  .  n    I  Peuthesilea 

Ihe  Prnices  01  Amasona, 

With  hir  Ladyis  tryumphandlye, 

Att  Troye  quhilk  faucht  so  wail3eantlye,  2936 

Nov  3it  the  fair  Madin  of  France,  nor  tiie  maid  of 

Danter  of  Inglis  Ordinance, 

To  Semeramis,  in  hir  dayis, 

Wer  no  compare,  as  bukis  sayis.  2940  comparable  witu 

Except  tryumphand*^  lulyus,  emu  amis; 

Strong  Hanniball,  or'''  Pompeyus, 

Or  Allexander  the  Concreoure,^  and  she  has  had 

I  fynd  no  gretter  Werioure.  2944  I'J^X'^„ 

H  Wald  I  rehers,  as  A\rryttis  Clerk  is,  warfare. 

Hir  wounderfull  and  vail3eand^  werkis,  it  were  laborious 

-r,  ,  in  ,   1       T  and  tedious  to 

it  wer  to  me  one^"  gret  laubour,  reiiearse  what 

And  tiddious  to  the  Auditour  :—  2948  ""  ^''^ '" 
Quhat  sclio  did  in  Ethopia,  Kthiopia  and 

And  in  the  lande  of  Medea ; 

'  E  Gyff,  L  Gif         '  L  hech         '  L  my  nutour  haith 

■*  L  Bargis         *  L  this         ^  E  tryvraqulinnt         '  E  and 

*  L  conqueriour         '  E  waib^ant         '"  L  oure 

H   2 


98 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHB. 


in  building,  &c.. 


in  levelling  Mount 
Zarcaeum, 


and  in  making  a 
conduit  through 
Mount  Orontes. 


But  she  was 
unchaste, 


was  gregarious 
in  her  lewdness, 


and  never 
satisfied; 


and  she  slew  all 
her  paramours. 


Of  her  incest  with 
her  own  son. 


Some  say  she 
married  him. 


Beildand  Cities,  Castellis,  and  Towris, 

Parkis,  and  Ga^dyng^■s  of  plesouris,  2952 

For  the  exalt^^ng  of  hir  name, 

And  Immorfall  to  mak  liir  fame. 

Off  larcieus  the  heych  Montanis 

Scho  gart  ryue^  down  and  mak  thame  planis  :        2956 

Gret  Orontes,  that  Montane  wycht, 

Twenty  and  fyue  stagis  of  hycht, 

Tyll  hir  Palyce  to^  draw  ane  louche, 

By  fors  of  men  scho  raif  ^  it  throche.  2960 

tt^*  Had  scho  kepit  hir  Chastitie, 
Scho  mycht  haue  bene  one  A  per  se. 
Quhen  scho  had  ordorit^  hir  Impyre, 
Off  TJenus  wark^  scho  tuke  desyre.  2964 

One  secreit  Mansioun  scho  gart  mak, 
Quhare  scho  niaist^  plesandlye  mycht  tak 
3oung  Gentyll  men,  for  hir  plesour ; 
The  quhUk  scho  vsif^  abufe  mesour.  2968 

One  man  allone  mycht  nocht  be  abyll 
To  stanche  hir  luste  insaciabyll : 
Quhen  scho  wes  satifyit  of  one, 

Scho  gart  ane  vther  cum  anone.  2972 

The  Lustiest  of  all  the  land 
Come  quyetlye,^  at  hir  command  : 
Quhen  thay,  at  lenth,  had  lyin  hir  by, 
Scho  slew  thame  all,  rycht  creuelly.  2976 

Quhen  hir  Sone  come  tyll  aige  perfyte, 
Off  hym  scho  tuke  so  gret  delyte, 
Scho  causit  hym  with  hir  to  lye, 

Amang  the  rest,  rycht  quyetlye.  2980 

Sum  sayis,  throuch  sensuall  lustis  rage, 
Scho  band  hym  in  to  IMariage, 
And  held  hym  vnder  tutorye, 
To  vphald  hir  aurtoritye.'  2984 


FINIS. 


'  E  ryf         =  E  till         '  E  reif         *  E  orderit,  L  ordourit 

*  L  wfvkig         "  L  most         '  L  did         '  L  quicklie 

^  E  auctoryte,  L  autorite 


99 


QIJHOV  THE  QUENE   SEMERAMIS,  WITH  ONE'  GRET 

ARMIE,  PAST  TO  YNDE,  AND  FAUCHT  WITH 

THE  KYNG  STAWROBATES  ;    AND  OF 

HIR  MISERRABYLL  END. 


EXPERIENCE. 

VHEN  Scho  had  lang  tyme  leuit  in  rest, 
To  co»2ques  more  scho  hir  aJdrest ; 
Because  of  diuers  scho  hard  tell 
Quhow  that  the  Ynde  Orientell       2988 
Preceld  in  gret  commoditeis, 
As  Bestiall,  Corn  is,  and  fructfull  tieis, 

Al  kynde  of  Spyce  delicious, 

Golde,  Syluer,  stonis  precious  ;  2992 

And  quhow '^  that  plentuous^  land  did  heir 

Corns,  Frute,^  and  Wyne  twyse^  in  the  3eir ; 

With  Oliphantis  Innumerabyll, 

In  Battell  wounder  terra byll.  2996 

Scho,  herand  this,  and  mekle  more, 

Beleuand  tyll  agment  hir  glore, 

Gart  mak  strait  Proclamationis 

In  all  and  syndrie  Nationis,  3000 

Schawand  quhow  ^  it  wes  hir  desyre, 

All  Princis  vnder  hir  Impyre, — 

In  Egypt,  and  Arrahia, 

In  Perce,*^  in  Mede,  and  Caldia,  3001 

In  Grace,  in  Caspia,  and  Hyrcane, 

In  Capadoce,  Leid,  and  Maritane, 

In  Armanie,  and  Phrigia, 

In  Pamphilie,'^  and  Asseria,—  3)08 

'La         -  E  Low         ^  L  plantuoiis         *  E  fruct 
*  E  twyss         ^  L  Peh-s         ^  L  P;imiihilJa 


After  long  repose, 


she  plans  to 
8ubj\igate  Inilia, 

a  land  rioli  in  all 
manner  of  natural 
products. 


elepliants 
included. 


To  this  end,  she 
issues  an  edict  to 
her  feudatories. 


scattered  over 
divers  countries. 


100 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF   THE    MONAHCHE. 


to  produce  great 
armies, 


and  to  join  her  in 
Bactria, 


for  a  raid 
on  India, 


Her  commands 
are  obeyed. 


Such  a  force  had 
never,  till  then, 
been  seen  on 
earth. 

Jiut  Spain, 
France,  &c.,  were 
not  yet. 


The  muster  of  her 


infantry, 
cavalry. 


camelry, 


Tehicles, 
ftnd  boats 


wherewith  to 
bridge  tlie  Indus, 


That  ilke^  Land,  efter  thare  degre, 

Sulde  bryng  tylF  hir  ane  gret  Armie, 

In  all  the  gudlye  haist  thay  may, 

And  meit  hh-  in  tylP  Bactriay ;  3012 

Declaryng  thame  that  hir  intent 

Was  tyll^  pas  to  the  Orient, 

And  mak  "Weir  on  the  king  of  Ynde. 

Fro  me  tynie  tliay  knew  quliat  wes  hir  niynde,        3016 

Than,  be  thare*  sqUIs,  ilke'  liegioun 

Come  fordwart,  with  thare  Garnisoun  : 

Tryumphantlye,  in  gude  array, 

Tyll  Bactria  tuke  the  reddy  way,  3020 

And  maid  thare  Mostouris  to  the  Quene. 

Bot  sic  ane  sycht  wes  neuer  sene — 

In  Battell  ray  so  mony  one  Man 

Att  onis — sen  God  the  warld  began.  3024 

Bot  Span3e,  France,  Scotland,  Ingland, 

Ducheland,  Denmark,  nor  jit  Yrland 

"War  nocht  Inhabit  in  those  dayis, 

Not  lang  efter,  myne  Author  sayis.  3028 

^  Ethesias  he  dois  specifie 
The  noumber^  of  this  gret  Armie, 
Sayand,  thare  come,  at  hir  command, 
Fute  men*'  threttye  hundreth  thousand,  3032 

Off  hors  men,  montit  galjeardlye, 
Fyue  hundreth  thousand,  veralye, 
One  hundreth  thousand  Camelis  wycht,'' — 
On  euerilk  Cameill  raid  ane  knycht, —  3036 

Preparit  tylP  passe  in  to  all  partis. 
Thare  Aves  ane  hundreth  thousand  Cairtis  : 
Twoo  thousand  boittis  Avith  hir  scho  carcis, 
On  Hors,  Camelis,  and  Dromodareis.  3040 

Bryggis  for  to  mak  scho  did  conclude 
Ouerthort  Yndus,  that  fuiious  flude. 
Qui) ilk  bene  of  Ynde  the  vtmoist  bordoure  ; 
On  the  quliilk  flude,  with  rycht  gude  ordoure,        3044 

'  K,  L  ilk         =  L  to         ^  L  into         ■*  L  thame 

*  L  nuiuiner         "  E  futnien         '  E  vi-ycht 

"  E  to 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONAUUHE. 


101 


Off  liir^  Bairgis  sche  bryggis  maid, 
Quliareon  liir  gret  Oiste  saifly  raid. 

COVRTIOVR. 

U  Father,^  I  wald  men  vnderstude 
Quliow  sic  ane  maruellous^  multytude  3048 

Mycht  be  att  on  is  brocht  to  the  feild, 
Eeddy  to  feycht  with  speir  and  scheild. 
Sum  men  wyll  luge  this  be*  ane  fabyll, 
The  mater  bene  so  vntrouabyll.  3052 

EXPERIENCE. 

^  Itt  may  weill  be,  my  Sonne,  said  he. 
As,  be  exempyll,  we  may  se 
Quhow  Dauid,  king  of  Israeli, 

His  peple^  gart  nummer*^  and  tell  3056 

Be  loab,  bis  cbeif  Capitane, 
As  holy  Scripture  schawls  plane  : 
Off  feychtand  men,  in  to  that  land. 
He  fand  threttyne  hundreth  thousand. 
Sen  Dauid,  in  that  small  countre, 
Mycbt  haue  rasit  sic  ane  Armie, 
To  this  Lady  it  wes  no  wounder, — 
The  quhilk  had  greter'^  llealmes  ane  hunder 
Nor  Dauidis  lytill  Eegioun, — 
Thocht  scho  had  mony  A^  Legioun 
Off  men  mo  nor^  I  tauld  affore : 
Tharefor,  my  Sonne,  maruell  no  more.  3068 

fl  Stawrobates,  the  kyng  of  Ynde, 
Gretlie  perturbit  in  his  mynd, 
Heryng  of  sic  ane  multytude,   . 

To  mak  defens  he  did  conclude,  3072 

And  send  one  Message i''  to  the  Quene, 
I'rayand  liir  INIaiestie  serene 
That  scho  wald,  of  hir  speciall  grace, 
Gyf  hym  Licence  to  leif  in  peace  ;^^  3076 

'  E  this         -  L  Fadur         *  E  mervalus,  L  merwalus 

■•  L  to  be         *  E  pepill         ^  L  nomber         '^  E  gryttar 

"  E  iiue,  L  one         ®  L  more  tJian         '"  L  ane  messenger 

"  E  paice 


over  which  her 
host  passed 
safely. 


How  was  such 
a  vast  multitude 
assembled  ? 


If  King  David 


3060  1,300,000  meu-at- 
arms,  in  a  small 
country, 


it  is  no  marvel 
that  Semiramis 
3064:    collected  so  many 
legions  as  she  did. 


Stabrohates,  King 
of  India, 
perturbed. 


sends  her  a 
petition,  praying 
to  be  left  alone ; 


102 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


but  he  also  sends 
a  menace; 


and  he  makes  a 
vow  to  crucify 
her,  if  captured. 


Slie  jeers  and 
perseveres. 


Her  answer 

reported. 


He  advances  to  do 
battle, 


valiant,  and  of 
ilesperate  resolve. 


Semiramis  and 
he  fight  on  the 
Indus, 

in  vessels. 


She  wins. 


with  dire 
slaughter. 


He  retreats  to 
his  cliief  city, 


and  reinforces 
with  horsemen 


Pailand  of  that,  tliocht  he  suld  dee, 

That  he  suld  gar  hir  fecht^  or  flee. 

And  tyll  his  God  ane  wowe  he  maid, 

Gyff  no  peace  mycht  of  hir  he  had,^  3080 

And  gyf  he  wan  the  victory e, 

That  he  the  Quene  suld  Crucifye. 

U  At  this  bostyng  the  Quene  maid  bourdis, 
Sayand,  it  sail  nocht  be,  no^  wourdis  3084 

Sail  gar  me  passe  frome  *  my  purpose, 
Bot  mychtie  straikis,  as^  I  suppose. 
The  Messingeir  schew  to  the  kyng 
Off  hir  presumptuous  answeryng.  3088 

Than  Stawrobates,  wyse  and  wycht, 
Come  fordwart,  lyke  ane  nobyll  Knycht, 
With  mony  one  thousand  speir  and  scheild, 
Arrayit  Eoyallie  on  the  feild  ;  3092 

Thynkand  he  -wald  his  land  defend. 
Or  in  the  Battell  mak^  ane  end. 

H  The  Quene,  apone  the  vther  syde. 
Full  of  presumptioun  and  of  pryde,  3096 

Hir  Banaris  plesandly  displayit. 
With  hardy  hart  and  vneffrayit. 
Apone"  Indus,  that  famus  flude, 

Thay  mett,  quhare  sched  wes  mekle  blude.  3100 

In  Bote,  in  Balingar,  and  Bargis, 
The  twa  Armyis  on  vtherris  chargis. 
Semeramis  the  Battaill  wan, 

Quhare  drownit^  and  slane  wer  mony  one  man,      3104 
So  that  the  waiter^  of  the  flude 
Ean  reid,  myxit  with  mannis  blude. 
The  king  of  Ynde,  with  all  his  mycht, 
Frome  Yndus  flude  he  tuke  the  flycht :  3108 

TylP*^  his  cheif  Citie  he  reterit, 
Quhare  in  his  presens  thare  apperit. 
In  Battell  raye,  ane  new  armye 
Ofi  rycht  Inuincibyll  Clieualrye,  3112 

'  E  feycht         '  E  haid         '  L  na         *  L  fra  ^ 
*  L  omitted         *  L  to  niak         ^  E  Wpounc.  L  Apouun 
"  L  diound         "  E  Vatter,  L  Watter         '"  L  to 


THE    SECVNU    BVKK    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


103 


and  elephants. 


harries  his 
borders  succeba- 
fuUy. 


With  Elephantis  ane  liyddous^  iioniiner, 
Quliilk  efterwart  maid  mekle  cummer. 

H  Senieramis  and  hir  cumpanye, 
In  tlie  mene  tyme,^  full  creuellie  3116 

Distroyit  the  bordouris  of  that  land, 
Tuke  presonaris  mo  than  ten  thousand. 
Sche  tuke  one  curagious  consait, 

Gret  Elephantis  to  contrafait :  3120  a  happy  idea. 

Sche  had  ten  thousand  Oxin  hydis, 
"VYeill  sewit  to  gydder,  bak  and  sydis, 
With  mouth,  and  nois,  teith,  Eris,  and  eine, — 
Quyke  Elephantis  as  thay  had  bene, —  3124 

Eycht  Weill  stuft^  full  of  stray  and  hay, 
Quhareof  the  Yndianis  tuke  alfray. 
Apone  Camelis  and  Dromodareia 

Those  fals  figouris  with  hir  scho  careis.  3128 

Sere*  Yndianis,  qulien  thay  saw  that  sycht, 
Afiferitlye  thay  tuke  the  flycht ; 
Eor  sic  one  sycht  wes  neuir  sene, 

Gyff  naturall  beistis  thay  had  bene.  3132 

The  Kyng  hym  self  wes  rycht  afferit, 
Tyll  he  the  veritie  had  sperit, 
And  knew,  be  his  exploratouris, 
Thay  wer  bot  fen3eit  fals  figouris.  3136 

H  Than,  manfullye,^  lyke  men  of  weir, 
Fordwart  thay  came"^  withouttin  feir; 
Eycht  so  Senieramis  the  Queue, 

Quhilk  for  one  man  w^es,  aye,  fyftene.''  3140 

Thir  two  Armeis  full  creuellye 
Thay  ruscheit  to  gydder  ^  so  rudlie, 
With  hyddous  cry  and  trumpettis  sound, 
TyU  thousandis  dede  laye  on  the  ground.  3144 

Semeramis  had  sic  one  nummeir,^ 
Tyll  order  ^"^  thame  it  wes  gret  cummeir. 
Than  the  gret  Elephantis  of  ynde, 
Eycht  Strang  and  hardy  of  thare  kynde,  3148 


She  devises  sliam 
elephants, 

which  are 
mounted  on 
camels  and 
dromedaries, 


and  so  strikes  a 
panic. 


The  Kins,  by  tlie 
aid  of  his  scouts, 
discovers  the 
cheat. 


His  troops  rally; 


and  Semiramis, 
on  her  part,  is 
nothing  daunted. 


Another 
slaughterous 
contest  then 
follows. 


The  Indian 
elephantrjr 


'  L  hiddius         ^  E  meintyme         '  E,  L  stuffit 

■•  E  Tlie,  L  Seir         *  L  tnanifestlie         "  L  come,  E  cam 

^  L  fivetene      *  E,  L  togidder      ^  L  ane  nomber       '"  L  ordour 


104 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OP    THE    MONARCHE. 


make  terrible 
confusion, 


and  trample 
clown  tlie  slufled 
effigies. 

Tlie  King  and 
tlie  Queen  meet. 


and  engage  in 
a  duel. 


He  finds  lier 
well-nigh  his 
match, 


albeit  he  is  the 
better  mounted. 

They  tire. 

Stimulated  by 
shame. 


and  grown 
desperate, 


he  wounds  her ; 


and  she  takes  to 
tiight. 


Her  army  follows. 


While  crossing 
tlie  Indus  on  the 
bridge  of  boats. 


jiursueil  by  the 
Indians, 


Fordwart  thay  came,^  and  wald  noclit  ceis, 

Tyll  throcht-  the  myddis  of  tlie  preis 

Off  the  gret  oist  thay  rudlye  ruscheit, 

That  men  and  liorsse  tyll  erth^  trabuscheit.  3152 

Those  fen^eit  beistis,  withouttin  spreit, 

Wer  fruschit  and  ful3eit  vnder  feit. 

Tlie  king  of  Ynde,  with  curage  kene, 

Mett  with  Semeramis  the  queue,  3156 

He*  rydand  on  ane  Eliphand  : 

Bot  scho  with  hym  faiicht  hand  for  hand, 

And  gaif  the  king  so  gret  assaye 

That  he  wes  neuir  in  sic  affraye.  3160 

To  stryke^  at  hyni  scho  tiike  no  feir, 

So  Weill  sche  vsit'^  wes  in  weir. 

His  strakis  scho  had  bot"  lytill  comptit, 

Wer  nocht  the  king  Aves  so  weiil  montit.  3164 

Athir  at^  vther  straik  so  faste 

Tyll  thay  wer  tyrit  at  the  laste. 

H  The  king  he  thocht  hym  self  eschamit 
With  one  Avoman  to^  be  diftamit,  3168 

And  wes  determit  nocht  to  flee, 
Thocht  in  that^o  Battell  he  suld  dee. 
As  man  the  quhilk  disparit  bene. 

He  rudely  ran  vpone  the  queue,  3172 

And  throuch  the  arme  gaif  ^^  hir  ane  Avound 
Quhilk  tyll  hir  hart  gaif  ^^  sic  one  stound 
That  sche  constranit  wes  to  fie. 

Than  all  the  rest  of  hir  Annie,  3176 

Quhen  thay  persauit  that  scho  Aves  gone, 
Tyll  yndus  fiude  thay  fled,  ilk  one. 
The  Queue  ouerthort  the  fiude  sche  raid 
On  bryggis  quhilkis  Aver  of  botis^^  maid  ;  3180 

With  hir,  one  sobir  cumpanye, 
Quhilk  Avith  hir  fled  affray  tlie. 
The  Yndianis  followit  on  the  chace : 
Than  on  the  Bryggis  come  sic  one  prace^^  3184 


'  E  cam,  L  come     ^  L  throw     ^  E  on  erth  they     *  L  omitted 

'  E  strak     «  E  scho  wsit     '  L  full     «  L  on      '  E  till      '"  L  flie 

"  E  geff         "  E  boittis,  L  boitis         "  E  preis,  L  praiss 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    TIIIC    MOXAliUUE. 


105 


Off  fleand  folkis, — quhilk  "wes  gret  woumler,- 
So  that  the  Bargis  brake  ^  in  schonder. 
Sum  sank,  sum  doun  the  reuar  ran  : 
Than  drownit  tliare  mouy  one  nobyll  man, 
Quhilk  wer  gret  piete  tyll  deplore. 
As  wryttis-  famous  Diodore. 

H  Ami,  fynallie,  for  to  conclude, 
Wes  neuer  sched  so  mekle  blude 
At  one  tyme  sen  the  warld  began, 
Nor  slane  so  mony  one  saikles  man ; 
And  all  throw  the  occasioun 
And  the  prydefull  perswasioun 
Off  this  ambitious,  Avyckit  Queue  : 
Sick  one  wes  neuir  hard  nor  sene. 

U  Staurobates,  the  king  of  Ynde, 
Gretlye  Reioysit,  in  his  mynde. 
Off  this^  tryumphe  and  victorye  : 
Semeramis,  with  hart^  full  sorye, 
Seand  sa  mony  tane  and  slane, 
Tyll  hir  countre  returnit  agane, 
Lamentand  fortunis  variance 
Quhilk  brocht  hir  to  so  gret  myschance, — 
Atfore  quhilk  wes  so  fortunat. 
And  than  of  confort  desolat. 

U  Hir  Sonne,  one^  man  of  perfectioun, 
Consyddrand^  his  subiectioun, 
His  lybertie  he  did  desyre. 
That  he  my  elite  gouerne  his  Impyre. 
Seand  his  Mother  vitious,'^ 
And,  with  that,  so  ambitious, — 
As  myne  Author  doith^  specifye, — 
He  slew  his  Mother^  creuellye. 
Quhat  vther  cause,  or  Intentioun, 
I  fynd  no  speciall  Mentioun  : 
Sum  sayis,  to  be  at  Lybertie ; 
Sum^''  sayis,  for  hir  Adultrie. 


3188    great  numbers 
are  drowned. 


3192    Unprecedented 
was  tlie  loss 
of  life; 


and  all  owing  tu 
_  -        this  iiioonii):irably 
Olyo    wicked  woman. 


3200 


Stabrobates 
rejoices; 


but  Semiramis  is 
sore  at  heart  for 
her  mischance. 


3204 


3208 


3212 


after  such  past 
good  fortune. 


Her  son,  chafing 
under  subjection, 


and  seeing  his 

mother'b 

character, 


3216    puts  her  to  death. 


His  motives  for 
g99Q    80  doing? 


■  L,  E  brak  =  L  writith  =*  L  his  *  E  hir  hart 

^  L  than  ane         ^  L  considderand         ^  L  viciu.s 

*  L  Autour  dois  *  L  Jloder  '"  L  And  sum 


106 


THE    SEVCND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


Was  lier  end  a 
judgment? 


She  became 

queen  wlien  20 
years  old, 

reigned  for 
42  years, 

and  died  at  the 
age  of  62. 


Slie  is  not  to  be 
commended  for 
lier  virile  ways. 


It  is  the  will 
of  God, 


tliat  women 
should  be  subor- 
dinate to  men, 
whatever  their 
aspirations  to  the 
contrary. 

This  lady, 
ambitious, 
kept  down  her 
husband. 


Female  sovereigns 
disapproved  of. 


I'e  tliey  never  bo 
knightly, 


like  Penthesilea, 


against  reason. 


Xone  vtlier  cause  I  can  def  j'lie, 
Except  punissioun  deiiyne. 

H  Off  this  fair  Lady  coragious^ 
Beliald  the  endyng  dolorous;  3224 

Quhilk  wes  hot  twenty  3eir  of  aige, 
Quhen  scho  began  hir  vassalage, 
And  rang  tryumphandlye,  but  weir, 
The  space  of  two  and  fourtye  3eir  :  3228 

Quhen  scho  wes  slane,  scho  was  thre  score, 
"With  3eris  two — scho  wes  no  more ; 
As  Diodore  wryttis^  in  his  buke, 
His  Cronikle  quho  lyste  to  luke.  3232 

U  Off  this  Lady  I  mak  ane''  end, 
Thynkand  no  Avay  I  can  commend 
Wemen  for  tyll*  be  to  manlye, 

Nor  men  for  tyll*  be  womanlye  :  3236 

For  quhy.  It  bene  the  Lordis  mynde 
All  Creature  tyll  vse  thaie  kynde ; 
Men  for  tyll  haue  preheminens  * 

And  wemen  vnder  obediens  ;  3240 

Thocht  all  wemen  inclynit  be 
Tyll  half  the  Soueranite, 
As  this  Lady,  quhilk  Avald  nocht  rest 
Tyll  scho  hir  Husband  had  subprest,^  3244 

Tyll*  that  intent  that  scho  mycht  ryng, 
Allone  to'^  haif  the  gouernyng. 

U  Lady  is  ^  no  w^ay  I  can  commend 
Presumptnouslye  quhilk  doith^  pretend  3248 

Tyll  vse  the  office  of  ane  kyng, 
Or  Eealmes  tak  in  gouernyng, 
Quhowbeit^*'  thay  wailjeant  be  and  wycht, 
Goyng  in  Battell  lyke  one  knycht,  3252 

As  did^^  pronde  Pantasilia, 
The  Princes  of  Amasona, 
In  mennis  habyte,  aganis  reassoun  : 
Siclyke  I  think  dirisioun.  3256 


'  L  Ladyis  curagius 
*  L  preeminence 
»  L  dois 


'  L  writith 
L  supprest 
'»  E  Iknvl.eit 


^  L  one         *  L  to 
E  till  »  E  Ladeis 

"  L  doith 


THE    SKCVND    BVKE    OF    THE  MONAROHE,                            107 

One  prince  to  be  effaniinate,  " "  t'ls  ""'er 

^  ]v.uu\,  a  prince, 

Of  knychtlye  corage  desolate,  if  cowardly, 

ISTeglectand  his  auctoritie/  sensual,' 

Tliroucli-  beistlye  sensualitie,  3260 
Accompanyit,  boith  day  and  nychtis, 

With  women,  more  than  waiheant  knychtis  :  liue  sartiana- 

'                                            ^  pulus,  is. 

Sic  kyngis  I  discommend  at  all,  likewise,  to  be 

Exempyll  of  Sardanapall.  3264 


condemned. 


COVRTIOVR. 

Father.^  said  T,  schaw  me  quhow*  lang  How  long  reigned 

'  '  ID  the  line  of 

The  successioun  of  Nynns  rang.  Ninus? 


EXPERIENCE. 

That  sail  I^  do,  with  diligens. 
My  Sonne,  said  he,  or  I  go  hens.  3268 

Sen  I  haif  schawin,  at  thy  disyre,  Promise  of  an 

Quhat  man  began  the  first  Impyre, 
Now  wald  I  it  wer  to  the  kend 
Off  that  Impyi-e  the  fatell  end.  3272 


answer. 


FINIS. 


'  E  aiicthoratie,  L  autorite         '  L  Throw         '  L  Fader 
*  E  how  *  L  sail  I 


108 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONAKUHE. 


We  may  pass, 
at  once,  to 
Sardanapalus 


and  of  him  tliere 
is  no  good  to 
be  said. 

He  was  the 

thirty-sixth  king 
after  Ninus. 

Detail  is  here 
unnecessary ; 

for  tliat  many 
liave  written  of 
him,  the  last  of 
the  Assyrian 
monarchs. 


and  the  most 
depraved  of 
tliem  all. 


Of  liis  vile  life. 


QUHOV  KING  SARDANAPALUS,  FOR  HIS  VITIOUS 
LIFE,  MAID  ANE  MISERABILL  END. 

EXPERIENCE. 

BETYIX  this  Conquerour^  Nyniis 
And  sensuall  Sardanapalus 
I  can  noclit  fynd  no  speciall  storye 
Worthy  to  put  in  nieniorye, 
Except  quhilk  I  haif  done  discryfe 
Off  Semerame,'^  king  Nynus  wyfe  :  ^ 
Bot  I  can  fynd  no  gude  at  all 
To  wrytt  of  kj^ng  Sardanapall, 
Quhilk  wes  the  saxt  and  threttye  kyng 
Be  lyne  frome''  Nynus  discendyng. 
At  lentil  his  lyfe  for  to  declare 
I  thynk  it  is  nocht  necessare ; 
Because  that  mony  cunnyng  clerkis 
Hes  hyir  discryuit  in  thare  werkis  : 
Quhow  he  wes  last  of  Asserians 
Quhilk  had  the  hole  preemynans,^ 
That  tyme  of  the  first  Monarche, — 
In  Cronicles  as  thow  may  se, — 
The  last  and  the  most  vitious  kyng 
Quhilk  in  that  Monarche  did  ryng. 
That  Prince  Aves  so  effeminate,* 
With  sensuall  luste  intoxicate,'^ 
He  did  abhor  the  cumpanye 

'  L  Conqueriour         ^  E,  L  Semeramis 
*  L  of         *  E  preheminnns.  Ij  precininans 
'  E  iiitoxiocnte 


3276 


3280 


3284 


3288 


3292 


'  L  Wive 

*  L  infainiiiat 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


109 


Off  his  most  nobyll  chewalrye  : 
That  he  mycht  haue^  the  more  delyte 
TylP  vse  his  beistlye  appetyte, 
Conuersit  with  wemeu  nycht  and  daye, 
And^  clothit  hym  in  thare  arraye, 
So  that  na  man  that  hym  had  sene 
Could  Inge  ana  man  that  he  had  bene  : 
So,  in  huredome*  and  harlatrye 
Did  keip  hym  self  so  quyetlye, 
The  Princis  of  Asserience 
Off  hym  thay  could  gett  no  presence. 
Thus  leuit  he  contynualye, 
Agane  nature  Inordinatlye. 

^  Quhen  to^  the  Peirsis  and  the  Medis 
Eeportit  wer  his  vitious  dedis, 
With  the  Eewlaris*'  of  Babilone, 
Thay  did  conclude,  all  in  tyll  one, 

Thay  wald  nocht  suffer  for  tyll^  ryng 

Abufe  thame'^  sic  ane  vitious  kyng  : 

Bot  Arbates,  ane  Duke  of  Mede, 

He  Darflye  tuke  on  hand  that  dede. 
^  Bot  first  he  come  to  JSTyniue, 

To  see  the  kyngis  Maiestie, 

And  tyll  one  of  the  kyngis  gaird 

He  gaif  one  secreit  ryche  rewaird, 

Tyll  put  hym  in  ane  quyet  place, 

Quhare  he  mycht  se  the  kyngis  grace, 

And  be  onsene  with  ony  wyclit. 

Bot  he  saw  nother  King  nor  Knycht 

In  tyll  his  maisteris  cumpanye. 

Except^  wemen,  allanerlye  : 

And  as  ane  woman  he  wes  cled, 

With  wemen  counsalit  and  led  ; 

And  schamefullye  he  wes  syttand. 

With  Spindle  and  with  Eock  spinnand. 

Quhen  Arbates  that  sycht  had  sene, 

'  E  half         '  L  to         '  E  He         '  E  hurdoume 

*  L  omitted         ®  L  Reullaris         ''  E  omitted 

«  E  Acept 


3296    aloof frc 


3300    His  cotqueaiiily, 


3304    libidinousiiess, 


and  seclusion. 


3308 


The  Persians  anil 

Medes 


3312    imagine  his 

dethronement. 


3316 


3320 


Arbaces,  a 
Median  duke, 


comes  to  Nineveh. 


Through  a  bribe 
to  one  of  the 
king's  guards, 

he  is  admitted 
into  the  palace, 

and  secreted. 


3324 


He  sees  the  Icing 
surrounded  by 
women, 
0090    habited  like  a 


and  shamefully 
spinning. 


110 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHK. 


His  reaaoiiable 
iulereiice. 


He  gathers  an 
army. 


Sardaiiapnlus 
resists, 


but,  at  last,  flees 
to  Nineveh. 


It  ia  besieged. 


The  Euphrates 
floods  its  banits, 


with  disastrous 
effect. 


The  King,  in 
despair,  maljes  up 
a  furious  fire, 

casts  in  his  valu- 
ables, his  regal 
insignia,  his 
servants, 


queens,  and  con- 
cubines, and 
then  liiraself. 


And  so  ha 
perished, 
unrepentant, 


His  corage  rasifc  frome  tlie  splene,  3332 

And  thoclit  it  small  Jifycultie 
For  tyll^  depryue  his  Maiestie. 

^  Than  rasit  he  the  Persianis, 
"With  jMedis  and  Babilonianis  :  3336 

Inamiit  weill  with  speir  and  scheildis, 
Tryumphantlye  thay^  tuke  the  feildis. 

H  The  king  rasit  Asseriaiiis,^ 
To  gidther*  with  the  Caldianis,  3340 

And  thame  resystit  as  he  mycht ; 
Bot,  fynallie,  he  tuke  the  flyoht, 
To  saif  hym  self,  in  Nyniue. 
Than  segit  thay  that  gret  Citie,  3344 

Contynuallie,  two  3eir  and  more, — 

As  wryttis^  famous  Diodore, — 

Tyll  that  the  flude  of  Euphrates « 

Arrose  with  sic  one  furiousnes,  3348 

Quhare  throuch^  ane  gret  part  of  the  toun 

By^  violence  wes  doungin  doun. 

Than,  quhen  the  kyng  saw  no  remeid 

Bot  to  be  takin,  or  to  be  deid,  3352 

As  man  disparit,  full  of  yre, 

Gart  mak  ane  furious  flammand^  fyre, 

And  tuke  his  gold  and  lowellis  all, 

With  Sceptur,io  Croun,  and  Eobe  E#yaU,  3356 

"With  all  his  tender  seruituris 

That  of  his  Corps  had  gretest^^  curis, 

To  gydder*  with  his  lustye  Quenis, 

And  all  his  wantoun  Concubenis,^^  3360 

And  in  that  fyre  he  did  thame  cast, 

Syne  lape  hym  self  in,  at  the  last, 

Quhare  all  wer^^  brynt  iu  poulder  small. 

Thus  endit  kyng  Sardanapall,  3364 

Withouttin  ony  repentence, 

As  may  be  sene  be  this  sentence, 


'  L  to         =*  E  he         '  E  the  Asserianis         *  L,  E  Togidder 

'  L  writith      *  E  Eufrates      ^  E  Quhairthroch,  L  Quhairthrow 

*  L  Be         '  L  flamband  '"  E  Scheptour         "  E  gryttest 

"  E  Conquebenis,  L  Concubynis  "  L  was 


THE    SECVND    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHB. 


Ill 


(^  Heir  followyng,  quhilk^  he  did  indyte, 
Affore  his  deith,  in  gret  dispyte, — 
Quhilk  is  ane  rycht  vngodly  thing, 
As  36  maye  se  be  his  dyting. 

*     FimS.     * 


3368    as  witness  hiB 

ungodly  epitaph 
on  himseir. 


EPITAPHITJM   SARDANAPALT. 


^^  CVM  te  mortalem  noris,  praesentibus  exple 
Delitijs  animum, — post  mortem  nulla  voluptas, — 
Et  venere,  &;  ccenis,  &  plumis  SARDANAPALL 


3372 


Carpe  diem,  et«. 


{^  N'ow  haif  I  schawin,  with  deligence, 
The  Monarche  of  Asserience,* 
The  quhilk  at'  Kyng  I^ynus  hegan, 
And  endit  at  this  myscheant  Man, 
And  did  Indure,  withouttin  weir, 
Ane  thowsand,  twa  hundreth,  and  fourty  jeir, 
As  dois  Indyte  Ewsubius  : 
Eeid  hym,  and  thow  sail  fynd  It  thus. 

.C:Q)     FINIS.     .^ 


The  Assyrian 

3376    monarchy, 

beginning  with 
Ninus,  and 
ending  with 
Sardanapalus, 
lasted  1240  years, 
according  to 

3380    Eusebius. 


HEIR   ENDIS  THE   SECUND  PART,  AND  BEGYNNIS 
THE  THRID  PART. 


'  E  quhow 


'  E  the  Aeserience 


^  L  tha,t 


MONARCHE,  I. 


112 


AND,  IN   THE  FIRST,  MAKAND  NAREATIONE    OF  YE 

MISARABTLL  DISTRUCTIOUN  OF  THE  FYDE  CIETEIS 

CALLIT  SODOME,  GOMOEE,  SYBOIN,  SEGORE,  AND 

ADAMA,  WITH  THARE  HOLE '  REGIOUN  ;    AND 

ANE  SCHORT  DISCRIPTIOUN  OF  THE  SECUND, 

THRID,  AND   FERD   MONARCHEIS ;   WITH 

Y^  MISARABYLL    DISTRUCTIOUN   OF 

lERUSALEJ/;   AND,  LAST;  OF   THE 

SPIRITUALL  MONARCHIE. 


=0)    (^)    ([^ 


COURTIOUR. 

Y-m  FATHER, 2  I  pray  30AV  to  me  tell 
Quhat  notabyll  thyngis  that  befell 
The  history  of  the  Duryng  the  Eyng3  of  Asseriens, 
to1hri:S      Q^^liilk  had  so  lang  prehemynens,- 
monareiiy  ?  J  mene  of  vtlier  Nationis 

Under  thare  dominationis. 


3384 


During  the  time 
of  this  monai'cliy 

perislied  Sodom 
and  Gomorrah, 
Gen.  xix. 


for  their  sins, 

not  to  be  dilated 
on  in  tlie  vnli;ar 
tongue, 


as  being  un- 
iiatural  and 
altogetlier 
abominable. 


EXPERIENCE. 

That  may  be  done  in  termys  schorte,  3388 

Said  he,  as  storyis  doith  reporte. 
Induryng  this  first  Monarchie 
Become  that  ■wofull  misarie 

Off  Sodome,  Gomore,  and  thare  Eegione, —  3392 

As  Scripture*  makis  Mentione, — 
Quhose  peple^  -wer  so  sensuall 
In  fylthie^  Synnis  vnnatui'all, 

The  quhilk  in  to  my  Auilgar  veirs  3396 

My  tonng  abhorris  to  reheirs  : 
Lyke  brutall  beistis,  by  thare  myndis, 
UnnaturaUy  abusit  thare  kyndis 

By  fylthie  stynkand  Lychorie  3400 

And  most  abhominabyll  Sodomie. 
As  lioly  scripture'  doith ^  discryue, 

1  E,  L  Hoill         2  L  Fader         3  e  King         <  E  Scriptoris 
6  E  Quhais  pepill         ''  E  fyllthy         ''  E  scriptour         *  L  dois 


THE    THRri)    liVKE    UF    TU1£    MOXAKUUK. 


113 


In  that  countre^  wer  Citeis  fyuc, 
Quhilk  wer  Sodome,  and  Gomora, 
Seboin,  Segore,  and  Adaraa  : 
Amang  thame  all  funde  wes  tliare  none 
Undefylit,  hot  Lott  allone. 

^^  Holy  Abraham  dwelt  neir  hand  by, 
Quhilk  prayit  for  Lott  effectuonsly  : 
For  God  maid  hym  aduertysment, 
That  he  wald  mak  sic  punyschement.^ 
To  Lott  two  Angellis  God  did  sende, 
Hym  frome  that  furye  tyll  defende. 
Quhen  the  peple^  of  that  regioun 
Saw  the  Angellis  cum  to  the  toun, 
Transformit  in  to  fair  ^oung  men, 
Thay  purposit  thame  for  to  ken, 
And  abuse  ^  thame  vnnaturallye 
With  thare  foule^  stynkand  Sodomye. 
Off  that  gude  Lott  wes  wounder  woo, 
And  oflferit  thame  his  Douchteris^  twoo, 
Thame  at  thare  plesour  for  tyll  vse  : 
Bot  thay  his  Douchteris^  did  refuse. 
And  than  the  Angellis,  be  thare  myclit, 
Those  men  depryuit  of  thare  sycht ; 
And  so,  perfors,  leitt  thame  allone. 
To  Lottis  lugyng"  quhen  thay  wer  gone, 
Thay  hym  commandit  haistelie 
For  tyll  depart  of  that  Citie. 
That  foule  vnnaturall  Lychorie 
A  vengeance  to  the  he  win  did  crye, 
The  quhilk  did  mofe  God  tyll  sic  yre, 
That  frome  the  hewin  Brintstone  and  fyre, 
With  awfull  thoundryng,  ranit  doun, 
And  did  consume  that  hole  regioun,  ^ 
Off  all  that  land  chapit  no  mo 
Except  Lott  and  his  Douchteris*'  two  : 
His  wyfe  wes  turnit  in^  A  stone, — 


3404 


In  the  five  cities 
of  the  plain, 


Lot  only  was 
righteous; 


3408 

for  whom  Abra- 
ham, knowing 
what  would  befall, 
interceded. 

3412    Two  angels  are 
sent  to  Lot. 


3416 


The  people  make 
mistaken  over- 
tures to  them. 


3420 


Lot  ofTers  theta 
his  daughters. 


who  are  declined. 


3424 


Angelic 
vengeance. 


3428    Lot  is  warned  to 
escape  at  once 
from  the  city. 


3432 


3436 


Fire  and  brim- 
stone rain  down, 
destructivelv. 


Lot  and  his 
daughters  save 
themselves, 


^  E,  L  cuntre         ^  E  punysliiiient,  L  pvnisnient 

3  E,  L  pepill         *  E  aboue         »  E  fuill         «  P  douctheris 

'  L  ludgeing         ^  j;  grounde  or  regioun         ^  E  into 


I   2 


114 


THE  THRID  BVKE  OF  THE  MONARCHE. 


but  not  so  Lot's 
disobedient  wife. 


Of  llie  warning 
not  to  look  back. 


Lot's  wife, 


hearing  the 
uproar  in 
the  rear. 


moved  by 
curiosity,  turned 
round, 

and  wa3  trans- 
formed into  a 
stone,  still  extant. 


Cities,  castles,  &c.; 
were  consumed, 


trees  uptorn. 


life  everywheie 
destroyed, 


and  the  eartli 
bari'd. 


in  judgment,  as 
in  Noah's  days. 


only  now  to 
punish  impurity. 


So  wyfles  wes  he  left  aUone, — 

For  sclio  wes  Inobedient,  3440 

And  kepit  no  commandiment. 

Qulien  the  Angell  gaif  ^  thame  command 

Sons  tyll-  depart  out  of  that  land, 

He  monyste  thame,  vnder  gret  pane,  3444 

Keiier  to  luke  bakwart  agane. 

Quhen  Lottis  wyfe  hard  the  thoundrhig 

Off  flammand  fyre  and  lychtnyng. 

The  vgly  cryis  lamentabyll  3448 

Off  peple^  most  appouentabyll, — 

For  none  of  thame  had  fors*  to  flee, — 

Scho  ^arnit  that  sorrowfull  sycht  to  see; 

And,  as  scho  turnit  hir,  anone  3452 

Scho  wes  transformit  in  a^  stone, 

Quhare  scho  remanis  tyll^  this  daye  : 

Off  hir  I  haue  no  more  to  saye. 

To  schaw  at  leynth  I  am  nocht  abyll  3456 

That  pietious  proces  lamentabyll, — ■ 
Quhow  Ceteis,  Castellis,''  Tounis,  and  Towris, 
Uillagis,  Bastail3eis,^  and  Bowris, 

Thay  wer  all  in  to  poulder^  dre-\vin ;  3460 

Forrestis  be  the  ruttis  vprewin  ;  ^'^ 
Thare  Kyng,  thare  Quene,  and  peple  all, 
3ong  and  auld,  brynt  ^^  in  poulder  small. 
1^0  Creature  wes  left  on  lyfe, —  3464 

Foulis,  Beistis,  Man,  nor  Wyfe  : 
The  erth,  the  Corne,  herb,^^  fvute,  and  tre. 
The  Babbis  vpone  the  Noryse^^  kne, 
Eycht  suddantlye,  in  one  Instent,  3468 

Unwerly  come  thare  lugement ; 
As  it  come  in  the  tyme  of  Noye, 
Quhen  God  did  all  the  warld  distroye. 
For  that  self  Syn  of  Sodomye,  3472 

And  most  abhominabyll  liewgrye ;  ^* 
That  vyce  at  lenth  for  tyll  declare 


1  E  geff         2  L  to         ^  E,L  pepill 
6  L  one         6  E^  L  to         ^  L  Bastil3eis 

^  L  powder  ^^  E  owpreviii  ''  I-  war  brint 

1'^  L  herbis         '^  E  Nurry.'^s.  L  Nuri.ss         '^  E  bowgre 


*  E  horss,  L  force 
*  L  Caatiljeia 


THE    THIUU    BVKIi;    OF    THE    MOXARCHE. 


116 


I  tliynk  it  is  nocht  necessare. 

If  Qulien  all  wes  brynt, — ilesche,  blml,  &  bonis, 
Hyllis,  valais,^  stokis,  and  stonis, — 
The  Cuntre  sank,  for  to  conclude  ; 
Quhare  now-  standitli^  ane  vglye  flude, 
The  quliilk  is  callit  the  dede  see, — 
Nixt  to  the  cuntre  of  ludee, — 
Quhose  stynkand  strandis,  blak  as  tar, 
The  flewre  of  it  men  felith  on  far. 
In  tyll  Orocius  thow  may  reid 
Off  that  cuntre  the  lenth  and  breid  ; 
Of  lenth,  fyftye  mylis  and  two. 
And  fourtene  myle  in*  breid,  also. 

{^  Lott  of  his  wyfe^  wes  so  agast 
That  he  tyll  A  ^  wyld  Montane  past : 
Off  cumpanye  he  had  no  mo 
Except  his  lustye  Douchteris  two  ; 
And,  be  thare  prouocatioun, 
As  Moyses  makith^  narratioun, 
Allone  in  to  that  montane  wylde, 
His  Douchteris  boith^  he  gat  with  chylde. 
For  thay  beleuit,  in  thare  thoclit, 
That  all  the  warld  wes  gone  to  noclit, 
As  it  become  of  that  K^atioun  ; 
Thynkand  that  Generatiouu 
"VVald  faill,  withoute  thay  craf telly e 
Gar  thare  Father  -with  thame  to  lye. 
And  so  thay  fand  ane  crafty^  wyle, 
Quhow  thay  thare  Father  mycht  begyle. 
And  causit  hyni  to  drynk  wycht  wyne, 
Quhilk  men  to  Lychorye  doith**^  Inclyne. 
Quhen  he  wes  full,  and  fallin  on  sleip, 
His  Douchteris  quyetlye  did  creip 
In  tyll  his  bed,  full  secreitlye, 
Prouokand^^  hym  with  thame  to  lye  : 
And  knew  nocht  quhow  he  Aves  begylde, 


3i7l)    Alter  tlie  con- 
the  eaiUi  sank. 


3-480    Hence  the 
Ueail  Seii, 

fetid  and  black 


3484 


Orosius's  nu-a- 
surement  of  it. 


3488    Lot  comnieneeH 
hermit, 


attended  by  Ids 
two  danglitefs, 


3492 


on  a  wild 
mountain. 

3496 

Thinking  tlie 
world  bereft  of 
males,  save  their 
father. 

3500 

to  keep  up 
the  race. 

3504 

the  maidens 
craftily  bemuse 
Lot  with  strong 
drink, 

aphrodisiac, 

3508 

profit  by  his 
oblivion. 

1  E  walleys         ^  e  Quhairtlirow         ^  l  standis 
*  L  of        6  L  life         6  L  to  une         ^  l  niakis         »  L  tuo 
»  L  subtell         10  L  dois 


11  E  Prowoikand,  L  provocand 


11«1 


THE  THRID  BVKE  OF  THE  MONARCHE. 


and  become 
iiiotliers,  each  of 
H  son. 


Thence  sprang 
two  nations, 

according  to 
Scripture. 

Tliis  catastrophe 
to  Sodom,  &c., 
took  place  391 
years  after 
tlie  Flood, 


41  years  after  the 
death  of  Noah, 


and  when  Abra- 
ham was  99. 


From  the  sin 
thus  visited  may 
God  preserve  us ! 


During  the  course 
of  this  monarchy, 

Exod.  i. 

the  Israelites 

sojom'ned  in 

Egypt, 

and  were  vexed 

of  Pharaoh  j 

Moses  led  them 
througli  the 

Exod,  xiiii. 
Red  Sea, 
where  Phai'aoh 
and  his  host 
perished ; 
the  Israelites 
roamed  for  40 
years  ; 

Exod.  XX. 
Moses  received 
the  law ; 

Josue  Hi. 


Tyll  boith  his  Douchteris  wer  with  chylde  : 

And  bure  two  Sonnis,  in  certane, —  3512 

Thay  beand  in  tliat  Avyld  Montane, — 

Off  quhome  two  Nationis  did  proceid, 

As  in  the  scripture  thow  may  reid, 

In  the  quhilk  scripture  thow  may  se  3516 

Att  lentil  this  wofull  misarie 

^  This  misarie  become,  but  weir, 
Frome  JS'oeis  flude  thre  hundreth  ^eir, 
To  gidther^  with  four  score  and  ale  win, —  3520 

As  comptit  Carione,2 — full  ewin. 
And  after  ISToeis  deith,  I  ges, 
Ane  and  fourtye  3eir  thare  wes  ; 

Quhen  Abraham  was  of  aige,  I  wene,  3524 

Foure  score  of  ^eris  and  nynteine  ; 
Quhen  this  foule  Syn  of  Sodomye 
Was  puneisit  so  regorouslye. 

Gret  God  Preserue  ws,  in  our  tyme,  3528 

That  we  commit  nocht  sic  ane  cryme. 

%  Tiddius  It  wer  for  me  to  tell 
This  Monarche  duryng  quhat  befell, 
And  wounderis  that  in  erth  ^  wer  wrocht,  3532 

Quhilk  to  thy^  purpose  langith  nocht : — 
As  quhow  ^  the  peple  of  Israeli 
Did  lang  tyme  in  to  '^  Egypt  dwell ; 
And  of  thare  gret  puneisioun,^  3536 

Tlirouch  Pharois  persecusioun ; 
And  quhow  ^  Moyses  did  thame  conuoye 
Throuch^  the  reid  sey,  with  niekle  loye, 
Quhare  kyng  Pharo,^  rycht  misarably,  3540 

Wes  drownit,  with  all  his  huge  army ; 
And  quhow  ^  that  peple  wandrand^°  wes 
Fourtye  ^eris  in  wyldernes. 

Moyses,  that  tyme,  as  I  heir  saye,  3544 

Eessauit  the  Law  on  Mont  Sinay  : 
That  tyme,  losue  tlirouch^  lordan 


1  E,  L  Togidder         ^  l  Charioun         ^  L  in  erd  that 

4  L  my         ''  E  how         ^  L  iiitill 

7  E  piuiissioine,  L  pvnitioun         *  E  Throcht,  L  Throw 

"  L  Pharao         i''  L  wauilerand,  E  waudrauo 


THE    THRID    DVKE    OF    TUK    MONAHCIIE. 


117 


Led  those ^  pei>le  to  Canaan, 
Quliare  Saule,  Dauid,  and  Salanione, 
With  Hebrew  Kyngis  mony  one, 
Did  rychelye  ryng  in  that  countre,^ 
Induryng  this  tiist  Monarche. 

U  The  Sege  of  Thebes,  niisarabyll, 
Quhare  blude  wes  sched,  Incomparabyll, 
Off  nobyll  men,  in  to  those  dayis, 
With  vtheris^  terribyll  affray  is  ; 
As  quhow  the  Grekis  wrocht  vengeance 
Apone  the  nobyll  Troyiance, 
Because  that  Pareis  did  conuoye, 
Perfors,  fair  Helena'*  to  Troye, — 
Quhilk  Aves  king  Menelans  "wyfe, — 
Quhare  mony  one  thousand  loste  thare  lyfe. 

H  That  tyme,  the  vail3eant  Hercules 
Out  throuch^  the  warld^  did  hym  addres, 
Quhare  he  did  mony  ane  douchtye  deid, 
As  in  his  storye  thow  may  reid  ; 
And  quhow,  throuch'^  Dyonere,  his  wyfe. 
That  Campione  did  lose^  his  lyfe  : 
In  fiammand^  fyre  full  furiouslye 
The  deith  he  sufferit  creuellye. 

H  That  tyme,  Kemus  and  Romolus 
Did  found  that  Citie  most  famous 
Off  Eome,  standing  in  Italie, 
As  in  thare  ^**  storye  thow  may  se. 
Wald  thow  reid  Titus  Leuius, 
Thow  suld  fynd  warkis  wounderus  ; 
Quhose  douchtye  deidis  ar^^  weill  kende, 
And  salbe  to  the  warldis  ende  ; 
Thocht  thay  began  with  creueltie. 
And  endit  with  misaritie  ; 
As  bene  the  maner,  to  conclude, 
Off  all  scheddaris  of  saikles  blude. 

U  In  Grece  the  ornat  Poetry, 


3548 


.Insllll  1 

pioiieured  ; 
aiiJ  Saul,  David, 
audSolomoii,  Willi 
other  Hebrew 
kings,  flourislieil. 


3552    Thebea  was,  tlu'ii, 
besieged,  with 
sad  sutteriii}'; 


3556    ''''*  Gireeka  WaiTcd 
on  tlie  Trojan;,, 


because  of  Helen 
of  Troy,  wife  of 
Meueluus; 


3560 


Hercules  trans- 
acted doughty 
gests,  and, 


3564 


tlirou:h  Deiaiiira, 
came  to  an  un- 


timely end; 


3568 


and  Romulus 
and  Remus 
founded  Rome. 


3572 


Whoso  explores 
Livy  will  read  of 
wondrous 


3576  """^'^> 


ever  ineniorahle. 

Of  cruelty  and 
the  bitter  wages 


3580 


1  E  the         2  L  cuntre         3  l  vther  *  L  Eleua 

^  L  Outthrow,  E  Owt  throcht         6  E  wardill 

'  E  throwch,  L  throw         «  L  loiss  ^  L  flanibnud 

'"  L  the  ■<■  L  war 


118 


THE    THRID    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


Then,  in  Greece, 
appeared  Homer 
and  Hesiod ; 


and  many  books 
were  written. 


Gen.  xvii. 
Then,  too,  under 
Abraham, 


began  the  spirit- 
ual kingdom. 


Medecene,  Musike,  Astronomy,^ 

Duryng  this  first  Monarche  began  3584 

Be  Homerus,  that  famous  man, 

To  gydder  with  Hesiodus, 

As  diuers  Auctoris  schawis^  ws. 

It  "wer  to  lang  to  put  in  ryme  3588 

The  'b\3kis  quhilk  thay  wret^  in  thare  tyme. 

Thir  wer  the  actis  principell 

That  Monarche  duryng  quhilk"*  befell. 

As  for  gude  Abraham  and  his  seid,  3592 

In  to  the  Bibyll  thow  may  reid 

Quhow,  in  this  tyme,  as  I  heir  tell, 

Began  the  Kyugdome  Spirituell, 

As  I  haue  schawin  to  the  afifore  ;  3596 

Quharefor  I  speik  of  thame  no  more. 


*     FINIS.     * 


L  aud  Astrouomye 
3  L  wrait 


^  L  Autoiiris  schawith 
*  L  quhat 


119 


ANE    SCHORT   DISCRIPTIOUN   OF   THE    SECUND, 
THRID,  AND   FERD   MONARCHE.i 


COURTIOUR. 


Y"^  FATHER,  said  I,  quliilk  wes  the  man 
1  liat  the  nyxt  Monarchye  began  1 


The  next 
monarchy  P 


EXPERIENCE. 

Cyrus,  said  he,  the  kyng  of  Pers, — 
As  Cronicles  hes  done^  rehers, — 
Prudent,  and  full  of  Pollicye, 
Began  the  secunde  Monarchye  : 
For  he  wes  the  most  godly  ^  kyng 
That  euer  in  Pers  or  IMede^  did  ryng  ; 
For  he,  of  his  Benyngnitie, 
Delyuerit  frome  Captyuitie 
The  hole  Peple  of  Israeli, — 
In  to  the  tyme  of  Daniell, — 
The  quhilkis  had  bene  presoneris, 
In  Babilone,  sewin  score  of  ^eris  : 
Tharefor  God,  of  his  grace  benyng, 
Gaif  hym  ane  diuyne  knawleging. 
Duryng  his  tyme,  as  I  heir  tell, 
He  vsit  counsall  of  ^  Daniell. 
Carione^  at  lenth  doith'^  specifie 
Oif  his  maruellous^  Natyuitie, 
And  of  his  vertuus  vpbrynging, 
And  quhow  he  vincuste  Cresus  king, 
"With  mony  vther  vail^eant  deid  ; — 
As  in  to  Carione  ^  thow  may  reid, — 


3600    Cyrus,  king  of 
Persia, 

laid  its  found- 
ations. 

3604    Godly  was  lie; 


a.  Para,  xxocvi, 
for  he  set  at 
OuUo    people  of  Isniel, 


led  captive  for 
seven-score  j'eais. 

3612    God  inspired  him 
with  wisdom ; 

and  he  took 
counsel  with 
Daniel. 

3616    Carion  tells  of  his 
nativity,  and  of 


3620 


his  vanquishing 
King  Croesus. 


^  L  Monarchies 
*  L  Mede  or  Pers 
^  L  dois 


L  Croniclis  doith         ^  L  godlie 

^  L  omitted         '>  L  C'arioun 
E  marvalus,  L  mervvalus 


120 


TIIK    THRID    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCIIE. 


He  had  ten 

successors, 


but,  liimself, 
ended  miserably. 


slain  during  the 
invasion  of 
Sevtliia. 


Queen  Tomyris 
struolf  oflf 
his  head, 


threw  it  into 
a  vessel  of  blood. 


and  bade  it  drink 
its  fill. 


Tlien  reigned 
his  successors, 

till  the  time  of 
Alexander,  king 
of  Macedon, 


who  overcame 
Darius,  the  last 
monarch  of 
liis  line. 


Alexander's 

exploits 

may  be  read  at 

length 

in  English. 


He  i-avaged  for 
12  years. 


Quhose^  Successiouu  did  indure 
Tyll  the  tent  Kyng  :  tliareof  ^  be  sure. 

IT  Bot,  efter  his  gret  conquessyng,  3624 

Rycht  miserabyll  wes  his  cndyng. 
As  Herodotus  doith^  discryfe, 
In  Scythia  he  lost  his  lyfe, 

Quhare  the  vndantit  Scethianis  3628 

Uincuste  those  nobyll  Persianis. 
And,  efter  that  Cerus*  wes  dede, 
Quene  Tomyre  hakkit  of  his  hede, — ^ 
Quhilk  wes  the  quene  of  Scethianis, —  3632 

In  the  dispyte  of  Persianis : 
Scho^  kest  his  heid,  for  to  conch:de. 
In  tyll  ane  vessell''  full  of  blade, 

And  said  thir  wourdis,  creuellye  :  3636 

'  Drynk,  now,^  thy  fyll,  gyf  thow  be  drye  : 
For  thow  did  aye  blude  schedding  thryste, 
j^ow  drynk  at  laser,  gyf  thow  lyste.' 
Efter  that,  Cyras  successioan  3G40 

Off  all  the  vvarld  had  possessioun, 

H  Tyll  AUexander,  with  swerd  and  fyre, 
Obtenit,  perfors,  the  thrid^  Impyre, — 
Quhilk  Aves  the  king  of  Macedone  :  3644 

With  vai]3eant^  Grekis  mony  one, 
In  battell  fell  and  furious, 
Uincuste  the  niychtie  Darious,^'' 

Quhilk  wes  the  tent  and  the  last  kyng  3648 

Qahilk  did  efter  king  Cyrus  ryng. 
As  for  this^i  potent  Enipriour, 
AUexander  the  Conquereoar, 

Geue  thow  at  lenth  wald  rcid  his  ryng,  3652 

And  of  his  creuell  conqiiessyng. 
In  Inglis  toang,  in  his  gret  buke, 
Att  lenth  his  lyfe  thare^-  thow  may  hike  : — 
Qiihow  AUexander,  that  potent  Kj^ng,  3656 

Wes  twelf  3eris  in  his  Conquessyng; 


1  L  Quliois 
^  L  Quho         f 
^  L  waibeand 


2  E,  L  thairof 

L  one  wescliall 

10  L  Darius 


^  L  (lois  ^  L  Cyrus 
7  L  thon  s  E  thinl 
11  L  tlie         1    L  that 


THE  THRID  BVKE  OF  THE    MON'ARCnE. 


121 


And  quhow,^  for  all  his  gret  cou<ines^, 
He  leuit  bot  ane  3eir  in  rest, 
Q alien  be  his  Seruand  secretlj^e 
He  poysonit  wes,  full  pietiiouslye. 

H  Lucane  doith  Allexander  compair 
Tyll  thounder,  or  fyreflaucht  in  the  air, 
One  creuell^  Planeit,  A  mortall  weird 
Doun  thryngand  peple  with  his  sweird. 
Ganges,  that  most  famous  flude, 
He  myxit  with  the  Indianis  blude ; 
And  Euphrates,  with  the  blude ^  of  Pers  : 
Quhose  creueltie  for  to  rehers, 
And  saikles  blude  quhilk  he  did  sched, 
War  rycht  abhominabyll  to"*  be  red. 
Efter  his  schort  prosperitie, 
He  deit  with  gret  miseritie. 

IT  Itt  wer  to  lang  for  to  dissydit 
Quhow  all  his  realmes  wer  deuydit. 

Aye  quhill  that  Cesar  lulyus, 
Quhen  he  had  vincust  Pompeyus, 
Wes  chosin  Emperiour  and  kyng, 
Abufe^  the  Eomanis  for  tylP  ryng. 
That  potent  Prince  wes  the  first  man 
Quhilk  the  ferd  Monarche  began  ; 
And  had  the  hole''  Dominioun 
Off  euerilk  land  and  Eegioun  : 
Quhose  successouris  did  ryng,  but  weir, 
Ouer  the  warld,  mony  one  hundreth  ^eir. 
Bot  gentyll  lulyus,  allace  ! 
Eang  Empriour  bot  lytill  space, 
Quhilk  I  thynk  petye  tyll^  deplore  : 
In  fyue  Moneth  and  lytill  more. 
By  fals  exhorbitant  treasoun. 
That  prudent  Prince  wes  trampit  doun 
And  murdrest,  in  his  counsall  hous, 
By  creuell^  Brutus  and  Cascius.^ 


lived  one  year  in 
quiet, 

3660    nnd  was  poisoiie'l 
by  his  servant. 


3664 


Luean's  com- 
parisons ofliini. 


He  Plained  the 
Ganges  witli 
blood,  and  eke 
q/'/^Q    the  Euphrates, 


3672    His  success  and 
its  sequel. 


3676    Julius  Cicsar, 


kin<^  of  the 
Romans, 

3680    set  on  foot  the 

fourth  monarchy. 

He  reigned 
universally ; 

3684  and  BO  did  his 
successors  for 
many  centuries. 


3688 


But  he  himself 
was  king 


but  little  more 
than  five  months ; 


treasonably 
Q«QO    murdered  by 
ooy  J    Brutus  and 

Cassius. 


1  L  how         2  L  crewall         3  e  fluid         <  E  for  to 

*  E  abouf         6  L  to         t  L  hoill         8  e  f^y  tyll 

^  E  Cascious.  L  Ca.ssius 


122 


THE  THRID  BVKE  OF  THE  MONARCHE. 


II  Efter  that  lulyus  wes  slaue, 
Did  ryng  the^  gret  Octauiane, 
Off  Eiupriouris  one  of  the  best : 
Duryng  his  tyme  wes  peace  ^  and  rest 
Ouer  all  the  Avarld,  in  ilk  regioun, 
As  story  is  makith  mentioun. 
And  als^  I  male  it  to  the  plane, 
Durj'ng  the  tyme  of  Octauiane, 
The  Sonne  of  God,  our  Lord  lesew, 
Tuke  mankynd  of  the  Uirgine  trew, 
And  wes,  that  tyme,  in  Bethelem  borne. 
To  saif*  mankynde,  quhilk^  wes  forlorne ; 
As  Scripture  makilh*^  narratioun 
Off  his  blyst^  Incarnatioun. 

II  l^ow  haif^  I  tald^  the,  as  I  can, 
Quhow  the  four  Monarchyis  began. 
Bot,  in  thy  mynde,  thow  may  consydder 
Quhow  warldly  power^*^  bene  bot  slydder  ; 
For  all  thir  gret  Impyris  ar  gone  : 
Thow  seis  thare  is  no  Prince  allone 
Quhilk  lies  the  hole^^  Dominioun, 
This  tyme,  of  euery  Eegioun. 

COURTIOUR. 

H  rather,^^  quhat  reasone^^  had  those ^"^  kyngis  3716 
Eeuarris^^  to  be  of  vtheris  ryngis. 
But  ony  rycht  or  luste  querrell 
Quhairthrouch^^  that  thay  mycht  mak  battell. 
And  commoun^''^  pepyll  to^^  dounthyrng'?  3720 

To  this,  said  I,  mak  answeryng. 

EXPERIENCE. 

H  My  Sonne,  said  he,  that  sail  be^^  done 
As  I  best  can,  and  that  rycht  soue. 
These  monarchies  Thir  Monarclieis,  I  vnderstand, 


Next  came 
Octavian, 


a  blessed 
sovereign. 


In  his  days  was 
tlie  birth  of  Jesus, 


in  Rethlelieni, 

Math,  it. 

incarnate  for 
man's  salvation. 


This  of  the  four 
monarchies ; 


and  there  lias 
been  no  fifth. 


What  right  had 
the  kings  afore- 
said to  do  as  they 
did? 


369G 


3700 


3704 


3708 


3712 


372-1 


were  foreordained, 


Preordinat  wer  by  the  command 


1  E  ane         -   E  pjiico         ^  L  also         ^  L  sauf 

6  L  tliat  ^  L  mak  is  ''  L  bli.ssit  **  L  liaiie 

»  L  tauld         10  E  pouir         "  E  holle,  L  lioill 

12  L  Fader         i-^  L  ressoun         ^  L  tliois 

1^  L  reveris         i^  E  Quliairtlirocht,  L  Quliairtlirow 

1^  E  commoimd         i*  L  till         i"  E  salbe 


THE    THRU)    liVKE    uF    THE    MUXARCIIE. 


123 


3740 


Off  God,  the  Plasmatour  of  all, 

For  to  doun  tliryng  and  to  mak  thrall 

Undandit  Peple  vitious,  3728 

And  als  for  to  be  gratious 

To  thame  quhilk  vertuous  wer  and  gude  : 

As  Daniel]  heth^  done  conclude, 

At  lenth,  in  tyll  his  Propheseis,^  3732 

Quhow  thare  suld  be  four  IMonarcheis. 

His  secund  Chepture^  thow  maye  see  : 

Quhow,  efter  the  first  Monarchie, 

Quhen  Nabuchodonosor^  kyng 

Ane  Yniage  sawe,  in  his  slepyng, 

With  austeir  hike,  boith  heych  and  breid ; 

And  of  fyne  pure  Gold  wes  his  heid. 

His  breist  and  armes  of  syluer  brycht, 

His  wamb^  of  Copper,  hard  and  "wycht, 

His  loynis^  and  lymmis  of  Irne"  rycht  strong. 

His  feit  of  clay  Irne  myxt  among. 

Frome  A^  montane  thare  come  allone,  -     3744 

But  hand  of  man,  A  mekle  stone, 

Quhilk  on  that  Figourzs  feit  did  fall. 

And  dang  all  doun  in  poulder^  smalL 

II  Off  quhose  Interpretatioun  3748 

Doctouris^"  doith  mak  ll^arratioun  . 
The  hede  of  gold  did  signifye, 
First,  of  Asserianis  Monarchye  ; 

The  syluer  breist  thay  did  apply  3752 

To  Persianis,  quhilk  rang  secundly  ; 
The  wambe  '^^  of  copper  or  of  brasse, 
Thridly,  to^^  Grekis  comparit  wasse; 
His  loynis  and  lymmis  of  Irne  and  steill,  3756 

Clerkis  hes  thame  comparit  "weill 
To  Romanis,  throuch  thare  diligence 
To  haue  the  Feird  Preemynence 
Abufe  all  vther  ISTatioun.  3760 

Be  this  Interpretatioun, 


Dani.  vii. 
by  God, 
to  repress  tlie 
bad, 

and  to  advantage 
the  good. 


The  prophet 
Daniel  foretold 
them. 


3736    Of  the  vision  of 
Nebucliadnezzar, 
and  of  the  image 
seen  therein. 


tlio  composition 
of  its  vai-iuus 
members. 


and  how  it  was 
pulverized. 

Tile  interpreta- 
tion of  the  vision, 
as  denoting 


the  Assyrian, 
the  Persian, 
the  Grecian, 


and  the  Roman 
monarcliies. 


1  L  haith         2  l  into  his  prophacyeis         ^  l  cheptour 
*  L  Nabugodonosar  ^  E  vyme  ^  L  lonys,  E  lynis 

^  E  Yrn         8  ^  ane         »  L  powder         lo  L  Daniel 


"  E  vymbe         ^^  l  to  the 


124 


THE    THRID    liVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


these  latter  days ; 


and  Christ,  of 

evei'-duiiiig 

monarchy, 


which  will  be 
manifest  at  the 
General 
Judgment. 


What  Daniel  saw, 
in  his  vision. 


about  the  Greeks, 


and  about  the 
Medes  and 
Persians. 


God  devised  these 
monarchies. 


Titus  an  instru- 
ment to  scourge 
tlie  Jews. 


The  niyxit  feit  •with  Irne  and  clay 

Did  signifye  this  letter  ^  day, 

Quhen  that  the  warld  sulde  be  deuydit,  3764 

As  efterwart  salbe  disydit : 

To  Christ  is  signifyit  the  stone, 

Quhose^  Monarche  sail  neuer  be  gone; 

For  vnder  his  Dominioun  3768 

All  Princis  sail  be^  trampit  doun. 

Quhen  that  gret  kyng  Omnipotent 

Cumis  to  his  generall  lugement, 

His  Monarche,  than,  salbe  knawin,  3772 

As  efter  sail  be^  to  the  schawin. 

Cd^  And  als  the  Scripture  sail  the  tell 
Quhow,  in  the  audit  of  Daniell, 

He  saw,  in  to  his  visioun,  3776 

Be  ane  j^lane  expositioun, 
Quhow  that  the  Grekis  sulde  wyrk'^  vengeence 
Upone  the  Medis  and  Persience;^ 
Compa:and  Grekis  tyll  ane  Gote  3780 

With  ane  home, — fers,  furious,^  and  bote, — 
Quhilk  slew  the  Earn  with  hornis  two, 
Comparit  tylF  Pers  and  Mede,  all  so. 
And  so,  be  Danielh'i-  prophesyis,^  3784 

All  thir  gret  mychtie  Monarchyis, 
The  quhilkis^  all  vther  realmes  supprysit,^*' 
Be  the  gret  God  thay  wer  deny  sit : 
As  he  of  Tytus,  the  Eomane,  3788 

Sonne  and  Air  to  Uespasiane, 
Maid  hym  ane  Furious  Instrument, 
To  put  the  lowis  to  gret  torment ; 
Quhilk  I  puqiose,  or  I  liyne  fair,  3792 

Schortlie  that  processe^^  to  declair. 


*     FINIS.     * 


1  E  lattir,  L  latter  2  l  Quhois  ^  j^  g^iije 

*  pj  virk         ^  L  Persianis         ^  L  furious  fers 

7  L  to         8  Lprophacycis         ^  L  Quhilk 

1"  L  sujipressit  ^^  L  processe  sliortlie 


125 


OF  YE  MOST  MISERABYL  AND  MOST  TERRABILL 
DISTRUCTIOUN  OF  lERUSALEM. 


COURTIOUR. 


f^  FATHEE,!  said  I,  declare  to  me 
Iiiduryng  this  ferd  IVIonarchie 
The  maist  Infortune  that  befell. 


3796 


What  was  the 
chief  calamity 
under  tlie  toiirtli 
moiiarcliy  ? 


EXPERIENCE. 

My  Sonne,  said  he,  that  sail  I  tell. 
The  moist  and  manyfest  misarie 
Became  apon-  the  gret  Cetie 
lerusalem,  quhen  it  wes  supprest, 
As  storyis  makis  manifest. 
Bot,  as  the  Scripture  doith  deuyse, 
lerusalem  wes  distroyit  twyse  ; 
First,  for  the  gret  Idolatrye 
Quhilk  thay  commyttit  in  lowrye  : 
The  honour  audit  to  God  allone 
Thay  gaif  Figuris^  of  stoke  and  stone. 
Aflfore*  Christis  Incarnatioun 
Come  this  first  desolatioun, 
Fyue  hundreth  ^eris,  four  score,  and  ten, 
In  Cronicles  as  thow  may  ken  : — 
Quhow  Nabuchodonosor^  kyng 
That  famous  Citie  did  doun  tliryng ; 
Thare  Kyng,  with  peple  mony  one, 
Brocht  thame,  all  bound,  to^  Babilone, 
Qu-hare  thay  remanit  Presoneris 
The  space  of  thre  score '^  and  ten  3eris  : 
And  that  first  desolatioun 


It  was  the  fall  of 
Jerusalem. 


3800 


Baru.  vi. 
This  city  was 
twice  laid  waste ; 

3804  o'x-f'/^-'t^ 

idolatry, 


in  lieu  of  right 
worship, 


3808 


590  years  B.C., 


3812    by  Nebuchad- 
nezzar, 

who  carried  its 
'   iieople  to  Babylon, 

3816    and  there  held 
them  in  bonds 
,  for  70  years. 


^  L  Fader         -  E  vpoune         ^  E  Fygouris,  L  to  Fygouris 

^EAffoir         5  L  Nabugodonosar         6  l  till 

''   E  scoire.  L  score  of  jeiris 


126 


THE    THRID    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


the  poor  alone 
excepted. 


Cyrus  came  to 
their  rescue. 


At  the  last  siege 
of  Jerusalem,  the 
destruction  sur- 
passed tliat  of 


Tyre,  Tliebes, 
and  Troy. 


Vespasian  was  its 
besieger. 


Tlien  was  fulfilled 
tlie  prophecy  of 
Clirist, 

Luc.  xix,  xxi. 
Mark  xiii. 


Who,  divinely 
prescient, 


was  moved  to 

pity, 

reflecting  that 
the  Holy  City 
knew  not  its  fate, 


and  would  not 
consider, 
Mathew  xxiii. 

and  refused  to 
accept  His 
protection. 


Wes  callit  tlie  Transmigratioun. 

Wes  no  man  left,i  in  all  thare  landis,  3820 

Eot  Purellis  lauborand-  with  tliare  handis, 

Tyll  myclitie  Cyrus,  king  of  Pers, — 

As  Daniell  lieth  done^  rehers, — 

Wes  mouit,  be  God,  for  tyll  restore  3824 

The  loAvis  quhare  that  thay  wer  afore.* 

IT  Geue^  I  neglect,  I  wer  to  blame, 
The  last  Sege  of  lerusalem, 

Quhose  rewyne  wes  most  miserabyll,  3828 

And  for  to  tell  rycht  terrabyll. 
Wes  neuer,  in  erth,^  Cetie  nor  toun, 
Gatt  sic  extreme  distructioun  : 

The  townis  of  Tyre,  Tebes,'  nor  Troye,  3832 

Thay  sufferit  neuer  half  sic  noye. 
The  Emprioure  Uespasiane 
He  did  deuyse  that  Sege,  certane. 

IT  Thare  wes  the  Prophesied  compleit  3836 

Quhilk  Christ  spake  on  mont  Olyueit. 
Quhen  he  lerusalem  beheld. 
The  teris  frome  his  eine  disteld : 

Seand,  be  Diuyne  prescience,  3840 

The  gret  distructioim  and  vengence 
Quhdk  wes  to  cum  on  that  Cetie, 
His  hart  wes  persit  with  Petie, 

Sayand  :  lerusalem,  and  thow  knew  3844 

Thy  gret  rewyne,  sore  wald  thow  rew  j 
For  no  thyng  I  can  to  the  schaw. 
The  veritie  thow  wylP  nocht  knaw, 
Nor  hes^'^  in  consydderatioun  3848 

Thy^^  holy  visitatioun. 
Thy  peple  wyll  no  way  considder, 
Quham^2  gadtherit^^  I  wald  half  ^"^  to  gidder, — 
As  errand  scheip  bene  with  thare  hirdis,  3852 

Or  as  the  Hen  gadderis^'^  her  byrdis 
Under  hir  wyngis,  tenderlye, — 

1  E  left  no  man         ^  e  laubowrand         ^  L  doith 

*  L  Affoire         ^  L  gif         "  L  erd         ^  E  Thebis,  L  Tebis 

8  L  prophacie         ^  E  vill         lo  L  baue         "  L  Tbe 

12  L  Quhome         ^^  E  gatberit,  L  gadderit 

"  E  gather i.s,  L  gadderith 


®Itc  P0imi|tk  Hitd  0flti^r  §^m 


Sir  Babitr  ^untr^sair. 


.  Original  §ettfs.     |lo.  19. 
1866. 
[Seconb  (gjrrtion,  18S3.] 


BERLIN  :  ASHER  &  CO.,  53  MOHRENSTRASSE. 

NEW  YORK:  C.  SCRIBNER  &  CO.;    LEYPOLDT  &  HOLT. 

PHILADELPHIA :  J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  &  CO. 


S;iu   Maiunttlnj 


AND    OTHEE   POEMS 


'ir  gabitr  l^jinbcsan* 


KDITED     BY 

JOHN   SMALL,  M.A.,  P.S.A.  SCOT. 


PAET  ir. 
[Seconal  lEtiition,  5RcbiscK,  1883.] 


LONDON: 

PUBLISHED   FOR   THE  EARLY  ENGLISH  TEXT  SOCIETY, 
BY  N.  TEUBXER  &  CO.,  57  &  59,  LUDGATE  HILL. 

MDCCCLXVI. 


©nginal   Merits, 

10. 
BUNGAY  :     CLAY    AXIJ    lAYLOK,    TllK    CHAUCER   PREPS. 


Tlih    jlHRID    BVKE    of    THE    MONAUCHE. 


127 


Quhilk  thay  refusit  dispitfullye. 
Quharefor  sail  cum  that  dulefull  day, 
That  no  remedy  1  mak  thow  may  : 
Thy  Dungiounis^  sail  be  dung  in  schoundev, 
So  that  the  warld^  sail  on  the  wounder ; 
Thy  tempyll,  now  most  tryumphand, 
Sail  be"*  tred  doun  amang  the  sand. 
And,  as  he  said,  so  it  befell, 
As  heir  efter  I  sail  the  tell. 


3856    The  doleful  day, 
He  said, 


would  come  when 
QQrn    ''should  be 
OoOU    spoiled; 

Mathew  xxiHi. 
and  spoiled  it  was. 


COURTIOUR. 

IF  SchaAV  me,  said  I,  with  circumstance, 
The  speciall  cause  of  that  myschance. 


3864    The  cause  of  this? 


EXPERIENCE. 

Quod  he  :  as  scripture  doith^  conclude. 
For  scheddyng  of  the  saikles  blude 
Off  Prophetis  quhilk/*'  God  to  thame  send,  3868 

And,  als,  because  that  thay  myskend 
lesu,  the  Sonne  of  God  Souerane, 
Quhen  he  amang  thame  did  remane. 
For  all  the  Myraklis^  that  he  schew, 
Maliciouslye  thay  hym  mysknew ; 
Thocht,  be^  his  gret  power  diuyne, 
The  waiter^  cleir  he  tuinit  in  wyne, 
Ajid,  be  that  self  power  and  mycht,  3876 

To  the  blynde  borne  he  gaif  the  sycht, 
And  gaif  ^  the^'^  crukit  men  thair  feit, 
And  maid  the  lypir  ^^  haill  compleit : 
He  halit  all,  and  rasit  the  dede;  3880 

3it  held  thay  hym  at  mortall  fede. 
Because  he  schew  the  veritie, 
Thay  did  conclude  that  he  sulde  de. 

(Cf^-  The  Byschoppis,  princis  of  ^^  i\^q  preistis,     3881 
They  grew  so  boildin,^^  in  thare  breistis  ; 
The  Scrybis,  the  Doctouris  of  the  law, 

^  L  remeid         2  e  Doungeounis         ^  E  vardle 

*  E  Salbe         ^  l  dois         ^  e  mirakles         ^  L  he  be 

8  E,  L  waiter         9  E  gef         lo  L  to         "  E  lippir 

12  E  and         i3  e  boldin 
MONARCHE,  II. 


The  shedding  the 
innocent  blood  of 
the  prophets. 


and  the  mistaking 
Jesus, 


3872    despite  of  His 
miracles ; 


Ihnn  ii. 

for,  though  He 
wrought  many 
and  great,  on 
wine,  the  blind, 
the  halt,  &c.. 


Ihon  xi. 

Math.  X. 
He  was  had  at 
enmity, 

and  was  doomed 
to  die. 


ilathew  xxvH. 
Tlie  local  Jewish 
clerisy. 


128 


THE    THRID    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


aweless. 


and  tbe  Pharisees, 


plotted  His  ruin. 


Iho.  xix. 
bound  Him, 
scourged  Him 
rutlilessly  vvitli 
stripes. 


crowned  Him 
witli  tlioms. 


made  Him  bear 
His  own  galloivs 
to  Calvary, 


and  there  nailed 
Him  to  a  cross. 


Hia  patience. 


Two  thieves  were 
executed  with 
Him. 

From  His  feet 
and  bands 

ran  blood  abun- 
dantly. 


Briefly,  in  anguish 
He  spoke  His  last 
words, 


Off  God  nor  man  quhilkis  stude  none  aw 

On  Clirist  lesu  to  wyrk  vengeance ;  3888 

Rycht  so,  the  fals  Pharesiance, 

Ane  Sect  of  fen3eit  Eeligioun, 

Deuysit  his  confusioun, 

And  send  thare  seruandis,  at  the  last,  3892 

And  with  strang  cordis  thay  band  hym  fast, 

Syne  scurgit^  l^ym,  boith  bak  and  syde, 

That  none  for  blude  mycht  se  his  hyde  : 

Thare  wes  nocht  left  ane  penny  breid  3896 

Unwoundit,  frome  his  feit  tyll  held. 

In  maner  of  dirisioun, 

Thay  plett  for  hym  ane  creuell  croun 

Off  prun^eand^  thornis,  scharpe  and  lang,  3900 

Quliilk  on  his  hewinlye  held  thay  thrang ; 

Syne  gart  hym,  for  the  gretter  lack,^ 

Beir  his  awin  Gallons,  on  his  back, 

Tyll  the  vyle  place  of  Caluare,  3904 

Quhare  mony  ane  thousand  man*  mycht  se. 

H  That  Innocent  thay  tuke,  perforce, 
And  platt  hym  bakwart  to  the  Croce  ;  ^ 
Throuch^  feit  and  handis  gret  nalis  thay  thryst,     3908 
Tyll  blude  aboundantlye'''  out^  bryst : 
Without  grunschyng,^  clamor,  or  crye, 
That  pane  he  sufferit  patientlye. 

And,  for  agmentyng  of  his  grefis,  3912 

Thay  hangit  hym  betuix  two  thefis ;  ^'^ 
Quhare  men  mycht  se  the  bludy  strandis 
QuhilkiS  sprang  furth  of  his  feit  and  handis  : 
Frome  thornis,  thristit  on  his  held,  3916 

Ran  doun  the  bulryng  stremis  reid  : 
In  the  presens  of  mony  one  man, 
That  blude  royaU  on  roches  ran. 

Schortly  to  say,  that  heuinlye^^  Kyng  3920 

In  extreme  dolour  thare  did  hyng,^^ 
Tyll  he  said  '  Consumatum  est : ' 

^  L  schurgit         ^  L  prin3ean(l,  E  prun^e         ^  L  lak 

*  E  omitted         ''  L  cors         "  L  Throw 

7  L  haboundanlie  ^  E  did 

"  L  gruncheiiig,  E  grounsching         ^'^  L  thevia 

"  E  havyuly  ^^  E  ryng 


THE    THUID    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


129 


3932 


3940 


"With  A  loude^  crye,  he  gaif  ^  the  gaist. 

Quhen  he  wes  dede,  thay  tuke  one  dart,  3924 

And  peirst^  that  Prence  outthrouch  the  hart, 

Fra  quham  thare  ran  ■waiter*  and  blude. 

The  erth  than  trymhlit,^  to  conckide  ; 

IF  Phebus  did  hyde  his  beymes  brycht, 
That  throuch  the  warld  thare  wes  no  lycht ; 
The  gret  vaill  of  the  tempyll  raue  ;^ 
The  dede  men  rais  out  of  thare  graue,''' 
And  in  the  Cetie  did  appeir. 
As  in  the  Scripture  thow  may  heir. 
Than  loseph,  of  Abaramathie,^ 
Did  bury  hym  rycht  honestlie  : 
Bot  3it  he  rose,  full  gloriouslye, 
On  the  thrid  day,  tryumphandlye. 
With  his  Disciplis,^  in  certane, 
Fourtye  dayis  he  did  rcmane ; 
Efter  that,  to  the  heuin  ascendit. 
Thir  lowis  no  thyng  thare  lyfe  amendit, 
ISTor  gaif  ^'^  no  credens  tyll  his  sawis, — 
As  at  more  lenth  the  storye  schawls, — • 
Bot  creuellye  thay  did  oppres 
All  men  that  Christz's  name  did  profes, 
And  persecutit  mony  one  : 
Thay  presonit  boith  Peter  and  Ihone  ;^^ 
And  Stewin^^  ^jjay  gtonit  to  the  dede ; 
Frome  lames  the  les  thay  straik  the  hede. 
This  wes  the  cause,  in  conclusioun, 
Off  thare  creuell  confusioun. 

IF  The  prudent  low,^^  losephus,  sayis 
That  he  wes  present  in  those  dayis ; 
And,  in  his  buke,  makith  mentioun, 
Quhow,  efter  Christis  Ascentioun 

The  space  of  twa  and  fourty  ^eris,  3956 

Began  those  creuell  mortall  weris, 
The  secund  jeir  of  Uespasiane, 


and  died. 


He  was  pierced. 


3928    The  phenomena 
tliat  foUoweil  Hi3 
crucifixion,  with 
respect  to  tlie 
earth,  tlie  sun,  tlie 
vail  of  the 
Temple,  and  the 
dead  ;  as  we  hear 
in  Scripture. 

He  was  buried, 


39 3 G    but  rose  on  the 
third  day, 

Ihon  XX. 
stayed  40  days 
with  His  disciples, 
and  ascended  into 
Heaven. 

Actis  i. 
The  Jews  mended 
not. 


3944    but  cruelly  per- 
secuted His 
followers. 


3948 


Actif  V. 
as  SS.  Peter, 
John, 

Stephen,  and 
James, 

Actis  vi. 
to  their  own 
liarm. 

3952    Josephus  tells  ns, 
that. 


42  years  after  the 
Ascension, 


tlie  cruel  wars 
began. 


1  E  ane  luid         ^E  gef         ^  l  persit         *  E  baith  waiter 

^  E  trembleit         ^  E  raiffe         '^  L  graif         ^  L  Abernamatha 

9  L  Discipulis      i"  E  gaif,  L  geff       "  E  lohnne       12  g  stevya 

13  E  omitted 


K    2 


130 


THE   THRID    BVKE    OF    THE   MONARCHE. 


fatal  to  many. 


The  city  was  full 
of  victims, 


assembled  against 
the  Passover. 


Titus  invades 
Judea. 


The  Jews 
gatliered  together 
in  Jerusalem. 


It  was  besieged 
for  six  months, 


dm'ing  which 


thousands  wore 
starved  to  death, 


aflcr  enduring 
grievous  privation 


nnd  extreme 
distress. 


Women,  from 

hunger. 


Qohare  mony  takin  wer^  and  slaiie. 

losephus  planely  doith^  conclude,  39 GO 

Wes  neuer  sene  sic  one  mvJtytude, 

Aflfore  that  tyme,  in  to  the  toun, 

Quhilk  come  for  tliare  confusioun. 

Thare  gret  Infortune^  so  befell,  39G4 

That  all  the  Princis  of  Israeli 

Conuenit  agane  the  tyme  of  Peace, 

Bot  tyll  returne  thay  had  no  grace. 

The  bald  Eomanis,  with  thare  Chiftane,  3908 

Tytus,  the  Sonne  of  Uespasiane, 

Thare  Army  ouer  ludea  spred  : 

Than  all  men  to  the  Ciete  fled, 

Beleuand  thare  to  get  releif ;  3972 

Bot  all  that  turnit  to  thare  myscheif. 

^  The  Eomanis  lappit  thame  about, 
That  be  no  waye  thay  mycht  wyn  out. 

Sax  Moneth  did  that^  Sege  indure,  397 G 

Quhare  loste  wer  mony  one  creature, 

Quhilkzs  thare  in  misary  did  remane, 

Tyll  thay  wer  takin,  all,  or  slane. 

Duryng  the  tyme  of  this  assail3e,  3980 

Thare  meit,  and  drynk,  and  all  did  fail30 ; 

For  thare  wes  sic  ane  multytude, 

That  thousand/b"  deit  for  fait  of  fude. 

Necessitie  gart  thame  eit,  perforsse,  3984- 

Dog,  Catt,  and  Eattone,  Asse,  and  horsse. 

Eyche  men  behuffit^  tyll^'  eait  thare  gold> 

Syne  deit  of  hunger  mony  fold. 

Sic  hunger  wes,  without  remcid''  3988 

The  quik  behufit^  tyll  eit  the  deid  : 

The  fylth  of  Closett/s  mony  eit ; 

To  lenth  thare  lyfc  thay  thoclit  it  sweit. 

U  The  famous  Ladyis^  of  the  toun,  3992 

For  fait  of  fude,  thay  fell  in  swoun. 

Quhen  thay  mycht  gett  none  vther  meit, 


1  L  war  tnne 
2  E  misfortoune         ■*  ].  the 
'  E  remaid 


^  L  dois 
^  E  beliowffit 
8  E  Liulcis 


CL  to 


THE  TnUID  BVKE  OF  THE  MONARCHE. 


131 


Thay  s/ew  tliare  propir  Bairnis  to  eit ; 

Bot  all  for  nocht :  dispytfullye,  3996 

Thare  awiu  sowldiouris,^  full  gredelye, 

Eef  t  thame  that  flesche  most  misarabyll ; 

And  thay,  with  murnyng  lamentabyll, 

For  extreme  hunger,  jald-  the  sprcit.  4000 

Thare  was  the  Prophesie  compleit, 

As  Christ  affore  maid  narratioun, 

The  day  of  his  grym  Passioun. 

Quhen  that  the  Ladyis^  for  hym  murnit,  4004 

Pull  pietuouslye  he  to  thame  turnit, 

And  said  :  douchtcrr/s,  murne  nocht  for  me  ; 

IMurne  on  ^our  awin  posteritie  : 

Within  schort  tyme  sail  cum  the  day  4008 

That  men  of  this  Ciete  sail  say, 

Quhen  thay  ar  trappit  in  the  snair, 

'Blyst  be  the  wamb*  that  neuer  bair; 

The  baren  papis,  than,  thay  sall^  blys  :  4012 

That  dulefull  day  36  sail  nocht  mys.* 

This  prophesie*'  it  come  to  pas. 

That  day,  with  mony  lowde  '  alias  ! ' 

Sic  sorrowfull  lamentatioun  4016 

Wes  neuer  hard  in  that  natioun, 

Seand  those  lustye  Ladyis  sweit 

Deand  for  hunger  in  the  streit, 

Thare  husbandis  nor  thare  chyldring  4020 

Mycht  geue'^  to  thame  na  conforting, 

ISTor  3it  releif  thame  of  thare  harmis, 

Bot  atheris^  deand  in  vtheris  armis. 

Efter  this  wofull  Indigence,  4024 

Amang  thame ^  rose  sic  Pestilence, 

Quhare  in  thare  deit  mony  bounder,^*' 

Quhilk  tyll  declare  it  wer  gret  wounder. 

H  And,  for  fynalP^  conclusioun,  4028 

Those  weirlyke  wallis  thay  dang  doun. 
Prince  Tytus,  with  his  Chewalrye, 


Blew  their  own 
children  for  food, 

which,  however, 
the  soldiers 
snatched  from 
them. 


Lxie.  xxiiii. 
Thus  were  veri- 
fied the  words  of 
Christ, 


Who  bade  the 
daughters  of 
Jerusalem  mourn, 
not  for  Him, 
but  for  their 
posterity. 


who  were  des- 
tined bitterly  to 
bewail  their  lot. 


Particulars  of  the 


wretchedness  of 
the  people. 


and  their  miser- 
able end. 

To  the  siege 
Bucceeded  a 
pestilence. 


The  city-walls 
were  raised ; 


1  E  suldiowris,  L  soldiouris        2  e  ^eld,  L  puld         ^  E  Ladeis 

*  E  vymb     &  L  sail  thai     ^  L  projihacyis  that     '  E  geff,  L  gyf 

8  E  ather         ^  E  omitted         ^o  E  hunder         "  L  small 


132 


TUB    THRID    BVKE    OF    THE    MOXARCHE. 


and  Titus  entered 
Jerusalem. 


Shrieks, 
killing, 
blood. 


sacrilege,  in 
destroying  the 
Temple  of 
Solomon, 


burning, 


The  clergy. 


reaping  tlie 
recompense  of 
their  wickedness, 


grieved  that  they 
)iud  slain  the 

Christ, 


and  slied  innocent 
bloud. 


Mathew  a'xiii. 
Vengeance,  tliat 
day,  fell  on 
Jerusalem, 


With  sound  of  tromi^e,  Tryumphandlye 

He  enterrit  in  that  gret  Ciete.  4032 

Jjot  tyll  declare  I  thynk  piete^ 

The  panefuU  clamour  horrabyll 

Off  woundit  folk  most  miserabyll. 

Thare  wes  nocht  ellis  hot  tak  and^  slay  ;  4036 

For  thare  mycht  no  man  wyn  away. 

The  strandis  of  blude  ran  throuch  the  stretis^ 

Off  dede  folk  trampit  vnder  fetis;^ 

Axdd  Wedowis  in  the  preis  "wer  smorit ;  4040 

3oiing  Uirginis,^  schamefully  deflorit ; 

The  gret  Tempyll  of  Salamone, — 

With  mony  A*^  curyous  caruit  stone, 

With  perfyte'''  pynnakles  on  hycht,  4044 

Quhilkis  wer  rycht  bewtyfuU  and  wycht, 

Quhare  in  ryche  lowelli's  did  abound,^ — 

Thay  ruscheit  rudlye  to  the  ground, 

And  sett,  in  tyll  thare  furious  yre,  4048 

Sancta  Sanctorum  in  to^  fyre  ; 

And,  with  extreme  confusioun. 

All  thare  gret  Dungionis^^  thay  dang  doun. 

IT  Thare  bursin  wer  the  boildin  breistis  4052 

Off"  Byschoppis,  princis  of  the  preistis  : 
Thare  takin^^  wes  the  gret  vengeence^^ 
On  13  fals  Scrybis  and  Pharisience. 
All  thare  payntit  Ipocrasie,  4056 

That  tyme,  mycht  mak  thame  no  supplie. 
That  day  thay^*  dulefullye  repentit 
That  to  the  deith  of  Christe  consentit : 
Thocht  it  wes  oure  Saluatioun,  40G0 

Itt  wes  to  thare  Dampnatioun.^^ 
The  vengeance  of  the  blude  saikles, 
Frome  Abell  tyll  Zacharies, 

That  day  apon^*^  lerusalem  fell.  4064 

Bot  tiddiusi''  it  wer  to  tell 
The  gret  extreme  confusioun, 

1  E  ffrett  pitie         2  l  or         3  e  streittis         <  E  feittis 
^  E  W)  rginis       "  L  ono       ''  E  parfit       **  L  habound       °  E  the 
^^  E  Doungeonis        ^^  E  talkyne       ^^  E  wengeance        ^^  ]j  ofj 

^*  L  omitted         ^''  L  Condampnatiovin         i®  E  vpoiiue 
^^  E  tyddious,  L  tedius 


THE    THRID    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


133 


And  of  blude  sic  effusioun  : ' 

Wes  neiier  slane  so  mony  ane  man,  40G8 

At  one  tymo,  sen  the  warld  began. 

The  lowis,  that  day,  gat  thare  desyre, 

Quhilk  tliay  did  aske,  in  to  thare  yre, — 

As  bene  in  Scripture  specifyit, —  4072 

The  day  quhen  Christe  wes  Crucifyit. 

Quhen  Ponce  Pylat,  the  precedent,^ 

Said  to  thanie,  '  I  am  Innocent 

Off  the  lust  Elude  of  Christ  Tesus,'  4076 

Thay  cryit,  '  his  Elude  lycht  vpon  ws, 

And  on  our  Generatioun  : ' 

Thay  gat  thare  Supplicatioun  : 

That  day,  with  mony  cairfuU  cry, 

Thare  blude  wes  sched  aboundantly.^ 

U  losephus  wryttith,^  in  his  buke, — 
His  Cronicle  quho  lyste  to  luke, — • 
Duryng  that  creuell  Sege,  certane, 
Wer  alewin^  hundreth  thowsand  slane  3 
Off  Presonaris,  weill  tauld  and  sene, 
Poure  score  of  thousandis,  and  sewintene. 
Out  of  the  land  thay  did  expell 
All  the  peple  of  Israeli, 
And,  for  thare  gret  Ingratytude, 
Thay  leif  ^it  vnder  Sernytude. 
Thare  is  no  low,  in  no  cuntre, 
Quhilk  lies  one  fute  of  propertie, 
!N"or  neuer  had,  withouttin  weir. 
Sen  this  day  fyuetene*^  hundreth  jeir, 
'Nor  neuer  sail,  I  to  the  schaw,  4096 

Tyll  that  thay  turne  to  Christis  law. 

^  Sum  sayis  that  lowis  mony  fald 
Wer  thretty  for  ane  penny  said ; 

As  ludas  sauld  the  Kyng  of  Glore  4100 

Por  thretty  pennyis,'^  and  no  more. 

IT  Efter  that  mony  wer  myscheuit, 


in  unparalleled 
Blaugliler. 


The  Jews  were 
then  answered. 


who  had  a(!cepted. 
Math,  xxvii. 


for  themselves 
and  their  heirs, 

the  consequences 
Ar\Qr\    otdoingtlie Christ 
4UoU    to  death. 


Josephus  records, 
that, 

4084    during  the  siege, 
1,100,000  were 
slain,  and  97,000 
taken  captive. 


4088    Expelled  from 
their  home, 

the  Jews  are  still 
in  servitude. 

4092   They  have  been 
without  land 


since  Christ's 
time, 

and  will  so 
remain,  till 
converted. 
It  is  said  that 
they  were  once 
sold,  thirty  for  a 
penny. 


1  L  affusioun  ^  l  president  ^  L  habounrlanly 

*  E  vrettith  ^  B  alevyn  ^  L  fivetene,  E  fyfteue 

7  E  penneis 


134  THE  THRID  BVKE  OF  THE  MONARCHB. 

Quhen  nouell/^  past  quhow^  lang  thay  leuit 
Some  were  lipped  Apone  tliare  Gold,  withouttin  doute  4104 

open  for  their  ■,     i,    •    n  ,  q  •,         • 

gold;  Thay  slyt  tnare  bellyis/  to  sers^  it  oute. 

others  were  The  rest  in  Egypt  thay  did  sende, 

banished  into  .  i  i        •  i 

Egypt;  Presonans  to  thare  lyuis  ende. 

Tytus  tuke,  in*  Ms  cumpanye,  4108 

and  others  were     Gret  nummei"^  of  the  most  worthye  : 

carried,  bound,  to  iii,i  i  i 

Eoine.  w  ith  hym  to  Eome  he  led  thame  bound, 

Syne  creuelly  did  thame  confound  : 
to  be  made  a         His^  victory  for  tyll  decore,  4112 

public  spectacle,         .      ,    -  ,  p  i  ■        i 

And  for  agmentyng  oi  his  glore, 
Gart  put  thame  in  to  publict  placis, 
Quhare  all  folk  mycht  behald  thare  facis ; 
and  at  last  to  be     Syne  with  wyld  Lyonis  creuellye  4116 

He  gart  deuore  thame  diilefullj^e. 

H  This  hie,  Tryumjihand,  mychtie  toun 

Paschal  confusion    At  Paschs  WeS  put  to  COnfusioUll, 

expiated  Paschal  i-i  p-r.  1 1  on 

wrong.  Eecause  that  m  the  tyme  of  Peace  41  JO 

Thay  Crucify  it''  the  Kyng  of  grace. 

Sum  hes  this  mater  done  indyte 

More  Ornatly  than  I  can  wryte ; 
Self-depreciation.    Quharcfor  I  speik  of  it  no  more  :  4124 

Onely  to  God  be  laude  and  glore. 

*    EINIS.     * 

1  E  how  2  E  belleis  ^  l  pcrche  *  E  and 

6  L  nomber         «  E  As         ^  E  Crusifeyt 


135 


The  lesson  of  the 
four  temporal 
Monarchies. 


OFF  YE  MISERABYLL  END  OFF  CERTANE  TYRANE^ 

PRINCIS,  AND,  SPECIALLYE,  THE  BEGYNNARIS 

OF  THE  FOUR  MONARCHEIS. 

EXPERIENCE. 

iQW  haue^  I  done  declare,  at  thy  desyris, 

As  thow  demandit,  in  to  termys  schort, 

And  quhow^  began  the  principall  impyris, 
As  Cronicle  and  Scripture  dois  report : 
Quhaii'for,  my  Sone,  I  hartly  the  exhort, 
Perfytlie  prent  in  tin  reme?«brauce* 
Off  this  Inconstante  warld  the  varia?2ce.  4132 

U  The  Princis  of  thir  foure  gret  Monarcheis, 
In  thare  most  hiest  pompe  Imperiallis, 

Traistyng  to  be  moist  sure  sett  in  thare  seis,-^  Their  princes  are 

The  fraudful  warld  gaif  to  thame  mortall  fallis, —  4136  memory. 
For  thare  rewarde,*^  bot  dyrk  memoriallis  : 
Thocht  ouir  the  warld  thay  had  preheminence, 
Off  it  thay  gat'^  none  vther  recompence. 

H  For,  siclyke  as  the  snaw  doith  melt  in  May,    4140 
Throuch  the  reflex  of  Phebus  bemys  brycht, 
Thir  gret  Impyris  rychtso  ar  went  away  : 

Gone  bene  thare  glore,  thair  power,  &  thair  mycht.  Usurpers,  and 

Because  thay  wer  reuai^'s  withouttin  rycht,  4144  reaped  their  aue. 

And  blude  scheddaris^  full  creuell,  to  conclude  : 
Rycht  creuellye,  tharefor,  wes  sched  thare  blude. 

^  Behald  quhow  God,  aye  sen  the  warld  began,  of  tyrants 

Hes  maid  of  tyrrane  Kyngis  Instriunentis  4148 

1  L  Tirraiie         2  g  haif         ^  g  i^ow,  L  quho 

*  L  rem embe ranee         ^  E  settis         ^  E  revard 

7  L  ^it  gat  thai  *  E  bludscheddaris 


1.36 


THE  THRID  BVKE  OF  THE  MONARCHE. 


God  lias  ever 
made  scourges, 


to  he  destroyed 
when  done  with : 


as  King  Pharaoh, 
for  instance ; 


and  King  Nebu- 
chadnezzar ; 


and  Alexander  the 
Great; 


To  scurge  peple,^  and  to  keill  mony  one  man, 

Quhilkis  to  his  law  wer  Inobedientis  : 

Qulien  thay  had  done  perfurneis-  his  ententis, 

In  dantyng  ■\vrangus  peple  schamefullye,  4152 

He  sufferit  thame  be  scurgit  creuellye  ; 

Ewin  as  the  scule^  Maister  doith  mak  ane  wand, 

To  dant  and  dyng  Scollaris  of  rude  ingyne, 

The  quhilkis  Avyll  nocht  study  at  his  command  :     4156 

He  scurgis*  thame,  and  only  to  that  fyne, 

That  thay  suld  to  his  trew  counsall  inclyne  : 

Quhen  thay  obey,  and  mesit  bene  his  yre, 

He  takis  the  wand  and  castis  in  to  the^  fj^re.  4160 

IT  God  of  k}Tig  Pharo"^  maid  one  Instrument, — 
Quhilk  wes  the  gret  kyng  of  Egyptience,'' — 
His  awin  peculier  peple  to  torment : 
That  beand  done,  he  wrocht^  on  hym  vengence,     4164 
And  leit  hym  fall  throuch^  Inobedience; 
And,  fynaUie,  he,  with  his  gret  armye, 
In  the  reid  sey  thame  drownit  dulefullye. 

IF  Eycht  so,  of  l^abuchodonosopi''  kyng, —         4168 
God  maid  of  hym  ane  furious  Instrument, 
lerusalem  and  the  lowis  to  doun  thryng,^^ 
Qulien  thay  to  God  wer  Inobedient ; 
Sjoie  reft  hym  frome^^  his  ryches  and  his  rent,      4172 
And  hym  transformit  in  ane  beist  brutell, 
Sewin  jeris  and  more,  as  wryttis  Daniell. 

II  Alexander,  throuch  prydefull  tyrrannye. 
In  3eris  twelf  did  mak  his  gret  conquest,  4176 

Aye  scheddand  saikles  blude  full  creuellye  : 
Tyll  he  wes  kyng  of  kyngis,  he  tuke  no  rest. 
In  all  the  warld  quhen  he  wes  full  possest, 
In  Babilone  thro  nit  ^^  tryumphantlye,  4180 

Throuch  poysoun  Strang  deceisit  dulefullye. 

1  E  schurge  pepill,  L  scurg  the  pepill 
2  E  perforneis,  L  porforine     •'  L  scole     ^  E  scurgit 
8  L  Pliarao         ^  E  Egipsianis         ^  E  vroycht 
1"  L  Nabugodonosar         ^'  E  dountliriiig 
1^  E  crounit,  L  trouit 


5  L  in  the 
°  L  throw 
12  L  fra 


THE  THRID  BVKE  OF  THE  MONARCHE.  137 

^  Duke  Hamiiball,  the  Strang  Cartagiane, 
The  danter  of  the  Eomanis  ponipe  and  glorye, 
Be  his  power  wer  niony  one  thousand  slane,  4184 

As  may  be  red  at  lenth  in  tyll  his  storye.  and  Hannibal,  the 

At  Cannas,  quhare  he  wan  the  victorye, 
On  Eomanis  handis  that  dede  lay  on  the  ground, 
Thre  hepit^  Buschellis  wer  of  Eyngis  found.  4188 

^  In  to  that  mortall  battell,  I  heir  sane, 
Off  the  Eomanis  moste  worthy  weriouris, 
By  presonaris,  wer  fourty  ^  thousand  slane  ;  who  wrought 

/-\(S'         1  -I  "(  -  iit\c\    grS'it  mischief  to 

Oil  quhom  thare  wes  thretty  wyse  benatouris,        4192  the  Romans, 
And  XX.  ^  Lordis,  the  quhilki'.s  had  bene  Pretouris, 
That  deit  in  to*  defence  of  thare  cuntre, 
And  for  tyll^  hald  thare  lande  at  lybertie. 

1^  Quhat  rewarde  gatt  this  creuell  Campioun,      4196 

Quhen  he  had  slane  so  gret  one  multytude. 

And  quhen  ^  the  glasse  of  his  glorye  wes  roian] 

Ane  schamefuU  deith, — and,  schortlye  to  conclude,  and  afterwards    ■ 

This  bene  reward  of  all  scheddaris  of  blade ; —      4200  self  with  poi'son? 

For  he  gat  sic  extreme  confusionn. 

He  slew  hym  self  in  drynking  Strang  poysoun.''^ 

H  Behald  the  two  moste  famous  Campionis, 
That  is  to  say,  lulyus  and  Pompey,  4204  And  Julius  and 

Quhilk^s  did  conquesse  all  erthly^  EegionLs, —  conquerors, 

Alsweill  maine  land  as  Ylis  in  the  sey, — 
And  to  the  toun  of  Eome  gart  thame  obey  : 
For  Pompeyus  subdewit  the  Orient ;  4208 

And  lulyus  Cesar,  all  the  Occident. 

^  Bot,  fynaly,  thir  two  did  stryue  for  stait, 
Quhare  throw  thre  hundreth  M.^  men  wer  slane ; 
Bot  Pompeyus,  efter  that  gret  debait,  4212  butofshort-Uved 

He  murdreist  wes  :  the  storye  tellis  plane.  ^  °'^' 

Than  lulyus  wes  Prince  and  Souerane, 

'  E  hapit         '  E  fyfte         '  L  twent.v 

*  L  omitted         *  L  to         ''  L  omitted         '  E  poysone 

^  L  erdlie         ^  E,  L  thowsand 


138 


THE    THRID    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


as  kings. 


according  to  the 
Roman  hiatory. 


The  four  Mon- 
archies have,  all, 
passed  away ; 


and  the  world 
draws  to  a  con- 
clusion, 


as  witness  divers 
tokens. 


Abufe  the  hole^  warld  Empriour  and  kyng; 
Bot,  in  to  rest,  schorte  tyine  indurit  his  ryng : 


4216 


H  For,  within  fyue^  nioneth^  and  lytill  more, 
Amyd  his  Lordis  in  the  counsall  hous, 
He  murdreist  wes, — quhat  nedeth  j^roces^  morel — 
As  I  haue  said,  be  Brute  and  Cascius.  4220 

Geue^  thow  wald  knaw  thare  dethis  dolorous, 
Thow  most  at  lenth  go  reid  the  Eomane  storye, 
Quhilk  hes  this  mater  put  in  memorye. 

U  Gone  is  the  Goldin  warld  of  Asserianis,^         4224 
Off  quhome  kyng  Nynus  wes  first  &  principall ; 
Gone  is  the  syluer  warld  of  Persianis  ; 
The  Copper  warld  of  Grekis  now  is  thrall ; 
The  warld  of  Irne,  quhilk  wes  the  last  of  all,         4228 
Comparit  to  the  Eomanis  in  thare  glore, 
Ar  gone,  rychtso  :  I  heir  of  thame'^  no  more. 

H  'Now  is  the  warld  of  Irne  myxit  with  clay. 
As  Daniell  at  lenth  hes  done  indyte  :  4232 

The  gret  Impyris  ar  meltit  clone ^  away; 
Now  is  the  warld  of  dolour  and  dispyte. 
I  se  nocht  eUis  bot  troubyll  infinyte  : 
Quharefor,  my  Sonne,  I  mak  it  to  the  kend,  42 3G 

This  warld,  I  wait,^  is  drawand  to  ane  end. 

H  Tokynnis^'^  of  darth,  hunger ,^^  and  pestilence, 
With  creuell  weris,  boith  be  sey  and  land, 
Realme  aganis  realme  with  mortall  violence,  4240 

Quhilk  signifyis  the  last  day  ewin  at  hand  : 
Quharefor,i2  jj^y  Sonne,  be  in  thy  faith  constand, 
Easyng^^  thy  hart  to  God,  and  cry  for  grace, 
And  mend  thy  lyfe,  quhil  thow  hes  tjoiie  &  space.    4244 

*     FINIS.     ^ 


'   L  lioill  *  E  fywe         ^  L  month         ■•  L  ncdls  wordis 

^  L  (Jif  "  E  Asseriance         ^  L  also  of  thanie  I  heir 

L  quite  ''  E  watt         '"  E  Toknis         "  L  hunger,  darth 

'^  L  Thairfore          "  E  Kaysing,  L  Rasing 


139 


HEIR  FOLLOWIS   THE   FYFT  SPIRITUALLY  AND 
PAPALL   MONARCHIE. 


COURTIOUR. 

|B-<V  FATHER,'  Is  thare  no  Prince  ringand, 
Quliilk  hes  the  warld,  now,  at  command  ; 
As  had  the  Kyngis  of  Asserianis, 
The  Persis,  Grekis,^  or  the  Romanis  ? 
Quho  hes,  now,  most  Domiuioun 
Off  euerilk  land  and  Regioun  1 


4248 


Who  is,  now,  niil- 
vers:\l  monarcli, 
or  most  nearly 
like  one  ? 


EXPERIENCE. 

H  Thare  is  no  Prince,  my  Sonne,  said  he, 
That  hes  the  principall  Monarche 
Abufe*  the  warld  vniuersall, 
With  hole  power  Imperiall, 
As  Alexander,  or  Darius, 
Or  as  had  Cesar  Inlyus  : 
For  Orient  and  Occident 
To  thame  wer  all  obedient. 
!N'ochtwithstandyng,  I  fynd  one  kyng 
Quhilk  in  tyll^  Europe  doith  ryng, — 
That  is,  the  potent  Pope  of  Rome, 
Impyrand^  ouir  all  Christindome, — 
To  quhome  no  Prince  may  be  compare. 
As  Canon  lawis  can  declare.' 
All  Princis  of  the  Occident 
Ar  tyll  his  grace  obedient ; 
For  he  hes  hole  power  compleit, 
Boith  of  the  body  and  the  spreit, 
Quhilk  neuer  had  no  prince  affore, 


4252 


4256 


There  is,  at  pre- 
sent, no  universal 
monarch, 


like  Alexander, 
&c., 


ruling  East  and 
West. 


42G0    But  there  is,  in 

tlie  Pope  of  Rome, 
a  king  over  all 
(Jln'istenclom, 


4264 


paramonnt  as  to 
all  other  princes. 


and  reigning  ovei 
An  CO    both  boily  ajid 

4268  soul. 


L  Fyft  and  Spirituall  Monarchie         '  L  Fader 
'  L  the  Greikis         ■*  E  Abouf         *  L  into 
E  Impyreand  owr  '  L  omits  11.  42G4,  4265 


140 


THE  THRID  BYKE  OF  THE  MONARCHB. 


Christ's  Lieu- 
tenant, 

he  is  king  of  all 
the  lyings  in 
Europe. 


As  dominated  the 
Roman  emperors. 


so  dominates  the 
Pope  of  Rome. 


Princes, 
cardinals. 


archbishops,  &c., 


heads  of  learned 
and  religious 
houses. 


officials, 


archdeans,  &c., 

doctors  of 
divinity,  with 
their  attendants. 


monks,  and  the 
like. 


quaint  in  dress. 


Except  the  mychtie  kyng  of  glore. 

To  Christe  he  is  gret  Lewtennand, 

In  holy  Peteris  Saitt^  syttand  :  4272 

So  he  is  of  all  kyngis  Kyng 

Quhilk/iJ  in  to  Europe  now  doith  Eyng. 

IT  And,  as  the  Komaue  Emprionris, 
Hauyng  the  warld^  vnder  thare  cuiis,  427G 

Had  Princis,  Knychtis,  and  Campionis, 
Eewlaris  in  tyll  all  Eegionis, 
Uphaldyng  thare  Ancthoritie,^ 
Usyng  Justice  and  polisie ;  4280 

H  Rycht  so,  this  potent  pope  of  Eome, 
The  Souerane  kyng  of  Chiistindome, 
He  hes,  in  tyll  ilk  countre. 

His  Princis  of  gret^  grauytie  ;  4284 

In  sum  countreis,  his  Cardinallis, 
In  thare  moste  precious  apparallis  : 
Archibyschoppis,  Byschoppis,  thow  may  se, — 
Defendyng  his  auctoritie, —  4288 

With  vther  potent  Patriarkis  ; 
Collegis  full  of  cunnyng  Clerkis ; 
Ahbottis  and  Priouri^?,  as  ^e  ken, 

Misrewlaris  of  relegious  men  ;  4292 

OflSciallis,  with  thare  Procuratouris, 
Quhose  langsum  law^  spol3eis  the  puris  ; 
Archidenis  and  Denis  of  dignitie  ; 
Gret  Doctouris  of  Diuynitie  ;  4296 

Thare  Chantouris,  and  thare  Sacristanis, 
Thare  Tresoureris,^  and  thare  subdenis ; 
Eegionis  of  preistis  Seculcris, 

Personis,  Uicaris,  Monkis,  and  Freris,  4300 

Off  diuers  Ordouris  mony  one, — 
Quhilk  langsum  wer  for  tyll"  expone, — 
In  syndrie  habit/^,  as  3c  kon, 

Diffrent  fromo  vther  Christin  men;  4304 

Fair  Ladyis  of  Relegioun, 

'  E  Seitt         '  E  Havand  the  vardle         '  L  Autorite 

■*  E  omitted         '  L  lawis         *  L  Tlicsauraris 

'  L  to 


THE  THRID  BVKE  OF  THE  MONARCHE. 


141 


liermits,  p.irinh 
priests,  &c.,  &c., 


are,  all,  subjwt  to 
him. 


Kings,  wlien 
crowned, 

swear  fealty  to 
him. 


Proflfessit  ^  in  euery  Eegioun  ; 

Fals  Heremitis,-  fassonit  lyke  tlie  freris  ; 

Proude  parische^  clerkis,  and  pardoueris,  4308 

Thare  Gryntaris,  and  thare  Cliamberlanis, 

"With  thare  temporall  Courtissianis. 

Thus,  all  the  warld,  be  land  and  sey, 

His  Sanctitude  thay  do  obey  :  4312 

]S"ocht  onely  his  spirituall  kyngdome, 

Bot  the  gret  Empriour*  of  Eome, 

And  Kyngis  of  euerilk  regioun, 

That  day  quhen  thay  resaue^  thare  crown,  431  G 

Thay  mak  aith  of  fidelytie 

Tyll  defende  his  auctorytie  ; 

Moreouir,^  with  humyll  reuerence, 

Thay  mak  tyll  hyni  obedience, 

Be  thare '^  selfis,  or  Ambassaldouris, 

Or  vtheris  ornate  Oratouris. 

Quho  doith^  ganestand  his  Maiestie, 

His  la  wis,  or  his  Lybertie,  4324 

Or  haldis  ony  opinioun 

Contrar  his  gret  Dominioun, 

Outlier  be  way  of  deid  or  wourdis, 

Ar  put  to  deith,  be  fyre  or  swourdis.^ 

Sanct  Peter  stylit  wes  Sanctus  ; 

Bot  he  is  callit  Sanctissimus. 

His  style  at  lenth  gyf  thow  wald  knaw, 

Thow  nioste  go  luke  the  Canon  law, 

Boith^''  in  the  Sext  and^^  Clenientene  : 

His  staitly  style  thare  may  be  sene  : 

Thare  sail  thow  fynd,  reid  gyf  thow  can, 

Quhow^^  he  is  nother  God  nor  man. 

COURTIOUR. 

1^  Quhat  is  he,  than,  be  ^our  lugementl  what  is  he,  then, 

Quod'^^  I.     Me  thynk  hym  different. 
Far,  frome  our  Souerane,  Lord  lesus, 

'  L  Profest         ^  L  Herrayttis  '  L  paroche 

''  L  Empriouris  ^  jj  resaif  ^  L  Moreoure 

^  E  tliam,  L  thame         '  L  Qulia  dois         ®  E  svverdis 

'"  E  And         "   E  of         '=  E  How  '^  E  Quhod 


4320    and  acknowledge 
obedience. 


All  that  withstand 
him 


are  put  out  of  the 

4328  '"'=^- 

S.  Peter  was 
Sanctus ;  he  is 
Sanctissimus, 


4332    and  has  other 
great  titles, 
besides ; 


.  Q  o /»    and  ho  IS  nehher 
ioOO    God  nor  man. 


142  THE    THRID    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 

And  tyll  his  kynd  contrarious  :  4340 

If  he  is  neither?     For  Christ  wes  God  and  naturall  man. 
jhon  i.         Gyf  he  be  nother,  quhat  is  he,  than  1 

EXPERIENCE. 

The  canon  law  IT  The  Canon  law,  my  Sonne,  said  he, 

declares.  r^^^^^  questioun  wylU  declare  to  the.  4344 

It  isbeyoiKi  me     It  doitli^  transcend  my  rude  Ingyne 

to  define  him.        j^.^  Sauctitudc  for  tyll  defync, 

Or  to  schaw  the  aucthoritie 

Pertenyng  to  his  Maiestie.  4348 

He  is  a  pnnoe  that  So  gret  one  Princc  quhare  sail  thow  fynd, 

looses  and  binds,      mi      ,    n     •    • ,       1 1  i  q  i   i  i 

That  Spu'itually  may  louse-^  and  bynd ; 

JSTor  be  quhame  synnis  ar  forgyffin,* 

Be  thay  with  his  Disciplis  schrewin?  4352 

with  (lie  authority  Quhanie  euer  he  byndis  by  his  mycht, 

Thay  boundin  ar  in  Goddis  sycht  : 

Quhame  euer  he^  lowsis  in  erth  heir  doun, 

Ar  lousit  be  God  in  his  Eegioun.  435G 

And  he  is  Prince    Als,^  he  is  Princc  of  Purgatorie, 

urgatoiy.        Delyuering  Saulis  from'*  paine  to  glorie  : 

Off  that  dirke''  Dungeoun,  but  doute, 

Quham  euir  he^  plesis  he  takis  thame  oute.  4360 

Through  him,  our  Oure  sccrsit  synnis,  euery  3eir, 

sins  are  remitted:    -rt-r  i  ,  •   j.  „„  j     •„ 

We  mon  schaw  to  sum  preist  or  ireir. 

And  tak  thare  absolutioun. 

Or  ellis  we  gett  no  remyssioun.  4364 

So,  be  this  way,  thay  cleirly  ken 

The  secretts^  of  all  seculare  men; 
and  thronsh  him   Tliare  secYetis  we  Ivuaw  nocht  at  all : 
in  thrall.    '         Thus  ar  we  to  thame  bound  and  thrall.  4368 

Quhat  euir  thare  JNIinisteris^  commandis 

Most  be  obeyit,  without  demandis. 

Quharefor,  my  Sonne,  I  say  to  the, 
Hence  I  call  him    This  is  ane  marucllous^*^  ]\Ionarche,  4372 

lZ::TZr      Qul^ilk  hes  power  Imperiall 
iK.th  body  and       Boitli  of  the  bodv  and  the  Saull. 

soul,  '' 

'  E  vill  I         '^  L  dois         '  E  Sprytually  may  lowss 

*  L  f()rg;evin         ^  L  Qiihome  he         ®  L  Alsua 

'  E  dark         *  E  secreittis  *  L  Minster 

'"  L  one  merwalus,  E  mervalus 


THE    TEIRID    BVKE    OF    THE   JIONARCIIB. 


143 


COUUTIOUR. 


If  Father,^  quod  I,  declare  to  me 
Quliow  did  begyn  this  Monarclie. 


4376 


How  originated 
tlie  Papacy  ? 


EXPERIENCE. 

Quod  he  :  Christ  lesus,^  God  and  Man, 
That  Impyre  gratiouslye  Logan, 
^ocht  be  the  fyre,  nor  be  the  swourde,^ 
Bot  be  the  vertew  of  his  wourde  ; 
And  left,  in  tyll  his  Testament, 
Mony  ane  denote  document, 
"With  his  Successouris  to  be  vsit, 
Thocht  mony  of  thame  be  now  abusit. 
For  Peter  and  Paull,  with  all  the  rest 
Off  thare  Brethrm,'*  maid  manifest 
The  law  of  God,  with  trew  intent, 
Precheing*  the  Auld  and  New  Testament. 
Thay  led  thare  lyfe  in  pouertie, 
Deuotioun,  and  Humilytie, 
As  did  thare  Maister,  Christ  lesus  ; 
And  war  nocht  half  so  glorious 
As  thare  Successour/s  now  in  Rome, 
Impyrand^  ouer  all  Christindome. 

^  Efter  the  deth  of  Peter  and  Paull, 
And  Christis  trew  Disciplis'^  all, 
Thare  Successouris,  within  few  jeris, — ■ 
As  at  more  lenth  thare  storye  beris, — 
Full  craftelye  clam  to  the  heycht, 
Frome  Spiritual}  lyfe  to  temporall  mycht. 

COURTIOUR. 

II  Father,  or  we  passe  forther^  more, 
Quhen  did  begyn  thare  ^  temporall  glore  1 


Jesus  founded  it, 

4380  EpM.  i. 

and  peacefully. 
Luc.  ix. 


4384 


SS.  Peter  and 
Paul,  and  the  rest, 


4388 


poor,  devout,  and 
humble, 


4392  were  not  altoge- 
ther tlie  patterns 
of  modern  Kouae. 


4396 


4400 


Their  successors 
soon  passed 


from  the  spiritual 
to  the  temporal. 


When  began  this 
temporal  glury  ? 


EXPERIENCE. 

Sonne,  said  he,  thow  sail  vnderstand. 
Or  euer  ane  Pape  gat  ony  land, 


The  early  Popes 
4404    were  landless. 


L  Fader         *  L  lesu         '  E  swerd         ^  L  Brethir 
*  E  Preching         ^  E  Impyreand         '  L  Discipulis 

*  L  fordermore         *  L  that 
MONARCHE,  II. 


144  THE    THRID    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 

and  wore  no  Two  and  threttj  gude  papis^  in  Rome 

crown  but  that  of-^-,  •,,i  o^ivrx        i 

martyrdom.  iiessauit  the  ciown-^  01  JMartyi'dome, 

Bot  noclit  the  Thrinfald  Diadame, — 

To  weir  2  thre  crownis  thay  thocht  gret  schame  : —  4408 

Tyll  Syluester  the  Confessonre 
ofti.e  donation  of  Frome  Constantene  the  Emprioure 
Pope  Sylvester.      Ressauit  the  Eeahne  of  Italie, 

Eychtso,  of  Rome  the  gret  Cetie.  4412 

That  wes  the  rute*  of  thare  ryches  : 

Than  sprang  the  welP  of  welthynes. 
Tiic  first  Pope  that  Qnhen  th.at  the  Pape  wes  maid  ane  kyng, 
berameeoA.D.       All  Princis  bowit^  at  his  Liddyng.  4416 

^^**'  This  Act  Aves  done,  witliouttin  weir, 

Prome  Christis  deith  thre  hnndreth  3eir. 
Lady  Sensuality         U  Than  Lady  Sensualitie '' 

at  Rom°,  °'^'"^^  Tuke  Lugeing^  in  that  gret  Cetie,  4420 

and  grew  mighty.  Quhare  scho  sensyne  lies  done  reniane. 

As  thare  awin  lady  Souerane. 
other  kings,  in      Than  Kyngis,  in  tyll  all  Nationis, 

imitation,  soon         ,  ^    .  ,   -r,  •       q 

began  to  patronize  Maid  Preistis  gret  fundationis  :^  4424 

the  ciiurch.  rj^j^^^y  thocht  gret  mereit  and  honour 

To  contrafait  the  Em  prion  r  ; 
Note  the  pious       As  did  Dauid,  of  Scotland  kyng, 
Scotland,  The  quliilk  did  founde,  duryng^^  his  ryng,  4428 

Pyftene^^  Abbayis,  with  teniporall  landi^i, 

Withouttin  teindis  and  offerandis  ; 
impoverishing  its  Be  quliose  lioly  simpHcite 
'"^'  He  left  the  Crown  in  pouerte.  4432 

Now  haif  I  schawin  the,  as  I  can, 
Tims  the  temporal  Quhow  thare  teniporall  Impyre  began, 

power  of  the  t  t  lo  i 

Church  began  at     Ascendyng  vp,!-*  aye  gre  by  gre, 

Rome.  Abufe"  the  Empriour^■s  Maieste.  4436 

So,  quhen  thay  gat  aniang  thare  handis 

Off  Italie  all  the  Empriours  landi-;, 
and  spread  to        Efter  that,  in  ilke  cuntrie 

other  lands. 

Sprang  vp  thare  temporalite,  4440 


L  popis         ^  E  croune         '  E  wrvir         *  E  nitt 
^  L  waill         ^  L  levit         '  L  Spiritiialite 

*   E  Lugyng  "   L  fiinditioni.s  '"  E  (hirand 

"  L  Fiveteno         "  E  owp         "  E  abouf 


THE  THRID  BVKE  OF  THE  MONARCHE. 


U5 


"With  so  gret  ryclies  and  sic  rent, 

That  tliay  gan^  to  be  negligent 

In  makyng2  Ministratioun 

To  Christis  trew  Congregatioun, 

And  tuke  no  more  i^aine  in  thare  prcclieing, 

And  far  les  trauelP  in  tliare  teclieing; 

Cliangeing  thare  Spiritualitie 

In  temporall  Sensualitie. 


Negligence 
followed. 


4444 


in  preaching  and 
teaching. 


4448    and  also  luxury. 


COURTIOUR. 


IT  Father/  thynk  36  that  thay  ar  sure 
Tliat  thare  Impyre  sail  lang  iudure  1 


Will  this  empire 
last  long  ?  . 


EXPERIENCE. 

Apperandlye  it  may  he  kende, 
Quod  he,  thare  glore  sail  haue  ane  ende  : 
I  mene,  thare  temporal!  jMonarchie 
Sail  turne  in  tyll  humylitie. 
Throuch  Goddis  wourde,  without  debait, 
Thay  sail  turne  to  thare  first  estait : 
As  Daniellis  Prophesie  apperis, 
Thareto  sail  nocht  be  mony  ^eris. 
Quhowbeit,  Christis  faith  sail  neuer  faill ; 
Bot  more  and  more  it  sail  preuaill, 
Thocht^  Christis  trew  congregatioun 
Suffer  gret  trybulatioun. 


445  2    Probably,  it  will 
not. 


The  clergy  will 
soon  become  again 
4456    as  they  were 
aforetime. 


4460    Christ's  religion 
is  indefectible. 


COURTIOUR. 

H  Father,^  said  I,  be  quhat  reassoun 
Thynk  je  thare  Impyre  may  cum  doun  1 


Wliy  will  this 
A  in  A    power  be  broken  ? 


EXPERIENCE. 

Consydderyng  thare  preheminence, 
Quod  he,  for  Inobedience ; 
Abusyng  the  commandiment 
Quhilk  Christ  left  in  his  Testament  ;^ 
Usyng  thare  awin  traditioun 


By  reason  of 
disobedience. 

Math,  xxviii. 
Ihon  XV. 
4468  Acti.i. 

shown  in  cornipt- 
ing  the  faith. 


'  E  begane         *  E  makin 
5  E  Trouche 


3  E  travaill 
^  L  TesLiment 


L  Fader 


L   2 


146 


THE  THRID  BVKE  OF  THE  MOXAHCHE. 


Christ  coinmand- 
ed  liis  disciples 


to  teacli  and 
preacl). 


and  did  not  bid 
tliem  seek  for 
riches. 


Now  we  see  tlie 
prelates  careless 
of  Christ's 
commands, 


and  bearing 
themselves  un- 
christianly. 

Slat.  iiii. 
Christ  did  not 
shame  to 
instruct : 


but  the  Pope  and 
the  rest  instruct 
by  proxy. 

Ihon  vi. 
Christ,  who 
refused  to  be  a 
king. 


contrasted  with 
the  Popes, 


princely 
potentates. 


]\rore  than  his  Institutioun. 

IT  For  Christ,  in  his  last  conuentioun,i 
The  day  of  his  Ascentioun,  4472 

Tyll  his  DiscipHs^  gaif  command, 
That  thay  suld  passe  in  euery  land, 
To  teche  and  preche,^  Avith  trew  intent, 
His  law  and  his  commandiment.  4476 

None  vther  office  he  to  thame  gaif  : 
He  did  nocht  bid  thame  seik  nor  craif 
Cors  presentz's*  nor  offerandis, 
Not  gett  Lordschipis  of  temporall  landis.  4480 

IF  Bot  now  it  may  be  hard  and  sene, 
Baith  with  thyne  eiris  and  thyne  eine, 
Quliow  Prelatis,  now,  in  euery  ^  land, 
Takis  lytill  cure  of  Christ/*'  command,  4484 

Nother*^  in  to  thare  deidis  nor  sawis ; 
Neglectyng''  thare  awin  Canon  lawis, 
Usyng  thame  selfis  contrarious, 
For  the  most  part,  to  Christ  lesus.  4488 

Christ  thocht  no  schame  to  be  ane  Precheour, 
And  tyll  all  peple^  of  trewth  ane  techeour.^ 
Ane  pope,  byschope,  nor  Cardinall, 
To  teche  nor  preche  AvyU^"  nocht  be  thrall :  4492 

Thay  send  furth  Freris  for^^  to  preche  for  thame, 
Quhilk  garris  the  peple^  now  abhor  thame. 

IT  Christ  wald  nocht  be  ane  temporall  kyng, 
Eychely  in  to  no  realme  to  ryng,  4496 

Bot  fled  temporall  auctorite, 
As  in  the  Scripture  thow  may  se. 

All  men  may  knaw  quhow  popis  ryngis, 
In  Dignitie  abufe  all  kyngis,  4500 

Als  Weill  in  temporall  tie 
As  in  to  Spiritualitie. 
Thow  may  se,  be  experience, 

The  popis  Princely  prehcminence,  4504 

In  Cronicles  geue^^  thow  lyst  to  luke, 


'  E  inventioune         '  L  Discipillis         ^  L  preche  and  teche 

■*  L  Corps{)resentis  ^  L  euerilk  ^  L  uouther 

'  L  neglecUiiid         *  E  popill         *  E  Trecliour         '"  E  will 

"  L  omitted  "  E  gyf 


TUE    TIIRID    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


147 


Quhow  Carion  wryttis,^  in  liis  buke, 

Ane  Is^otabyll  I*Tarratioun  : 

The  jeir  of  oure  Saluatioun 

Alewin  hundreth  and  sax  and  fyftie, 

Pope  2  Alexander,  presumptuonslie, — 

Quhilk  wes  the  thrid  pope^  of  that  name, — 

To  Fredrike^  Empriour  did  difFame  : 

In  Ueneis,  that  tryumphand  town, 

That  nobyll  Empriour  gart  ly  down 

Apone  his  wambe,^  with  schame  and  lake, 

Syne  tred  his  feit  apone  his  bake, 

In  toknyng^  of  obedience. 

Thare  he  schew  his  preheminence. 

And  causit  his  Clergy  for  to  syng 

Thir  wourdis  efter  following  : 

U  "  Svper  Aspidem  &  basiliscum  ambulabis, 

Et  conculcabis  leonem  &  draconem."^ 

IT  Than  said  this  hnmyU  Empriour  : 
'  I  do  to  Peter  this  honour.' 
The  Pope  2  answerit,  with  wordis  wroith  : 
*  Thow  sail  me  honour,  and  Peter,  boith.' 

{^  Christ,  for  to  schaw  his  humyll  spreit. 
Did  wasche'''  his  pure  Disciplis^  feit : 
The  Popis  holynes,  I  wjs, 
Wyll  suffer  Kyngis  his  feit  to  kys. 
Birdis  had  thare  nestis,  and  toddis  thare  den ; 
Bot  Christ  lesus,  SaifFer^  of  men, 
In  erth  had  nocht  ane  penny  breid 
Quhare  oni°  he  mycht  repose  his  held. 

H  Quhowbeit,  the  Popis  excellence 
Hes  Castellis  of  Magnifycence  ; 
Abbottis,  Byschoppis,  and  Cardinallis 
Hes  plesand  palyces  royallis  : 
Lyke  Paradyse  ar  those  prelattis  places, 
"Wantyng  no  plesoure  ^^  of  fair  faces. 
Ihone,^^  Androw,  lames,  Peter,  nor  Paull 


Carion  tells  us, 
that. 


4508 


in  A.D.  1156,  Pope 
Alexander  III. 


4512 


set  his  foot  on 
the  Emperor 
Frederic,  lying 
prostrate. 


4516 


the  papal  assist- 
ants singing,  the 
while. 


4520 


4524 


4528 


Ps.  xci.  13. 

The  Emperor's 
protest. 

The  Pope's  reply. 


Christ  was 
humble : 


the  Pope  is 
haughty. 


4532    Christ  was  quite 
indigent : 


4536    tlie  Pope  has 
grand  edifices ; 
and  80  have  the 
abbots,  &c.. 


4540    and  fair  com- 
panions, withal. 
Tlie  Apostles 


'  E  vrettis       -  L  Paip      '  P  Fedrike,  E  Fedrake       "  E  vymbe 

*  E  takyne       *  E  drachonem       ^  L  wesche       '  L  Discipulis 
*  L  Sufferit       '"  L,  E  Quliairon       "  L  plesouris       ''  E  Ihonne 


148 


THE    THRID    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHB. 


liad  few  houses, 
Actis.  iiii. 


despised  wealth, 
and  fared  hardly. 

Ihon  xi. 

Of  Christ's  crown, 

and  of  the  Pope's 
crowns. 


Christ  died  in 
utter  poverty : 


Pope  John,  at  liis 
death, 

lefl  a  matter  of 

twenty-five 

millions. 


Palmerius  asserts. 


Tlie  Disciples 
were  known  by 
their  graces; 


the  Pope's  flock, 
by  their  tonsure. 

Ihon  ii. 
Christ,  in  Cana  of 
Galilee,  honoured 
marriage,  prac- 
tically ; 


and  S.  Peter  had 
a  wife,  lifelong. 


Had  few  lioiisis  aniaiig  tliame  all : 

Frome  tyme  thay  knew  the  veritie 

Thay  did  contempne  all  propertie,  4544 

And  war  rycht  liartfully  content 

Off  meit,  drynk,  and  Abil3ement.^ 

^  To  saif  2  Mankynde,  that  Aves  forlorne, 
Christ  bure  ane  creuell^  crown  of  thorne ;  4548 

The  Pope,  thre  crownis,  for  the  nonis, 
Off  gold,  poulderit  with  pretions  stonis. 
Off  gold  and  syluer,  I  am  sure, 

Christ  lesus  tuke  hot  lytill  cure,  455.2 

And  left  nocht,  quhen  he  ^ald  the  spreit. 
To  by  hym  self  ane  wynding  scheit. 

^  Bot  his  Successoure,  gude  Pope*  lohne,^ 
Quhen  he  deceisit  in  Auinione,  4556 

He  left  behynd  hym  one  treassoure 
Off  gold  and  syluer,  by  mesoure, 
Be  one  luste  computatioun, 

Weill  fyue  and  twentye  myllioun,  4560 

As  dois  Indyte  Palmerius  : 
Eeid  hynij  and  thow  sail  fynd  it  thus. 

H  Christis  Disciplis  wer  weill  knawin 
Throuch  vertew,  quhilk  wes  be  thame  schawin,      4564 
In  speciall  feruent  charitie, 
Gret  pacience,  and  humylite  : 
The  popis  floke,  in  all  regionis, 
Ar  knawin  best*^  be  thare  clyppit  crounis.  4568 

Christ  he  did  honour  INIatromony 
In  to  tlie  Cane''  of  Galaly, 
Quhare  he,^  be  his  power  Diuyne, 
Did  turned  the  walteri"  in  to  Wyne ;  4572 

And,  als,  chesit  sum  Maryit  men 
To  be  his  seruandis,  as  30  ken  : 
And  Peter,  duryng  all  his  lyfe, 

He  thocht  no  Syn  to  half  ane  wyfe."  4576 

3e  sail  nocht  fynd,  in^-  no  passage, 


"  L  Habil^ement         ^  L  .'^anf 
*  E  lohnue         **  L  best  knawin 
"  E  return         '"  L,  E  watter 


'  L  one  crewall  ''  L  I'liip 

'  L  Chan         ^  L  omitted 
"  E  vj-ff         "  L  into 


THE   THRID    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


149 


Quhare  Christ  forbiddith  mariage  ; 

Bot  leifsum  tylP  ilk  man  to  maiye, 

Quliilk  wautis  the  gyft  of  Chaistitye.  4580 

H  The  Pope  hes  maid  the  contrar  lawis 
In  his  kyngdome,  as  all  men  knawis  : 
[N'one  of  his  preistis  dar  marye  wyfis,^ 
Under  no^  les  paine  nor  thare  lyfis.  4584 

Thocht  thay  haif  *  Concubynis  fyftene,* 
In  to  that  cace,  thay  ar  ouersene. 
Quhat  chaistytie  thay  keij)  in  Eome 
Is  Weill  kend  ouer  all  christindome.  4588 

IT  Christ  did  schaw  his  obedience 
Onto  the  Empriouris  excellence, 
And  causit  Peter  for  to  pay 

Trybute  to  Cesar  for  thame  tway.  4592 

Paull  biddis  ws  be  obedient 
To  Kyngis,  as  the  most  excellent. 

H  The  contrar  did  Pope  Celistene, 
Quhen  that  his  Sanctytude  serene  4596 

Did  crown  Henry  the  Empriour  : 
I  thynk  he  did  hym  small  honour  ; 
For  Avith  his  feit  he  did  hym  crown, 
Syne  with  his  fute^  the  crown  dang  doun,  4G00 

Sayand  :  '  I  haif  *  Auctoritie 
Men  tyll  exalt  to''^  dignitie, 
And  to  mak  Empriouris  and  kyngis, 
And  Syne  depryue  thame  of  thare  Eyngis.'  4G04 

Peter,  be  my  Opinioun, 
Did  neuer  vse  sic  Dominioun. 
Apperandlye,  be  my  lugement, 
That  Pope  red  neuer  the  new  Testament : 
Gyf  he  had  lernit  at  that  lore. 
He  had  refusit  sic  vaine^  gloi'e, 
As  Barnabas,  Peter,  and  Paull, 
And,  rycht  so,  Christis  Disciplis^  all.  4G12 

IT  The  Capitane  Cornelius, 


Wedlock  is  not  an 
unchristian  thin''. 


The  Pope  suffers 
not  liis  priests  to 


but  winks  at  their 
concubines. 


Uorae  unchaste. 


Slat.  xvii. 
Christ  deterred  to 
tlie  temporal 
rulers : 


and  S.  Paul  en- 
joins obedience  to 
kings. 

Pope  Celestine 
deemed  otherwise. 

His  ignominious 
treatment  of  the 
Emperor  Henry, 
on  crowning  him; 


and  his  proud 
speech,  proclaim- 
ing his  own 
autliority. 


S.  Peter  never  did 
tlie  lil<e. 


4G08    Had  this  Piipe 
read  tlie  New 
Testament, 
he  would  have 
avoided  sueli 
vaingloriousiiesn, 
after  old  example. 


Of  Cornelius, 
Actia.  X. 


'  L  lesum  to         '  E  vyffis,  L  wivis         '  L  na  *  L  liaiie 

*  L  fiveteue  ^  E  futt  ^  E  till,  L  in  "  E  waiue 

*  L  Discipillis 


150 


TUE  THRID  BVKE  OF  THE  MONARCHE. 


and  of  S.  Peter's 
humility  before 
him. 


Of  S.  John,  and 
of  tlie  angel 

Apoca.  xix.  & 
xxii. 
who  forbade  his 
worship,  showing 
cause. 


Act,  xiiii. 
Of  SS.  Baniabaa 
and  Paul, 
who,  at  Lystra, 
refused  the 
honour  of  tlie 
priests  of  Jupiter, 
ready  to  sacrifice 
to  tliem, 

wliereat  they  were 
troubled : 


and  S.  Paul  ad- 
monished tliem  to 
give  gloi-y  to  God 
alone. 


And  the  Popes  ? 


Tliere  is  no  apo- 
stolic warrant  for 
tlie  manner  in 
which  the  Pope 
defends  his 
tradition. 

Breaches  of  the 
divine  law. 


how  grievous 
soever. 


Qulien  Sanct  Peter  come  tyll  liis  hous^ 

Tyll  worschyp^  tym,  fell  at  his  feit : 

Bot  Sanct  Peter,  -with  humyll  spreit,^  4616 

Did  rais  hym  vpe  with,  diligence, 

And  did  refuse  sic  Eeuerence. 

IT  Eychtso,  Sanct  lohne  the  Euangelist 
The  Angellis  feit  he  wald  haif  ^  kist ;  4620 

Bot  he  refusit  sic  hononre, 
Sayand  :  *  I  am  bot  Seruitonre, 
Eychtso,  thy  fallow  and  thy  brother  : 
Gyff  glore  to  God,  and  to  none  vther.'  4624 

IF  Alykewyis,*  Barnabas  and  Paull 
Sic  honour  did  refuse  at  all. 
In  Listra,  quliare  thay  wroucht  gret  werkis. 
The  preist^  of  lupiter,  with  his  clerkis,  4628 

And  all  the  peple,®  with  thare  auyse, 
"Wald  haif  maid  to  thame  Sacrifyse ; 
Off  quhilk  thay  wer  so  discontent, 
That  thay  thare  cloth yng'^  raif  ^  and  rent ;  4632 

And  Paull  amang  thame  rudely  ran, 
Sayand  :  '  I  am  ane  mortall  man  : 
Gyf  glore  to  God,  of  kyngis  kyng, 
That  maid  heuin,  erth,^  and  euery  thjmg.'  4636 

Sen  Peter  and  Paull  vaine  glore  refusit, 
With  Popis^''  quhy  sulde  sic  glore  be  vsit? 

Peter,  Andro,  lohne,  lames,  and  Paull, 
And  Christis  trew  Disciplis,!^  all,  4640 

Be  Goddis  Avorde  thare  faith  defendit ; 
To  byrne  and  skald  ^"  thay  neuer  pretendit. 
The  pope  defendis  his  traditioun 

Be  flammand^^  fyi'G?  without  remissioun  :  4644 

Quhowbeit  men  breik^*  the  law  Diuyne, 
Thay  ar  nocht  put  to  so  gret  pyne.^^ 
For  huredome,  nor  Ydolatrye, 

For  Incest,  nor  Adultrye,  4648 

Or  quhen  3oung  Uirginnis  ar  deflorit, — 

'  E  vyrschipe         '■'  E  line  4G1C  omittcil         ^  L  Imue 

*  E  Alykvays  ^  e  prist  ^  E  pepile  '  L  cleithing 

"  E  reif,  L  raue       »  L  erd       '»  L  Paipis      "  L  Discipillis 

'^^  L  scad  '^  L  flamband  '«  L  brak 

'^  L  sic  ruwyne 


THE  THRID  BVKE  OF  THE  MONARCHE. 


151 


For  sic  thyng  men  ar  nocht  abhorit. 
Bot  quho  tlxat  eitis  flesche  in  to  lent^ 
Ar  terriblye-  put  to  torment; 
And  gyf  ane  preist  happinnis  to  marye, 
Thay  do  hym  baneis,  cursse,  and  warye, 
Thocht  it  be  nocht  aganis  the  law 
Off  God,  as  men  may  cleiiiie  knaw. 
Betuix  thir^  two  quhat  difference  bene, 
Be  faithfull  folke  it  may  be  sene. 

Sic  Antithesis*  mony  mo 
I  mycht  declare,  quhilki*-  I  lat  go. 
And  may  nocht  tary  to  compyle 
Off  ilk  ordour  the  staitlye  style. 

The  seilye^  JSTun^  wyll  thynk  gret  schame, 
Without  scho  callit  be  Madame ; 
The  pure  Preist  thynk/s  he  gettis  no  rycht, 
Be  he  nocht  stylit  lyke  ane  Knycht, 
And  caUit  '  schir '  affore  his  name, 
As  '  schir  Thomas '  and  '  schir  Wil3ame.' 
All  Monkrye,'''  39  may  heir  and  se, 
Ar  callit  Denis,  for^  dignite  : 
Quhowbeit  his  mother  mylk^  the  kow. 
He  man  be  callit  Dene  Androw,^** 
Dene  Peter,  dene  Paull,  and  dene  Eobart. 
With  Christ  thay  tak  ane  painfull  part. 
With  dowbyll  clethyng  fro  me  the  cald, 
Eitand  and  drynkand  quhen  thay  wald  ; 
With  curious  Countryng^^  in  the  queir  : 
God  wait  gyf  thay  by  heuin^^  full  deir. 
]\Iy  lorde  Abbot,  rycht  ^^  venerabyll, 
Ay  niarschellit  '*  vpmoste  at  the  tabyll ; 
My  lord  Byschope,  moste  reuerent. 
Sett  abufe  Eriis,  in  Parliament ; 
And  Cardinalis,  duryng  thare  ryngis, 
Fallowis  to  Princis  and  to  Kyngis  ; 
The  Pope  exaltit,  in  honour, 


are  less  recked  of 

tlian  eating  (lesli- 
i  rt-  n    nieat  in  Lent, 

and  a  priest's 
marrying. 


4656 


4660 


though  the  Law 
of  God  allows  it. 


But  enough  of 
antitheses. 


The  vanity,  as  to 
titles. 


4664 


4668 


of  nuns, 
of  priests, 
with  their  '  Sir,' 
of  monks,  who, 


though  low-born, 
4d  /  ^    are,  all, ' Deans.' 


4676 


4680 


Of  their  delicacy 

and  mummery. 

Of  the  precedence 
of  abbots, 

of  bishops, 
of  cajxlinals. 


4684 


and  of  the  Pope. 


'  L  in  lent        ^  L  terrabillie        "  E  omitted        ''  L  Anthethisis 

*  L  sely         ®  E  Nonn         ^  L  Channonis,  Monkis         *  L  of 

"  L  mylkit         '"  E  Androve  "  L  Countering 

'-  E  havin  '^  L  most  '*  L  merchellit 


1-32  THE    THRID    BVKE    OF    THE    ilONARCHE. 

Abufe  tlie  potent  Empriour. 
Tiie  proud  parson,       Tlie  pioude  Persoiie,  I  thynk  trewlye, 
living  at  ease,        jj^  i  _  •  _^.g  j^-^  j^^^  ^,y^^^  histelye  ;  4GS8 

For  quhy  he  lies  none  vther  pyne, 
thougii  he  may      Bot  tak  his  teind,  and  spend  it  syne. 

neglect  his  cure,       -^^^  ^^  -^  ^blyste,!  be  resoun,^ 

To  preche  on  tyll  perrocliioun  :^  4692 

neglects  not  his      Tliouclit  tliay  Want  precheing  sewintene  ^eir, 
peiquisi  es.  jj^  ^^^^  noclit  Want  ane  boll  of  beir. 

Some  parsons  are        Sum  Pei'sonis  hss  at  tliare  command 
given  to  peiiicacy.  rj^j^^  ^antoiin  Wsncheis^  of  the  land ;  4696 

Als,  tliay  bane  gret  prerogatyffis, 
and  change  their    That  may  depart,  ay,  with  thare  Avyffis, 

unstresses  at  -vtr-ii         j_  ta-  >i  1 

pleasure.  Without  Diuors^  or  summondyng, 

Syne  tak  ane  vther  but  woddyng.^  4700 

Some  would  value  Sum  man  wald  thynk  ane  lustye  lyfe, 
iispnviege,        ^^  quheu  he  lyst,  to  chenge"  his  Avyfe, 

And  tak  ane  vther  of  more  bewte  : 
denied  to  laymen,  Bot  Secularis  wantz's  that  lyberts,  4704 

The  quhilk  ar  bound  in^  mariage. 
but  enjoyed  Bot  tliay,  lyke  Eamuiis^  in  to  thair  rage, 

brutislily  by  the       tt       ■      -tti  •  j.i 

clergy.  Unpissillit  rynnis  amang  the  30WIS, 

So  lang  as  ISTature  in  tharae  growis.  4708 

The  vicar  will  rob       ^  And,  als,  the  Uicar,  as  I  trow,^*' 
a^poor  ami  J-       -^^  ^\y]l  noclit  faill  to  tak  ane  kow, 

And  vmaist  claitli,  thoucht  hahis  tliame  ban, 

Frome  ane  pure  selye  housband  man.  4712 

If  the  poor  man     Quhcu  tliat^  he  lyis  for  tyll  de, 
three  cows,  Haiffeing^^  small  baimis^^  two  or  thre. 

And  hes  thre  ky,  withouttin  mo, 
the  vicar  takes      The  Uicare  moist  haue  one  of  tho,^^  4716 

coverlet;  "With  the  gray  cloke  that  happis  the  bed, 

Howbeit  that  he  be  purelye  cled. 

And  gyf  the  ^'^  Avyfe  de  on  the  niorne, 
and  he  takes  the     Thocht  all  the  babis  suld  be  forlome,  4720 

second  cow,  if  the 

wife  dies;  The  vther  kow  he  cleikis^^  awaye, 

'  E  oblesit         '  L  by  ressoun         ^  L  vnto  his  parrochin 

*  L  Winchis         *  L  Uivorss         ^  E,  L  weddiug         '  L  cliang 

^  E  omitted         "  E  Ilames         '"  E  twro         "  L  Having 

'=  E  bernes         '^  E  two         "  E  3c         "  E  clekis 


THE    THRID    BVKE    OF    THE   MONARCHE. 


153 


With,  hir  pure  coit^  of  roplocli  graye. 
And  2  gyf,  -within  tway^  da^ds  or  thre, 
The  eldest  chyild  hapuis^  to  de, 
Off  the  thrid  kow  he  wylbe  sure. 
Quhen  he  hes  all,  than,  vnder  his  cure, 
And  Father^  and  Mother^  boith  ar  dede, 
Beg  mon  the  bahis/  without  remede  : 
Thay  hauld  the  Corps  at  the  kirk  style ; 
And  thare  it  nioste  remane  ane  quhyle, 
Tyll  thay  gett  sufficient  souerte 
For  thare  kirk  rycht  and  dewite. 
Than  cumis  the  Landis  Lord,  perfors, 
And  cleiks  tyll  hyni  ane  heriekP  hors. 
Pure  laubourars  wald  that  law  wer  doun, 
Quliilk  neuer  was  fundit  be^  resoun. 
I  hard  thame^''  say,  onder  confessioun, 
That  law  is  brother ^^  tyll  Oppressioun. 

IF  My  Sonne,  I  haue  schawin,  as  I  can, 
Quhow  this  fyft  Monarchie  began, 
Quhose  gret  Impyre  for  to  report 
At  lenth  the^^  tynie  bene  all  to  schort. 


4724:    and,  if  the  eldest 
child  dies,  the 
third  cow. 


4728 


4732 


And  then  he 
delays  to  bury  his 
dead  parishioners, 

until  he  is  sure  of 
his  dues. 


The  landlord,  too, 
is  extortionate. 


4736    The  law  sanction 
ing  all  this  is 
accounted  oppres 
sive. 


4740    So  much  for  the 
Fifth  Monarchy. 


*    FINIS.     * 


'  L  cote         "■'  L  Or         '  L  tuo         ■*  L  happinnis 

'  E,  L  Fader  «  L  Moder  '  L  barnis  «  L  lierejeild 

'  L  foundit  of         '"  L  men         "  E  broder         '°  E  omitted 


154 


IB4  HEIR  FOLLOWIS  ANE  DISCEIPTIOUN  OF'  THE 
COURT  OF'  ROME. 


COURTIOUR. 

rATHER,2  said  I,  quliat  rewll  keip  tliay  in  rome, 
How  is  Rome,  the  Quhilk  hes  the  Spirituall  Dominatioun  4744 

dom,  i-uied?  And  Monarcliie  abufe  all  Cliristindome  ? 

Schaw  me,  I  mak  jow  supplicatioun. 


EXPERIENCE. 


Not  after  SS. 
Peter  and  Paul. 


The  fishing  of 
Rome  differs  from 
that  of  the 
Apostles. 


Rome  makes 
drauglits  of  fine 
gold. 


My  Sonne,  wald  I  mak  trew  narratioun,^ 
Said  lie,  to  Peter  &  Paul  thoclit  thay  succeid, 
I  tliynk  thay  preue  nocht  that,  in  to  thare  deid. 


4748 


For  Peter,  Andrew,  &  lohne  war  fyschear/s  fyne 

Off  men  and  wemen,  to  the  christin  faith ; 

Bot  thay  haif  ^  spred  thare  ITet,  Avith  huik  and  lyne,  4752 

On  rentis  ryche,^  on  gold,  and  vther  graitli : 

Sic  fyscheing  to  neglect  thay  wylbe  laith  ; 

For  quhy  thai  half  ^  fyscheit  in  ouerthort  the  strandis, 

Ane  gret  part,  trewlye,  of  all  temporall  landis  :       475G 

H  With  that,  the  tent  part  of  all  glide  "^  mouehyll, 
For  the  vphaldyng  of  thare  diguiteis  : 
So  bene  thare  fyscheing  wounder  profitabyll 
On  the  dry  land  als  weill  as  on  the  seis.  4 7 GO 

Thare  hery^valter''  thay  spred  ^  in  all  countreis, 
And,  with  thare  hois  nett,  daylie^  drawis  to  Eome 
The  most  fyne  gold  that  is  in  ^^  Christindome. 


'-'  L  omits        2  L  Fader         ''  E  1.  4747  omitted        *  L  Imue 
E,  L  ryches       ^  L  gudis       ^  L  liery  watter,  E  bely  waiter 


*  L  send 


E  deyle 


L  into 


THE  THRID  BVKE  OF  THE  MONARCHE.  155 

^  I  (lar  Weill  say,  within  this  fyftie  ^eir,  47G4 

Rome  lies  ressett,i  furth  of  this  Regioun, 

For  Biillis  &2  Benefyce,^ — quhilk  thay  by  full  deir, —     Tiie  incoming  is 
Quhilk  mycht,  ful  well,  haif-*  payit  a  kingis  ranso?in. 
Bot,  war  I  worthye  for  to  weir  aiie  crown,  4768 

Preistis  suld  no  more  our  substance  so  consume, 
Sendyng,  ^eirlye,  so  gret  ryches  to  Eome. 

In  to  thare  Tramalt^  nett  thay  fangit  ane  fysche, 

More  nor^  ane  quhaill  worthye  of  memorye, —       4772 

Of  quhome  thaj"-  haue  had  mony  dayntay'''  dysche. 

Be  quhome  thay  ar  exaltit  to  gret  glorye, —  Rigiit  profitable 

That  maruelous^  monstour  callit  Purgatorye.  Purgatory. 

Howbeit  tylP  ws  it  is  nocht  amyable,  4776 

It  lies  to  thame  bene  veray^*^  profytable. 

Latt  thay  that  fructfuU  fysche  eschaip  thare  nett, 

Be  quhome  thay  half  so  gret  commoditeis, 

Ane  more  fatt  fysche  I  traist  thay  sail  nocht  gett,  4780  To  lose  timt  fish 

mi        11  1111  io  1  ■  19-  woukl  be  a  loss 

ihocht  thay  wald^^  sers^-  ouerthort  the  occiane^"*  seis,     indeed; 
Adew  the  daylie  dolorous  Derigeis  ! 
Selye  pure  preistis  may  syng  w/z'/i^*  hart  full  sorye, 
"Want  thay  that  painefull  palyce,  Purgatorye.         4784 

Pairweill,  Monkyre,  vfitJi'^^  Chanoun,  Nun,  &  Freir  ! 

Allace  !  thay  wylbe  lychtleit  in  all  landis  : 

Cowlis  wyll  no  more  be  kend  in  kirk  nor  queir,  a"d  it  bad  better 

Lat    thay    tha^^^    fructfull'^    fysche    eschaip    thare  Miy. 

handis.  4788 

I  counsall  thame  to  bynd  hym  fast  in  bandis  : 
For  Peter,  Androw,  nor^^  lohne  culde  neuer  gett 
So  profytable  ane  Fysche  in  to  thare  nett. 

IT  Thare  Merchandyce,  in  tyU  all  Kationis,         4792 
As  prentit  lede,  thare  walx,  and  percheanent,  of  the  gain  from 

Thare  pardonis,  and  thare  Dispensationis,  8^110^,^' 

Thay  do  exceid  sum  temporall  princis  rent : 

^  L  resauit         '  L  of        ''  E  Benyfies         ''  L  haue 

^  L  Tramald         «  L  than         ^  L  dantie         «  L  Merwalus 

^  L  Quhowbeit  to  '"  E  wery  "  E  wad  '-  L  serche 

'^  L  occient         '^  E  thow  '^  E  the         '"  L  frutefull 

'^  L  and 


156 


THE  THRID  BVKE  OF  THE  MONARCHE. 


lu  sic  trafyke^  thay  ar  nocht  neglygent.'^ 
and  benefices.        Off  benefyce  thay  mak  glide  inarcliandyce,^ 

Throuch'*  Symonye,  quliilk^  thay  hald  lytill  vyce. 


4796 


How  Clirist's 
slieep  are  now 
entreated ; 


and  how  the 

HliL'plierds  abuse 
their  cliarges. 

Mat.  xvi. 


Christ  did  command  Peter  to  feid  his  scheip ; 

And  so  he  did  feid  thame  full  tenderlye  :  4800 

Off  that  command  thay  take^  hot  lytill  keip  ; 

Bot  Christis  scheip  thay  spol3e  petuouslye  i"^ 

And  with  the  woll  thay  cleith  thame  curiouslye : 

Lyk  gorma?id  wolfis,  thay  tak*^  of  thame  thare  fude,  4804 

Thai  eit  thair  flesche,  &  drynk/^'  hoith  mylk  &  hlude. 

IT  For  that^  office  thay  serue  bot  lytill  hyir : 
I  thynk  sic  Pastonr^■s  ar  nocht  for  to  pryse, 
Quhilk  can  nocht  gyde  tJmvQ  scheip  about  the  myir,^  4808 
Thay  ar  so  besye  in  thare  merchandyse. 
Thocht  Peter  wes  porter  of  Paradyse, 
That  plesand  passage  craftelye  thay  close  : 
Throuch  thame  rycht^'^  few  gettis  entres,  I  suppose.  4812 


'  Mathow  xxiii. 

Of  Scribes  and 
Pharisees,  ancient 
and  modern. 


IT  Christ  lesus  said,  as  Mathew  did  report,^^ 
Wo  be  to  ^2  Scribes  and  to^^  Pharisience, 
The  quhilkis  did  close  of  Paradyse  the  port. 
Off  thame  we  half  the  sam  experience  :  4816 

To  enter  thare  thay  mak  small  deligence, 
Thay  tak  sic  cure  in  temporall  besjaies  ; 
Kychtso,  frome  ws  thay  stop  the  plane  entres. 

Those  spiritual  keis  quhilk?'^  Christ  to  Peter  gaif,  4820 
Thare  colour ^^  cleir  ^yifh  reik  and  rowst  ar  fadit; 
Unoccupyit  thay  hald  thame  in  thare  neif : 
What  has  come  to  Off  that  office  thay  serue  to  be  degradit, 

tilt!  Itcys  £ziv6ii 

s.  i>eter.  With  Goddis  worde  without  that  thay  remeid  it,   4824 

Oj)pinyng  the  port  quliilk  lang  tyme  lies  bene  closit, 
That  we  may  enter,  with  thame,  and  be  reiosit. 


'  L  traffi(iue         "  E  tliay  mak  gude  marchanclrccc 
'  E  1.  -l"!)?  otnitted         ^  L  Tiioclit         ■''  L  that         "  L  dike 

'  li  spiiilji'  i)ietiuslie  "  L  tliair  ^  L  invi-e 

'"  L  omitted         "  E  11.  4813  to  4817  omitted  ''^  L  to  ye 

"  L  cuUour 


THE  THRID  BVKE  OF  THE  MONARCHE.  157 

IT  Contrar  tylP  Christis  Instytutioun,  lohnx. 

To  thame  that  deis  in  habit  of  ane  Freir,  4828  a  friar's  hood 

Eomo  hes  thame  grantit  full  remissioun,  Christ's  Wood. 

To  passe  tyll  heuin  straucht  way,  "vvithoutin  Aveir ; 
Quhilk  bene  in  Scotland  vsit  mony  ane  3eir. 
Be  thare  sic  vertew^  in  ane  Freris  hude,  4832 

I  tliynk  in  vane  Clirist  lesu  sched  his  blude. 

Wald  God  the  Pope,"  qiihilk  hes  preheminence, 

With  aduyse  *  of  his  counsall  generall, 

That  thay  wald  do  thare  detfull  deligence,  483G  a  sigii  forea-ie- 

..  ,...-  .,,  siastical  reforina- 

That  Christis  law  mycht  keipit  be  ouir  all,  tion. 

And  trewlye  precheit  baith  to  gret  and  small. 

And  geue^  to  thame  Spirituall  Auctorite 

Quhilk  culde^  perfytlie  schaw  the  Uerite  !  4840 

Quho  can  not"  preche  a^  preist  siilde  not^  be  namit. 

As  may  be  preuit  be  the  law  Diuyne ; 

And,  be  the  Canon  law,  thay  ar  defamit  what  a  right 

priest  sliould  skill 

That  takis  Preistheid  bot  onely  to  that  fyne  :  4844  to  do. 

Tyll^"  all  vertew  thare  hartis  thay  suld^^  iiiclyne, 
In  speciall,  to  preche  with  trew  intentis, 
And  minister  12  the  neidfull  Sacramentis. 

As   for   thare   Monkis,^^   thair   chanounis,    and    thare 
Freris,  4848 

And  lustye  Ladyis  of  Eeligioun, 
I  knaw  nocht  qnhat  to  thare  office  efferis  ;  Now-a-day  saints 

IT-  compared  with 

Bot  men  may  se  thare  gret  abusioun.  those  of  old. 

Thay  ar  nocht  lyke,  in  to  conclusioun,  4852 

Nother  in  to  thare  wourdis  nor  thate  warkis, 
To  the  Apostolis,^^  Prophet/*',  nor  Patriarkis. 

Geue^  presentlye  thare  PreIat/«  can  nocht  preche. 

Than  latt  ilke  Byschope  half  ane  Suffragane,  4856  Bishops, above aii 

Or  successour,  quhilk  can  the  peple^-^  teche, 

'  L  to         "  E  werteu,  L  virtu         '  E  Pape         ''  L  auise 

*  L  gif  ®  L  couth  '  L  Quha  couth  nocht         *  L  ane 

"  E  noch,  L  nocht  '"  L  To  "  L  thai  sulci  thair  hartis 

'^  L  minster         ''  E  Mounkis         '^  L  Apnostilhs 

'*  L  pepill 


153 


THE    THRID    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


should  be  able  to 
preach. 


An  argument 
from  analogy 
adduced. 


Bad  laws  should 
be  repealed. 


Sexual  motions 
are  inborn ; 


Gene.  ii. 

and,  hence,  mar- 
riage was  insti- 
tuted; 

Ihon  ii. 


On  thare  expensis  ^eirlye  to  remane, 

To  cause  ^  the  peple  frome  thare  vyce^  refrane  : 

And,  quhen  ane  prelate  hapnith^  to  deceace,  48G0 

Than  put  ane  perfyte  precheour  in  his*  pleace. 

Do  thay  nocht  so,  on  thame  sail  ly  the  charge, 

Geueand  vnhable  men  auctorite  ;  ^ 

As  quho  wald  mak  ane  steirman  tyll  ane  barge       4864 

Off  ane  blynd  borne,  quhilk  can  no  dainger  se. 

Geue  that  schyp  drown,  forsuth,*^  I  say  for  me, 

Quho  gaif  *"  that  steirman^  sic  commissioun 

Suld  of  the  schip  mak  restitutioun.  4868 

SCf'  The  humane  Lawis  that  ar  contrarius 

And  nocht  conformyng^  to  the  Law  diuyne, 

Thay  suld  expell,  and  hald  thame  odius, 

Quhen  thay  persaue  thame  cum  to  no  gude  fyne, —  4872 

Inuentit  bot  be  sensuall  mennis  Ingyne, — 

As  that  law  qidiilk  forbiddis  mariage, 

Causyng  ^oung  Clerkis  byrne^''  in  lustis  rage. 

IT  Difficill"  is  Chaistite  tyll  obscrue,  4876 

But  speciall  grace,  lauboure,  and  abstinence. 

In  tyll  our  flesche  aye  ryngith,  tyll  we  sterue, 

That  first  Originall  syn,  Concupiscence, 

Quhilk  we,  throuch  Adamis  Inobedience,  4880 

Hes  done  Incur,  and  sail  indure  for  euer, 

Quhill  that  our  saull  and  body  deith^^  disseuer. 

Tharefor  God  maid  of  Mariage  the  band, 

In  Paradyse,  as  Scripture  doith^^  recorde  :  4884 

In  Galelie,  rycht  so,  I  vnderstand, 

Wes  mariage  honourit  be  Christ  our  Lorde  : 

Auld  Law  and  New  thareto  thay  do  concorde.^^ 

I  thynk  for  me,  better  that  thay  had  sleipit,  4888 

Nor  tyll  haue  maid  ane  law  and  neuer  keip  it.^^ 

'  L  causs,  E  caws  ^  L  vicis 

^  L  Qiihan  one  prelat  happinnis         ■•  L  thair 

*  L  Gevaiid  vnabill  men  the  autorite         *  L  iu  faith 

'  E  geue         *  L  steirisman         °  L  conforniand 

'"  L  to  biino         "  E  Diffissill         '=  L  dois         '=*  L  accord 

"  L  kcipit,  E  kepit 


THE  THRID  BVKE  OF  THE  MOKARCHB. 


159 


H  Take  noclit  Christ  lesu  his  Huinanitie 
Off  ane  Uirgene  in  manage  contractit, 
And  of  hir  flesche  cled  his  Diuynitiel  ^  4892 

Quhy  haif  thay  done  that  blysfvdl  band  deiectit, 
In  thare  Kyngdome?   Wald  God  it  wer  correctit ; 
That  ^oung  prehxttis  mycht  mary  lustye  Avyffis,- 
And  nocht  in  sensuall  luste  to  leid  thare  lyffis.        4896 


Did  nocht  Christ  cheis  of  honest  maryit  men, 

Alsweill  as  thaj'^^  that  kepit  Chaistitie, 

For  to  be  his  Disciphs,  as  je  ken  1 

As  in  the  Scripture  cleirlye  thay^  may  se, 

Thay  keipit,  styll,  thare  wyffis,^  with  honeste ; 

As  Peter,  and  his  spousit  Bretherin,  all, 

Obseruit  Chaistitie  MatrymonialL 


and  for  the  f leigy, 
no  less  than  for 
othei-8. 


Bot  now  apperis  the  prophesie  of  Paull, 
QuhoAV  sum  suld  ryis,  in  to^  the  latter  aige, 
That  frome  the  trew  faith  sulde  depart  and  fall. 
And  suld  forbid  the  band  of  Mariaige  :  ^ 
Als  thow  sail  fynd,  in  to  that'''  sam  passaige, 
Thay  sulde  co??imand  frome  meitis  tyll  abstene, 
Quhilk  God  creat,  his  pepyll  to  sustene. 

Bot,  sen  the  Pope,  our  Spirituall  prince  &  kyng, 
He  dois  ouerse  sic  vyces  manifest. 
And  in  his  kyngdome  sufferith^  for  to  ryng 
The  men  be  quhome  the  veritie^  bene  supprest, 
I  exouse  nocht  hym  self  more  than  the  rest.^^ 
Allace  !  how  suld  we  membris  be  weill  vsit, 
Quhen  so  our  spirituall  heidis  bene  abusit !  ^^ 


Tlie  Apostles  were 
A(\r\i\  nianied  men,  and 
4:yUU    remained  bo. 


4904 


S.  Paul's  prophecy 
has  come  to  past.. 


4908 


4912 


Tlie  Pope  is  as 
blameworthy  as 
those  under  him. 


4916 


IT  The  famous  ancient,  Doctor  Auiceane, 
Sayis,  quhen  euyl  rewme  descendis^^  frome  the  heid 
In  to  the  membris,  generith^^  mekle  peane,  4920 

Without  thare  be  maid,  haistalye,  remeid. 


Rheum,  descend- 


^  E  Deuinytie         ^  L  wivis         '  L  thame         ''  L  thou 

L  ryiss  now  in  ^  B  meriage         '  L  the         **  L  sufferis 

^  E  vertu         '"  E  that  he  rest         "  L  habusit 

'^  L  rewyne  discendith         '^  generis 
MONARCHE,    II. 


160 


THE    THRID    BVKE    OP    THE    MONARCHE. 


Quhen  that  caki  hi;mour  dounwart  dois  proceid, 
produces  gout,       In  Seiiownis^  it  causis  Artlietica, 

Rychtso,  in  to  the  handis,  crampe^  Chiragra.  4924 


and,  somotimes, 
catarrli. 


IT  Off  Malideis  it  generis  mony  mo, — 
Bot  gyf  men  gett  sum  Souerane  preserue, — 
As,  in  the  theis,  Siatica  Passio, 

And,  in  the  hreist,  sumtyme,  the  Strang  Caterue, —  4928 
Quhilk  causis^  men  rycht  haistellye  to  sterue, — 
And  podagra,  difftcill  for  to  cure, 
In  mennis  feit  quhilk  lang  tyme  dois  indure. 


Rome,  how 
changed ! 


So,  to  this  moste  tryumphant  court  of  Eome  4932 

This  simylitude  full  weill  I  may*  compare, 

Quhilk  lies  bene  heirschyp  of  ^  all  Christindome, 

And  to  the  warld  ane  euyll^  examplare, 

That  vmquhyle  was  Lod'^  sterre  &  Lumynare,         4936 

And  the  moste  sapient  Sors  of  sanctytude, 

Bot  now,  allace  !  bair  of  Beatytude. 


Apo.xmii.       Thare  Kyngdome^  may  be  callit  Babilone, 
Once  a  Jerusalem,  Quliilk  vmquliyle  was  ane  brycht  Hierusalem,        4940 

now  a  Babylon ;  -qi         a  -utt 

As  planelye  menis''  the  Apostill  iohne. 

Thare  moste  famous  Citie  hes^''  tynt  the  fame ; 

Inhabitar^s  thareof,  thare  nobyll  name  ;  ^^ 

For  quhy  thay  half  ^^  of  Sanctis  Habitacle  4944 

To  Symon  Magus  maid  ane  Tabernacle, 


and  full  of  loath- 
some wickedness. 


And  horribyll  vaill  of  euerilk  kynd  of  vyce, 
Ane  laithlye  Loch  of  stynkand  Lychorye, 
Ane  curssit  Coue,  corrupt  Avith  Couatyce, 
Bordourit  aboute  Avith  pryde  and  Symonye, — 
Sum  sayis,  ane  systerne  full  of  Sodomye, — 
Quhose  vyce  in  speciall  gyf  I  wald  declair, 
It  wer  aneuch  for  tyll  perturbe  the  air. 


4948 


4952 


L  Sennonia         '  E  omitted         '  L  causith         *  L  may  be 
*  L  to         *  E  omitted         '  E,  L  Loid         '  E  Kingdou 
'  L  menith  '"  L  haith  "  E  men 

'=  E  haue 


THE    THRID    liVKK    OF    THE    WONARCHB.  161 

H  Offtreuth,  the  hoilU  Christin  Keligioun 
Throuch  thame  ar  scandalizat^  and  offendit. 
It  can  nocht  faill  bot  thare  abusioun^ 
Aflfore  the  Throne*  of  God  it  is  ascendit :  4956  Reproach  and 

.    .  prediction. 

I  dreid,  but  doute, — without  that  thay  amend  it, —  zuc.  xia. 

The  plaiges^  of  lohnis  Keuelatiouu  po.xvut. 

Sail  fall  vpone  thare  Generatioun.  4959 

{^  0  Lord,  quhilk  hes  the  hartis  of  euerilk  kyng 
In  to  thy  hand,  I  inak  the  Supplicatioun, 
Conuert  that  Coui-t,  that,  of  thair''  grace  benyng, 
Thay ''  wald  mak  generaU  reforniatioun  a  prayer  for 

.  .  .  i  n  /•  i     Rome's  amend- 

Amang  thame  selfis,  in  euerilk  Natioun  4964  went, 

That  thay  may  be  ane  holy  exemplair 

Tyll^  ws,  thy  pure  lawid  commoun^  populair, 

U  Hungrit,!**  allace !  for  fait  of  Spirituall  fude, 
Because  frome  ws  bene  hyd  the  veritie.  4968 

O  Prince,  quhilk  sched  for  vs  thy  precious  blude, 
Kendle  in  ws  the  fyre  of  Charitie,^^  and  for  charity, 

T-i  Ti/r-        •    •  and  future 

And  saif  ws  frome  Lterne  Misaritie,  beatitude. 

Now  lauboryng  in  to  thy^-  Kirk  Militant,  4972 

That  we  may,  all,  cum  to  thy  kirk  Tryumphant, 

AMEN.  13 

1  L  hoi  2  L  sklandilizat         ^  L  habusioun         *  L  trone 

6  L  plagius        6  E  thy         ^  e  That        «  L  To        »  E  comund 
1"  L  hungerit         "  E  cherytie         ^"  E  omitted         ^^  E  Finis 


M  i 


162 


You  have  remind- 
ed me  of  the  fleet- 
ingness of 
worldly  pomp 
and  glory. 


Now  tell  me  how 
I  am  to  gain  glory 
everlasting. 


Obey  the  Lord, 
and  shun 
ambition. 


How  wilful  sin  is 
to  be  avoided. 

Think  on  death, 
ho'il,  heavenly 
blins. 


HEIR  ENDIS  THE  THRIDB  PART,  AND 
BEGYNNIS  THE  FOURT 

MAKAND   MENTIOUN  OF  THE  DEITH,  AND  OF  THE 

ANTICHRIST,  lAND  GENERALL  lUGEMEA^T,  AND  OF 

CERTANE  PLESOURIS  OF  GLORIFIET  BODYIS. 

AND  QUHOW  EUERY  CREATURE  DESYRIS 

TO    SE   THE   LAST  DAY,  WITH   ANE 

EXHORTATIOUN,  BE  EXPERIENCE, 

TO  THE  COURTIOUR.i 

©^      (•{«)      ^^ 
COURTIOUR. 

PEVDENT  Father^  Experience, 

Sen  36,  of  ^  30ur  beneuolence, 

Hes  causit  me  for  to  consydder  4976 

Quliow  warldlye  Pompe  and  glore  bene  slydder, — 

By*  dmers  Story  is  Miserabyll, 

Quhilk/6"  to  relieirs^  bene  Lanientabyll, — 

3itt,  or  Ave  passe  furth  of  this  vaill,  4980 

I  pray  30W  geue  me  jour  counsaill, 

Quhat  I  sail  do,  in  tyme  ciimyng, 

To  wyn  the  glore  Euirlestyng. 

EXPERIENCE. 

U  My  Sonne,  said  he,  sett  thy  intent  4984 

To  keip  the  Lordis  Commandiment, 
And  preis  the  nocht  to  clym  oner  hie 
To  no  warldly  Auctoritie.^ 

Quho  in  the  warld  doitli''^  moste  reiose  4988 

Ar  f arrest,  aye,  fronie  thare  pnipose. 
Wald  thow  leue  warldlye  vaniteis, 
And  thynk  on  foure  extremeteis 

Quhilk?'6-  ar  to  cum,  and  that  schortlye,  4992 

Thow  wald  neuer  syn  wylfullye. 
Prent  thir  four  in  thy  memorye  : 
The  Deith,  the  Hell,  and  heuinnis''  glorye, 

1-1  L  omitted         2  g^  l  Fader         »  ^  for         *  L  Be 

^  E  reheria         ^  L  Autorite         ^  L  dois 

*  E  heuenis,  L  heviulie 


THE  FOVRT  BVKE  OP  THE  MONARCHE. 


163 


And  extreme  lugement  Generall, 
Qiihare  thow  man  ^  rander  conipt  of  all ; 
Thow  sail  noclit  faill  to  be  content 
Off  quyet  lyfe  and  sobir  rent ; 
Considdryng  no  man  can  be  sure 
In  erth^  one  bour  for  tyll  indure  ; 
So  all  warldly  prosperitie 
Is  myxit  Avith  gret^  miseritie. 

IT  Wer  tliow  Empriour  of  Asia, 
Kyng  of  Europe  and  Affrica, 
Gret  Dominator  of  the  sey, 
And  thocbt  tbe  Heuinnis  did  the  obey, 
All  Eyschis  sowmyng^  in  the  strand, 
All  Beist  and  Fowle^  at  thy  command, — 
Concludyng,  thow  wer  kyng  of  all 
Under  the  heuin  Imperiall, — 
In  that  moste  heych  auctoritie^ 
Thow  suld  fynd  leist  tranquilitie. 
Exempyll  of  kyng  Salamone, 
More  prosperous  lyfe  had  neuir  none ; 
Sic  ryches,  with  so  gret  plesoure, 
Had  neuer  kyng  nor  Emprioure, 
With  moste  profunde  Intelligence, 
And  superexcelland'''  Sapience. 
His  plesand  Habitationis^ 
PrecelHt  aU  vtheris  Nationis  ; 
Gardyngis  and  Parkis  for  Hartis  and  Hyndis, 
Stankis  with  fysche  of  diners  kyndis  ; 
Moste  profunde  Maisterz'*"  of  Musike, 
That  in  the  warld^  wes  none  thame  like ; 
Sic  treasour  of  Gold^°  and  pretious^^  stonis 
In  erth^  had  neuir  no  kyng  att  onis : 
He  had  sewin  hundreth^'^  lustye  Quenis, 
And  thre  hundreth  fair  Concubenis  ; 
In  erth  thare  wes  no  thyng  plesand 
Contrarious  tyll  his  command  : 


4996    and  doomsday ; 


and  thou  shalt 
have  peace. 


5000 


No  prosperity  is 
unalloyed. 


5004 


As  ruler  of  the 
earth,  the  sea,  the 
heavens, 


5008 


and  of  all 
creatures, 


5012    thouwouldst, 
least  of  all,  find 
tranquillity. 

ii.  Pay.  ix. 

Consider  Solo- 
mon, with  his 
enjoyments, 
Eccle.  ii. 


5016 


wisdom, 
5020    magnificence, 

luxury. 


5024    ^"^  other  sources 
of  pleasure. 


wealth. 


5028  '»''•  Re.  xi. 

seraglio, 

and,  in  short, 
command  of 
everything 
he  desired : 


1  L  mon       2  L  erd       ^  l  omitted       *  L  sweming       ^  L  foull 
^  L  autorite  ^  L  super  excellent  ^  E  liue  5020  omitted 

9  E  wardill         i"  E  Gould  "  L  precius  i-  E  liunderith 


164 


THE    FOVRT    BVKB    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


yet  all  these  he 
counted  vanity. 


^itt  all  this  gret  prosperitie 

He  thoucht  it  vaine  and  vanitie, 

And  myclit  neuir  fynd  repose  compleit, 

Without  afflixioun  of  the  spreit. 


5032 


I  marvel  that  he 
was  not  as  happy 
as  he  was 
prosperous. 


COURTIOUR. 


IT  rather,^  quod  I,  it  maruellis^  me, 
He,  haueand^  sic  prosperite. 
With  so  gret  ryches  by  mesoure, 
!N"or  he  had  infynite  plesoure. 


5036 


If  thou  wouldst 
know  the  truth, 
no  worldly  thing 
satisfies  man's 
soul. 


insatiable, 


which  nought 
but  the  sight  of 
Uod  can  content. 


Math,  vi. 

Luc.  xii. 
Be  anxious,  then, 
about  nothing  on 
earth,  save  death. 


which  is  near  and 
certain. 


EXPERIENCE. 

IT  My  Sonne,  the  suth  gyf  thow  wald  knaw,       5040 
The  veritie  I  sail  the  schaw. 
Thare  is  no  w^arldly  thyng,  at  all, 
May  satyfie^  ane  mannis  Saull ; 

For  it  is  so  Insaciabyll,  5044 

That  Heiiin  and  Erth^  may  nocht  be  abyll 
One^  Saull  allone  to  mak  content, 
Tyll  it  se  God  Omnipotent : 

Wes  neuer  none,  nor  neuer  salbe,'''  5048 

Saciate,^  that  sycht  tyll  that  he  se. 
Quharefor,  my  Sonne,  sett  nocht  thy  cure 
In  erth,  quhare  no  thyng  may  be  sure, 
Except  the  deith  allanerlye,  5052 

Quhilk  followis  man  continuallye. 
Tharefor,  my  Sonne,  remember  the, 
Within  schorte  tyme  that  thow  mon  de, — 
Nocht  knawing^  quhen,  quhow,  in  quliat  place,      5056 
Bot  as  plesit^*^  the  Kyng  of  Grace. 


*     FINIS.     * 


1  L  Fader  ^  l  merwallis  ^  L  havand 

*  L  satisfie,  E  sanctifie         ^  L  erd         ^L  ano         ^  E  sail  be 

8  L  Sachiat  »  L  knawand  !•>  L  plesith 


165 


^04    OFF  THE  DEITIT. 

OF  Misarie  moste  Miserable 

Is^  Deith,  and  most  abliominable, — 

That  dreidful  Dragone,  with  his  dartis  5060  Dreadful  is  death, 

Aye  reddy  for  to  peirs  the  hartis  *''*'  '"^  ^  ' 

Off  euerilk  Creature  on  lyue, 

Contrar  quhose  strenth  may  no  man  stryue. 

II  Off  dolent  Deith  this  sore  sentence  5064 

Wes  gyffin^  throw  Inobedience  it  was  sent  for 

^™  T^  ,.  „  .T  i<  1  the  disobedience 

Off  our  Parentis, — allace  tliareiore  ! —  of  our  first 

As  T  haue  done  declare  affore,^  _  Ey'dTeLT;:^ 

Quhow  thay  and  thare  Posteritie  5068 

"Wer,  all,  condampnit  for  to^  dee. 

Quhowbeit  the  fiesche  to  deith  be  thrall, 

God  hes  the  Saull*  maid  Immortall,  But  God,  who 

J       T  f    T  •     1         •  1-  errvfrn    made  the  soul 

And  SO,  01  ms  benignytie,  007z  immortal,  has 

Hes  myxit  his  Justice  with^  mercie.  with  mercy"*'  '"^ 

Tharefor,  call  to  remenbrance*^ 

Off  this  fals  warld'^  the  variance, 

Quhow  we,  lyke  Pylgram?^,  ewin  and  morrow,       5076  Fickle  is  this 

Ay  trauellyng  throw  this  vaill  of  sorrow  ; 

Sum  tyme  in  vaine  prosperitie,  with  its  weai  and 

Sum  tyme  in  gret  Misaritie,  ' 

Sum  tyme  in  blys,  sum  tyme  in  baill,  5080  joyandbaia. 

Sum  tyme  rycht  seik,  and  sum  tyme  liaill, 

Sum  tyme  full  ryche,  and  sum  tyme  pure. 

Quharefor,  my  Sonne,  tak  lytill  ciu'e  and  divers  viiissi- 

Nother^  of  ^  gret  prosperitie  5084 

I^or,  ^itt,  of  ^  gret  misaritie  ; 

Bot  plesand  lyfe  and  hard  myschance.  Govern  thyself 

after  this  fact. 

Ponder  thame  boith  in  one  ballance ; 

1  L  Off  2  L  gevin  3  L  to         «  E  Sawl         °  L  with  his 

^  L  rememberance        ^  E  wardill        *  L  noiither        "  E  for 


166 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


Everything  that 
we  here  strive 
after  and  enjoy  is 
transitory. 


Death,  tliough 
common  to  all, 
strikes  in  various 
ways, 

as  by  fevers, 
pestilence. 


capital  punirtli- 
meiit. 


torture, 


varions 
maladies, — 


enumerated, — 


self-murder, 


lightning, — 


as  in  the  case  of 
TuUus  Hostilius 


Considdryng  none  auctoritie,  5088 

Eyches,  wysedome,  nor  dignitie, 

Empyre  of  Eealmes,  bewtie,  nor  strenth, 

May  nocht  one  day  our  lyuis  lenth. 

Sen  we  ar  sure  that  we  moste  de,  5092 

Fairweill  all  vaine^  felyscitie  ! 

^  Gretlye  it  doitli^  perturbe  my  mynde, 
Off  dolent  Deith  the  diners  kynd. 
Thoucht  Deith  tyll  euery  man  resortis,  5096 

3itt  strykith  he  in  syndrie  sortis  : 
Sum,  be  hait^  Feuer/^  violence  ; 
Sum,  be  contagions  Pestilence  ; 

Sum,  be  lustice  executioun,  5100 

Bene  put  to  deith'*  without  Eemissioun  ; 
Sum,  hangit ;  sum  doitli  lose  thare  lieidis  ; 
Sum,  brynt ;  sum,  soddin  in  to  leiddis  ; 
And  sum,  for  thare  vnleifsum  actis,  5104 

Ar  rent  and  rewin  apone  the  ractis  ;^ 
Sum  ar  dissoluit  by  poysoun ; 
Sum  on  the  nyclit  ar  murdreist  doun ; 
Sum  fallis  in  to  frynasie  ;^  6108 

Sum  deis  in  Idropesie,''^ 
And  vtheris  strange  Infirmeteis,^ — 
Quharein^  mony  ane  thousand  deis, 
Quhilk  humane  Nature  dois  abhor, —  5112 

As  in  the  Gutt,  graueU,  and  gor ; 
Sum,  in  the  flux,  and  feuir  quartane, 
Bot,  ay^  the  houre^*'  of  deith  vncertane. 
Sum  ar  dissoluit  suddantlye,  5116 

Be  Cattarue,  or  be  Poplesye  ;ii 
Sum  doith  distroy  thame  self,  also, 
As  Ilanniball  and  wyse  Cato. 

Be  thounder  deith  sum  doith  ^^  consume  ;  5120 

As  he  did  the  thrid  kyng  of  Eome, 
Callit  TuUiusi3  Hostulius, 
As  wryttis^'*  gret  Ualerius  ; 


1  E  wane         ^  l  dois 
^  L  into  the  frannesie 
'•*  E  qtihare  i"  E  owre 

1^  L  Titus 


3  E  hett         <  L  deid         ^  L  rakis 
'  L  Edropa.sie  *  E  lufirniametis 

"  L  I'oplacie  ^^  L  dois  sum 

1^  L  writith 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THIO    MONARCHE. 


167 


For  he  and  his  houshakl  attonis 

Wer  brynt  be  thounder,  flesche  aud  bonis. 

Sum  deith'  be  extreme  excesse 

Off  loy,  as  Ualeri  doith  expresse  ; 

Sum  be  extreme  Malancolye 

Wyll  de,  but  vther  Maladye. 

In  Cronicles  thow  may  weill  ken, 

Quhow  mony  hundreth^  thousand  men 

Ar  slaue,  sen  first  the  warld  began,^ 

In  battel! ;  and  quhow  mony  one  man 

Apone  the  see  doith  lose  thare  lyuis, 

Quhen  schyppis  apone  roches  ryuis. 

Tliocht  sum  de  Xaturally,  throuch*  aige, 

Fer  mo  deis  raiffand^  in  one  raige. 

Happy  is  he  the  quhilk  hes  space 

Att  his  last  hour  to  cry  for  grace. 

Quhowbeit  deith  be  abhominabyll, 

I  thynk  it  suld  be  confortabyll 

Tyll^  aU  thame  of  the  faithfuU  nummer  ;'' 

For  thay  depart  frome  cair  and  cummer, 

Frome  trubyll,  trauell,  sturt,  and  stryfe, 

Tyll  loy  and  eiiirlestand  lyfe. 

H  Polidorus  Uirgilius 
To  that  effect  he  wryttis  ^  thus  : 
In  Trace,  quhen  ony  chylde  be  borne, 
Thare  kyn  and  freindis  cumis  thame  beforne. 
With  dolent  Lamentatioun, 
For  the  gret  trybulatioun, 
Calamitye,  cummer,  and  cure, 
That  thay  in  erth.^  ar  to  indure ; 
Bot,  at  thare  deith  and  burying, 
Thay  mak  gret  loy  and  Bankettyng,^'^ 
That  thay  haue  past  frome  misarie 
To  rest  and  grett  felycitie. 

II  Sen  deitli  bene  fynalU^  conclusioun, 
Quhat  valis^^  warldly  prouisioun. 


5124    amlliU 

household,— 


joy. 

51 'J  8    melancholy. 


5132 


And  many  deaths 
are  due  to 


battle, 


shipwreck, 
5136    old  age, 
madness. 


5140    Yet  the  good 

should  welcome 
death. 


as  ending  their 
„  -.   .  .     troubles,  and 
0  i  44:    bringing  them  to 

felicity. 


It  is  written,  that, 
_  ^  .  _  in  Thrace,  on  the 
514b    birth  of  a  child, 


there  was 
lamentation, 


5152 


5156 


but,  at  deaths 

burials, 

rejoicing; 

and  for  good 
cause. 

Death 


1  L  deis         2  E  huaderith         3  I^]  n.  5132,  5133  omitted 
E  throcht,  L  throw        ^  l  ravand        ^  L  To         '^  L  noinber 
L  writith  ^  L  erd  i"  L  bancatting  ^^  L  be  small 

12  L  availlis 


IGS 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MOXARCHE. 


is  not  to  h» 
withstood, 


nor  put  off. 


After  it  comes 


tlie  body  dissolv- 
ing till  the  general 
resurrection. 


Quham  wysedome  may  nocht  contramaiul , 
Nor  strenth  that  stoure  may  nocht  ganestand  ! 
Ten  thousand  Myl3eone^  of  treasoure 
May  nocht  prolong  thy  lyfe  one  houre ; 
Efter  quhose  dolent  departpig, 
Thy  spreit  sail  passe,  but  tarying, 
Straucht  way  tyll^  loye  Inestimabyll, 
Or  to  Strang  pane  Intollerabyll. 
Thy  vyle^  corruptit  carioun 
Sail  turne  in*  Putrefactioun. 
And  so  remaue,  in  pulder^  small, 
On  to^  the'^  lugement  GeneraU. 


51  GO 


5164 


5168 


*     FINIS.  8     * 


1  L  Millionii       ^  l  to       ^  E  wyle       ^  E,  L  into       ^  L  powder 
«  L  Vntill         7  E  the  dav  of         *  E  omitted 


169 


ANE  SCHORT  DISCRIPTIOFN  OF  THE  ANTECHRISTE, 


COURTIOUR. 

VOD  I :  Father,!  I  heir  men  say    5172 
That  thare  sail  ryse,  affore  tfiat'^  day 
Quhilk  36  call  generall  Iugeme?it, 
One  "vvyckit  ma??,  from  sathan  sent, 
And  contrar  to  the  law  of  Christ,    5176 

Callit  the  creuell^  Antechrist. 

And  sum  sayis,  that  myscheuous  man 

Discende  sail  of  the  Trybe  of  Dan, 

And  suld  be  borne  in  BabHone,  5180 

The  quhilk  dissaue  sail  mony  one. 

Infydelis  sail,  of  euery  art, 

With  that  fals  Propheit  tak  one  part ; 

And  quhow  that  Enoch  and  Elias  5184 

Sail  preche  contrar''  that  fals  Messias  ; 

Bot,  fynally,  his  fals  Doctryne 

And  he  sail  be  put  to  rewyne, 

Bot  nother^  be  the  fyre  nor  swourd,  5188 

Bot  be  the  vertew  of  Christis  wourd  : 

And,  gyf  this  be  of  veryte,"^ 

The  suith,  I  pray  30W,  schaw  to  me. 

EXPERIENCE, 

IF  My  Sonne,^  said^  he,  as  wryttis^  lohne,         5192 
Thare  sail  nocht  be  one  man  allone, 
Hauyng  that  name  in  speciall ; 
Bot  Antechristis  in  generall 

Hes  bene,  and  now  ar,  mony  one  :  5196 

And,  rycht  so,!^  in  the  tyme  of  lohne 
War  Antechristis,  as  hym  self  sayis  ; 


But,  before  tlien, 
I  liear  tell. 


a  wicked  m:ui. 


Antichrist,  is  to 
come, 

perchance  of  the 
tribe  of  Dan,  and 
to  take  birth  in 
Babylon. 

He  will  liave  a 
large  following; 

and  Enoch  and 
Elias  will 
denounce  him. 


At  last,  he  will 
be  put  down  by 
the  Word  of 
Christ. 

Is  this  true  ? 


S.  John  said  that 
there  would  be 
not  one  Anti- 
christ, but  many. 

Such  there  were, 

i.  lohn  ii. 
he  declares,  in  liie 
own  time ; 


E,  L  Fader         -  E  the         '  L  crewall         *  L  in  contrar 

'  L  nouther         "  E  the  werite         ^  e  Sowne 

*  L  sayis         "  L  writith  '"  L  richtsiua 


170 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE, 


and  there  nre 
luiinerous  others, 
even  now, 
unrecognized. 


Mahomet,  still 
obeyed  in  Turkey, 
vfiis  one. 


Turks,  Saracens, 
and  Jews  are,  all, 
Antichrists. 


Daniel  foretold 

Dan.  via. 

the  rise  of  a 
potent  king. 


and  successful. 


to  the  grieving 
of  the  godly ; 

but  finally  to 
perish  of  himself. 

a.  Tessa,  it. 

S.  Paul  speaks  of 
a  coming  Uan  of 
Sin, 


sitting  in  God's 
seat, 

but  to  be  put  to 
confusion. 


in  the  fulness  of 
his  time. 


And  presentlye,  now  in  tliir  dayis, 

Ar  rycht  mony,  witliouttin  dout,  5200 

Wer  thare  fals  lawis  weill  souclit  out. 

U  Qulia  wes  one^  greter  Antechrist, 
And  more  contraryous  to  Christ, 

Nov  the  fals  Propheit  Machonieit,  5204 

Quhilk  his  ciirste^  Lawis  maid  so  sweit? — 
In  Turkye  3it2  thay  ar  obseruit, — 
Quliare  thronch  the  hell  he  lies  deseruit. 
All  Tnrkis,  Sara3enis,  and  lowis,  5208 

That  in  the  Sonne  of  God  noclit  trowis 
Ar  Antechristis,  I  the  declare  ; 
Because  to  Christ  thay  ar  contrare, 

1^  Daniell  sayis,  in  his  propheseis,*  5212 

That,  efter  the  gret  Monarcheis, 
Sail  ryse  ane  maruellous^  potent  Kyng, 
Quhilk  with  ane  schameles  face  sail  ryng, — 
Mychtie  and  wyse  in  dirk  speikyngis, —  5216 

And  prospir  in  all  plesand  thyngis  : 
Throuch^  his  falsheid  and  crafty nes, 
He  sail  flow  in  to  welthynes ; 

The  Godlye  pepyll  he  sail  noye  5220 

By  creuell'''  deith,  and  thanie  distroye  ; 
The  kyng  of  Kyngis  he  sail  ganestand. 
Syne  be  distroyit  witliouttin  hand. 

H  Paull  sayis,  aff'ore  the  Lordis  cumyng,  522-i 

That  thare  salbe  one  departyng, 
And  that  man  of  Iniquitye 
Tyll^  all  men  he  sail  opened^  be, 

Quhilk  sail  sitt  in^o  the  holyii  salt,  5228 

Contrary  God  to  mak  debait :  ^^ 
Bot  that  Sonne  of  Perditioun 
Salbe  put  to  confusioun 

Be  power  of  the  haly  Spreit,  5232 

Qulien  he  his  tyme  hes  done  conipleit. 

(f^  Beleue  nocht  that,  in  tyme  cumyng, 


'  L  Qulio  WHS  ane         -'  L  cursit  •'  E  ^eit 

*  L  prophacieis         "'  L  nierwallus  ®  L  tlirow 

'  L  ciowall         "  L  To         "  L  opini>it         '"  L  on 

"  L  halv  "  K  dfl.et 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE.  171 


One^  m-etar  Autecliriste  to  ryiig  a  mighty  Ami- 

o  1  KOQ^    Christ  reigiis  at 

Nor  tliare  lies  beue,  and  presentlye  oZdb  uiiaveiy 

.  / 11      1  •  moment. 

At  now,  as  Clerkis  can  espye. 

Tharefor,  my  wyll  is,  that  tliow  knaw, 

Quhat  euer  tliay  be  that  makis  one^  law,-  whoso, 

Thocht  thay  be  callit  Christui  men,  5240  though  called 

•^  Christian, 

By  2  naturall  reassoun  thow  may  ken, — 

Be  thay  neuer^  of  so  gret  valour,  whether  spiritual 

•^  .  "'■  temporal 

Pape,  Cardinall,  Kyng,  or  Empriour,  potentate, 

Extolland  tliare  Traditionis  5244  rising  cinlst's*"" 

Abufe  Christis  Institutionis,  institutions, 

Makand  Lawis  contrar  to  Christe, 

He  is  ane  verray  Antechriste  ; 

And  qnho^  doith^  fortifye  or  defend  5248 

Sic  Law,  I  mak  it^  to  the  kend, 

Be  it  Pape,  Empriour,  Kyng,  or  Queue,  shaii,  but  for 

,  ^  opportune  re- 

Gret  sorrow  sail  be  on  thame  bene,  pentance,  snflfer 

Att  Christis  extreme  lugement,  5252  eventually. 

Without  that  thay  in  tyme  repent, 

*     FINIS.     * 

'  L  ane         '  L  Be         ^  l  meu         *  E  Qwho 
*  L  dois         ^  E  on 


is  a  real 
Antichrist ; 


and  he  who 
upholds  such  laws 


At  1.  5364,  p.  175,  below,  the  Lambeth  MS.  inserts  the  follow- 
ing lines,  which  are  probably  spurious  : — 

[Bot  temporall  princis  myclit  full  sone,  5364    [l.  ms.  foi.  112] 

Quhilkis  ar  coniparit  to  the  mone, 

And  hes  takin  autorite 

To  prouide  spirituall  dignite, 

Makand  gude  reforraatioun 

Apoun  that  congregatioun. 

Gif  thai  do  nocht,  thai  sail  repent 

At  this  gret  day  of  lugement. 

Quhan  bischoprikis  ar  now  vacand, 

In  quhome  bene  saullis  ten  thowsand. 

The  quhilkis  bene  Christis  awiu  deir  Scheip, 

To  Wind  hirdis  ar  gevin  to  keip, 

Quhilkis  skarslie  knawis  the  day  be  nycht, 

Thai  ar  so  febill  of  thair  sicht.  1 


172 


HEIR  FOLLOUIS  A  SCHORT  EEMENBRANCE  i  OF  THE 

M0STE2  TERRABYLL  DAY  OF  THE  EXTREME 

lUGEMENT. 


•^      (►{<)      d^ 


Questions  con- 
cerning the 


General  Judg- 
ment. 


COURTIOUR. 

}s^  FATHEE,3  said  I,  with  ^our  Lycence,* 
Sen  ^e  haith^  sic  Experience, 

3itt  one  thyng  at  30W  wald  I  speir  :  5256 

Quhen  sail  that  dreidfull  day  appeir 
Quhilk  -^e  call  Tugement  Generall  1 
Quhat  thyngis^  affore  that  day  sail  fall  1 
Quhare  sail  appeir  that  Dreidfull  luge  1  5260 

Or  quhow  may  Faltour/s  gett  refuge  ] 


The  time  when 
it  will  take  place 
is  known  to  none 
but  Goil. 


Some  have 
inferred. 


from  the  bygone 
age  of  the  world, 


its  residual 
duration. 


EXPERIENCE. 

Quod  he  :  as  to  thy''^  first  questioun, 

I  can  mak  no  solutioun  : 

Quharefor,  perturbe  nocht  thyne  intent  5264 

_To  knaw  day,  hour,  nor  moment. 

To  God  allone  the  day  hene  knawin, 

Quhilk  neuer  was^  to  none  Angell  schawin, 

Howbeit,  be  diners^  coniectourz'^,  5268 

And  principall  Expositour^'*' 

Off  Dauiell  and  his  Prophicie, 

And  be  the  sentence  of  Elie, 

Quhilk/s  hes  declarit,  as  thay  can,  5272 

How  lang  it^**  is  sen  the  warld  began. 

And  for  to  schaw  hes  done  thare  cure, 

How  lang  tliay  traist^^  it  sail  indnre, 

And,  als,  how  mony  ages^^  bene,  5276 

As  in  thare  warkis  ma}''  be  sene. 

'  L  Reniemberance,  E  Remembrance  '  L  omitted 
'  L  Fader         *  L  Licience         *  L  haue         *  L  signis 
^  L  the         *  E.  L  was  neuer         °  E  dywers         '"  L  omitted 
"  E  trest          ^'^  L  iiigeis 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THK    MONARCIIK. 


173 


^  Bot,  tyll  declare  thir  quesiionis, 
Tliare  bene  diners  opinionis. 

Sum  wryttaris-  hes  the  warld  deuidit  5280 

In  sex  ageis  ;  as-  bene  desidit^ 
Into  Fasciculus  Temporum 
And  Cronica  Cronicorum. 

Bot,  be  the  sentence  of  Elie,  5284 

The  warld  deuydit  is  in  tlire  ; 
As  cunnyng  Maister  Carioun 
Hes  maid  plane  expositioun, — 
How  Elie  sayis,  "withouttin  weir, 
The  warld*  sail  stand  sax  thousand  3eir, — 
Off  quhome  I  follow  the  sentence, 
And  lattis  the^  vther  Buk/s  go  hence. 
Frome  the  Creatioun  of  Adam  5292 

Two  thousand  3eir  tyll''  Abraham  ; 
Frome  Abraham,  be  this  narratioun, 
To  Christis  Incarnatioun, 

Eychtso,  hes  bene  two  thousand  jeris  ;  5296 

And,  be  thir  Prophiceis,  apperis 
Frome  Christ,  as  thay  mak  tyll  ws  kend. 
Two  thousand  tyll  the  warldlis'''  end, 
Off  quhilk/s  ar  by  gone,  sickirlye,  5300 

Fyue  thousand,  fyue  hundreth,  thre,®  &  fyftye  ; 
And  so^  remanis  to  cum,  but  weir, 
Four  hundreth,  with  sewin  and  fourtye  3eir : 
And  than  the  Lords  Omnipotent  5304 

Suld  cum  tyll  his  gret^*^  lugement. 
Christ  sayis,  the  tyme  salbe^'-  maid  schort, 
As  Mathew  planelye  doith^^  report. 
That,  for  the  Avarldlis"  Iniquite,  5308 

The  letter  tyme  salP^  schortnit  be, 
For  plesour  of  the  chosin  nummer,^'* 
That  thay  may  jDasse  frome  care  and  cummer. 
So,  be  this  compt,  it  may  be  kend, 
The  warld  is  drawand  neir  ane  end  : 


There  are  divers 
opinioiib  ns  to  the 
end  of  the  world, 
&c. 

The  world's 
history  has  beoii 
divided  into  six 
periods ; 


also,  by  otliers, 
into  three; 


5288    the  aggregate 
being  six  thou- 
sand years. 


Two  thousand 
years  divide 
Adam  and 
Abraham ; 
as  many,  Abra- 
liara  and  tlie 
Incarnation ; 

as  many,  again, 
the  Incarnation 
and  tlie  Con- 
summation. 


As  I  write,  .'iSo.'J 
have  passed ; 


and  417  remain. 


before  the 
Judgment. 
ilathoic  xxiiii. 

Christ  has  said 
that  the  time 
should  be  sliort, 
for  the  sake  of 
the  elect,  that 
they  might  enter 
into  their  rest. 


5312    So  the  world 
draws  to  a 
conclusion. 


'  E  wraitteris,  L  writaris         '  L  hes         '  L  decydeit 

"  E  wardill         '  E  omitted         ^  L  to 

^  L  warldi-s,  E  wardlis         ^  L  and  thre         ^  E  omitted 

'"  L  general!         "  E  selbe         ^^  £,  jois 

13  E  sell         1*  L  nomber 


174 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MOXARCHE. 


whereof  lieve 
are  many  lokens 
apparent. 


sums  up  fifteen 
notes  of  tlie 
Consummation. 


Sdtiie  of  tliem 
shall  here  be 
specified. 

3far,  xiii. 

Matheio  xxiiii. 
Among  tliese  are 
darkening  of  the 
sun  and  moon. 


and  falling  of 
stars ; 

a  m.ystical 
signification  here 
attaching  to 


sun, 
moon, 
and  stars. 


Application 


tliis  interpreta- 
tion to 

popes,  &  ■.,  who 
have  degenerated, 
spiritually,  and 
grown  worldly. 


For  legionis  ar  cum,^  but  doute, 

Off  Auteclirist?'^,  wer  thay  soucht  out ; 

And  mony  toknis^  dois  appeir,  5316 

As  efter,  schortlye,  thow  sail  heir, — 

Quhow  that^  Sanct  Iherome  doith  indyte, 

That  he  hes  red,  in  Hebrew  wryte, 

Off  fyftene  signis  in  speciall,  5320 

Affore  thaf*  lugenient  General  1. 

Off  sum  of  thame  I  tak  no  cure, 

Quhilk  I  fynd  nocht  in  the  scripture  : 

One  part  of  thame  thocht  I  declare,  5324 

First  wyll  I^  to  the  Scripture  fare. 

^  Christe  sayis,  affore  that  day  be  done,'' 
Thare  salbe  signis  in  Sonne  and  Mone  : 
The  Sonne  salF  hyde  his  beymes  brycht,  5328 

So  that  the  Mone  sail  gyf  no  -lycht  ; 
Sterris,^  be  mennis  lugement, 
Sail  fall  furth^  of  the  Firmament. 

U  Off  this  signis,^"  or  we  forther  gone,  5332 

Sum  morall  sence  we  wyll  expone. 
As  cunnjmg  Clerkis  hes  declarit, 
And  hes  the  Sonne  and^^  IMone  comparit, 
The  Sonne,  to  the  stait  spirituall,  5336 

The  IMone,  to  Princis  temporall, 
Rychtso,  the  sterris  thay  do  compare 
To  the  lawd  common  populare. 

The  l\Ione  and^^  sterris  hes  no  lycht  5340 

Bot  the  refl>jx  of  Phebus  brycht : 
So,  quhen  the  Sonne  of  lycht  is  dyrk, 
The  IMone  and  sterris  man^^  be  myrk. 
Eychtso,  quhen  Pastouris^^  spirituallis,  5344 

Popis/*  Byschopis,  and  Cardinallis, 
In  thare  beginnyng  schew  gret  lycht. 
The  Temporall  stait  wes  rewlit  rycht.^^ 

U  Bot,  now,  allace  !  it  is  nocht  so  :  5348 

Those  schynand  Larapis  bene  ago,^*' 

^  L  cummcrit         ^  L  takynnis         ^  L  omitted 

*  E  the  day  of         ^  L  I  go         '^  E  oi  dome         '  E  sell 

8  E  sternis         "  E  out         lo  L  signe         i'  E  the 

12  L  mon         13  L  Pasturis         i^  L  Paipis 

16  L  at  rycht  i^  E  agone 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


175 


Thare  Eadious  beymes^  ar  tuniit  in  reik ; 

For  now  in  ertli^  no  thyng  tliay  seik, 

Except  ryches  and  Dignitie,  5352 

Followyng  tbare  sensualitie. 

Mony  prelatis  ar  now  ryngand, 

The  quliilk/*-  no  more  dois  vnderstand 

Quliat  doith^  pertene  to  thare  ofl'yco,  5356 

Kor*  thow  can  keudyll  fyre  with  yce. 

Wo  to  Papis,^  I  say  for  me, 

Quhilk  sufferis  sic  Enormite, 

That  Ignorant  warldly  creaturis 

Suld  in  the  kirk  haif  ony  curls  ! 

No  maruelP  thocht  the  peple'^  slyde, 

Quhen  thay  haue^  blynd  men  to  thare  gyde  !^ 

For  ane  Prelat  that  can  nocht  preche, 

Nor  Goddis  law^''  to  the  peple  teche, 

Esaye  comparith^^  liyni?  in  his  wark, 

Tyll  ane  dum  Dog  that  can  nocht  bark  ; 

And  Christ  hym  callis,  in  his  greif,^- 

Moste^^  lyke  ane  murdrer,^*  or  ane  theif. 

The  cunnyng^-^  Doctour  Angustyne 

Wolfis  and  Deny  His  doith^*^  tharae  defyne. 

The  Canon  Law  doith^^  hym  defame 

That  of  ane  Prelat  beris  the  name, 

And  wjdl  nocht  preche^^  the  Diuyne^^  Lawis, 

As  the  Decreis^^  planelye  schawis. 

Bot  those  that  hes  Auctorite 

To  prouyde  spirituall  Dignyte 

Mycht,  gene 2*^  thay  plesit  to  tak  pane, 

Gar  thame  lycht  all  thare  Lampis  agane  : 

Bot  euer,  allace  !  that  is  nocht  done, 

So  dirknit^^  bene  boith  Sonne  and  Mone. 

{^  War  Kyngis  lyuis  weill  declarit, 
The  quhilkts  or  to  the  Mone  comparit, 
Men  mycht  consydder  thare  estate  5384 

Frome  Charitie  degenerate. 


An  invective 
launched  against 


ignorant  prelates, 


neglectful  popes, 

53G0    anil  tlie  abuses 
prevalent  in  the 
Church. 


53G4 

Esaj/  M. 
lohii  X. 
Isaiah's  compari- 
son of  an  un- 
xorn    preaching 
UODO    pielate; 

and  what  Clirist, 
and  S.  Augustine 
say  of  liiin. 


5372 


5o/D    How  those  in 
authority 

might  prevent 
5380    all  this. 


Heedless  kings 
reproved. 


^  L  radius  bemis         ^  L  erd         ^  L  dois         *  L  Tlian 
s  L  Priucis  and  Paipis     ^  L,  E  merwell     ^  L,  E  pepill     ^  e  j^ef 
^  L  has  14  lines  not  in  first  edition  nor  in  E  MS.     These  are 
given  at  p.  171.  i"  L  lawis         ^^  L  compairis 

12  L  Christ  saj'is  tJia.t  mirrour  of  myscheif         ^^  L  Is 
'^  L  murderer       ^^  l  holy       ^'^  L  dois       "  L  can  nocht  teche 
18  E  dew3-ne         i9  L  decreittis         20  l  gif  21  £  aji-i- 

MONARCHE,   II. 


176 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE, 


Tliey  sliould 
sliame  to  call 
fliemselves 
Cliristiiiiis ; 


living,  as  tliey 
live,  at  mutu:il 
enmity. 


Thus  do  evil 
passions  rule,  as 


to  the  Emperor, 


France, 


England, 
Scotland. 


Some  of  the 
bad  effects 


of  war  are 
instanced. 


A  prognosti- 
cation. 


Of  the  prone- 
iiess  of  kings 
to  engage  in 
warfare. 


I  thynk  thay  sulde  thynk  mekle  scliame 

Off  Christ  for^  to  tak  tliare  Surname, 

Syne  leif  noclit  lyke  to^  Cliristianis,  5388 

Bot  more  lyke  Turkis  and  to  Paganis. 

Tiu'ke  contrar  Turks  makis  lytill  weir  ; 

Bot  Christiane  Princis  takis  no  feir, — 

QuliilkM^  sukl  aggre^  as  brother  to  brother, —         5392 

Bot  now  ilk  ane  dyngis  doun  ane  vther. 

I  knaw  no  ressonab}^!*  cause  quharefore— 

Except  Pryde,  Couatyce,  and  vaioe^  glore — 

The  Empriour  mouis  his  Ordinance  5396 

Contrar  the  potent  Kyng  of  France  ; 

And  France,  rychtso,  with  gret  regour, 

Contrar  his  freinde  the  Empriour  ; 

And,  rycht  swa,*^  France  agane  Ingland  ;  5400 

Ingland,  alsso,  aganis  Scotland  ; 

And,  als,  the  Scott^X  with  all  thaie  niycht, 

Doith''  feycht,  for  tyll  defend  thare  rycht  : 

Betuix  thir  Eealmes  of  Albione,  5404 

Quhare  Battellis  lies  bene  niony  one, 

Can  be  maid  none  Affinitie, 

Nor,  jit,  no^  Consanguinitie  ; 

'Nor,  be  no  waye,  thay  can  consydder  5408 

That  thay  may  haue  lang  Peace ^  to  gydder. 

I  dreid  that  weir  mak/*'  none  endyng, 

Tyll  thay  be,  boith,  onder  ane  kyng. 

Thocht  Christ,  the  Souerane  kyng  of  grace,  5412 

Left,  in  his  Testment,-*^  lufe  and  peace, 

Our  Kyng/*>  frome  weir  Avyll  nocht  refrane, 

Tyll  thare  be  mony  ane  thousand  slane, — 

Gret  heirschipis  maid  be  see^^  and  land,  5416 

As  all  the  warld^^  may  vnderstand. 


COURTIOUR. 

Kings  may  fight,        IF  Fatlicr,^^  I  tliyuk  that  temporall  kyngis 
jMcen      eir       May  fccht,  for  tylP'  defend  thare  ryiigis ; 


1  E  omitted         ^  j^  w-^q         3  l  concord  *  L  none  vther 

^  E  waine         **  L  riclitso         ^  L  dois  *>  L  none 

»  L  peax         10  L  Te.stifxment         "  L  sey  i-  E  wardill 

1^  L  Fader         "  L  to 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


177 


For  I  half  sene  tlic  spirituall  stait 
Mak  weir,  tliare  rychtis  tylP  debait. 
I  saw  Pape  lulius  manfullye 
Passe  to  the  feild  tryumphantlye, 
With  ane  ryclit  aufull  ordinance, 
Contrar  Lues,  the-  kyng  of  France  ; 
And,  for  to  do  hym  more  dispyte. 
He  did  his  Eegioun  interdyte. 


5-120 


as  (lid  Pope 
Juliu3 


5424 


iiK;''"st  Lewis  of 
France. 


EXPERIENCE. 

H  My  Sonne,  said  he,  as  I  suppose,  5428 

That  langith^  weill  tyll  our  purpose  ; 
How  Sonne  and  Mone  ar,  boith,  denude 
Off  lycht,  as  Clerkis  dois  conclude, — 
Comparyng  thame,  as  30  hard  tell,  5432 

To  Spirituall  stait  and  Temporell, 
And  commoun  peple,  half  disparit, 
Quhilk  to  the  sterris  bene  comparit. 
Lawd  peple  folio  wis,  ay,  thare  heidis  ;  5436 

And,  speciallye,  in  to  thare  deidis. 
The  moste  part  of  Eeligioun 
Bene  turnit  in  abusioun.^ 

Quhat  dois  auaill  religious  wedis,  5440 

Quhen  thay  ar^  contrar  in  thare  deJis  1 
Quhat  holynes  is  thare  within 
Ane  wolf  cled  in  ane  Wodderz's'^  skin  1 
So,  be  thir  toknis,  dois  appeir,  5444 

The  day  of  lugement  drawis  neir. 
Kow  latt  ws''  leif  tliis^  niorall  sens, 
Proceidyng  tyll  our  purpose,  hens. 
And  of  this  mater  speik  no  more,  5448 

Begynning  quhare  we  left  affore. 

0:^  The  Scripture  sayis,  efter  thir  signis 
Salbe  sene  mony  maruellous  thyngis  : 
Than  sail  ryse  trybulationis^  5452 

In  erth,!''  and  gret  mutationis. 


The  spiritual 
State  and  tlie 
temporal  are, 
botli,  void  of 
light; 


and  tlie  com- 
monalty are 
despondent. 


Lawlessness  is 
rife,  and  so  are 
abuses  in  religion. 


What  is  the  gon.l 
of  sheep'sclothing 
on  wolves  ? 


The  inference. 


But  let  us  resume 
our  thread. 


^  E  to         ^  L  omitted         ^  L  langis         *  L  liabusioim 

s  L  bene         0  l  Wedder         ?  E  lattis         »  E  tyll 

9  L  ti-ubill  attonis  i"  L  eid 


Mathew  xxiiii. 
Mar.  xiii. 
Luc.  xxi. 
After  the  signs 
aforesaid  will 
follow  great 
marvels. 


N  2 


173 


THE    FOYRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


Tliere  will  be 
wars, 

breeding  great 
misery. 

The  sea  will 
bellow. 


like  a  wall, 
and  then  subside 
out  of  sight. 
Wliales  will  roar. 


fishes  will  cry 
out; 

and  men, 
wailing,  will  curse 
their  fate ; 


specially,  those 
dwelling  on  the 
sea-coasts. 


The  ?ea  will 
burn  ; 

and  so  will  the 

fountains. 

Vegetation 


and  the  animal 
creation  will  com- 
port themselves 
strangely. 
Ezeckiel  xxxvii. 

The  dead  will 
come  from  their 
graves. 


Als  Weill  heir  vnder  as  aboue, 

Quhen  vertewis  of  the  heuiii  sail  moue. 

Sic  creuell  weir  salbe,  or  than,  5456 

Wes  nener  sens  sen  the  warkl  began, 

The  quhilk  sail  cause  gret  Indigence, 

As  darth,  hunger,  and  pestilence. 

The  horribyll  soundis  of  the  sey  54C0 

The  peple  sail  perturbe  and  fley. 

lerome  sayis,  it  sail  ryse  on  heycht 

Abone^  men  tan  is,  to  mennis  sycht; 

Bot  it  sail  nocht  spred  ouir^  the  land,  5404 

Bot,  lyke  ane  wall,  ewin  straycht  vpstand, 

Syne  sattell  doun  agane  so  law 

That  no  man  sail  the  waiter^  knaw. 

Gret  Quhalis  sail  rummeis,  rowte,  and  rair,  54G8 

Quhose  sound  redound  sail  in  the  air ; 

All  fysche'*  and  Monstouris  maruellous 

Sail  cry,  with  soundis  odious, 

That  men  sail  wydder  on  the  erd,  5472 

And,  wepyng,^  wary  sail  thare  weird, 

With  lowde  allace  and  welaway,*^ 

That  euer  thay  baid  to  se  that  day ; 

And,  speciallye,  those  that  dwelland  be  5476 

Apone  the  costis  of  the  see. 

Ivycht  so,  as  Sanct  lerome  concludis, 

Sail  be  sene  ferleis  in  the  fludis  : 

The  sey,  with  mouyng  maruellous,  5480 

Sail  byrn  with  flammis^  furious  : 

Rychtso  sail  byrn  fontane  and  fiude  ; 

All  herb^  and  tre  sail  sweit  lyk  blude ; 

Fowlis  sail  fall  furth  of  the  air ;  5484 

Wylde  beistis  to  the  plane  repair. 

And,  in  thare  maner,  mak  gret  mone, 

Gowland  with  mony  gryslye'^  groiie. 

The  bodeis  of  dede  creaturis  5488 

Appeir  sail  on  thare ^"^  Sepultuiis  : 


1  L  above         2  l  our         ^  j^  -wnttcr         ^  l  fischei.s 

^  L  weip  and  "  E  wivlawnv,  L  walow.nv  ^  L  tlanibis 

8  E  eib  "  E  gi-esle  ^"  E  the 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCIIB. 


179 


Than  sail  boith^  men,  women,  and  bairnis- 
Cum  crejiand  furth  of  liowe  Cauernis, 
Quhare  thay,  for  dreid,  wer  hj'd  aftbre, 
AVitli  seych,  and  sob,  and  hartis  sore ; 
Wandryng  about  as  thay  war  wode, 
Affamysit  for  fait  of  fude. 
Non  may  male  vtheris  confortyng, 
Bot  dule  for  dule,  and  Lamentyng. 
Quhat  may  thay  do  bot  weip  and  wounder, 
Quhen  thay  se  roches  schaik  in  schonnder. 
Throw  trimlyng^  of  the  erth  and  quakyng  1 
Off  sorrow,  than,  salbe  no  slakyng. 
Quho  that*  bene  leuand,  in  those  dayis, 
May  tell  of  terrabyll  affrayis  : 
Thare  ryches,  rentis,  nor  tressour. 
That  tyme,  sail  do  thame  small  plesour. 
Bot,  quhen  sic  wonderis  dois  appeir, 
INIen  may  be  sure  the  day  drawls  neir. 
That  luste  men  pas  sail  to  the  glore, 
Iniuste,  to  pane  for  euer  more. 

COURTIOUR. 

^  Father,^  said  I,  we  day  lie*'  reid 
One  Artekle,  in  to'^  our  creid, 
Sayand  that  Christe  Omnipotent, 
In  to  that  generall  lugement, 
Sail  luge  boith  dede  and  quik^  also. 
Quharefore,  declare  me,  or  30  go, 
Geue  thare  sail  ony^  man,  or  Avyue, 
That  day  be  funding  vpon  lyue. 

EXPERIENCE. 

Quod  he  :  as  to  that  questione, 
I  sail  mak,  sone,^**  solutione. 
The  Scripture  planelye  doith^^  expone, 
Quhen  all  tokynnis  bene^^  cum  and  gone, 
3itt  mony  one  hundreth  thousand 


Folk  who  liad 
absconileit  in 
caverns  will  creep 

5492  '■°''"'' 


aiifl  waiiil(?r  abnut, 
famished  for  food; 

5496    and  there  will  be 
no  comforting. 


5500    Tlie  earth  will 
quake. 


5504 


5508 


Possessions  will, 
then,  be  of  no 
avail  to  yield 
pleasure. 
When  these 
things  shall  come 
to  pass,  the  end 

Dan.  xiii. 
will  be  nigh. 


When  Christ  shall 


5512    come  to  adjudi- 
cate at  the  Last 

Assise, 


5516    will  any  man  be 
found  living  ? 


5520 


Hat.  xxiin. 
The  Scripture 
assures  us,  th.at 
many  hundreds 
of  thousands 


1  L  baith      2  l  barnis      ^  l  trembling     *  E  tban      5  l  Fader 

^  L  dalie         ^  l  jntill         8  £,  q^ik  and  deid 

"  E  salbe,  L  outher         i"  L  sum         11  L  dois         ^^  L  ar 


180 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MOXARCHE. 


will  be  found 
alive. 


Christ  will  come 
suddenly. 


as  came  the  Flood. 


Men  will,  then, 


be  variously 


employed. 


and  will  be  taken, 
even  as  they  are, 
some  to  glory, 
and  others  to 
perdition. 

Just  as  the  world 


IS  gomg  on  now, 


it  shall  be  going 
on  then. 


Ignorant  of  the 
time  of  the  end. 


wc  are  to  watch 
and  pray. 


That  samyn  day  salLe  lenand  : 

Quliowbeit,  thare  sail  no  Creature  5524 

Nother  of  day  nor  hour  be  sure  ; 

For  Christ  sail  cum  so  snddantlye, 

That  no  man  sail  the  tyme  espye ; 

As  it  wes  in  the  tyme  of  JN'oye,  5528 

Quhen  God  did  all  the  warld^  distroye. 

Sum  on  the  feild  salbe  laiiborand ; 

Sum,  in  the^  templis  Mariand ; 

Sum,  afore  lugis  makand  pley ;  5532 

And  sum  men,  saland  on  the  sey. 

Those  that  bene  on  the  feild ^  going 

Sail  nocht  returne  to  thare  luging. 

Quho  bene  apone  his  hous  aboue  5536 

Sail  haif  no  laser*  to  remoue. 

Two  salbe  in  the  INIyll^  grindyng, 

Quhilkz's  salbe  taking,  but  warnyng  ;^ 

The  one,  tyll  euerlestyng  glore,  5540 

The  vther,  loste  for  euer  more. 

Two  salbe  lying  in  one  bed ; 

The  one,  to^  plesour  salbe  led, 

Tlie  vther,  salbe  left  allone,  5544 

Gretand  "with  mony  gryslie  grone. 

And  so,  my  Sonne,  thow  may  weill  troAV, 

The  warld^  salbe  as  it  is  now, — 

The  peple  vsyng  thare  besynes,  5548 

As^  holy  Scripture  doith  expres. 

Sen  no  man  knawis  the  hour,  nor  day, 

The  Scripture  biddis  ws  walk  and  pray, 

And  for  our  Syn  be  jienitent,  5552 

As  Christ  Avald  cum  Incontinent. 


*     FINIS.     * 


1  E  wardill  ^  l  into  ^  L  be  in  feild 

6  L  one  Mylne  ^  L  taryiiig  ^  L  till 


^  E  lasar 
»  L  the 


181 


^    THE  MANER  QUHOW  CHRIST  SALL  CUM  TO 
HIS  lUGEMENT. 


d^    i*^)    ^O) 


All  tokens  ended, 
the  Son  of  God 
will  descend, 


like  the  sun, 


Luc.  xxi. 

glorious  and 
niiijestic, 
over  Judea, 


EXPERIENCE. 

VHEiSr  al  takiunis  bene  broclit  till  end, 
Tlia?i  sail  fJie  sone  of  god  disce?id : 
As  fyreflaucht  haistely  glansyng,      5556 
Discend  sail  the  ^  most  heuinly  kyng. 
As  Phebus,  in  the  Orient, 
Lychtnis,  in  haist,  the  Occi<lcnt, 

So  plesandlye  he  sail  appeir  5560 

Amang  the  heuinlye  clnddis  cleir, 

"With  gret  power  and  Maiestie, 

Aboue^  the  cuntrie  of  ludee, 

As  Clerkis  doith  concludyng,^  haill,  5564 

Direct  aboue  the  lustye  vaill 

Off  Iosaj)hat  and  Mont  Olyueit : 

All  Prophesie  thare  salbe  conipleit. 

The  Angell/s  of  the  Ordoris"  Nyne  5568 

Inueron^  sail  that  throne^  Diuyne 

With  heuinlye  consolatioun, 

Makand  hym  Ministratiouu. 

In  his  presens  thare  salbe  borne  5572 

The  signis  of  Cros,  and  Croun  of  thorne. 

Pillar,  Kalis,  Scurgis,  and  Speir, 

With  euerilk  thyng  that''^  did  hym  deir. 

The  tyme  of  his  grym  Passioun ;  5576 

And,  for  our  consolatioun, 

Appeir  sail,  in  his  handis  and  feit. 

And  in  his  syde,  the  prent  compleit 

Off  his  fyue  Woundis  Precious,  5580 

Schynand  lyke  Eubeis  Eadious,  radiant, 

^  L  that        2  L  Abufe       ^  L  dois  conclude  in       *  L  Ordouria 
5  L  Invirone  ^^  E,  L  trone  ''  L  quhilk 


ni-ar  the  Valley 
of  Jehoshapliat 

Actis.  i. 
and  Mount  Olivet, 

Mat.  X.TV. 
environed  by 
angels. 


and  accompanied 
by 


remembrancers 
of  His  passion. 


and  exhibiting 
His  five  wounds. 


182 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


confounding  the 
bad. 


Clirist  seated. 


i.  Covin.  X. 
Mathew  xxiiii. 
an  angel  will 
summon 

the  world  to 
judgment; 


and  the  dead  will 
rise,  with  their 
bodies  renewed, 

at  the  sound  of 
his  trumpet. 

Apoc.  XX. 
Those  drowned  in 
the  sea  will  come 
forth,  and  all 
other  mortals. 


Mar.  xiii. 
Angels,  deputed, 
will  bring  them 
together. 


S.  Jerome  was 
ever  pondering, 


and  with  dre.id, 
on  the  judgment. 


If  he  feared,  still 
more  should  we 
fear. 

The  living  will, 
tlien,  at  once 
become  immortal, 

i.  Pe.  an. 

i.  Cori.  XV.  ■ 


Tyll  Eeprobatt  confnsioun ; 

And,  for  fynalP  conclusioim, 

He,  Sittand  in  his  TiyLuna:],  5584 

"With  giet  power  Imperial]. 

Tliare  sail  ane  Angell  blawe  a  blast 

QuliUk  sall^  mak  all  the  warld  agast, 

"Witli  hydous^  voce,  and  vehement, —  5588 

Eyse,  dede  folk,  cum*  to  lugement. 

Witli  that,  all  Eeasonabyll  Creature 

That  euer  wes  formit  be  Xature 

Sail  suddantlye  start  vp-^  attonis,  5592 

Coniunit  with  Saull,  Flesche,  Elude,  &  Bonis, 

That  terribyll  Trumpat,  I  heir  tell, 

Beis  hard  in  Heuin,  in  erth,*^  and  hell : 

Those  that  wer  drownit  in  the  sey  5596 

That  boustious  blast  thay  sail  obey ; 

Quhare  euer  the  body  buryet  wase, 

All  salbe  fundyng  in  that  plase. 

Angellis  sail  passe  in"  the  four  airtis  5600 

Off  erth,  and  bryng  tharae  frome  all  partis. 

And,  with  one  instant  diligence, 

Present  thame  to  his  excellence. 

O:^^  Sanct  lerome  thoucht  continuallye  560-1: 

On  this  lugement,  so  ardentlye, 
He  said,  quhidder  I  eit,  or  drynk, 
Or  walk,  or  sleip,  forsuth  me^  thynk 
That  terrabyll  Trumpat,  lyke  ane  bell,  5608 

So  quiklye  in  my  eir  doith^  knell. 
As  Instantlye  it  wer  present, — 
Eyse,  dede  folk,  cum  to  lugement. 
Geue  Sanct  lerome  tuke  sic  ane  fray,       .  5612 

Allace  !  quhat  sail  we  Synnar/*-  say  % 

II  All  those  quhilk^*'  funding  bene^^  on  lyue 
Sfd.be  Immortall  maid  belyue  ; 

And,  in  the  twynkling  of  one  Ee,  5G16 

With  fyre  thay  sail  trauslatit  be, 


1  L  small       2  L  will 
^  L  \\\)       6  I J  erd 


•^  E  hydious.  I,  liiddius  ■*  L  and  cum 
7  L  to  ■  8  L  I  0  L  dois  ^  E  thutt 
1^  L  bene  fouudin 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


183 


And  neuer  for  to  dee  agane, — 
As  Diuine  scripture  schawls  plane, — 
Als  reddy,  boith  for  pane  and  glore, 
As  tliay  quhilk^  deit  lang  tyrae  affore. 

U  The  scripture  sayis,  thay  sail  appeir 
In  aige  of  thre  and  thretty  3eir, 
Quhidder^  thay  deit  3oiing  or  auld, 
Quhose  gret  nummer  may^  nocht  be  tauld. 
That  day  sail  nocht  be  myst  one  man 
Quhilk  borne  wes'*  sen  the  warld  began. 
The  Angellis  sail  thame  separate, 
As  Hird  the  Scheip  doitli^  frome  the  Gate;*^ 
And  those  quhilk  bene  of  Balialiis  band 
Tryniling''  apone  the  erth  sail  stand, 
On  the  left  hand  of  that  gret  luge. 
But  espirance  to  gett  refuge. 

IF  Bot  those  quhilk  bene  Predestinate 
Sail  frome  the  erth^  be  Eleuate ; 
And  that^  moste  happy  cumpauye 
Sail  ordourit  be  tryumphantlye, 
Att  the  rycht  hand  of  Christe,  our  kyng, 
Heych^*'  in  the  air,  with  loude  louyng. 

IT  Full  Gloriouslye  thare  sail  compeir,^i 
More  brycht  than  Phebus  in  his  speir, 
The  Uirgene  Marie,  Quene  of  Quenis, 
"With  mony  ane  thousand  brycht  Uirgenis. 
The  Fatheris^^  Qf  ti^g  auld  Testament, 
Quhilk  wer  to  God^^  obedient, 
Father  Adam  sail  thame  conuoye. 
With  A  bell,  Seith,  Enoch,  and  Koye ; 
Abraham,  with  his  faithfull  warkis, 
"With  all  the  prudent  Patriarkis. 
lohne  the  Baptiste^''  thare  sail  compeir, 
The  Principall  and  last  Messyngeir, 
Quhilk  come  bot  half  ane  3eir  affore 
The  cumyng  of  that  kyng  of  glore ; 


for  woe, 
5G20    or  for  joy. 


All  win  seem  to 
be  of  tlie  age  of 
thirty-three 

5G24  >'''="■"• 


Of  Hns  huge 
multitude 

Mathito  xxvr, 

5Gl^8    the  angels  will 

part  the  good  and 
the  bad, 


and  will  station 
the  latter  on  t!ie 
OG32    left  of  Christ, 


i.  Ten.  ilii. 
and  the  former 


5636 


on  his  right  hand. 


5G-10  The  Blessed 
Virgin  will 
appear. 


5644   and  the  Saints  of 
the  Old 
Testament, 

headed  by  Adam. 


5648 


John  the 
Baptist, — 


5652 


who  heralded  the 
Christ,— 


1  L  thame  that         ^  L  Quhether         ^  L  nomber  can 

*  E  wes  borne      ^  L  dois      ^  L  Gait      ^  L  Trimbling      «  L  erd 

9  E  omitted         "  L  Heich         "  L  appeir         12  l  Paderis 

13  E  Christ  1*  L  Babtist 


184 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MOXARCHB. 


Moses,  Elias, 

David, 

Joshua, 

Judas  Maccabeus, 

and  other 
champions  for  the 
trutli, 

with  Eve, 
Delbora, 

Sarali,  Keturali, 
Reliecca, 


Lea1i,  Racliel,  &c. 
&c.. 


SS.  Peter,  Paul, 

Lawrence, 
Stephen, 

Gregorj-,  &c., 
Francis,  &c.  &c.. 


with  stray  monks 
of  sorts. 


Elizabeth,  Anna. 


]\Io3-ses,  Esayas,  honorabyll, 

"With  all  trew  Proplietis  Ueneraljyll ; 

Dauid,  Avitli  all  the  faithfall  kyngis  5656 

Quhilk  verteouslye  did  rewle  thare  ryngis ; 

The  noby^ll  Cheiftane  losue,^ 

"With  gentyll  ludas  Machabe,^ 

"With  mony  one^  nobyll  Canipioun,  5GG0 

Quhilk,  in  thare  tyme,  with  gret  renoun, 

IManfuUye,  tj'll  thare  lyuis  cnde, 

The  Law  of  God  thay  did  defende. 

{^  "With  Eue,^  that  day,  salbe  present  56G4 

The  Ladyis  of  the  Auld  Testament : 
Delbora,  Adamis  Douchter  deir, 
"With  the  four  5  lusty  Ladyis  cleir 

Quhilk  kepit  wer  in  the  Ark  with  jSToye.  5G68 

Sara  and  Cithara,  with  loye, — 
The  quhilkts  to  Abraham  wyffis  bene, — 
"W^ith  gude  Eebecka,  thare  salbe  sene ; 
The  prudent  wyffis^  of  Israeli,  5G72 

Gude  Lya,  and  the  fair  Eachell, 
"With  ludeth,  Hestar,  and  Susanna, 
And  the  rycht  sapient  Quene  Saba. 

IT  Thare  sail  compeir  Peter  and  Paull,  5G76 

"With  Christis  trew  Disci plis,  all : 
Lawrence  and  Stewin,  with  thare  blj'st  band 
Off '^  Martyris,  mo  than  ten  thousand ; 
Gregor,  Ambrose,  and  Augustyne,  5G80 

"VVith  Confessoris,  ane  tryumphand  tryne ; 
"W^ith  sanct  Francois,^  and  Dominic, 
Sanct  Bernard,  and  sanct  Eenedic  ; 
"With  small  nummer^  of  IMonkis,  and  Freris,  5684 

Off  Carmeletis,  and  Cordeleris,'** 
That,  for  the  lufe^^  of  Christ  onlye, 
Penuncit^-  the  warld  vnfenatlye.^'^ 

II  "With  Elezabeth  and  Anna  5688 

All  gude  wyffis  sail  compeir,  that  da ; 


1  L  loswa       2  L  Mal<al)a       ^  Iv.  E  ane      *  L  Ewa       ^  L  fair 

^  L  wivis  ^  L  With  *  L  Fraii'Ms  ^  L  noiiilier 

1"  L  Cordileiris         "  L  love         i-  L  Kefusit         "  l  alluterlie 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


185 


The  blyst  and  holy  Magdelane,^ 
That  day,  affore  hir  Soueraue. 
Eycht  plesandlye  scho  sail  present 
All  Synnaris  tliat  wer  penitent, 
Quhilk  of  thare  gylt  heir  askit  grace  : 
In  Heuin,  with  hir,  sail  haue  ane  place. 

IT  Bot  wo  beis  to  that  bailfull  band 
Quhilk  sail  stand  Lawe  at  his  left  hand  I 
Woo,  than,  to  Kyngis  and  Empriouris 
Quhilkis  wer  vnrychteus  Conqueronris, 
For  thare  glore  and  perticular^  gude, 
Gart  sched  so  mekle  saikles  blude  ! 
But  Ceptour,  Crown,  and^  Eobe  Eoyall, 
That  day  thay  sail  mak  compt  of  all. 
And,  for  thare  creuell  tyrrannye, 
Sail  punyste*  be  perpetuallye. 

^  3e  Lordis  and  Barronis,  more^  and  les, 
That  jour  pure  Tennantis  dois  oppres, 
Be  gret  Gyrsome  and  dowbyll  maill. 
More  than  ^our  landis  bene  auaill, 
"With  sore  exhorbitant  cariage, 
"With  merchetis  of  thare  mariage, 
Tormentit  boith  in  peace  and  weir, 
"With  birdyngis  more  than  thay  may  beir  ; 
Be  thay  haif  payit  to  30 w  thare  maill, 
And,  to  the  Preist,  thare  teindis  haill  ; 
And,^  quhen  the  land  agane  is  sawin,'' 
Quhat  Testis  behynd  I  wald  wer  knawin. 
I  traist  thay  and  thare  pure  houshauld 
May  tell  of  hunger  and  of  cauld. 
"Without  36  haif  of  thame  piete, 
I  dreid  ^e  sail  gett  no  Mercie, 
That  day,  quhen  Christ  Omnipotent 
Cumis  tyll^  his  generall  lugement. 

IF  AVo  beis  to^  publict  Oppressouris, 
To  tyrrannis,  and  to  transgressouris. 


Holy  M;ig(Ialene 


5692    will  present 

penitent  sinners. 


5G96 

But  woe  to  those 

on  His  left  liund  : 

usurping  kings, 

5700 

cruel  tyrants,— 

to  be  punished 

5704 

perpetually, — 

nobles 

5708 

who  have 

oppressed 

those  subject 

5712 

to  them ! 

5716 

Pitilessness 

to  the  poor 

will  get, 

5720 

on  that  day, 

no  mercy. 

5724 

Woe  to  users 

of  fore  e, 

1  L  Magdaline  ^  g  peculiar  ^  l  pp  4  g  punyssit 

5  L  mair         ^  l  o,„ittyj         7  l  ]]_  571  e,  5717  transposed 

**  L  Cuininith  to         '^  L  to  the 


186 


THE    FOVRT    BVKB    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


murderers, 
tlie  lustful, 


heretics, 
Bcliismatics  I 


Tliere  will  be 
Cain, 

Niraroil, 
Ninus, — 

the  first  maker 
of  images, 

in  Bel,— 

riiaraoh, 

Nero, 

Herod, 

Antiochus, 
Holofernes, 


Judas, 


Pontius  Pilate, 
wicked  lawyers. 


fraudulent 
officers. 


To  IMurdarar/*',^  and-  conimoun  tlieifi^, 

Quliilk  neuer  did  mend  tliare  gret^  mischeifis  ! 

Fornicatoris,  and  Ockararis,^  5728 

Commoun  publict  Adulteraris, 

All  pertinat  -vvylfull  Arratykis,^ 

All  fals  dissaitfull  Sysmatykis, 

All  salbe  present,  in  that  place,  5732 

"With  naony  Lamentabyll  '  allace.' 

H  Tlie  cursit  Cayn,*^  that  neuer  wes  gude, 
With  all  scheddaris  of  saikles  blude ; 
Nemrod,'''  fundar  of  Babilone,  5736 

With  fals  Ydolatris^  mony  one  ; 
Nynus,  the  kyng  of  Asseriay, 
With  gret  dule  sail  compeir,  that  day, — 
Quhilk  first  Inuentit  Ymagery,  5740 

Quharethrouch^  come  gret  Ydolatry  : 
For  makyng  of  the  Image  Bell, 
That  day  his  hyir  salbe  in  hell. 

^  The  gret  Oppressour,  kyng  Pharo,  5744 

The  tyranne  Empriour  Nero, 
Sail  with  thame  cursit  kyng  Herode  brjng, 
With  mony  vther  cairfuU  Kyng. 

The  creuell  kyng  Antiochus,  5748 

With  the  moste  furious  Olofernus, 
Gret  Oppressouris  of  Israeli, 
That  day  thare  hyre  salbe  in  hell. 

^  With  ludas  sail  compeir  one  clan  5752 

Off  fals  Tratouris  to  God  and  man. 
Thare  sail  compeir,  of  euerilk  land. 
With  Ponce  Pylat,^''  one  bailfull  band 
Off  temporal  1  and  of  spirituall  statis,  5756 

Fals  lugis,  with  thare  Aduocatis. 
Thare  sail  our  Sen3eourisi^  of  the  cessioun 
Off  all  thare  faltis  mak  cleir  confessioxin. 
Thare  salbe  sene  the  fraudfull  fail^eis  5760 

Off  Schirefhs,  Prouestis,  and  of  Eai^eis ; 


*  L  Murderaris  ^  E  and  to  ^  L  omitted 

''  L  Occuraris         ''  E  Arritikis         "  L  Cayam 

'  L  Neiubroth         ^  L  Ydolatouris         ^  L  Quhairthrow 

i**  L  Pilot         '1  E  Senejeouris 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCIIE, 


18; 


OfFiciallis,  -with  tliare  Constryi  Clerkis, 

Sail  mak  compt  of  thare  wraugiis  workis ; 

Tliay,  aud  tliare  peruerst  Procuratouris, 

Oppressouris  boith  of  ryche  and  puris, 

Throw  Delaturis  full  of  dissait, 

Qiilulk  mony  one  gart  beg  thare  mait. 

Gret  dule,  that  day,  to  lugis  bene, 

That  cumis  nocht  with  thare  conscience  clene  : 

That  day  sail  pas  be  Peremptoris, 

Without  cawteill  or  Dilatoris  ; 

No  Duplycandum,  nor  Tryplicandum, 

Bot  schortlye  pas  to  Sentencianduni, 

Without  Contineuationis, 

Or  ony  Appellationis. 

That  sentence  sail  nocht  be  retratit, 

JSTor  with  no  man  of  Law  debatit. 

^  3e^  Lauboraris  be  sey  and  landis, 
Perfyte  Craftismen,  and  ryche  Merchandis, 
Leif  30ur  dissait  and  crafty  wylis, 
Quhilk  syllie^  simpyll*  folk  begylis  ; 
Mak  recompence  heir,  as  ^e  may, 
Eemembryng  on  this  dreidfull  day. 

^  With  Machomeit  sa:ll  compeir,  but  doute, 
Otf  Antechristis  one  hydduous  route  : 
Byschope  Annas,  and  Cayphas, 
With  hym  in  cumpany  sail  pas  ; 
With  Scrybis  and  fals  Pharisianis, 
Quhilk  wrocht  on  Christ  gret  violensis  ;^ 
With  mony  one  Turk  and  Sariscene, 
With  gret  sorrow  thare  salbe  sene  : 
Papis,  for  thare  traditionis 
Contrar  Christis  Institutionis, 
With  mony  one  cowle  and  clyppit  crown, 
Quhilk  Christis  Lawis  strampit  down, 
And  wald  nocht  suffer  for  to  preche 
The  veritie,  nor  the  peple  teche, 


deceitful' 
57G4    extortioners, 


5  /  Go    judges  not  clean 
of  conscienco, — 

to  be  dealt  witli 
summarily, 


5772 


5770 


5780 


and  sentenced 

without 

remission. 


Let  cheats  and 
crafty  men  turn 
to  honest  ways, 


mindful  of  that 
day. 

5784    Mahomet  will  be 
there, 

■with  Annas, 
Caiaphas, 

5788    Scribes, 

Pharisees, 

Turks,  and 
Saracens, 

5792    popes  that 

perverted  Christ's 
laws. 


5796    naughty  monks. 


^  L  Consistorie 
*  E  sempyll 


2  E  3it         3  L  sely 
^  L  violence 


183 


THE    FOVRT    BVEE    OF    THE    MOXARCHE. 


sovereigns  that 
abetted  religious 
perversions, 


martyrera  of 


propliets  and 
preacliers 


wlio  plainly 
tleolared  Gud's 
word, 


Sodomites, 


Korah,  Datlian, 
Aliiram, 
and  the  like, 


Simon  Magus. 
And  there  will  be 
Semiramis, 
Jezebel, 

Delilah, 

Clytemnestra, — 
who  slew 

Agamemnon, — 


and  many  another 
cruel  queen. 


Bot  Lawit^  men  pat^  to  gret  torment, 

Quliilk  vsit  Chiistis  Testament. 

All  Kyngis  and  Quenis  thare  salbe  kend,  5800 

The  quliilk  sic  La  wis  did  defend. 

In  that  court  sail  cum  mony  one 

Off  the  blak  byik^  of  Eabilone. 

The  Innocent  blude,  that  day,  sail  crye  5804 

One  loude  vengeance,  full  petuouslye,* 

On  those  creuell^  bludy  bowchouris, 

]\^artyrer^■s  of  Prophetis  and  Prechouris, — 

Sum  with  the  fyre,  sum  with  the  sworde, —  5808 

Quliilk  planely  precheit  Goddis  worde  : 

That  day  thay  sail  rewardit  be, 

Conforme  to  thare  Iniquitie. 

^  The  Sodometis  and  Gomoriance,  5812 

On  quliome  God  wrocht  so  gret  vengeance, 
With  Choro,  Dathan,  and  Abyrone, 
"With  thare  assistance,  mony  one, 
The  holy  Scripture  wyll  the^  tell,  5816 

Quhow  thay  sank,  all,"  doun  to  the  hell. 
With  Symon  Magus  sail  resort 
Off  proude  Preistis  ane  schamefull  sort. 

^  That  samyn  day  thare  salbe  sene  5820 

Mony  one  creuelP  cairfull  Queue  : 
Quene  Semeram,  kyng  Nynus  wyfe, — 
Ane  Tygir  full  of  stm-t  and  stryfe, — 
To  gydder  with^  Quene  Ie3abell,  5824 

Quliilk  wes"  boith  coiietous'-*  and  creuell ; 
The  fals  desaitfuU  Dalyda  ; 
The  creuelP  Queue  Clitamistra, 

The  cpihilk  did  murdres,  on  the  nycht,  5828 

Agamenon,^°  boith  wyse  and  wyclit, 
The  quliilk  wes  hir  awiii  soucrane  Lorde, 
As  Grekis  storyis  dois  recorde ; 

With  creuell  Quenis  mony  one,  5832 

Quhilk  langsum  wer  for  tyll  cxpone. 


1  L  lawde         -  L  \mt 
^  L  crewall         "  L  ^ow 
'  E  couatoii.s 


3  E  byill  *  L  pietiusly 

"  E  omitted         '^  L  witli  the 
1"  L  Asainanou 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MOXARCHE. 


1S9 


IT  ^n  -wantoun  Ladyis,^  and  burgis  wyuis, 
That  now  for  sydest  talis  stryuis, 
Flappand  the  fylth  amang  30ur  feit, 
Easyng  the  duste  in  to  the  streit, 
That  day,  for  all  ^our  pomp  and  pryde, 
3our  talis  sail  nocht  ^our  hyppis  hyde  : 
Thir  vaniteis  je  sail  repent, 
Without  that  ^e  be  penitent. 

IT  With  Phitonissa,  I  heir  tell, 
Quhilk  rasit-  the  Spreit  of^  Samuell, 
That  day,  with  hir,  thare  sail  resorte 
Off  rank  Wycheis  one  sorrowfull  sorte, 
Brocht  frome  all  partis,  mony  one  myle, — 
Frorae  Sauoy,  Athell,  and  Argyle, 
And  frome  the  ryndes  of  Galloway, 
With  mony  wofidl  Wallaway. 

^  3e  Brether  of  Religioun, 
In  tyme  leif  jour  abusioun,"^ 
With  quhilk  je  haif  the  warld  abusit,^ 
Or  3e,  that  day,  salbe  refusit. 
I  speik  to  30W  all,  generallye, 
E'ocht  tyll  one  Ordoure  speciallj'e. 
That  day,  all  Creature  sail  ken 
Geue  je  war*^  Sanctis,  or  warldly  men. 
Or  gyf  7  je  tuk  the  Skapellarye, 
That  je  mycht  leif  more  plesandlye. 
And  gett  ane  gude  grosse  Portiouii, 
Or  for  Godlye  Deuotioun. 
That  day,  jour  faynit^  Sanctytudis 
Sail  nocht  be  knawin  be  jour  Hudis  : 
3our  Superstitious  ^  Ceremoneis, 
Participand  tyll'^'^  Ydolatreis, 
Corde,  cuttit  schone,^^  nor  clippit  hede, 
That  daye  sail  stande  jow  in  no  stede  : 
For  cowlis  blak,  gray,  nor  begaird, 
3e  sail,  that  day,  get  no  rewaird. 


5836    A  parentlietic 
skit  at; 

the  trains  of 
ladies, 

5840    «'ith  conse  iueiKcs 
tliieatenetl. 

The  Witch  of 

Eiidor  will  be 
tliere, 


5844 


and  a  host  of  lier 
sisters. 


5848     from  sundry 
quarters. 


An  admonition 

5852    to  religious 
brethren 


of  all  orders. 

5856    Their  motives, 
in  professing 
sanctity,  will. 


then,  be  known 
._    to  all,— whellier 
OoOU    they  were  pme, 
or  eoirupt. 

Tlieir  ecelesiasti- 


5864    cal  trappings  will 
then. 


5868 


stand  them  in  no 
stead. 


L  wedowis         2  l  raissit         ^  e  omitted         *  L  habusioua 

5  L  habusit         «  l  Gif  je  be,  E  Geue  thay         ^  E  geff 
*  L  feiiijeit         *  L  superstitionis         '"  L  to         "  E  suhorne 


190 


THE  FOVRT  BVKE  OF  THE  MOXxVRCHE. 


3  our  polit  payntit  flatterye, 
3our  dissimulat  Ypocrasye, 
That  day  thay  sail  be  cleirlye  knawin, 
Quhen  30  sail  scheir  as  ^e  haue  sawin. 
Tliarefore,  in  tyme  be  penitent, 
Or  ellis  that  day  ^e  wylbe  schent. 
H  I  pray  30W  liartlie,  as  I  may, 
Eemember  on'  that  dreidfull  diy, 
3e  Abbot,  Pryor,  and  Pryores  : 
Consydder  quhat  30  did  profes, 
And  quhow  that  30111  promotioun 
"Wes  no  thyng  for  deuotioun  ; 
Bot  tyll  obtene  the  Abbasye, 
3e  maid  30iir  wow  of  Chaistitye, 
Off  powertie,  and  obedience  : 
Tharefor,  remord  30ur  conscience, 
Quhow  thir  thre  wowis  bene  obseruit, 
And  quhat  rewarde  36  haue  deseruit. 
Quharefore,  repent,  quhill  3e  haue  space  ; 
Sen  God  is  lyberall  of  his  grace. 

COURTIOUR. 

IT  Father,-  C[Uod  I,  declare  to  me 
Quhare  sail  our  Prelatis  ordorit^  be,* 
Quhilk  now*  bene  in^  the  Avarld  leuand  ; 
With  qvihome  sail  cum  that  Spirituall''  band  ] 

EXPERIENCE. 

Quod  he  :  as  sanct  Barnard  discryuis, 
Unless  tiiey  Without  that  thay  amend  thare  lyuis, 

J'St'wfnpnt     And  leif  thare  wantoun  vitious^  warkis, 
be  wit),  prophets    Xoclit  with  Prophetis^  nor  Patriarkis, 

and  tlie  like.  ^ 

Nocht  with  Martyris  nor^  Confessouris, 
ss.  Peter  and        The  quhilkziJ  to  Christ  wer  trew  preclu  auis  : 
noneTftiieir*       Thare  Predccessouris,  Peter  and  Paull, 
company;  jjj.^j-  j.^^,  ^^^^  t]iame  mysken,  at  all ; 


They  will  be 

recompensed 
acconlinic  to 


A  wnrnins; 
addressed  to 
abbots,  pi'iors, 


&c.,  with  refer- 
ence to  tlieir 
grounds  for 
taking  vows  of 

poverty,  chastity, 
and  obedience. 


Let  them  repent, 
while  they  may. 


Where  will  our 
priests  then 
stand  ? 


5872 


5876 


5880 


5884 


5888 


5892 


5S96 


5900 


1  L  of         2  L  Fader         ^  L  ordourit         *  L  omitted 
5  L  into      6  K  spi-ituall       7  i,  vieius       «  E  Profietis      »  L  ai>.d 
*  L  inserts  here  :  '  Oiire  Paipis,  Biscliopis,  and  Canlinallis, 
^\■itil  thair  most  precius  aparallis.' 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHB. 


191 


So  sail  thay  noclit,  I  say  for  me, 

With  the  Apostlis^  ordourit  be. 

I  traist  thay  sail  dwell  on  tlie  bordour 

Off  Hell, — quhare  thare  salbe  non^  ordour, — 

Endlang  the  Flude  of  Flagitoue, 

Or  on  the  brais  of  Acherone  ; 

Cryand  on  Caron,  I  conclude. 

To  ferre  thame  ouer  that  furious ^  flude, 

TyU  eternall  confusioun, 

Without  thay  leif  thare  abusioun.'* 

I  traist  those  PrelatiV,  more  and  les. 

Sail  mak  cleir  compt  of  thare  ryches, 

That  dreidfuU  day,  with  hartis  sore. 

And  quhat  seruice  thay  did  tharefore. 

The  Princely  pomp  nor  apparell-5 

Off  Pope,*^  Byschope,  nor  Cardinall, 

Thare  EoyaU  Eentis,  nor  Dignite, 

That  day  sail  nocht  regardit  be. 

Thare  sail  no  talis,  as  I  heir  say, 

Off  Byschoppis  be  borne  vp,  that  day. 

Cum  thay  nocht  with  thare  conscience  clene. 

On  thame  gret  sorrow  salbe  sene. 

Without  that  thay  thare  lyfe^  amend 

In  tyme  :  And  so  I  mak  ane  end. 


and  they  will  he 
bestowed  on  tlio 


5904 


5908 


5912 


confines  of  Hell, 


except  they 
renounce 


their  mal- 
practices. 
Prelates  must, 
then,  give  account 
of  their  riches. 


5916    The  pomp  and 
braver}'  of  popes 
and  other  church 
dignitaries  will 
be  disregarded. 

5920 


And  woe  to  these 
magnates,  be 
their  consciences 

5924  "o' '•■'^'"' ' 


*    FINIS.     * 

1  E,  L  Apostolis         2  L  no         3  l  vglie         ^  L  habusioun 
5  E  apperell         "  L  Paip         ^  L  livis 


MONARCHE,  II. 


192 


V>tf  HEIR  FOLLOWIS  THE  MANER  QUHOV  CHRIST 
SALL  GEUEi   HIS    SENTENCE. 


All  nations  will 
then  be 
assembled. 


and  in  the 
twinkling  of  an 
eye; 


Mat.  XX. 
then  Christ  will 
pass  sentence. 

Those  on  His 
right  hand  will  be 
rewarded, 
as  if  they  had 
befriended  Him, 


when  hungry, 
naked, 

shelteiless, 
thirsty, 

in  prison, 
ill. 


Demurring, 


they  will  be 
assured,  that, 
in  doing  good  to 
tlipir  fellow- 


EXPERIENCE. 

VHEN  all  thir  Congregationis 
Beis  brocht  furtli  honm^  al  nationis, — 
Quliilk  wilbe  wzYAout  lang  proces,  5928 
Thoclit  I  half  maid  sum  lang  degres ; 
For,  in  the  twinkling  of  one  E, 

All  mankynd  sail  presentit  be 

Affore  that  Kyngis  Excellence, —  5932 

Than  schortlye  sail  he  geue^  sentence  ; 

First  sayand  to  that  blysfulP  band 

Quhilk  beis  ordourit  at  his  rycht  hand, 

Cum,^  with  my  Fatheris^  Bennysoun,  5936 

And  ressaue  30111'  possessioim, 

Quhilk  bene  for  30W  preordinat, 

Affore  the  warld  wes  first  creat. 

Quhen  I  wes  hungry,  30  me  fed  ;  5940 

Quhen  I  wes  naikit,  36  me  cled ; 

Oftymes  39  gaue^  me  Herberye, 

And  gaif^  me  drynk,  quhen  I  wes  Drye, 

And  vesyif  me  with  myndis  meik,  5944 

Quhen  I  wes  presonar  and  seik  : 

In  all  sic  trybulatioun, 

3e  gaif  me  consolatioun. 

IT  Than  sail  thay  say,  0  Potent  Kyng,  5948 

Quhen  saw  we  the  desyre  sic  thyng  1 

We  neuer  saw  thyne  excellence 

Subdewit  to  sic  Indigence. 

3is,  sail  he^  say,  I  30W  assure,  5952 

Quhen  euer  3e  did  ressaue  tlie  pure, 

1  L  Gif         21,  of         3Lblissit         ^  j,  Pas         5  l  r^deris 
^  E  geue        ^  E  wesylt        ^  L  he  sail 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


193 


And,  for  my  saik,  maid  thame  supple, 
That  gyft,  but  doute,  30  gaif  to  me  : 
Tharef or  sail  now  ^  begyn  jour  glore, 
Quhilk  sail  indure  for  euer  more. 

H  Than  sail  he  luke  on  his  left  hand, 
And  say  onto^  that  bailfull  band, 
Pas,  -with  my  Maledictioun, 
Tyll  Eternall  Afflixtioun, 
In  cumpany  with  feindis  fell. 
In  euerlestyng  fyre  of  Hell : 
Quhen  I  stude,  naikit,  att  30ur  3ett, 
Houngry,  thristy,  cauld,  and  wett, 
Eycht  febyll,  seik,  and  lyke  to  de, 
I  neuer  gat  of  ^o-w  supple ; 
And,  quhen  I  lay  in  presoun  Strang, 
For  30W  I  mycht  haif  lying^  full  lang, 
Without  30ur  co»solatioun, 
Or  ony  supportatioim. 

IT  Trymling  for  dreid,  than  sail  thay  say, 
With  mony  hydous  harmesay,^ 
Allace  !  gude  Lorde,  quhen  saw  we  the 
Subiect  to  sic  necessitie  1 
Quhen  saw  we  the  cum  to  our  dure, 
Houngry,  thristy,  naikit,  purel^ 
Quhen  saw  we  the  in  presoun  ly, 
Or  the  refusit  berbery  1 

II  Than  sail  that  most  precelland*^  Kyng 
Tyll  those  wrachis  mak  answeryng, 
That  tyme  quhen '^  3e  refusit  the  puris 
Quhilkis  neidfull^  cryit  at  30ur  duris, 
And  of  30ur  superfluitie 
For  my  saik  maid  thame  no  supplie, 
Eefusand^  thame,  3e  me  refusit. 
With  wrecheitnes  so  30  wer^*^  abusit  :^^ 
Tharefor  3e  sail  haue,  to  3our  hyre, 
The  euerlestyng  byrning  fyre, 


tliey  did  it  to 
Christ, 

59o6    to  their  salvation. 


Tliose  on  the  left 
hand  will  be  con- 
signed to  endless 

5960  *"'■"'«"'• 


along  with  tiends, 
in  hell  fire, 

5964    as  having 


ignored  the 
5968    discomforts 
of  Christ. 


5972    Objecting  to  the 
imputation, 

that  they  ever 
neglected  Christ, 

OJYD  when  liungry, 
tliirsty,  naked, 
in  bonds,  or  in 
want  of  refuge, 


5980 


they  will  be  told, 
that, 


Oyb4    in  slighting  the 
poor, 


they  slighted 
Him,  and  must, 
for  so  doing,  be 

cast  into  never- 
ending  fire. 


5988 


1  L  now  sail        2  5;  jufo,  L  vnto        ^  L  lyne        ^  L  harmishay 
^  L  and  pure,  E  or  pure         ^  L  excellent         ^  L  omitted 
8  L  neidtullie         »  L  Refusit         i»  E  was         "  L  habusit 


O  2 


194 


THE  FOVRT  BVKE  OP  THE  MONARCHE. 


Tlien  will  they 
bewail  their 
existence, 


and  wisli  that 


they  had  died 
when  babes. 

The  earth  will 
gape,  and  tliey 
will  be  enirulled. 


cursing  the  liour 
they  were  bom. 

From  what  time 
the  tlami's 
attatk  them. 


they  will  be 
bereft  of  all 
light,  and  will 
liowl  and  cry 


for  evermore. 


Ever  dying,  but 
never  dead,  a 
minute  of  their 
misery  will  seem, 
to  them,  a  thou- 
sand years. 


Alas !  I  tremble 
to  hear  of  liell 
and  its  everlast- 
ing torments. 


The  glorified  will 
be  transported  to 
Heaven, 


But  grace,  but  peace,  or  coufortyug. 

Thau  sail  tliay  cry/  full  sore  weqjyiig, 

That  we  wer  maid,  allace  !  gude  Lorde  !  5992 

Allace  !  is  thare  non^  Misericorde  ? 

Eot  thus,^  withouttin  hope  of  grace, 

Tyne  presens  of  thy  plesand  face  1 

Allace  for  \vs  !  it  had  bene  gude,  5996 

"We  had  bene  smorit  in  our  cude. 

H  Than,  with  one^  rair,  the  erth^  sail  ryue. 
And  swolly*^  thame,  boith  man  and  wyue. 
Than  sail  those  Creaturis  forlorne  GOOO 

Warie  the  hour  that  thay  wer  borne, 
With  mony  ^amer,'^  jewt,  and  3ell, 
Frome  tyme  thay  feill^  the  flammis  fell 
Apone  thare  tender  bodeis  byte,  G004 

Quhose  torment  salbe  Infinyte.  , 

The  erth^  sail  close,^  and  frome  thare'"'  syclit 
Sail  takingly  be  all  kynde  of  lycht. 
Thare  salbe  gowlyng^^  and  gretyng,  G008 

But  hope  of  ony  confortyng  : 
In  that  Inestimabyll  pane 
Eternallye  thay  sail  remane, 

Byrnand  in  furious  flammys^^  rede,  0012 

Euer  deand,  bot  neuir  be^*  dede; 
That  the  small  Minuth^^  of  one  hour 
To  thame  salbe  so  gret  dolour, 

Thay  sail  thynk  thay  half  done  remane  G016 

Ane  thousand  ^eir  in  to  that  pane. 
Allace  !  I  trimyll  tyUie  heir  tell 
The  terribyll  Turmentyng  of  hell. 

That  panefull  pytt  quho  can  deploie,  C020 

Quhilk  mon  indure  for  euer  more  ] 

H  Than  sail  those  glorifyit  Creaturis, 
With  myrth  and  infinyte  plesouris, 
Conuoyit  with  loy  Angelicall,  G024 

Passe  to  the  Ileuin  Iniperiall, 


1  E  Cray         ^  L  no         ^  L  tliis         *  L  ano         ^  L  cnl 

*  L  swelly        ^  L  ^awiuer        ^  L  licir        "  E  closit  be,  L  cloisa 

10  L  that         "  E,  L  takiu         12  l  gonlliiif,'         "  i'  Haiiibia 

"  E  oiuitted         ^^  L  Momeut         ^^  ^  (riuibUl  to 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONAUCHR. 


195 


With  Christ  lesu,  our  Soiierane  Kyng, 

In  glore  Eteriiall3'e  to  ryng, 

Off  man  quhilk  passis  the  Ingyne  6028 

The  thousand  part  for  tyll^  defyne 

AUanerlie  of  the  leist  plesoure 

Preordinat  for  one  Creature. 

IT  Than  sail  one  Fyre,  as  Clerk  is  sane, 
Mak  all  the  hyllis  and  valais  plane. 
Frome  erth,  vp  to  the  Heuin  Impyrc, 
All  beis  renewit  by^  that  fyre, 
Purgeyng  all  thjrag  materiall 
Under  the  heuin  Imperiall  : 
Boith  erth  and  waiter,^  fj-re  and  air, 
Salbe  more*  perfyte  maid,  and  fair, — 
The  quhiIk^s  affore^  had  myxit  bene, —  6040 

Sail,  than,  be^  purifyit  and  maid"  clene. 
The  erth  lyke  Christall  salbe  cleir ; 
And  euerilk  Planeit  in  his  speir 

Sail  rest,  Avithouttin  more  moueyng.  6044 

Boith  sterny  heuin  and  Christellyng, — 
The  first  and  hiest  heuin  mouabyll, — 
Sail  stand,  but  turnyng,  firme  and  stabyll. 
The  Sonne  in  to  the  Orient 
Sail  stand,  and  in  the  Occident 
Best  sail  the  ]\Ione,  and  be  more  cleir 
I^or  now  bene  Phebus  in  his  speir. 
And,  als,  that  Lantern  of  the  Heuin 
Sail  gyf  more  lycht,  be  greis  sewin, 
Nor  it  gaue  sen  the  warld  began. 
The  Heuin  renewit  salbe,  than  ; 
Eychtso,  the  erth,  with  sic  deuyse, 
Compair^  tyll  heuinlye  Paradyse. 

OC?*  So  heuin  and  erth  salbe  allone,^ 
As  menith  the  Apostill  lohne. 

The  gret  sey  sail  no  more  appeir,  60GO 

Bot  lyke  the  Christall  pure  and  cleir, 


with  Jesns  Christ, 
to  reiRn,  eternally, 
in  glory  such  tliat 
even  the  thou- 
saiidth  part  of  it 
passes  conception. 


6032       a.  Pet.  Hi. 

Then,  say  the 
learned. 


a  wnivcrsal  fire 
oOoO    the  world. 


be  made 

new  and  clean. 


The  planets  will 
discontinue  their 


motions. 


the  heavens  stand 
still, 

6048    anii  the  sun  be 

fixed  in  the  East, 
and  the  moon  in 
the  West. 
The  moon  will  be 
as  bright  as  the 
sun  now  is;  and 

6052    the  sun  will 

give  seven  times 
as  much  light  as 
it  ever  before  gave. 


6056    The  earth  will  he 
like  a  heavenly 
paradise. 

Apo.  xxi. 
Of  the  heavens 
and  the  earth, 


and  the  sea,  like 
crystal, 


1  L  to         ^  Lbs         '  L  watter         *  L  mair         ^  L  before 

s  E  be  maid  ^  E  omitted  ^  L  Comparit 

**  L  at  once 


196 


THE    FOVRT   BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


i.  Cor.  n. 
and  indescribable. 

Tlie  glory 
prepared  by  God 
will  surpass  all 
experience 


and  imagination ; 


and,  to  the 
blessed, 

it.  Pet.  Hi. 
a  tliousand  years 
will  seem  a  short 
hour, — a  thing 
till  then  incom- 
prehensible. 

a.  Cor.  xii. 
Paul,  in  the 
spirit,  belield 
heavenly  seci'ets 
unlawful  to  be 
revealed. 


Strive  not,  then, 
to  understand  the 
hidden  things  of 
future  beatitude. 


Let  no  one  be 
solicitous  to 
penetrate  the 
Divine  nature. 

How  is  man  to 
pry  out  what 
baffles  tlie  quest 
even  of  angels  ? 


Like  Paul, 
let  us  resolve 
not  to  be  over- 
curious 


Passyng  Imaginatioun 

0&.  Man  to  mak  narratioim. 

Off  glore,  quhilk  God  liaitli^  done  propair  GOG 4 

Tyll  euery  one  that^  cumis  thare, 

The  quhilk  with  eris  nor  with  eine 

Off  man  may  nocht  be  hard  nor  sene, 

With  hart  it  is  vnthynkabyll,  6068 

And  with  toungis  Inpronnnciabyll ; 

Quhose  plesouris  salbe  so  perfyte, 

Haueyng  in  God  so  gret  delyte, 

The  space,  now,  of  one  thousand  ^eir  6072 

That  tyme  sail  nocht  one  hour  aj^peir ; 

Quhilk  can  nocht  comprehendit  be, 

Tyll  we  that  plesand  sycht  sail  se. 

U  Quhen  Paull  wes  reuyst,  in  the  spreit,  6076 

Tyll  the  thrid  Heuin,  of  glore ^  repleit. 
He  sayith,^  the  Secretis  quhilk  he  saw 
Thay  wer  nocht  leifsum^  for  to  schaw 
To*'  no  man  on  the  erth'''  ieueand  :  6080 

Quharefor,  preis  nocht  tyll  vnderstand — 
Quhowbeit  thare  to  thow  haif  ^  desyre — 
The  Secretis  of  the  heuin  Impyre. 
The  more  men  lukis  on  Phebus  brycht,  6084 

The  more  febyll  salbe  thare  sycht. 
Rychtso,  latt  no  man  sett  thare  cure 
To  Sers^  the  heych  Diuyne  Nature  : 
The  more  men  studye,  I  suppose,  6088 

Salbe  the  more  frome  thare  purpose. 
To  knaw  quhareto  sulde  men  Intend,^'' 
Quhilk  Angellis  can  nocht ^^  comprehend? 
Bot,  efter  this^^  gret  lugement,  6092 

All  thyng  tyll  ws  salbe  patent. 

Latt  ws,  with  Paull,  our  niynde  addres, — 
He,  beand  full  of  Ileuinlynes, 

Full  humilyo  he  techeit  ws, —  6096 

ISTocht  for  to  be  to^-^  curious — 


1  L  hes         2  L  quhilk         ^  l  joy         *  L  sayis         ^  L  lesum 
«  L  Till  7  L  in  the  crd  »  L  haith  '■>  L  Serche 

10  L  pretend         "  L  no  thinj,'         '-  E  his         ^3  e  oure 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OP    THE    MONARCHB. 


197 


Quhowbeit  men  be  of  gret  Ingyne — 
To^  seik  the  heych^  Secretis  Diuyne, 
Quhose  lugementw  ar  vncersiabyll, 
And  strange  wayis  Inuestigabyll/ — 
That  is  to  say,  past  out^  fynding, — 
Off  quhome  no  man  may  fynd  endyng. 
It  siifficith^  ws  for  tyll  Implore 
Gret  God  to  bryng  ws  to^  that  glore. 


about  liigh 
a-inr\   secrets, 
DIUU  Rom.  xi. 

unsearchable, 

past  finding  out. 


6104    God  bring  us  to 
this  glory ! 


*    FINIS.     * 


1  E  They        2  l  hecht  of        3  g  inuestiabill         ^  E,  L  out  of 
6  L  sufficit  6  L  till 


198 


OFF   CERTANE    PLESOURIS    OF   THE    GLORIFEIT 
BODEIS.i 


predestinate 
delights, 


EXPERIENCE. 

SEN  tliare  is  non,  in  erth,^  may  comprehend 
The  Heuinlye  glore  &  plesouris  Infinyte, 
Aim  not  to  fathom  Quhairfor,^  my  Sone,  I  pray  the  not'^  pretend  6108 

Ouer  far  to  seik  that  maner  of  delyte — 
Quhilk  passit^  I^aturall  reasoun  to  Indyte, — 
That  God,  affore  that  he  the  warld  creatt, 
PrejDarit  to  thame  quhilk  ar  jiredestinat.  6112 

All  Mortall  men  salbe  maid  Immortall, — 

That  is  to  say,  neuer  to  de  agane, — 

Impassabyll,  and  so  Celestiall 

That  fyre  nor  swerd  may  do  to^  thame  no  pane ;    6116 

Nor  hete/  nor  cald,  nor  frost,  nor  "wynd,  nor  rane, — 

Thocht  sic  thyng  wer, — niay^  do  to  thame  no  deir. 

Those  Creaturis,  rycht  so,  salbe  als  cleir 

As  flammand^  Phebus  in  his  Mantioun.^o  6120 

Considder,  than,  gyf  thare  salbe  gret  lycht, 

Quhen  euery  one  in  to  that^^  Eegioim 

Sail  schyne  lyke  to  the  Sonne,  and  be  als  brycht : 

Lat  ws,  with  Paull,  desyre  to  se  that  sycht.  6124 

To  be  dissoluit  Paull  had  A^^  gret  desyre, 

"With  Clu'ist  to  be  in  tyll^^  the  heuin  Impyre. 


The  elect  will  be 
subject  to  no 
suffering. 


They  will  be  as 
splendent  as  the 
sun. 


Wonderfully 
acute  will  be 


And,  more  attour,  as  Clerkis  can  discryue, 
Thare  maruellous  myrthis  beis  incomparabyll 
Araang  the  rest,  in  all  thare  wyttis  fyue 
Thay  sail  haue  sensuall  plesouris  delectabyll. 


6128 


^  L  Bodyif?      ^  l  e -iI      ^  E  Quharefor      ^  L  nocht      •''  L  passis 

®  L  omitted  ^  E  bote  ^  L  mycht  "  L  flauiband 

1"  L  mantioun         ^^  L  thair        ^-  L  ane         *^  L  into 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHB.  199 

The  heuinlye  sound,  quhilk  salbe  Innarrabyll, 

In  thare  eris  continually e  sail ^  ryng.  6132  aii  their  senses. 

And,  als,  the  sycht  of  Christ  lesus,  our  Kyng, 

In  his  tryumpliant  throne  Imperiall, 

"With  his  Mother,  the  Uirgene  Quene  of  quenis, 

Thare  salbe  sene  :  the  Court  Celestiall, —  61 3G  The  constituents 

ot'lhe  Court 

Apostolis,2  Martyris,  Confessoris,  and  TJirgenis,  ceiestiai. 

Brychtar^  than  Phebus  in  his  speir  that  schynis, 

The  Patriarkis,  and  Prophetis  Uenerabyll, — 

Thare  salbe  sene,  with  glore  Inestimabyll.  61-40 

%  And,  with  thare  Spirituall  Eis,  salbe  sene  There  win  be  seen 

That  sycht  quhilk  bene  most  Superexcelland, —  of  God, 

God,  as  he  is  and  euermore  hes  bene. 
Continuallye  that  sycht  contempland,  6144 

Augustyne  sayis,  he  had  leuer  tak  on  hand 
To  be  in  Hell,  he  seyng  the  assence 
Off  God,  nor  be  in  Heuin,  but  his  presence. 

H  Quho  seis  God  in  his  Diuynitie,  61-18 

He  seis,  in  hym,  all  vther'*  j^lesand  thyngis, 
The  quhilk  with  toung  can  nocht  pronuncit  be,  imparting  joy 

/-\    1  1  -1  -11  c  -rr  •  unspeakable. 

Quhat  plesour  bene  to  *>&  that  kyng  of  Kyngis  ! 
The  gretest  pane  the^  dampnit  folk  dounthryngis,  6152 
And,  to  the^  Deuyllis,  the  most  punytioun, 
It  is  of  god  to  want  fruitioun. 


And,  mairattour,  thay  sail  feill  sic  ane  smell 

Surmountyng  far  the  fleure  of  erthly'^  flowris,         6156 

And,  in  thare  mouth,  ane  taist,  as  I  heir  tell, 

Off  sweit  and  Supernaturall  Sapowris  ;  otiier  pleasures 

Als,  thay  sail  se  the  heuinlye  brycht  colowris^ 

Schenyng^  amang  those  Creaturis  Diuyne,  6160 

Quhilk  tyU^  discryue  trawscendith  ma?Hiis  Ingyne. 

1  L  to       2  L  Appostillis       ^  e  Brycht  is       *  L  his      &  L  that 

6  L  omitted         ^  L  erdlie         *  l  cullouris 

^  L  schyning 


200 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


swift  of  motion, 
and  enjoying 
tlie  dolor  of  the 
damned. 


Nothing  will  be 
impervious  to 
them. 


Each  will  be  as 
bappy  as  be  can. 


The  diverse 
allotment  of 
future  bliss 


illustrated  by 
measures  of 
different 


H  And,  als,  thay  sail  half  ^  sic  agilitie, 
In  one  Instant  to^  passe,  for  thare  plesour, 
Ten  thousand  mylis,  in  twynkling  of  one  E  : 
So  tliare  loyis  salbe  without  missour.^ 
Thay  sail  Eeioyis  to  se  the  gret  dolour 
Off  dampnit  folk  in  hell,  and  thare  torment ; 
Because  of  God  it  is  the  luste  lugement. 


61G4 


6168 


Subtellyte  thay  sail  haue  maruellouslye  : 

Subponyng*  that  thare  wer  ane  Tvall  of  bras, 

One  glorifeit  body  may  rycht  haistellye 

Out  throw  that  wall,  without  Impediment,  pas,      6172 

Siclyke  as  doith  the  Sone  baime^  throw  the  glas; 

As  Christ  tyU  his  Disciplis  did  appeir, 

All  entres  clos,  and  non*^  of  thame  did  steir. 

U  Quhowbeit,  in  heuin  thocht  euerilk  Creature  6176 
Haue  nocht  alyke''  filicitie,  nor  glore, 
3itt  euerilk  one  sail  half  so  gret  plesure, 
And  so  content,  thay  saU^  desyre  no  more  : 
To  haue  more  loye  thay  sall^  no  way  Implore ;      6180 
Bot  thay  salbe,  all,  satyfeit  and  content, 
Lyke  to  this  rude  exempyll  subsequent. 

Tak  ane  crowat,  one  pynte  stope,  and  one  quart, 

One  galloun  pitschair,  one  puntioun,^'^  &  one  twn,  6184 

Of  wyne,  or  balme  ;  g}^  euerilk  ^^  one  thare  part, 

And  fyll  thame  full,  tyll  that  thay  be  ouir  rwn  : 

The  lytill  crouat,  in  comparisoun, 

Salbe  so  full  that  it  may  hald  no  more  6188 

Off  sic  missouris,  thocht  thare  ^-  be  twenty  score 


H  In  to  the  Twn,  or  in  the  Pontioun.^" 
So,  all ^3  those  vesschellis,^*  in  one  qualitie. 
May  hald  no  more,  without  thay  be  ouir  rwn ; 
3itt  half  thay  nocht  alyke"  in  quantitie  : 
So,  be  this  rude  exempyll,  thow  may  se, 


6192 


1  L  liaue  2  E  omitted  '  L  mesour 

*  E  Suponyng,  L  Supponyng     ^  L  heme     ^  L  nane     ^  T,  dike 

^  L  that  thai         "  E  omitted         i*'  L  ponsioun         "  L  euery 

12  L  thai         13  L  sail         "  E  wescellis 


TUE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


201 


ThocTit  euerilk  one  be  nocht  alyke  in  glore, 
Ar  satyfeit  so  that  thay  desyre  no  more. 

Thocht  presentlye,  he  Goddis  prouianco, 
Beistis,  fowlis,  and  fyschis  in  the  seis, 
Ar  necessar,  now,  for  mannis  sustenance, 
With  cornis,  herbis,  flowris,  and  fructfull  treis. 
Than  sail  thare  be  non  sic  commoditeis  : 
The  erth^  sail  heir  no^  plant,  nor  beist  brutall, 
Bot,  as  the  Heuinnis,  brycht  lyke  buriall. 

Suppone  sum  be  on^  erth,  walkand  heir  doun, 
Or  heycht*  abone,  quhare  euer  thay  pleis  to  go. 
Off  God  thay  haue,  ay,  cleir  fruitioun, 
Boith  est,  or  west,  vp^  doun,  or  to,  or  fro. 
Clerkis  declaris  plesouris  mony  mo, 
Quhilk  dois  transcend  al  mortal  ma?inis  Ingyne 
The  thousand  part  of  those  plesouris  deffyne.^ 


6196    capacity. 


6200    EarUily  products 
will  tlieii  be  no 
more. 


6204 


Tlie  elect  will 
have  tlie  fruition 
of  God  every- 
where. 


6208 


IF  In  to  the  Heuin  thay  sail  perfytlie  knaw         6211 
Thare  tender  freindis,  fhare  father/  &  thave  mother/ 
Thare  Predecessouris  quhilk^■s  thay  neuer  saw, 
Thair  spousis,  baii'nis,  syster,^  &  thare  brother  ;^ 
And  euerUk  one  sail  haue  sic  lufe  tyll^o  vther, 
Off  vtheris  glore  and  Toy  thay  sail  reioyse,  6216 

As  of  thare  awin,  as  Clerkis  doith^^  suppose. 

IT  Than  salbe  sene  that  brycht  lerusalame^^ 
Quliilk  Ihone  saw,  in  his  Eeuelatione. 
We  mortall  men,  allace  !  ar  far^^  to  blame,  6220 

That  wyll  nocht  haif  ^*  consideratione. 
And  one  continuall  contemplatione, 
With  bote  desyre  to  cum  on^^  to  that  glore, 
Quhilk  plesour  sail  indure  for  euer  more.  6224 

0  Lorde,  our  God  and  Kyng  Omnipotent, 
Quhilk  knew,  or  thow  the  heuin  and  erth^  creatt, 

1  L  erd         ^  l  none         ^  li  in         *  L  heich 

6  E  diuyne,  L  divine     ^  l  fader     "^  L  moder     *  L  tliair  sister 

9  L  broder         i"  L  to         ^^  L  dois         ^-  E  lerusalen 

13  E  for.  L  fer         "  L  haue         i^  l  omitted 


They  will  know 
their  friends,  in 
Heaven. 


Apoc.  xxi. 


Of  the  New 
Jerusalem. 


Ro.  via, 
0  Lord, 


202 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCHE. 


Wtio  didst  fore- 
see who  would  be 
saved. 


prant  tliat  we 
may  be  of  tliat 
number. 


i.  Cor.  XV. 
Corruption  will 
tbeii  be  done 
away. 


The  sun  and 
moon,  even,— 


as  Erasmus 
says,— 


and  the  firmn- 
ment,  planets, 
&c,  long  for  that 
day ; 


Quho^  wald  to  fhe  be  inobedient, 

And  so  disame^  for  to  be  Eeprobatt,  C228 

Thow  knew  the  nomer^  of  predestinat, 

Quhome  thow  did  call,  and  hes  thame  lustifeit, 

And  pall,  in  Heuin,  with  the  be  Glorifeit. 

Grant  ws  to  be,  Lorde,  of  that  chosin  sort  6232 

Qnhanie,  of  thy  mercy  superexcellent, 

Did  i^uriffy — as  scripture  doith'*  report — 

With  the  blude  of  that  holy  Innocent, 

lesn,  quhilk  maid  hym  self  Obedient  C236 

On  to  the  deth,  and  steruit  on  the  Eude  : 

Lat  ws,  0  Lorde,  be  purgit  with  that  blude.^ 

IT  All  Creature  that  euer  God  Great, 
As  wryttis^  Paull,  thay  wys  to  se  that  day,  6240 

Quhen  the  Childryng'''  of  God,  predestinat, 
Sail  do  appeir  in  thare  neAV  fresche  array ; 
Quhen  Corruptioun  beis  clengit  clene  away. 
And  cheangit  beis  thare  Mortall  Qualitie  0244 

In  the  gret  glore  of  Immortalitie. 

IF  And,  moreattour,  all  dede  thyngis  corporall, 
Onder  the  Concaue  of  the  Heuin  Impyre, 
That  now  to  laubour  subiect  ar,  and  thrall,^ —        6248 
Sone,  Mone,  &  Sterris,^  Erth,  walter,^^  air,  &  Tyre, — 
In  one  maneir  thay  haue  ane  bote  desyre, 
Wissing  that  day,  that  thay  may  be  at  rest, 
As  Erasmus  Exponith^^  Manifest.  6252 

IT  We  se  the  gret  Gloube^^  of  the  Firmament 
Continuallie  in  moueyng  maruellous  ; 
The  Sewin  Planetis,  contrary  ^'^  thare  intent, 
Ar  reft  about,  with  coursse  contrarious;  6256 

The  wynd,  and  See,  with  stormys  furious. 
The  trublit  Air,  with  Frostis,  Snaw,  and  Eane, 
On  to  that  day  thay  trauell  euer  in  pane, 

1  E  Quha         2  L  deserue         ^  l  nomber         *  L  dois 

^  L  To  saif  mankynrle  and  so  I  do  conclude. 

L  Heading  before  1.  6239 — Quliow  euery  creature  desiris  to  se 

the  last  day. 
«  L  writith         ^  l  Childrene         ^  l  tlirnw         "  E  Stcrriis 
^^  L  watter        i'  L  exponia        ^^  L  Globe        ^^  L  contrar 


THE  FOVRT  BVKE  OF  THE  MONARCHE.  203 

SCt"  And  all  the  Angellis  of  the  Ordouris  N"yne,  62G0  and  so  do  the 

TT  ^  i-  1      /•  -nr-  •  angels  of  the  nine 

Haueand  compatioun^  ot  our  Misareis,  orders, 

Thay  wys  efter  that  day,  and  to  that  Fyne, 

To  se  ws  fred  frome  our  Infirmiteis,^ 

And  clengit  frome  tliir  gi"et  Calamiteis^  62G4 

And  trublus  lyfe,  quhilk  neuer  sail  haue  end 

On  to  that  day :  I  mak  it  to  the  kend. 

*     FINIS.     * 
^  E,  L  compassiouu         '•^  L  Calamiteis         ^  L  oure  Infirmiteia 


204 


||    ANE    EXHORTATIOUN    GYFFIN    BE    FATHERS 
EXPERIENCE  VNTO  HIS  SONE  THE  CURTEOUR. 

•^      ^      ^^ 
EXPERIENCE. 

Y  Sone,  now  mark  well,  in  tLy  memory, 
Of  this  falswarld  tJie  trublus  tra?isitory, 
Quliose  dreidfuU  dayis  drawis  neir  ane 
end.  6269 

The  end  is  nigh:       ^^^^^^^^^^^   Tharfor,  cal^  god  to  1)6  fJii^  aclhitory  ; 

tliink,  then,  on.,  ■,  ^  ,^  x-at- 

death.  Ana  euery  day,  my  bonne,  JNlemento  JNlon  ; 

And  watt  nof*  qulien,  nor  quhare  that  thow  sal  Avend. 
Heir  to  remane  I  jDray  the  noclit  pretend  ; 
And,  sen  thow  knawis  the  tyme  is  verray  schort. 
In  Christis  Elude  sett  all  thy  hole  confort. 

Maih.vi.        Be  nocht  to  myche  solyst^  in  temporal!  thyngis  ;    6276 
Sen  thow  persauis  Pape,''  Empriour,  nor'^  Kyngis 
In  to  the  erth  haith  no  place  parmaneut. 
Thow  seis  that^  deith.  thame  dulefully  doun  thringis, 

Scorn  the  world :    And  rauis  thame  frome^  ^7;are  rent,  ryches,  aiid  ringis. 

Christ!  Tharefor,  on  Christ  confirme  thyne^'*  hole  intent ; 

And  of  thy  callyng  be  rycht^  weiU  content. 
Tlian  God,  that  fedis  the  fowlis  of  the  air, 
All  neidfull  thyng  for  the  he  sail  prepair.  6284 

Job  xiiii.        Consydder,  in  thy  contemplatioun. 

Ay,  sen  the  warldlis^^  first  Creatioun, 

Mankynd  hes  ^^  tholit  this  misary  mortall, 

Ay  tormentit  -with  trybidatioun,  G288 

Wretchedness  has  "With  doloiu",  drcid,  and  desolatioun. 

prevalent,  Gentilcs,  and  Chosin  peple^^  of  Israeli, 

To  this  vnliap,  all  subiect  ar,  and  thrall ; 

1  L  Gevin  be  Fader         ~  E  tak         '  L  thine 

*  L  wait  nocht  ^  E  omitted  "  I>  Paip  ^  L  and 

8  E,  L  the         »  L  omitted         i"  L  tlii         "  L  warldis 

12  L  haith         i^  l  pepill 


THE    FOVRT    BVKE    OF    THE    MONARCIIE.  205 

Qnliilk  Misary,  but  doute,  sail  euer  indurc,  G292  and  win  so 

Tyll  the  last  day  :  my  Sonne,  thareof  be  sure. 


continue. 


That  day,  as  I  haue  maid  narratioun, 

Salbe  the  day  of  consolatioun 

Tyll  all  the  Childryngi  of  the  chosin  noumer :       G29G 

Thare  endit  beis  thare  desolatioun. 

And,  als,  I  male  the  supplycatioun. 

In  erthlye  materis^  tak  the  no  more  cummer.         6299 

Dreid  nocht  to  dee ;  for  deith  is  bot  ane  slu?nmer  :  '^         Fear  not  death ; 

Leue  ane  luste^  lyfe,  &  -with^  ane  loyus  hart, 

And  of  thy  guddis  tak  plesandlye  thy  part. 

Off  our  talkeing  now  latt  ws  mak  ane  end. 

Behald  quhow  Phebus  dounwart  dois  discend,        G304 

Towart  his  palyce  in  the  Occident. 

Dame  Synthea,  I  se,  scho  dois  pretend  And  now  i  must 

'^  _  _  '■  end,  as  tlie  sun  is 

In  tyll  hir  wattry  Eegioun  tyll  ascend,  near  iiis  setting, 

With  vissage  paill,  vp  frome  the  Orient.  G308 

The  dew  now  dounkis  the  rossis  redolent : 
The  Mareguldis,  that  all  day  wer  reiosit 
Off  Phebus  heit,^  now  craftelly  ar  closit. 

The  blysfull  byrdis  bownis'''  to  the  treis,  G312 

And  ceissis  of  thare  heuinlye  armoneis  : 

The  Cornecraik  in  the  croft,  I  heir  hir  cry  ; 

The  bak,  the^  Howlat,  febyll  of  thare  eis,  the  birds  of  night 

For  thare  pastyme,  now  in  the  ewinnyng  fleis  ;       G316  ^'^  ^  *''  ''^^  ""' '' 

The  I^ychtyngaill,  with  myrthfull  melody, 

Hir  naturall  notis  persith  throw  the  sky, 

Tyll  Synthea, — makand  her  obseruance, — 

Quhilk  on  the  nycht  dois  tak  hir  dalyance.  G320 

I  se  Polartike  in  the  Il^orth  appeir. 

And  Uenus  ryssing,  with  hir  hemes  cleir  :  and  venns  is 

Quharefor,  my  Sonne,  I  hald  it^  tyme  to  go. 

Wald  God,  said  I,  je  did^o  remane  all  3eir,  G324 

1  L  Child rena         2  l  erdlie  nianer         ^  l  slomber 
*  L  one  gude  just        5  j;  thow         ^  jj  hg^^        7  l  now  bownis 
8  L  and         9  E  omitted         "  E  do 


rising. 


206 


To  my  grief,  we 
must  part. 


The  reader  is 
implored  to  be 
charitable. 


THE   FOVfiT   BVKE    OF   THE   MONARCHE. 

That  I  luyclit  of  30111  lieuinlye  Lessonis  leir 
Off  30ur  departyng  I  am  wounder  wo. 
Tak  pacience,  said  he ;  it  mone  be  so  : 
Perchance  I  sail  returne  with  deligence. 
Thus  I  departit  frome  Experience, 


6328 


And  sped  me  home,  with  hert  sychjmg  full  sore, 

And  enterit  in  my  quyet  Oritore. 

I  take  paper,  and  thare  began  to  wryt  6332 

This  Miserie,  as  -^e  haue  hard  afore.^ 

All  2  gentyll  Redaris  hertlye  I  Implore 

For  tyll^  excuse  my  rurall  rude  Indyte, 

Thoucht  Phareseis  wyll  haue^  at  me  dispyte,  6336 

Quhilkis  wald  not^  that  thare  craftynes  war  kend. 

Latt  God  be  luge  :  and  so  T  mak  ane  end. 


*   rmis.   * 


QUOD   LYNDESAY. 


1552. 


1  L  befoie         2  e  ^nd         3  l  to         *  L  Pharas) is  baue 
5  E  nocht 


i     i     f 


207 


f^  HEIR  FOLLOUIS  THE  TRAGEDIE  OF  THE 
UMQVHYLE  MAIST   REUEREND  FATHER   DAUID,  BE 

THE  MERCY  OF  GOD,  CARDINALL  AND  ARCHI- 

BYSCHOPE  OF  SANCTANDROUS,   &c.      {^  COMPLYIT 

BE  SCHIR  DAUID  LYNDESAY,  OF  THE 

MONT,  KING  OF  ARMES. 

B^    THE    PROLOG. 


NOCHT  Lang  ago,  efter  tlie  hour  of  pryme, 
Secreitly  sittyng  in  myne  Oratorie, 
I  tuk  ane  Buke, — tyll  occupye  the  tyme, — 
Quhare  I  faiid  mony  Tragedie  and  storie, — 
Quhilk  Ihone  Bochas  had  put  in  memorie, — 
Quhov  mony  Prencis,  Conqueroum,  and  kingis 
War  dulfullie  deposit  frome  thare  ryngis  : 


4    Sitting  in  my 
oratory,  I  was 
reading, in 
Boccaccio, 


Quhov  Alexander,  the  potent  Conqueronr, 

In  Babilone  was  poysonit  pieteouslie ; 

And  lulius,  the  mychtie  Emperiour, 

Murdreist  at  Rome,  causles  and  creuellie ; 

Prudent  Pompey,  in  Egypt  schamefullie 

He  murdreist  was, — quliat  nedith  proces  more  1- 

Quhose  Tragideis  war  pietie  tyll  deplore. 


12 


of  the  tragical 
end  of  Alexander, 
Julius,  and 
Pompey ; 


U  I  sittyng  so,  vpon  my  Buke  redyng, 
Rycht  suddantlie  afore  me  did  appeir  16 

Ane  woundit  man,  ahoundantlie  bledyng, 
With  vissage  paill,  and  with  ane  dedlye  cheir ; 
Semand  ane  man  of  two  and  fyftie  3eir  ; 
In  Payment  reid,  clothit  full  curiouslie,  20 

Off  vellot  and  of  Saityng  Crammosie. 

MONARCHE,  II. 


when  I  liad  an 
apparition  of  a 
man  bleeding. 


208 


THE  TRAGEDIE. 


He  spoke  of  liis 
misfortunes. 


and  prayed  me 
to  make  a  record 
of  them. 


He  told  me  his 
name,  and 
dictated  as 
follows : 


With  febyll  voce,  as  man  opprest  with  paine, 

Soiftlye  he  maid  me  siii^plycatioun, 

Sayand,  my  freiud,  go  reid,  and  reid  againe,  24 

Geue  thow  can  fynde,  by  trew  Karratioun, 

Off  ony  paine  lyke  to  my  Passiotin  : 

Eycht  sure  I  am,  war  Ihone  Bochas  on  lyue, 

My  tragedie  at  lenth  he  wald  discryue.  28 

{^  Sen  he  is  gone,  I  pray  the  tyll  indyte 
Off  my  Infortune  sum  Eemembrawce, 
Or,  at  the  leist,  my  Tragedie  to  wryte, 
As  I  to  the  sail  schaw  the  Circumstance,  32 

In  teirmes  breue,  of  my  vnhappy  chance, 
Sen  my  beginnyng  tyll  my  faitell  ende, 
Quhilk  I  wald  tyll  all  creature  war  kende. 

\-^  I  not,  said  I,  mak  sic  memoriall,  36 

Geue  of  thy  name  I  had  Intelligence. 
I  am  Dauid,  that  cairfull  Cardinall, — 
Quhilk  doith  appeir,  said  he,  to  thy  prosens, — 
That  vmquhyle  had  so  gret  preeminens.  40 

Than  he  began  his  dedis  tyll  indyte, 
As  36  sail  heir  :  and  I  began  to  wryte. 


209 


{^  THE   TRAGEDIE. 


\^  I,  Dauid  Betone,  Umquhyle  Cardinall, 
Off  nobyll  blude,  be  lyue,  I  did  discend  : 
Duryng  my  tyme,  I  had  no  perigall ; 
Bot  now  is  cum,  allace  !  my  faitell  end. 
Aye,  gre  by  gre,  vpwarte  I  did  ascends ; 
Swa  that  in  to  this  reahne  did  neuer  ryng 
So  gret  one  man  as  I,  vnder  ane  kyng. 

Quhen  I  was  ane  3oung  loly  gentyll  man, 
Prencis  to  serue  I  sett  my  hole  intent. 
First,  tyll  ascende,  at  Arbroith  1  began, — 
Ane  Abasie  of  gret  ryches  and  rent ; 
Oif  that  estait,  3it,  Avas  I  nocht  contente  : 
To  get  more  ryches,  Dignitie,  and  glore, 
My  hart  was  set :  allace  !  allace  !  tharefore. 

I^jp^  I  maid  sic  seruyce  tyll  our  Souerane  kyng, 
He  did  Promoue  me  tyll  more  hie  estait, — 
One  Prince,  abufe  all  preistis  for  tyll  ryng, 
Arschibyschope  of  Sanctandrous  consecrat. 
Tyll  that  honour  quhen  I  wes  Eleuate, 
My  prydefidl  hart  was  nocht  content,  at  all, 
Tyll  that  I  create  wes  one  Cardinall. 

Y^y  3it  praist  I  tyll  haue  more  auctoritie, 
And,  fynalie,  was  chosin  Chancelare, 
And,  for  vphalding  of  my  dignitie, 
Was  maid  Legate  :  than  had  I  no  compare. 
I  purcheist — for  my  proffect  singulare, 
My  Boxsis  and  my  Threasure  tyll  auance, — 
The  Byschopreik  of  Merapose,  in  Pra.ice. 


44    I  was  of  noble 
blood,  and 
grailinilly  rose  to 
great  eminence. 


48 


52    First,  I  was 
Abbot  of 
Arbroatli; 


56 


GO    next.  Archbishop 
of  S.  Andrews; 


G4 


68 


subsequently, 
Legate,  &c. ; 


P  2 


210 


THE  TRAGEDIE. 


then,  prepotent  in 
Scotland, 


I  was  prodigal  j 
and  I  gained 
deep. 


One  royal 
marriage  I 
arranged. 


and,  afterwards, 
another. 


I  frnstrateJ  a 
congress 


1^  Off  all  Scotland  I  had  the  Gouernall ; 
But  my  awyse,  concludit  wes  no  thyng  : 
Abhot,  Byschope,  Axchibyschope,  Cardinall, 
In  to  this  Eealme  no  hiear  could  I  ryng, 
Bot  I  had  bene  Pape.  Emperour,  or  Kyng. 
For  schortnes  of  the  tyme,  I  am  nocht  abyll 
At  lentil  to  schaw  my  actis  honorabyll. 


72 


7G 


80 


U  For  my  moste  Princelye  Prodigalytie, 
Amang  prelatis  in  france,  I  bure  the  pryse  : 
I  schew  my  Lordlye  Lyberalytie, 
In  Banketting,  playng  at  cartis,  and  Dyse  : 
In  to  sic  "wysedome  I  was  haldin  wyse, 
And  sparit  nocht  to  playe,  with  Kyng  nor  knycht, 
Thre  thousand  crownis  of  gold,  vpon  ane  nycht.  84 


^  In  France  I  maid  seir  honest  TJoyagis, 
Quhare  I  did  Actis  ding  of  Remembrance. 
Throuch  me  war  maid  Tryumpha?zd  Mariagis, 
Tyll  our  Souerane  boith  proffet  and  plesance. 
Quene  Magdalene,  the  first  Dochter  of  france, 
With  gret  ryches,  was  in  to  Scotland  brocht : 
That  mariage,  throch  my  wysedome,  Aves  wrocht. 


88 


Efter  quhose  deith,  in  france  I  paste  agane  : 
The  secunde  Quene  homwavt  I  did  conuoye, — 
That  Lustye  princes,  Marie  de  Lorane, — 
Quhilk  wes  resauit  with  gret  tryumphe  &  loye. 
So  seruit  I  our  rycht  Eedouttit  Eoye. 
Sone  efter  that,  Ilarye,  of  Ingland  Kyng, 
Off  our  Souerane  desyrit  ane  commonyng. 

U  Off  that  metyng  our  Kyng  wes  weill  content. 
So  that  in  3orck  was  sett  boith  tyme  and  place  : 
Bot  our  Prelatis  nor  I  wald  neuer  consent 
That  he  sulde  se  Kyng  Ilaryo  in  the  face ; 
Bot  wo  wer  weill  content — quhowbeit  his  grace 


92 


96 


100 


THE   TRAGEDIE. 


211 


Had  salit  the  sey, — to  spoik  Avitli  oiiy  vther,  104  of  idngs. 

Except  that  kyng,  quhilk  was  his  mother  brother : 

Qiihair  throch  fhar  rose  gret  weir  &  mortal  stryfe, 

Gret  heirschipp?'^,  ho?inger,  darth,  and  desolatioun : 

On  ather  syde  did  mony  lose  tliare  lyfe. 

Geue  I  wald  mak  ane  trew  N'arratioun, 

I  causit  all  that  trybulatioun  : 

For  tyll  tak  peace  I  neuer  wald  consent, 

Wythout  the  kyng  of  f ranee  had  bene  content.         112 


108    and  so  caused 

lamentable  evils 


H  Duryng  this  weir  Avar  takin  presoneris, 
Off  uobj'll  men,  fechtyng  full  f iiriouslie, 
Mony  one  Lorde,  Barrone,  and  Bachileris, 
Quhar  throuch  our  king  tuke  sic  melancolie 
Quhilk  draue  hym  to  the  dede,  rycht  dulefullie. 
Extreme  Dolour  ouirset  did  so  his  hart, 
That  from  this  lyfe,  allace  !  he  did  depart. 

Bot,  efter  that  boith  strenth  and  speche  wes  lesit, 
Ane  paper  blank  his  grace  I  gart  subscryue, 
In  to  the  quhilk  I  wrait  all  that  I  plesit, 
Efter  his  deth, — quhilk  lang  war  tyll  discryue. 
Throuch  that  wrytting  I  purposit,  belyue, 
With  supporte  of  sum  Lordis  beneuolens, 
In  this  Eegioun  tyll  haue  Preemynens. 

As  for  my  Lord,  our  rychteous  Gouernour, 

Geue  I  wald  schortlie  schaw  the  veritie, 

Tyll  hym  I  had  no  maner  of  fauour, 

Duryng  that  tyme,  I  purposit  that  hee 

Suld  neuir  cum  to  none  Auctoritie  : 

For  his  supporte,  tharefor,  he  brocht  amang  ws, 

Furth  of  Ingland,  the  nobyll  Erie  of  Angous. 

Than  was  I  put  abak  frome  my  purpose. 
And  suddantHe  caste  in  captyuitie, — 


116    to  the  death  of 
our  Sovereiirn. 


120 


I  practised  selfish 
treachery, 


124 


128 


but  was  foiled 
in  my  devices ; 


132 


212 


THE    TRAGEDIE. 


I  was  cast  into 
prison. 


'My  prydefull  hart  to  dant,  as  I  suppose, — 

Deuysit  by  the  heych  Diuinitie. 

3it  in  my  hart  sprang  no  humylitie  : 

Bot  now  the  word  of  God  full  weill  I  knaw, — ■ 

Quho  dois  exault  hym  self,  God  sail  hym  laAv. 


136 


UO 


Treaties  were 
made  with 
England. 


In  the  meine  tyme,  quhen  I  wes  so  subiectit, 

Ambassaldouris  war  sent  in  to  Ingland, 

Quhare  thay  boith  peace  and  mariage  co?itractit ; 

And,  more  surelie  for  tyll  obserue  that  band, 

"War  promeist  diuers  pleagis  of  Scotland. 

Off  that  contract  I  wes  no  way  content, 

Nor  neuir  wald  thare  to  geue  my  consent. 


144 


Tyll  Capytanis  that  kepit  me  in  waird,  148 

Gyftis  of  gold  I  gaue  thame,  gret  plentie ; 
Rewlaris  of  court  I  rychelie  did  rewaird, 
Through  bribery,   Quhare  throuch  I  chapit  frome  Captyuitie  : 

I  was  set  free,  ,  .  , .,         . 

Bot,  quhen  I  was  fre,  at  my  libertie,  152 

Than,  lyke  ane  Lyone  lowsit  of  his  Caige, 
Out  throuch  this  realme  I  gan  to  reil  and  rage. 

Contrare  the  Gouernour  and  his  companie 
Oft  tymes  maid  I  insurrectioun,  156 

I  plotted  against    Purposyug  f Or  tyll  haue  hym  haistelie 
Subdewit  on  to  my  correctioun. 
Or  put  hym  tyll  extreme  subiectioun. 
Duryng  this  tyme,  geue  it  war  weUl  dissydit,  160 

This  realme  by  me  was  vterlie  deuydit. 


The  Gouernour  purposyng  to  subdew, 

I  rasit  ane  oyste  of  mony  bald  Baroun, 

And  maid  ane  raid  qidiilk  Lythgow  jit  may  rew ;     164 

For  we  distroyit  ane  myle  about  the  town. 

For  that  I  gat  mony  blak  malysoun  : 

3it,  contrare  the  Gouernouris  intent, 

"With  our  jo^nig  Princes,  we  to  Steruilyng  went.       168 


and  entered  on 
active  hostilities, 


THE    TRAGEDIB. 


213 


For  heygh  contemptioim  of  the  Goueriioiir, 

I  brocht  the  Erie  of  Lennox  furth  of  France : 

That  histie  Lord,  leuand  in  gret  plesour, 

Did  loce  that  land  and  honest  ordinance. 

Bot  he  and  I  fell,  soune,  at  variance, 

And,  throch  my  counsall,  was,  within  schort  space, 

Forfaltit  and  flemit :  he  gat  none  vther  grace. 


172 


The  Earl  of 
Lennox  was 
disgraced 
tlirough  me. 


Than,  throuch  my  prudens,  pratyke,  and  ingyne,     176 

Our  Gouemonr  I  causit  to  consent. 

Full  quyetlie  to  my  counsale  inclyne ; 

Quhareof  his  !N'obyllis  war  nocht  weill  content ; 

For  quhy  I  gart  dissolue,  in  plane  Parliament,  180 

The  band  of  peace  contractit  with  Ingland, 

Quharthroch  com  harme  &  heirschip  to  scotlawd. 


I  ingratiated 
myself  with  our 
King. 


IT  That  peace  brokin,  arrose  new  mortall  weris, 
Be  sey  and  land  sic  reif  without  releif, 
Quhilk  to  report  my  frayit  hart  afferis. 
The  veritie  to  schaw,  in  termes  breif, 
I  was  the  rute  of  all  that  gret  myscheif. 
The  south  countre  may  saye,  it  had  been  gude 
That  my  Noryce  had  smorde  me  in  my  cude. 


184    The  deplorable 
fruit  of  my 
counsels. 


188 


I  wes  the  cause  of  mekle  more  myschance, 

For  vphald  of  my  glore  and  dignitie, 

And  plesour  of  the  potent  Kyng  of  franco.  192 

With  Ingland  wald  I  haue  no  vnitie  : 

Bot,  quho  consydder  wald  the  veritie, 

We  mycht  full  weill  haue  leuit  in  peace  and  rest, 

Kyne  or  ten  jeris,  and  than  playit  lowis  or  fast.       196 


With  England  I 
would  have  no 
unity, 


Had  we  with  Ingland  kepit  our  contrackis, 
Our  nobyll  men  had  leuit  in  peace  and  rest, 


to  the 


214 


THE    TKAGEDIE. 


dive  misfortune 
of  Scotland. 


Our  Marclia?Klis  had  noclit  lost  so  mony  packis 
Our  commoun  peple  had  nocht  bene  opprest; 
On  ather  syde,  all  wrangis  had  bene  redrest : 
Bot  Edinburgh,  sen  syne,  Leith,  and  Kyngorne 
The  day  and  hour  may  ban  that  I  Avas  borne. 


200 


Prosecuting  my 
schemes. 


U  Oiir  Gouernour,  to  male  hym  to  me  sure, 
With  sweit  and  subtell  wordis  I  did  him  syle, 
Tyll  I  his  Sone  and  Air  gat  in  my  cure. 
To  that  effect,  I  fand  that  crafty  wyle. 
That  he  no  maner  of  waye  mycht  me  begyle  : 
Than  leuch  I,  quhen  his  liegis  did  allege 
Quhow  I  his  Sone  had  gottin  in  to  plege. 


204 


208 


The  Erie  of  Angus  and  his  Germane  brother, 
I  purposit  to  gar  thame  lose  thare  lyf e  ;  212 

Eycht  so,  tyll  haue  distroyit  mony  vther, 
I  proposed  whole-  Sum,  with  the  fyre,  sivn,  with  the  sword  and  knyfe  ; 
In  speciale,  mony  gentyll  men  of  fyfe ; 
And  purposit  tyll  put  to  gret  Torment  216 

All  fauoraris  of  the  auld  and  new  Testament. 


Great  was  the 
dread  of  mo. 


Than  euery  freik  thay  tuke  of  me  sic  feir, 
That  tyme  quhen  I  had  so  gret  Gouernans, 
Gret  Lordis,  dreidyng  I  sulde  do  thame  deir, 
Thay  durst  noclit  cum  tyU  court,  but  assurans 
Sen  syne  thair  hes  nocht  bene  sic  varians. 
Now,  tyll  our  Prince  Barronis,  obedicntlie, 
But  assurance,  thay  cum,  full  courteslie. 


220 


224 


My  hope  was  moste  in  to  the  l<yng  of  f ranee, 
Togyddir  with  the  Topis  holynes. 
More  nor  in  God,  my  worschipc  tyll  auancc. 
My  trust  was  not    I  traistit  SO  in  to  thare  gentylnes, 

That  no  man  dursto  presome  me  tyll  opprcs  : 


228 


THE    TRAGEDIE. 


215 


Eot,  qulicn  the  day  come  of  my  faitell  hure 
Far  was  frome  mo  thare  supporte  and  succoure. 

Than,  to  preserue  my  ryches  and  my  lyfe,  232 

I  maid  one  strynth,  of  wallis  heych  and  braid, — 

Sic  ane  Fortres  wes  neuer  found  in  fyfe, — 

Beleuand  thare  durst  no  man  me  inuaid. 

Now  fynd  I  trew  the  saw  quhilk  Dauid  said, —       236 

Without  God  of  ane  hous  be  maister  of  wark, 

He  wjT-'kis  in  vaine,  thocht  it  be  neuer  so  stark. 

For  I  was,  throuch  the  hie  power  Diuine, 

Kycht  dulefulliye  doung  down  amang  the  asse,        240 

Quhilk  culd  not  be  throch  mortal  ma?inis  ingyne  : 

Bot,  as  Dauid  did  slay  the  gret  Gollyasse, 

Or  Holopharne  be  Judeth  keillit  wasse, 

In  myd  amang  his  tryumphant  Armye,  244 

So  was  I  slane  in  to  my  cheiff  Cietie. 


I  built  me  a 
strong  castle. 


But  I  fell, 
like  Holofeines, 


Quhen  I  had  gretest  Dominatioun, 

As  Lucifer  had  in  the  lieuin  Impyre, 

Came,  suddantlyie,  my  Depryuatioun 

Be  thame  quhilk  did  my  dolent  deith  conspyre. 

So  creuell  was  thare  furious  byrnand  Yre, 

I  gat  no  tyme,  layser,  nor  lybertie, 

To  saye  In  Manus  Tuas  Domine. 


248    assailed  when  at 
the  height  of 
my  power. 


252 


Sudden  was  my 
destruction. 


{1^  Behald  my  Faitell  Infylicitie  : 
I  beand  in  my  strenth  Incomparabyll, 
That  dreidfull  Dungioun  maid  me  no  supple, 
My  gret  ryches,  nor  rentis  proffitabyll.  256 

My  Syluer  work,  lowellis  inestimabyll, 
My  Papall  pompe,  of  gold  my  ryche  threasure, 
My  lyfe,  and  all,  I  loste  in  haK  ane  hour. 

H  To  the  peple  wes  maid  ane  Spectakle  260 

Off  my  dede  and  deformi-t  Carioun.  My  death 


216  THE    TRAGEDIB. 

Sum  said,  it  wes  ane  manifest  Myrakle ; 
was  accounted       Sum  Said,  it  was  Diuine  Punitioun, 

pi'ovideutial,  n  1  l  •  -r^  nn  i 

So  to  be  slane,  in  to  my  Strang  Dungeoun.  264 

Quhen  euery  man  had  lugit  as  hym  lyste, 
Thay  Saltit  me,  syne  cloist  me  in  ane  kyste. 

For  seven  months  I  laye  vnburyit  sewin  monethtis  and  more, 

1  lay  unburied,  , 

Or  I  was  borne  to  closter,  kirk,  or  queir,  268 

In  ane  mydding, — quliilk  paine  bene  tyll  deplore, — 
"Without  suffrage  of  Chanoun,  Monk,  or  freir. 
A.U  proude  Prelatis  at  me  may  Lessonis  leir, 
Quhilk  rang  so  lang,  and  so  tryumphantlie,  272 

Syne,  in  the  dust  doung  doun  so  dulefullie. 


217 


Y^  TO  THE  PEELATIS. 


0  36  My  Bretlier  Prencis  of  the  Preistis, 

1  mak  30'W,  hartly,  Supplycatioun, 

Boith  nycht  and  day  reuolfe,  in  to  30ur  breistis, 

The  Proces  of  my  Depriuatioun. 

Consydder  quhat  bene  3our  Uocatioun  : 

To  follow  me  I  pray  30W  nocht  pretend  30W, 

Bot  reid  at  lenth  this  Sedull  that  I  send  30'W. 


Let  ecclesiarchs 
take  warning 
from  me. 


276 


280 


3e  knaw  quhow  lesu  his  Disciplis  sent, 
Ambassaldouris,  tyll  euery  N'atiotin, 
To  schaw  his  law  and  his  commandiment 
To  all  peple,  by  Predycatioun. 
Tharefor  I  mak  to  30W  Narratioun, 
Sen  3e  to  thame  ar  verray  Successouris, 
3e  aucht  tyll  do  as  did  30ur  Predicessouris. 


and  do  aright 
_  „  .  their  ghostly 
284   duty. 


Quhow  dar  36  be  so  bauld  tyll  tak  on  hand 
For  to  be  Herraldis  to  so  gret  one  Kyng, 
To  beir  his  Message  boith  to  burgh  and  land, 
3e  beand  dum,  and  can  pronunce  no  thyng, 
Lyke  INIenstralis  that  can  nocht  play  nor  sing ! 
Or  quhy  suld  men  geue  to  sic  Hirdis  hyre, 
Quhilk  can  not  gyde  tliare  scheip  about  the  myrel 


288 


292 


Woe  to  them,  if 
incompetent ! 


Schame  30  nocht  to  be  Christis  seruaturis. 
And,  for  3our  fee,  hes  gret  Temporall  landis, 
Syne  of  3our  office  can  nocht  take  the  curis. 
As  Cannone  Law  &  Scripture  30W  co??zmandis ! 
3e  wyll  not  want  teind  cheif,  nor  offrandis, 


296 


They  should 
shame  to  neglect 
their  cure, 


218 


THE    TRAGEDIB. 


and  to  exact. 


Teinde  woU,  teind  lamb,  teind  calf,  teind  gryce  and 
guse ;  300 

To  mak  seruyce  je  ar  all  out  of  vse. 


Remembering  my  My  deii  bretlier,  do  noclit  as  26  war  wount ; 

history,  let  tliera  ^ 

amend.  Amend  jour  lyfe  now,  quhill  jour  day  Induris 

Traist  weill,  je  sail  be  callit  to  jour  count 
Off  euerilk  thyng  belanging  to  jour  curis. 
Leif  hasarttrie,  jour  harlottrie,  and  liuris, 
Eemembring  on  my  vnprouisit  dede  ; 
For  efter  deith  may  no  man  mak  remede. 


304 


308 


Prelates  should 
not  delegate 
tlieir  teaching. 


Tliey  should 
provide  spiritual 
food. 


When  conse- 
crated, I  pledged 
myself  heed- 
lessly ; 


^e  Prelates,  quliilk/s  lies  tliousandis  for  to  spends, 
3e  send  ane  sempyll  freir  for  jow  to  preclie : 
It  is  jour  craft, — I  mak  it  to  jow  kend, — 
5our  selfis,  in  jour  Templis,  for  to  teclie, 
Bot  farlye  noclit,  tliocht  syllie  freris  fleclie  ; 
For,  and  tliay  planelie  scliaw  the  veritie, 
Thau  wyU  thay  want  the  Byschope  charitie. 

Quharefor  bene  gewin  jow  sic  Royall  rent, 
Bot  for  tyll  fynd  the  peple  Spirituall  fude, 
Freehand  to  thame  the  auld  and  new  testament  % 
The  law  of  God  doith  planelye  so  conclude. 
Put  nocht  jour  hope  in  to  no  AvarZdly  gude. 
As  I  hauc  done  :  behauld,  my  gret  threasoure 
!Maid  me  no  helpe,  at  my  vnhappye  houre. 

H  That  day  quhen  I  was  Byschope  consecrat. 
The  gret  Byble  wes  bound  apon  my  bak  : 
Quliat  wes  tharein  lytill  I  knew,  god  Avat, 
More  than  ane  beist  berand  ane  precious  pak. 
Bot  liaistelie  my  conuenent  I  brak  ; 
For  I  wes  oblyste,  with  my  awin  consent, 
The  law  of  God  to  preche  with  gude  intent. 

ff^  Brother,  rycht  so,  quhen  je  wcr  consecrat, 
3e  oblyste  jow  aU  on  the  sammyn  wyse. 


312 


316 


320 


324 


328 


THE    TRAGEDIE.  219 

5e  may  he  callit  Byschoppis  countrafait,  332  the  same  witii  my 

As  Gallandis  buskit  for  to  mak  aiie  gyse. 

iNow  tliynk  I,  Prencis  ar  no  thyng  to  pryse, 

Tyll  geue  ane  famous  office  tyll  anc  fule ; 

As  qulio  walJe  putt  ane  Myter  ou  ane  Mule.  33G 

Allace  !  and  ^e  that  sorrowfull  syclit  hade  syne, 

Quhow  I  laye  bulrand,  l>aithit  in  my  LIude, 

To  mend  ^our  lyfe  it  had  occasioun  bene, 

And  laif  3our  anld  corruptit  conswetude  :  340 

Fail^eing  thare  of,  than,  schortlie  I  conclude.  Failing  repent- 

,,^.,,        ,  »  ,     ,  ,  ance,  my  lot  will 

vVitnout  36  trome  30ur  rebaldrye  arryse,  be  theirs. 

3e  sail  be  seruit  on  the  sammyn  wyse. 


220 


O:^  TO  THE  PEENCIS, 


Kings  oftpn 
clioose  amiss  in 
spirituals. 


IT  Imprudent  Prencis,  but  dlscretioun,  344 

Hauyng,  in  ertb,  power  Imperiall, 
3e  bene  the  cause  of  this  Transgressioun : 
I  speik  to  30W  all,  in  to  generall, 

Qubilk  doith  dispone  all  ofl6.ce  spirituall,  348 

Geuand  the  saulis,  qubilkz'is  bene  Chrystis  scheip, 
To  blynd  Pastourz's,  but  conscience,  to  keip. 

IF  Qulien  ^e,  Prencis,  doitb  laik  ane  officiar, 
Ane  Baxster,  Brewster,  or  ane  niaister  Cuke,  352 

Ane  trym  Tail3eour,  ane  counnyng  Cordonar, 
Ouir  all  the  land  at  lentb  ^e  wyU  gar  luke 
Most  abyll  men  sic  oflficis  tyll  bruke, — 
Ane  Browster  qubilk  can  brew  moste  hoilsu7?i  aill,  356 
Ane  cu^nyng  Cuke  quliilk  best  can  cessone  caill, 

Ane  Tail^eour  qubilk  lies  fosterit  bene  in  fra??ce, 
That  can  mak  garraentis  on  the  gayest  gyse. 
3e  Prencis  bene  the  cause  of  this  myschance.  3G0 

so  they  should  do,  That,  quhen  thare  doith  vaik  ony  benefyse, 

witli  reference  to 

ciiurch  matters,     ^6  aucht  tyll  do  apoue  the  sammyn  wyse, — 

Gar  sears  and  seik,  baith  in  to  burgh  and  lande. 

The  law  of  God  quho  best  can  vnderstande.  364 


As  they  select 
craftsmen,  look- 
ing to  their  skill. 


nnil  nominate 
bisliops,  &c.,  ac- 
cording to  their 
filness; 


Mak  hym  Byschope,  that  prudentlie  can  preche, 

As  dois  pertene  tyll  his  vocatioun ; 

Ane  Persone,  Cjuhilk  his  Parisone  can  techc  : 

Gar  Uicaris  mak  dew  Mynistratioun, 

And,  als,  I  mak  30W  supplicatioun, 

!Mak  30ur  Abbotis  of  rycht  Eeligious  men, 

Qiihilk  Christis  laAV  can  to  thare  Conuent  ken, 


3G8 


THE    TRAGEDIE. 


221 


Bot  not  to  rebaldis  new  cum  fronie  the  roste, 
Kor  of  ane  stuffat  stollin  out  of  aue  stabyll, — ■ 
The  quliilk  in  to  the  scule  maid  neuer  na  coste, 
Nov  neuer  was  tyll  Spirituall  science  abyll, 
Except  the  cartis,  the  dyce,  the  ches,  and  tabyll,- 
Off  Eome  rakaris,  nor  of  rude  Ruffianis, 
Off  calsay  Paikaris,  nor  of  Publycanis, 


372    not  making  audi 
of  unruly  livers. 


376 


^  ^N'or  to  Fantastyke  fen3eit  flattaris, — 
Most  meit  to  gather  mussiUis  in  to  Maye, —  380 

Off  Cowhubeis,  nor,  ^it,  of  clatterraris, 
That  in  the  kirk  can  nother  sing  nor  saye, 
Thocht  thay  be  clokit  vp  in  clerkis  arraye, 
Lyke  doytit  Doctoris  new  cum  out  of  Athenis,         384 
And  mu?Hmyll  ouer  ane  pair  of  maglit  matenis. 


unqualified 
persons,  &c.,  &c. 


$  Nocht  qualyfeit  to  bruke  ane  benefyse, 
Bot  throuch  schir  Symonis  solystatioun, 
I  was  promouit  on  the  sammyn  wyse, — 
AHace  !  throuch  Prencis  supplycatioun, — 
And  maid,  in  Eome,  throuch  fals  narratioun, 
Byschope,  Abbote,  bot  no  Religious  man  : 
Quho  me  promouit  I  now  thare  banis  ban. 


I  mysfclf  exem- 
nno    plified  wliat  I 
OOO    here  denounce. 


392 


Quhowbeit  I  was  Legat  and  Cardinall, 
Lytill  I  knew  tharein  quhat  sulde  be  done ; 
I  vnderstude  no  science  spirituall, 
No  more  than  did  blynd  Alane  of  the  mone. 
I  dreid  the  Kyng  that  syttith  heych  abone 
On  30W  Prencis  sail  mak  sore  punischement, 
Eycht  so,  on  ws,  throuch  rychteous  lugement 


and  sliall  rue  it, 
as  will  my 
OJO    patrons ; 


U  On  30W,  Prencis,  for  vndescreit  geuyng, 
Tyll  Ignorantis,  sic  officis  tyll  vse ; 
And  we,  for  our  Inoportune  askyng, 
Quhilk  sulde  haue  done  sic  dignitie  refuse. 


400    they,  for  giving, 
and  I,  for 
asl<ing  and 
accepting. 


222 


THK  TRAGEDIE. 


Of  nuns  and  she 
parsons. 


King  David  fore- 
saw not  what  we 
now  see. 


Mend,  ye  kings ; 
or  be  damned ! 


Farewell ;  and 
write  my  story. 


Our  Ignorance  lies  done  the  warld  abuse,  404 

Throuch  Couatyce  of  ryclies  and  of  rent. 
That  euer  I  Avas  ane  Prelate  I  repent. 

0  Kyngis,  male  36  no  cair  to  gene,  in  cure, 
Uii'ginis  profest  in  to  Eeligioun,  408 

In  tyll  the  keipyng  of  ane  conunoun  hure  1 
To  mak,  thynk  ^e  nocht  gret  diresioun, 
Ane  woman  Persone  of  ane  parisoun, 
Quhare  thare  bene  two  thousand  saulis  to  gyde,        412 
That  f ronie  Harlots  can  not  hir  hyppis  hyde  1 

Quhat  and  Kyng  Dauid  leuit  in  thir  dayis, 

Or  out  of  heuin  quhat  and  he  lukit  down. 

The  quhilk  did  found  so  mony  fah'  Abbayis  I  416 

Seand  the  gret  Abhominatioun 

In  mony  abayis  of  this  N'atioun, 

He  wald  repent,  that  K'arrowit  so  his  boundis 

Oflf  3eirly  rent  thre  score  of  thousand  poundis.         420 

Quharefor  I  counsayle  eueryilk  christinit  kyng, 

With  in  his  realme  mak  Eeformatioun, 

And  suffer  no  mo  Eebaldis  for  to  ryng 

Abufe  Christis  trew  Congregatioun  :  424 

rail3eying  thareof,  I  mak  Narratioun 

That  3e  Prencis  and  Prelatis,  all  at  onis, 

Sail  bureit  be  in  hell,  Saule,  blude,  and  bonis. 

y^  That  euer  I  brukit  Benefice  I  rew,  428 

Or  to  sic  hycht  so  proudely  did  pretend. 
I  man  depart :  tharefor,  my  freinds,  adew  : 
Quhare  euer  it  plesith  God,  now  man  I  wend. 
I  praye  the  tyll  my  freindis  me  Eecommend,  432 

And  fail3e  nocht  at  lenth  to  put  in  wryto 
My  Tragedie,  as  I  haue  done  Indyte. 


{^  FINIS. 


223 


19-4  HEIR  FOLLOUIS  THE  TESTAMENT  AND  COM- 
PLAYNT  OF  OUR  SOUERANE  LORDIS  PAPYNGO,  KYNG 

lAMES  THE  FYFT,  QUHILK  LYITH  SORE  WOUNDIT, 

AND  MAY  NOT  DEE  TYLL  EUERY  MAN  HAUE  HARD 

QUHAT  HEi  SAYIS.  QUHAREFOR,  GENTYLL  REDARIS, 

HAIST  30W,  THAT  HE^  WER  OUT  OF  PAINE. 

^  COMPLYIT  BE  SCHIR  DAUID  LYNDESAY,  OF  THE 
MONT,    KNYCHT,    ALIAS,    LYONE   KYNG   OF   ARMES. 

SUPPOSE  I  had  Ingyne  Angelical!, 

AVith  sapience  more  than  Salamonicall, 

I  not  quhat  mater  put  in  memorie ; 

The  Poetis  auld,  in  style  Heroycall,  4  Poetry  has  been 

-I-.1  11  exliausteil  by  my 

In  breue  subtell  termes  Kethorycall,  picdeiessois. 

Otf  euerilke  mater,  tragedie,  and  stoiie, 

So  ornatlie,  to  thare  heych  laude  and  glorie, 

Haith  done  Indyte,  quhose  supreme  sapience  8 

Transcendith  far^  the  dull  Intellygence 

H  Off  Poetis  now  in  tyll  our  vulgare^  toung ; 
For  quhy  the  bell  of  Eethorick  bene  roung 

Be  Chawceir,  Goweir,  and  Lidgate  laureate.  1 2  ciianeer,  Gower, 

Quho^  dar  presume  thir  Poetis  tyll  Impung, 
Quhose  sweit  sentence  throuch  Albione  bene^  songi 
Or  quho  can  now  the  workis  cuntrafait 

Off  Kennedie,  with  termes  aureait  ]  16  Ketmedy, 

Or  of  Dunbar,  quhilk  language  had  at  large,  uunbar, 

As  maye  be  sene  in  tyll  his  golden  targe  1 

Quintyng,  Mersar,  Rowle,  Henderson,  hay,  and  holland,  Quintj ne,  &c., 

^  Later  eds.  read  scho  ^  E  fra         '  E  wulgare 

*  P  Quhoo         s  E  bee 
MOXARCHE,  II.  Q 


224 


THE    TESTAMENT    OP    THE    PAPYNGO. 


and  so  is  Bp. 
Gavin  Douglas, 


specially  renown- 
ed for  his  Trans- 
lation of  Virgil. 


Several  living 
poets 


are  na.ned  and 


Tlioclit  thay  be  ded,  thwc  libells  bene  leua?zd,  20 

Quhilkis  to  reheirs^  makeith  redaris  to  reiose. 

Allace  for  one,  quhilk  lampe  wes  of  this  land, 

Off  Eloquence  the  flowand  balmy  strand, 

And,  in  our  Inglis  rethorick,  the  rose,  24 

As  of  Eubeis  the  Charbunckle  bene  chose  ! 

And,  as  Phebus  dois  Synthia  presell. 

So  Gawane  Dowglas,  Byschope  of  Dunkell, 

U  Had,  quhen  he  wes  in  to  this  land  on  lyue,  28 

Abufe  vulgare  Poetis  prerogatyue, 

Boith  in  pratick^  and  speculatioun. 

I  saye  no  more  :  gude  redaris  may  discryue 

His  worthy  workis,  in  nowmer^  rao  than  fyue,  32 

And,  specially e,  the  trew  Translatioun 

Off  Uirgill,  quhilk  bene  consolationn 

To  cunnyng  men,  to  knaw  his  gret  Ingyne, 

Als  Weill  in  Naturall  Science  as  Deuyne.  36 

And,  in  the  courte,  bene  present,  in  thir  dayis, 

That  ballattis  breuis  lustellie  and  layis, 

Quhilks  tyll  our  Prince  daylie  thay  do  present. 

Quho  ca?i  say  more  tha?i  schir  lames  Inglis  says,         40 

In  ballatts,*  farses,  and  in  plesand  playis  % 

Bot  Culrose  hes  his  pen  maid  Impotent. 

Kyde,  in  cunnyng  and  pratick  rycht  prudent ; 

And  Stewarte,  quhilk  disyritli  one  staitly  style,  44 

Pull  Ornate  werkis  daylie  dois  compyle. 

Stewart  of  Lome  wyll  cavpe  rycht  cuiiouslie ; 

Galbreith,  Kynlouch,  quhe?i  thay  lyst  tham  applie 

In  to  that  art,  ar  craftie  of  Ingyne.  48 

Bot,  now  of  lait,  is  starte  vpe,  haistelie. 

One  cunnyng  Clerk,  quhilk  wrytith  craftelie. 

One  plant  of  Poetis,  callit  Ballentyne, 

Quhose  ornat  workis  my  wytt  can  nocht  defyne  :       52 


E  rollers 


E  practik         '  E  nuincr 


E  ballalia 


THE  TESTAMENT  OF  THE  PAPrNGO.  225 

Gett  lie  in  to  the  courte  auctoritie,  eulogized. 

He  ■wyll  precell  Quintyng  and  Kennetie. 

So,  tlioclit  I  had  ingyne, — as  I  haue  none, — 

I  watt^  nocht  quhat  to  "wryt,  be  sweit  sanct  Ihone;-  56 

For  quhy,  in  all  the  garth  of  Eloquence, 

Is  no  thyng  left  hot  barrane  stok  and  stone  : 

The  Poleit  termes  ar  pullit,  euerilk  one,  Declining  to  be 

.  PI  "  '"SI'S  copyist, 

Le  tlur  forenamit  Foetis  of  prudence  ;  60 

And,  sen  I  fynd  non  vtlier  new  sentence, 

I  sail  declare,  or  I  depart  30W  fro, 

The  complaynt^  of  ane  Avoundit  Papingo. 

y-^  Quharefor,  because  myne  mater  bene  so  rude  64  i  teii,  without 

rlietoric,  tlie 

Off  sentence,  and  of  Eethorike  denude,  complaint  of  a 

To  rurall  folke  myne  dyting  bene  directit,  popinjay. 

Far  flemit  frome  the  sycht  of  men  of  gude  ; 

For  cunnyng  men,  I  knaw,  wyll  soime'*  conclude       68 

It  dowe  no  thyng  bot  for  to  be  deiectit : 

And,  quhen  I  heir  myne  mater  bene  detractit. 

Than  sail  I  sweir,  I  maid  it  bot  in  mowis. 

To  land  wart  lassis  quhilks  kepith  kye  &  jowis.  72 

'  E  wat         *  E  lone         '  E  coiuplent         ''  E  sone 


226 


{!:^>  HEIR  ENDIS  THE  PEOLOUG,  AND  FOLLOWIS  THE 
COMPLAYNT, 


A  fair  bird 

perished 

helplessly. 


QUHO  clymmis  to  hycht,  perforce  liis  feit  mon  faill : 

Expreme  I  saP  that  be  Experience, 

Geue  that  30W  pleis  to  heir  one  pieteous^  tail], 

How  3  one  fair  Bird  be  faitell  violence  7G 

Deuorit  was,  and  mycht  mak  no  defence 

Contrare  the  deth,  so  fail3eit'^  natural!  strenth ; 

As  after  I  sail  schaw  30W  at  more  lenth. 


IT  One  Papyngo,  ryclit  plesand  and  perfjte,  80 

Presentit  was  tyll  our  moist  nobyll  kyng, 
Of  qiiho?/ie  his  grace  one  lang  tyme  had  delyte  : 
More  fair  of  forme,  I  wat,  flew  neuer  on  wyng. 
This  proper  bird  he  gaue  in  gouernyng  84 

To  me,  quhilk  wes  his  simpyll  seruetoure, 
On  quhome  I  did  my  delygence  and  cure, 

IT  To  lerne  hir  language  artificiall. 
To  play  platfute,  and  quhissill  fute  before.  88 

She  was  most  apt   Bot,  of  hir  Inclyoatioun  naturall, 

in  imitation, 

Scho  countrafaitit  all  fowlis,  les  and  more  : 

Off  hir  curage,  scho  wald,  Avithout  my  lore, 

Syng  lyke  tliQ  Merle,  and  crawe  lyke  to  the  coke,      92 

Pew  lyk  tliQ  Gled,  and  chant  lyke  the  Lauerock, 

H  Bark  lyk  ane  Dog,  and  kekell  lyke  ane  ka, 

Blait  lyke  ane  hog,  and  buller  lyke  ane  bull, 

Gaill  lyke  ane  goik,^  and  greit  quhen  scho  wes  wa ;    OS 

Clym  on  ane*'  corde,  syne  lauch  and  play  the  fule  : 


The  king  had 
a  parrot,  whom  I 
taught. 


and  every  way 
clever; 


Esell 


E  pituus 
*  E  golk 


'  E  Quliow 
^  E  omitted 


E  faljet 


THE    TESTAMKNT    OF    TUE    PAPYNGO. 


227 


Sclio  myclit  liaue  bene  ane  menstrall  agane  3ule. 
This  blyssit  bird  wes  to  me  so  plesande, 
Quhare  euer  I  fure,  I  bure  hir  on  my  hands. 

IT  And  so  befell,  in  tyll  ane  myrthfull  morrow, 
In  to  my  garth  I  past,  me  to  repose, — 
This  bird  and  I,  as  we  wer^  wount  aforrow, — 
Amang  the  flowris  fresche,  fragrant,  and  formose. 
'My  vitale  spretis  dewlie  did  reiose, 
Quhen  Phebus  rose,  and  raue  the  cloudis  sabyll, 
Throuch  brychtnes  of  his  beamys  amyabyll. 


and  Blie  was  cim- 
Btantly  with  me. 


100 


One  morning  I 
took  her  into  my 
104    garden. 


108 


{^  "Without  vapour  was  weill  purificate 
The  temperat^  air,  soft,  sober,  and  serene  ; 
The  erth  be  IS'ature  so  edificate 
With  holsum  herbis,  blew,  quhyte,  reid,  &  grene  ; 
Quhilk  eleuate  my  spretis  frome  the  splene.  112 

That  day^  Saturne  nor  Mars  durst  not  appeir, 
'Nov  Eole  of  his  coue  he  durst  nocht  steir. 


I  wag  in  liigh 

spirits; 


Clf^  That  daye  perforce  behuffit  to  be  fair, 
Be  Influence  and  cours  celestiall :  116 

'No  planete  presit^  for  to  perturbe  the  air; 
For  Mercurious,  be  mouyng  natural!, 
Exaultit  wes,  in  to  the  throne  tryumphall 
Off  his  mantioun,^  vnto  the  fyftene  gre,  120 

In  his  awin  souerane  signe  of  virginee.*' 

^  That  day  did  Phebus  plesandlie  depart 
Prome  Geminie,  and  enterit''  in  Cancer ; 
That  daye  Cupido  did  extend  his  dart ;  124 

Uenus,  that  daye,  coniunit  with  lupiter ; 
That  daye  Xeptunus  hid  hym,  lyke  one  sker ; 
That  daye  dame  I^ature,  with  gret  besynes, 
Portherit  Plora  to  keyth  hir  craftynes  :  128 

IT  And  retrograde^  wes  Mars  in  Capricorne, 
And  Synthea  in  Sagitter  assesit ; 

'  E  war         -  E  temporat         '  E  omitted         *  E  planeit  persit 
*  E  motiouu        *  E  virginitie       '  E  enter       **  E  retrogarde 


for  the  weatlier 
was  fine ; 


the  sun  and  tlie 
planets 


228 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPTNGO. 


to  cause  serenity. 


All  nature  was 
charming. 


Still,  I  was  not 
long  in  happy 
mood. 


The  bird  climbed 
a  tree,  beyond 
reach. 


I  warned  her ; 
but  she  ventured 
still  higher. 


That  daye  dame  Ceres,  goddes  of  the  corne, 

Full  loyfullie  lohane  Upponland^  applesit;  132 

The  bad  espect  of  Saturne  wes  appesit, 

That  daye,  be  lono,^ — of  lupiter  tlie  loye, — 

Perturband  spretis  causyng  to  hauld  coye. 

|9<\  The  sound  of  birdis  surmontit^  all  the  skjis, 
With  melodie  of  notis  Musycall ; 
The  balmy  droppis  of  dew  Tytane  vpdryis, 
Hyngande  vpone  the  tender  twystis  small. 
The  heuinlie  hew  and  sound  AngeKcaU  140 

Sic  perfyte  plesoure  prentit  in  myne  hart, 
That,  v^ifh  gret  pyne,  frome  thyne  I  mycht  depart. 

IT  So,  styll  amang  those  herbis  amyabyll 
I  did  remane  one  space,  for  my  pastance  :  144 

Bot  warZdlie  plesour  bene  so  variabyll, — 
Myxit  with  soitow,  dreid,  and  Inconstance, — 
That  thare  in  tyll  is  no  contyneuance. 
So,  mycht  I  saye,  my  schorte  solace,  allace  !  148 

Was  dreuin  in  dolour,  in  one  lytill  space. 

For,  in  that  garth,  amang  those  fragrant  flouris, 

Walkyng  allone, — none  bot  my  bird  and  Ye, — 

Onto  to  the  tyme  that  I  had  said  mjne  houris,         152 

This  Bird  I  sett  vpon  one  branche  me  bye  : 

Bot  scho  began  to  speill,  rycht  spedalie,'^ 

And  in  that  tree  scho  did  so  heych  ascende, 

That  be  no  Avaye  I  mycht  hir  apprehende.  156 

Sweit  bird,  said  I,  be  war,  mont  nocht  ouer  hie ; 
Eeturne  in  tyme ;  perchance  thy  feit  may  faille ; 
Thov  art  rycht  fat,  and  nocht  weill  vsit  to  fle ; 
The  gredie  gled,  I  dreid,  schc  the  assail3e.  IGO 

I  wyll,  said  scho,  ascend,  vail3e  quod  vail3e : 
It  is  my  kynd  to  clym,  aye,  to  the  hycht : 
Off  fedlher  and  bone,  I  watt  weill,  I  am  wycht. 
'  E  Vpland        '  E  luno        ^  E  sornioutit        *  E  plesandlie 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    TUE    PAPYNGO. 


229 


y^  So,  on  tlie  lieychast  lytill  tender  twyste,      10-4 
AVitli  wyng  displayit,  sclio  sat  full  wanlouulie  : 
Bot  Boreas  blew  one  blast,  or  euer  scho  wyst, 
Quliilk  braik  the  branclie,  and  blew  liir,  sodantlie, 
Doun  to  the  ground,  with  mony  cairfull  crye :  168 

Upon  ane  stob  scho  lychit,  on  liir  breist ; 
The  blude  ruschit^  out,  and  scho  cryit  for  a  preist. 

Y^  God  wat  gyff  than  my  hart  wes  wo  begone. 
To  see  that  fowle  flychter  amang  the  flouris,  172 

Quhilk,  with  gret  murnyng,  gan  to  mak  hir  mone. 
K^ow  cumyng  ar,  said  scho,  the  faitall  hour  is  ; 
Off  bitter  deth  now  mon  I  thole  the  schonri^^. 

0  dame  ISTature,  I  pray  the,  of  thy  grace,  176 
Len  me  layser  to  speik  one  lytill  space, 

Y-^  For  to  complene  my  fait  Infortunate, 

And  so  dispone  my  geir,^  or  I  depart ; 

Sen  of  all  conforte  I  am  desolate,  180 

Allone,  except  the  deth,  heir  with  his  darte, 

With  aufuU  cheir,  reddy  to  peirs  myne  hart. 

And,  with  that  word,  scho  tuke  one  passioun. 

Syne  flatlyngis  fell,  and  swappit  in  to^  swoun.         184 

With  sory  hart,  peirst  Avith  compassioun, 
And  salt  teris  distellyng  frome  myne  Eine, 
To  heir  that  birdis  lamentatioun, 

1  did  aproche,  onder  ane  hauthorne  grene, 
Quhare  I  mycht  heir  and  se,  and  be  vnsene ; 
And,  quhen  this  bird  had  swotinit  twyse  or  thryse, 
Scho  gan  to  speik,  sayng  on  this  wyse  : 

^  0  fals  Fortune,  quhy  hes  thov  me  begylit  1 
Til  is  day  at  morne  quho  knew  this  cairfull  cace  1 
Uaine  hope  in  the  my  reasoun  haitli  exilit, 
Ilauyng  sic  traist  in  to  thy  fen3eit  face. 


Tlie  wind  blew 
her  down, 
wounded. 


She  prayed  for 
longer  life. 


Then  she  fell,  and 
swooned. 


188    but  recovered, 
and  spoke, 


192    Warning  false 
Fortune, 


E  ruscit         2  E  gair         '  E  omitted 


230 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPYNGO. 


who  brought  her    That  euer  I  wes  Lroclit  in  to  the  court,  allace  !  196 

to  the  Couit.  .  .     . 

Had  I  m  forrest  liowin,  amang  my  fens, 
I  mycht  full  weiU  haue  leuit  mony  jeris. 

y^y  Prudent  counsell,  aUace  !  I  did  refuse, 
Agane  reassoun  vsyng  mjQQ  appetyte  :  200 

Ambition  proved    Ambitioun^  did  SO  myne  hart  abuse, 

Cer  ruin ; 

That  Eolus  had  me  in  gret  dispyte. 

Poetis  of  me  haith  mater  to  indyte, 

Quhilk  clam  so  heych  :  and  wo  is^  me  thairfore,^     204 

Xocht  doutyng  that  the  deth  durste  me  deuore. 


and  now  she 
must  die. 


The  good  tilings 
of  the  world  are 
vain. 


She  seemed  to 
send  this  counsel 
to  the  kint;  : 


This  daye,  at  morne,  my  forme^  and  feddrem  fair 

Abufe  the  prude  Pacoke^  war  precellande  ; 

And  now,  one  catyue  carioun,  full  of  cair.  208 

Baithand  in  bkide  doun  from  my  hart  distella?id  ! 

And  in  myne  eir  the  bell  of  deith  bene  kneUand. 

0  fals  warld,  fy  on  thy  felycitie, 

Thy  Pryde,  Auaryce,  and  Immundicitie  !  212 

IF  In  the,  I  see,  no  thyng  bene  permanent ; 
Off  thy  schort  solace  sorrow  is  the  ende  ; 
Thy  fals  Infortunate  gyftis  bene  bot  lent : 
This  day,  ful  proude'';  the  morne,  no  thyng  to  spend. 
0  36  that  doith  pretende  aye  tyll  ascend, 
^ly  fatale  ende  haue  in  rememberance, 
And  30W  defende  frome  sic  vnhappy  chance. 


Quhydder  that  I  wes  strickin  in  extasie, 

Or  throuch  one  stark  Imagynatioun, 

Bot  it  apperit,  in  myne  Pantasie, 

I  hard  this  dolent  lamentatioun. 

Thus  dullit  in  to  desolatioun, 

Me  thocht  this  bird  did  breue,  in  hir  maneir, 

llir  counsale  to  the  Kyng,  as  3e  sail  heir. 


220 


224 


E  Ambisioim 
*  E  frome 


'  E  weis 
E  Pecoke 


'  E  tharefoir 
*  P  prude 


231 


C:^  HEIR  FOLLOWIS  THE  FIRST  EPYSTYLL  OF  THE 
PAPYNGO,  DIRECT  TO  KYNG  lAMES  THE  FYFT. 


PEEPOTENT  Prince,  peirles  of  pulchritude, 
Glore,  honour,  laude,  tryumplie,  &  victore 
Be  to  thy  heych  excellent  Celsitude, 
"With  MarciaU  dedis  dyng  of  memorie. 
Sen  Atropus^  consumit  haith  my  glorie, 
And  dolente  deith,  allace  !  mon  "\vs  depart, 
I  leif  to  the  my  trew^  vnfen3eit  hart, 

^  To  gydder  with  this^  Cedull  subsequent, 

"With  moist  reuerent  Eeconmendatioun. 

I  grant,  thy  grace  gettis  mony  one  document, — 

Be  famous  Fatheris  predicatioun, 

"With  mony  notabyll  Narratioun, 

Be  plesande  Poetis,  in  style  Heroycall, — 

Quhov  thow  suld  gyde  thy  Seait  Imperial!. 

U  Sum  doith  deplore  the  gret  Calamiteis 
Off  diuers  Eealmes  Transmutatioun  ; 
Sum  pieteouslie  doith  treait  of  Tragedeis, 
All  for  thy  graces  Informatioun  : 
So  I  intend,  hut  adullatioun, 
In  to  my  harbour  rusticall  indyte, 
Amang  the  reste,  schir,  sum  thyng  for  to  wryte. 


228 


232  Sire,  dyins,  I 
leave  thee  iny 
heart, 


230    and  this 
document, 


240 


244    following 
precedent. 


^^  Souerane,  consaue  this  simpyll  similytude      248 
Off  oflficiaris  seruyng  thy  Sen3eorie  : 
Quho  gydis  thame  weil  gettis  of  thy  grace  gret  gude ; 
Quho  bene  Tniuste  degradit*  ar  of  glorie, 

1  E  Antropus         2  g  trow         3  E  his         *  E  degardit 


Advice  ft3  to 
treatment 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPYNGO. 


Thou  thyself  art 
but  a  servant. 


And  cancillat  out  of  thy  memorie;  252 

Pronidyiig,  syne,  more  plesand  in  tliare  place  : 
Beleue,  ryclit  so  sail  God  do  with  thy  grace. 

H  Considder  weill,  thow  bene  Lot  officiare 
And  wassail  to  that  kyng  Incomparabyll :  256 

Preis  thov  to  pleis  that  puissant^  prince  preclare, 
Thy  ryche  rewarde  salbe  Inestimabyll, 
Exaultit  heych,  in  glore  Interminabyll, 
Abone  Archangels,  virtus,  potestatis,^  260 

Plesandlie  placit  amang  the  Principatis. 


Thy  rif;hts  are 
most  ample ; 


Poets  will  laud  ^  QfF  thy  vertcw  Poetis  perpetuallie 

tliee,  if  just. 

Sail  mak  mentioun,  vnto  tJie  warld  be  endit : 

So  tliov  excers  thyne  office  prudentlie,  234 

In  heuin  and  ertli  thy  grace  salbe  commendit : 

Quharefor,  afeir  that  he  be  nocht  offendit, 

Quhilk  hes  exaultit  the  to  sic  honour, — 

Off  his  peple  to  be  one  Gouernour, —  268 

H  And,  in  the  erth,  haith  maid  sic  ordinance, 

Under  thy  feit  all  thyng  terrestryall 

Ar  subiect  to  thy  plesour  and  pastance. 

Boith  fowle,  and  fysche,^  and  bestis  pastorall,  272 

Men,  to  thy  seruyce,  and  wemen,  thay  bene  thrall : 

Halkyng,  hountyng,  armes,  and  leifFull  amour^ 

Preordinat  ar,  be  God,  for  thy  ptesour, — 

/"  ,  _ 

H  Maisteris  of  Museik,  to  recreat  thy  spreit  276 

With  dantit  voce  and  plesande  Instrument. 

Thus  may  thov  be  of  all  plesouris  repleit, 

So  in  thyne  office  thov  be  deligent. 

Bot,  be  thov  found  sleuthfull,  or  negligent,  280 

Or  Iniuste  in  thyne  exicutioun, 

Thov  sail  nocht  faill  deuine  puneissioun. 

IT  Quharefor,  sen  thov  hes  sic  capacitie, 
Le.irn,  then,         To  Icme  to"''  playe  so  plesandlie,  and  syng,  284 


but  thou  hast 
duties,  too. 


1  E  pussant 


-  E  potestas         ^  K  fcj-sche         *  E  armour 
6  £  and 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPYNGO.  233 

Ryde  hors,  ryn  speris  with  gret  audacitie, 

Schu'e  with  hand  bow,  crosbow,^  and  culueryng, 

Amang  the  rest,  schir,  lerne  to  be  ane  kyng:  with  other  things, 

to  be  a  king. 

Kyith,  on  that  craft,  thy  pringnant  fresche  ingyne,  -88 
Grantit  to  the  be  Influence  Diuine. 

H  And,  sen  the  Diffinitioun  of  ane  kyng 
Is,  for  to  haue  of  peple  gouernance, 
Addres  the,  first,  abufe  all  vther  thyng,  292  First  of  aii, 

govern  tliyself. 

Tyll  put  thy  bodye  tyll  sic  ordinance, 

That  thyne  vertew  thyne  honour  may  auance. 

For  quhov  suld  Prencis  gouerne  gret  regionis. 

That  can  nocht  dewHe  gyde  thare  awin  personis  1     296 

II  And,  geue  thy  grace  wald  leif  rycht  plesandhe, 
Call  thy  Counsale,  and  cast  on  tharae  the  cure ; 
Thare  luste  Decretis  defend  and  fortyfie. 
But  gude  counsale,  may  no  Prince  lang  indure  :        300  Rest  on  good 

counsellors. 

Wyrk  with  counsale,  than  saU  thy  work  be  sure. 
Cheis  thy  counsale  of  the  moste  Sapient, 
Without  regarde  to  blude,  ryches,  or  rent, 

U  Amang  all  vther  pastyme  and  plesour,  304 

'Now,  in  thy  adolescent  ^eris  3eing, 
Wald  thov,  ilk  day,  studie,  bot  half  one  hour,  study,  daily,  the 

art  of  governing. 

The  Eegiment  of  princelie  gouernyng, 
To  thy  peple  it  war  ane  plesand  thyng :  308 

Thare  mycht  thov  fynd  thyne  awin  vocatioun, 
Quhov  thov  suld  vse  thy  sceptour,^  swerd,  &  croun. 

fl::^*  The  Cronecklis^  to  knaw  I  the  exhorte, 
Quhilk  maj'-  be  myrrour  to  thy  Maiestie  :  312 

Thare  sail  thov  fynd  boith^  gude  &  euyll  reports  Moreover, 

_  _  explore  tlie 

Off  euerilk  Prince,  efter  his  qualytie  :  chronicles. 

Thocht  thay  be  dede,  thare  deidis  sail  nocht  dee. 
Traist  weill,  thov  salbe  stylit,  in  that  storie,  316 

As  thov  deseruis  putt  in  memorie. 

1  E  corsbow         2  e  gcptour         ^  j;  Cornecklis        *  E  omitted 


234 


THE   TESTAMENT    OF    THE    TAPTNGO. 


Pray  to  Christ, 
to  kepp  tliee  from 
doing  injustice. 


Profit  by  tliy 
preJecessors. 


Be  gentle  with 
tlie  nobility. 


Eequest  that  Roye  quhilk  rent  wes^  on  tlie  rude, 

The  to  defend  frome  dedis  of  defame, 

That  no  Poyte  reporte  of  the  hot  glide  :  320 

For  princes  dayis  Induris  hot  ane  drame.^ 

Sen  first  kyng  Fergus  bare  ane  Dyadame,^ 

Thov  art  the  last  king,  of  fj'ue  score  and  fyne ; — 

And  all  ar  dede,  and*  none  hot  thov  on  lyue, —       324 

Off  quhose  number  fyftie  and  fyue  bene  slane, 

And,  moist  parte,  in  thare  awin  mysgouernance. 

Quharefor,  I  the  beseik,  my  Souerane, 

Consydder  of  thare  Ijoiis  the  circumstance,  328 

And,  quhe?i  thov  knawis  the  cause  of  thare  mischa??ce. 

Off  vertew,  than,  exault  thy  salis  on  hie, 

Traistyng  to  chaij)  that  faitale  destanie. 

Trait  ilk  trew  Barroun  as  he  war  thy  brother,  332 

Quhilk  mon,  at  neid,  the  and  thy  realme  defende : 
Quhen,  suddantlie,  one  doith  oppresse  one  vther, 
Lat  Justice,  myxit  with  mercy,  thame  amende. 
Haue  thov  thare  hartis,  thov  hes  yneuch  to  spe»d  :  336 
And,  be  the  contrar,  thov  arte  bot  kyng  of  bone, 
Fro??ze  tyme  thyne  hereis  hartis  bene  from  iho.  gone. 


But  I  am  too 
feeble  to  speak 
my  whole  mind. 


IT  I  haue  no  laser  for  to  wryt  at  lenth 
Myne  hole  intent  ontyll  thjTie  Excellence, 
Decressit  so  I  am  in  wyt  and  strenth, 
My  mortaU  wounde  doith  me  sic  violence. 
Peple  of  me  maye  haue  experience  : 
Because,  allace  !  I  wes  IncounsolabyU, 
Now  mon  I  dee,  one  Catyue  myscrabyll. 


340 


344 


1  E  was         2  E  dreme 


E  Dayadame         *  E  omitted 


235 


1^  HEIR  FOLLOWIS  THE  SECUNDE  EPISTYL  OF  THE 
PAPYNGO,  DIRECTIT  TO  HIR  BRETHER  OF  COURTE. 

tt^      $   $  $      -^ 

BRETHER  of  court,  with  ruynd  precordial, 
To  the  gret  god  hartlie  I  co??imend  30W. 
Iiuprent  my  fall  in  jour  memoriall,  348  simn,  brethren, 

m'li  •  ^       ^  •  ii7t  i  ^°  aspire 

iogidder  with  this  cediu  ^/;at  I  send  30W.  overmuch. 

To  preis  ouer  heycli  I  pray  jow^  not  pretend  30W  : 
The  vaine  ascens  of  court  qulio  wyll  consydder,        351 
Quho  sittith  moist  hie  sal  fynd  t7ie^  sait  most  slidder. 

{^  So,  36,  that  now  bene  lansyng  vpe  the  ledder, 
Tak  tent  in  tyme,  fassinnyng  jour  fingaris  faste. 
Quho   clymith   moist   heych   moist  dynt   hes   of   the  The  higher  yon 

aim,  tlie  greater 
Woder,  the  risk. 

And  leist  defence  aganis  the  bitter  blast  35  G 

Off  fals  fortune,  quhilk  takith  nener  rest ; 
Bot,  moste  redouttit,  daylie  scho  doun  thryngis, 
Nocht  sparing  Papis,  Conquerours,  nor  kyngis. 

IT  Thocht  36  be  montit  vpe  abone  the  skyis,  3G0 

And  hes  boith  kyng  and  court  in  gouernance. 
Sum  was  als  heych,  quhilk  now  rycht  lawly  lyis,  some  courtiers 

have  fallen  fiom 

Complanyng  sore  the  courtis  variance.  proua  prosperity. 

Thare  preterit  tyme  may  be  experience,  3G4 

Quhilk,  throuch  vaine  hope  of  courte,  did  clym  so  hie, 
Syne  wantit  wyngis,  quhe?j  thay  wend  best  to  flie. 

H  Sen  ilke  court  bene  vntraist  and  transitorie,  Aii  Courts  are 

Cheangyng  als  oft  as  woddercok  in  wynd,  3G8 

1  E  omitted  2  g  that 


230 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PArYXGO. 


fickle,  and  are 
not  witliout 
hypocrites. 


I  could  testify  in 
their  disfavour. 


Courtiers  are 
raised  up  and 
cast  down. 


Tlie  most  un- 
worthy sometimes 
liave  most  credit 


Sum  maikand  glaid,  and  vtlier  sum  ryclit  sorie, — ■ 
Formaste,  this  day,  the  morne  may  go  behyind,— 
Lat  not  vaine  hope  of  court  30ur  reasoned  blyind  : 
Traist  weill,  sum  men  wyll  gyf  30V  laud,  as  lordis,  372 
Quhilk  wald  be  glaid  to  se  30V  hang  in  cordis. 

Y-^  I  durst  declare  the  myserabilitie 
Of  diners  curtis, — war  nocht  my  tyme  bene^  schort, — 
The  dreidfull  cheange,  vaine  glore,  and  vilitie,  376 

The  painfull  plesour,  as  Poetis  doith  reports, 
Sum  tyme  in  hope,  sum  tyme  in  diaconforte ; 
And  how  sum  mew  dois  spend  thair  ^outhed  haill 
In  court,  syne  endis  in  the  hospytaill :  380 

^  Quhov  sum  in  court  bene  cj^uyet  cou?isalouris, 
"Without  regarde  to  commoun  weill  or  kyngis, 
Castyng  thare  cure  for  to  be  Conquerouris ; 
And,quhen  thay  bene  heych  rasit^  in  thare  ryngis,  384 
How  cheange  of  court  tham  dulfully  doun  thring?> ; 
And,  qidien  thay  bene  frome  thair  estait  deposit, 
Quhov  niony  of  thare  fall  bene  rycht  reiosit : 

H  And  quhou'*  fonde  fen3eit  fulis  and  flatteraris  388 
For  small  seruyce  optenith  gret  rewardis  ; 
Pandaris,  pykthankis,  custronis,  and  clatteraris 
Loupis  vp  fro?)ie  laddis,  sine  lychtis  amang  lardis ; 
Blasphematours,  beggaris,  and  co?»moun  bardis        392 
Sum  tyme  in  court  hes  more  auctoritie 
"Not  deuote  Doctouris  in  Diuinitie  : 


Some  conrticrs 
Btudy  to  debauch 
princes. 


Quhov,  in  some  countre,  bene  barnes  of  Baliall, 
Full  of  dissimilit  payntit  flatterrie, 
Prouocande,  be  Intoxicat  counsall, 
Prences  tyll  huredome  and  tyll  hasardrie  : 
Quho  dois  in  Prencis  prent  sic  harlotrie, 


396 


'  E  resone,         -  E  be         ^  E  resit         ^  E  quLau 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPYNGO. 


237 


I  saye  for  me,  sic  peirte^  prouocatouris  400 

Sulde  puneist  be  abufe  all  Strang  tratouris. 

K^"  Qiiliate  trauers,  troubyl],  and  calamitie 

Haith  bene  in  courte  witliin  thir  houndreth  jeris  ! 

Quhat  niortall  cheangis,-  quhat  niiseritie  !  404 

Quhat  nobyll  men  bene  broclit  vpon  thair  beris  ! 

Traist  weil,  my  freinds,  follow  30W  mon  jour  feris : 

So,  sen  in  court  bene  no  tranquillytie, 

Sett  nocht  on  it  jour  hole  fielycite,  408 

The  courte  chea?;geith,  sumtyme,  with  sic  outrage, 

Tliat  few  or  none  may  makyng  resistance, 

And  sparis  nocht  the  prince^  more  than  the  paige, 

As  weiU  apperith  be  experience.  412 

The  Duke  of  Eothasay  mycht  raak  no  defence, 

Quhilk  wes  pertenand  Eoye  of  this^  regioun, 

Bot  dulefully  deuorit  in  presoun. 

Quhat  dreid,  quhat  dolour  had  that  nobyll  kyng, 
Eobart  the  thride,  frome  tyme  he  knew  the  cace 
Off  his  two  Sonnis  dolente  departyng  ! — 
Prince  Dauid  deyid,  and  lames  captyue,  allace  ! — 
Tyll  trew  Scottis  me?z  quhilk  wes  a  cairful  cace. 
Thus  may  je  knaw,  the  courte  bene  variand, 
Quhe?t  blude  ryaU  the  cheange  may  not  ganestand. 

Quho  rang  in  court  more  hie  and  tryumphand 
Nor  Duke  Murdoke,  quhil  that  his  day^  induritl 
"Was  he  nocht  gret  Protectour  of  Scotland  1 
3it  of  the  court  he  was  nocht  weill  assurit ; 
Itt  cheangit  so,  his  lang  seruyce  wes  smurit  :^ 
He  and  his  Sonne,  fair  Walter,  but  remede, 
Forfaltit  war,  and  put  to  dulefull  dede. 

Kyng  lames  the  first,  the  patroun  of  prudence, 
Gem  of  Ingyne,  and  peirll'^  of  polycie, 

^  E  peirtle         -  E  chengis         ^  E  prence         *  E  his 
5  E  dayis  ^  E  sniorit  ^  E  perle 


most  eriininally. 


M:ii  k  the  courts 
of  the  hist  three 
centui-ies. 


Tlie  fate  of  the 
Duke  of 
Kothesay. 


416 


Of  Robert  III 
and  his  two  sous. 


420 


424 


428    OfDukeMurdok 
and  his  son 
Walter. 

King  James  I. 


238 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPTXGO. 


fell  a  victim  to 
conspiracy. 


James  II.  waa 
killeil  by  i\ 
cannon. 


Well  of  lustice,  and  flude  of  Eloquence, —  432 

Quhose  vertew  doith  transcende  ray  fantasia 

For  tjdl  discryue ; — 3it.,  quhen  he  stude  moste  liie, 

Ee  fals  Exliorbitant  conspiratioun 

That  prudent  Prince  wes  pieteouslie  put  doun.  43G 


^  Als,  lames  the  secuude,  Eoye  of  gret  renoun, 
Beand  in  his  superexcelland  glore, 
Throuch  reakles  schuttjTig  of  one  gret  cannoun, 
The  dolent  deith,  allace  !  did  hym  deuore. 
One  thyng  thair  bene,  of  quhilk  I  maruell^  more, 
That  Fortune  had  at-  hym  sic  mortall  feid, 
Throuch  fyftie  thousand,  to  waill  him  by  the  heid. 


440 


Equally  iin- 
fiirtunnte  was 
James  III., 


deluded  by  false 
friends. 


and  indnoed  to 
disgrace,  hani^li, 
and  executes 


U  My  hart  is  peirst^  with  panes  for  to  pance        444 
Or  wrytt  that  courtis  variatioun 
Off  lames  the*  thrid, — quhen  he  had  gouernance, — 
The  dolour,  dreid,  and  desolatioun, 
The  cheange  of  court,  and  conspiratioun  ;  448 

And  quhov  that  Cochranie,  with  his  companye, 
That  tyme  in  courte  clam  so  presumpteouslye. 

It  had  bene  gude,  tha  beirnes^  had  bene  %niborne, 

Be  quhome  that  nobyll  Prince  wes  so  abusit :  452 

Thay  grew,  as  did^  the  weid  abufe  the  corne, — 

That  prudent  Lordis  counsall  wes  refusit, — 

And  held  hym  quyet,  as  he  had  bene  inclusit. 

Allace  !  that  Prince,  be  thare  abusiomi,  456 

\Yas,  fynalie,  brocht  to  confusioun. 

y>y  Thay  clam  so  heych,  and  gat  sic  audience. 
And  with  thare  Prince  grew  so  familiar, 
His  Germane  brother  mycht  get  no  presence ;  4C0 

The  Duke  of  Albanie,  nor  the  Erie  of  ^far, 
Lyke  baneist  men,  was  haldin  at  the  bar, 

1  E  meruell         2  e  jn         3  ^  perste         ^  E  omitted 
''  E  beruies  "  E  ded 


THE    TESTAMENT    OP   THE    PAPYNGO,  239 

Tyll,  in  llie  Kyng,  thare  grew  sic  mortall  feid,  iiis  real  fiiends. 

He  flemit  the  Duke  and  patt  the  Erie  to  dcdc.  4G4: 

Thus,  Cochrame,  "with  his  catyne  companye, 

Forsit  thame  to  flee ;  bot  3it  thay  wantit  fedderis  : 

Abufe  the  heych  Cederis  of  Libanye 

Thay  clam  so  hie,  tyll  thay  lape  ouir  tliair  ledderis;  4G8  Thecndofiiis 

favourites. 

On  lawder  bryge  syne  keppit  "wer  in  tedder/s, 
Stranglit  to  deith, — thay  gat  none  vther  grace, — 
Thair  king  captyue,  quhilk  wes  ane  cairful  cace. 

IF  Tyl  putt  in  forme^  that  fait  Infortunat,  472 

And  mortall  cheange,  perturbith-  myne  ingyne. 
My^  wytt  bene  walk,  my  fyngaris  faitegate, 
To  dyte,  or  wryt,  the  rancour,  and  rewyne.  His  own  son 

The  Ciuyll  weir,  the  battell  Intestyne, —  476  him. 

How  that  the  Sonne,  with  baner  braid  displayit, 
Agane  the  Fader,  in  battell,  come  arrayit. 

Wald  god  that  prince  had  bene,  that  day,  co??fortit 

With  sapience  of  the  prudent  Salomone,  480 

And  vfith  the  strenth  of  Strang  Sampsone  supportit. 

With  the  bauld  oste  of  gret  Agamenone  !  Finaiij',  lie  was 

Quhat  suld  I  wys,  remedie  wes*  thare  none  :  483 

At  morne,  ane  king  viith  sceptour,^  sweird,  and  croun ; 

Att  ewin,  ane  dede  deformit  carioun  ! 

Allace  !  quhare  bene  that  rycht  redoutit  Eoye," 

That  potent  prince,  gentyll  king  lames  the  feird  1 

I  pray  to  Christe  his  Saule  for  to  conuoye  :  488 

Ane  greater''  nobyll  rang  nocht  in  to  the  eird.  And  so  was 

.  James  IV. 

O  Atropus,  warye  we  maye  thy  weird ; 

For  he  wes  myrrour  of  humylitie. 

Lode  sterne  and  lamj)e  of  libiralytie.  492 

'  E  him  frome         ^  E  pai-tiniiith         '  E  n\yne         ■*  E  was 
^  E  septour  ®  E  Kyng         '  E  gryter 

MONARCIIE,    II.  B 


210  THE  TESTAMENT  OF  THE  PAPTNGO. 

Duryng  his  tyme  so  lustice  did  preuaill, 
The  Sauage  lies  trymblit^  for  terrour ; 
Eskdale,  Euisdale,  Liddisdale,  and  Annerdale 
He  was  stern,       Dui'ste  nocht  lebell,  doutyng  his  dyntis  dour;  496 

And  of  his  Lordis  had  sic^  perfyte  fauour ; 
So,  for  to  schaw  that  he  aferit  no  fone, 
Out  throuch  his  realme  he  wald  ryde  hym  alone.     499 

And,  of  his  court,  throuch  Europe,  spra??.g  tho,  fame, — • 
Off  lustie  Lordis  aud  lufesum  Ladyis  jing, 
Tryumphand  tornayis,  iustyng,  &  knychtly  game, 
Gieat  was  iiis        "With  all  pastymc  accordyng  for  one  kyng, 

fame  abroad.  tot  c        • 

He  wes  the-  glore  of  pnncelie  gouernyng,  504 

Quhilk,  throuch  the  ardent  lufe  he  had  to  france, 
Agane  Ingland  did  moue  his  Ordinance. 

IT  Off  Flodoun^  feilde  the  rewyne  to  reuolfe,* 
Or  that  most  dolent  daye  for  tyll  deplore,  508 

I  nyll,  for  dreid  that  dolour  30W  dissolfe. 
He  was  i<iiie.i  at     Scliaw  how  that  princc,  in  his  tryumpha?«d  glore, 

Flodilen,  .  -i  i    ■  ^ 

Distroyit  was, — quhat  nedeith  proces  more ". — 

Nocht  be  the  vertew  of  Inglis  ordina?ice,  512 

Bot  be  his  awin  wylfull  mysgouernance. 

Allace  !  that  daye  had  he  bene  counsalabyll, 
He  had  obtenit  laude,  glore,-  and  victorie. 
Quhose  pieteous  proces  bene  so  lamentabyll,  516 

with  many  enthu-  I  nyll  at  lentil  it  put  in  memorie. 

siastic  followers.  -     .      ^n         •  t 

I  neuer  red,  m  Iragidie  nor  stone, 

At  one  lornaye  so  mony  nobyllis  slane. 

For  the  defence  and  lufe  of  thare  Souerane.  520 

H  Now,  brether,  marke,  in  3our  remembrance,^ 
Ane  Myrrour  of  those  mutabiliteis  : 
(jatiier,  from         So  may  3e  Ivuaw  the  courtis  inconstance,^ 
the  inconstancy      Quheu  prcucis  bene,  thus,  pullit  frome  thair'^  seis  ;  524 

'  E  trymlit         '  E  omitted         ^  E  Floudoun         *  P  rouolfe 
*  E  rememberance         ®  E  circumstance         '  E  tliare 


THE   TESTAMENT   OP   THE   PAPYNGO.  241 

Efter  quhose  deith  nuhat  strainge  aduersiteis,  of  courts  in 

_  _  general. 

Quhat  gret  mysreule,  in  to  this  regioun  rang, 
Quhen  our  3ong  prince  could  noder^  spek  nor  gang ! 


During  his  tender  ^outhe  and  innocence,  528 

Quhat  stouith,  quhat  raif,  quhat  murthur,  &  rayscha/?ce  ! 
Thair  wes  not  ellis  hot  wrakyn"  of  vengeance,  The  troubles  at 

,  ,  the  Court 

In  to  that  court  thare  rang  sic  variance. 

Diuers  rewlaris  maid  diners  ordinance  :  532 

Sum  tyme  our  Quene  rang  in  auctoritie  :^ 

Sum  tyme,  the  prudent  Duke  of  Albanie ; 

Sum  tyme  the  realms  was  reulit  be  regentis ; 

Sum  tyme,  Lufetenentis,  ledaris  of  the  law.  536 

Than  raug  so  mony  Inohedieiitis, 

That  few  or  none  stude  of  ane^  vther  aw.  of  King  James  iv. 

Oppressioun  did  so  lowde  his  bugyll  blaw, 

That  none  durst  ryde  bot^  in  to  feir  of  weir  :  540 

loke  vponeland,  that  tyme,  did  mys  his  meir. 

IT  Quho  was  more  heycht  in  honour  eleuate, 
Nor  was  Margareit,  our  heych  &  mychtie  princes  1 
Sic  power  was  to  hir  appropriate,  544  of  Queen 

_      _  1  J.       1  Margaret, 

Oft"  king  and  realme  scho  wes  gouernores  :  bis  consort. 

3 it  come  one  cheange,  within  ane  schorte  proces ; 

That  peirle  preclare,  that  lusty  plesand  quene, 

Lang  tyme  durst  nocht  in  to  the  court  be  sene.         548 

The  Archebischop  of  sancta??drus,  lames  Betomi, 

Chancellare,  and  primate  in  power  pastorall. 

Clam,  nyxt  the  kyng,  moste  heych  in  this  regioun. 

The  ledder  schuke,  he  lape,  and  gat  one  fall :  552  The  Archbishop 

of  S.  Andrews, 

Auctoritie,^  nor  power  spirituall,* 

Eyches,  freindship,  mycht  not,  that  tyme,  preuail, 

Quhen  dame  Curia  began  to  steir  hir  taill. 

'  E  nother         ^  j;  autoritie         ^  E  omitted 
■*  E  puoiT  sprituall 

B   2 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPYNGO. 


and  his 

plots  and  failure. 


Troubles  of  tlie 
French  Court. 


OfCanlinal 
Wolsey, 


and  his  ri'e  and 

fill. 


His  lieycli  prudence  preualit  hym^  noclit  ane  niyte,  556 

That  tyme  the  courte  hair  hyra  sic  mortall  feid  : 

As  presoneir  thay  keijit  hym,  in  dispyte ; 

And,  sum  tyme,  wyst  not  quhare  to  hyde  his  heid, 

Bot,  dissagysit  lyke  Ihone-  the  raif,  lie  raid.  5 GO 

Had  nocht  bene  hope  bair^  hym  sic  companye. 

He  had  bene  stranght  be  malancolye. 

Quhat  cummer  &  cair  wes  in  the  court  of  f ranee, 
Qulien  kyng  francose'^  wes  takin  presoneir  !  504 

The  Duke  of  Burboun,  amyd  his  ordinance, 
Deit^  at  ane  straik,*'  rycht  bailfull  brocht  on  beir. 
The  court  of  Rome,  that  tyme,  rane  all  aureir, 
Quhew  Pape  Clement  wes  put  in  Strang  presoun,      5G8 
The  nobyll  Citie  put  to  confusioun. 

In  Ingland,  quho  had  greter  gouernance 

Nor  thare  tryumphand  courtly  Cardinall? 

The  commoun  -weill,  sum  sayis,  he  did  auance,         572 

Be  equale  Justice,  boith  to  gret  and  small, 

Thare  wes  no  Prelate  to  hym  paregall. 

Inglismen  sayis,  had  he  roung  langer  space. 

He  had  deposit  Sanct  Peter  of  his  place.  576 

Y-^  His  princely  pompe,  nor  Papale  grauitie. 
His  palyce  ryall,"  ryche,  and  radious, 
Nor,  ^it,  the  flude  of  Superfluitie 

Off  his  ryches,  nor  trauell  tedious,  580 

Frome  tyme  dame  Curia  held  hym  odious, 
Preualit  hym  not,  nor  prudence  moste  profound  : 
The  ledder  braik,  and  he  fell  to  the  ground. 


Quhare  bene  the  douchty  Erlis  of  Do^Yglas,  584 

Scottish  noble-       Quhilkis  ryallie  in  to  this^  regioun  rang? 

Forfalt  and  slane ;  quhat  nedith  more  jiroces  ! 

'  E  omitted         ^  E  lone         '  E  bure         *  E  francoso 
5  E  Deal         «  E  strake         '  E  royall         *  E  his 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPYNGO.  243 

The  Erie  of  Marche  wes  merscliellit  //;am  ama»g  ;  and  their  various 

fortune ; 

Dame  Curia  tliame  dulefullie  douu  thrang ;  588 

And,  now  of  lait,  quho  clam  more  lieych,  amawg  vs, 
Nor  did  Arcliebalde,  Umquliyle  the  Eilc  of  Angous  ] 

y«-y  Quho  with  his  Prince  wes  more  familiar, 
ITor  of  his  grace  had  more  auctoritie  ?  592 

"Was  he  nocht  gret  Wardane  and  chancellar  1 
3it,  quhen  he  stude  vpon^  the  heychest  gre,  especially,  the 

Earl  of  Angus. 

Traistyng  no  thyng  hot  perpetuitie. 

Was  suddanlie  deposit  fro  me  his  place,  '  596 

For  fait,  and  fiemit :  he  gat  non  vther  grace. 


IT  Quharefor  traist  nocht  in  tyll  auctoritie,^ 
My  deir  brother,  I  praye  30W  hartfullie  : 
Presume  nocht  in  ^our  vaine  prosperitie  ;  600 

Conforme  JOur  traist  in  God  alluterlie  ;  Ke  admonished 

accordingly. 

Syne,  serue  30ur  Prince,  ^Y^th  enteir  hart,  trewlie ; 

And,  quhen  30  se  the  court  bene  at  the  best, 

I  counsall  30W,  than  draw  30W  to  3our  rest,  601 

Quhare  bene  the  heych^  tryu??iphant  court  of  troye  1 

Or  Alexander,  with  his  twelf  prudent  peris  1 

Or  lulius,  that  rycht  redoutit  Eoye  1 

Agamenone,  moste  worthy  in  his  weris  ?  608  of  Courts  of 

ancient  days. 

To  schaw  thare  fyne  my  frayit  hart  afeiis : 
Sum  murdreist  war;*  sum,  poysonit  pieteouslie ; 
Thare  cairfuU  courtis  dispersit  dulefullie. 

IT  Traist  weill,  thare  is  no  constant  court  bot  one,  612 
Quhar  Christ  bene  king,  quhose  tyme  iKterminabyll 
And  heych^  tryumphant  glore  beis  neuir  gone.  No  Court  but  that 

of  Christ 

That  quyet  court,  myrthf ull  and  Immutabyll, 


'  E  heycht  '■'  E  vp  ^  E  autoritie 

*  E  was 


244 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPYNGO. 


words  of  one 
dying. 


Adieus  to 
Edinburgh, 


is  to  be  trusted.     But  variauce,  standith,  aye,  ferme  and  stabyll  :         616 
Dissimilance,^  flattry,  nor  fals  reporte 
In  to  that  court  sail  neuer  get  resorte. 

Traist  Weill,  my  freindis,  this  is  no  fen^eit  flire  ; 
For  quho  that  bene  in  the  extreme  of  dede,  620 

The  veritie,  but  doute,  thay  sulde  declare, 
Such  are  the  true    Without  regarde  to  fauour  or  to  fede.^ 

Quhill  3e  haue  tyme,  deir  brother,  mak  remede.^ 
Adew  for  euer  !  of  me  ^e  get  no  more,  624 

Beseikand  God  to  bryng  jow  to  his  glore. 

Adew,  Edinburgh,"*  thow  heych  tryuniphant  toun, — 

"Within  quhose  boundis  rycht  blythfuU  haue  I  bene, — 

Off  trew  merchajidis  the  rute^  of  this  regio?ni,  628 

Moste  reddy  to  resaue  court,  king,  and  Queue  ! 

Thy  polecye  and  lustice  may  be  sene  : 

War  deuotioun,  wysedome,  and  honestie. 

And  credence^  tynt,  thay  mycht  be  found  in  the.     632 

(C?="  Adew,  fau^  Snawdoun,  with  thy  touris  hie. 

Thy  Chapell  royall,'''  Park,  and  tabyll  rounde  ! 

May,  lune,  and  luly  walde  I  dwell  in  the, — 

War  I  one  man, — to  heir  the  birdis  sounde,  635 

Quhilk  doith  agane  thy  royall  roche  redounde. 

Adew,  Lythquo,  quhose  palyce  of  plesance 

Mycht  be  one  patrone  in  Portingall  or  France  ! 

4^  Fair  weill,  Falkland,  the  fortrace  of  fyfe,  640 

Thy  polyte  Park,  vnder  the  lowmound  law  ! 

Sum  tyme  in  the  I  led  ane  lustye  lyfe, 

The  fallow  deir,  to  see  thame  raik  on  rawe. 

Courte  men  to  cum  to  the,  thay  stand  gret  awe,        644 

Say  and,  thy  burgh  ^  bene,  of  all  burrowis,^  bail]. 

Because  in  the  thay  neuer  gat  gude  aill. 

'  E  Dissimilant        -  E  feide         ^  E  remade        *  E  Edinbruch 

*  E  curte         ^  E  crjdunce         '  E  roall         ^  E  brugh 

^  E  borrowis 


to  Stirling, 
to  Linlithgow, 


to  Falkland  in 
Fife. 


245 


S:^- HEIR  FOLLOWIS  THE  COMMONYNG '  BETUFX 
THE  PAPINGO  AND  HIR  HOLYE  EXECUTOURIS. 


To  tlie  parrot 
came  the 
magpie, — 


THE  Pye  persauit  the  papingo  in  paine, 

He  lychtit  doun,  and  fen3eit  him  to  greit :  648 

Sister,  said  he,  alace  !  quho  hes  30W  slane  1 

I  pray  30W,  niak  prouisione  for  3our  spreit, 

Dispone  jour  geir,  and  30W  confes  compleit. 

I  haue  power,  be  jour  contritioun, 

Off  all  jour  niys  to  geue  jow"  full  remissioun, 

^  I  am,  said  he,  one  Channoun  regulare. 
And,  of  my  brether  Pryour  principall : 
My  quhyte  rocket ^  my  clene  lyfe  doith  declare  ; 
The  blak  bene^  of  the  deith  memoriall :  heredipetous,— 

Quharefor  I  thynk  jour  gudis  natural! 
Sulde  be  submyttit  hole  in  to  my  cure  : 
3e  knaw,  I  am  ane  holye  Creature. 

The  Eeuin^  come  rolpand  quhen  he  hard  the  rair ; 
So  did  the  Gled,  with  mony  pieteous  pew ; 
And  fenjeitlye  thay  contrafait  gret  cair. 
Syster,  said  thay,  jour  raklesnes  we  rew  : 
Now,  best  it  is  our  luste  counsall  ensew ; 
Sen  we  pretend  to  heych  promotioun, 
Religious  men,  of  gret  deuotioun. 

I  am  ane  blak  Monk,  said  the  ruclande  renin  ;         6G8 

So  said  the  gled,  I  am  ane  holy  freir. 

And  hes  power  to  bring  jow  quyke  to  heuin  :  rc;uiy  to  help 

It  is  Weill  knawin,  my  conscience  bene  full  cleir ; 


652 


G56 


660 


664   and  the  raven  ami 
the  kite, 


'  E  Commanyng 
"  E  omitted 


P  jour         3  E  roket 
*  E  Rewin 


246 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPYNGO. 


Charge  and 
defence. 


A  priest's  rights 
and  powers. 


Confess  and 
deliver; 


and  you  hhall 
b-;  lie,irtily 
regretted. 


The  Llak  By  bill  pronounce  I  sail  perqueir  ; 
So  tyll  our  brether  je  wyll  geue  sum  gude 
God  wat  geue  we  hes^  neid  of  lyues  fude. 


672 


-   0:3^  The  Papyngo  said  :  father,  be  the  rude. 
Howbeit  jour  raj^ment  be^  religious  lyke,  676 

3our  conscience,  I  suspect,  be  nocht  gude. 
I  did  persaue,  quhen  preuelye  je  did  pyke 
Aiie  chekin  frome  ane  hen,  vnder  ane  dyke. 
I  grant,  said  he  :  that  hen  was  my  gude  freind  ;      680 
And  I  tbat  cliekin  tuke,  bot  for  my  teind. 


3e  knawe  the  faith  be  ws  mon  be  susteind ;  ^ 

So  be  the  Pope  it  is  preordinate. 

That  spirituall  mew  suld  leue  vpon  thair  teind 

Bot,  Weill  wat  1,  30  bene  predestinate, 

In  30ur  extreme  to  be  so  fortunate, 

To  haue  sic  holy  consultatioun.* 

Quharefore  Ave  mak  30W  exhortatioun  : 


684 


688 


Sen  dame  IN'ature  hes  grantit  30W  sic  grace, 

Layser  to  mak  confessioun  generall, 

Schaw  furth  jour  syn  in  haist,  quhU  30  haif  space  : 

Syne,  of  30ur  geir  mak  one  memoriall :  692 

AVe  thre  sail  mak  30iir  festis  funeral]. 

And,  with  gret  bl3^s,  bury  we  sail  3our  bonis, 

Syne  trentalls  twenty  trattyll  all  at  onis. 


The  reukis^  sail  rair,  that  me?i  sail  on  thame  row, 

And  crye  Conmemoratio  Animarum. 

"\Ve  sail  gar  cheknis  clieip,  and  geaslyngis  pew, — 

Suppose  the  geis  and  hennis  sulde  crye  alarum ; — 

And  we  sail  serue  Secundum  Vsum  Sarum, 

And  mak  30W  saif :  Ave  fynd  sanct  Blase  to  borgh,^ 

Cryand  for  3ow'^  the  cairfull  corrynogh. 


696 


700 


E  heue         ^  E  bene         ^  E  sustinit         ■•  E  consulation 
^  E  rukis         ^  E  broch         '  E  omitted 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPYNGO. 


247 


IF  And  we^  sail  syng,  about  30111'  sepulture, 
Sanct  Moiigois  matynis,  and  the  inekle  creid,  704 

And,  syne,  deuotely  saye,  I  ^ow  assure, 
The  auld  Placebo  bakwart,  and  the  beid  ; 
And  we  sail  weir,  for  30W,  the  murnyng  weid  : 
And,  thocht  30ur  spreit  with  Pluto  war  profest,        708 
Deuotelie  sail  jour  derigie  be  addrest. 


besuiiff,  and 
beprayed. 


Father,  said  scho,  jour  facunde^  wordis  fair, 

Full  sore  I  dreid,  be  contrar  to  jour  dedis. 

The  wyffis  of  the  village  cryis,  with  cair,  712 

Quhera  ^7;ai  pe/'saue  jour  muow^  ouirthort  t/tciv  niedis : 

3our  fals  co?isait  boith  duke  &  draik  sore  dreidis. 

I  maruell,  suithlie,  je  be  nocht  eschamit 

For  jour  defaltis,  beyng  so  defamit.  716 


Doubts  about 
cliaraoter. 


It  dois  abhor  my  pure  pertiirbit  spreit 

Tyll  niak  to  jow  ony  confessioun  : 

I  heir  men  saye,  je  bene  one  Ypocrite, 

Esemptit  frome  the  senje  and  the  sessioun. 

To  put  my  geir  in  jour  possessioun, 

That  wyll  I  nocht, — so  help  me  dame  nature  ! — 

!N'or  of  my  corps  I  wyll  jow  geue"^  no  ciu'e. 


720    Proposal  flatly 
rejected. 


II  Bot,  had  I  heir  the  nobyll  JN'ychtingall, 
The  gentyll  la,  the  Merle,  and  Turtur  trew. 
My  Obsequees'^  and  feistis^  funerall 
Ordour  thay  wald,  with  notis  of  the  new. 
The  plesand  Pown,  most  angellyke  of  hew, 
"Wald  god  I  wer,  this  daye,  with  hym  confest. 
And  my  deuyse  dewlie  be  hym  addrest ! 


724 


Would  that 
pleasant 
7  2  O    companions 


The  myrthfull  Maueis,  with  the  gay  goldspink 
The  lustye  Larke,  wald  god  thay  war  present ! 


732 


'  E,  P  omitted         ^  E  facounde         ^  E  mow         ■*  E  gef 

*  E  obsequeus         ''  E  festis 


24:8  THE   TESTAMENT   OF   THE   PAPYNGO. 

My  infortune,  forsuith,  tliay  wald  fortliink/ 
in  attendance  on    And  couforte  Hie,  that  bene  so  Impotent. 

The  swyft  Swallow,  in  prattick^  moste  prudent, 

I  wate  scho  wald  my  bledyng  stem,  belyue,  73G 

"With  hir  moste  verteous  stone  restringityue. 

Compt  me  the  cace,  vnder  confessioun, — 
The  Gled  said,  proudlye,  to  the  Papingo, — 
And  we  sail  sweir,  be  our  professioun,  740 

The  kite  conjures    Couusall  to  kelp,  and  scliaw  it  to  no  mo. 

the  parrot. 

We  the  beseik,  or  thow  depart  ws  fro, 
Declare  to  ws  sum  causis  reasonabyll, 
Quhy  we  bene  haldin  so  abhominabyll.  744 

(d^  Be  thy  trauell  thow  lies  Experience, 
First  beand  bred  in  to  the  Orient, 
Syne,  be  thy  gude  seruyce  and  delygence 
icnowing  East  and  To  Preucis  maid  heir  in  the  Occident :  748 

West, 

Thow  knawis  the  vulgare  pepyllis  lugement, 
Quhare  thow  transcurrit  the  bote  Meridionall, 
Syne,  nyxt  the  Poill,  the  plage  Septemtrionall. 

Y-^  So,  be  thyne  heych'^  ingyne  superlatyue,      752 
Off  all  countreis  thow  knawis  the  qualiteis ; 
Quharefore  I  the  coniure,  be  God  of  lyue, 

toteiithe  The  veritie  declare,  withouttin  leis,^ 

character  of  ^i  i  iiiiit  i  •  tr-  /^ 

ecclesiastics.         (^Liliat  thow  hes  hard,  be  landis,  or  be  seis,  7oG 

OIF  ws  Kirkmen,  boith  gude  and  euyll  reporte  ; 
And  quhov  thay  luge,  schaw  ws,  we  the  exhorte. 

^  Father,  said  scho,  I,  catyue  Creature, 
Dar  nocht  presume  with  sic  mater  to  mell ;  760 

Otr  30ur  caces,  je  knaw,  I  haue  no  cure  : 
Tiie  parrot  Demand  thanie  quhilk  in  prudence  doith  precell.^ 

hesitates,  at  first, 

I  mayo  nocht  pew,  my  panes  bene  so  fell. 

And,  als,  perchance,  je  wyll  nocht  stand  content      764 

To  knaw  the  vulgare  pepyllis  lugement. 

'  E,  P  forthing         '  E  parttick         *  E  restringatiue,  E  heycht 
^  E  omits  1.  755.     *  E  presell 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPYNQO. 


219 


3ifc,  wyll  the  deith  alyte  witlidrawe  his  darte, 

All  that  lyis  in  my  Memoryall 

I  sail  declare,  with  trew  vnfen3eit  hart;  7G8 

And,  first,  I  saye  to  30W,  in  generall, 

The  commoiin  peple  sayith,  30  bene,  all, 

Degenerit  fronie  30ur  holy  prematyuis, 

As  tcstyfeis  the  proces  of  30ur  lyuis. 

y>y  Off  30ur  peirles,  prudent  predicessonris 
The  beginnyng,  I  grant,  wes  verray  gude  : 
Apostolis,  Martyres,  Uirgines,  Confessouris, 
The  sound  of  thair  excellent  Sanctitude 
Was  hard  ouer  all  the  Avarld,  be  land  and  flude ; 
Plantyng  the  faith  be  Predicatioun,^ 
As  Christe  had  maid  to  thame  Karrationn. 

^  To  fortyfie  the  faith  thay  tuke  no  feir, 
Afore  Prencis  precheing  full  prudentlie  ; 
Of  dolorus  deith  thay  doutit  nocht  the  deir, 
The  veritie  declaryng  feruentlie ; 
And  Martyrdoms  thay  sufferit  pacientlie  :  784 

Thay  tuke  no  cure  of  land,  ryches,  nor  rent ; 
Doctryne  and  deid  war  boith  equeuolent.^ 

To  schaw  at  lenth  thair  workis  wer  gret  wounder,^ 
Thare  myracklis  thay  wer  so  manifest ;  788 

In  name  of  Christe  thay  halit  mony  bounder, 
Easyng  the  dede,  and  purgeing  the  possest,* 
With  peruerst  spretis  quhilks  had  bene  opprest  : 
The  crukit  ran,  the  blynd  men  gat  thare  Ene,  792 

The  deiff  men  hard,  the  lypper  war  maid  clene. 

Y9  The  Prelatis  spowsit  wer  with  pouertie. 
Those  dayis  quhen  so  thay  flurisit  in  fame. 
And,  with  hir,  generit  Lady  Chaistitie,  796 

And  dame  Deuotioun,  notabyll  of  name  : 
Humyll  thay  war,  simpyll,  and  full  of  schame. 

'  B  Predicasioun         ^  E  equiuoleut         ^  P  wuader 
*  E  profest 


but  then  consents 
to  answer  in  full. 


776  Modern  clerics 
are  inferior  to 
those  of  old. 


780 


wlio  were  fearless, 
free  from  avarice. 


workers  of  many- 
miracles, 


who  were 
espoused  to 
Poverty, 


250 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPTNGO. 


and  by  their 
Chastity  and 
Devotion  were 
promoted. 


So  it  wa;  till 
tlie  time  of 
Constantino, 


author  of  tlie 

Cliurcli's 

temporalities. 


S.  Sylvester  was, 
then,  pope ;  and, 
as  to  property, 


lie  did  indis- 
creetly, in 
departing 


fr  )m  the 

precedent 


Thus,  Chaistitie^  and  dame  Deuotioun 

War  principall  cause  of  tliare  promotioun.  800 

U  Thus  thay  contynewit,  iii  this  lyfe  deuyne, 
Aye  tyll  thare  rang,  in  Romes  gret  Cietie, 
Ane  potent  Prince^  was  namit  Constantyne  : 
Persauit  the  kirk  had  spowsit  pouertie,  804 

With  gude  intent,  and  niouit  of  pietie. 
Cause  of  Diuors  he  faude  betuix  thame  two, 
And  partit  thame,  withouttia  Avordis  mo. 

'X^  Syne,  schortlie,  with  ane  gret  solempnitie,      808 
Withouttin  ony  Dispensatioun, 
The  kirk  he  spowsit  with  dame  Propirtie, 
Quhilk  haistalye,  be  procliamatioun, 
To  pouertie  gart  mak  narratioun, —  812 

Under  the  pane  of  peirsyng  of  hir  eine, — 
That  with  the  kirk  scho  sulde  no  more  be  seine. 

Sanct  Syluester,  that  tyme,  rang  Pope  in  rome, 

Quhilk  first  consentit  to  the  mariage  816 

Off  propirtie,  the  quhilk  began  to  blome, 

Taking 3  on  hir  the  cure,  with  heych'*  corrage. 

Deuotioun  drew  hir  tyll  one  heremytage, 

Quhen  scho  considerit  lady  propirtie,  820 

So  heych  ^  exaultit  in  to  dignitie. 

0  Syluester,  quhare  was  thy  discretioun  ! 

Quhilk  Peter  did  renounce  thow  did  resaue. 

Androw  and  Ihone  did  leif  thare  possessioun,  824 

Thar  schippis,  &  nettis,  lyinnes,^  and  all  the  laue  : 

Off  te??iporall  substance  no  thing  wald  thay  haue, 

Contrarius  to  thare  contemplatioun, 

Bot,  soberlye,  thare  sustentatioun.  828 

Ihone  the  Baptist^  went  to  the  wyldernes  : 
Lazarus,  ]\Iartha,  and  marie  Magdalane 

'  E  Caiatilie         =  E  Prenco         ^  E  Tulkyni,'         *  E  heycht 
■'  E  Ivuuis         ^  E  Babtist 


THE    TESTAMENT    OP    THE    PAPYNGO. 


251 


Left  lieretage  and  guddis,  more  and  les  : 
Prudent  Sanct  Paule  thocht  propertie  propliane ; 
Frome  toun  to  toun  he  ran,  in  wynde  and  rane, 
Upon  liis  feit,  techeing^  the  word^  of  grace, 
And  neuer  was  subiectit  to  ryches. 

The  gled  said  -.^  3it  I  heir  no  thyng  hot  glide  : 

Proceid  schortlye,  and  thy  mater  auance. 

The  Papyngo  said  ;  father,  be  the  rude, 

It  wer  to  lang  to  schaw  the  circumstance, 

Quhow  propertie,  with  hir  new  alyance, 

Grew  gret  with  chylde,  as  trew  men  to  me  takle, 

And  bure  two  dochteris,  gudlie  to  behalde. 

^  The  eldest  Dochter*  named  was  ryches ; 
The  secunde,  Syster  Sensualytie  ; 
Quhilks  did  incres,  within  one  schorte  proces, — 
Preplesande  to  the  Spiritualytie, — 
In  gret  substance  and  excellent  bewtie.-^ 
Thir  Ladyis  two  grew  so,  within  few  3eris, 
That  in  the  warld  wer  non  mycht  be  thare  peris. 

This^  royall  Eyches  and  Lady  Sensuall 

Frome  that  tyme  furth  tuke  hole  the  gouernance 

Off  the  moste  part  of  the  stait  spirituall : 

And  thay,  agane,  with  humyll  obseruance, 

Amorouslie  thare  wyttis  did  auance, 

As  trew  luffaris,  thare  ladyis  for  to  pleis  : 

God  wate  geue,  than,  thare  hartis  war  at  Eis. 


832    sctbytlieApdstles 
and  oUiers. 


83G 


840 


From  property 
sprang 


844 


Riches  and 
Sensuality. 


848 


852 


Tliese  soon  i^evr 
all-powerful ; 


856 


Sonne  thay  forjet  to  study,  praye,  and  preche, 
Thay  grew  so  subiect  to  dame  sensuall. 
And  thocht  bot  paine  pure  pepyll  for  to  teche ;''' 
3it  thay  decretit,  in  thare  gret  counsall, 
Thay  wald  no  more  to  mariage  be  thrall. 


8G0    !>"'!  tliei  came 
neglect  of  duty. 


'  E  teching         *  E  wourd         '  E  omitted         "  E,  P  doctlier 
*  E  bow  tie         '^  E  tlie         '  E  theche 


252 


THE   TESTAMENT   OP   THE   PAPTNGO. 


and  scorn  of 
wedlock. 


The  meaning  of 
Chastity. 


Sensuality 
lorded  it. 


Traistyng  surely  tyll  obserue  Chaistytie.''- 
And  all  begylit,  quod  Se?isualytie. 

IT  Apperandlye,  thay  did  expell  thare  "Wyffis,       8G4 
That  thay  mycht  leif  at  large,  without  thirlage, 
At  libertie  to  lede  thare  lustie  lyffis, 
Thynkand  men  thrall,^  that  bene  in  mariage ; 
For  new  faces  prouokis  new  corrage.  8G8 

Thus,  Chaistytie  thay  turne  in  to  delyte  : 
Wantyng  of  Wyffis  bene  cause  of  appetyte. 

^^r^  Darne  Chaistitie  did  steill  away,  for  schamp, 
From  tyme  scho  did  persaue  thare  prouiance.  872 

Dame  Sensuall  one  letter  gart  proclame, 
And  hir  exilit  Italy  and  France  : 
In  Inglande  coutbe  scho  get  none  ordinance  : 
Than  to  the  Kyng  and  courte  of  Scotlande  876 

Scho  markit  hir,  withouttin  more  demande. 

H  Traistyng  in  to  that  court  to  get  conforte, 
Scho  maid  hir  humyll  supplycatioun. 
Schortlye  thay  said,  scho  sulde  get  na  supporto,        880 
in  ciiristian  lands  Bot  bostit  hir  with  blasphcmatioun  : 
To  preistis  go  mak  30ur  protestatioun. 
It  is,  said  thay,  mony  one  houndreth  3eir 
Sen  Chaistitie  had  ony  entres  heir.  884 

IF  Tyrit  for  trauell,  scho  to  the  preistis  past. 
And  to  the  rewlaris  of  religioun. 
Off  hir  presens  schortlye  thay  war  agast. 
Chastity,  counted    Sayand,  thay  thocht  it  bot  abusioun  888 

Hir  to  resaue  :  so,  with  conclusioun, 
With  one  auyce,  decretit  and  gaue^  dome, 
Thay  walde  resset  no  Eebell  out  of  Eome. 

was  scouted,         Sulde  WB  rasaue  that  Romanis  lies  refusit,  892 

And  baneist  Inglande,  Italye,  and  France, 

'  E  Chiastytie  "  E  tlmrall         ^  E  gcue 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPYNGO.  253 

For  30U1'  flaltiye,  than  wer^  we  weill  abusit. 

Pass  liyne,  said  tliay,  and  fast  20ur  wave  auance  :  and  bia  to  take 

refii^'o  among  the 

Amang  the  N'onnis  go  seik  jour  ordinance  ;  896  nuns, 

For  we  haue  maid  aith  of  fidelytie 
To  dame  Eyches  and  Sensualytie. 

Than  paciently  scho  maid  progressioun 

Towarde  the  Nonnis,  with  hart  syching  ful  sore.       900 

Thay  gaif  hir  presens,  with  processioun, 

Eessauand'^  hir  with  honour,  laud,  and  glore,  who  received  her, 

Purposyng  to  preserue  hir  euer  more. 

OS  that  nouellis  come  to  dame  Propertie,  904 

To  Eyches,  and  to  Sensualytie ; 

Quhilks  sped  thame  at  the  post,  rycht  spedalye, 

And  sett  ana  seage,  proudlye,  about  the  place. 

The  sillye  Konnis  did  jeild  thame  haistelye,  908 

And  humilye  of  that  gylt  askit  grace,  but  not  to  tarry 

Syne  gaue  thair^  bandis  of  perpetuall  peace. 

Eessauand^  thame,  thay  kest  vp  -wjkketis  Avyde  : 

Than  Chaistytie  walde  no  langer  abyde.  912 

So,  for  refuge,  fast  to  the  freris  scho  fled, 

Quhilks  said,  thay  wald  of  ladyis  tak  no  cure. 

Quhare  bene  scho  now  1  than  said  the  gredy  gled. 

ISTocht  amang  30W,  said  scho,  I  30W  assure  :  916  wiiereisshe 

I  traist  scho  bene  vpon  the  borrow  mure.  At  the  siieens, 

Besouth  Edinburgh,  and  that  rycht  mony  menis, 

Profest  amang  the  Systeris  of  the  schenis. 

{^  Thare  hes  scho  found  hir  mother  Pouertie,     920 
And  Deuotioun,  hir  awin  syster  carnall ; 
Thare  hes  scho  found  faith,  hope,  and  charitie,^ 
Togidder  with  the  verteous  Cardinall :  with  Povei-ty, 

Thare  hes  scho  found  ane  Conuent  3it  vnthrall         924  '" 

'  E  war         ^  E  Eeseuand         '  E  thii-         "  E  cheritie 


234 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPTNGO. 


olher  Virtues. 


The  nuns  there 
will  retain  tliem. 


I{ow  effeetual 
resistance  may 


To  dame  Sensuall,  nor  with  ryclios^  abusit, 
So  quietlye  those  ladyis  bene  Inclusit. 

The  Pyote  said  :  I  dreid,  be  thay  -  assail3eit, 
Thay  rander  thame,  as  did  the  holy  IsTonnis.  928 

Doute  nocht,  said  scho ;  for  thay  bene  so  artal3eit, 
Tliay  purj^ose  to  defend  thame  \^ith  thair  gounnis  : 
Reddy  to  schute,  thay  bane  sax  gret  Cannounnis, — 
Perseuerance,  Constance,  and  Conscience,  932 

Austerytie,  Laubonr,  and  Abstynance. 

H  To  resyste  subtell  Sensualytie, 
Strongly  thay  bene  enarmit,  feit  and  handis, 
Be  abstynence,  and  keipith  pouertie,  93G 

Contrar  ryches  and  all  hir  fals  seruandis  : 
Thay  hane  ane  Boumbard,  braissit  vp  in  bandi?, 
To  keip  thare  porte,  in  myddis  of  thare^  clois, 
Quhilk  is  callit  Domine  custodi  nos  :  940 


be  made  to 

Senbuulity, 


Within  cpdiose  schote  thare  dar  no  Enimeis 
Approche  thare  place,  for  dreid  of  dyntis  doure. 
Boith  nycht  and  daye  thay  wyrk,  lyke  besye  beis. 
For  thare  defence, — reddye  to  stand  in  stoure, —      944 
And  lies  sic  watchcis  on  thare  vtter  toure,* 
That  dame  Sensual  with  seage^  dar  not  assail^e, 
Nor  cnni  within  the  schote  of  thare  artail^e. 


whicii  Itome  docs 
not  resist. 


The  Pyote  said,  quhareto  suld  thay  presume  948 

For  to  resyste  sweite  Sensualytie, 

Or  dame  ryches,  quhilk^'s  reularis  bene  in  Rome  1 

Ar  thay  more  constant,  in  thare  qualytie, 

i^or  the  prencis  of  Spiritualytie,^  952 

Quhilkis  plesandlye,  Avithouttin  obstaikle, 

Haith  thame  resauit  in  thare  habitakle'? 


'  li  rcches         *  E  thay  be         ^  E  the         ^  E  vther  dire 
*  E  sage         ®  E  spritualitie 


THE   TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPYNGO.  255 

Quhow  lang,  traist  ^e,  those  ladyis  sail  remane 

So  solyter,  in  sic  perfectioun  1  956 

The  Papingo  said  :  brother,  in  certane, 

So  lang  as  thay  obey  correctioun,  wm  the  nuns 

aforesaid  remain 

Cheisyng  thare  heddis  be  electioun,  incorrupt? 

Unthrall  to  ryches,  or  to  pouertie,  9G0 

Eot  as  requyrith  thare  necessitie. 

0  prudent  prelatis,  quhare  was  3onr  prcscianis, 
That  tuke  on  hand  tyll  obserue  Chaistytio, 

But  austeir  lyfe,  laubour,  and  abstenancel  9G4 

Persauit  je  nocht  the  gret  prosperitie  H"^  *»  preserve 

■>  .  cliastity. 

Apperandlye  to  cum  of  propertie  1 

^e  knaw  gret  cheir,  gret  eais,  and  Ydelnes 

To  Lychorie  Avas  mother  and  maistres.  9G8 

Thow  rauis  vnrockit.  the  rauin  said,  be  the  rude, 

So  to  reproue  ryches  or  propertie. 

Abraham  and  Ysaac  war  ryche,  and  verry  gude  ; 

lacobe  and  losephe  had  prosperitie.  972  Riches,  ti.eir 

use,  and  tlieir 

The  Papingo  said  :  that  is  verytie ;  abuse. 

Ryches,  I  grant,  is  nocht  to  be  refusit, 
Prouidyng,  alwaye,  it  be  nocht  abusit.   , 

sTh^^aidJheJLaiiin^na.replycatioun ;  976 

Syne  said,  thy  reasoned  is  nocht  worth  ane  myte 
As  I  sail  preue,  with  protestatioun. 
That  no  man  tak  my  wordis  in  dLspyte  :  Biame  thrown  on 

"^  ,  ^"^  Princes. 

1  saye,  the  temporall  Prencis  hes  the  wyte,  980 
That  in  the  kirk  sic  Pastours  dois  prouyde, 

To  gouerne^  saulis  ^7;at  not  tham  selfis  can  gyde. 

Lang  tyme  efter  the  kirk  tuke  propertie. 

The  Prelatis  leuit  in  gret  perfectioun,  984 

Unthrall  to  Ryches  or  Sensualytie,  ah  prelates  have 

.   .  .  wot  been 

Under  the  loly  Spreitis  protectioun, 

1  E  resone  ^  j;  goueran 

MONARCHE,    I.  S 


255  THE    TESTAMENT    OF   THE    PAPYNGO. 

Orderlye  chosin  be  electioun, 
spoilt  by  riches.     As  Gregore,  lerome,  Ambrose,  and  Augustyne,         988 
Benedic,  Baruerd,^  Clement,  Cleit,  and  Lyne. 

Sic  pacient  Prelatis  enterit  be  the  porte, 
Plesand  the  peple  be  predieatioun. 
'Now  dyke  lowparis  dois  in  the  kirk  resort :  992 

Unfit  bishops  are    Be  Symonie  and  supplycatioun 

now  cliosen; 

Off  Prencis  be  thare  presentatioun. 

So  sillye  Saulis,  that  bene  Cliristis  scheip, 

Ar  geuin  to  hungre  gormande  wolfis  to  keip.  99 G 

'  h^J/^^/"  No  maruell  is,  thocht  ^^^Eeligious.Eoe^ 

■if^       S  Degenerit  be,  and  in(oii^  lyfe  confusit : 

/  Bot  sing  and  drynk,  none  vther  craft  (vveAcen, 

f  fjlr^  / — '    I  *■ — 

I  and  their  (OuT  Spirituall^  Fatheris  hes  ws  so  abusit :  1000 

f  f  ft  ^      '      inferiors  are  like    ^-— -  ,^-  i  .     i 

■   '-'    "^  tiiem.  Agane  our  wyll,  those  treukouris  bene  intrusit. 

LaAvit  men  hes,  now,  religious  men  in  curis ; 
Profest  Uirgenis,  in  keipyng  of  strong  huris. 

Prencis,  prencis,  quhar  bene  30ur  heych  prudence  1004 
In  dispositioun  of  30ur  Beneficeis  ] 
The  guerdonyng  of  jour  Courticience 
Misbestowai  of       Is  sum^  causc  of  thir  gret  Enormyteis. 

benefices. 

Thare  is  one  sorte,  watand,  lyke  houngre  fieis,        1 008 

For*  spirituall  cure,  thocht  thay  be  no  thing  aljyil, 

Quhose  gredie  thristis  bene  lusaciabyll. 

vf    K/j 
(fdMU'  '       /  {j^  Prencis,  I  pray  30W,  be  no  more  abusit, 

r^jT'l^     OUf^^  I        To  verteous  men  hauyng  so  small  regarde.  1012 

L     M'Vu^     '^^  '        \        Q^^^y  sulde  vertew,  throuch  flattrye,  be^  refusit, 

^  ''  Alas,  that  virtue    That  men,  for  cunnyng,  can  get  no  rewarde  1 

is  flighted ! 

,  Allace,  that  euer  one  braggar,**  or  ane  barde, 

''MVi       ''  \Cl'    Ane  hure  maister,  or'^  commoun  hasarture,  1016 

{aJL^'^   V^y    I  Sulde  in  the  kirk  get  ony  kynde  of  cure  ! 

1  E  Bernerd         2  g  pprituall  3  g  omitted  *  E  Frome 

^  E  bene  "^  E  braggcr  "  E  or  ane 


THE    TESTAMENT   OF    THE    rAPTNGO,  257 

War  I  one  man  wortliy  to  weir  ane  croun, 

Aj^e  quhen  tliare  vakit  ony  beneficeis, 

I  sukl  gar  call  ane  Congregatioun, —  1020 

The  principall  of  all  the  preliceis,  if  i  were  king, 

Moste  counnyng  clerkis  of  Uniuersiteis, 

]\Ioste  famous  fatheris  of  religioun, — 

With  thare  aduyse,  mak  dispositioiin.  1024 

Y-9  I  sulde  dispone  all  offices  Pastorallis 
Tyll  Doctours  of  deuynitie,  or  lure  ; 
And  cause  dame  Uertew  pulP  vp  all  liir  salis, 
Quhen  counnyng  men  had  in  tliQ  kirk  moist  cure  ;  1028  t-ii'ngs  would  not 

be  as  now. 

Gar  Lordis  send  thare  sonnes,  I  30W  assure, 
To  seik  science,  and  famous  sculis  frequent ; 
Syne,  thame  promoue  that  war  moste  sapient. 

Gret  plesour  war  to  heir  ane  Byschope  preche,        1032 

One  Dane,  or  Doctour  in  Diuinitie, 

One  Abbots  quhilk  could  weill  his  co?^uent  teche, 

One  Persoun^  flowyng  in  Phylosophie  :  wiiereare 

c  J.  eloquence  and 

I  tyne  my  tyme,  to  wys  quhilk  wyll  nocht  be.        1036  learning? 

War  nocht  the  precheing  of  the  beggyng  freris, 

Tynt  war  the  faith  amang  the  Seculeris.  .      a 

- -— -xA/^^^  4U  f-^ 

\*^  As  for  thare  precheing,  ,quod  the  PapingoJ    w,  rt  ^    r  4-     fl-V^^ 

I  thame  excuse,  for  quhy  thay  bene  so  thrall          lOlO  /             '      Ai^oCou^ 

To  Propertie  and  hir  ding  Dochteris  two, —            '^^  /     nM  i-'li-fr    f  jJJ^ 

Dame  Ryches  and  fair  lady  Sensuall, —         <^r  ^^  why  (here  is       i    jUj^A 

^  .  little  preaching.  f*^4<^^-<r^ 

Thay  may  nocht  vse  no  pastyme  spiritual! ;  ^  LuiP/^ 

And  in  thare  habitis  thay  tak  sic  delyte,  1044 

Thay  haue^  renuncit  russat  and  roploch  quhyte. 

Cleikand  to  thame  skarlote  and  Crammosie, 

With  Meneuer,  martrik,  grice,  &  ryche  armyne,  EcciesiasUca 

Thare  lawe  hartis  exaultit  ar  so  hie,  1048 

1  E  put  2  E  Persone  ^  g  heue 

S   2 


258 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPYNGO, 


indulge  in  gay 
apparel 


To  see  thare  Papale  pompe  it  is  ane  pyne. 

More  ryclie  arraye  is,  now,  witli  fren3ois  fyne, 

Upon  the  bardyng  of  ane  Bysclieopis  Mule, 

Nor  euer  had  Paule  or  Peter  agane  jule.  1052 

Syne,  fair  ladyis  thare  Chene  may  not  escliape, 

Dame  Sensuall  so  sic  seid  haith  in  tham  sawin. 

Les  skaith  it  war,  with  lycence  of  the  Pape, 

That  ilke  Prelate  one  "VVyfe  had  of  his  awin,  1056 

iNor  se  thar  bastardis  ouirthort  the  cuntre  blawin ; 

For,  now,  be  thay^  weill  cumin  frome  the  sculis, 

Thay  fall  to  work,  as  thay  Avar  commoun  bullis. 

Pew,  quod  the  gled,  thow  prechis  all  in  vaine  :       lOGO 
3e  Seculare  folks ^  lies  of  our  cace  no  curis. 
I  grant,  said  scho ;  3it  men  wyll  speik,  agane, 
The  fruit  of  their    Quhow  56  haif  maid  a  hundruth  thousand  huris, 

doinga. 

(^uhilk/6'   neuir   hade   bene,    war    not    jour    lychorus 


and  rank  libidi- 
nousness. 


Isii  #4  T^ir^ 


luris 


^^^.    CAnd^geue  I  lee,  hartlye  I  me  repent\ 

y/        Kjifif    fffJ^Z^ — -^-^ -^ •'  '  ^^ 

p^€     '^    '.     {  Was  neuer  Bird,  I  watt,  more  peiiitent. 

^  //       kJtfC     ^^  To  that  fals  gled,  quhilk  fenjeit  hym  one  freir  ; 


Than  scho  hir  schraue,  with  deuote  contynance, 


Vi* 


<^,^ 


o^'^ 


And,  quhen  scho  had  fulfyllit  hir  pennance. 
The  kite  shrives     Pull  subtellye  at  hir  he  gan  inqueir  : 

the  parrot, 

Cheis  30W,  said  he,  quhilk  of  ws  brether  heir 
Sail  haue  of  all  jour  naturall  geir  the  curis : 
3e  knaw  none  bene  more  holye  creaturis. 


lOGt 


10G8 


1072 


who  disposes  of 
her  effects. 


I  am  content,  quod  the  pure  Papingo, 

That  je,^  freir  Gled,  and  corby  monk,  jour  l)i'otlier, 

Haue  cure  of  all  my  guddis,  and  no  rao,  1076 

Sen,  at  this  tyme,  freindschip  I  fynd  non  vther. 

"We  salbe  to  jow  trew,  as  tyll  our  IMother, 

Quod  thay,  and  sweir  tyll  fulfyll  hir  intent. 

Off  til  at,  said  scho,  I  tak  ano  Instrument.  lOSO 


1  P  thay  be 


'^  P  floks 


3  E  the 


THE    TESTAJIENT    OF   THE    PArYNGO.  259 

The  Pyote  said  :  quhat  sail  myne  office  bee  1 

Ouirman,  said  soho,  vnto  the  tother  two. 

The  rowpand^  Eeuin  said :  sweit  syster,  lat  se 

5our  holy  intent ;  fjr  it  is  tyme  to  go.  1084  throuffi.  her 

■^  J  '  JO  executors. 

The  gredie  gled  said  :  brother,  do  nocht  so ; 
"We  wyll  remane,  and  haldin  vp  hir  hede, 
And  neuer  depart  ^  frome  hir,  tyll  scho  be  dede. 

The  Papingo  thame  thankit  tenderlye,  1088 

And  said :  sen  ^e  haue  tane  on  30W  this  cure, 

Depart  myne  naturall  guddis,  equalye, 

That  euer  I  had,  or  hes,  of  dame  Nature.  she  bequeatiies 

her  mantle ; 

First,  to  the  Howlet,  Indegent  and  pure,  1092 

Quhilk  on  the  daye,  for  schame,  dar  noclit  be  sene, 
Tyll  hir  I  laif  my  gaye  galbarte  of  grene. 

My  brycht  depuxit  Ene,  as  christall^  cleir, 

On  to  the  Bak  ^e  sail  thame ^  boith  present,  1096 

In  Phebus  presens  quMlk  dar  nocht  appeir, 

Off  naturall  sycht  scho  bene  so  Impotent.  her  eyes  and 

beak ; 

My  birneist  beik  I  laif,  with  gude^  entent, 

Onto  the  gen  tyll,  pieteous  Pillycane,  1100 

To  helpe  to  peirs  hir  tender  hart  in  twane. 

I  laif  the  Goik,^  quhilk  hes  no  sang  bot  one, 

My  musyke,  with  my  voce  Angelycall ; 

And,  to  the  Guse,  ^e  geue,  quhen  I  am  gone,  1104 

My  Eloquence  and  toung  Kethoricall :  iier  voice  and 

tongue ; 

And  tak  and  drye  my  bones,  gret  and  small ; 
Syne,  close  thame  in  one  cais  of  Ebure  fyne, 
And  thame  present  onto  the  Phenix,  syne,  1108 

To  bime  with  hir,  quhen  scho  hir  lyfe^  renewis. 

In  Arabye  je  sail  hir  fynde,  but  weir. 

And  sail  knaw  hir'^  be  hir  moste  heainly  hewis, —  and  her  bones, 

1  E  rolpand         2  g  deport         ^  e  christell         *  E  omittea 
6  E  Goilk  6  E  liue  1  E  hir  kt.aw 


260 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPYNGO. 


to  the  Plioenix. 


She  leaves  her 
heart  to  the  king; 


and,  to  lier 

executors, 

sundries. 


Gold,  Asure,  Gowles,  Purpour,  and  Synopeir.         1112 
Hir  dait  is  for  to  leif  fyue  houndreth  3eir  : 
Mak  to  that  bird  my  commendatioun. 
And,  als,  I  mak  30W  supplycatioun, 

Sen  of  my  corps  I  liauo  30W  geuin  the  cure,  1116 

3e  speid  30W  to  the  court,  but  tareyng,^ 

And  tak  my  hart,  of  perfyte  portrature, 

And  it  present  onto  my  Souerane  Kyng  : 

I  wat  he  wyll  it  clois  in  to  one^  ryng.  1120 

Commande  me  to  his  grace,  I  30W  exhorte, 

And  of  my  passioun  mak  hym  trew  reporte. 

3e  thre  my  trypes  sail  haue,  for  30ur  trauell, 

With  luffer  and  lowng,  to  part  equale  amawg  30 \v,  1124 

Prayand  Pluto,  the  potent  prince  of  hell, 

Geue  36  fail3e,  that  in  his  seit^  he  fang  30W. 

Be  to  me  trew,  thocht  I  no  thyng  belang  30W  : 

Sore  I  suspect,  30ur  conscience  be  to  large.  1128 

Doute  nocht,  said  thay ;  we  tak  it  with  the  charge. 

IT  Adew,  brether,  quod  the  pure  Papingo ; 
To  talking  more  I  haue  no  tyme  to  tarye  : 
Bot,  sen  my  spreit  mon  fra  my  body  go,  1132 

Commending  her    I  recommend  it  to  the  quene  of  farye/ 

spirit  to  tlie 

Queen  of  the         Etcrnallye  in  tyll  hir  court  to  carye, 

Fays, 

In  wyldernes,  among  the  holtis  hore. 

Than  scho  inclynit  hir  hed,  and  spak  no  more.        1136 

{j^  Plungit  in  tyll  hir  mortall  passioun, 
Pull  greuouslie  scho  gryppit  to  the  ground. 
It  war  to  lang  to  mak  narratioun 

Off  sychis  sore,  with  mony  stang  and  stound.         1140 
Out  of  hir  wound  the  blude  did  so^  abound, 
One  coumpas  round  Avas  with  hir  blude  maid  reid  : 
Without  remaid,  thare  wes''  no  thyng  bot  dede. 


she  falls,  in  act 
to  die, 


^  E  tarynnj 


2  E  ane 
s  E  sore 


3  P  feit 
6  E  was 


^  E  faraye 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF   THE    PAPYNGO.  261 

43)  And,  be  sclio  had  In  Maiius  tuas  said,  1144 

Extinctit  wer  hir  natural!  wyttis  fyue  ; 
Hir  lied  full  softlye  on  hir  schulder^  laid, 
Syne,  ^aild  the  spreit,  with  panes  pungityue.  and  gives  up  tiie 

ghost. 

The  Eauin  began  rudely  to  ruge  and  ryue,  1148 

Full  gormondlyke  his  em]3tie  throte-  to  feid. 
Eait  softlye,  brother,  said  the  gredy  gled  : 

QuliiU  scho  is  bote,  depart  hir  ewin  amang  ws  ; 

Talc  thow  one  half,  and  reik  to  nie  ane  vther :         1152 

In  tyll  our  rycht,  I  wat,  no  Avycht  dar  wrang  ws. 

The  Pyote  said  :  the  feinde  resaue  the  fouther.^  Her  pious 

executors 

Quhy  mak  je  me  stepbarne,  and  I  30ur  brother? 

3e  do  me  wrang,  schir  gled  ;  I  schrew  ^our  harte.   1156 

Tak  thare,  said  he,  the  puddyngis,  for  thy  parte. 

Than,  wyt  30^  weill,  my  hart  avos  wounder  sair, 

For  to  behalde  that  dolent  departyng, 

Hir  AngeU  fedderis  fleyng^  in  the  air  :  1160 

Except  the  hart,  was  left  of  hir  no  thyng.  wrangle  for  her 

remains; 

The  Pyote  said  :  this  pertenith  to  the  kyng, 

Quhilk  tyll  his  grace  I  purpose  to  present. 

Thow,  quod  the  gled,  sail  faill  of  thyne  entent.       1164 

The  Eauin  said  :  god,  nor  I  rax  in  ane  raipe, 

And  thow  get  this  tyU  other  kyng  or  duke  ! 

The  Pyote  said :  plene  I  nocht  to  the  pape, 

Than  in  ane  smedie  I  be  smorit  with  smuke.  1168  and  the  kite  gets 

..,  the  better  of  the 

With  that  the  gled  the  pece  claucht^  in  his  cluke,  rest. 

And  fled  his  way :  the  laue,  with  all  thare  mycht. 
To  cheace  the  gled,  flew,  all,  out  of  my  sycht. 

V^l^  N'ow  haue  36  hard  this  lytill  Tragedie,       1172  This  Tragedy 
The  sore  complent,  the  testament,  &  myschance 

1  E  sulder         2  g  thorte         ^  g  fother         *  E  wat  we 
5  E  fletyng  o  E  claukit 


262 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    THE    PAPYNGO. 


and  Testament 
thus  ends,— 


a  poor  thing,  of 
small  account. 


Off  this  pure  Bird,  quliilk  did  ascend  so  hie. 

Beseiltand  30W,  excuse  myne  Ignorance, 

And  rude  indyte,  quhilk  is  nocht  tyll  auance.  1176 

And,  to  the  quair,  I  geue  commandiment, 

Mak  no  repair  quhare  Poetis  bene  present : 

Because  thow  bene 

But  Eethorike,  so  rude,  1180 

Be  neuer  sene 

Besyde  none  vther  buke, 

With  Kyng,  nor  Queue, 

"With  Lord,  nor  maw  of  gude.  1184 

"With  coit  vnclene^^ 

Clame  kynrent  to  sum  cuke  : 

Steil  in  ane  nuke, 

Quhen  thay  lyste  on  the  lake.  1188 

For  smell  of  smuke, 

Men  wyll  abhor  to  beir  the  : 

Heir  I  mansweir  the  : 

Quhairfor,^  to  lurke  go  leir  the.  1192 

1^    FINIS.     4:® 
^  P,  E  one  vnclene  2  e  quharefor 


2G3 


f^  HEIR  FOLLOUIS  THE  DREME  OF  SCHIR  DAUID 

LYNDESAY,  OP   THE   MONT,i  FAMILIAR   SBRUITOUR 

TO  OUR  SOUERANE  LORD,  KYNG  lAMES 

THE  FYFT,i  &C. 

J^    THE   EPISTIL. 

EYCHT  Potent  Prince,  of  hie  Imperial  blude, 

Onto  tliy  grace  I  traist  it  be  Weill  knawin, 

My  seruyce  done  onto  thy  Celsitude, 

Quhilk  nedis  noclit  at  lenth  for  to  be  schawin  ;  4  sire,  i  have 

And,  thocht  my  30utlied  now  be  neir  ouer  blawin,  thee,— 

Excerst^  in  seruyce  of  tbyne  Excellence, 

Hope  hes  me  hecbt  ane  gudlie  recompence, 

Quhen  tbow  wes  30ung,  I  bure  the  in  myne  arme,        8 
Full  tenderlie,  tyll  tliow  begonth  to  gang, 
And  in  thy  bed  oft  happit  the  full  warme ; 
With  lute  in  hand,  syne,  sweitlie^  to  the  sang  : 
Sumtyme,  in  dansing,  feiralie  I  flang;  12 

And,  sumtyme,  playand  fairsis*  on  the  flure; 
And,  sumtyme,  on  myne  office  takkand  cure ; 


from  thy  very 
infancy, — 


And,  sumtyme,  lyke  ane  feind,  transfegurate ; 
And,  sumtyme,  lyke  the  greislie^  gaist  of  gye  ; 
In  diuers  formis,  oft  tymes,  disfigurate ; 
And,  sumtyme,  dissagyist  full  plesandlye. 
So,  sen  thy  birth,  I  haue*^  continewalye 
Bene  occupyit,  and  aye  to  thy  plesoure  ; 
And,  sumtyme,  seware,  Coppare,'^  and  Caruoure, 

Thy  purs  maister  and  secreit  Thesaurare, 
Thy  Yschare,  aye  sen  thy  l!^atyuitie, 


16 


and  in  various 
capacities. 


20 


as  those  of  usiier. 


1—1  E  Kny'  alias  Kyng  of  Armes,  dereket  onto  our  Souerane 

Lord  Kyng  lames  the  Fyft. 

2  E  experte         ^  E  softly e         *  E  f arsis         ^  E  gryslye 

6  E  haif  7  E  Copper 


264 


THE    DREME. 


chamberlain, 


The  stories  of 
Hector,  Arthur, 


Jason,  Medea, 
Hercules,  «!S;c., 


with  many 
prophecies,  I  have 
told  you; 


and  now  I  relate 

Rometliing 

besides. 


And  of  tliy  clialmer  cheiffe  Cubiculare,  24 

Quhilk,  to  this  houre,  lies  keipit  my  lawtie. 

Louyng  be  to  the  blyssit  Trynitie, 

That  sic  ane  wraclieit  -worme  hes  maid  so  habyll 

Tyll  sic  ane  Prince  to  be  so  greabyll  l^  28 

Bot,  noAV,  thov  arte,  be  Influence  naturall, 

Hie  of  Ingyne,  and  rycht  Inqnisityue 

Off  antique  storeis  and  dedis  marciall. 

IMore  plesandlie  the  tyme  for  tyll  ouerdrj'-ue,  32 

I  haue,^  at  lenth,  the  storeis  done  discryue 

Off  Hectour,  Arthour,  and  gentyll  lulyus, 

Off  Alexander,  and  worthy  Pompeyus, 

H  Off  lasone,  and  Media,  all  at  lenth,  36 

Off  Hercules  the  actis  honorabyll, 
And  of  Sampsone  the  supernaturall  strenth, 
And  of  leill  Luffaris  storeis  amiabyll ; 
And  oft  tymes^  haue^  I  fein^eit  mony  fabyll, —         40 
Off  Troylus  the  sorrow  and  the  loye. 
And  Seigis  all,  of  Tyir,  Thebes,  and  Troye. 

The  Prophiseis  of  Eymour,  Beid,  &  Marlyng, 

And  of  mony  vther  plesand  storye, —  44 

Off  the  reid  Etin/  and  the  gyir  carlyng, — 

Confortand  the,  quhen  that  I  sawe  the  sorye. 

Now,  with  the  supporte  of  the  king  of  glorye, 

I  sail  the  schaw  ane  storye  of  the  new,  48 

The  quliilk  aflfore  I  neuer  to  the  schew. 

Bot  humilie  I  beseik  thyne  Excellence, 

"With  ornate  termes  thocht  I  can  noclit  expres 

This  sempyll  mater,  for  laik  of  Eloquence,  52 

3 it,  nochtwithstandyng  all  my  besynes, 

"With  hart  and  hand  my  mynd^  I  sail  adres. 

As  I  best  can,  and  moste  compendious. 

Now  I  begyn  :  the  mater  hapnit  thus.  56 


1  E  agreabill      ^Ehet       ^  E  oftymes       *  E  Eitin      °  E  pen 


265 


{J:^    THE    PROLOUO. 


IN  to  the  Calendis  of  lanuarie, 
Quhen  fresche  Pliebus,  be  mouyng  circulair, 
Frome  Capricorne  wes  enterit  in  Aquarie, 
With  blastis  that  the  branchis  maid  full  hair, 
The  snaw  and  sleit  perturbit  all  the  air, 
And  flemit  Flora  frome  euery  bank  and  bus, 
Throuch^  supporte  of  the  austeir  Eolus ; 

H  Efter  that  I  the  lang  wynteris  nycht 
Hade  lyne  walking,  in  to  my  bed,  allone, 
.Throuch^  heuy  thocht,  that  no  way  sleip  I  mycht, 
Eemembryng  of  diners  thyngis  gone, 
So,  vp  I  rose,^  and  clethit^  me  anone. 
Be  this,  fair  Tytane,  with  his*  lemis  lycht, 
Ouer  all  the  land  had*  spred  his  baner^  brycht. 

H  "With  cloke  and  hude  I  dressit  me  belyue, 
With  doAvbyll  schone,  &  myttanis  on  my  handis. 
Howbeit  the  air  wes  rycht  penitratyue, 
3it  fure  I  furth,  lansing  ouirthorte  the  landis, 
Towarte  the  see,  to  schorte  me  on  the  sandis ; 
Because  vnblomit  was  baith  bank  and  braye. 
And  so,  as  I  was  passing  be  the  waye, 

(Cf*  I  met  dame  Flora,  in  dule  weid  dissagysit, — 
Quhilk  in  to  May  wes  dulce  and  delectabyll : 
With  stalwart  stormes^  hir  sweitnes  wes  suprisit ; 
Hir  heuynlie  hewis  war  turnit  in  to  sabyll, 
Quhilk/s  vmquhyle  war  to  luffar/s'''  amiabyll. 
Fled  frome  the  froste  the  tender  flouris  I  saw, 
Under  dame  Katur«6^  mantyll  lurking  law. 

1  E  Throw         2  E  rais         3  e  cleytht         *  E  omitted 
^  E  banair         ^  p  stromes         ^  e  luffers 


60    One  morning  in 
January, 


64 


68 


72 


after  a  sleepless 
niglit,  I  rose. 


and  went  fortli, 
for  diversion. 


76 


80 


There  were  no 
flowers ; 


84 


266 


THE    DREME. 


and  tlie  small 
birds  wished  for 
summer. 


The  lark  longed 
for  the  sun's 
warmth, 


and  for  the 

season  of  daisies 
and  roses, 


^  The  small  fowlis  in  flokkis  saw  I  flee, 
To  l^ature  makand  gret  lamentatioim  : 
Thay  lyclitit  doun  besyde  me,  on  ane  tree, — 
Off  thare  complaynt  I  hade  compassioun, —  88 

And,  with  ane  pieteoiis^  exclamatioun, 
Thay  said  :  blyssit  be  Somer,  Avith  his  llom-Ls  ; 
And  waryit  be  thow,  wynter,  with  thy  schouris. 

IT  Allace  !  Aurora,  the  syllie^  Larke  can  crye,         92 
Quhare  lies  thow  left  thy  balmy  lyquoiir  sweit. 
That  vs  reiosit,  we  mountyng  in  the  skye  1 
Thy  3  syluer  droppis'*  ar  turnit^  in  to  sleit. 
0  fair  Phebus,  quhare  is  thy  hoUsum  heit  1  96 

Quhy  tholis  thov  thy  heuinlie  plesand  face 
With  mystie  vapouris  to  be  obscurit,  allace  1 

Quhar  art  thov.  May,  yvith  lune,  thy  syster  schene, 

"Weill  bordourit  with  dasyis*^  of  del^'te^  100 

And  gentyll  lulet,  with  thy  mantyll  grene, 

EnamiKt  with  rosis  reid  and  qnhyte  1 

Now,  aiild  and  cauld  laneuar,  in  dispyte, 

Eeiffi.s'^  fro  me  vs  all  pastyme  and  plesoure.  104 

Allace  !  quhat  gentyll  hart  may  this  Indure  ? 


and  was  not  able 
to  sing. 


Pensive,  I 


IT  Ouersylit  ar  with  cloiidis  odious 
The  goldin^  skyis  of  the  orient, 

Cheangeyng^  in  sorrow  our  sang  melodious,  108 

QuhUk  we  had  wount  to  sing  with  gude  intent, 
Eesoundand  to  the  heuinnis  firmament : 
Bot  now  oui'  daye  is  cheangit  in  to  nycht.  Ill 

With  that  thay  rais,  &  flew  furth  out^''  of  my  sycht, 

\^  Pen^nie  in  hart,  passing  full  soberlie, 
Onto  the  see^^  fordwart  I  furo  anone  : 


1  E  pituous         2  Y,  selye         ^  E  Thay         *  E  drapis 

s  E  tornit         "^  E  daseis         ^  E  rewis         ^  E  golding 

"  E  Changeyng         i"  E  omitted         "  E  sey 


THE    DREME. 


267 


The  see"'  was  furtli ;  fclie  sand  wes  smoitli-  &  ciryye. 
Than  vp  and  doun  I  niusit  niyne  alone,  116 

Tyll  that  I  spyit  ane  lytill  Caue  of  stone, 
Heych  in  ane  craig  :  vpwart  I  did  apj^M-oche, 
But  tarying,  and  clam  vp  in  the  Koclie, 

And  purposit,  for  passing  of  the  tyme, 

Me^  to  defende  fronie  Ociositie, 

With  pen  and  paper  to  Eegester,  in  ryme, 

Sum  mery  mater  of  Antiquitie. 

Bot  Idelnes,  ground  of  iniquitie, 

Scho  maid  so  dull  my  spretis  me  Avithin, 

That  I  wyste  noclit  at  quhat  end  to  begin ; 


passed  on  to  tlio 
sea,  cliinbecl  up  a 
rock, 


120 

•    1/ 

and  sat  down  in  a 
nook,  intending 
124:    to  write 

something. 


Bot  satt  styll,  in  that  coue,  quhare  I  mycht  se 

The  woltryng*  of  the  wallis^  vp  and  doun,  128 

And  this  fals  wardlis  Instabilytie 

Unto^  that  sey  makkand  comparisoun, 

And  of  the  wardlis"  wraclieit  variasoun,^ 

To  thame  that  fixis  all^  lliare  hole^^  intent,  132 

Considdryng  qulio  moste  had  suld  moste  repent. 

So  with  my  hude  my  hede  I  happit  warme, 

And  in.  my  cloke  I  fauldit  boith  my  feit ; 

I  thocht  my  corps  with  cauld  suld  tak  no  harnie,^!  136 

My  mittanis  held  my  handis  weili  in  heit  •. 

The  skowland  craig  me  couerit  frome  the  sleit. 

Thare  styll  I  satt,  my  bonis  for  to  rest, 

Tyll  Morpheus  with  sleip  my  spreit  opprest.  1 40 

So,  throw  the  boustious  blastis  of  Eolus, 
And  throw  my  walkyng  on  the  nycht  before, 
And  throuch  the  seis  mouyng  maruellous,^^ 
Be  J^eptunus,  with  mony  route  and  rore, 
Constranit  I  was  to  sleip,  withouttin  more ; 
And  quliat  I  dremit,  in  conclusioun, 
I  sail  30W  tell, — ane  maruellous^^  visioun.   ( 

'^     FINIS. 


While  I  was 
musing  tlreie. 


sleep  overcame 
inc. 


144    '*'"1 1  dreamed  as 
follows. 


1  E  sey         2  E  gmotbe         ^  j;  ^,^,1         4  g  waltreyng 

6  E  vallis         **  E  Ou  to         ''  E  warldlis         ^  j<;  vvariKOime 

9  E  on  it         10  E  omitted         "  E  nocht  tak  harine 

^^  E  mcrualus  i''  E  merueloua 


2G8 


V^  HEIR  ENDISi  THE  PROLOUG,  AND  FOLLOWIS' 
THE  DREME.3 


E  thocht  ane  lady,  of  portratour  pe?-fyte,    148 

Did  salus  me,  \iith  benyng  contynance ; 
I    And  I,  qiihilk  of  hir  p?-esens  had  delyte. 


A  l.iJy,  Remem- 
brariee,  accosted 
nie. 


Slie  li^d  come 
cheer  me  up. 


Tyl  hir  agane  maid  humyl  reuerence, 
And  hir  demandit,  sauyng*  hir  plesance,  152 

Quhat  Aves  liir  name  :  scho  answerit  courtesly  : 
Dame  Eemembrance,  scho  said,  callit  am  I ; 

Quhilk  cummyng  is  for  pastyme  and  plesoure 
Oif  the,  and  for  to  heir  the  companye,  156 

Because  I  se  thy  spreit  withoute  mesonre 
to   (So  sore°  perturbit  be  malancolye, 

Causyng  thy  corps  to  vaxin  cauld  and  drye  ;  ) 
Tharefor,  get  vp,  and  gang,  anone,  with  me.  IGO 

So  war  we  boith,  in  twynkling  of  ane  Ee, 

Doun  throAv  the  eird,^  in  myddis  of  the  centeir, 
Or  euer  I  wyste,  in  to  the  lawest  hell. 
In  to  tliat  cairfull  coue  quhen  Ave  did  enter,  164 

She  escorted  me     3owtyng  and  30wlyng  Ave  hard,  Avith  mony  3ell : 
In  flame  of  fyro,  rycht  furious  and  fell. 
Was  cryand  mony  cairfull  creature, 
Blasphemand  God,  and  waryand  nature.  168 

Thare  sawe  we  diuers  Papis  and  Empriouris, 
Withoute  recouer,  mony  cairfull  kyngis ; 
Thare  sawe  Ave  mony  Avrangous  Conquerouris, 
Withouttiii  rycht,  reiffaris  of  vtheris  ryngis  :  172 

The  men  of  kirk  lay '^  boundin  in  to  byngis. 
Tliare  saw  Ave  mony  cairfull  Cardinal!, 
And  Archebischopis  in  thare  pontificall, 

1  E  Endit  2  E  Followith 

3   E   after   Heading  has   Thessalon.    V.   Propbetias  uolite 
spernere.     Oniiiia  autem  probate  :  quod  bonum  est  teuete, 
*  E  saving         ^  E  soir        "  E  erd         ">  E  law 


where  I  saw 
popes,  emperors, 
kings, 


THE    DREME. 


269 


Proude  and  peruerst  PrelattiV,  out  of  nummer, 
Priouris,  Abbottis,  and  fals  flattrand  freris, — 
To  specify  e  thame  all,  it  wer  ane^  cummer, — 
Eegulare  cha?monis,  cliurle-  monki'.s,  &  cliartarers, 
Curious  clerkis,  and  preistis  seculeris  : 
Thare  was  sum  part  of  ilk  Eeligioun, 
In  haly  kirk  quhilk  did  abusioun. 

QCf"  Than  I  demandit  dame  Eemembrance^ 
The  cause  of  thir*  Prelattis  punysioun. 
Scho  said,  the  cause  of  thare  vnhappy  chance 
Was  Couatyce,  Luste,  and  ambusioun,^ 
The  quhilk  now  garris  thame  want  fruitioun 
Off  God,  and  heir  eternallie  man^  dwell 
In  to  this  painefuU  poysonit  pytt  of  hell. 

Als,  thay/did  nocht  instruct  the  Ignorent, 

Prouocand  thame  to  pennence,  be  precheing, 

Eot  seruit  warZdlie  Prencis  insolent, 

And  war  promouit  be  thare  fen3eit  flecheing,'^ 

Nocht  for  thare  science,  wysedome,  nor  techeing  : 

Be  Symonie  was  thare  promotioun, — 

More  for  deneris  nor  for  deuotioun. 

U  Ane^  vther  cause  of  the^  punysioun. 
Off  thir  vnhappy  prelattis,  Imprudent, 
Thay  maid  nocht  equale  distributioun 
Off  haly  kirk  the  Patrimonie  and  rent ; 
Bot  temporallie  thay  haue  it  all  mispent, 
Quhilkis  suld  haue  bene  trypartit  in  to  thre  : 
Pirst,  to  vphauld  the  kirk  in  honestie ; 

The  secunde  part,  to  sustene  thare  aistatis ; 
The  thrid  part,  to  be  gewin  to  the  puris. 
Bot  thay  dispone  that  geir  all  vther  gaittis, — 
On  cartis,  and  dyce,  on  harllotrie,  and  huris  : 


17G 


180 


184 


and  hosts  of  the 
religious. 


Why  were  they  in 
torment  ? 


188 


192 


Some  of  the 
causes 


19G 


200    speeifieil  that 
consigned 


204 


these  sacred 
personages 


1  E  bot         2  E  chrul         3  g  Kememberance         *  E  tbair 

6  E  aiiibitioun         6  E  manne         ^  E  flencbyng         »  p^  g  And 

9  E  omitted 


270 


THE    DREME. 


to  perdition. 


There  were 
Simon  Magus, 
Caiaphas, 


Annas,  Judas, 
Mahomet,  &c.  &c. 


Disobedience  and 
abuse  sorely 
visited. 


Plame  attributed 
to  Constantine. 


Temporal 


Thir  catyuis  take  no  compt  of  tliair  awin  curis ; 
Thare  kirkis  rewin,  thare  ladjds  clenely  cled, 
And  ryclielye  rewlit,  boitli  at  burde  and  bed. 

Thare  bastarde  barnis  proudely  tliay  prouydit ; 
The  kirk  geir  larglye  thay  did  on  thame  spende  : 
In  thare  difaltis,  thare  subdetis  Aver  misgydit, 
And  comptit  nocht  thare  God  for  tyll  offend, 
Quliilk  gart  tham  want  grace  at  thair  letter  end. 
Eewland  that^  rowte  I  sawe,  in  Capis  of  Bras, 
Symone  Magus,  and  byschope  Cayphas. 

Byschope  Annas,  and  the  treatour  ludas, 
Machomete,  that  Proj)heit  poysonabyll, 
Choro,  Dathan,  and  Abirone  thare  was  : 
Heretykis  we  sawe  vnmimerabyll. 
It  wes-  ane  sycht  rycht  wounderons  lamentabyll, 
Qnhow  that  thay  lay,  in  to  tlia^  flammis  lletyng, 
With  cairfull  cry  is,  girnyng,  and  greityng. 

H  Religious  men  wer  punyste  panefullie, 
For  vaine  glore,  als,  for  Inobedience, — 
Brekand  thare  constitutionis  wylfullie, 
Nocht  haifFand  thare  Ouermen  in  reuerence. 
To  knaw  thare  rewle  thay  maid  no  delygence  : 
Unleifsumlie  thay  vsit  propertie, 
Passing  the  boundis  of  wylfull  pouertie. 

Full  sore  wepyng,  with  vocis  lamentabyll, 
Thay  cryit  lowde  :  0  Empriour  Constantyne, 
We  may  wyit  thy*  possessioun  poysonabyll 
Olf  all  our  gret  punysioun  and  pyne. 
Quhowbeit  thy  purpose  was  tyll  ane  gude  fyne, 
Thow  baneist^  frome  ws  trcw  deuotiomi, 
Haiffand  sic  Ec  tyll  our  promotioun. 

H  Than  we  beheld  ane  den  full  dolorous, 
Quharc  that  Prencis  and  lordis  tcmporall 


208 


212 


21G 


220 


224 


228 


232 


236 


240 


1  E  the         2  E  was         3  e  that         ^  E  thay 


E  baiiest 


THE    DREME, 


271 


"War  Cruciate^  with  panis  regoroiis. 

Bot,  to  expreme  tliare  panis  in  speciall, 

It  dois  exceid  all  my  memoriall : 

Importabyll  painc  thay  had,  but  confortyng  :  244 

Thare  blude  royall  maid  thame  no  supportyng. 

Sum  catyue  kyngis,  for  crcuell  oppressioun, 

And  vther  sum,  for  thare  wrangus  conquest, 

"War  condampnit,  thay  and  thare  Successioun  ;         248 

Sum,  for  publict  adultrye  and  incest : 

Sum  leit  thare  peple  neuer  leif  in  rest, 

Delyting  so  in  plesour  sensuall ; 

Quharefor  thare  paine  was,  thare,  perpetual!. 

^  Thare  Avas  the  cursit  Empriour  N"ero, 
Off  euerilk  vice  the  horrabyll  wesuiiell ; 
Thare  was  Pharo,  with  diuers  Prencis  mo, 
Oppressouris  of  the  barnis  of  Israeli ; 
Herode,  and  mony  mo  than  I  can  tell : 
Ponce  Pylat  was  thare,  hangit  be  the  hals. 
With  vniuste  lugis,  for  thare  sentence  fals. 

Dukis,  Merquessis,  Erlis,  Barronis,  Knychtis,  2G0 

With  thay  Prencis,  wer  punyst  panefuUie ; 

Partycipant  thay  wer  of  thare  vnrychtis. 

Fordwarte  we  went, — and  leit  thir  Lordis  lye, — 

And  saw  quhare  ladyis,  lamentabyllie,  264 

Lyke  wod  Lyonis,  cairfullie  cryand. 

In  flam  of  fyre  rycht  furiouslie  fryand  : 

Emprices,^  Quenis,  and  ladyis  of  honouris, 

Mony  Duches,  and  Comptas,  full  of  cair.  268 

Thay  peirsit  myne  hart,  thay  tender  creaturis, 

So  pynit,  in  that  pytt,  full  of  dispare, 

Plungit  in  paine,  with  mony  reuthfull  rair : — • 

Sum,  for  thare  pryde  ;  sum,  for  Adultrye ;  272 

Sum,  for  thare  tyisting  men  to  Lechurye ; 

'  E  Curciate  '^  E  omitted 

MONARCHE,   II. 


princes  mid 
nobles  were 
punislieil  in  a 
place  apart, 


for  tlieir  eriieify, 
sensuality,  Sic, 


252 


256    Snoli  were  Nero, 
Pharaoh, 
Pontius  Pilate, 


dukes,  mar- 
qu3sses,  earls.  Sec., 


empresses, 
queens, 
duchesses,  &c. 


272 


THE   DREME. 


Of  their  vicious 
lives. 


passed  without 
rei>eiituntt'. 


Sum  had  bene  creuell  and  malicius ; 
Sum,  for  making  of  wrangous  lieretouris. 
For  to  rehers  tliare  lyffis  vitious, 
It  wer  boti  tarye  to  the  auditouris  : 
Off  Lychorye  thay  Aver  the  verray  luris  : 
With  thare  prouocatyue  Impudicitie, 
Brocht  mony  ane  man  to  Infelicitie. 


276 


280 


Sum  wemen,  for  thare  pussillamytie, 

Ouerset  v/ith  schame,  thay  did  thame  ueuer  schryue 

Off  secreit  Synnis  done  in  quietie ; 

And  sum  repentit  neuer  in  thare  lyue  :  284 

Quhairfor,2  but  reuth  tha^  rufifeis  did  thame  ryue, 

]Jegorushe,  "withoute  compassioun  : 

Gret  was  thare  dule  and  lamentatioim. 


How  they 
bewiiiled  their 
state, 


That  we  wer"*  maid,  thay  cryit  oft,  allace  !  288 

Thus  Tormentit  Avith  panis  Intollerabyll. 

We  mendit  nocht,  quhen  we  had  tyme  and  space, 

Bot  tuke,  in  eird,  our  lustis  delectabyll : 

Quharfor,  with  feindis,  vgly  and  horrabyU,  292 

We  ar  condampnit  for  euer  more,  allace  ! 

Etemahe,  withoiittin  hope  of  grace. 


IT  Quhare  is  the  meit  and  drynke  delicious. 
With  quhilk  we  fed  our  cairfull  cariounis, —  296 

Gold,  syluer,  sylk,  with  peirlis  precious, 
recurring  to  their    Qur  ryches,  reutis,  and  our  possessionis  ? 

former  comforts. 

Withouttin  hope  of  our  remissionis, 

Allace  !  our  panis  ar  Insuflerabyll,  300 

And  our  tormentis  to  compt  Innumirabyll. 

!^  Than  we  beheld  quhare  mony  ane  thousand 
Of  the  fry  Comoun  pcplc  laye  llichtrand  in  tin;  fyre  : 

Off  euerilk  stait  thare  was  ane  bailfull  baml.  304 


'  E  war  to         =*  E  Quliarefor         =  E  tliat         ■*  E  war 


THE    DREME. 


273 


Thare  mycht  be  sene  mony  sorrowfull  Syre  : 

Sum  for  Inuy  suEferit ;  and  sum,  for  Yre  ; 

And  sum,  for  laik  of  restitutioun 

Off  wrangous  geir,  without  remissiouu  :  308 

Mansworne  mercliand/^,  for  ^7^ar  wTangus  winning  j 
Hurdaris  of  gold,  and  commoun  Occararis  ; 
Fals  men  of  Law,  in  Cautelis  rycht  cunning  ; 
Theiffis,  reuaris,  and  publict  oppressaris. 
Sum  part  thair  was  of  vnleill  Lauboraris  : 
Craftismen  thair  saw  we,  out  of  nummer. 
OS  ilke  stait  to  declare  it  wer  ane  cummer ; 

Y"^  And,  als,  langsum  to  nie  for  tyll  Indyte 
Off  this  presoun  the  panis  in  speciall. 
The  heit,  the  calde,  the  dolour,  and  dispyte, 
Quharefor,  I  speik  of  thame  in  generall, — 
That  dully  den,  that  furneis  Infernall,  320 

Quhose  reward  is  rew,  without  remede, 
Euer  deyand,  and  neuer  to  be  dede  ; 

Hounger^  and  tlnist,  in  steid  of  meit  and  drynk, 

Aaid,  for  thare  clethyng,  tadis  and  Scorpionis.  324 

That  myrke  Mansioun  is  tapessit  with  stynk ; 

Thay  se  bot  horrabyll  visionis  ; 

Thay  heir  bot  scorne  and  derysionis 

Off  foule  feindis,  and  blasphemationis ;  328 

Thare  feilljmg  is  Importabyll  passionis  ; 

IT  For  melody,  miserabyll  mumyng. 
Thare  is  na^  solace,  bot  dolour^  Infinyte, 
In  bailfull  beddis  bitterlye  burnyng,  332 

With  sobbyng,  syching,  sorrow,  and  with  syte, 
Thare  conscience  thare  hartis  so  did  byte. 
To  heir  thame  flyte,  it  was  ane  cace  of  cair, 
So  in  dispyte,  phmgeit  in  to  dispair.  336 


of  folk  1( 
exalted. 


312    including 
merchants, 
lawyers,  &c.,  &c. 


316 


Touching  Hell,  as 
to  temperature. 


personal  discom- 
forts. 


and  doleful 
noises. 


'  E  Hunsrer 


E  no         ^  E  dolur 


T   2 


274 


THE    DREME. 


Tlien  we  visited 
Puigatoiy, 


tlirough  wliicU 
we  hurried  on 


A  lytill  aboue  that  dolorous  doTingeoun,^ 

We  enterit  in  ane  couutre^  full  of  cair, 

Quhare  that  we  saw  mony  ane  legioun 

Greitand  and  gowland  with  mony  reuthful  rair.        340 

Quhat  place  is  this,  quod  I,  of  hlys  so  hair  1 

Scho  answerit  and  said  :  Purgatorye, 

Quhilk  purgis  Saulis,  or  they  cum  to  glorye. 

(d^  I  se  no  plesour  heir,  hot  mekle  paine ;  344 

Quharefor,  said  I,  leif  we  this  sorte  in  thrall : 
I  purpose  neuer  to  cum  heir  agane ; 
Bot,  ^it,  I  do  beleue,  and  euer  sail, 
That  the  trew  kirk  can  no  waye  erre  at  all.  348 

Sic  thyng  to  be  gret  Clerkis  dois  conclude ; 
Quhowbeit,  my  hope  standis  most  in  cristis  blude. 

IT  Abufe  that,  in  the  thrid  presoun,  anone 
We  enterit  in  ane  place  of  perditione,  352 

Quhare  mony  babbis  war  makand  drery  mono, 
Because  thay  wantit  the  fruitioun 
Off  God,  quhilk  was  ane  gret  punytioun  : 
Off  Baptisme  thay  wantit  the  Ansen^e.  356 

Upwart  we  went — and  left  that  myrthles  men3e — 


In  tyll  ane  volt,  abone  that  place  of  paine, 
Unto  the  quhilk,  but  sudgeorne,  we  ascendit. 
That  was  the  Lymbe,  in  the  quhilk  did  remaine      360 
amito the Limbus  Our  Forefatheris,  because  Adam  offendit, 
Etand  the  fruit  the  quhilk  was  defendit.^ 
Mony  ane  3eir  thay  dwelt  in  that  doungeoun, 
In  myrknes  and  in  desolatioun.  364 

Than,  throuch  the  erth,  of  nature  cauld  and  dry, 
Glaid  to  eschaip  those  places  parrelous, 
Ti.eii  we  passed     We  haistit  ws,  rycht  wounder  spedalye  : 

up  tliruu^li 

3it  we  beheld  the  secretis  maruellous,  368 


to  the  Liinbus 
Puerorum, 


E  dolorus  dunL'eouii 


*  E  cuntre 


^  E  line  3U2  omitted 


THE    DREME.  275 

The  Mynis  of  gold  and  stonis  precious,  the  bowels  of  the 

Off  syluer,  and  of  euerilk  fyne  mettell, 
Quhilk  to  declare  it  wer  oner  lang  to  dwell. 

Up,  tlirouch.  tlie  waiter,  schortlie  we  Intendit,  372 

Quhilk  Inuirons  the  erth,  Avithouttin  doute  ; 

Syne,  throw  the  air  schortlie  Ave  ascendit,  n"ti  tiuongii  the 

upper  air. 

His  Regionis  tlirouch,  behaldyng  in  and  outc, 
Quhilk  erth  and  waiter  closis  round  aboute  :  376 

Syne,  schortlie  vpwarte  throw  the  fj-Te  we  went, 
Quhilk  Aves  the  hiest  and  hotest  Eliment. 

Quhen  we  had  all  thir  Elimentis  ouer  past, — 

That  is  to  saye,  Erth,  waiter,^  air,  and  fyre,—  380 

Upwart  we  went,  withouttin  ony  rest. 

To  se  the  Ileuynnis  was  our  maist  desyre  :  beyond  tiie  seven 

planets : 

Bot,  or  we  niycht  ^VJ^1  to  the  heuin  Impyre, 

We  behuffit  to  passe  the  Avay,  full  CAA'in,  384 

Up  tlirouch  the  Speris  of  the  Planetis  sewin  ; 

Y-^  First,  to  the  Mone, —  and  vesyit  all  hir  speir, — 

Quene  of  the  see,  and  bewtie  of  the  nycht. 

Off  nature  Avak  and  cauld,  and  no  thyng  clere  ;         388 

For,  of  hir  self,  scho  hes  none  vther  lycht  iKimciy,  the 

Moon ; 

Bot  the  reflex  of  Phebus  hemes  brycht : 

The  tAvelf  singnis  scho  passis  rounde  aboute 

In  audit  and  twenty  dayis,  Avithouttia  doute.  392 

IT  Than  Ave  ascendit  to  Mercurious, 
Quhilk  Poetis  callis  god  of  Eloquence, 
Eycht  Doctourlyke,  Avith  ternies  delicious. 
In  arte  exparte,  and  full  of  sapience  :  396  sprightly 

Mercury ; 

It  wes^  plesour  to  pans  on  his  prudence.^ 
Payntours,  Poetis  ar  subiect  to  his  cure ; 
And  hote  and  dry  he  is,  of  his  nature. 

And,  als,  as  cunnyng  Astrologis  sayis,  400  radiant 

lie  dois  compleit  his  cours,^  naturallie, 

1  E  viitlci-         ^  E  was         '  E  prudense         *  E  curis 


276  THE    DUEME. 

In  thre  hoimdretli,  and  audit,  and  thretty  dayis. 
Syne,  vpwart  we  ascendit,  haistelye, 
Venus,  To  fair  TJenus,  quhare  scho  ryclit  lustelie  40-4 

Was  set  in  to  ane  sett  of  syluer  scliene, — 
That  fresche  Goddes,  tliat  lustie  luflfis  quene. 

Thay  peirsit^  myne  hart,  hir  blenkis  amorous  : 
Quhowbeit  that,  sumtyme,  scho  is  chengeabyll,         408 
With  countynance  and  cheir  full  dolorous, 
amorous  and         Quhylu?wmis,  rycht  plesaud,  glaid,  and  delectabyll, 

beautiful,  '' 

Sumtyme,  constant,  and,  sumtyme,  variabyll, 

3it  hir  bewtie,  resplendand  as  the  fyre,  412 

Swagis  tlie  wraith  of  Mars,  that  god  of  Yre. 

This  plesand  Planeit,  geue  I  can  rycht  discriue, 
Scho  is  baith  bote  and  wak,^  of  hir  nature  : 
That  is  the  cause,  scho  is  prouocatyue,  416 

and  provoking       Tvll  all  tliame  that  ar  subiect  to  hir  cure, 

love;  ■^  ' 

To  TJenus  werkis  tyll  that  thay  may  Indure  : 

Als,  scho  completis  hir  coursis  naturall 

In  twelf  monethis,  withouttin  ony  fall.  420 

IT  Than  past  we  to  the  speir  of  Phebus  brycht. 
That  lusty  lampe  and  lanterne  of  the^  heuin, 
And  glader*  of  the  sterris^  with  his  lycht, 
the  Sun,  And  principall  of  all**  the  planctis  sewin,  424 

And  satt  in  myddis  of  thame  all,  full  CAvin, 
As  Eoye  royall,  rollyng  in  his  sj^eir. 
Full  plesandlie,  in  to  his  goldin  Choir, — 

Quhose  Influence  and  vertew  excellent  428 

Geuis  the  lyfe  tyll  eucrilk  erthlie  thyng  : 
That  Prince  of  euerilk  planeit,  precellent, 
tiie  source  of  all     Dois  fostcr  flouris,'^  and  garris  heirbis^  spryng 

life 

Tlirouch  the  cauld  eirth,  and  causis  birdis  syng  :       432 

'  E  pairsit         "  E  vnk         •=  E  omitted         ^  E  gylder 
*  E  sternis         ^  E  omitted         '  E  fluris         "  E  lierbis 


THE    DREME.  277 

And,  als,  his  regiilare  mouyng  in  the  hewin  on  earth, 

Is  luste  vnder  the  Zodiack,  full  ewin. 

{^  For  to  discryiie  his  diadame  Eoyall, 

Eordourit  aboute  with  stonis  schyning  brycht,  436 

His  goldin  Cairt,  or  throne^  Imperial!, 

The  foure  stedis  that  drawis  it  fall  rycht,  ana  eor^'eous 

beyond  my 

I  leif  to  Poetis  ;  because  I  haue  no  slycht :  describing; 

Bot^  of  his  nature,  he  is  bote  and  drye,  440 

Completand,  in  ane  ^eir,  his  coiirs,  trewlie. 

Than  vp  to  Mars,  in  bye,  we  haistit  ws, — 

Wounder  bote,  and  dryer  than  the  toilnder;^ 

His  face  flamand,  as  fyre  rycht  furious :  444 

His  host  &  brag,  more  auf  ull  than  the  thounder,  fiery  Mars, 

Maid  aU  tJie  heuin  most  lyk  to  schaik^  in  schonder. 

Quba  wald  behauld  his  countynance  and  feir, 

Mycht  call  hym,  Weill,  the  god  of  men  of  weir  :        448 

With  colour  reid,  and  luke  malicious, 

Eycbt  colerick  of  his  complexioun, 

Austeir,  angry e,  sweir,  and  sedutious, 

Principal!  cause  of  the  distructioun  452  fruitful  of 

destruction; 

Off  mony  gude  and  nobyll  Eegioun  : 
War  noclit  Ueniis  his  yre  dois  metigate, 
This  warld  of  peace*  wald  be  full  desolate. 

This  god  of  greif,  witliouttin  sudgeornyng,  456 

In  3eris  twa  his  cours  lie  doith  compleit. 

Than  past  we  vp  quliare  lupiter,  t!ie  k}Tig, 

Satt  in  his  speir,  rycht  amialjjdl  and  sweit,  Jupiter, 

Complexionate  with  waknes^  and  wit!i  heit.  460 

That  plesand  Prince,  fair,  dulce,  and  delicate, 

Prouokis  peace*  and  banesis  debait. 

The  auld  Poetis,  be  superstitioun,  feignei,  of  old. 

Held  lupiter  the  Father  principal!  464 

'  E  troae         ^  E  thounder         ^  E  schak         ^  E  pace 
''  E  waikucs 


278 


THE    DREME. 


to  be  king  of  all 
the  gods ; 


imd  Satum, 


every  way 
disastrous. 


Off  all  tliare  goddes,  in  conclusioun, 

Por  his  prerogatyuis  iii  speciall : 

Ah,  he  liis  vertew,  in  to  geiierall, 

To  anlde  Saturne  he  makis  resistance,  468 

Qiilieu,  in  his  malice,  he  walde  wyrk  vengeance. 

This  lupiter,  withouttin  sudgeornyng, 

Passis  throw  all  the  twelf  planetis,  full  ewin, 

In  3eris  twelf  :  and,  than,  but  tarying,  472 

We  past  vnto  the  hiest^  of  the  sewin, — 

Tyll  Saturnus,  quhilk  trublis  all  the  he  win 

With  heuy  cheir,  and  cuUour  paill  as  leid. 

In  hyin  we  sawe  hot  dolour  to  the  deid  :  476 

And  caidd  and  dry  he  is,  of  his  nature, 

Toule  lyke  ane  Oule,  of  euyll  conditioun  : 

Eycht  vnplesand  he  is  of  portrature. 

His  Intoxicat  dispositioun,  480 

It  puttis  all  thyng  to  perditioun, — 

Ground  of  seiknes  and  malancolious, 

Peruerst  and  pure,  baith  fals  and  Inuyous. 

Y-^  His  qualite  I  can  nocht  loue,  bot  lack.  484 

As  for  his  mouyng,  naturallie,  but  weir,^ 
About  the  singis  of  the  Zodiack, 
Then  we  leachect    He  dois  coiupleit  his  coui's  ill  tlirctty  2eir  : 

the  firmaaient,  "^ 

And  SO  we  left  hym  in  his  frosty  speir.  488 

Upwarte  we  did  ascend,  Incontinent, 
But  rest,  tyll  we  come  to  the  Firmament, 

The  quhilk  was  fixit  full  of  sterris  brycht. 

Off  figour  round,  rycht  plesand  and  perfytc,  492 

Quhose  influence,  and  rycht  excellent  lyclit, 

And  quhose  nummer,  may  noclit  be  put  in  wryte.^ 

3it,  cunnyng  Clerkis  dois  naturallyo  indyte, 

How  that  he  dois  compleit  bis  cours,  but  weir,  496 

In  space  of  sewin  and  thrctty  tliousand  3011-. 

'  E  heist         =  E  voir         '  E  vryto 


BtocUcd  with 
stars, — 


THE    DREME. 


279 


Tlian  tlie  nynt  Speir,  and  mouaro  principall 
Off  all  the  laif,  wo  vesyit, — all  that  hcuin 
Quhose  daylie  motioun  is  contyneuall : 
Eaith  firmament  and  all  the  planetis  sewin, 
Fronie  est  to  west/  garris  thame  turne,^  fall  ewin, 
In  to  the  space  of  four  and  twenty  houris.^ 
3it,  be  the  myndis  of  the  Austronomouris,^ 

The  sewin  Planetis,  in  to  thare  proper  speris, 

Frome  west^  to  est,  thay  moue,  naturallie, 

Sum  swyft,  sum  slaw,  as  to  thare  kynde  afferis, — 

As  I  haue  schawin,  afore,  speciallie, — 

Quhose  motioun  causis  contynewallie 

Eycht  melodious  harmonie  and  sound. 

And  all  throw  mouyng  of  those  Planetis  round. 

Than  montit  we,  with  rycht  feruent  desyre, 
Up  throw  the  heuin  callit  Christallyne ; 
And  so  we  enterit  in  the  heuin  Impyre, — 
Quhilk  to  discryue  it  passis  myne  Ingyne, — 
Quhare  God,  in  to  his  holy  throne  dcuyne, 
Eyngis,  in  to  his  glore^  Inestimabyll, 
"With  Angellis  cleir,  quhilkis  ar  Innumirabyll. 

In  Ordouris  nyne  thir  spretis  glorious 
Ar  deuydit,  the  quhilkis  excellentlye 
Makis  louyng,  with  sound  melodious, 
Syngand  Sanctus  rycht  woundcr  feruentlyo. 
Thir  ordouris  nyne  thay  ar  full  plesandlye 
Deuydit  in  to  lerarcheis  three, 
And  thre  Ordouris  in  euerilk  lerarche. 

The  lawest  ordoure  ar  of  Angelis  brycht, 
As  Messingeris  send  vnto  this  law  Eegioun  ; 
The  secund  ordour,  Archangelis,  full  of  mycht, 
Uirtus,  Potestatis,  Principatis'^  of  renoun  ; 


500 

whicli  moves 
round  the  earth, 


504 


508    ''^  ''°  "^^  planets, 
witli  harmony, 


512 


516 


and,  finally, 
Heaven. 


520 


There,  with  God, 
are  angels. 


524 


528 


'  E  wast         -  E,  P  omitted         3  g,  P  ^eris 

*  P  Austronomeris,  E  Astronomeris        *  E  vast       ^  E  he  glore 

'  E  Putestas,  Principatus 


280 


THE    DREME. 


And  thevo  is  the 
Tiinity, 


which  no  man 
can  understand. 


The  saxt  is  callit  Dominatioun ; 

The  sewmt,  Thronus  ;  the  auchtin,  Chcrubin  ; 

The  nynt  and  heast,  callit  Seraphin.  532 

(C?*  And,  nyxt,  on  to  the  blyssit  Tiynitie, 
In  his  Tryumphant^  throne  Imperiall : — 
Thre  in  tyll  one,  and  one  substance  in  thre, 
Quhose  indiuisabyll  esscns  eternall  536 

The  rude  Ingyne  of  mankynd  is  to  small 
Tyll  comprehend,  quhose  power  Infinyte 
And  deuyne  nature  no  Creature  can  wryte. 

So,  myne  Ingyne  is  nocht  suffecient  540 

For  to  treit  of  his  lieych  Deuinitie  : 

All  mortal  men  ar  Insufficient 

Tyll  considder  thay  thre  in  vnitie. 

Sic  subtell  mater  I  man,  on  neid,  lat  be :  544 

To  study  on  my  Creid  it  war  full  fair, 

And  lat  Doctouris  of  sic  hie  niateris  declare. 


We  saw,  also, 
Christ,  in  His 
humanity  j 


the  B.  v.,  with 
Her  attendants ; 


Than  we  beheld  the  blyste  Humanitie 

Off  Christe,  sittand  in  to  his  Sege  Eoyall,  548 

At  the  rycht  hand  of  the  Deuynitie, 

"With  ane  excelland  courte  Celestiall, 

Quhose  exersitioun  contynewall 

"Was  in  louyng  thair  Prince  with  reuerence  ;  552 

And  on  this  Avyse  thay  kepit  ordinance. 

!N"yxt  to  the  Throne  we  saw  tlie^  Queue  of  Quenis, 

Weill  cumpanyit  with  Lady  is  of  delyte  : 

Sweit  was  the  sang  of  those  blyssit  Uirginnis  :  556 

No  mortall  man  thare  solace  may  indyte. 

The  Angellis  brycht,  in  nummcr  infinyte, — 

Euerilk  ordour  in  thare  awln  degre, — 

War  officiaris  vnto  the  deite.^  560 


'  E  Tryuiiipliand  '  E  tliat 


E,  P  dicte 


THE    DUEME. 


281 


Patriarlvis  and  Proplietis  honorabyll, 
Collatcrall  counsalouris  in  his  consistorye, 
Euangellistis,  Apostolis  venerabyll, 
\Yar  Capitanis  on  to  the  Kyng  of  Glorye, 
Quhilk  Chiftane  lykc  had  woun^  the  Uictorye. 
Off  that  tryumphand  courte  celestiall 
Sanct  Peter  was  Lufetenand  generall. 


564    patriarchs, 

prophets,  &c., 
lieaded  by 
S.  Peter ; 


The  Martyris  war  as  nobyll  stalwart  Knychtis, —     568 

Discomfatouris  of  creuell  battellis  thre, 

The  flesche,  the  warld,  the  feind,  &  all  his  myelitis  ; 

Confessouris,  Doctouris  in  Diuinitie, 

As  Chapell  clerkis  on  to  his  deite  : 

And,  last,  we  sawe  infinyte  mnltytude 

Makand  seruycc  vnto  his-  Celsitude, 


572    Ac- 


martyrs,  con- 
fessors, D.D.'i 


Quhilkis,  be  the  hie  Deuyne  permissionn, 

Filicitie  thay  had  Inuariabyll :  576 

And  of  his  Godhed  cleir  cognitioun  ; 

And  compleit  peace  thay  had,  Interminabyll : 

Thare  glore  and  honour  Avas  Inseparabyll. 

That  plesand  place,  repleit  of  pulchritude,  580 

Innumirabyll  it  was  of  magnitude. 


Of  their  unchang- 
ing felicity. 


Thare  is  plentie  of  all  plesouris  perfyte, 

Euident  brychtnes,  but  obscuritie  ; 

Withouttin  dolour,  dulcore  and  delyte ;         .  584 

Withouttin  rancour,  perfyte  Cheritie  ; 

"Withouttin  hunger,  Sasiabilitie. 

0  happy  ar  those  Saulis  predestinate, 

Quhen  Saule  and  body  sail  be  glorificate  !  588 


Happy  are  those 
souls. 


Thir  maruellous  myrthis  for  to  declare, 
Be  Arthimatik  thay  ar  Innumirabyll ; 
The  portratour  of  that  palace^  preclare, 


whose  joys  are 
past  numbering, 
depicting. 


'  E  VOUU 


E  the 


E,  P  place 


282 


THE    DREME. 


and  imagining 


Even  S.  Paul 
could  not  do  them 
justice. 


In  vain  I  would 
have  stayed  there. 


My  conductress 
hurried  me  down 
again. 


I  questioned  her 
about  the  earth. 


By  Geomatre  it  is  Inmesurabyll ;  592 

By  Eethorike,  als,  Inpronunciabyll  i^ 

Tliare  is  none  eiris  may  heir,  nor  Eine  may  se, 

'Not  hart  may  thynk,  thare  greit^  felycitie. 

Quhare  to  sulde  I  presume  for  tyll  indyte —  596 

The  quhilk  Sanct  Paule,  that  doctour  .sapient, 

Can  nocht  expres,  nor  in  to  paper  wryte — 

The  hie  excelland  worke  Indeficient, 

And  perfyte  plesoure,  euer  parmanent,  600 

In  presens  of  that  mychtie  kyng  of  glore, 

Quhilk  was,  and  is,  and  sail  iDe^  euer  more  ! 

At  Eemembrance  humilye  I  did  inquyi-e, 

Geue  I  mycht  in  that  plesour  styll  remane.  604 

Scho  said  :  aganis  reasoun  is  thy  desyre  : 

Quharefor,  my  freind,*  thow  mon  returns  agane. 

And,  for  thy  Synnis,  be  pennance,  suffer  paine, 

And  thole  the  dede,  with  creuell  panis  sore,  608 

Or  thow  be  ding  to  ryng  with  hym  in  glore. 

Than  Ave  returnit,  sore  aganis  my  wyll, 

Doun  throw  the  speris  of  the  heuinuis  cleir. 

Hir  commandiment  behuffit  I  fulfyll,  612 

With  sorye  hart,  Avyt  ^e,  withouttin  weir. 

I  wald  full  faine  half  taryit  thare  all  3eir ; 

Bot  scho  said  to  me  :  thare  is  no  remede  : 

Or  thow  remane  heir,  first  thow  mon  be  dede.  616 

Quod  I  :  I  pray  30W  hartfullye,  madame. 

Sen  we  haue  had  sic  Contemplatioun 

Off  heuinlye  plesouris,  3it  or  we  passe  hame, 

Lat  ws  haue  sum  consideratioun  620 

Off  eirth,  and  of  his  Situatioun. 

Scho  answerit  and  said  :  that  sail  be  done. 

So  wer  we,  boith,  brocht  in  the  air,  full  soue, 


'  E  Impronuciabyll 


^  E,  P  omitted 
E  frind 


ilbc 


THE    DREME.  283 

Quliare  we  myclit  se  the  Ertli  all  at  one  syclit,         624 

Bot  lyke  one  moit,  as  it  apperit^  to  me, 

In  to  tlie  respect  of  the  heuinnia  brycht.  si'c  bi-onsiit  me 

within  siglii  of  ;t, 

I  haue  maruell,  quod  I,  quhow  this  may  be  :  minute  in  tiio 

The  eirth  semis  of  so  small  quantitie,  G28 

The  leist  Sterne  fixit  in  the  Firmament 

Is  more  than  all  the-  eirth,  be  my  lugment. 

FINIS. 

E  appeirit         ^  E  omitted 


284 


Wliat  is  the  size 
of  the  earth  ? 


It  is  50,750 
leiigucs 


in  circumfer- 
ence. 


{^  THE  QYANTITE  OF  THE  ERTH. 

Sclio  sayis  :  Sonne,  tliow  lies  schawin  the  veritie. 

The  smallest  sterne  fixit  in  the  firmament, 

In  (leid  it  is  of  greter  quantytie 

Than  all^  the  eirth,  efter  the  intent 

Off  wyse  and  cunnyng  Clerkis  sapient, 

Quhat  quantytie  is,  than,  the  eirth  ]  quod  le.^ 

That  sail  I  schaw,-^  quod  scho,  to  the  schortlie. 

Efter  the  myndis  of  the  Austronimouris, 
And,  speciallie,  the  Auctour  of  the  Speir, 
And  vther  diuers  gret  Phelosiphoui'is, 
The  quantytie  of  the  erth  Circideir 
Is  fyftie  thousand  liggis,  withouttin  weir, 
Sewin  houndreth,  and  fyftie,  and  no  mo, — 
Deuidyng,  aye,  ane  lig  in  mylis  two  : 


632 


636 


640 
644 


And  euerilk  myle  in  aucht  stagis  deuyde  : 

Ilk*  &taige,  ane  hundrith  pais,  twenty,  and  fyue  \ 

Ane  pais,  fyue  fute,  quha  wald  than  rycht^  desyde; 

Ane  fute,  four  palmes,  geue  I  can  rycht  discryue ;    648 

Ane  palme,  four  Inche ;  and,  quha  sa  wald  helyue 

The  Circuit  of  the  eirth  passe  round  aboute, 

Man  be  considderit  on  this  wyse,  but  doute. 

Suppone  that  thare  war  none  Impediment,  652 

Bot  that  the  eirth *"  but  perrell  wer,  and  plane. 

Syne,  that  the  persoun  wer  rycht  deligent. 

And  3eid,  ilk  day,  ten  liggis  in  certane, 

He  mycht  pas  round  aboute,  and  cum  agane,  656 

In  four  3eris,  saxtene  oulkis,  and  dayis  two  : 

Go  reid  the  Auctour,''  and  thow  sail  fynd  it  so. 

^  FINIS. 

'  E  omitted         ^  E  he         ^  E  scliaw  to  the         '  E  In 

*  Other  editious  here  read — tham  weil         "  E  erith 

'  E  Author 


285 


Y^  THE  DEUISIOUN  OF  THE   EIRTH. 

len,  certanlye,  sclio  tuke  me  be  the  hand, 
And  said  :  my  sone,  cwn  on  thy^  wayis  wilh 


me. 

And  so  scho  gart  me  cleirly  vnderstand 
How  that  the  eirth  trypartit  wes  in  thre, — 
In  Affrik,  Europe,  and  Assie, 
Efter  the  myndis  of  the  Cosmographouris, 
That  is  to  say,  the  wardlis  Discriptouris  ; 

First,  Asia  contenis  in  the  Orient, 

And  is,  Weill,  more  than  baith  the  vther  twane ; 

Affrik  and  Ewrope,  in  the  Occident, 

And  ar  deuydit  be  ane  sey,  certane. 

And  that  is  callit  the  see  Mediterane, 

Quhilk  at  the  strait  of  Marrok  lies  entre, 

That  is  betuix  Span3e  and  Barbarie. 

Towart  the  southwest  lyis  Affrica  ; 

And,  in  the  northwest,  Europa  doith  stand  ; 

And  all  2  the  est  contenis  Asia  : 

On  this  wyse  is  deuydit  the  ferme  land. 

It  war  mekle  to  me  to  tak  on  hand 

Thir  regionis  to  declare  in  speciall ; 

3it,  sail  I  schaw  thare  names  in  generall. 


GGO 


664 


668 


Tlie  earth  con- 
sists of  three 
parts. 


Their  relative 
magnitudes 


672 


676    and  situations. 


680 


In  mony  diuers  famous  Eegionis 
^  Is  deuydit  this  part  of  Asia, 
Weill  planesit^  with  Cieteis,  towris,  and  townis  : 
•  The  gret  Ynde,  and  Mesopotamia,  The  divisions 

Penthapolis,  Egypt,  and  Seria,  684 

Capadocia,  Seres,  and  Armenye, 
Babilone,  Caldia,  Perth,  and  Arabye, 

'  E  thay         ^  E  omitted         ^  plenisit 


286 


THE    DREME. 


Secloue,  ludea,  and  Palestina, 

Euer,  Sethea,  Tyir,  and  Galelie,  688 

Hiberia,  Bactria,  and  Phelestina, 
of  Asia.  Hircanea,  Compagena,  and  Samarie. 

In  lytill  Asia  standis  Galatliie, 

Pamphilia,  Isaria,  and  Leid,  G92 

Eegia,  Arathiisa,  Assiria,  and  Meid. 

1^  Secnndlie,  we  considderit  Africa, 
With  mony  fructfull^  famous  regioun, — 
As  Ethiope,  and  Tripolitana,  690 

those  of  Africa,      ^^wges,  quhare  standis  the  tiyumphant  touu 
Off  nobyll  Cartage,  that  ciete  of  renoun  ; 
Garamantes,  N"adabar,  Libia, 
Getulia,  and  Maritania,  700 

Futhensis,  Numedie,  and  Thingetane  : 

Off  Affrick  thir  ar  the  principall. 

Than  Ewrope  we  considderit,^  in  certane, 

Quhose  Regionis  schortlie  rehers  I  sail.  704 

Foure  principalh's  I  fynd  abone  thame  all, 

Quhilkis  ar  Spanje,  Italie,  and  France, 

Quhose  Suhregionis  wer  niekle^  tyll  auance  :* 

Nether  Scithia,  Trace,  and  Garmanie,  708 

Thusia,  Histria,  and  Panonia, 

Denmark,  Gotland,  Grunland,  and  Almanie, 

Pole,  Hungarie,  Boeme,  Norica,  Eethia, 

Teutonia,  and  mony  diuers  ma.  712 

And  was  in  foure  ^  deuidit  Italie, — 

Tuskane,  Ethuria,  Naiplis,  and  Champanye  : 

And  suhdeuydit  sindry  vther  wayis, 
As  Lumbardie,  Ueneis,  and  vther  ma,  7  1 6 

are  specified         Calaber,  Romanic,  and  lanewayis. 
In  Greco,  Eperus  and  Dalmatica, 


and  those  of 
Europe, 


the  principal  of 
which 


E  fruetfull 


*  E  considder         ^  E  mikil 
*  E  fowr 


^  E  aduance 


THE    DREME. 


287 


Tessalie,  Atliica,  and  lUeria, 

Achaya,  Boetia,  and  Macedonr',  720  byname. 

Arcliadie,  Pierio,  and  Lacedune. 


And  France  we  sawe  deuyditi  in  to  tlire, — 

Belgica,  Eethia,  and  Aquitane, 

And  subdeuydit  in  Flanderis,  Picardie,  724 

Normandie,  Gascon3e,  Burguin3e,  (Sz  Bretane, 

And  vtheris  diners  Ducliereis,  in  certane, 

The  quliUks  wer  to  lang  for  to  declare  ; 

Quharefor,  of  thame  as  now  I  speik  na^  mare.  723 

In  Span3e  lyis  Castel3e  and  Arrogone, 
Nauerne,  Galice,  Portingall,  and  Garnate. 
Than  sawe  we  famous  Ylis  mony  one, 
QuhUks  in  the  Occiane  sey  was  situate. 
Thame  to  discryue  my  wyt  wes  desolate ; — 
Off  Cosmographie  I  am  nocht  exparte, 
For  I  did  neuer  study  in  that  arte  ; — 

3it  I  sail  sum  of  thare  names  declare. 

As  Madagascar,  Gardes,  and  Taprobane, 

And  vtheris  diners  Ylis  gude  and  fair, 

Situate  in  to  the  sey  Mediterrane, 

As  Syper,  Candie,  Corsica,  and  Sardane,  740 

Crete,  Abides,  Thoes,  Cecilia, 

Tapsone,  Eolie,  and  mony  vther  ma. 

Quho  wald  at  lenth  heir  the  Discriptioun 

Off  euerilk  Yle,  als  weill  as  the  ferme  land,  744 

And  properteis  of  euerilk  Eegioun, 

To  study  and  to  reid  man  tak  on  hand, 

And  the  attentike  werkis  vnderstand, 

Off  Plenius,  and  worthy  Tholomie,  748 

Quhilks  war^  exparte  in  to  Cosmographie  : 


Subdivisions  of 
France, 


/  32    and  those  of 
Spain. 


736 


Sundry  famous 
islands. 


References, 
for  further 
information. 


'  E  dewaydit 
MONARCHE,   II. 


'  E  no         ^  E  wer 


Zaa  THE    DREME. 

Thare  sall^  thay  fynd  the  names  and  properteis 
Off  euery^  Yle,  and  of  ilke  Eegioun. 
Than  I  inquirit  of  eirthly  Paradyce,  752 

I  inquired  about     Off  the  ouhilk  Adam  tvnt  Possessioun. 

Eden.  ^  '' 

Than  schew  scho  me  the  Sitaatioun 

Off  that  precelland  place,  full  of  delyte, 

Quhose  proj)erteis  Aver'  lang  for  to  Indyte.  756 

FINIS.* 

•  E  Thar  sel         "  E  eweiiik         ^  E  war         ^  E,  P,  omitted 


289 


^  OF  PARADICE. 


THIS  Paradyce,  of  all  plesouris  repleit, 

Situate  I  saw  in  to  the  Orient. 

That  glorius  gairth  of  euery  flouris  did  fleit : 

The  lusty  Lillyis,  the  Eosis  redolent, 

Fresche  holesum  fructis  Indeficient, 

Baith  herbe  and  tree,  thare  growis  eue^grene, 

Throw  vertew  of  the  teiuperat^  air  serene. 

The  sweit  hailsum  arroniatyke  odouris, 
Proceidyng  frome  the  herbis  Medicinall, 
The  heuinlie  hewis  of  the  fragrant  flouris, — 
It  was  ane  sycht  wounder  celestiall. 
The  perfectioun  to  schaw,  in  special), 
And  loyis,  of  that  Eegioun  Deuyne, 
Off  maukynd  it  exceidis  the  Ingyne  : 

IT  And,  als,  so  hie-  in  Situatioun, 
Surmountyng  the  myd  Eegioun  of  the  air, 
Quhare  no  nianer  of  perturbatioun 
Off  wodder  may  ascend  so  hie  as  thair : 
Four  fludis  flowyng  frome  ane  Fontane  fair, — 
As  Tygris,  Ganges,  Ewphrates,  and  IS'yle, 
Quhilk,  in  the  est,  Transcurris  mony  ane  myle. 

The  countre  closit  is  aboute,  full  rycht, 
"With  wallis  hie,  of  hote  and  birnyng  fyre, 
And  straitly  kepit  be  ane  Angell  brycht. 
Sen  the  departyng  of  Adam,  our  Grandschyre,^ 
Quhilk,  throw  his  cryme,  Incurrit  Goddis  Yre, 
And  of  that  place  tynte  the  Possessioun, 
Eaith  frome  hyni  self  and  his  Successioun. 


E  temporall 


=^  E  hei 


E  granschyr 


760    I  "''"'  PiiiaJise  in 
the  East. 


764 


768 


Its  deUghts 
baffle  tkscriptioii. 


772 


It  stands  veiy 
lofty. 


776 


780 


Its  wall  and  its 
guard. 


784 


U   2 


290 


I  begged  to  be 
shown  Scotland. 


THE   DREME. 

QuTien  this  lufesum  lady  Eememl)rancei 

All  this  foresaid  had  gart  me  vnderstand, 

I  prayit  hir,  of  hir  beneuolcnce, 

To  schaw  to  me  the  countre  of  Scotland.  7i 

Weill,  Sonne,  scho  said,  that  sail  I  tak  on  hand. 

So,  suddanlie  scho  brocht  me,  in  certane, 

Ewin  luste  abone  the  braid  Yle  of  Bertane, 


Quhilk  standis  northwest,  in  the  Occiane  see,  792 

And  denydit  in  famous  Regionis  two, — 

The  south  part,  Ingland,  ane  full  ryche  countre, 

Scotland,  be  north,  with  mony  Ylis  mo. 

Be  west  Ingland,  Yriland  doith  stand,  also,  79G 

Quhose  properteis  I  wyll  nocht  tak  on  hand 

To  schaw  at  lenth,  bot  only  of  Scotland. 

FIN  IS.  2 


'  E  ly<ly  IicmemLeraiice 


*  E  omitted 


291 


V>9  OF  THE  REALME  OF  SCOTLAND. 


QUHILK,  efter  my  sempyll  Intandiment, 
And  as  Eemymbrance^  did  to  me  report, 
I  sail  declare  the  suith  and  verrayment, 
As  I  best  can,  and  in  to  termes  schort. 
Quliarfor,  effecteouslie  I  30W  exliorte, 
Quhowbeit  my  wrytting  be  noclit  tyll  auance, 
3it,  quhare  I  faill,  excuse  myne  Ignorance. 

Q  alien  that  I  had  ouersene  this  Eegioun, 
The  quhilk,  of  nature,  is  boith  gude  and  fair, 
I  did  propone  ane  lytill  questioun, 
Beseikand  hir  the  sam  for  to  declare. 
Quhat  is  the  cause  our  boundis  bene  so  bair  1 
Quod  I :  or  quhate  dois  mufe  our  Misere  1 
Or  quhareof  ^  dois  proceid  our  pouertie  1 

For,  throw  the  supporte  of  30ur  hie  prudence, 
Off  Scotland  I  persaue  the  properteis, 
And,  als,  considderis,  be  experience, 
Off  this  countre  the  gret  commoditeis  : 
First,  the  haboundance  of  fyschis  in  our  seis, 
And  fructuall  montanis  for  our  bestiall, 
And,  for  our  cornis,  mony  lusty  vaill ; 


800 


My  account  will 
be  brief. 


804 


808 


Whence  is  Scot- 
land's ill 
condition  ? 


812 


816    For,  as  to  all 
manner  of 


The  ryche  Eyueris,  plesand  and  proffitabyll;  820 

The  lustie  lochis,^  with  fysche  of  sindry  kyndis ; 

Hountyng,  halkyng,  for  nobyllis  conuenabyU ; 

Forrestis  full  of  Da,  Ea,  Hartis,  and  Hyndis ;  823  natural  advan- 

tages) it  IS 
The  fresche  fontanis,  quhose  holesum  cristel  strandis 


'  E  Remembrauce 


E  quhare         '  P  loochi& 


292 


THE    DREMK. 


well  provided 
with  them. 


Some  of  them 
particularized. 


Wliy  are  we, 
then,  so  poor  ? 


Not  because  of 
the  people  or 
land. 


The  question  is 
repeated. 


Eef  resell  is  so  the  fair^  fluriste  grene  medis  : 
So  laik  we  no  thyng  that  to  nature  nedis. 

Off  euery  mettell  we  haue  the  ryche  Mynis,^ 

Baith  Gold,  Syluer,  and  stonis  precious.  828 

Howbeit  we  want  the  Spyces  and  the  Wynis, 

Or  vther  strange  fructis  delycious, 

"\Ye  haue  als  gude,  and  more  neidfull  for  ws.  831 

Meit,  drynk,  fyre,  clathis,  thar  mjcht^  be  gart  abound, 

Quhilk/s  als  is  nocht  in  al  the  IMapaniound  : 

]\rore  fairer  peple,  nor  of  gretar  ingyne, 

Xor  of  more  strenth  gret  dedis  tyll  indure. 

Quharefor,  I  pray  30W  that  30  wald  defyne  836 

The  princif)all  cause  quharefor  Ave  ar  so  pure ; 

For  I  raaruell  gretlie,  I  30W  assure, 

Considderand  the  peple  and  the  ground, 

That  Eyches  suld  nocht  in  this  realme  redound.        840 

jNIy  Sonne,  scho  said,  be  my  discretioun, 

I  sail  mak  answeir,  as  I  vnderstand. 

I  say  to  the,  vnder  confessioun, 

The  fait  is  nocht — I  dar  weill  tak  on  hand —  84-1: 

ISTother  in  to  the  peple  nor  the  land. 

As  for  the  land,  it  lakis  na  vther  thing 

Lot  laubour  and  the  pepyll/*-  gouernyng. 

Than  quharein  lyis  our  Inprosperitiel* —  848 

Quod  I :  I  pray  30W  hartfullie,  Madame, 

3e  wald  declare  to  me  the  veritie ; — 

Or  quho  sail  beir^  of  our  barrat  the  blame  1 

Eor,  be  my  treuth,  to  de  I  thynk  gret  schame  852 

So  plesand  peple,  and  so  fair  ane  land, 

And  so  few  vertcous  dedis  tane  on  hand. 


Quod  scho  :  I  sail,  efter  my  lugement, 
Declare  sum  causis,  in  to  generall, 

'  E,  P  omitted         =  E  Myndis         ^  E  may 
*  E  Improsperitie  '  E  bair 


856 


THE    DREME. 


293 


And,  in  to  termes  schorte,  scliaw  niyne  intent, 
And,  syne,  transcend  more  in  to  speciall. 
So,  tliis  is  myne  conclusioun  fynall : 
"Wantyng  of  lustice,  polycie,  and  peace, 
Ar  cause  of  tliir  vnhappynes,  allace  ! 

{flj^  It  is  deficill  Eyches  tyll  incres, 
Quhare  Polycie  makitli  no  residence  ; 
And  Policey  may  neuer  haue  entres, 
Bot  quhare  that  lustice  dois  delygence 
To  puneis  quhare  thare  may  be  found  offence, 
lustice  may  nocht  haue  Dominatioun, 
I3ot  quhare  Peace  makis  habitatioun. 

U  Quhat  is  the  cause — that  wald  I  vnderstand- 
That  we  suhle  want  lustice  and  polycie 
More  than  dois  France,  Italic,  or  Ingland  ? 
]\Iadame,  quod  I,  schaw  me  the  veritie  : 
Sen  we  haue  Lawis  in  to  ^  this  countre, 
Quhy  want  we  lawis  Exersitioun  ] 
Quho  suld  put  lustice  tyll  exicutiounl^ 

Quharein  dois  stand  our  principall  remeid  ? 
Or  quha  may  mak  mendis  of  this  myscheif  1 
Quod  scho  :  I  fynd  the  fait  in  to  the  heid  ; 
For  thay  in  quhome  dois  ly  our  hole  releif, 
I  fynd  thame  rate  and  grund  of  all  our  greif ; 
For,  quhen  the  heddis  ar  nocht  delygent, 
The  membris^  man,  on  neid,  be  necligent. 

So,  I  conclude,  the  causis  principall 
Off  all  the  trubyll  of  this  Natioun 
Ar  in  to  Prencis,  in  to  speciall, 
The  quhilkzs  hes  the  Gubernatioun, 
And  of  the  peple  Dominatioun, 
Quhose  contynewall*  exersitioun 
Sulde  be  in  lustice^  Exicutioun.^ 


the  reasons  are 
eiiuuieialcd. 


860 


8(ii 


I'l'ospprity  de- 
pends on  peace. 


868 


8  /  2    Wliy  are  we 

behind  France, 


876 


880 


884 


The  fanlt  is  in  our 
guvernt>rs. 


Our  priiioes  are, 
chiefly,  to  blame. 


888 


E,  P  omitted         ^  E  execusioun         '  E  lueubria 
■*  E  contynnwell         *  E  juste 


294 


THE    DREME. 


A  parallel 
adduced. 


For,  quhen  the  sleuthful  liird  Jois  slong  and  sleip, 
Taking  no  cure  in  kepyng  of  his  fluke, 
Quho  wyli  go^  sers  amang  sic  heirdis  scheip, 
JMay,  haloyll,  fynd  mony  pure  scabbit  crok, 
And  goyng  wyll  at  large,  withouttin  lok  : 
Than  Lupis^  cumis,  and  Lowrance,  in  ane  lyng, 
And  dois,  but  reuth,  the  sely  scheip  dounthryng. 

Bot  the  gude  bird,  walkryfe  and  delygent, 
Doith  so,  that  all  his  flokis  ar  rewlit  rycht, 
To  quhose  quhissill  all  ar  obedient ; 
Careful  shepherd,    And,  geuB  the  wolffis  cumis,  daye  or  nycht, 

safe  slieep. 

Thame  to  deuore,  than  ar  thay  put  to  flycht, 
Iloundit,  and  slane  be  thare  weill  dantit  doggis  ; 
So  ar  thay  sure,  baith  pwis,  lambis,  &  hoggis. 


892 


896 


900 


Justice  is  what 
these  realms 
want. 


So,  I  conclude  that,  throw  the  necligence 
Off  our  infatuate  lieidis  Insolent, 
Is  cause  of  all  this  realmes  indigence, 
Quhilk^'s  in  lustice  lies  nocht  bene  delygent, 
Bot  to  gude  counsall  inobedient, 
Hauand  small  Ee  vnto  the  comoun  weill, 
Bot  to  thare  singulare  proflect  euerilk  deill. 


904 


908 


For,  quhen  thir  Wolffis,  be  oppressioun. 
The  pure  peple  but  piete  doith  oppres,  912 

Than  sulde  the  prencis  mak  punisioun. 
The  way  to  mend    And  cause  tlia^  Rebauldis  for  to  mak  redres, 

matters. 

That  ryches  mycht  be,  and  Policey  incres  : 

Bot  rycht  difficill  is  to  mak  remeid,  916 

Quhen  that  the  fait  is  so  in  to  the  heid. 

rmis.4 


E  omitted 


E  Lupus         '  E  that         *  E,  P  omitted 


295 


1^  THE  COMPLAYNT  OF  THE   COMOUN  WEILL  OF 
SCOTLAND. 

AND,  thus  as  we  wer^  talking  to  and  fro, 

We  saw  a  Loustius  berne  cu??i  ouir  tlie  Ijent, 

But  liors,  on  fute,  als  fast  as  he  mycht  go,  920 

Quhose  rayment  wes  all  raggit,  rewin,  &  rent ;  i  saw  a  rougii 

figure  approiich- 

With  wisage  leyne,^  as  he  had  fastit  lent :  ing. 

And  fordwart  fast  his  wayis  he  did  aduauce, — 

With  ane  rycht  malancolious  countynance, —  924 

With  scrip  on  hip,  and  pyikstaff  in  his  hand, 

As  he  had  purposit  to  passe  fra  hame. 

Quod  I :  gude  man,  I  wald  faiue  vnderstand, 

Geue  that  36  plesit,  to  wyt  quhat  Aver  jour  name.     928  it  was  John  the 

f7Ti-i  1  Commonwealth. 

Quod  he :  my  bonne,  of  t/iat  1  think  gret  schame; 
Bot,  sen  thow  wald  of  my  name  haue  ane  feill, 
Forsuith,  tliay  call  me  Ihone  the  comoun  weill. 

Schir  Commoun  weill,  quho  lies  30W  so  disgysit?     932 

Quod  I :  or  quhat  niakis  30W  so  miserabyll  ] 

I  haue  maruell  to  se  30W  so  supprysit. 

The  quhilk  that^  I  haue  sene  so  honorabyll.  whence  was  his 

To  all  the  warld  30  haue  bene  proffitabyll,  936 

And  weill  honorit  in  euerilk  Natioun : 

How  happinnis,  now,  30ur  tribulatioun  1  ^ 

^  AUace  !  quod  he,  thow  seis  how  it  dois  stand 
With  me,  and  quhow  I  am  disherisit  940 

Off  all  my  grace,  and  mon  pas  of  Scotland, 
And  go,  afore  quhare  I  was*  cherisit.  He  said  he  must 

go  abroad, 

Eemane  I  heir,  I  am  bot  perysit ; 

'  E  war         2  E  Lyk         '  E  omitted         ^  E  wes 


296  THE    DREJIE. 

unheeded  at  Foi' tliare  is  few  to  me  that  takis  teut,  944 

home. 

That  ganis  me  go  so  raggit,  rewin,  and  rent : 

]\Iy  tender  friendis  ar,  all,  put  to  the  flycht ; 
For  polecey  is  fled  agane  in  France. 
My  Syster,  Justice,  almaist  haith  tynt  hir  sycht,       9  48 
His  friends  were,    That  scho  Can  nocht^  hald  ewinly  the  ballance. 

all,  in  evil  case. 

Plane  wrang  is  plane  capitane  of  Ordinance, 

The  quhilk  debarris  Laute  and  reassoun ; 

And  small  remeid  is  found  for  oppin  treassoun.         952 

In  to  the  south,  allace  !    I  was  neir  slane ; 
Oner  all  the  land  I  culd  fynd  no  releiff : 
Alinoist  betuix  the  jMers  and  Lowmabane 
In  the  south,  mis-  I  culde  nocht^  knaw  ane  leill  man  be  ane  theif.        95G 

rule  prevailed; 

To  schaw  thare  reif,  thift,  murthour,  and  mischeif, 
And  vecious  workis,  it  wald  infect  the  air ; 
And^  als,  langsum  to  me  for  tyll  declair. 

In  to  the  hieland  I  could  fynd  no  remeid ;  960 

Bot  suddantlie  I  wes  put  to  exile  : 
Tha  sweir  swyngeoris  tliay  tuke  of  me  non  held, 
in  the  north,  it       Tv^or  amangs  thame  lat  me  remane  ane  quhyle. 

was  just  as  bad;  j.       ./ 

Als,  in  the  oute  Ylis,  and  in  Argyle,  964 

Unthrift,  sweirnes,  falset,  pouertie,  and  stryfe 
Pat  polacey  in  dainger  of  hir  lyfe. 

In  the  lawland  I  come  to  seik  refuge, 
And  purposit  thare  to  mak  my  residence;  968 

Pot  singulare  proffect  gart  me  soune  disluge, 
and  he  was  And  did  me  gret  Iniuris  and  offence, 

ordered  out  of  tlie 

lowlands.  And  said  to  me  :  swyith,  harlote,  hy  the^  hence; 

And  in  this  couutre  se  thow  tak  no  curis,  972 

So  lang  as  my  auctoritie  induris. 

He  despaired         And  now  I  may  mak  no  langer  debait ;  ^ 

l^or  I  wate  nocht  quhome  to  I  suld  me  mene ; 

'  E  uoch         *  E  omitted         ^  P  bebait 


THE    DREME. 


297 


For  I  liaue  soclit  tlirow  all  the  Spirituall  stait,         976 

Quhilkw  tuke  na  coropt  for  to  heir  me  compleue  : 

Thare  officiaris,  thay  held  me  at  disdane ; 

For  Symonie,  he  rewlis  vp  all  that  rowte  ; 

And  Couatyce,  that  Carle,  gart  bar  me  oute.  980 


Pryde  haith  chaist  far^  fromc  thame  humilitie ; 
Deuotioun  is  fled  vnto  the  freris ; 
Sensuale  plesour  lies  baneist  Chaistitie  ; 
Lordis  of  Eeligioun,  thay  go  lyke  Seculeris, 
Taking  more  compt  in  tellyng  thare  deneris 
!N"or  thay  do  of  thare  constitutioun, — 
Thus  ar  thay  blj^ndit  be  anibitioun. 


of  (lie  lieadsof  the 
Cliurch,  corrupt. 


Oure  gentyll  men  ar,  all,  degenerat ; 

Liberalitie  and  Lawte,  boith,  ar  loste  ; 

And  Cowardyce  with  Lordis  is  laureate ; 

And  knychtlie  curage,  turnit  in  'brag  and  boste  ; 

The  Ciuele  weir  misgydis  euerilk  oist.^  992 

Thare  is  nocht  ellis  bot  ilk  man  for^  hym  self  : 

That  garris  me  go,  thus  baneist  lyke  ane  elf. 

Tharefor,  adew  :  I  may  no  langer  tarye. 

Fair  Weill,  quod  I,  and  yvith  sanct  Ihone  to  borrow.  996 

Bot,  wyt  36  Weill,  my  hart  was*  wounder  sarye, 

Quhen  comoun  weill  so  sopit  was  in  sorrow  : 

3it,  efter  the  nycht  cumis  the  glaid  morrow. 

Quharefor,  I  pray  30W,  schaw  me,  in  certane,  1000 

Quhen  that  ^e  purpose  for  to  cum  agane. 

That  questioun,  it  sail  be^  sone  desydit, 
Quod  he  :  thare  sail  na  Scot  haue  confortyng 
Off  me,  tyll  that  I  see  the  countre  gydit  1004 

VBe  wysedome  of  ane  gude  auld  prudent  kyng, \ 
Quhilk  sail  delyte  hym  maist,  abone  all  thyng, 


984    They  luid  re- 
nounced all 
virtue. 


988 


The  laity,  too, 
were  degenerate. 


I  asked  him  when 
lie  meant  to  come 
back. 


His  return  de- 
pended on  a 
proper  king. 


E,  P  omitted 


*  E  ouer  ost,  P  euer  oist 
■•  E  wes         '  E  sal  be 


'  E  omitted 


298 


THE    DUEllE. 


doing  justice. 


Warning, 
he  departed. 


Just  then  a  ship 
appeared. 


and  fired  her 
guns; 


and  I  awoke. 


To  ]}ni  lustice  tyll  exicutiuun, 

And  on  Strang  tratouris  niak  puneisionn.  1008 

Als  jit  to  the  I  say  ane  vther  thyng  : 

I  se,  ryclit  weill,  that  prouerbe  is  full  trew, 

Wo  to  the  reahne  that  lies  onir  joung  ane  king. 

With  that,  he  turnit  his  bak,  and  said  adew.  1012 

Ouer  firth  and  fell  rycht  fast^  fra  me  he  flew, 

Quhose  departyng  to  me  was  displesand. 

With  that,  Remembrance  tuk  me  be  the  hand, 

And  sone,  me  thocht,  scho  brocht  me  to  the  roche,  1016 

And  to  the  coue  quhare  I  began  to  sleip. 

With  that,  one  schip  did  spedalye  approche, 

Full  plesandlie  saling  apone  the  deip, 

And,  syne,  did  slake  hir  salis,  and  gan  to  creip       1020 

Towart  the  land,  anent  quhare  that  I  lay  : 

Eot,  wyt  je  weill,  I  gat  ane  fellown  fraye. 

All  hir  Cannounis  sche  leit  craik  of  at  onis  : 

Down  schuke  the  stremaris  frome  the  topcastell ;    1021 

Thay  sparit  nocht  the  poulder,  nor  the  stonis ; 

Thay  schot  thare  boltis,  &  doun  ^7(ar  ankeris  fell; 

The  Marenaris,  thay  did  so  joute  and  jell, 

That  haistalie  I  stert  out  of  my  dreme,  1028 

Half  in  ane  fray,  and  spedalie  past  hame, 


And  you  have 
Been  what  I 
dreamed. 


And  lychtlie  dynit,  with  lyste  and  appityte, 

Syne  efter,  past  in  tyll  ane  Oritore, 

And  tuko  my  pen,  and  thare  began  to  wryte  1032 

All  the  visioun  that  I  hauo  schawin  afore  : 

Schir,  of  my  dreme  as  now  thov  gettis  no  more. 

Eot  I  beseik  God  for  to  send  the  grace 

To  rewle^  thy  rcalme  in  vnitie  and  peace.  103G 

FINIS.3 


'  E  Our  lirth  and  so  in  lyclit        '  E  lowle        ^  E,  P  omitted 


299 


HEIR  ENDIS  THE  DREME   {^  AND   BEGYNNIS  THE 
EXHORTATIOUN  TO  THE  KYNGIS  GRACE. 


Schir,  Sen  that  God,  of  his  preordiuance, 

Haith  grantit  the  to  haue  the  goncrnance 

Off  his  peple,  and  create  the  one  Kyng, 

Faill  nocht  to  prent  in  thy  Ficmembrance,'  10 10 

That  he  wyll  nocht  excuse  thyne  Ignorance, 

Geue  thow  be  rekles  in  thy  gouernyng. 

Quharefor,  dres  the,  abone  all  vther  thyng. 

Off  his  lawis  to  keip  the  obseruance,  1014 

And  thow  schaip  lang  in  Eyaltie  to  ryng. 

Thank  hyni  that  hes  commandit  Dame  Nature 

To  prent  the  of  so  plesand  portrature  : 

llir  gyftis  may  be  cleirly  on  tlie  knawin.  10-48 

Tyll  dame  Fortune  thow  nedis  no  procurature  ; 

For  scho  hes  lairglie  kyith  it-  on  the  hir  cure, 

Hir  gratj^tude  sche  hes  on  to  the  schaAvin  : 

And,  sen  that  thow  raon  scheir  as  thow  hes  sawin,'  1052 

Haue  all  thy  hope  in  God,  thy  Creature, 

And  aske  hym  grace,  that  thow  may  be  his  awin. 


A  king  IS  to  rule 
heedfully. 


Favoured  t)y 
nature. 


trust  in  God. 


And,  syne,  considder  thy  vocatioun. 
That  for  to  haue  the  gubernatiou;i 
Off  this  kynrik  thov  art  predestinate. 
Thov  may  weill  wyt,  be  trew  narratioim, 
Quhat  sorrow  and  quhat  trubulatioun 
Haith  bene  in  this  pure  realme  infortunate. 
Now  conforte  thanie  that  hes  bene  desolate  ; 
And  of  thy  peple  haue  compassioun, 
Sen  thow  be  God  art  so  preordinate. 


105G 


Consider  of  mis - 
tnrtune,  and 
1060    remedy  it. 


'  E  thay  Rememberance 


P  kyith  3  E  1,  1052  omitted 


300 


THE    DREME. 


Be  manly,  and 
shun  the  vicious 
and  flatterers. 


StiKly  to  be  equi- 
table and  liberal. 


Tak  Maulie  curage,  and  leif  thyne  Insolence,  1064 

And  vse  counsale  of  noloyll  dame  Prudence  ; 

Founde  the  fermelie  on  faith  and  forty  tude  ; 

Drawe  to  thy  courte  Justice  and  Temperance ; 

And  to  the  commoun  weill  haue  attendance.  10G8 

And,  also,  I  beseik  thy  Celsitude, 

Halt  vicious  men,  and  lufe  thame  that  ar  gude ; 

And  ilke  flattrer  thow  fleme  frome  thy  presence, 

And  fals  reporte  out  of  thy  courte  exclude.  1072 

Do  equale  Justice  boith  to  gret  and  small ; 

And  be  exampyll  to  thy  pejjle  all, 

Exersing  verteous  deidis  lionorabyll 

Be  nocht  ane  wrache,  for  oucht  that  may  befall :    1076 

To  that  vnhappy  vice  and  thow  be  thrall, 

Tyll^  all  men  thow  sail  be-  abhominabyll 

Kyngis  nor  knychtis  ar  neuer  coniienabyll 

To  rewle  peple,  be  thay  nocht  lyberall :  lOSO 

"Was  neuer  ^it  na  Avrache  to  honour  habyll. 

And  tak  exempyll  of  the  Avracheit  endyng 

Quhilk  maid  INlydas  of  Trace,  the  mychtie  king, 

That  to  his  Goddes  maid  Inuocatioun,  1084 

Throw  gredines,  that  all  substanciall  thing 

That  euer  he  twycheit  suld  turnp,  but  tarying, 

In  to  fyne  gold  :  he  gat  his  supplication ; 

All  that  he  twychit,  but  delatioun,  1088 

Turnit  in  gold, — boith  meit,  drynk,  and  clethyng  ; — • 

And  deit  of  hounger,  but  recreatioun. 


Als,  I  beseik  thy  Maiestie  serene, 

Frome  Lychorie  thow  keip  thy  body  clone  :  1092 

Taist  neuer  that  Intoxicat  poysoun  : 
Avoid  premature    Fromc  that  vuliappy  sensuall  syn  abstene, 

concupiscence;  ^  , 

iyll  that  thow  get  ane  lusty,  plesand  Queue : 

Than  tak^  thy  plesour,  with  my  benesoun.  1090 


Remember  the 
story  of  King 
Midas. 


E  To         =  E  .salbe         '  E  omitted 


THE    DREME.  301 

Tak  tent,  how  prydful  Tarquyne  tynt  his  croiin,  nor  imitate 

Tarquin. 

For  the  deforsyng  of  Lucres,  the  schenc, 
And  was  dejiryuit,  and  baneist  Eomes  toun. 

And,  in  dispyit  of  his  Lycherous  leuyng,  1100 

Tlie  Ilonianis  wald  be  subiect  to  no  kyiig, 

Mony  lang  3eir, — as  storyis  doith  recorde, — 

Tyll  lulyus/  throw  verteous  gouernyng 

And  PrinceHe  enrage,  gane  on  thame  to  ryng,         1104  a wicketiufe is 

like  to  cud 

And  chosin  of  Romanis  Em2)rioiir  and  lord.  unfortunately. 

Quharfor,  my  Souerane,  in  to  thy  inynd  remord, 
That  vicious  lyfe  makis,  oft,  ane  euyll  endyng, 
"Without  it  be  throw  s^ieciall  grace  restord.  1108 

And,  geue  thow  wald  thy  faime  and  honour  grew, 

Use  counsall  of  thy  prudent  Lordis  trew, 

And  se  thow  nocht  presumpteousHe  pretend 

Thy  awin  perticuLare  weill  for  tyll  Ensew  :  1112 

"Wyrk  with  counsall,  so  sail  thow  neuer  rew.  Avail  tiiyseif  of 

the  counsel  of  tlie 

Eemember^  of  thy  freindis  the  fa  tell  end,  prudent. 

Quhilks  to  gude  counsall  wald  not  condiscend, 
Tyll  bitter  deith,  allace  !  did  thame  persew.  1116 

Frome  sic  vnhape  I  pray  God  the  defend. 

And,  fynalie,  remember^  thow  mon  dee, 

And  suddanlie  pas  of  this  mortal  see  : 

And  art^  nocht  sicker  of  thy  lyfe  two  houris ;         1120 

Sen  thare  is  none  frome  that  scentence  may  fle, — 

Kyng,  Queue,  nor  knycht,  of  lawe  estait,  nor  hie, —        Finally,  remem- 

11  11         ci'iii-  ■  ber  that  thou  art 

Eot  ail  mon  thole  oi  deith  the  bitter  schouris.  but  mortal. 

Quhar  bene  thay  gone,  thir  Papis  (t  empriouris?    1124 
Bene  thay  nocht  dede  1  so  sail  it  fair  on  the  : 
Is  no  remeid,  strenth,*  ryches,  nor  honouris. 

{^  FINIS. 

'  E  luleus         ^  E  Remenber         '  E  ar 

'  E  in 


302 

THE    DREME. 

And  SO,  for  conclusioun, 
we_t,.„.aee     Mak  our  Prouisioun. 
To  get  the  infusioim  • 

Off  liis  hie  grace, 
bwaro,!!"       Q"^^"k  bled  with  effusioun, 
P--  With  scorned  and  derisioun, 

And  deit  with  confusioun  : 

Co?2finnand  our  peace. 
AMEN.2 

'  P  scrone  ^  e  omitted 


1132 


303 


f 


HEIR   BEGINNIS   THE    COMPLAYNT   OF 
SCHIR    DAUID   LINDESAY. 


^O)      (^)      -^ 


SCHIR,  I  beseik  thyne  Excellence, 
Heir  my  complaynt  with  pacience. 
My  dolent  hart  dois  me  constrane 
Off  my  infortune  to  complane, 
Quhowbeit  I  stand  in  gret  dowtance 
Quhome  I  sail  wyte  of  my  myschance  : 
Quliidder  Saturnis  creueltie, 
Eyngand  in  my  Natyuitie, 
Be  bad  aspect,  quhilk  wyrkis  vengeance ; 
Or  vtheris  heuinlye  influence  ; 
Or  gene  I  be  predestinate 
In  Courte  to  be  Infortunate, 
Quhilk  hes  so  lang  in  seniyce  bene, 
Contynewallie^  with  kyng  and  queue. 
And  enterit  to  thy  Maiestie 
The  day  of  thy  N'atyuitie  : 
Quhare throw  my  freuidis  bene  eschamit, 
And  with  my  fais  I  am  defamit, 
Seand  that  I  am  nocht^  regardit, 
IvTor  with  my  brether  in  Courte  rewardit ; 
Elamand^  my  sleuthfull  neclygence. 
That  seikis  nocht^  sum  recompence, 
Quhen  diners  men  dois  me  demand, 
Quhy  gettis  thow  nocht  sum  pels  of  land, 
Als  Weill  as  vther  men  hes  gottin  'i 
Than  wys  I  to  be  dede  and  rottin, 
With  sic  extreme  discomfortyng, 
That  I  can  mak  no  answeryng. 


1  E  Contynuallie 
MONARCHE,  II. 


2  E  noch        3  E  Blemand 


Hear,  patiently, 
my  roinplaiiil. 


Wliat  shall  I 
blame  ? 


Saturn's 
influence? 


Or  my  destiny  ? 


12 


Long  have  I 
served  the  king 
and  queen. 


16 


Yet  I  am 
disregarded  and 
unrewarded. 


20 


I  am  blamed,  and 
taunted,  and 
made  miserable, 


24 


and  am  unable 
to  give  any 
28    answer. 


304 


THE    COMPLAYNT    OF    SCHIR    DAVID    LINDESAY. 


I  am  altogether 
uncertain  what  to 
do. 


A  reference  to  the 
parabolic  lord  of 
the  vineyard, 


and  the  way  lie 
recompensed  liis 
labourers;  with 
the  expression  of 
a  hope. 


Service  and 
desert. 


1  would  not  beg  ; 


and  I  have  paid 
the  penalty  of  my 
modesty  and 
sluggislmess. 


The  greedy  and 
diligent  are 
sure  to  compass 
their  ends. 


I  waltl  sum  wyse  man  did  me  teclie 
Quhidder  that  I  sukl  flatter  or  fleche. 
I  wyll  nocht  flyte,  that  I  conclude, 
For  crabyng  of  thy  Celsitude  ; 
And  to  flatter  I  am  defamit : 
Want  I  reward,  than  am  I  schamit. 
Bot  I  hope  thow  sail  do  als  Weill 
As  did  the  father  of  Fameill, 
Off  quhome  Christ  makis  mentioun, 
Quhilk,  for  ane  certane  pentioun, 
Feit  men  to  wyrk  in  his  wyne  3aird, 
Bot  quho  come  last  gat  first  rewairJ ; 
Quharethrow  the  first  men  Aver  displesit : 
Bot  he  thame  prudentlie  amesit ; 
For,  thocht  the  last  men  first  wer  seruit, 
3it  gat  the  first  that  thay  deseruit. 
So,  am  I  sure  thy  maiestie 
Sail  anis  rewarde  me,  or  I  de. 
And  rube  the  ruste  of  my  ingyne, 
Quhilk  bene,  for  langour,  lyke  to  tyne. 
Althocht  I  beir  nocht  lyke  ane  baird, 
Lang  seruyce  3arnis,  ay,  rewaird. 
I  can  nocht  blame  thyne  excellence. 
That  I  so  lang  want  recompence. 
Had  I  solistit,^  lyke  the  laif, 
My  rewarde  had  nocht  bene  to  craif  ; 
Bot  now^  I  may  wcill  vnderstand, 
Ane  dum  man  jit  wan  neuer  land. 
And,  in  the  court,  men  gettis  na  thyng 
Withoute  inopportune  2  askyng. 
Allace  !  my  sleuth  and  schamefulnes 
Debarrit  fra  me  all  gredynes. 
Gredie  men  that  ar  delygent 
Eycht  oft  obtenis  thare  intent. 
And  failjeis'*  nocht  to  conqueis  landis, 
And  namelyc,  at  joung  Prencis  handis. 


32 


36 


40 


44 


48 


.59 


56 


GO 


G4 


1  E  solist         2  E  omitted 

3  E  importune.    Other  editions  read — Withoutin  opportune 

*  E  faljeis 


THE    COMPLAYNT    OF    SCniR    DAVID    LINDESAY. 


OOO 


But  I  tuke  neucr  nc^^  vtlier  cure, 
In  special!,  bot  for  thy  plesour. 
Bot  now  I  am  na  niair  dispairJ,i 
Bot  I  sail  get  Princely  rewairtl, 
The  quhilk,  to  me,  sail  be  mair  glore 
Not  thame  thow  did  reward  afore. 
Quhen  men  dois  aske  ocht  at  ane  kyng, 
Snide  aske  his  grace  ane  nobyll  thyng, — 
To  his  Excellence  honorabyll. 
And  to  the  asker  proffitabyll. 
Thocht  I  be,  in  my  askyng,  lidder, 
I  praye  thy  grace  for  to  considder  : 
Thow  hes  maid  baith  lordis  and  lairdis, 
And  hes  gewin  niony  ryclie  rewardis 
To  thame  that  was  full  far  to  seik, 
Quhen  I  lay  nychtlie  be  thy  cheik. 

I  tak  the  Quenis  grace,  thy  mother, 
j\ry  lord  Chanclare,  and  mony  vther. 
Thy  ISTowreis,  and  thy  auld  Maistres, — 
I  tak  thame,  all,  to  beir  wytnes. 
Auld  Wille  Dile,  war  he  on  lyue. 
My  lyfe  full  weill  he  could  discryue  : 
Quhow,  as  ane  Chapman  beris  his  pak, 
I  bure  thy  2  grace  vpon  my  bak, 
And,  sumtymes,  strydlingis  on  my  nek, 
Dansand  with  mony  bend  and  bek. 
The  first  sillabis  that  thow  did  mute 
"Was  '  pa,  Da  Lyn,  vpon  the  lute  : ' 
Than  playt^  I  twenty  spryngis,  perqueir, 
Quhilk  wos  gret  piete  for  to  heir. 
Fra  play  thow  leit  me  neuer  rest ; 
Bot  gynkartoun  thow  lufit,  ay,  best  : 
And,  ay,  quhen  thow  come  frome  the  scule, 
Than  I  behuffit  to  play  the  fule  : 
As  I*  at  lenth,  in  to  my  dreme, 
My  sindry  seruyce  did  expreme. 


Devoted  to  thee, 


6  8    I  shall  not  fail  of 
rich  reward. 


What  sort  of 
^       thing  should  be 
/  Ij    asked  of  a  kins'. 


76 


Who  have  been 
ennobled  and 
remunerated. 


80 


Witnesses  of 
ancient  service 
specified. 


84 


How  Lyndesay 
amused  the 
young  king, 


whose  first  effort 
of  speech  was  to 
92    say  '  Play,  David 

Lyndesay,'  &c. 


The  kin??,  as  a 
boy,  was  rather 
9o    exacting,  as  has 
been  told  else- 
where. 


100 


1  E  displesit         2  g  tliay 
*  E  omitted 


3  E  playit 


X  2 


306 


THE    COMPLAYNT    OF    SCHIR    DAVID    LINDESAY. 


He  was  really 
attached  to  the 
poet,  wlio,  men 
saiil,  would  be 
made  a  lord,  not 
undeservedly. 


The  story  how 
liis  misfortune 
befell. 


He  prayed  to  see 
Ills  young  master 
of  age,  and  king, 


and  hoped  to  get, 
then,  some  land. 


Eut  the  peace  of 
Scotland  was 
disturbed,  and  he 
was  balked  of  his 
expectation. 


The  king,  at 
twelve  years  of 
age,  fell  into  the 
hands  of  selfish 
persons,  who  set 


liini  governing 
before  the  proper 
time. 


Thocht  it  bene  better,  as  sayis  the  wyse, 

Hape  to  the  court  nor  gude  seruyce, 

I  wate  thow  hiffit  me  better,  than, 

Kor,  now,  sum  wyfe  dois  hir  gude  man.  104 

Than  men  tyll  vther  did  recorde. 

Said  Lyndsayi  wald  be  maid  ane  lorde  : 

Thow  hes  maid  lordis,  schir,  be  sanct  Geill, 

Off  sum  that  hes  nocht^  seruit  so  weilh  108 

H  To  30W,  my  Lordis,  that  standis  by, 
I  sail  ^ow  schaw  the  causis  quhy  : 
Geue  ^e  lyst  tary,  I  sail  tell, 

QuhoAV  my  inf ortune  first  befell.  112 

I  prayit,  daylie,  on  my  knee, 
My  joung  maister  that  I  mycht  see 
Off  eild,  in  his  aistait^  Eoyall, 

Hauand  power  Imperyall  :  116 

Than  traistit  I,"*  witliout  demand. 
To  be  promouit  to  sum  land. 
Bot  my  askyng  I  gat  ouer  soun. 

Because  ane  clips -^  fell  in  the  mone,  120 

The  quhilk  all  Scotland  maid  asteir. 
Than  did  my  purpose  ryn  arreir, — 
The  qvihilk  war  langsum  to  declare ; — 
And,  als,  my  hart  is  wouuder  sare,  124 

Quhen  I  haue  in  remembrance 
The  suddand  cheange,  to  my  myschance. 
The  kyng  was  bot  twelf  3eris  of  aige, 
Quhen  new  rewlaris  come,  in  thare'^  I'^^igf^j  128 

Fur  commoun  weill  makand  no  cair, 
Bot  for  thare  proffeit  singulair. 
Imprudentlie,  lyk  wytles  fullis, 

Thay  tuke  that  30ung  Prince  fromc  the  sculis,  132 

Quhare  he,  vnder  Obedience, 
AVas  lernand''^  vertew  and  science. 
And  baistelie  plat  in  his  hand 
The  gouernance  of  all  Scotland  ;  1 36 


1  E  T;ynsny         2  g  uoch         3  E  estait         •*  E  oinitlcd 
^  E  clipis         "  E  the         7  e  lernit 


THE    COMPLAYNT    OF    SCUIR    DAVID    L1^'DESAY. 


307 


As  qulio  wald,  in  aiie  stormye  Llast, — 
Qiihen  Marinaris  bene  all  agast 
Throw  dainger  of  the  seis  raige, — 
AVald  tak  ane  chylde  of  tender  aige, 
Qnliilk  neuer  had  bene  on  the  sey, 
And  to  his  biddyng  alP  obey, 
Geuyng  hyni  haill  the  goiiernall 
Off  schip,  marchand,  and  Marinall, 
For  dreid  of  rockis  and  foreland. 
To  put  the  ruther  in  his  hand, 
"Without  godds^  grace,  is  no  refuge  : 
Geue  thare  be  dainger,  30  may  luge. 
I  gyf  thame  to  the  deuyll  of  hell, 
Quhilk  first  deuysit  that  counsell. 
I  wyll  nocht  say  that  it  was  treassoun ; 
Bot  I  dar  sweir,  it  was  no  reassoun, 
I  pray  God,  lat  me  neuer  se  ryng. 
In  to  this  realme,  so  30ung  ane  kyng. 

{^  I  may  nocht  tary  to  desyd  it, 
Quhow  than  the  court,  ane  quhyle,  was  gydit 
Be  thame  that  peirtlye  tuke  on  hand 
To  gyde  the  kyng  and  all  Scotland  ; 
And,  als,  langsum  for  to  declare 
Thare  facound  flattryng  wordis  fair. 

Schir,  sum  wald  say,  30ur  maiestie 
Sail  now  go  to  30ur  lybertie  ; 
3o  sail  to  no  man  be  coactit, 
Nor  to  the  scule  no  more  subiectit  : 
We  thynk  thame  verray  naturail  fulis. 
That  lernis  ouir  mekle  at  the  sculis. 
Scbir,  36  mon^  leir  to  ryn  ane  speir. 
And  gyde  30W  lyke  ane  man  of  weir ; 
For  we  sail  put  sic  men  aboute  ?ow, 
That  all^  the  warld^  and  mo  sail  doute  30AV. 
Than  to  his  grace  thay  put  ane  gaird, 
Quhilk  haistelie  gat  thare  rewaird. 


140 


144 


It  wag  as  if,  in  a 
terrible  stonii  iit 
sea,  a  cliild  were 
to  be  put  in 
charge  of  a  ship. 


Would  this  be 
prudent  ? 


148 


15: 


Softly  I     Wliat  it 
was  like,  and 
what  it  actually 
was. 


1 .5  6    Misguidance 
prevailed  at 
court,  and 
eloquent  flattery. 


160 

The  king  was  not 
to  be  subjected  to 
restraint. 


164 


Of  the  kind  of 
learning  advised 
1 6  o    to  him,  and  of  the 


men  placed  about 


172  ''"• 


1  Pof 


^  E  goddis         2  E  man         *  E  omitted 
5  E  wiii-dl 


303 


THE    COMPLAYNT    OF    SCIIIR    DAVID    LINDESAY. 


The  diversions 
recommended  to 
him :  games. 


horse-racing,  in 
reckless  fashion. 


cards,  and  dice. 


An  intimation 
that  the  playing 
was  not  fair,  and 


that  there  was 
disloyalty  on  the 
part  of  the 
treasurer. 


The  resolution 
of  the  courtiers  to 
profit,  as  far  as 
possible,  by 


present  oppor- 
tunities. 


nice  man,  efter  tliare  qualitie, 

Thay  did  solyst  his  maiestie. 

Sum  gart  liym  raiffell  at  the  rakcat ; 

Sum  harld  hym  to  the  hurly  hakcat ;  176 

And  sum,  to  schaw  thare  courtlie  corsis, 

"VVald  ryid  to  leith,  and  ryn  thare  horssis, 

And  wychtlie  wallope  ouer  the  sandis  : 

3e  nether  sparit  spurris  nor  wandis  ;  180 

Castand  galmound/.s,  wit/i  bendis  and  beckis, 

For  wantones,  sum  braik  thare  neckis. 

Thare  was  no  play  hot  cartis  and  dyce  ; 

And  ay  schir  flattre^  bure  the  pryce ;  184 

Eoundand  and  rowkand,  ane  tyll  vther. 

Tak  thow  my  part,  quod  he,  my  bruther, 

And  mak,  betuix  ws,  sicker  bandis, 

Quhen  ocht  sail  vaik-  amangs  our  handis,  188 

That  ilk  man  stand  to  helj)  his  falloAV, 

I  hald  thareto,  man,  be  alhallow, 

Swa  thow  fysche  nocht  within  my  boundis. 

That  sail  I  nocht,^  be  godis  woundis,  192 

Quod  he,  bot  erar  tak  thy  part : 

Swa"*  sail  I  thyne,  be  godcZ/s^  hart ; 

And,  geue  the  Thesaureir  be  our  freind, 

Than  sail  we  get  baith  tak  and  teind.  196 

Tak  he  our  part,  than  quha  dar  wrang  ws  1 

Bot  we  sail  part  the  pelf  amang  ws. 

Bot  haist  vs,^  quhill  the  kyng  is  ^oung, 

And  lat'^  ilk  man  keip  weill  ane  toung,  200 

And  in  ilk  quarter  haue  ane  spye, 

Ws  tyll  aduerteis  haistelie, 

Quhen  ony  casualiteis 

Sail  happin  in  tyll^  our  countreis.  204 

Lat  ws  mak  sure  prouissioun, 

Or  he  cum  to  discrctioun. 

No  more  he  wate  nor  dois  ane  sancte, 

Quliat  thyng  it  bene  to  haue,  or  wante  :  208 


1  K  flattrer         2  k  waik         ^  g  Qoch         »  E  So 
6  P  gods         "  E,  P  omitted         ^  P  omitted 


THE    COMPLAYNT    OF    SCHIR    DAVID    LIXDESAY. 


309 


So,  or  he  be  of  perfyte  aige, 

We  sail  be  sicker  of  our  Avaige  ; 

And,  syne,  lat  ilk  ane  carle  craif  vtlier  -.^ 

That  mouth  speik  mair,  quod  he,  niy^  brother. 

For  god,  nor  I  rax  in  ane  raipe, 

Thow  mycht  geue  counsale  to  the  Pape. 

Thus  lauborit  thay  within^  few  ^eris, 

That  thay  become  no  pagis  peris, 

Swa  haistelye  thay  maid  ane  band  :  ^ 

Sum  gadderit  gold,  sum  conqueist  land. 

Schir,  sum  wald  say,  be  sanct  Dinnyce, 

Geue  me  sum  fate^  Benefyce  ; 

And  all  the  proffect  ^e  sail  hane  : — 

Geue  me  the  name,  tak  ^ov/'  the  laue. 

Bot,  be^  his  Bowis  war  weill  cumit  hame, 

To  mak  seruyce  he  wald  thynk  schame  ; 

Syne,  slyp  awaye,  withouttin  more, 

Quhen  he  had  gottin  that  he  sang  fore. 

Me  thocht  it  was  ane  pieteous^  thyng, 

To  se  that  fair,  30ung,  tender  kyng, 

Off  quhome  thir  gallandis  stude  no  awe, 

To  play  with  hym,  pluke  at  the  era  we  : 

Thay  become  ryche,  I  jowe  assure, 

Bot  aye  the  Prence  remanit  pure. 

Thare  wes  few  of  that  garisoun 

That  lernit  hym  ane  gude  lessoun  ; 

Bot  sum  to  crak,  and  sum  to  clatter. 

Sum  maid  the  fule,  and  sum  did  flatter. 

Quod  ane  :  the  Deny  11  stik  me  with  ane  knyfe, 

Bot,  schir,  I  knaw  ane  maid  in  fyfe, 

Ane  of  the  lusteast  wantoun  lassis, 

Quhare  to,  schir,  be  gods  blude  scho  passis. 

Hald  thy  toung,  brother,  quod^  ane  vther  ; 

I  knaw  ane  fairar,  be  fyftene  futher. 

Schir,  quhen  ^e  pleis  to  Leithgow  pas, 

Thare  sail  je  se  ane  lusty  las. 


In  anticipation  of 
his  coming  of 
age,  tliey  grasped 


212 


at  eveiy  source 
2 10    and  land,  and. 


220    while  asking  fo"" 
only  titular 
honours,  secured 


224 


something  much 
more  substantial. 


It  was  grievous 
to  see  the  young 
2Lo    king  thus 
cheated. 


232 

His  eomi'anions, 
mostly,  en- 
deavoured to 
make  him  a 
fribble,  or  worse, 
0  ;■>,(!    by  tlieir  empty 
"^  talk,  of  which  a 

sample  is  given 
by  the  poet. 


240 


244 


1  E  ane  vtlier         '  E  omitted         '  E  withotin         *  P  hand 

5  E  fatt         «  E  bet         '  E  pretious 

"  E  quod  I 


310 


THE    COMPLAYNT    OF    SCHIR    DAVID    LINDESAT. 


It  was  about 
women;  and 


some  of  the 
courtiers  coun- 
selled open  lewd- 
ness, while  they 


were  all  moved  by 
selfish  consider- 
ations. 


Meantime,  I  was 
contemned  and 
thrust  aside, — in 
favour  of  others, 
— unrewarded. 


1  bore  this  treat- 
ment patiently, 

praying  that 
those  evil- 
doers should  get 
their  due. 


The  king,  all  the 
while,  was  well- 
disposed  to  me. 


and  did  not  leave 
me  poor. 


When  afraid  to 
observe  openly,  I 

watched,  un- 
observed, the 
course  of  the 
king's  false 
friends. 


Now  trittyll,  trattyll,  trolylow, 

Quod^  the  thrid  man ;  tliow  dois  bot  mow  : 

Qulien  his  grace  cumis  to  fair  sterlyng, 

Thair  sail  he  se  ane  dayis  derlyng.  248 

Schir,  quod  the  fourt,  tak  my  coiinsall, 

And  go,  aU,  to  the  hie  boirdall :  ^ 

Thare  may  we  lope  at  lybertie, 

Withouttin  ony  grauitie.  252 

Thus  euery  man  said  for  hym  self, 

And  did  amangis  thame  part  the  pelf ; 

Bot  I,  allace  !  or  euer  I  wyste. 

Was  trampit  doun  in  to  the  douste,  256 

"With  heuy  charge,  withouttin  more, — 

Bot  I  wyst  neuer  ^it  quharefore, — 

And  haistellie,^  before  my  face, 

Ane  vther  slippit  in  my  place,  260 

Quhilk  rychelie  gat  his  rewaird, 

And  stylit  was  the  Anscient  laird. 

That  tyme  I  mycht  mak  no  defence, 

Bot  take,  perforce,  in  pacience,  264 

Prayand  to  send  thame  ane  myschance 

That  had  the  court  in  gouernance, 

The  quhilkis  aganis  me  did  malyng, 

Contrar  the  plesour  of  the  l^yng.  268 

For  Weill  I  knew  his  graces  mynd 

Was  euer  to  me  trew  and  kynd. 

And,  contrar  thare  Intentioun, 

Gart  pay  me,  weill,  my  pentioun.  272 

Thocht  I,  ane  quhyle,  wantit  presence, 

He  leit  me  haue  no  Indigence  : 

Qnhen  I  durst  nother  peip  nor  luke, 

3it  wald  I  hyde  me  in  ane  nuke,  276 

To  see  those  vncouth  vaniteis, 

Quhow  thay,  lyke  ony  beisy  beis, 

Did  occupy  thare  goldin  houris. 

With  help  of  thare  new  gouernouris.  280 


E  Quod  lie  -  E  bordall 

^  haistelly 


THE    COMPLAYNT    OF    SCHIR    DAVID    LINDESAY. 


311 


Bot,  my  complaynt  for  to  compleit, 
I  gat  the  soure,  and  thay  the  swoit : 
Als,  Ihone  Makerery,  the  kyngis  fule, 
Gat  dowbyll  garmoundis  agane  the  3ule, 
3it,  m  his  niaist  tryumphant  glore, 
For  his  rewarde,  gat  the  grand  gore. 
N'ow  in  the  court  seindell  he  gois, 
In  dreid  men  stramp  vpon  his  tois ; 
As  I,  that  tyme,  durst  nocht  be  sene 
In  oppin  court,  for  baith  my  Eine. 

IT  Allace  !  I  haue  no  tyme  to  tary, 
To  schaw  30W  all  the  fery  fary, — 
Quhow  those  that  had  the  gouernance 
Amangis  thanie  selfis  raist  variance ; 
And  quho^  maist  to  my  skaith  conseutit, 
Within  few  3eris  full  sore  repentit, 
Quhen  thay  could  mak  me  no  remeid  : 
For  thay  war  harlit  out  be  the  held, 
And  vtheris  tuke  the  gouemyng. 
"Weill  wors  than  thay  in  alkin  thyng. 
Thay  lordis  tuke  no  more  regaird, 
Bot  quho  mycht  purches  best  rewaird  : 
Sum  to  thare  freindis  gat  benefyceis, 
And  vther  sum  gat  Byschopreis. 
For  euery  lord,  as  he  thocht  best, 
Brocht  in  ane  bird  to  fyll  the  nest, 
To  be  ane  wacheman  to  his  marrow  : 
Thay  gan^  to  draw  at  the  cat  harrow. 
The  proudest  Prelatis  of  the  kirk 
Was  faine  to  hyde  thame  in  the  myrk, 
That  tyme,  so  fail3eit3  wes  thare  sycht. 
Sen  syne  thay  may  nocht  thole  the  lycht 
Oif  Christis  trew  Gospell  to  be  sene, 
So  blyndit  is  thare  corporall  Ene 
With  wardly  lustis  sensuall, 
Takyng  in  realmes  the  gouernall. 


They  came  off 
better  than  I. 

284    Of  the  hick, 

gooii  anil  bad, 
of  the  king's  fuul. 


288 


292 


at  the  time  I  was 
out  of  favour. 


It  were  long 
totelloftlie 
variance  among 
my  enemies. 


296 


300 


304 


and  of  their 
being  displaced 
by  advisers 
worse,  in  every 
way, than 
themselves,^ 

men  wholly 
greedy,  and  who 
snatched  at 
church-prefer- 
ment, each  for  his 
favourite. 


308 


31: 


Of  the  prelates, 
forgetful  of  their 
duties. 


and  hiding  the 
light  of  the 
Gospel,  occupied 
with  affairs  of 
state. 


316 


E  quhow 


E  feiljeit 


E  began 


312 


THE    COMPLAYNT    OF    SCHIR    DAVID    LINDESAY. 


beside  tlieir 
calling. 


How  priests  of 
tliis  sliameful 
description  are 
Bpolien  of  in 
Holy  Writ. 


Tliey  should 
keep  to  tilings 
spiritual, 


leaving  temporal 
affairs  to  others. 

Ghostly  duties 
are  their  proper 
business; 

and  they  should 
eschew  cards  and 
luxurious  mule- 
ridiiig. 


Piinces  ir.ust 
answer  for 
promoting 
such  men, 
who  will  smart, 
unless  they 
repent  and 
reform. 


But  this  they 
will  not  do, — 
proud,  and 
breeders  of 
discord  and 
contention. 


Of  the  struggling, 
aniiiMg  the  lords, 
lor  superiority, 


Eaith  gyding  court  and  cessioim, — 

Coutrar  to  thare  profcssioim, — 

Quliareof  I  thynk  thay  sulde  haue  schame, 

Off  spirituall  preistis  to  talc  the  name.  320 

For  Esaj'as,  in  to  his  wark, 

Callis  thame  lyke  Boggis  that  can  nocht^  hark, 

That  caUit  ar  preistis,  and  can  noclit  preche, 

Kor  Christis  law  to  the  peple  teche.  324 

Gene  for  to  preche  bene  thare  professioun, 

Quliy  sulde  thay  mell  with  court,  or  Cessioun, 

Except-  it  war  in  spirituall  thyngis ; 

Eeferryng  vnto  lordis  and  kyngis  328 

Teinporall  causis  to  be  desydit  1 

Geue  thay  thare  spirituall  office  gydit, 

like  man  mycht  say,  thay  did  thare  partis : 

Bot,  geue  thay  can  play  at  the  cairtis,  332 

And  mollet  moylie  on  ane  Mule, 

Thocht  thay  had  neuer  sene  the  scule, 

3it,  at  this  day,  als  weill  as  than, 

Wyll  be  maid  sic  ane  spirituall  man.  336 

Prencis  that  sic  prelatis  promofis 

Accompt  thareof  to  geue  behuffis, 

Quhilk  sail  nocht  pas  but  puneischeraent, 

Without  thay  mend  and  sore  repent,  340 

And,  with 3  dew  ministratioun, 

Wyik  efter  thare  vocatioun. 

I  wys  that  thyng  quhilk  wyll  nocht  be, 

Thir  peruerst  Prelatis  ar  so  hie  :*  344 

Frome  tyme  that  thay  bene  callit  lordis, 

Thay  ar  occasioun  of  discordis, 

And  lairglie  wyll  propynis  hecht. 

To  gar  ilk  lord  with  vther  fecht :  348 

Geue  for  thare  part  it  may  auaill, 

Swa,  to  the  purpose  of  my  taill. 

That  tyme,  in  court,  rais-^  gret  debait, 

And  euerilk  lord  did  stryue  for  stait,  352 


E  uoch 


'  E  Exccp  ■'  E  omitted 

^  E  hei  *  E  ray  is 


THE    COMPLAYNT    OP    SCHIR    DAVID    LINDESAY. 


313 


Tliat  all  tlie  realme  mj'cht  male  no  reildyiig, 

Quliill  on  ilk  sjnle  tliare  was  blnde  schcJdyng, 

And  feildit  vther,  in  land  and  burgh,^ 

Att  Lyitligow,  Meh'os,  and  Edinburgh. ^ 

Bot,  to  deplore  I  tliynk  gret  paine 

Off  nobyll  men  that  thare  was  slane, 

And,  als,  langsum  to  be  reportit 

Off  thame  quhilk  to  the  court  resortit ; 

As  tyrrannis,  tratouris,  and  transgressouris, 

And  commoun  publict  plaine  oppressouris, 

Men  murdresaris,  and  commoun  theiffis, 

In  to  that  court  gat,  all,  releiffis. 

Thair  was  few  lordis,  in  all  thir  landis, 

Bot  tyll  new  regentis  maid  thare  band  is. 

Than  rais  ane  reik,  or  euer  I  wyste, 

The  quhilk  gart  all  thare  bandis  bryste  : 

Than  thay  allone  quhilk  had  the  gyding, 

Thay  culde  nocht  keip  thare  feit  frome  slyding ; 

Bot  of  thare  lyffis  thay  had  sic  dreid, 

That  thay  war  faine  tyll  trott  ouer  tweid. 

NOW,  Potent  Prince,  I  say  to  the, 

I  thank  the  haly  Trinitie, 

That  I  hane  leuit  to  se  this  daye. 

That  all  that  warld  is  went  awaj'e, 

And  thow  to  no  man  art  subiectit, 

Nor  to  sic  counsalouris  coactit. 

The  foure  gret  verteous^  Cardinalis, 

I  see  thame  with  the  principalis  : 

For  lustice  haldis  hir  sweird  on  hie, 

With  hir  ballance*  of  Equitie, 

And,  in  this  realme,  hes  maid  sic  ordour, 

Baith  throw  the  Ireland  and  the  bordour, 

That  oppressioun  and  alP  his  f  alio  wis 

Ar  hangit  heych^  apon  the  gallowis.'' 

Dame  Prudence  hes  the  be  the  held, 


356 


aiij  of  the 
slieddiiit;  uf 
blood  tliat 
followed. 


Noblemen  were 
slain  in  great 
numbers ; 


3G0 


and  wrong-doers 
of  every  stamp 
bad  high  holiday. 


364 


368 


Then, of  a 
sudden,  affairs 
took  a  new  turn, 
and  the  king's 
advisers  were 
fain  to  betake 
themselves  across 
the  Tweed. 


372 


I  am  thankful 
to  see,  at  last, 
those  men  fled. 


376 


380 


and  thee  no 
longer  under 
their  control. 

The  times  are 
improving. 


Justice  again 
elevates  her 
sword  and  her 
scales,  and 
puts  down 
384    oppression. 


Prudence, 


'  E  brugh         ^  E  Edinbrugh         '■'  E  werteous. 
E  ballandis         ^  E  omitted         ''  E  heyolit         ^  P  gallons 


3U 


THE    COMPLAYNT    OF    SCHIR    DAVIL*    LIXDESAY. 


Temperance, 
and  kindred 
virtues  liave 
resumed  their 
sway. 


Riches  fosters 
thee;  and 
I  pray  tlnit 
Poverly  may 
keep  far  from 
thee,  in  the 
Hebrides. 


Dissimulation  is 
no  more  seen. 

Folly  has  fled 
away. 

Policy  and  Peace 
begin  to  show 
fruit. 

Eoijues  will  be 
punislied. 

John  Upland 
is  blithe. 


Only  tlie 
spirituality  is 
out  of  gear. 


I  pray  tliee 
to  introduce, 
herein,  a  re- 
formation ;  so 
that  ecclesiastics 
may  do  their 
duty,  and  may 


lay  aside  super- 
stitious practices, 
forbidden  by 
Christ. 


And  temporance  dois  tliy^  brydill  leid.  388 

I  se  dame  force  mak  assistance, 

Berand  thy  Targe  of  assurance  ; 

And  lusty  lady  Cliaistitie 

Hes  baneist  Sensualitie.  392 

Dame  Ryclies  takis  on  the  sic  cure, 

I  J) ray  God  that  scho  lang  indure, 

That  Pouertie  dar  nocht  be  sene 

In  to  thy  hous,  for  baith  hir  Ene,  396 

Bot  fra  thy  grace  fled  mony  mylis, 

Aniangis^  the  Hountaris  in  the  Ylis. 

Dissimulance  dar  nocht  schaw  hir  face, 

Quhilk  wount  was  to  begyill  thy  grace ;  400 

Foly  is  fled  out  of  the  toun, 

Quhilk  ay  was  countrar  to  ressoun  ; 

Polyce  and  Peace  begynnis  to  plant, 

That  verteous  men  can  no  thyng  want ;  404 

And,  as  for  sleuthfull  Idyll ^  lownis. 

Sail  fetterit  be  in  the  Gail3eownis. 

Ihone  Upeland  bene  full  blyith,  I  trow. 

Because  the  rysche  bus  kepis  his  kow.  4C8 

Swa  is  thare  nocht,  I  vnderstand, 

"Withoute  gude  ordour  in  this  land. 

Except  the  spiritualitie. 

Prayand  thy  grace  thareto  haue  Ee,  412 

Cause  thame  mak  ministratioun 

Conforme  to  thare  vocatioun, 

To  Preche  with  vnfen3eit  intentis, 

And  trewly  vse  the  Sacramentis,  41 G 

Efter  Christis  Institutionis, 

Leuyng  thare  vaine  traditiounis, — 

Quhilkis  dois  the  syllie  scheip  Illude, 

Quhame  for  Christ  Icsus  sched  his  blude, —  420 

As"*  superstitious^  pylgramagis, 

Prayand  to  grawin^  Ymagis, 

Expres  aganis  the  Lordis  command. 


E  the 


^  E  Amang 
r  superstitiouis 


^  E  omitted         *  E  Aud 
"  E  grauL'U 


THE    COMPLAYNT    OP    SCHIR    DAVID    LINDE.SAY. 


315 


I  do  thy  grace  tyll  vnderstand, 
Geue  tliow  to  mennis  lawis  assent/ 
Aganis  the  lordis  commandiment, — 
As  leroboam  and  mony  mo, 
Prencis  of  Israeli,  allso, 
Assentaris  to  Ydolatrie, 
Quliilkis  puneist  war  rycht  pieteouslie, 
And  frome  tliare  realmes  wer  rutit  oute,- 
So  sail  thow  be,  withouttin  doute, 
Baith  heir  and  hyne,  Avithouttin  more, 
And  want  the  euerlestyng  glore. 
Eot,  geue  thow  wyll  thy  hart  inclyne, 
And  keip  his  blyssit  law  deuyne, 
As  did  the  faithfull  Patriarkis, 
Boitli  in  thare  wordis  and  thare  warkis, 
And  as  did  mony  faithfull  kyngis, 
Otf  Israeli,  duryng  thare  ryngis. 
As  kyng  Dauid  and  Salomone, 
Quhilkis  Ymagis  wald  suffer  none 
In  thare  ryche  Tempillis  for  to  stand. 
Because  it  was  noeht  goddis  command, 
Bot  distroyit  all  Ydolatrie, 
As  in  the  scripture  thow  may  see ; 
Quhose  ryche  rewarde  was  heuinly  blys,- 
Quhilk  sail  be  thyne,  thow  doand  this. 
Sen  thow  lies  chosin  sic  ane  gaird, 
Now  am  I  sure  to  get  rewaird ; 
And,  sen  thow  art  the  ry chest  kjmg 
That  euer  in  this  realme  did  ryng, 
Off  gold  and  stonis  precious, 
Maist  prudent  and  Ingenious, 
And  lies  thy  honour  done  awance. 
In  Scotland,  Ingland,  and  in  France, 
Be  Mercian  dedis  lionourabyll. 
And  art  tyll  euery  vertew  abyll, 
I  wat  thy  grace  wyll  nocht  niisken  me, 
'  E  omits  from  1.  425  to  end. 


424 


RliouUl  Your 
(J  race  do 
othenvise, — as 
did  Jeroboam 
and  the  like, 


428 

who  assented 
to  idohitry, 
and  were 
extirpated 
therefor, — 

432    a  penalty, 

doubtless,  will 
be  visited  here, 
with  loss  of  glory 
hereafter. 

Bat  iraitation 
of  the  example 
436    of  the  Patriarchs, 


in  their  words 
and  works, — as 
tlie  Kings  of 
Israel,  David 
and  Solomon, 


440 


who  suffered  no 
images  to  stand 
in  their  temples. 


444 


448 


452 


456 


but  destroyed 
all  idolatry, — 
will  be  recom- 
pensed, as  Scrip- 
ture shows, 
with  heavenly 
bliss. 

Now  my  reward 
is  ceitain. 


As  thou  art  the 
richest  king 
Scotland  has  ever 
had,  and  art 
prudent  and 
ingenious,  and 
hast  advanced 
thy  honour 
abroad  by  martial 
prowess, 


I  know  thou  wilt 
not  mistake  nic. 


316 


THE    COMPLATXT    OF    SCHIR    DAVID    LINDESAT. 


petitioning. 

I  would  borrow 
one  or  two 
thousand  pounds, 


conditioning  to 
repay  it,  wlien 
islands  climb 
Bnountains,  and 
such  like; 


when  priests, 
wives,  and  winter 
change  tlieir 
nature; 


or  after  Dooms- 
day, when 


S.  Peter  feasts 
Scotch  fishermen. 


The  alternative 
terms. 


Else,  God  cause 
thee  to  recom- 
pense me. 


For  David  says, 
that  God  controls 
(he  liearts  of  all 
princes. 


leading  them  to 
exalt, 
degrade, 
ennoMe, 


Bot  tliow  wyll  vther  geue  or  len  me. 

<€2)  Wald  thy  grace  len  me,  to  aiie  day, 

Off  gold  ane  thousand  pound,  or  tway, 

And  I  saU  fix,  Avith  gude  intent. 

Thy  grace  ane  daye  of  payment, 

With  Selit  Oblygatioun, 

Under  this  protestatioun  : 

Quhen  the  Basse  and  the  Yle  of  ^Maye 

Beis  sett  vpon  the  mont  Senaye ; 

Quhen  the  lowmound  besyde  Falkland 

Beis  lyftit  to  Xorthhumberlanti  ; 

Quhen  kirkmen  ^airnis  no  dignitie, 

Nor  "Wyffis  no  Soueranitie  ; 

Wynter  but  frost,  snaw,  wynd,  or  rane  ; 

Than  sail  I  geue  thy  gold  agane  ; 

Or  I  sail  mak  the  payment 

Efter  the  daye  of  lugement, 

"Within  ane  moneth,  at  the  leist, 

Quhen  Sanct  Peter  sail  mak  ane  feist 

To  all  the  Fyscharis  of  Aberladye, 

Swa  thow  haue  myne  Acquittance  reddye. 

Failjeand  thareof,  be  sanct  Phillane, 

Thy  grace  gettis  neuer  ane  grote  agane. 

IT  Geue  thow  be  nocht  content  of  this, 
I  man  requeist  the  Kyng  of  blys, 
That  he  to  me  haue  sum  regaird. 
And  cause  thy  grace  me  to  rewaird. 
For  Dauid,  Kyng  of  Israeli, 
Quhilk  was  the  gret  Propheit  Eoyall, 
Sayis,  God  hes  haill  at  his  command 
The  hartis  of  Prencis  in  his  hand  : 
Ewin  as  he  lyste  thame  for  to  turne, 
That  mon  thay  do  withoute  sudgeorne ; 
Sum  tyll  exault  to  Dignitie, 
And  sum  to  depryue  in  pouertie ; 
Sum  tyme  of  lauid  men  to  mak  lordis, 


400 


464 


4G8 


472 


'47G 


480 


4  Si 


488 


492 


THE    COMPLAYNT    OF    SCHIR    DAVID    LINDESAT. 


l\7 


And,  sum  tyine,  lordis  to  bynd  in  cordis, 

And  thame  alutteiiye  distroye, 

As  plesis  God,  that  ryall  Roye. 

For  thow  art  bot  ane  Instrument 

To  that  gret  kyng  Omnipotent : 

So,  quhen  plesis  his  excellence. 

Thy  grace  sail  mak  me  recorapence  ; 

Or  he  sail  cause  me  stand  content 

Off  quiet  lyfe  and  sober  rent, 

And  tak  me,  in  my  letter  aige, 

Unto  my  sempyll  Hermytage, 

And  spend  it  that  my  eldaris  woun, 

As  did  Matussalem  in  his  toun. 

Off  this  complaynt,  with  mynd  full  meik. 

Thy  graces  answeir,  schir,  I  beseik. 


49G    restrain, 
destroy. 


OfGofltlion 
iirt  but  an 
500    instrument; 


and  He  will 
procure  me 
either  reward, 
or  contentiiieiit 
with  little, 
when  old,  at 
my  ancestral 
home. 


504 


508 


Of  this  complaint 
I  beseech  an 


03^  FINIS. 


QUOD  LINDESAY  TO  THE'  KYNG. 
'  P  omitted 


318 


0^  Gentyll  redaris,  I  wyll  aduerteis  jow,  that 

thare  is  of  thir  Bukis  Iraprentit  in  France, 

The    quhilkis    ar    verray    fals,    And 

"wantis    the   tane    half,   and   all 

wrang   spelit,  and  left  out 

heir  ane  lyne,  and  thar 

twa   "wordis. 

H   To   Conclude,   thay   ar   all  fals,  and   wan- 
tis niekle  that  this  buke  hes,  as  may  be 
sene.    Quha  lyste  tyll  luke  thame  baith 
ouer,  thay  sail  fynd  my  sayingis 
verray  trew,  and  wors  nor  I 
do  say.    Preue  and  se  ;  than 
^e  wyll  geue  me  credence  : 
thay  ar  nocht   worthe 
ane  plake. 


OF  ANE  NOBIL  AND  WAIL3EAND  SQYYER, 

VMQVHYLE  LAIRD  OF  CLEISCHE  AND  BYNNIS. 
COMPYLIT  BE 

Sir  ©auiti  Hgntirsau  of  tfje  Jlont, 

ALIAS, 

ILjjoun  Bins  of  ^Irmrs. 
H  c 

OF  THE  SAID 
COMPTLIT  ALSWA  BE 

.Sir  ©auiti  ^LgnHrsas,  Set. 


Cicero,  Philip.  14. 
Proprium  snplentis  est  grata  eorum  virtiitem  memoria  prosequi,  qui  pro  Patria  vitamprotuderunt 

Ovid,  2.  Fast. 
Et  memoreni  famam,  qui  bene  gessit  habet. 


IMPRENTIT  AT  EDINBVRGH, 

BE    HENHIE    CHARTEEIS. 

ANNO   M.D.XCTfll. 

Cum  Priuilegio  Regali. 


321 

%\n  fjisljoric 

OF  ANE  NOBIL  AND  WAIL3EAND  SQVYER, 

William  jittlijrum, 

VMQVHTLE  LAIKD  OF  CLEISCHE  AND  BYNNI8. 
COMPYLIT  BE 

^ir  gauib  Ignhsag  of  Ibe  Pont, 

ALIAS, 

f  goutt  fling  of  ^rmcs. 

H  C 


12 


16 


20 


QVHO  tliat  Antiqiie  Stones  reidis 
Considder  may  the  famous  deidis 
Of  our  NoLill  Progenitouris, 
Quliilk  suld,  to  vs,  be  ricTit  mirrouris, 
Thair  verteous  deidis  to  ensew, 
And  vicious  leuiug  to  eschew. 
Sic  Men  bene  put  in  memorie, 
That  deith  suld  not  confound  thair  glorie. 
Howbeit  thair  bodie  bene  absent, 
Thair  verteous  deidis  bene  present : 
Poetis,  thair  honour  to  auance, 
Hes  put  thame  in  rememberance. 
Sum  wryt  of  preclair  Conquerouris  ; 
And  sum,  of  vail3eand  Empriouris  ; 
And  sum,  of  Nobill  Michtie  Kingis, 
That  PtoyaUie  did  reull  thair  Ptingis  ; 
And  sum,  of  Campiounis  and  of  Knichtis, 
That  bauldlie  did  defend  thair  richtis, 
Quhilk  vail3eandlie  did  stand  in  stour, 
For  the  defence  of  thair  honour  ; 


The  famous  gests 

of  our  noble 

foi-efatliers 

instruct  us  to 

ensue  virtue 

and  to  shun  vice. 

Sucli  men  are 

justly  memorized. 

Their  good  deeds 

survive;  and 

poets  remind  us 

of  them. 

Some  poets  write 

of  conquerors ; 

otliers,  of  niyal 

personages ; 

others,  of 
champions  and 
knights, 
strenuous  for 
their  right  and 
honour ; 


322 


THE    IIISTORIE    OF 


olhei's,  of 
doughty  squires ; 
otliers,  still,  of 

the  history  of 

lovers. 

With  the  aid  of 
Clio  and  Slinerva, 
I  purpose  to 
descant  of  a  bold 
squire,  whom, 
and  his  private 
history,  I  tell  of 
from  what  I 
know. 

His  3^outh  he 
spent  in  love, 
pleasantly  and 
without  reproof. 
Also,  he  was  as 
valiant  as  many 
another  man 
Buug  by  poets. 

He  should  not  be 
forr,'otten,  looking 
to  what  he 
suffered  for  bis 
lady's  sake. 
Sir  Launcelot 

fought  no  better, 

and  in  a  less 

worthy  ea\ise : 

for  his  lady  was 
an  adulteress;  and 
)ie  loved  in  the 
d.irk,  like  an 
owl. 


And  sum,  of  Squyeris  douclitie  deidis, 

1'hat  wounders  wroclit  in  weirlie  weidis. 

8tim  wryt  of  deidis  amorous  ; 
21     As  Chauceir  wrait  of  Troilus, 

How  that  he  hiiffit  Cressida  ; 

Of  lason  and  of  Medea. 

With  help  of  Cleo,  I  intend, 
28     Sa  Minerue  wakl  me  Sapience  send, 

Ane  Xohill  Squj^er  to  discryfe, 

Quhais  douch tines,  during  his  Lyfe, 

I  knaw  my  self  :  thairof  I  wryte  ; 
32     And  all  his  deidis  I  dar  indyte  : 

And  secreitis,  that  I  did  not  knaw, 

That  ]S"obill  Squyer  did  me  schaAv. 

Sa  I  intend,  the  best  I  can, 
3G     Descryue  the  deidis  and  the  Man  ; 

Quhais  ^outh  did  occupie  in  lufe, 

Full  plesantlie,  without  I'eprufe  ; 

Quhilk  did  as  monie  douchtie  deidis 
40     As  monie  ane  that  men  of  reidis, 

Quhilkis  Poetis  puttis  in  Memorie, 

For  the  exalting  of  thair  glorie. 

Quhairfoir,  I  think, — sa  God  mo  saif ! — 
44     He  suld  haue  pdace  amangis  the  laif, 

That  his  hie  honour  suld  not  smure. 

Considering  quhat  he  did  indure. 

Oft  times,  for  his  Ladeis  sake, 
48     I  wait,  Sir  Lancelote  du  lake, 

Quhen  he  did  lufe  King  Arthuris  w^'fe, 

Faucht  neuer  better,  with  sword  nor  knyfe, 

For  his  Ladie,  in  no  baltcll  ; 
52     Nor  had  not  half  so  just  ([uerrell. 

The  veritie  quha  list  declair. 

His  Lufe  was  ane  Adultorair  ; 

And  durst  not  cum  into  hir  sicht, 
6G     ]><»t,  lyke  ane  Houlei,  on  tlie  nidit. 


SQVYER    MELUliVM. 


323 


"With  tliis  Sii[uyer  it  stude  not  so  : 
His  Ladie  luilit  liini,  and  no  mo. 
Husband  nor  Lenimau  liad  sclio  none  ; 

60     And  so  he  had  hir  hife  alone. 
I  think  it  is  no  happie  h'fc, 
Ane  Man  to  jaip  his  Tshusteris  wyfc, 
As  did  Lancelote :  this  I  conchidc, 

64     Of  sic  amour  cidd  cum  na  gude. 
ISTow  to  my  pnrpois  Avill  I  pas, 
And  shaw  30W  how  the  Squyer  was  : 
Ane  gentilman  of  Scotland  borne  ; 

68     So  was  his  Father  him  beforne  ; 
Of  l!^obilnes  lineallie  discendit, 
Quhilks  thair  gude  fame  hes  euer  defendit. 
Gude  AVilliame  INIeldrum  he  was  namit;— 

72     Qnhilk  in  his  lumonr  Avas  neuer  defamit, — 
Stalwart  and  stout  in  euerie  stryfe, 
And  borne  within  the  Schyve  of  Fyfe  , 
To  Cleiscdie  and  IJyunis  richt  Heritoiir, 

76     Quhilk  stude,  for  Lufe,  in  monie  stour. 
He  was  hot  twentie  3eiris  of  age, 
Quhen  he  began  his  Uassalage  ; 
Proportionat  weill,  of  mid  stature, 

80     Feirie,  and  wicht,  and  miclit  indure  ; 

Ouirset  with  trauell,  both  nicht  and  day  ; 
Richt  hardie  baith  in  ernist  and  play  ; 
Blyith  in  countenance,  richt  fair  of  face, 

84     And  stude  weill,  ay,  in  his  Ladies  grace  : 
For  he  was  wounder  amiabill, 
And,  in  all  deidis,  honorabill. 
And  ay  his  honour  did  auance, 

88     In  Ingland  first,  and  syne  in  France. 
And  thair  his  manheid  did  assaili, 
Under  the  Kingis  greit  Adniirall, 
Quhen  the  greit  Nauic  of  Scotland 

92     Passit  to  the  scv,  aganis  Ingland. 


Our  Siiuire, 
contrariwise, 
w.as  alone  loveil 
by  liis  lady. 

lTnhai)i)y  was 
Lauuc-elofs  life ; 
iiiid  no  good 
could  come  of 
intrigue  like  his. 

The  Squire  was 

horn  in  Scotland ; 

gentle,  as  was  his 

father,  and  as 

were  his  fathers. 

He  was  called 
\V'illiam 
Melduiin;  stout 
in  quarrel ; 

born  in  Fifeshire; 
and,  for  love,  he 
fought  often. 
^      He  began  life  at 
twenty,  well- 
built,  manly, 
endurant, 
restless, 
hearty, 
comely, 
and  ever 
favourite  with 
his  lady. 
He  gained 
repute. 

He  signalized  his 
prowess,  when  the 
Scottish  navy  set 
sail  ag.ainst 
Kngland. 


324 


THE    HISTORIB    OF 


Tlie  Admiral  of 

tlie  fleet  set  fire  to 

Craigfergus, 

sparing  nothing. 

The  people  were 

spoliated,  and 

fair  women  were 

trampled  on. 

But  the  Squire 
saved  women, 
priests,  and 
friars. 

At  last 

he  heard 

a  voice  ; 

he  followed  it ; 

and  he  found  a 

woman,  stripped. 

Two  soldiers 

stood  parting  the 

plunder. 

ahe  was  of  tiie 

fairest. 

She  implored 

him  to  help  her, 

a  maid. 

He  begged  Ihcni 
to  give  back  her 
shift,  and  keep 
the  rest. 

Gorgeous  were 
her  kirtle, 
garland,  belt,  and 
brooches;  and 
her  shift  was  of 
taffety, 

ornamented  with 
gold  and  silk. 

The  lady 


And,  as  thay  passit  be  Ireland  Coist, 
The  Adinirall  gart  land  his  Oist, 
And  set  Craigfergus  into  Fyre, 
96     And  saifit  nouther  Barne  nor  Byre. 
It  was  greit  pietie  for  to  heir 
Of  the  pepill  the  bailfull  cheir, 
And  how  the  Land  folk  Aver  spuil3eit ; 

100     Fair  wemen  vnderfute  wer  fuil3eit. 

Bot  this  30ung  Squyer,  Lauld  and  wicht, 
Saiiit  all  weiuen,  quhair  he  inicht  : 
All  Preistis  and  Freiris  he  did  saue  ; 

104     Till,  at  the  last,  he  did  persaue, 
Behind  ane  Garding  amiabill, 
Ane  woinanis  voce  richt  lamentabill  ; 
And  on  that  voce  he  followit  fast, 

108     Till  he  did  see  hir,  at  the  last, 

Spuil3eit,  naikit  as  scho  was  borne  : 
Twa  men  of  Aveir  Aver  hir  beforne, — 
Quhilk  Aver  richt  cruell  men  and  keno, — 

112     Partand  the  spuil3ie  thame  betwene. 
Ane  fairer  Avoman  nor  scho  Aves 
He  had  not  sene  in  onie  place. 
Befoir  him  on  hir  kneis  scho  fell, 

11 G      Sayand,  for  him  that  heryit  Hell, 

Help  me,  SAveit  Sir ;  I  am  ane  Mayd. 
Than  softlie  to  the  men  lie  said, 
I  i^ray  30AV  giuc  againo  hir  sark, 

120  And  tak  to  30AV  all  vther  Avark. 
Hir  Kirtill  Avas  of  Scarlot  reid  ; 
Of  gold  ane  garland  of  hir  held, 
Decorit  Avith  Enamelyne  ; 

1 24     Belt  and  Brochis  of  siluer  fync  : 
Of  3alloAV  Taftais  avcs  hir  sark, 
Begaryit  all  witli  browderit  Avark, 
Richt  craftelie  Avitli  gold  and  silk. 

128     Than  said  the  Ladic,  quhyte  as  milk, 


SQVYKR    MELDKVM. 


325 


Except  my  saik,  iiu  thing  I  crane ; 
Let  thame  go  hence,  with  all  the  lane. 
Qnod  tliay  to  hir  :  be  Sauct  Inllanc, 

132     Of  this  30  get  nathing  agane. 

Than  said  the  Sipiyer,  conrteslie  : 
Gudc  Prcindis,  I  pray  30W  hartfnllie, 
Gif  30  he  worthie  Men  of  Weii", 

13G     llestoir  to  hir  agane  hir  Geir  j 

Or,  be  greit  God  that  all  lies  wrocht, 
That  spuil3ie  salbe  full  deir  bocht. 
Quod  thay  to  him  :  we  the  defy, 

140     And  drew  thair  swordis  haistely, 

And  straik  at  him  with  sa  greit  Ire, 
That  from  his  Harnes  flew  the  fyre ; 
With  duntis  sa  darflie  on  him  dang, 

144     Tliat  he  was  neuer  in  sic  ane  thrang. 
Bot  he  him  manfullie  defendit, 
And  with  ane  bolt  on  thame  he  bendit, 
And  hat  the  ane  vpon  the  held, 

148     That  to  the  ground  he  fell  doun  deid  ; 
For  to  the  teith  he  did  him  cleif, 
Lat  him  ly  thair  with  ane  mischeif. 
Than,  with  the  vther,  hand  for  hand, 

153     He  beit  him  with  his  birneist  brand. 
The  vther  was  baith  stont  and  Strang, 
And  on  the  Squyer  darflie  dang. 
And  than  the  Squyer  wrocht  greit  wonder, 

156     Ay,  till  his  sword  did  shaik  in  sunder. 
Than  drew  he  furth  ane  sharp  dagair. 
And  did  him  cleik  be  the  Collair, 
And  euin  in  at  the  collerbane, 

160     At  the  first  straik,  he  hes  him  slane  : 
He  foundcrit  fordward  to  the  ground. 
3it  was  the  Squyer  haill  and  sound  ; 
For  quliy  he  was  sa  weill  enarmit, 

164     He  Llid  escaip  fra  thame  vnharmit. 


prayed  for  her 
sliil't  only. 
They  refuseil  lo 
give  it  up. 
The  Squire 
rciiuested 
tliera 

to  oomplj', 
and  added  a 
threat. 

They  defied  him, 
drew  their 
swords,  and  set 
upon  him  with 
great  fury. 
He  returned  the 
charge,  struck 
one  of  them  on 
the  liead,  cleft  it, 
and  felled  him  to 
the  ground. 

Then  he  turned 

to  the  other,  a 

powerful 

ruffian, 

and  had  a  hard 

fight, 

but  drew  a 

dagger,  plunged 

it  into  his  neck, 

and  sent  him 

reeling,  slain. 

Himself  escaped 

unhurt,  beiug 

well-armed. 


326 


THE    IliSTORIE    OF 


The  fellows 
despatched,  he 
told  the  lady  to 
take  her  clothes. 

Thanking  him, 
she  put  them  on. 

He  kissed  her, 
and  took  his 
leave. 

All  were  to  i,'o  lo 

the  ships. 

She  grieved  to 

lose  her 

rescuer, 

crabraceil  him, 
and  offered  to 
marry  him. 
Though  then  in 
stress,  she  was, 
she  told  him, 
an  heiress. 

She  kissed  him, 
inquiringly. 
He  pleaded  that 
he  must  first  go 
to  France. 
Returned,  after 
v,-ar,  he  would 
gladly  wed  her. 
He  saluted  and 
blessed  her. 
She  gave  him  a 
love-token,  ami 
would  go  to 
Scotland. 

He  thanked  her, 

too  young  for  the 
eea,  with 


And,  quheii  lie  saw  thay  wer  baitli  slane, 
He  to  that  Ladie  past  agaue, 
Quliair  sclio  stude  nakit  on  the  bent, 

1G8     And  said  :  tak  30ur  abul3ement. 

And  scho  him  thankit,  full  humillie, 
And  jjiit  hir  claithis  on  spedilie. 
Than  kissit  he  that  Ladie  fair, 

172     And  tuik  his  leif  at  hir  but  mair. 

Be  that  the  Taburne  and  Trumj^et  blew, 
And  euerie  man  to  sliipbvird  drew. 
That  Ladie  was  dolent  in  hart, 

17'J     From  tyme  scho  saw  he  Avald  depart, 
That  hir  releuit  from  hir  harmes. 
And  hint  the  Squyer  in  hir  armes, 
And  said  :  will  ^e  byde  in  this  Land, 

180  I  sail  30W  tak  to  my  Husband. 
Thucht  1  be  cassiii,  now,  in  eair, 

I  am,  quod  scho,  my  Fatheris  Air, 

The  quhilk  may  spend,  of  pennies  round, 

181  Of  3eirlie  Rent  ane  thov.sand  Pound. 
"With  that,  hartlie  scho  did  him  kis. 
Ar  3e,  quod  scho,  content  of  this  ? 
Of  that,  quod  he,  I  wald  be  fane, 

188     Oif  I  rnicht  in  this  Realme  remans  : 
Bot  I  mon,  first,  pas  into  France ; 
Sa,  quhen  I  cum  agane,  perchance, 
And  efter  that  the  Peice  be  maid, 

102     To  marie  30W  I  will  be  glaid. 

Fair  Weill  !  I  m;iy  no  langer  tarie  : 

I  pray  Ood  keip  30 w,  &  sweit  sanct  ^Marie. 

Than  gaif  scho  him  ane  Lufe  taking, 

19G     Ane  riche  Eubie  set  in  ane  Ring. 

I  am,  quod  scho,  at  30ur  command, 
AVith  30W  to  jias  into  Scotland. 
1  thank  30W  hartfullic,  quod  he  : 

200.    3*^  ^^  oi^ii"  ^oiii^o  to  Si-ull  the  See, 


SQYYKR    MKLDRUM. 


327 


204 


208 


216 


220 


224 


228 


232 


236 


And,  spcciallie,  with  !Men  of  weir. 

Of  that,  quod  scho,  tak  30  na  feir  : 

I  sail  me  cleith  in  mennis  clais. 

And  ga  with  30W  quhair  euir  30  plcis. 

Suld  I  not  lufe  him  Paramour, 

That  saifit  my  Lyfe  and  my  honour  ] 

Ladie,  I  say  30W,  in  certane, 

3e  sail  haue  lufe  for  lufe  agane, 

Trewlie,  vnto  my  Lylis  end. 

Fairweill !  to  God  I  30W  commend. 

With  that,  into  his  Boit  he  past, 

And  to  the  ship  lie  rowit  fast. 

Thay  weyit  thau'  ankeris,  and  maid  saill,- 

This  Xauie,  Avith  the  Admirall, — 

And  landit  in  bauld  Brytane. 

This  Admirall  was  Erie  of  Arrane, — 

Quhilk  was  baith  wyse  and  vail3eand, 

Of  the  hlude  Royall  of  Scotland, — 

Accompanyit  with  monie  ane  Knicht, 

Quhilk  wer  richt  worthie  men  and  wicht. 

Amang  the  laif,  this  joung  Squyar 

AVas  with  him  richt  familiar  ; 

And,  throw  his  verteous  diligence, 

Of  that  Lord  he  gat  sic  credence, 

That,  quhen  he  did  his  courage  ken, 

Gaif  him  cure  of  fyue  hundreth  men, 

Quhilkis  wer  to  him  obedient, 

Reddie  at  his  commandement. 

It  wer  to  lang  for  to  declair 

The  douclitie  deidis  that  he  diil  thair. 

Becaus  he  was  sa  courageous. 

Ladies  of  him  wes  amorous. 

He  was  ane  Mun3eoun  for  ane  Dame, 

lifeik,  in  Chalmer,  lyk  ane  lame  ; 

Bot,  in  the  Feild,  ane  Campioun, 

Eiunpand  lyke  ane  avvM  Lyoun  ; 


soldiers. 

She  would  gn 

niUi  him,  dressed 

lil<e  a  man. 

She  would  love 

her  deliverer. 

He  promises 

her  liis  love 

for  life, 

says  adieu, 

and  maVes  for  ttie 

ship. 

Thpy  proceed, 

and  land  in 

lirittany. 

under  the  Earl 

of  Arraii, 

with  whom  were 

many  stout 

fighter". 

The  young 
Squire  stood 
so  well  with 
the  Earl,  for 
his  courage, 
that  he  was  made 
captain  of  five 
hundred. 

He  wrought  hold 
deeds;  and  the 
ladies  fancied 
him. 

He  was  mild 
among  dames, 
hut  formidable  in 
tlie  Beld. 


328 


THE    HISTORIE    OF 


He  was  deft 
with  arms, 

open-handed 
beyond  all, 
;ind  lucky,  but 
good, 
and  so 
all-beloved. 


240 


244 


Weill  practikit  with  Speir  and  Sclieild, 
And  with  the  forniest  in  the  Feild. 
No  Chiftane  was,  amangis  thame  all, 
In  expensis  niair  liberall ; 
In  euerilk  play  he  wan  the  pryse  : 
With  that,  he  Avas  verteons  and  wyse. 
And  so,  becaus  he  was  wcill  piuift, 
With  cuerie  man  he  was  weill  luifit. 


Henry  VIII.  of 
England  was  at 
Calais,  to  fight 
France. 

The  French  king, 
with  his  anny, 
was  hard  by. 
The  two 
armies  only 
skirmished. 

The  Squire  lusted 

for  real  war, 

and  selected 

a  band 

to  follow  liiin. 

The  French  king 
accepted  the 
services  of 
liimself  and 
company. 

In  the  Englisli 
liost  was  a  great 
champion, 
passing  confident 
of  his  valour  an<l 
might. 
Master  Talbarl, 


HAPtY  the  audit,  King  of  Ingland, 
That  tyme  at  Calais  wes  lyand, 
With  his  triumphant  ordinance, 

248     Makand  weir  on  the  Realme  of  France. 
The  King  of  France  his  greit  armie 
Lay  neir  hand  by,  in  Picardie, 
Quhair  aither  vther  did  assaill. 

252     Howbeit,  thair  was  na  set  battaill, 
Pot  thair  Aves  daylie  skirmishing, 
Quhair  men  of  armis  brak  monie  sting. 
Quhen  to  the  Squyer  Meldrum 

256     Wer  tauld  thir  ]N"ouellis,  all  and  sum, 
He  thocht  he  Avald  vesie  the  Avciris, 
And  AvailHt  furtli  ane  hundreth  Speiris, 
And  Futenien  quhilk  Aver  bauld  &  stout, 

2 GO     The  maist  Avorthie  of  all  his  rout. 

Quhen  he  come  to  the  King  of  France, 
He  Aves  sone  put  in  ordinance  ; 
Eicht  so  Avas  all  his  companie, 

264     That  on  him  waitit  continuallie. 
Thair  Avas,  into  the  Inglis  Oist, 
Ane  Campioun  that  bleAV  greit  boist : 
He  Avas  ane  stout  Man  and  ane  Strang, 

268     Quliilk  Oist  Avald,  Avith  his  conduct,  gang 
OutthroAV  tlie  greit  Armie  of  France, 
His  A'aliantnes  for  to  auance. 
And  ]\Iaistcr  Talbart  Avas  his  name, 


SQVYER    MELDRVM. 


329 


272     Of  Scottis  &  Frcnche  quliilk  spak  disdane  ; 

And,  on  liis  Bonnet,  vsit  to  beir 

Of  Siluer  fyne  takinnis  of  weir  : 

And  Proclaniatiounis  he  gart  mak, 
27 G     That  he  wald,  for  his  Ladies  saik, 

With  any  gentilman  of  France, 

To  fecht  with  him  with  Speir  or  Lance. 

Bot  no  Frenche  man,  in  all  that  Land, 
280     With  him  durst  battell,  hand  for  hand. 

Than,  Ijke  ane  Weiriour  vailjeand, 

He  enterit  in  the  Scottis  band. 

And,  quhen  the  Squyer  ]\Ieldrum 
284     Hard  tell  this  Campioun  avcs  cum, 

Eieht  haistelie  he  past  him  till. 

Demanding  him  quhat  Avas  his  will. 

Forsuith,  I  can  find  none,  quod  he, 
288     On  hors,  nor  fute,  dar  fecht  with  me. 

Than,  said  he,  it  wer  greit  schauie, 

Without  battell  ^e  suld  pas  hame. 

Thairfoir,  to  God  I  mak  ane  vow, 
292     The  morne  my  self  sail  fecht  Avitli  30W, 

Outher  on  Horsbak  or  on  fute  : 

^our  crakkis  I  count  thame  not  ane  cute. 

I  sail  be  fund  into  the  Feild, 
296     Armit,  on  Hors,  Avith  speir  and  Scheild. 

Maister  Talbart  said  :  my  gude  Chyld, 

It  AVer  maist  lyk  that  thoAV  Aver  Avyld. 

ThoAV  ar  to  30ung,  and  lies  no  micht 
300     To  fecht  Avith  me,  that  is  so  Avicht : 

To  speik  to  me  thoAV  suld  haue  feir. 

For  I  haue  sic  practik  in  Aveir, 

That  I  wald  not  effehit  be 
304:     To  mak  deb  ait  aganis  sic  thre : 

For  I  haue  stand  in  monie  stour, 

And  ay  defendit  my  honour. 

Thairfoir,  my  barne,  I  counsell  the 


disdainful 
of  speecli, 
and  vain. 
For  his  lady,  lie 
would  engage 
with  any  gentle- 
man of  Frame. 
The  French 
dreaded  him. 
He  visited  the 
Scots. 

Squire  Mcldruin 
accosted  him, 
demanding  his 
will. 

lie  wished  to 
fight. 

He  should  bo 
gratified ; 

and  the  Squire 
would  meet  him 
on  the  morrow, 
mounted  or  on 
foot. 

He  would  come 
mounted. 

Master  Talbart 
accounts  him  a 
stripling,  and 
mad  to  think  of 
Buch  a  thing, 

and  declares 
himself  of 
courage  to 
encounter  with 
three  such  as  he ; 
for  he  had  never 
been  worsted. 
The  Squire  had 


330 


THE    IIISTORIE    OF 


better  beware. 
Melrtioini, 
replj-ing,  remiiuls 
him  how  it  fared 
with  Goliath  at 
t!ie  Iiands  of 
David, 

piously  trusts 
to  win, 
and  agrees  to 
mtct  him  the 
next  morning, 
he  tore  ten. 
He  proposes 
the  terms 
of  victory. 
Master  Talbart 
consents ; 
and  they  fix  to 
meet. 

Talbart  scorns 
liim  proudly, 

rides  dIT,  and 
tells  how  a  youii;^ 
Scot  had  under- 
taken to  fight 
with  him, 
foolishly. 

His  friends  have 

their  doubts. 

He  has  none,  and 
boasts  that 
Meldrum  will  go 
home  afoot,  no 
match  for  him. 

More  doubts. 

M.  D'Aubigny, 


308 


312 


316 


320 


324 


328 


',30 


3 10 


Sic  interpiysis  to  let  be. 
Than  said  this  Squyer  to  the  Kiiirht  : 
I  grant  36  ar  baith  greit  and  wicht. 
3oung  Daiiid  was  far  les  tlian  I, 
Quhen  ho  with  Golias,  nianfuUie, 
Withouttin  onther  8i)eir  or  Scheild, 
He  faucht,  and  slew  him  in  the  Feild. 
I  traist  that  God  salbe  my  Gyde, 
And  giue  me  grace  to  stanch  e  thy  pryde. 
Thocht  thoAv  be  greit  like  Gowmakmorne, 
Traist  weill  I  sail  30W  meit  the  morne  : 
Beside  Montruill,  vpon  the  grene, 
Befoir  ten  liouris  T  salbe  sene  ; 
And,  gif  36  wyn  me  in  the  Feild. 
15aith  hors  &  Geir  I  sail  30AV  ^eild, 
Sa  that  siclyke  30  do  to  me. 
That  I  sail  do,  be  God,  qnod  he, 
And  thairto  I  giue  the  my  hand  ; 
And  swa,  betwene  thame,  maid  an  B;ind, 
That  thay  suld  meit  vpon  the  morne. 
Bot  Talbart  maid  at  him  hot  Scorne, 
Lychtlyand  him  with  wordis  of  pryde  ; 
Syne,  hamewart  to  his  Oist  culd  ryde. 
And  shew  the  Bretliren  of  his  Land, 
How  ane  3onng  Scot  had  tane  on  hand 
T(j  fecht  witli  him  beside  iVIontrvill  : 
ISot,  I  traist,  lie  sail  prufe  the  fiiill. 
C^Hiod  thay :  the  morne  that  sail  we  ken  : 
The  Scottis  ar  haldin  hardie  men. 
(j)iiod  ho  :   I  rompt  thame  not  ane  cute  ; 
He  sail  returne  vpon  his  fute. 
And  leif  witli  me  liis  armour  bricht  ; 
For  Weill  I  wait  lie  lies  no  micht, 
On  hors  nor  fute,  to  fecht  with  me. 
Quod  thay  :  the  morne  that  sail  we  se. 
(^,^uhan  to  Moiisnur  de  Obenie 


SQVYER   MELUUVXr. 


331 


314:     Roportit  was  the  veritie, 

How  tliat  the  Squyer  had  tane  on  hand 
To  fecht  witli  Talbart,  hand  fur  hand, 
His  greit  coiu-age  he  did  commend  ; 

348     Sine,  haistelie  did  for  him  send. 

And,  quhen  he  come  befoir  the  Lord, 
The  veritie  he  did  record  ; 
How,  for  the  honour  of  Scothmd, 

352     That  Battell  he  had  tane  on  hand. 
And,  sen  it  giuis  me  in  my  hart, 
Get  I  ane  hors  to  tak  my  part, 
My  traist  is  sa  in  Goddis  grace, 

356     To  leif  him  lyand  in  the  ph\ce. 

Hott'beit  he  stalwart  be,  and  stout, 

My  Lord,  of  him  I  haue  no  dout. 

Than  send  the  Lord  out  tlirow  the  Land, 

SCO     And  gat  ane  hundreth  hors,  fra  hand  : 
To  his  presence  he  brocht  in  haist, 
And  bad  the  Squyer  cheis  him  the  best. 
Of  that  the  Squyer  was  rejoisit, 

364:     And  cheisit  the  best,  as  he  suppoisit, 
And  hip  on  liim  delyuerUe, — 
Was  neuer  hors  ran  mair  plesantlie, — ■ 
With  Speir  and  sword  at  his  command, 

368     And  was  the  best  of  all  the  Land. 
He  tuik  his  leif,  and  went  to  rest ; 
Syne,  airlie  in  the  morne  him  drest, 
Wantonlie,  in  his  weirlyke  weid, 

372     AH  Weill  enarniit,  saif  the  lieid. 
He  lap  vpon  liis  Cursour  wicht, 
And  straucht  him  in  his  stirroppis  richt. 
His  speir,  and  scheild,  &  helme  wes  borne 

376     With  Squyeris  that  raid  him  beforne. 
Ane  veluot  Cap  on  lieiil  he  bair ; 
Ane  quoif  of  gold,  to  lieikl  his  hair. 
This  Lurd  of  him  tiiik  sa  greit  loy, 


hearing  what  the 
Squire  liaj  taken 
in  hand, 

comniended  liis 
d:iriiig,  and 
summoned  lilra. 
Me'ila-um 
Iiad  at  lieart 
t!ie  lionour 
of  Scollund. 

II  duly 
Iiorsed, 
lie  would 
humble 
Talliai-t, 

of  whom  he  had 
no  fear. 

A  hundred  horsea 
were  soon 
produced,  for  him 
to  choose  flora. 

T..e  Squh-e, 
delighted, 
selecteJ  a 
charger, 
and  mounted 
him. 

The  next  day  he 
was  up  early, 
and  donned  his 
armour,  but  with 
his  head  exposed, 

and  leaped  on 
his  horse. 

Squires  attended 
him. 

His  cap 
and  coif. 
Bv  favoui' 


332 


THE    HISTORIE   OF 


lie  was  provide  1 

with  a  riglit 

honourable  escort. 

His 

escatclieon 

a  id 

C.iparison. 

He  sets  off,  amid 

warlike  music, 

Mars-lilie. 
Talbart,  too,  was 

u )  betimes, 

and  was  at  once 

ready  for  business. 

He  feared  not 

Meldrum. 

He  related,  much 

ashamed,  a 

dream  he  had 

dreamed. 

An  otter,  from 
the  sea,  rode  at 
him,  attacked 
him,  bit  him  till 
he  bled,  and 
dragged  him 
from  his  Iiorse. 

What  could  it 
mean  ? 
Dreams  were 
nothing. 
He  should 
go  arm, 
and  show  his 


380     That  he  him  self  wahl  him  conuoy  : 

With  him  ane  hmidreth  men  of  Armes, 
That  thair  suld  no  man  do  him  harmes. 
The  Squyer  buir,  into  his  sclieild, 

384     Ane  Otter  in  ane  siluer  Feild. 

His  hors  was  bairdit  full  richeKe, 
Couerit  with  Satyne  Cramesie. 
Than  fordward  raid  this  Campioun, 

388     With  sound  of  Trumpet  and  Clarioiin, 
And  spedilie  spurrit  ouir  the  bent, 
Lyke  Mars,  the  God  Armipotent. 
Thus  leif  we  rydand  our  Squyar, 

392  And  speik  of  Maister  Talbart  mair  ; 
Quhilk  gat  vp  airlie,  in  the  morrow, 
And  no  maner  of  geir  to  borrow, — 
Hors,  Harnes,  Speir,  nor  Scheild, — 

396     Bot  was  ay  reddie  for  the  Feild  ; 
And  had  sic  practik  into  weir. 
Of  our  Squyer  he  tuik  na  feir. 
And  said  vnto  his  companjeoun, 

400     Or  he  come  furth  of  his  Pauil3eoun  : 
This  nicht  I  saw,  into  my  dreame, — 
Quhilk  to  reheirs  I  think  greit  shame, — 
Me  thocht  I  saw  ciim,  fra  the  See, 

404     Ane  greit  Otter,  rydand  to  me, 

The  quhilk  was  blak,  with  ane  lang  taill. 

And  cruellie  did  me  assaill. 

And  bait  me  till  he  gart  me  bleid, 

408     And  drew  me  backwart  fra  my  steid. 
Quhat  this  suld  mene  I  can  not  say  ; 
Bot  I  was  neuer  in  sic  ane  fray. 
His  fellow  said  :  think  je  not  schame 

412     For  to  gif  credence  till  ane  dreame  1 
3e  knaw  it  is  aganis  our  Faith. 
Thairfoir,  go  dres  90W  in  3our  graith, 
And  think  wcill,  tlirow  ^ouv  hie  coiirage, 


SQVVER    MELDRVM. 


333 


41 G     This  da}'  je  sail  wyn  vassalage. 
Tliaii  drest  lie  him  into  his  geir, 
Wantounlie,  like  ane  ^lau  of  weir, 
Qiihilk  had  haith  hardines  and  fors, 

420     And  lichtlie  lap  vpon  his  hors. 
His  hors  was  bairdit  full  brauelie, 
And  couerit  wgs,  richt  courtfullie, 
With,  browderit  wark  and  veluot  grene. 

424     Sanct  Georges  Croce  tbair  micht  be  sene, 
On  Hors,  Harnes,  and  all  his  geir. 
Than  raid  lie  furth,  withouttin  weir, 
Conuoyit  with  his  Capitane 

428     And  with  monie  ane  Inglisnian, 
Arrayit,  all,  with  Armes  bricht : 
Micht  no  man  see  ane  fairer  sicht. 
Than  clariounis  and  trumpettis  blew, 

432     And  weiriouris  monie  hither  drew. 
On  enerie  side  come  monie  jMan, 
To  behald  quha  the  Battell  Avan. 
The  feild  wes  in  the  Medow  grene, 

430     Quhaii-  euerie  man  micht  weill  be  sene. 
The  Heraldis  put  thame  sa  in  ordour, 
That  no  man  passit  ■within  the  bordonr  ; 
Kor  preissit  to  cum  within  the  grene, 

440     Bot  Heraldis  and  the  Campiounis  kene. 
The  ordour  and  the  circumstance 
Wer  lang  to  put  in  remembrance. 
Qulien  tliir  twa  nobill  Men  of  weir 

444     "Wer  weill  accowterit  in  thair  geir, 

And  in  thair  handis  Strang  burdounis. 
Than  Trumpotis  blew  &  Clariounis  ; 
And  Heraldis  cry  it  hie  on  hichl, 

448     Now  let  thame  go.     God  shaw  the  richt  ! 
Than  spedilie  thay  spurrit  thair  hors. 
And  ran  to  vther,  Avith  sic  fors, 
That  baith  thair  speiris  in  sindrie  flaw. 


valour. 
He  equipped 
himself, 
and  leaped 
on  his  horse, 

wlio  was  adorned 
with  embroidery 
and  green  velvet. 
S.  George  was 
liis  patron. 
As  he  rode  forth, 
with  his 
attendants,  the 
Right  was  a  fair 
one  to  behold. 
The  signal  was 
given  to  move ; 
and  a  crowd 
drew  near  to  see, 
in  a  green 
meadow. 
The  heralds 
protect  the 
champions  from 
the  press, 
and  arrange 
preliminaries. 

When  all  was 
ready,  on  the 
Bounding  of 
trumpets  and 
clarions, 

proclamation  was 
made  to  begin. 

They  rushed  at 
each  other, 
furiously;  and  the 


334 


THE    HISTORIE   OF 


bj'-standei's 
applaudfd 
their  skill. 
They  rest,  and 
are  supplied  with 
oew  spears. 

Tlien  the  trumpets 
again  blew, 
and  the 
champions 
charged  each 
other  impetu- 
ously. 

Both  were  over- 

thrown, 

with  horses 

and  all. 

Thereat  Talbart 
was  much 
abashed,  and 
would  die  or  \te 
revenged. 
The  Squire  jumps 
up,  and  mi.unts 
his  horse. 

Seeing  this,  the 
Scots  are 
enheartened. 
The  Squire  lifts 
his  visor,  and 
drinks  wine, 
with  thanks. 
Talbart  remounts, 
and  challenges 
the  Squire  to 
run  for  his 
lady's  sake. 

Mel  drum 
is  ready 
to  fight 


452     Tlian  said  tliey  all,  that  stude  on  raw : 
Ane  better  cours  than  they  twa  ran 
Was  not  sene  sen  the  warld  began : 
Than  baitli  the  parties  wer  rejoisit. 

45 G     The  Campiounis  ane  qubyle  repoisit, 
Till  thay  had  gottin  speiris  new. 
Than  with  triumph  the  trumpettis  blew  ; 
And  they,  with  all  the  force  thay  can, 

460     Wounder  nidelie  at  aither  ran, 

And  straik  at  vther  with  sa  greit  Ire, 
That  fra  thair  Harues  fle'w  the  Fyre. 
Thair  Speiris  war  sa  tench  &  Strang, 

4G4     That  aither  vther  to  Eirth  doun  dang. 

Baith  hors  &  man,  with  Speir  and  seheild. 
Than  flatlingis  lay  into  the  feild. 
Than  Maister  Talbart  was  eschamit : 

468     Forsuith,  for  euer  I  am  defamit ; 
And  said  this  :  I  had  rather  die, 
Without  that  I  reuengit  be. 
Uur  3ouug  Sipiyer — sic  was  his  hap — 

472     Was  first  on  fute  ;  and  on  he  lap 
Upon  his  hors,  without  support. 
Of  that  the  Scottis  tuke  gude  comfort, 
Quhen  thay  saw  him  sa  feirelie 

476     Loup  on  his  Hors  sa  gal3eardlie. 
The  Squyer  liftit  his  Uisair 
Ane  lytill  space,  to  take  tlie  Air. 
Thay  bad  him  wyne  ;  and  he  it  drank, 

480     And  huraillie  lie  did  thame  thank. 
Be  that,  Talbart  on  Hors  mountit. 
And  of  our  Squyer  lytill  countit. 
And  cryit,  gif  he  durst  vndertak 

484     To  Yjn  anis  for  his  Ladies  saik. 

The  Squyer  answerit  hie  on  hicht : 
That  sail  I  do,  be  INIarie  bri(;ht. 
I  am  content  all  day  to  ryn, 


SQVI'ER    IIELDRVM. 


335 


488 


492 


496 


500 


i04 


508 


512 


dQ 


520 


Till  ane  of  vs  the  liouour  wyn. 

Of  that  Talhart  was  weill  content  ; 

And  aue  greit  Spuir  in  hand  he  hent. 

The  Sqnycr  in  his  hand  he  thrang 

His  Speir,  quhilk  was  baitli  greit  X'  lan;^-, 

With  ane  sharp  heid  of  grundin  steill, 

Of  quhilk  he  was  ajjpleisit  weill. 

That  plesand  Feild  was  lang  and  braid, 

Quhair  gay  ordour  and  rowme  was  maid, 

And  enerie  man  micht  haue  gude  sicht. 

And  thair  was  monie  weirlyke  Knicht ; 

Sum  man  of  enerie  Natioun 

Was  in  that  Congregatioun. 

Than  Tmmpettis  blew  triumphantlie  ; 

And  thay  twa  Campiounis  egeirlie 

Thay  spurrit  tha'iv  hors,  with  speir  on  breist 

Fertile  to  preif  thair  pith  thay  preist : 

That  round,  rinkroume  wes  at  vtterance. 

Bot  Talbartis  Hors,  with  ane  mischance, 

He  outterit,  and  to  ryn  was  laith  ; 

Quhairof  Talbart  was  wonder  Avraith. 

The  Squyer  furth  his  rink  he  ran, — 

Commendit  weill  with  enerie  inan, — • 

And  him  dischargit  of  his  speir, 

Honestlie  lyke  ane  Man  of  Weii-. 

Becaus  that  rink  thay  ran  in  vane. 

Than  Talbart  Avald  not  ryn  agane. 

Till  he  had  gottin  ane  better  steid, — 

Quhilk  was  brocht  to  him  with  gude  speid, - 

Quhairon  he  lap,  and  tuik  his  speir. 

As  brym  as  he  had  bene  ane  Beir, 

And  bowtit  fordwart,  with  ane  bend, 

And  ran  on  to  the  Rinkis  end. 

And  saAv  his  hors  was  at  command. 

Than  wes  he  blyith,  I  vnderstand, 

Traistand  na  mair  to  ryn  in  vane. 


till  one  or  other 
wins. 

Talbart  took  hia 
spear ; 

and  the  Squire 
tossed  his, 
well  pleased 
wiLii  it. 

It  was  a  pleasant 
plain  and 
spacious ;  and 
V.!i  spectators 
were  various. 
The  trumpets 
sounded,  and 
the  champions 
prepared  for  a 
run. 

Talbarfs 
horse 
balked. 

The  Squire  wa» 
more  fortunate 
with  his 
cour.ser. 
Talbart  must 
have  anotlier 
h  rse,  on  which 
he  leaped,  fierce 
as  a  bear, 
tried  him,  and 
found  him 
tractable. 
He  was 
encouraged. 


'5 


336 


THE    HISTORTE    OP 


They  again 

dashed  at  each 

other, 

and,  with  a  erasli, 

encountered. 

Tlie  Squire  over- 
tlirew  Toibart, 
witli  his  liorse, 
and  wounded  liim 
very  severely 
with  liis  speai'. 

He  was  tliouglit 

dead. 

The  Squire 

dismounted  to 

his  assistance. 
Talbart  then 


dream,  wliidi 

he  recounts. 

He  will  joust 

no  more ; 

and  he  reminds 

tlie  Squire  of  their 

compact, 

and  will  act  on  it. 


524     Than  all  the  Trumpettis  blew  agane ; 
Be  that,  with  all  the  force  they  can, 
Thay  richt  rudelie  at  vther  ran. 
Of  tliat  melting  ilk  man  thocht  wounder, 

528     Quhilk  soundit  lyke  ane  crak  of  thunder. 
And  nane  of  thame  thair  marrow  mist : 
Sir  Talbartis  speir  in  sunder  brist ; 
Bot  the  Squyer,  with  his  burdoun, 

532     Sir  Talbart  to  the  eirth  dang  doun. 

That  straik  was  Avith  sic  micht  and  fors, 
That  on  the  ground  lay  man  and  hors  ; 
And  throw  the  brydell  hand  him  bair, 

53G     And  in  the  breist  ane  span  and  mair, 
Throw  curras  and  throw  gluifis  of  plait, 
That  Talbart  micht  mak  na  debait : 
The  trencheour  of  the  St^u^'eris  speir 

540     Stak  still  into  Sir  Talbartis  Geir. 
Than  euerie  man,  into  that  steid, 
Did  all  beleue  that  he  was  deid. 
The  Squyer  lap  richt  baistelie 

544     From  his  Cursour,  deliuerlie, 

And  to  Sir  Talbart  maid  support, 
And  humillie  did  him  comfort. 
Quhen  Talbart  saw,  into  his  Scheild, 

548     Ane  Otter  in  ane  siluer  Feild, 

This  race,  said  he,  I  may  sair  rcAv, 
For  I  see  weill  my  dreame  wes  trew. 
Me  thocht  3one  Otter  gart  me  bleid, 

552     And  buir  me  backwart  from  my  steid. 
Bot  heir  I  vow  to  God  Souerane, 
That  I  sail  neuer  lust  agane  ; 
And  sweitlie  to  the  Squyer  said, 

55G     Thow  knawis  the  cunning  that  we  maid  : 
Quhilk  of  vs  twa  suld  tyne  the  Feild 
He  suld  baith  Hors  and  Armour  3eild 
Till  him  that  wan  :  quhairfoir,  I  will 


SQVVER    MELDRVM. 


337 


5G0 


564 


508 


576 


580 


584 


588 


592 


"My  Ilors  and  Harnes  geue  the  till. 

Than  said  the  Squyer,  courteouslie, 

Brother,  I  thank  30W  hartfullie  : 

Of  30W,  forsuitli,  nathing  I  craue  ; 

For  I  haue  gottin  that  I  wald  haue. 

With  euerie  man  he  was  comniendit, 

Sa  vail3eandlie  he  him  defendit. 

The  Capitane  of  the  Tnglis  band 

Tiike  the  ^oung  Squyer  be  the  hand, 

And  led  him  to  the  Pail^eoun, 

And  gart  him  mak  Collatiuun. 

Quhe?i  Talbartis  woundis  wes  himd  vp  fast, 

The  Ingiis  Capitane  to  him  past, 

And  prudentlie  did  him  comfort  ; 

Syne  said  :  Brother,  I  30W  exhort 

To  tak  the  Squyer  be  the  hand. 

And  sa  he  did,  at  his  command, 

And  said  :  this  bene  bot  chance  of  Amies. 

With  that,  he  braisit  him  in  his  armes, 

Sayand  :  hartlie  I  30\v  forgeue. 

And  than  the  Squyer  tuik  his  leue, 

Commendit  weill  with  euerie  man  ; 

Than  wichtlie  on  his  hors  he  wan, 

With  monie  ane  !Nobill  man  conuoyit. 

Leue  Ave  thair  Talbart,  sair  annoyit. 

Sum  sayis,  of  that  discomfitour 

He  thocht  sic  schame  and  dislionour, 

That  he  departit  of  that  Land, 

And  neuer  wes  sene  into  Ingland. 

Bot  our  Squyer  did  still  remane, 

Efter  the  Weir,  quhill  Peice  was  tane. 

All  Capitanes  of  the  Kingis  Gairdis 

Gaif  to  the  Squyer  riche  rewairdis  : 

Becaus  he  had  sa  Aveill  debaitit, 

With  euerie  Nobill  he  Aves  Aveill  traitit. 

Efter  the  Weir,  he  tuke  licence  ; 


The  Squire 
thanks  liim, 
but  IB  aheady 
content. 


He  is  appl:iu(le(l, 
and  is 

houoiu'aljly 

entertained. 
Talbart  ia 
comforted,  and 
is  exliorted  to 
shal»e  hands  with 
the  Squire. 
He  complies, 

embracing  and 

forgiving  liim. 

The  Squire  takea 
his  leave, 
commended  for 
having  so  well 
acquitted  himself. 

Some  say  that 
T.ilbart,  for 
shame,  withdiew, 
and  never 
returned  to 
England. 

The  Squire 
remained, 
was  richly 
rewarded,  and, 
for  liis  bravery, 
well  treated. 
After  the  war. 


338 

he  staj'ed  awliile 

in  Xomiandy, 

the  fleet  being 

delayed. 
At'terwai'ds  he 

returned  to  Iho 

Freucli  Court, 

and  tlienee, 

with  his  troop, 

eight  score 

picked  men, 

went  to  visit 

King  Lewis  and 

his  companions. 

The  Court  of 
France  was  tlicu 
thronged  with 
foreign  notables, 
including 
Englishmen. 

An  ambassador 
was  there,  witli 
many  Scottish 
knights,  whom 
the  English 
envied  and  sought 
to  annoy. 
These  English 
8ct  upon  the 
Scots,  and 
besieged  them  in 
a  house :  and 


TIIR    HISTORIE    OP 

59G     Syiio,  did  retunie,  with  diligence, 
From  Pycardie  to  Xormandie  ; 
And  tliaii'  aue  space  renianit  he, 
Becaus  the  Nauie  of  Scotland 

GOO     Wes  still  vpon  the  Coist  lyand. 

Quhen  he  ane  quhyle  had  sojornit, 
He  to  the  Court  of  France  returnit, 
For  to  decore  his  vassalege  ; 

G04     From  Eartan^e  tuke  his  veyage, 

With  aucht  scoir,  in  his  companie, 
Of  waillit  wicht  men  and  hardie, 
Enarmit  weill,  lyke  men  of  Weir, 

COS     Witli  Hakbut,  Culueriug,  Pik,  and  Speir ; 
And  passit  vp  throw  Normandie, 
Till  Amhiance  in  Pycardie, 
Quhair  JSTohill  Lowes,  the  King  of  France, 

G12     Wes  lyand,  with  his  Ordinance, 

With  monie  ane  Prince  and  worth ie  man. 
And  in  the  Court  of  France  Aves,  than, 
Ane  meruellous  Congregatioun 

GIG     Of  monie  ane  diuei's  Natioun  ; 

Of  Ingland  monie  ane  prudent  Lord, 
Efter  the  Weir  makand  record. 
Thair  wes,  than,  ane  Amhassadour, 

G20     Ane  Lord,  ane  man  of  grcit  honour  : 
With  him  was  monie  Nohill  Knicht 
Of  Scotland,  to  defend  thair  richt, 
Quhilk  guydit  thame  sa  honestlie, 

G24     Inglismen  had  thame  at  inuie, 

And  purposit  to  mak  thame  cummer, 

Becaus  they  wer  of  greiter  number. 

And  sa,  quhaireuer  thay  Avith  thame  met, 

G28     Upon  the  Scottis  tliay  maid  onset ; 
And,  lyke  wyld  Lyounis  furious, 
Thay  layd  ane  seige  about  the  bona, 
Thame  to  destroy,  sa  thay  intendit. 


BQVYER    MELDUVM. 


339 


632     Our  wortliie  Scottis  tliame  weill  defendit. 
The  Sutlieroun  wes,  ay,  fywe  for  ane  ; 
Sa,  on  ilk  sydc,  thair  wes  men  slane. 
The  Iiiglismen  grew  in  greit  Ire, 

63G     And  cryit,  swyith  !  set  the  hous  in  fyre. 
Be  that,  the  Scj^uyor  IMeklrum 
Into  the  Market  streit  \ves  cum, 
With  liis  folkia  in  gude  array, 

610     And  saw  the  toun  wes  in  ane  fray : 
He  did  inquyre  the  occasioun. 
Quod  thay  :  the  Scottis  ar  all  put  doiin 
Be  Inglismen  into  thair  Inuis. 

644     Quod  he  :  I  wald  gif  all  the  ]>ynnis, 
That  I  micht  cum  or  thay  dej^artit. 
With  that,  he  grew  sa  cruell-hartit, 
That  he  was  like  ane  wyld  Lyoun, 

648     And  rudelie  ran  outthrow  the  toun, 
AVith  all  his  companie  weill  arrayit. 
And  with  Baner  full  braid  displayit. 
And,  quhen  thay  saw  the  Inglis  rout, 

652     Thay  set  vpon  thame,  with  ane  schout ; 
With  reird  sa  rudelie  on  thame  ruschit. 
That  fiftie  to  the  eirth  thay  duschit : 
Thair  was  nocht  ellis  hot  tak  and  slay. 

656     This  Squyer  wounder  did,  that  day, 
And  stoutlie  stoppit  in  the  stour. 
And  dang  on  thame  with  dintis  dour. 
Wes  neuer  man  buir  better  hand  : 

660     Thair  micht  na  Buckler  byde  his  brand  ; 
For  it  was  weill  seuin  quarter  lang. 
With  that  sa  derilie  on  thame  dang. 
That,  lyke  ane  worthie  Campioun, 

664     Ay  at  ane  straik  he  dang  ane  doun. 

Sum  wes  euill  hurt ;  and  sum  wes  slane  ; 
Sum  fell,  quhilk  rais  not  ^it  agane. 
Quhen  that  the  Sutheroun  saw  his  micht, 


many  ^^•e^•o 
xlaiu  of 
each  party. 

A  base  project. 

The  Squire 

appears 

opportunely  on 

Uie  scene, 

and  learn-i  what 

the  English  are 

doing. 

He  hopes  he  is 

in  time, 

and  sallies  forth, 

with  his 

company,  to  the 

rescue. 

Tiie  English  aie 

attac\'ed  and 
rougiily  handled. 

TUc  Squire  was 
redoubtable 
in  the  fray, 
with  his  long 
sword. 

One  blow  from  it 
sufficed  for  a 
man; 

•and  many 

felt  it. 

The  Southrons 


340 


THE    HISTORIE    OF 


fled  aghast ;  and, 
but  for  tlie 
French,  it  would 
liave  sped  worte 
with  them. 
When  this 

valorous  exploit 

was  known  to  the 

King  of  France, 

the  Squire  was 

put  in  orders ; 

and  lie  did  many 

a  noble  deed. 
For  his  courage 
he  was  sought  in 
marriage  by  a 
great  lady  ; 
but  he  would 
return  to 
Scotland. 
He  was  greatly 

regretted,  being 

admired  for  bis 

daring. 

Well  escorted, 
he  made  for 
Dieppe,  where  he 
procured  a 
ship  for  his 
company, 
and  equipped 
and  provisioned 
it. 


G68     Effrayitlie  thay  tulie  the  flicht, 

And  wist  not  quhair  to  flie,  for  liaist : 

Thus  throw  the  toiin  he  hes  thame  chai.st. 

Wer  not  Frenchcjnen  come  to  the  redding, 
G72     TAair  had  hene  mekill  mair  bhide  shedding. 
Of  this  journey  I  mak  ane  end, 

Quhilk  euerie  Xobill  did  commend. 

Quhen  to  the  King  the  cace  wes  knawin, 
676     And  all  the  suith  vnto  him  shawin, — 

How  tliis  Squyer  sa  manfullie 

On  Sutheroun  wan  the  victurie,  — ■ 

He  put  him  into  ordinance. 
680     And  sa  he  did  remane  in  France, 

Ane  certane  tyiiie,  for  liis  plesour, 

"Weill  estemit  in  greit  honour, 

r^uhair  he  did  monie  ane  Xohill  deid. 
684     With  that,  richt  wantoun  in  his  weid, 

Quhen  Ladies  knew  his  hie  courage, 

He  was  desyrit  in  Mariage 

Be  ane  Ladie  of  greit  Rent. 
688     Bot  30uth  maid  liim  sa  insolent. 

That  he  in  France  wald  not  remane, 

Bot  come  to  Scotland  hame  agane. 

Thocht  Frenche  Ladies  did  for  him  murne, 
692     The  Scottis  wer  glaid  of  his  retui-ne. 

At  euerie  Lord  he  tuke  his  leue  ; 

Bot  his  departing  did  thame  greiue  ; 

For  lie  was  luiht  witli  all  wichtis, 
696     Quhilk  had  him  sene  defend  his  richtis. 

Scottis  Capitanes  did  him  couuoy, 

Thocht  his  departmg  did  thame  noy. 

At  Deip  he  maid  him  for  the  saill, 
700     Quhair  he  furnischit  ane  gay  veschaill. 
For  his  self  and  his  Men  of  Weir, 

With  Artail3ie,  Hakbut,  Bow,  and  Speir ; 

And  fuineist  hir  with  cude  vicluaill, 


SQVYER    MKLDUVM. 


3U 


704 


708 


712 


716 


720 


724 


732 


736 


AVith  the  bust  wyiic  that  hu  cuM  waill. 

And,  quhcn  the  Schip  was  reddie  maid, 

He  lay  hot  anc  day  in  the  raid, 

Quliill  he  gat  wind  of  the  Southeist. 

Than  tliay  thair  ankeris  weyit  on  haist, 

And  sync  maid  Saill,  and  fordwart  past, 

Ane  day,  at  niorne  ;  till,  at  the  last, 

Of  ane  greit  saiU  thay  gat  ane  sicht ; 

And  Phcebus  schew^  his  bemis  bricht, 

Into  the  morning  richt  airlie. 

Than  past  the  Skipper,  richt  spedelie, 

Up  to  the  top,  with  richt  greit  feir. 

And  saw  it  w^es  ane  Man  of  AVeir, 

And  cryit :  I  see  nocht  ellis,  perdie, 

Bot  Ave  mon  outlier  fecht  or  He. 

The  Squyer  wes  in  his  bed  lyand, 

Qulien  he  hard  tell  this  new  tydand. 

Be  this,  the  Inglis  Artail^e, 

Lyke  hailschot,  maid  on  thanie  assail^e. 

And  sloppit  throw  thair  fechting  saillis, 

And  diners  dang  out  ouir  the  waillis. 

The  Scottis  agane,  Avith  all  thair  miclit. 

Of  gunnis,  than,  thay  leit  fle  ane  flicht. 

That  thay  micht  weill  see  quhair  they  Avair, 

Heidis  and  armes  fleAv  in  the  Air. 

The  Scottis  Schip  scho  avbs  sa  law, 

That  nionie  gunnis  out  ouir  hir  flaA\', 

Quhilk  far  be3ond  thame  lichtit  doun. 

Bot  the  Inglis  greit  Gal3eoun 

Foment  thame  stude,  lyke  ane  strang  castell, 

T/;at  the  Scottis  gunnis  micht  na  AA'ay  faill, 

Bot  hat  hir  ay  on  the  richt  syde, 

"With  monie  ane  slop,  for  all  hir  pryde. 

That  monie  ane  beft  Aver  on  thair  bakkis  ; 

Than  rnis  the  reik  with  vglie  crakkis, 

Quhilk  on  the  Sey  maid  sic  ane  sound, 


After  a  short 

delay, 

the  wind  sat  for 

thoin. 

liefure  long  tliey 

caught  sight  of  a 
great  sail,  early 
one  morning. 
The  Captain  saw 

it  was  a  man  of 

war,  and  was 

much  alarmed. 
The  Squire 
hears  the  news. 
Tne  shif),  which 
is  English,  rakes 
them  with  a 
broadside, 
which  is 
returne  1, 
with  dire  efToct. 

Luckily,  the 

Scottish  ship  lay 

low. 

The  English 

galleon  suffered 

sorely  from  the 

Scottish  artillery. 
From  the 
booming  of  the 


342 


THE    HISTORIC    OF 


f;iini  people  on 
Blioro  knew  that 
a  battle  was 
going  forwai'il. 

Tlic  two  ships 

grappled ;  aiiii 

tlien  began 

a  fierce  contest, 

n  nil  divers 

weapons,  terrible 

in  its  result. 
Kvery  man  did 
Ills  biBt  ;  and 
blood  tlowt'd 
fieel}-. 
Tiie  English 
Captain  tells 
the  Scots  to  yield, 
or  die. 

Tlie  Squire 

answers  liini 

fearlessly. 
The  fighting 
continues;  and 
the  Sq\iire  leaps 
into  the  English 
ship,  and  knocks 
down  tlic  Captain. 
At  this, 
the  Scots  leave 
their  ship, 
follow  him, 
and  attack  tho 


740     That  ill  the  Air  it  did  redound, 

That  men  niicht  M'eill  wit,  on  the  land, 
That  shipjjis  wer  on  the  Sey  fechtanci. 
Be  this,  thegyder  straik  the  shijipis, 

744     And  atlier  on  vther  hiid  thair  clippis  ; 
And  than  began  the  Strang  battelL 
Illv  man  his  marrow  did  assaill  : 
Sa  rudclie  thay  did  rushe  togidder, 

748     That  nane  micht  hald  thair  feit  for  ylidder 
Sum  with  halbert,  and  sum  with  speir  ; 
Eot  hakbuttis  did  the  greitest  deir. 
Out  of  the  top  the  grundin  dartis 

752     Did  diners  peirs  outthrow  the  hartis. 
Euerie  man  did  his  diligence 
Upon  his  fo  to  wirk  vengence ; 
Eusehand  on  vtlier  routtis  rude, 

756     That  ouir  the  wail  lis  ran  the  blude. 
The  Inglis  Capitane  cryit  hie, 
Swyith  !  3eild  30W,  doggis,  or  je  sail  die  ; 
And,  do  3e  not,  I  niak  ane  vow, 

7G0     'J'hat  Scotland  salbe  tpiyte  of  30W. 
Than  peirtlie  answerit  the  Squyar, 
And  said  :  0  tratour  Tauernar, 
I  lat  the  wit,  thow  lies  na  micht 

7G4     This  day  to  put  vs  to  the  liicht. 
Thay  derflie  ay  at  vther  dang  : 
The  Squyer  thristit  throw  the  thrang, 
And  in  the  Inglis  schip  he  lap, 

7G8     And  hat  the  Capitane  sic  ane  flap 
Upon  his  held,  till  he  fell  douii, 
Welterand  infill  ane  deidlie  swoun. 
And,  quhen  the  Scottis  saw  the  Squyer 

772     Had  strikkin  doun  that  rank  Eeuer, 

They  left  thair  awiii  scliip  standand  waist, 
And  in  tlie  Inglis  schip,  in  haist, 
They  foUowit,  all,  thair  Capitane  ; 


SiQVYKR    MELDRVM. 


343 


776     And  sone  wes  all  the  Sutherouu  slaue. 
Howbeit  thay  wer  of  greiter  number, 
The  Scottismen  put  thaine  in  sic  cummer, 
That  thay  wer  fane  to  leif  the  Feild, 

780     Cryand  mercie,  than  did  thame  3eiW. 
3it  wes  the  Squyer  straikand  fast 
At  the  Capitane  ;  till,  at  the  last, 
Quhen  he  persauit  no  remeid, 

784  Outlier  to  ^eild,  or  to  be  deid. 
He  said  :  0  gentill  Capitane, 
Thoill  me  not  for  to  be  slane. 
My  lyfe  to  30W  salbe  mair  pryse 

788     Nor  sail  ray  deith,  ane  thowsand  syse  : 
For  ^e  may  get,  as  I  suppois, 
Thrie  thowsand  Nobillis  of  the  Rois 
Of  me  and  of  ray  companie  : 

792     Thairfoir,  I  cry  30W  loud  mercie. 
Except  my  lyfe,  nothing  I  craif : 
Tak  30W  the  schip  and  all  the  laif, 
I  ^eild  to  30W  baith  sword  and  knyfe  ; 

796     Thairfoir,  gude  Maister,  saue  my  Lyfe. 
The  Squyer  tuik  him  be  the  hand, 
And  on  his  feit  he  gart  him  stand, 
And  treittit  him  richt  tenderly, 

800     And,  syne,  vnto  his  men  did  cry, 

And  gaif  to  thame  richt  strait  commaiid. 
To  straik  no  moir,  bot  liald  thair  hand. 
Than  baith  the  Capitanes  ran  and  red  ; 

80  i     And  so  thair  wes  na  mair  blude  shed. 
Thau  all  the  laif  thay  did  thame  jeild, 
And  to  the  Scottis  gaif  sword  and  sheild. 
Ane  N'obill  Leiche  the  Squyer  had, — 

808     Quhairof  the  Ingiismen  wes  full  glaid, — ■ 
To  quhome  the  Squj'er  gaif  command 
Tlie  woundit  men  to  tak  on  hand  : 
And  so  he  did,  with  diligence, 


Boulhrons, 
though 

surpassing 
themselves  in 
number. 
Tlie  Squire  was 
petting  the 
better  of  tlia 
Captain, 
who,  teniptiiis 

his  adversary 

vith  rich  promisa 

of  goM,  liogged 

for  mercy. 

He  n-oukl  give  up 

ship  ;in(l  all,  lor 

his  life. 

The  Squire  lifted 

him  up,  and  gave 

order  to  cease 

fighting  ; 

and  the  fighting 

reased, 

i:i  favour  of  the 

Scots. 

The  Squire's 

leech  was 

directed  to  look 

after 

tl;e  woiiudo.!; 


344 


THE    IIISTOEIE    OF 


and  he  was 
recompensed. 
The  wounded, 

dying,  and  dead 
diBposed  of,  it 
was  found  that 
five  score  English 
were  sluin,  and 
fifteen  of  Scots. 
Tlie  English 
Captain,  seeing 
this  upshot,  went 
into  a  frenzy, 
defied  Fortune, 
and  thought 
better  of 
his  former 
opinion  of  the 
Scots. 
The  Squire 
cheered  him  as 
best  lie  could, 
and  proposed 
dinner  and  wine. 

Tlicy  drank, 
and  set  sail ; 
some  of  the 
English  being 
landed  in  Kent, 
w  hile  others 
went  to  Sco;hind. 

The  Englisli 
Captain  was 
imprisoned, 
with  his 
company,  till  he 
paid  their 


812     Quhairof  he  gat  gude  recompence. 

Than,  quhen  the  woundit  men  Aver  drest, 
And  all  the  deand  men  confest, 
And  deid  men  cassin  in  the  See, — 

816     Quhilk  to  behald  wes  greit  pietie, — ■ 
Thair  was  slane,  of  Inglis  band, 
Fyue  scoir  of  men,  I  vnderstand, — 
The  quhilk  wer  cruell  men  and  kene, — - 

820     And  of  the  Scottis  wer  slane  fyftene. 
And,  quhen  the  Inglis  Capitane 
Saw  hoAv  his  men  wer  tane  and  slane, 
And  how  the  Scottis,  sa  few  in  number, 

824     Had  put  thame  in  sa  greit  ane  cummer, 
He  grew  intill  ane  frenesy, 
Sayand  :  fals  Fortoun,  I  the  defy  ; 
For  I  beleuit,  this  day  at  morne, 

828     That  he  was  not  in  Scotland  borne, 

That  durst  haue  met  me,  hand  for  hand, 
Within  the  boundis  of  my  brand. 
The  Squyer  bad  him  mak  gude  cheir, 

832     And  said,  it  wes  hot  chance  of  "Weir. 
Greit  Conquerouris,  I  50W  assure, 
Hes  hapnit  sir-like  aduenture  : 
Thairfoir,  mak  mirrie,  and  go  dyne, 

836     And  let  vs  preif  the  michtie  wyne. 

Sum  drank  wj-ne,  and  sum  drank  Aill  ; 
Syne,  put  the  shippis  vnder  saill, 
And  waiUit  furth  of  the  Inglis  band 

840     Twa  hundreth  men,  and  put  on  land, 
Quyetlie,  on  tlie  Coist  of  Kent ; 
The  laif  in  Scotland  with  him  went. 
The  Inglis  Capitane,  as  I  ges, 

844     lie  wairdit  him  in  the  Blaknes, 
And  treitit  him  richt  honestlie, 
Togither  witli  his  companie. 
And  held  thame  in  that  GarnisMun, 


SQVYliR    MELDRVM. 


345 


818     Till  tliay  liatl  payit  tluiir  Eunsoun. 

Out  throw  the  land  than  spi-ang  the  fame, 

That  Squyer  Meldrum  Aves  cum  hame. 

Quhen  thay  hard  tell  how  he  debaitit, 
852     "With  euerie  man  he  was  sa  treitit, 

That,  quhen  he  trauellit  throw  the  land, 

Thay  bankettit  him  fra  hand  to  hand. 

With  greit  solace ;  till,  at  the  last, 
856     Out  throw  Straitherne  the  Squyer  past. 

And,  as  it  did  approch  the  nicht, 

Of  ane  Castell  he  gat  ane  sicht, 

Beside  ane  Montane,  in  ane  vaill ; 
860     And  than,  efter  his  greit  trauaill, 

He  23urpoisit  him  to  repois, 

Quhair  ilk  man  did  of  him  rejois. 

Of  this  triumphant  plesand  place 
864     Ane  lustie  Ladie  wes  Maistres, 

Quhais  Lord  was  deid  schort  tyme  befuir, 

Quliairthi'ow  hir  dolour  wes  the  mnir. 

Bot  3it  scho  tuke  sum  comforting, 
868     To  heir  the  plesaut  dulce  talking 

Of  this  30ung  Squyer,  of  his  chance, 

And  how  it  fortunit  him  in  France. 

This  Squj^er  and  the  Ladie  gent 
872     Did  Avesche,  and  then  to  supper  Avent. 

During  that  nicht  thair  Avas  nocht  ellis 

But  for  to  heir  of  his  Xouellis. 

E]ieas,  quhen  he  fled  from  Troy, 
876     Did  not  Queue  Dido  greater  loy, 

Quhen  he  in  Carthage  did  arryue. 

And  did  the  seige  of  Troy  discryue. 

The  Avonderis  that  he  did  reheirs 
880     Wer  langsum  for-to  put  in  vers, 

Of  quhilk  this  Ladie  did  rejois. 

Thay  drank,  and  syne  went  to  repois. 

He  find  his  Chalmer  AA-eill  arraj'it 


ransom. 
The  Squire, 
returned  with 
fame,  was  well 
treated  and 
banquetted 
t'.Toughout  the 
land. 

Travelling,  once, 
towards  night  he 
espied  a  castle, 
where  he  found 
hospitable 
reception. 

Tlie  castle 
belonged  to  a 
lady  whose  lonl 
had  lately  died, 
to  her  grief. 

Yet  she  showed 

interest  in  the 

Squire's  account 

of  his  adventures. 

After  supper,  he 

went  on  talking 

as  before. 
Aeneas  did  not 
please  Dido  more 
than  the  Squire 
the  lady, 
with  his 
wondrous 
exploits. 

The  Squire  v.as 


346 


THK    IIISTOKIfi    OF 


well  housed,  atid 
led  with  irood 
meat  and  diiiik ; 
and  he  fared 
bravely. 
The  lady  tells 
him  he  is 
welcome ;  and  he 
thanks  her. 
They  jiLiycd 
games ;  and  then 
the  Sqi'.ire 
escorted  hi-r  to 
her  bedroom, 
and  went  to  his 
own. 

But  he  could  not 
sleep  a  wink  ;  for 
Cupid  had 
jjierced  hi3 
heart  ;  and  he 
made  liis  moan 
to  A'pnns, 
complaining 
that,  just  l.cfrre 
free,  lie  had  been 
taken  captive. 

If  she  only  knew 

his  mind  1 

He  wished 
himself  back  in 
France,  rather 
than  subject  to 
one  careless  of 
him. 

The  lady 
overhears  the 
Squire  bewiiilin{{ 
himself, 


884  AVith  dornik  work  on  buird  disnlayit. 
Of  Uenisoun  he  had  hid  waill, 

Glide  Aquavite,  Wyne,  and  Aill. 

With  nobill  Confeittis,  Bran,  and  Geill  ; 

885  And  swa  the  Squyer  fiiir  richt  weill. 
Sa,  to  heir  mair  of  his  narratioun, 
This  Ladie  come  to  his  Collationn, 
Sayand  he  was  richt  welcum  liaine. 

892     Grandmercie  !  tlian,  quod  he,  ]Madanie. 

Thay  past  the  time  with  Ches  and  Tabill  ;- 
For  he  to  euerie  game  Avas  abill  ; — 
Than  vnto  bed  drew  euerie  wicht ; 

896     To  Chalmer  went  this  Ladie  bricht, 
The  quhilk  this  Squyer  did  conuoy ; 
Syne,  till  his  bed  he  went,  with  loy. 
That  nicht  he  sleipit  neuer  ane  wink, 

900     Bot  still  did  on  the  Ladie  tliink  ; 
Cupido,  Avith  his  fyrie  dart, 
Did  peirs  him  .-^o  out  throw  the  hart. 
Sa  all  that  nicht  he  did  bot  murn  it ; 

904  Sum  tyme  sat  vp,  and  sumtyme  turnit, 
Sichand  witli  monie  gant  and  grane, 
To  fair  Venus  makand  his  mane, 
Sayand  :   Liidie,  quhat  may  this  mcne  ? 

905  I  Avas  ane  fre  man  lait  jistrene, 

And  noAV  ane  catiue  bound  and  thrall 

Lor  ane  that  I  think  Flour  of  all. 

I  pray  Goil  sen  scho  kneAV  my  mynd, 
912     HoAv,  for  hir  s;iik,  I  am  sa  pynd. 

"'^^^lld  God  I  Itad  bene  jit  in  France, 

Or  I  had  hapnit  sic  mischance. 

To  bo  subject  or  seruiture 
91  6     Till  ane  quhilk  takis  of  me  na  cure  ! 

'Hiis  Ladie  ludgit  neiihand  by. 

And  hard  the  Squyer  priuely, 

With  di-eidfull  hart  makand  his  mono. 


BQVVER    MELDIlVJr. 


3^7 


920     "With  mouie  cairfuU  gant  and  grone. 
Hir  hart  fultillit  with  pietici, 
Thocht  scho  wakl  haif  of  him  niercie, 
And  said  :  liowbeit  I  suld  be  slaiie, 

92-4     He  sail  haue  lufe  for  lufe  agane. 

Wald  God  I  micht,  with  my  honour, 
Haue  him  to  be  my  Paramour ! 
This  wes  the  mii-rie  tyme  of  May, 

928     Quhen  this  fair  Ladie,  freshe  and  gay, 
Start  vp,  to  take  the  hailsuni  Air, 
With  pantonis  on  hir  feit  ane  pair, 
Airlie  into  ane  cleir  morning, 

932     Befoir  fair  Phoebus  vprysing, 
Kirtill  alone,  withonttin  Clok  ; 
And  saw  the  Sqiiyeris  dure  vnlok. 
Scho  slippit  in,  or  euer  he  wist, 

936     And  fen3eitlie  past  till  ane  kist, 

And  with  hir  keyis  oppinnit  the  Lokkis, 
And  maid  hir  to  take  furth  ane  Boxe : 
Bot  that  was  not  hir  erand  thair. 

940     With  that,  this  lustie  ^oung  Squyar 
Saw  this  Ladie  so  plesantlie 
Cum  to  his  Chalmer  quyetlie. 
In  Kyrtill  of  fyne  Damais  broun, 

944     Hir  goldin  traissis  hingand  doun. 

Hir  Pappis  vrer  hard,  round,  and  quhyte, 
Quhome  to  behald  wes  greit  delyte. 
Pyke  the  quhyte  lyllie  wes  hir  lyre  ; 

948     Hir  hair  was  like  the  reid  gold  wyre  ; 
Hir  schankis  quhyte  withouttin  hois, 
Quhaii-at  the  Sqnyer  did  rejois. 
And  said,  than  :  now,  vail^e  quod  vail3e, 

952     Upon  the  Ladie  thoAv  mak  ane  sail^e. 
Hir  Courlyke  Kirtill  was  vrdaist, 
And  sone  into  his  armis  hir  braist, 
And  said  to  hir  :  Madame,  gudemorne  ! 


determines 

thp.t  he  Bhall 

have  love 

for  love, 

ami  siglis 

for  him. 

She  gel-9  lip,  tlie 

sun  not  yet  risen, 

puts  on  lier 

slip))ers,  ami  sees 

tliat  tlie  Squire'a 

door  is  iinlocl<oil. 
She  slips  into  liis 
room,  ami, 
as  a  pretext, 
opens  a  chest,  to 
take  out  a  box. 
He  sees 

her  come 

quietly  into 

his  bedroom, 

scans  her 

unconcealed 

channs  with 

great  relish, 

and  grows 

amorou'!. 

As  she  is  he  clasps 
her,  wishes  her 
good-morrow, 


343 


THE    HISTORIE    OP 


and  will  die, 

unless  she  relieves 

him. 

He  talks,  and 

makes  all  secure. 
She  pretends 

to  liave  a 

scrapie. 

She  would  get  a 

dispensation, 

and  then  marry 

him,  quite 

agreeable  to  her. 
She  praises  him, 

and  proposes 

terms  for  his 

becoming  her 

husband. 

He  would  ever 

serve  her,  but  is 

impatient. 
They  kiss  and 


('upid  enters 

their  hearts  ; 
and  the 
twain  proceed, 
in  diia 


956     Help  me,  30111  man  that  is  forlorne. 

"Without  36  mak  me  sum  remeid, 

Withouttin  doi;t  I  am  hot  deid  ; 

Quliairfoir,  30  mon  releif  my  harmes. 
9G0     "VYith  that,  he  hint  hir  in  his  armes, 

And  talkit  with  hir  on  the  Sure  ; 

Syne,  quyethe  did  har  the  dure. 

Squyer,  quod  scho,  quhat  is  30ur  will  1 
964     Think  36  my  Avomanheid  to  spill  1 

Xa,  God  forbid  !  it  wer  greit  syn  : 

My  Lord  and  3e  wes  neir  of  Kyu. 

Quhairfoir,  I  mak  30"W  supplicatioun, 
968     Pas,  and  seik  ane  dispensatioun  ; 

Than  sail  I  wed  30 w  with  ane  King  ] 

Than  may  36  leif  at  30ur  lyking  : 

For  36  ar  30ung,  lustie,  and  fair, 
972     And,  als,  36  ar  30ur  Fatheris  Air. 

Thair  is  na  Ladie,  in  all  this  land, 

May  30W  refuse  to  hir  Husband  ; 

And,  gif  36  lufe  me  as  3e  say, 
976     Haist  to  dispens  the  best  36  may  ; 

And  thair  to  30W  I  geue  my  hand, 

I  sail  30W  take  to  my  Husband. 

Quod  he  :  quhill  that  I  may  indure, 
980     I  vow  to  be  30ur  seruiture  ; 

Bot  I  think  greit  vexatioun 

To  tarie  vpon  dispensatioun. 

Than  in  his  armis  he  did  hir  thrist, 
984     And  aither  vther  sweitlie  kist ; 

And  wame  for  wame  thay  vther  braissit : 

With  that,  hir  Kirtill  wes  vnlaissit. 

Than  Cupido,  with  his  fyrie  dartis, 
988     Tnfiammit  sa  thir  Luifcris  hartis, 

Tliay  micht  na  maner  of  way  disseucr, 

Nor  ane  micht  not  part  fra  ane  vther ; 

Bot,  like  wo(l1)in(l,  thay  wer  baith  wrappit. 


SQVYER    MELDRVM. 


349 


992     Tliair  tendeiiie  he  lies  liir  happit, 

Full  softlie  vp,  intill  his  Bed  : 

ludge  je  gif  he  hir  schankis  shed. 

Allace  !  quod  scho,  quhat  may  this  nient'  1 
99G     And  ^\'ith  hir  hair  scho  dicht  hir  Ene.   • 
I  can  not  tell  how  thay  did  play  ; 

Bot  I  beleue  scho  said  not  nay. 

He  pleisit  hir  sa,  as  I  hard  sane, 
1000     That  he  was  Avelcum  ay  agane. 

Scho  rais,  and  tenderlie  him  kist, 

And  on  his  hand  ane  Ring  scho  thrist ; 

And  he  gaif  hir  ane  lufe  drowrie, 
1004     Ane  Ring  set  with  ane  riche  Rubie, 

In  takin  that  thair  Lufe  for  euer 

Suld  neuer  frome  thir  twa  disseuer. 

And  than  scho  passit  vnto  hir  Chalmer, 
1008     And  fand  hir  madinnis,  sweit  as  Lammer, 

Sleipand  full  sound ;  and  nothing  Avist 

How  that  thair  Ladie  past  to  the  Kist. 

Quod  thay  :  Madame,  quhair  haue  30  bene  I 
1012     Quod  scho  :  into  my  Gardine  grene, 

To  heir  thir  mirrie  birdis  sang  ; 

I  lat  30AV  wit,  I  thocht  not  lang, 

Thocht  I  had  taryit  thair  quhill  Xone. 
101 G     Quod  thai  :  quhair  wes  ^our  hois  &  schone  1 

Quhy  3eid  3e  with  3our  bellie  bair  1 

Quod  scho  :  the  morning  wes  sa  fair  : 

For,  be  him  that  deir  lesus  sauld, 
1020     I  felt  na  wayis  ony  maner  of  cauld. 

Quod  thay  :  Madame,  me  think  36  sweit. 

Quod  scho  :  3e  see  I  sufferit  heit ; 

The  dew  did  sa  on  llouris  fieit, 
1024     That  baith  my  Lymmis  ar  maid  weit : 

Thairfoir  ane  quhyle  I  Avill  heir  ly, 

Till  this  dulce  de^v  be  fra  me  dry. 

Ryse,  and  gar  mak  our  denner  reddie. 


course,  to 

natural 

extremities ; 

she  covering 
her  eyes  witli 
her  hair. 

Her  solace  was 

such  that  he 

was  welcome 

ever  after. 

She  rises, 

kisses  him 
tenderly,  and  they 
exchange  token 

of  conitancy. 
She  returns  to 
her  room,  and 
finds  her  maids 
still  sleeping. 
Where  had  she 
been  ? 

In  the  garden, 
where  the  time 
passed  swiftly. 

Why  did  she  go 

out  in  undress  ? 

Because  she  did 

not  feel  it  cold. 
Why  was  she 
so  moist  ? 
From  the  he.it  and 
from  the  dew. 
She  will  lie  and 
dry  herself. 
They  are  to  go 


350 


THE    HISTORIB    OF 


about  tlieir  work.     1028 

Slie  rests,  rises, 
dresses,  goes  to 
Mass,  and 
appears. 


The  Squire 
proceeds  with 
his  stories. 
The  lovers  turn 
to  good  account 
thiE  pleasant 
May, 
undetected. 

Tho  Squire 

malces  some 

stay,  diverting 

himself  in  various 

ways. 

He  was  an  adept 

at  all  maruier  of 


Of  a  siege. 

A  courier  comes, 

and  tells  that 
Macfarlane  has 
seized  her  cai-tie, 
and  ravaged  the 
coviiilry. 
In  fear,  she  goes 
to  the  Squire, 
and  lolls  him 
what  has  l)0fal!en. 


1032 


1036 


1040 


1044 


1048 


1052 


1050 


lOGO 


That  salbe  done,  quod  tliay,  my  Ladie. 
Efter  that  scho  had  tane  hir  rest, 
Sho  rais,  and  in  hir  Chakner  hir  drest, 
And,  efter  Mes,  to  denner  Avent. 
Than  wes  the  Sqnyer  diligent 
To  declair  monie  sindiie  storie 
"Worthie  to  put  in  Memorie. 

Quhat  sail  we  of  thir  Luiferis  say, 
Eot,  all  tliis  tyiue  of  lustie  May, 
They  past  tlie  tyme  with  Toy  and  blis, 
Full  quyetlio,  with  monie  ane  kis  ! 
Thair  Avas  na  Creature  that  kneAV 
3it  of  thir  Luiferis  Chalmer  glew. 
And  sa  he  leuit,  plesandlie, 
Ane  certane  time,  with  his  Ladie ; 
Sum  time  Avith  halking  and  hunting, 
Sum  time  Avith  wantoun  hors  rinning, 
And,  sum  time,  like  ane  man  of  Aveir, 
Full  gal^ardlie  Avald  ryn  ane  speir. 
He  Avan  the  pryse  abone  thame  all, 
Baith  at  the  Buttis  and  the  FutebalL 
Till  euerie  solace  he  AA^as  abill, 
At  cartis,  and  dyce,  at  Ches,  and  tabill 
And,  gif  ^e  list,  I  sail  ^oav  tell 
HoAv  that  he  seigit  ane  Castell. 
Ane  ]\Iossinger  come  spedilie. 
From  the  Lennox  to  that  Ladie, 
And  scheAA'  how  that  Makfagon, 
And  Avith  him  monie  bauld  Baron, 
Hir  Castell  had  tane  perfors. 
And  nouther  left  hir  koAV  nor  hors, 
And  lieryit  all  that  laud  about; 
Quhairof  the  Ladie  liad  greit  dout. 
Till  liir  Squyer  scho  j)assit  in  haist, 
And  schr-Av  him  hoAv  scho  aa-^cs  opprest, 
And  how  he  AA'aistit  monie  ane  myle 


SQVYER    MELDRVM. 


351 


1004     Eetuix  DuiiLartane  and  Argyle. 
And,  quhen  the  Squyer  Moldrum 
Had  hard  thir  Nouellis,  all  and  snm, 
Intill  his  hart  thair  grew  sic  Tie, 

1068     That  all  his  hodie  brint  in  fyre; 

And  swoir  it  suld  be  full  deir  said, 
Gif  he  micht  find  him  in  that  hald. 
He  and  his  men  did  them  addres, 

1072     Richt  haistelie,  in  thair  Harnes  ; 

Snm  with  bow,  and  sum  with  speir. 
And  he,  like  ]\Iars,  the  God  of  weir, 
Come  to  the  Ladie,  and  tuke  his  leif ; 

1076     And  scho  gaif  him  hir  richt  hand  gluif, 
The  quhilk  he  on  his  basnet  bure. 
And  said  :  Madame,  I  30W  assure, 
That  worthie  Lancelot  du  laik 

1 080     Did  neuer  mair,  for  his  Ladies  saik, 
!Nor  I  sail  do,  or  ellis  de. 
Without  that  30  reuengit  be. 
Than  in  hir  armes  scho  him  braist ; 

1084     And  he  his  leif  did  take  in  haist, 

And  raid  that  day,  and  all  the  nicht, 
Till,  on  the  morne,  he  gat  ane  sicht 
Of  that  Castell,  baith  fair  and  Strang. 

1088     Than,  in  the  middis,  his  men  amang, 
To  michtie  Mars  his  vow  he  maid. 
That  he  suld  neuer  in  hart  be  glaid, 
l^or  3it  returiie  furth  of  that  land, 

1092     Quhill  that  strenth  wer  at  his  command. 
All  the  Tennentis  of  that  Ladie 
Come  to  the  Squyer  haistelie. 
And  maid  aith  of  fidelitie, 

1096     That  they  suld  neuer  fra  him  flie. 

Quhen  to  Makferland,  wicht  and  bauld, 
The  veritie,  all  haill,  wes  tanld, 
How  the  30ung  Squyer  Meldrum 
3 


On  learning  this 
news,  the  Squire 
warms  with 
wrath,  and 
declares  himself 
ready  for  all 
luizards. 
He  and  liis 
men  arm 
tliemselves. 

He  takes  leave  of 

tlie  lady,  who 

gives  liim  her 

right  glove ;  and 

he  promises,  that, 

even  at  the  cost  of 

his  life,  she  shall 

be  revenged. 

She  embraces 
him ;  and  he 
rides  all  that  day, 
and  all  the  night, 
before  he  comes 
in  sight  of  the 
castle. 

In  the  midst  of 
his  men,  he 
swears  to  Mars 
never  to  be 
happy,  nor  to 
leave  the  land, 
till  the  castle 
yields  to  him. 

The  lady's 
tenants  flock  to 
him,  and  make 
oath  to  stand  by 
him  to  the  last. 
Macfarlane, 
hearing  of  the 
Squire's  coming 


352 


THE    PIISTORIE    OF 


with  intent  to 
besiege  the 
fortress,  victuals 
it,  resolved  to 
defend  it  to  the 
death. 

The  Squire  makes 

preparations  for 

action. 

He  demands  of 

Macfarlane  to 

surrender. 

Macfarlane 

refuses,  declaring 

that  he  will  stay 

where  he  is. 

His  men 
discharge  their 
arrows  at  the 
Squire's  band. 

The  volley  is 
returned,  with 
good  result. 
Then  follows  a 
sharp  fight ;  and 
many  are  slain 
on  each  side. 
The  Squire  calls 
for  scaling- 
ladders,  which 
are  set  up  and 
mounted. 

The  castle  is 
entered ;  and  the 
Squire  plants  his 
banner  on  the 
wall. 

The  fighting 

still  goes  on. 

Macfarlane  yields, 


1100     Wes  now  into  the  Cuntrie  cum, 
Purpoisand  to  seige  that  place, 
Than  vittaillit  he  thar  Forti'es, 
And  swoir  he  suld  that  place  defend, 

1104     Bauldlie,  vntill  his  lyfis  end. 

Be  this,  the  Squyer  wes  arrayit. 

With  his  Baner  hricht  displayit, 

With  culuering,  hakbut,  Ijow,  and  speir. 

II 08     Of  Makfarland  he  tuke  na  feu- ; 

And,  like  ane  Campioun  courageous, 
He  cryit  and  said  :  gif  ouir  the  hous. 
The  Capitane  answerit,  heichly, 

1112     And  said  :  tratour,  we  the  defy  : 
We  sail  reniane  this  hous  within, 
Into  despyte  of  all  thy  kyn. 
AYith  that,  the  Archeris,  hauld  and  Avicht, 

1116     Of  braid  arrowis  let  fie  ane  flicht 
Amang  the  Squyeris  companie  ; 
And  thay,  agane,  richt  manfullie, 
With  Hakbute,  Bow,  and  Culueryne, 

1 120     Quhilk  put  Makferlandis  men  to  pyne  ; 
And  on  thair  colleris  laid  full  sikker, 
And  thair  began  ane  bailfull  bikker  : 
Thair  was  bot  schot  and  schot  agane, 

1124     Till,  on  ilk  side,  thair  wes  men  slane. 
Than  cryit  the  Squyer  couragious  : 
Swyith  !  lay  the  ledderis  to  the  hous. 
And  sa  thay  did,  and  clam,  belyfe, 

1128     As  busie  Beis  dois  to  thair  hyfe. 

Howbeit  tliair  wes  slane  monie  man, 
3it  wichtlie  ouir  the  wallis  they  wan. 
The  Squyer,  formest  of  them  all, 

1132     Plantit  the  Baner  ouir  the  wall  ; 
And  than  began  the  mortall  fray  : 
Thair  wes  not  elUs  bot  tak  and  slay. 
Than  ]\rakferland,  tliat  maid  the  prais, 


SQVYER    MELDRVM. 


353 


1136     From  time  lie  saw  the  Squyeris  face, 
Vpon  his  kiieis  he  did  him  3eild, 
Deliuerand  him  baith  speir  and  scheild. 
The  Squyer  hartlie  him  ressauit, 

1 1 4:0     Commandand  that  he  suld  be  sauit : 
And  sa  did  slaik  that  mortall  feid, 
Sa  that  na  man  wes  put  to  deid. 
In  fre  waird  was  Makfeiiand  seisit, 

1144:     And  leit  the  laif  gang  quhair  they  pleisit. 
And  sa  this  Squj^er  amorous 
Seigit  and  wan  the  Ladies  hous, 
And  left  thairin  ane  Capitane  ; 

1 1 48     Syne,  to  Stratherne  returnit  agane, 
Quhair  that  he  with  his  fair  Ladie 
Ressauit  wes  full  plesantlie, 
And  to  tak  rest  did  him  conuoy  : 

1 152     ludge  ^e  gif  thair  wes  mirth  and  Toy. 
Howbeit  the  Chalmer  dure  wes  cloisit, 
They  did  bot  kis,  as  I  suppois  it : 
Gif  vther  thing  wes  them  betwene, 

1156     Let  them  discouer,  that  Luiferis  bene  ; 
For  I  am  not  in  Lufe  expart, 
And  neuer  studyit  in  that  art. 
Thus  they  remainit  in  merines, 

1160     Beleifand  neuCr  to  hauo  distrea. 

In  that  meine  time,  this  Ladie  fair 
Ane  douchter  to  the  Squyer  bair  : 
Nane  fund  wes  fairer  of  visage. 

1164     Than  tuke  the  Squyer  sic  courage, 
Agane  the  mirrie  time  of  May, 
Threttie  he  put  in  his  Luferay, — 
In  Scarlot  fyne,  and  of  hew  grene, 

1168     Quhilk  wes  ane  semelie  sicht  to  sene. 
The  gentilmen,  in  all  that  land, 
Wer  glaid  Avith  him  to  mak  ane  Imml  ; 
And  he  Avald  plainelie  tak  thair  partis, 
3* 


and  gives  up  to 

the  Squire  liis 

spear  and  sliield. 

The  Squire  spares 

his  life;  and 

tiiere  is  no  more 

bloodshed. 

All  but 
Macfarlane  are 

let  go. 

The  Squire  leaves 
a  captain  in 
charge  of  the 
castle,  and 
returns  to 
Stratherne, 

where  the  fair 

lady  received 

him  most 

graciously. 

How  far  they 
carried  their 
rejoicing  let 
lovers  discover; 
for  I  am 
unstudied  in  the 
art  of  such. 

So  their 

happiness 

continued. 

The  lady  bore 
the  Squire  a 

daughter,  of  the 
comeliost. 

Against  the 
merry  time  of 
May,  he  put 
thirty  of  his 
men  in  livery, 
scarlet  and  green, 
seemly  to  behold. 

All  the  gently 
were  fain  of  his 
friendship,  he 
wishing  only 


354 


THE    HISTOPJE    OF 


their  good  will ; 

aiiil  so  he  lived 

pleasantly. 

He  and  the  lady, 
whom  he  loved 
much,  consoled 
each  other, 
awaiting  tlie 
dispensation. 

But  it  was 
mismanaged ; 
and  the  end  was 
Bore  grief. 

Joy  leads  to 

sorrow. 

Jealousy  and 
envy  pursued 
him;  and, 
consequently,  he 
had  many  a 
quarrel,  but  yet 
always  defended 
his  honour. 

A  cruel  knight, 
who  lived  hard 
by,  envied  the 
Squire,  aimed  to 
part  the  lovers, 
and  wished  the 
lady  to  many 
some  one  else. 

She,  however, 
refused. 

So  the  knight 
resolved  to  kill 
the  Squire,  and 
swore  that  one  or 
other  of  them 
should  die. 

The  Sqiure 
was  quite 
prepared  for  a 


1172     And  not  desyring  Lot  tliair  hartis. 
Thus  leuit  the  Squver  plesandlie, 
"With  ^Musick  and  with  Menstralie. 
Of  this  Ladie  he  wes  sa  glaid, 

1 1  7G     Thaii-  micht  na  sorrow  mak  him  sad  : 
Ilk  ane  did  vther  consolatioun, 
Taryand  vpon  disjDensatioun. 
Had  it  cum  hame,  he  had  hir  hruikit ; 

1 180     Bot,  or  it  come,  it  wes  miscuikit : 

And  all  this  game  he  bocht  full  deir, 
As  30  at  lenth  sail  efter  heir. 

Of  warldlie  Toy  it  wes  weill  kend, 

1 184     That  sorrow  bene  the  fatall  end  ; 
For  Iclousic  and  fals  Inuie 
Did  liiin  persew  richt  cruellie, — 
I  meruell  not  thocht  it  be  so  ; 

1 1  88     For  they  wer,  euer,  Luiferis  fo  : — 

Quhairthrow  he  stude  in  monie  ane  stour, 
And  ay  defendit  his  honour. 

Ane  cruell  Knicht  dwelt  neir  hand  by, 

1 192     Quhilk  at  this  Squyer  had  Inuy  ; 
Imaginand,  intill  his  hart, 
How  he  thir  Luiferis  micht  depart, 
And  wald  haue  had  hir  maryand 

11 90     Ane  gentilman,  within  his  land, 

The  quhilk  to  him  wes  not  in  blude  : 
Eot,  finallie  for  to  conclude, 
Thairto  scho  wald  neuer  assent. 

1200     Quliairfoir,  the  Knicht  set  his  Intent 
This  nobill  Squyer  for  to  destroy, 
And  swore  he  suld  neuer  haue  Toy 
In  till  his  hart,  without  remeid, 

1204     Till  ane  of  thame  wer  left  for  deid. 
This  vail^eand  Squyer  manfully 
In  ernist  or  play  did  liim  defy, 
Offerand  him  self  for  to  assaill, 


8QVYER    MELDRVM. 


355 


1208     Budie  for  bodie,  in  battaill. 

The  Kniclit  thairto  not  condiscendit, 
Bot  to  betrais  him  ay  intendit. 
Sa  it  fell,  anis  vpon  anc  day, 

1212     In  Edinburgli,  as  I  hard  say  : 

This  Squyer  and  the  Ladie  trew 
"Was  thair,  just  matteris  to  persew. 
That  cruell  Knicht,  full  of  Inuy, 

1216     Gart  hald  on  them  ane  secreit  Spy, 

Quhen  thai  suld  pas  fuith  of  the  toun, 

For  this  Squj'-eris  confusioun, 

Quhilk  traistit  no  man  suld  him  greiue, 

1220     Nor  of  tressoun  had  no  beleiue. 

And  tuik  his  licence  from  his  Oist, 
And  liberalHe  did  pay  his  Coist, 
And  sa  departit,  blyith  and  mirrie, 

1224     With  purpois  to  pas  ouir  the  Ferrie. 
He  wes  bot  auchtsum  ia  his  rout ; 
For  of  danger  he  had  no  dout. 
The  Spy  come  to  the  Knicht,  anone, 

1228     And  him  informit  how  they  wer  gone. 
Than  gadderit  he  his  men  in  hy. 
With  thrie  scoir  in  his  company, 
Accowterit  weill  in  feir  of  weir, — 

1232     Sum  with  bow,  and  sum  with  speir, — 
And  on  the  Squyer  followit  fast, 
Till  thay  did  see  him,  at  the  last, 
With  all  his  men  richt  weill  arrayit, 

1236     With  cruell  men  natlnng  eflfrayit. 

And,  c^uhen  the  Ladie  saw  the  rout, 
God  wait  gif  scho  stude  in  greit  dout. 
Quod  scho  :  jour  enemeis  I  see  ; 

1240     Thairfoir,  sweit  hart,  I  reid  30W  fie  : 
In  the  cuntrey  I  ^vill  be  kend  : 
3e  ar  na  partie  to  defend. 
3e  knaw  jone  Knichtis  crueltie, 


duel  with  him ; 

but  the  knight 

preferred 

treachery. 

One  day  the 

Squire  and  tlie 

lady  chanced  to 

go  to  Edinburgh. 

The  cruel  knight, 

full  of  envy,  set  a 

spy,  to  watch 

wlien  they  should 

pass  out  of  the 

town. 

The  Squire 
de))arted, 
suspecting 
nothing,  with 
pm'pose  to  cross 
the  ferry. 

His  party  was  of 
eiglit. 

The  spy  notified 
their  starting. 

The  kniglit 
collected  liis  men,, 
—three  score,  and 
armed  with  bows 
or  spears,— gave 
chase,  and  at  last 
came  in  sight  of 
the  Squire  and 
his  damitless 
band. 

The  lady  was 

alanned. 

She  advises  the 
Squire  to  take  to 
flight, 

overmatched, 
from  the  cruel 
knight ; 


356 


THE    IlISTUlUi;    UF 


since  ho 

sought  her 

alone. 

She  would  soon 

find  her  way 

to  him. 

He  replies, 

declining  to  turn 

his  back. 

He  draws  his 

Bword,  disposes 

his  men,  and 

encourages  thein. 

The  knight 
demands  the 
lady. 

Jf  not  given 
up,  he  will 
seize  her. 

The  Squire  mils 
on  him,  if  a 
knight,  to  fight 
with  him  single- 
handed. 

Beaten,  he  will 
give  up  the  lady. 

The  knight  will 

not  venture. 

A  contest  w:is 

inevitable. 

He  looks  to 
heaven, 
commends  his 
cause  to  God, 
and  prepares  for 
work. 

He  and  liis 

company  dash 

forward, 

courageously. 

The  Squire 


1244:     That  in  his  hart  lies  no  mercie. 

It  is  bot  ane  that  thay  wald  haue  ; 

Thairfoir,  deir  hart,  30ur  self  36  sane. 

Howbeit  thay  tak  me  with  this  trane, 
1248     I  salbe  sone  at  50W  agane  : 

For  30  war  neuer  sa  hard  staid. 

Madame,  quod  he,  be  3e  not  raid  ; 

For,  be  the  halie  Trinitie, 
1252     This  day  ane  fute  I  will  not  fie. 

And,  be  he  liad  endit  tliis  w^ord, 

He  drew  ane  lang  twa-handit  sword, 

And  put  his  ancht  men  in  array, 
125(3     And  bad  that  thay  suld  tak  na  fray. 

Than  to  the  Squyer  cryit  the  Knicht, 

And  said  :  send  me  the  Ladie  brieht. 

Do  36  not  sa,  be  Goddis  Croce, 
1260     I  sail  hir  tak  away  perforce. 

The  Squyer  said  :  be  thow  ane  Knicht, 

Cum  furth  to  me,  and  shaw  the  richt, 

Bot  hand  for  hand,  without  redding, 
1264     That  thair  be  na  mair  blude  shedding  : 

And,  gif  thow  winnis  me  in  the  feild, 

I  sail  my  Ladie  to  the  3eild. 

The  Knicht  durst  not,  for  all  his  land, 
1268     Fecht  with  this  Squyer  hand  for  hand. 

The  Squyer  than  saw  no  remeid, 

Bot  outher  to  fecht  or  to  be  deid. 

To  heuin  he  liftit  vp  his  visage, 
1272     Cryand  to  God,  with  hie  courage  : 

To  the  my  querrell  I  do  commend  : 

Syne,  bowtit  fordwart,  wdth  ane  bend. 

"With  countenance  baith  bauld  and  stout, 
1276     He  rudelie  rushit  in  that  rout ; 

With  him,  liis  litill  companie, 

Quliilk  tliem  defendit  manfullie. 

The  Squyer,  with  his  birneist  brand, 


SQVTER    MELDRVM. 


357 


1280     Amang  his  f;i-inon  maid  sic  hand, 
That  Gaudefer,  as  sayis  the  Letter, 
At  Gadderis  Ferrie  faucht  no  better. 
His  sword  he  swappit  sa  about, 

1284     That  he  greit  roum  maid  in  the  rout  ; 
And,  like  ane  man  that  was  dispairit. 
His  wapoun  sa  on  thame  he  Avairit, 
Quhome  euer  he  hit,  as  I  hard  say, 

1288     Thay  did  him  na  mair  deir,  that  day. 
Quha  euer  come  within  his  boundis, 
He  chaipit  not  but  mortall  woundis. 
Sum  mutilate  wer,  and  sum  wer  slane, 

1292     Sum  fled,  and  come  not  3it  agane. 
He  hat  the  Knicht  abone  the  breis. 
That  he  fell  fordwart  on  his  kneis : 
Wer  not  Thome  Giff"ard  did  him  saue, 

1296     The  Knicht  had  sone  bene  in  his  graue. 
Bot  than  the  Squyer,  Avith  his  brand. 
Hat  Thomas  Giffard  on  the  hand  : 
From  that  time  furth,  during  his  lyfe, 

1300     He  neuer  weildit  sword  nor  knyfe. 

Than  come  ane  sort,  as  brim  as  beiris, 
And  in  him  festnit  fyftene  speiris, 
In  purpois  to  haue  borne  him  doun  : 

1304     Bot  he,  as  forcie  Campioun, 

Amawg  thai  wicht  men  wrocht  greit  wou?ider ; 
For  all  thai  speiris  he  schure  in  sunder. 
Kane  durst  cum  neir  him,  hand  for  hand, 

1 308     Within  the  boundis  of  his  brand. 
This  worthie  Squyer  courageous 
]\Iicht  be  compairit  to  Tydeus, 
Quhilk  faucht  for  to  defend  his  Richtis, 

1312     And  slew  of  Thebes  fyftie  Knichtis. 

Rolland,  with  Brandwell,  his  bricht  brand, 
Faucht  neuer  better,  hand  for  hand ; 
Kor  Gawin,  aganis  Golibras  ; 


acquitted  himself 
manfully  with  his 
bright  sword. 

He  hewed  about 
him,  maldng 
great  gaps ; 
and  no  one  that 
he  struclc  did 
him  any  more 
iiaiTn  tliat  daj'. 
A  lilow  from  him 
was  death. 
His  execution 
was  teiTible. 

He  linoclcs  the 
knight  to  his 
knees. 

Tom  Giffard 
interposes, 
who  gets  a  blow, 
from  tiie  Squire, 
on  the  hand, 
dis.ibling  it  for 
life. 

A  crowd  of 
fifteen  assault 
him  with  spears ; 
but  he  hews  all 
tlieir  weapons 
in  two. 

None  durst  attack 
him  singly. 

For  his  courage, 
the  Squire  may 
be  compared 
with  Tydeus  of 
Thebes. 

None  of 
the  famous 
knights  of 


358 


THE    HISTORIE    OF 


romance  ever 

fought  better 

than  he  fought  on 

that  day ; 

and  this,  Sirs,  I 

undertake  to 

prove,  with  your 

leave. 

The  Icnights 
aforesaid  fought 
man  for  man,  by 
compact ; 

but  the  Squire 
always  had  five 
against  him. 
The  cruel  tyrant 
knight,  seeing  the 
Squire  so  hard  to 
kill,  falls  into  a 
great  passion. 

He  and  his  men 
will  be  accounted 
craven,  if  the 
Squire  escapes. 

He  must  not 

escape. 

Three  men  are 

sent  to  his  rear. 

There  they  hiick 
at  him,  the 
cowards ;  and  he 
falls  on  his 
knees. 

Even  in  that 
plight,  he  wields 
his  sword 
effectively,  not 


13]  G     Nor  01}Tier,  with  Pharambras. 

I  wait  lie  fauclit,  that  day,  als  Aveill 

As  did  Sir  Giyme  aganis  Graysteill. 

And  I  dar  say,  he  was  als  abill 
1320     As  onie  Knicht  of  the  round  TabiU, 

And  did  his  honoiu'  mair  anance 

Nor  onie  of  thay  Knichtis,  perchance  ; 

The  quhilk  I  offer  me  to  preif, 
1324     Gif  that  ^e  pleis.  Sirs,  with  ^our  leif. 

Amang  thay  Knichts  wcs  maid  ane  baud, 

That  they  suld  fecht  bot  hand  for  hand, 

Assmit  that  thair  suld  cum  no  mo. 
1328     With  this  Squyer  it  sti:de  not  so  ; 

His  stalwart  stour  quha  Avald  discryfe, 

Aganis  ane  man  tliair  come,  ay,  fyfe. 
Quhen  tliat  this  cruell  tyrane  Knicht 
1332     Saw  the  Sc[uyer  sa  wounder  wicht. 

And  had  no  micht  him  to  destroy. 

Into  his  hart  thair  grew  sic  noy. 

That  he  was  abill  for  to  rage, 
1336     That  no  man  micht  his  Ire  asswage. 

Fy  on  vs  I  said  he  to  his  men  : 

Ay  aganis  ane,  sen  we  ar  ten, 

Chaip  he  away,  we  ar  eschamit ; 
1310     Like  cowartis,  we  salbe  defamit. 

I  iiad  rather  be  in  liellis  pane, 

Or  he  suld  chaip  fra  vs  vnslane. 

And  callit  thrie  of  his  companie, 
1314     Said  :  pas  behind  him,  quyetlie. 

And  sa  thay  did,  richt  secreitlie, 

And  come  beliind  him,  cowartlie. 

And  hackit  on  his  hochis  and  theis, 
1348     Till  that  lie  fell  vpon  his  kneis. 

3it,  cpihen  his  schankis  wer  schorne  in  sunder, 

Vpon  his  kneis  he  wrocht  greit  wounder; 

Sweipand  his  sword  mund  about, 


SQVVKR    MKLUUVM. 

1352     Xot  liaifuud  of  the  deitli  na  dout. 

Durst  nane  approehe  within  liis  boundis, 
Till  that  his  cniell  niortall  woundis 
Bled  sa,  that  he  did  swap  in  swoun ; 

1356     Perforce  behuifit  him,  than,  fall  douu. 
And,  qiihen  he  lay  vpon  the  ground, 
They  gaif  him  monie  cruell  wound, 
That  men  on  far  miclit  heir  the  knokkis, 

1360     Like  boucheouris  hakkaud  on  thair  stokks. 
And,  finallie,  without  remeid, 
They  left  him  lyand  thair,  for  deid, 
"With  ma  woundis  of  sword  and  knyfe 

1364     Xor  euer  had  man  that  keipit  lyfe. 
Quhat  suld  I  of  thir  tratouris  say  ? 
Quhen  they  had  done,  they  fled  away, 
Bot  than  this  lustie  ladie  fair, 

1368     With  dolent  hart,  scho  maid  sic  cair, 
Quhilk  wes  greit  pietie  for  to  reheirs, 
And  langsum  for  to  put  in  vers. 
"With  teiris  scho  wuische  his  bludie  face, 

1372     Sichand  with  manie  loud  allace. 

Allace  !  quod  scho,  that  I  was  borne  ! 
In  my  querrell  thow  art  forlorne. 
Sail  neuer  man,  efter  this  houi', 

1376     Of  my  bodie  haue  mair  plesour; 
For  thow  was  gem  of  gentilnes. 
And  werie  well  of  worthines. 
Than  to  the  eirth  scho  rushit  doun, 

1380     And  lay  intill  ane  deidlie  swoun. 
Be  that,  the  Regent  of  the  land 
Fra  Edinburgh  come  fast  rydand  : 
Sir  Anthouie  Darsie  wes  his  name, 

1384     Ane  Knicht  of  France,  and  man  of  fame, 
Quhilk  had  the  guiding,  haillilie, 
Vnder  lohne,  Duke  of  Albanie, 
Quhilk  wes  to  our  3oung  King  Tutour, 


359 

fearing  death. 

From  loss  of 

blood,  he  falls 

down,  fainting. 
Even  then  his 
advers.iries 
continued  their 
attack  on  him. 
There  they  left 
liiin,  wounded  as 
never  man  was 
that  survived. 
Then  they  fled 
away. 
The  lady 
thereupon 
bewails  herself 
with  bitter  grief. 
She  weeps  over 
Iiim,  and  laments 
that  she  had  been 
born. 
No  more  lovers 

for  her,  after 

him  I 

Then  she  falls 

into  a  swoon. 

Directly  the 

Regent  came 

riding  from 

Edinburgh,  to  the 

rescue. 

He  was  theu  a 

man  of  great 


360 


THE    HISTORIE    OF 


authority ;  under 
the  King,  five 
years  of  age. 
He  was  distressed 
to  see  the  Squire 
in  sucli  a 
condition. 
He  wislied  lie  liad 
been  with  the 
Squire,  as  the 
Squire  was  with 
him  once  in 
Picardie. 

Kever  was  tliere 

seen  a 

better  figliter 

than  he  against 

the  Southrons. 

He  will  do  what 

he  can,  in 

following  up  the 

knight ; 

he  will  cast  him 

into  prison,  and 

strike  off  his 

head. 

So  saying,  he 

departs,  and 

comes  up  willi 

the  knight, 

whom  he 

valorously  takes 

captive, 

sends  back,  and 
consigns  to 
prison 


1 388     And  of  all  Scotland  Gouernour. 

Our  King  was  bot  fyue  3eiris  of  age, 
That  time  quhen  done  wes  the  outrage. 
Quhen  this  gude  Knicht  the  Squyer  saw, 

1392     Thus  lyand  in  till  his  deid  thraw, 

Wo  is  me !  quod  he,  to  see  this  sicht 
On  the,  quhilk  worthie  wes  and  wicht. 
Wald  God  that  I  had  bene  with  the, 

1396     As  thow  in  France  was  anis  with  me, 
Into  the  land  of  Picardy, 
Quhair  Inglis  men  had  greit  Inuy 
To  haue  me  slane, — sa  they  intendit ; — • 

1400     Bot  manfullie  thoAv  me  defendit, 
.A,nd  vail^eandlie  did  saue  my  lyfe. 
AVas  neuer  man,  with  sword  nor  knyfe, — 
Xocht  Hercules,  I  dar  weill  say, — 

1104     That  euer  fauclit  better  for  ane  day. 
Defendand  me  within  ane  stound, 
Thow  dang  seir  Sutheroun  to  the  ground. 
1  may  the  mak  no  help,  allace  ! 

1408     Bot  I  sail  follow  on  the  chace, 

Riclit  spedilie,  baith  day  and  nicht, 
Till  I  may  get  that  cruell  Knicht. 
1  mak  ane  vow,  gif  I  may  get  him, 

1412     In  till  ane  Presoun  I  sail  set  him; 

And,  quhen  I  heir  that  thow  beis  deid, 
Than  sail  my  handis  straik  of  his  heid. 
With  that,  he  gaue  his  hors  the  spurris, 

1416     And  spedelie  flaAV  ouir  the  furris  : 

He  and  his  Gaird,  with  all  thair  micht, 
They  ran,  till  thai  ouirtuik  the  Knicht. 
Quhen  he  approchit,  he  lichtit  doun, 

1420     And,  like  ane  vail3eand  Campioun, 
He  tuik  the  Tyrane  presonar. 
And  send  him  backward  to  Dumbar ; 
And  thair  remainit  in  presoun, 


SQVYER-IIELDRVM. 


361 


1424     Ane  certane  time,  in  that  Dungeoun. 
Let  him  ly  thair,  with  mekill  cair  ; 
And  spcik  we  of  our  heynd  Squyar, 
Of  quhome  we  can  not  speik  hot  gude. 

1428     Quhen  he  lay  hathand  in  his  bhide, 
His  freindis  and  liis  Ladie  fair 
They  maid  for  him  sic  diile  and  cair, 
Quhilk  wer  greit  pietie  to  deploir  : 

1432     Of  that  matter  I  speik  no  moir. 
Thay  send  for  Leiches,  haistelie  ; 
Syne,  buir  his  bodie,  tenderlie. 
To  hidge  into  ane  fair  hzdgyne, 

1436     Quhair  lie  ressanit  medicyne. 

The  greitest  Leichis  of  the  land 
Come,  all,  to  him,  without  command, 
And  all  practikis  on  him  prouit, 

1440     Becaus  he  was  sa  weill  belouit. 

Thay  tuik  on  hand  liis  life  to  saue  ; 
And  he  thame  gaif  quhat  they  wald  haue. 
Bot  he  sa  lang  lay  into  pane, 

1444     He  turnit  to  be  ane  Chirurgiane  ; 
And,  als,  be  his  naturall  ingyne, 
He  lernit  the  Art  of  Medicyne. 
He  saw  thame  on  his  bodie  ^vrocht, 

1448     Quhairfoir  the  Science  wes  deir  bocht. 
Bot,  efterward,  quhen  he  was  haill, 
He  spairit  na  coist,  nor  3it  trauaill, 
To  preif  his  practikis  on  the  pure, 

1452     And  on  thame  preuit  monie  ane  cure, 
On  his  expensis,  without  rewaird  : 
Of  Money  he  tuik  na  regaird. 

3it  sum  thing  will  we  commoun  niair 

1456     Of  this  Ladie,  quhilk  maid  greit  cair, 
Quhilk  to  the  Squyer  wes  mair  pane 
Nor  all  his  woundis,  in  certane. 
And  than  hir  freindis  did  conclude, 


for  a  time. 

leaving  him,  let 

us  return  to  the 

Squire. 

His  frionds  and 

the  lady  srere  in 

great  grief  at  his 

case,  in  sliort. 

Doctors  were 
summoned ; 
and  he  was 
lodged  and 
niedicined. 

Every  rcmfedy 

was  tried,  bo 

greatly  was  he 

beloved. 

No  expense  was 

spared. 

Thf  length  of  his 

own  cure 

converted  liim 

into  a  chirui'geon. 

He  bought  his 

skill  dearly. 

Afterwards,  when 
made  whole,  he 
practised 
medicine  for 
behalf  of  the 
poor,  but  quite 
regardless 
of  recompence. 

Sonnething 
further  of  the 
lady,  which 
pained  the  Squire 
more 

than  all  his 
wounds. 

Her  friends 


362 


THE    HISTOIIIE    OF 


would  send  her 
home ;  and  home 
she  went. 
The  lovers  never 
met  again ;  and 
she  was  married 
against  her  will. 
Still,  her  heart 
was  constantly 
with  the  Squire. 

Never  did 
any  woman 
of  story  pine 
more  for  the 
loss  of  her  lover. 
She  left  him 
reluctantly. 
Helen  did  not 
grieve  more. 
Let  us  return  to 
the  Squire. 
Once  again 
recovering,  the 
Squire 

complained  to  the 
Regent ;  but  he 
was  soon 
afterwar(is  shiin, 
— must  noble, 
valiant,  and  wise. 

The  knight  was 
then  set  at 
liberty ;  and  so 
the  matter  was 
left  nnredrca.scd. 

The  king  being 
young, 
tyrants  ruled. 

At  last  he  was 


1460     Becaus  sclio  micht  do  him  na  guJe, 
That  scho  suld  take  hir  leif  and  go 
Till  hir  cuntrie  ;  and  scho  did  so. 
Bot  thir  luiferis  met  ueuer  agane, 

1464     Quhilk  wes  to  thame  ane  lestand  pane ; 
For  scho,  aganis  hir  will,  wes  maryit, 
Quhairthrow  hir  weird  scho  daylie  waryit. 
Howbeit  hir  bodie  wes  absent, 

1468     Hir  tender  hart  wes  ay  present, 

Baith  nicht  and  day,  with  hir  Squyar. 
Wes  neuer  Creature  that  maid  sic  cair  : 
Penelope  for  Vlisses, 

1472     I  wait,  had  neuer  muir  distres  ; 
Nor  Cresseid  for  trew  Troylus 
Wes  not  tent  part  sa  dolorous. 
1  wait  it  wes  aganis  hir  hart 

1476     That  scho  did  from  hir  Liife  depart. 
Helene  had  not  sa  mekill  noy, 
Quhen  scho  perforce  wes  brocht  to  Troy. 
I  leif  hir,  than,  with  hart  full  sore, 

1480     And  speik  now  of  tliis  Squyer  more. 

Quhen  this  Squyer  wes  haill  &  sound, 
And  softlie  micht  gang  on  the  ground, 
To  the  Eegent  he  did  complane  ; 

1484     Bot  he,  allace  !  wes  licht  sone  slane 
Be  Dauid  Hume,  of  Wedderburne, 
The  quhilk  gart  monie  Frenchemen  nuirue  ; 
For  thair  was  nane  mair  nobill  Knicht, 

1488     Mair  vail3eand,  mair  wyse,  mair  wicht. 
And,  sone  efter  that  crueltic. 
The  Knicht  was  put  to  libertie. 
The  quhilk  the  Squyer  had  opprest : 

1492     Sa  wes  his  matter  left  vndrest. 

l>ccaus  the  King  was  ^oung  of  age, 
Than  tyrannis  rang,  into  thair  rage. 
Bot,  cfterward,  as  I  hard  say, 


SQVYER    MELDRVM. 


363 


1490     On  Striuiling  brig,  vpon  ane  day, 

This  Knicht  wes  slane  with  crueltie, 
And  that  day  gat  na  mair  mercie 
Xor  he  gaif  to  the  ^oung  Squyar. 

1500  I  say  na  mair  :  let  him  ly  thair  : 
For  cruell  men,  je  may  weill  see, 
They  end,  ofttimes,  with  crueltie. 
For  Christ  to  Peter  said  this  word, 

1504     Quha  ener  straikis  with  ane  sword, 

That  man  salbe  with  ane  sword  slane  : 
That  saw  is  suith,  I  tell  30W  plane. 
He  menis,  quha  straikis  cruellie, 

1508     Aganis  the  Law,  without  mercie. 
Bot  this  Squyer  to  nane  offendit, 
Bot  manfullie  him  self  defendit. 
"Wes  neuer  man,  with  sAvord  nor  knyfe, 

1512     Micht  saif  thair  honoiu'  and  thair  lyfe. 
As  did  the  Squyer,  all  his  dayis, 
With  monie  terribill  effrayis. 
AYald  1  at  lenth  his  lyfe  declair, 

1516     I  micht  weill  writ  ane  vther  quair. 

Bot,  at  this  time,  I  may  not  mend  it, 

Bot  shaw  30W  how  the  Squyer  endit. 

Thair  dwelt  in  Fyfe  ane  agit  Lord, 

1520     That  of  this  Squyer  hard  record. 
And  did  desire,  richt  hartfullie. 
To  haue  him  in  his  companie  ; 
And  send  for  him  with  diligence. 

1524     And  he  come  with  obedience, 

And  lang  time  did  with  him  remane, 
Of  quhome  this  agit  Lord  Avas  fane  ; — 
Wyse  men  desiris,  commoimlie, 

1528     Wyse  men  into  thair  companie  ; — 
For  he  had  bene  in  monie  ane  Land, 
In  Flanderis,  France,  and  in  Ingland  ; 
Quhairfoir  the  Lord  gaif  him  the  cure 


slain  ruthlesaly, 
and  got  no  more 
mercy  than  he 
had  shown  to  the 
Squire. 

The  cruel 
often  meet 
a  like  end. 

This  is  according 
to  what  Clirist 
declared  to  S. 
Peter, 

which  applies  to 
those  who  use  the 
sword  against  the 
law. 

The  Squire  was 
none  such. 
It  was  for  his 
honour  and  his 
life  that  he 
fought. 
To  cut  sliort 
his  history, 
I  will  tell 
how  it  ended. 
An  aged  lord,  in 
Fife,  heai'ing  of 
the  Squire,  sent 
for  him,  to  be  his 
companion. 
He  came  and 
stayed,  well-likeil ; 
— the  wise  atfect 
the  wise, — for  tUi 
nolileman 
was  travelled. 
The  Squire  was 


364 


THE    HISTORIE    OF 


placed  over 
the  nobleman's 
household. 
He  was  a 
courtier,  and  also 
knew  the  law ; 
and  he  was  a  just 
judge, 
befiiending 
the  poor. 
Also,  he  showed 
himself  a 
benefactor,  from 
his  knowledge  of 
medicine ;  and,  as 
a  leech,  he 
wrought  many  a 
cure,  without 
thought  of 
reward. 
Pelf  he  valued 
not  at  all. 
His  honour  was 
all  to  him. 
Once  a  year  he 
gave  a  great 
banquet,  in 
memory  of  his 
lady ;  and  it 
lacked  no  good 
thing  in  meat  or 
drink. 

Thereto  came 
lords,  ladies, 
knights,  and 
squires ;  and 


1535  Of  his  housliakl,  1  30 w  assure, 
And,  in  his  Hall,  cheif  jMerschall, 
And  auditour  of  his  comptis  all. 
He  was  ane  richt  Coiixticiane, 

1536  And  in  the  Law  ane  Practiciane ; 
Quhairfoir,  during  this  Lordis  lyfe, 
TchjTef  depute  he  wes  in  Fj'fe, — 
To  euerie  man  ane  equall  ludge, — ■ 

1540     And  of  the  pure  he  wes  refuge, 

And  with  Justice  did  thame  support, 
And  emit  thair  sairis  with  greit  comfort ; 
For,  as  I  did  reheirs  before, 

1544     Of  Medicine  he  tuke  the  Lore. 
Quhen  he  saw  the  Chirurgience 
Vpon  him  do  thair  diligence, 
Experience  maid  Mm  perfyte  ; 

l.")48     And  of  the  Science  tuke  sic  delyte, 
That  he  did  monie  thriftie  cure, 
And,  speciallie,  vpon  the  pure, 
Without  rewaird  for  his  expensis, 

1552     Without  regaird  or  recompencis. 
To  gold,  to  siluer,  or  to  rent, 
This  jSTobill  Squyer  tuke  litill  tent. 
Of  all  this  warld  na  mair  he  craifit, 

1556     Sa  that  his  honour  micht  be  saifit. 
And,  ilk  3eir,  for  his  Ladies  saik, 
Ane  Banket  Eoyall  wald  he  raaik  ; 
And  that  he  maid  on  the  Sonday 

1560     Precedand  to  Asch  wednisday, 

With  wyld  foull,  venisoun,  and  wync. 
With  tairt,  and  flam,  and  frutage  fyne  : 
Of  Bran  and  Geill  thair  wes  na'skant  ; 

1564     And  Ipocras  he  wald  not  want. 
I  haue  sene  sittaud  at  his  Tabill, 
Lordis  and  Lairdis  honorabill, 
With  Knichtis  Sz  mnnie  ane  gay  J^quyar,- 


SQVYER    MKLDRV.M. 


365 


1568     Quhilk  wer  to  laug  for  to  declair, — ■ 

With  mirth,  Musick,  and  menstralliu. 

All  this  he  did  for  his  Ladie, 

And,  for  hir  saik,  during  his  lyfe, 
1572     Wald  neuer  be  weddit  to  ane  wyfe. 

And,  quhen  he  did  declyne  to  age,' 

He  fiullit  neuer  of  his  courage. 

Of  ancient  storyis  for  to  tell, 
1576     Abone  all  vther  he  did  precell ; 

Sa  that  euerilk  Creature 

To  heir  him  speik  thay  tuke  plesure. 
Bot  all  his  deidis  honorabill 
1580     For  to  descryue  I  am  not  abill. 

Of  euerie  man  he  was  commendit, 

And,  as  he  leiuit,  sa  he  endit  ; 

Plesandlie,  till  he  micht  indure, 
1584     Till  dolent  deith  come  to  his  dure, 

And  cruellie,  with  his  mortall  dart, 

He  straik  the  Squyer  throw  the  hart. 

His  saull,  with  loy  Angelicall, 
1588     Past  to  the  Heuin  Imperiall. 

Thus,  at  the  Struther,  into  Fyfe, 

This  nobill  Squyer  loist  his  lyfe. 

I  pray  to  Christ  for  to  conuoy 
1592     All  sic  trew  Luiferis  to  his  Toy. 

Say  ^e  Amen  !  for  Cheritie. 

Adew  !  ^e  sail  get  na  mair  of  me. 


there  were 
music  and 
merriment. 

For  liis  lady's 

Bake,  he  never 

took  him  a  wife. 

To  tlie  last  he 

was  brave. 

He  talked  well; 

and  all  listened 

to  him  with 

pleasure. 

But  I  describe 
him  feebly. 
He  was 

commended  of 
every  one ;  and, 
as  he  lived,  so  he 
died,  when  his 
time  came. 
His  soul  went  to 
Heaven. 
He  died  at 
Struther,  in  Fyfe. 
Christ  save  all 
true  lovers ! 
Say  Amen ! 
I  have  done. 


366 


OF  THE  NOBILL  AND  VAIL3EAJSfD  SQVYER, 

WiUiame  Jlcltrnmt, 


OF  THE  BYNNIS. 


COMPTLIT  BE 


^ir  ^auiir  f  gnbesag  of  1^«  llont,  t?x. 

THE  Holie  man  lob,  ground  of  pacience, 
In  his  greit  trubill  trewlie  did  report, — 
Qiihilk  I  persaue,  now,  be  Experience, — 
Tliat  niennis  lyfe,  in  eirtb,  bene  wounder  short. 
My  30uth  is  gane  ;  and  eild  now  dois  resort : 
My  time  is  gane  ;  I  think  it  bot  ane  dreame : 
3it  efter  deith  remane  sail  my  gude  fume. 


I  make  my 
testament. 


12 


I  persaue  shortlie  that  I  man  pay  my  det  : 
To  me  in  eirth  no  place  bene  permanent  : 
My  hart  on  it  no  mair  now  will  I  set, 
Bot,  with  the  help  of  God  omnipotent, 
With  resolute  mind,  go  mak  my  Testament, 
And  tak  my  leif  at  cuntriemen  and  kyn, 
And  all  the  warld  :  and  thus  I  will  begyn. 


I  ii:uue  iny 
e.^ecutors : 


Thrie  Lordis  to  me  salbe  Executouris, — 
1 0     Lindesayis,  all  thrie,  in  surname  of  renoun  : 

Of  my  Testament  thay  sail  haue  hail  the  cure, 

To  put  my  mind  till  executioun. 

That  Surname  fail^eit  neuer  to  the  Croun  ; 
20     Na  mair  will  thay  to  me,  I  am  richt  sure, 

Quhilk  is  the  caus  that  I  giue  them  the  cure. 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    SQVYER    MELDRVM. 


367 


24 


28 


First,  Dauid,  Erll  of  Craiifuird,  wise  &  wicht  ; 
And  lolme,  Lord  Lindesay,  my  maistcr  special. 
The  tlirid  salbe  ane  nobill  traiiellit  Knicht, 
Quliilk  knawis  the  coistis  of  Feistis  funei'al : 
The  wise  Sir  Walter  Lindesay  they  him  eal, 
Lord  of  S.  lohne,  and  Knicht  of  Torfichane, 
Be  sey  and  land  ane  vailjeand  Capitane. 


tliree  noblo 

Liiuleaays. 


Thocht  age  hes  maid  my  bodie  impotent, 
3  it  in  my  hart  hie  courage  doeth  precell ; 
Quhairfoir,  I  leif  to  God,  with  gude  intent, 
32     j\ry  spreit,  the  quhilk  he  hes  maid  immortell, 
Intill  his  Court  perpetuallie  to  dwell. 
And  neuir  moir  to  steir  furth  of  that  steid, 
Till  Christ  discend  &  judge  baith  quick  &  deid. 


My  soul  I  leave 
to  God  : 


30     I  30W  beseik,  my  Lordis  Executouris, 
My  geir  geue  till  the  nixt  of  my  kynrent. 
It  is  Weill  kend,  I  neuer  tuik  na  cures 
Of  conquessing  of  riches  nor  of  Rent : 

4')     Dispone  as  30  think  maist  expedient. 

I  neuer  tuik  cure  of  gold  more  than  of  glas. 
Without  liononr,  fy,  fy  vpon  Riches  ! 


my  wealth,  to 
my  next  of  kin. 


I  30W  reqiieist,  my  freindis,  ane  and  all, 
44     And  nobill  men,  of  quhome  I  am  descendit, 
Faill  not  to  be  at  my  feifit  funerall, 
Quhilk  throAV  the   warld,   I   traist,   salbe   com-  Let  my  friends 

come  to 
mendlt.  my  funeral. 

3e  knaw  how  that  my  fame  I  haue  defendit, 
48     During  my  life,  vnto  this  latter  hour, 
Quhilk  suld  to  30W  be  infinit  plesour. 


First,  of  my  BoAvellis  clenge  my  bodie  dene, 
Witliin  &  out ;  syne,  wesche  it  weill  with  wyne, — 
52     Bot  honestie  see  that  nothing  be  sene  ; —  Disembowel 


3G8 


THE    TESTAMENT    OP 


aiij  cuffm  me. 


56 


Syne,  clois  it  in  ane  coistlie  caruit  sclirj'ne 
Of  Ceder  treis,  or  of  Cyper  fyne  : 
Anoynt  my  corps  with  Balme  delicious, 
Vritli  Cynamome,  and  Spycis  precious. 


Bury  me  in  the 
Temple  of  liars. 


In  twa  caissis  of  gold  and  precious  stanis 
Inclois  my  hart  and  toung,  richt  craftelie  : 
My  sepulture,  syne,  gar  mak  for  my  hani.s, 
GO     Into  the  Tempill  of  Mars,  triumphandlie, 
Of  marbill  stanis  caruit  richt  curiouslie, 
Quhairin  my  Kist  and  banis  30  sail  clois. 
In  that  triumph  and  Tempill  to  repois. 


Sly  tem- 
perament. 


64 


68 


]\Iars,  Yenus,  and  Mercurius,  all  thre 
Gaue  me  my  natural  inclinatiomiis, 
Quhilk  rang  the  day  of  my  natiuitie  ; 
And  sa  thair  heuinlie  constellatiounis 
Did  me  support  in  monie  ]S"atiounis. 
Mars  maid  me  hardie  like  ane  feirs  lyoun, 
Quhairthrow  I  concpieist  honour  &  renoun. 


To  liars  present 
lay  body ; 


70 


Quho  list  to  knaw  the  actis  Bellical, 
Let  thame  go  reid  the  legend  of  my  life  : 
Thair  sail  thai  find  the  deidis  martiall. 
How  I  haue  stand,  in  monie  stalwart  strife, 
Victoriouslie,  with  speir,  sheild,  sword,  &  kidfe  ; 
Quhairfoir,  to  jNIars,  the  God  Armipotent, 
My  corps  incloisit  ^e  do  till  him  present. 


to  Mercury,  my 
tongue : 


80 


84 


Mak  offering  of  my  toung  Khetoricall 
Till  IVIercurius,  quhilk  gaif  me  eloquence. 
In  his  Tempill  to  hing  perpetuall  : 
I  can  mak  him  na  better  recompence  ; 
For,  quhen  I  was  brocht  to  the  presence 
Of  Kings,  in  Scotland,  Ingland,  &  in  France, 
^ly  ornate  toung  my  honour  did  auancc. 


SyVYER    MELDIIVM.  3G9 

To  fresche  Ycnus  my  hart  30  sail  iiresent, 
Quhilk  lies  to  me  bene,  ay,  comfurtabill : 
And  in  my  faco  sic  grace  sclio  did  imprent, 
88     All  creatures  did  tliink  me  amiabill.  '"  \*""'' 

my  heart. 

"Wemen  to  me  scho  maid  sa  fauorabill, 
Wes  neuer  Ladie  that  luikit  in  my  face, 
Eot  honestlie  I  did  obtene  hir  grace. 

92     3ry  freind  Sir  Dauid  Lyndnay  of  the  Mont 
Sail  put  in  ordour  my  Processioun. 
I  Avill  that  thair  pas  formest  in  the  front. 
To  beir  mv  Penseil,  ane  wicht  Campioun  ■  ';f  ^'-i-ebu.ie.s 

^  J  i-  ^  artencl  me, 

9G     With  him,  ane  band  of  Mars  his  Eeligioun, — ' 
That  is  to  say,  in  steid  of  Monkis  &  Freiris, 
In  gude  ordour,  ane  thowsand  hagbutteris. 


Xixt  them,  ane  thu\v8and  futemen,  in  ane  rout, 
100     With   sjieir   &    sheild,   with    buckler,    bow,   tt 
brand, 

In  ane  Luferay,  30ung  stalwart  men  &  stout. 

Thridlie  in  ordour,  thair  sail  cum  ane  band 

(Jf  nobill  men,  abill  to  wraik  thair  Harmes, — 
lot     Thair  Capitane  with  my  standart  in  his  hiuid, — 

On  bairdit  hors,  ane  hundreth  men  of  Amies. 


^villl  f<iot-soldiers 
and  cavalry. 


Kxliibit  iny 
banner  and 


Amang  that  band  my  baner  salbe  borne. 

Of  siluer  schene,  thrie  Otteris  into  sabill, 
108     With  tabroun,  trumpet,  clarioun,  and  home, 

For  men  of  Armes  verie  conuenabill. 

iSTixt  efter  them,  ane  Campioun  honorabill  iieimet, 

SaU  beir  my  basnet  with  my  funerall  ; 
112     Syne  efter  him,  in  ordour  triumphall, 

]\ry  armi??g  sword,  my  gluifis  of  plait,  &  sheild. 

Borne  be  ane  forcie  Campioun,  or  ane  Knicht 

Quhilk  did  me  scrue  in  monie  dangerous  feild  ;    and  aii  my 

■i* 


370 

fi^'litiiig  gear ; 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF 


116     Nixt  efter  Mm,  ane  man  in  armour  bricht, 
Vpon  ane  lonet  or  ane  cursour  wicht, — 
The  quliilk  salbe  ane  man  of  greit  lionour, 
Ypon  ane  speir  to  Ijeir  my  coit  armour. 


and  a  mortuary 
lor  Mars. 


120     Syne,  nixt  my  Eeir  sail  cum  my  Corspresent,- 
My  bairdit  liors,  my  harnes,  and  my  S2)eir, 
With  sum  greit  man  of  my  awin  Icynrent, 
As  I  wes  wont  on  my  bodie  to  beir, 

l'2i     During  my  time,  quhen  I  went  to  the  weir; 
Quliilk  salbe  offerit,  with  ane  gay  garment, 
To  Mars,  his  Preist,  at  my  Interrement. 


Let  tliere  be  f;ay 
colours ; 


Duill  weidis  I  think  hypocrisie  &  scorne, 
128     With  huidis  heklit  doun  ouirthort  thair  ene. 
With  men  of  amies  my  bodie  salbe  borne  : 
Into  that  band  see  that  no  blak  be  senc : 
My  Luferay  salbe  reid,  blew,  and  grene  ; 
132     The  reid  for  Mars,  the  grene  for  frcslie  Venus, 
The  blew  for  lufe  of  God  Mercurius. 


let  laurcl- 
branclies  be 
carried ; 


136 


140 


About  my  beir  sail  ryde  ane  multitude, 
All  of  ane  Luiferay  of  my  cullouris  thrie  ; 
Erles  and  Lordis,  Ivnichtis,  and  men  of  gudc  : 
Ilk  Barroun  beirand,  in  his  hand,  on  hie, 
Ane  Lawrer  branche,  in  signe  of  victorie  ; 
Becaus  I  fled  neuer  out  of  the  feild, 
Nor  3it,  as  presoner,  Aaito  my  fois  me  jeild. 


and  be  tlicre 
dancing  and 
singing. 


Agane,  that  day,  faill  not  to  warne  and  call 
All  Men  of  Musick  and  of  Menstrallie 
About  my  Beir,  with  mirthis  Musicall, 
144     To  dance  and  sing  with  Heuinlie  liarmonie, 

Quhais  plesant  sound  redound  sail  in  tlie  sk^'e. 
]\ly  sj)reit,  I  wait,  salbe  with  mirth  &  loy  ; 
Quhairfoir,  Avith  mirth  my  corps  je  sal  conuoy. 


SQVYEB    MELDHVM. 


371 


148 


153 


This  beand  clone,  and  all  thing  reulit  richt, 
Than  plcsantlie  niak  30ur  progressioun, 
Quhilk,  I  beleif,  salbe  ane  plesant  sicht. 
So  that  je  thoill  na  Preist  in  my  Processioun, 
Without  he  be  of  Venns  Professioun  : 
Quhairfoir,  gar  Avarne  all  Venus  chapel  darks, 
Quhilk  hes  bene  most  exercit  in  hir  warkis. 


Let  priests  of 
Venus  iissist ; 


15G 


160 


With  ane  Bischop  of  that  Eeligioun, 
Solemnitlie  gar  thame  sing  my  saull  mes, 
With  organe,  Timpane,  Trumpet,  &  Clarion, 
To  shaw  tliair  Musick  dewlie  them  addres  : 
I  will,  that  day,  be  hard  no  heuines. 
T  will  na  seruice  of  the  Requiem, 
Bot  Alleluya,  with  melodie  and  Game. 


and  her  Bishop 
sing  Mass. 


1G4 


168 


Efter  the  Euangell  and  the  Ofifertour, 
Throw  all  the  Tempill  gar  proclame  silence  ; 
Than  to  the  Pidpet  gar  ane  Oratour 
Pas  vp,  and  schaw,  in  oppin  audience, 
Solempnitlie,  with  ornate  eloquence, 
At  greit  laser,  the  legend  of  my  life, 
How  I  haue  stand  in  monie  stalwart  strife. 


An  orator  is 
to  laud  me. 


Quhen  he  hes  red  my  buik  fra  end  till  end. 
And  of  my  life  maid  trew  narration  u, 
All  creature,  I  wait,  will  me  commend, 
172     And  pray  to  God  for  my  saluatioun. 
Than,  efter  this  Solempnijatioun 
Of  seruice,  and  all  brocht  to  end, 
With  grauitie,  than,  with  my  bodie  wend, 


All  will  pray  for 
my  salvation. 


176     And  clois  it  vp  into  my  Sepulture, — 

Thair  to  repois  till  the  greit  ludgenient, — 
The  quhilk  may  not  corrupt,  T  30W  assure. 
Be  vertew  of  the  precious  oyntment 


Then  bury  my 
body. 


372  TUE    TESTAMENT    OF 

not  to  corrupt.         180     Of  Baliiie,  and  yther  Spj'ces  redolent. 

Let  not  be  rung  for  me,  that  day,  saull  kncllis  ; 
Bot  greit  Cannoxinis  gar  them  crak,  for  bellis. 


Ane  thousand  hakbuttis  gar  schute  al  at  anis, 
184     With  swesche,  talburnis,  &  tru??2pettis,  awfullie  : 

Lat  neuer  spair  the  poulder  nor  the  stanis, 

Quhais  thu?2dring  sound  redou/^d  sail  in  the  sky  ; 

That  Mars  may  heir,  quhair  he,  triumpha?zdlie, 
188     Abone  Phebus,  is  situate,  full  euin, 

Maist  awfull  God,  vnder  the  sternie  lieuiii. 


Let  skIqIcs 
be  fired. 


And,  syne,  liing  vp,  aboue  iny  sepulture, 
]\ly  bricht  harnes,  my  scheild,  &  als  my  speir, 
192     Togidder  -^'ith  my  courtlie  Coit  armour, 

Over  my  tomb  _  .  _  _ 

hang  up  my  Quhilk  I  wes  Avout  vpou  my  bodie  beir, 

In  France,  in  Ingland,  being  at  the  "weir ; 
j\Iy  Baner,  Basnet,  with  my  Temperall, 
196     As  bene  the  vse  of  feistis  funerall. 


This  beand  done,  I  pray  30W  tak  the  pane 
JNIy  Ejiitaphe  to  "srrit,  vpon  this  Avyis, 
Abone  my  graue,  in  goldin  letteris  fync  : 
200     The  maist  inuincil)ill  Aveiriour  heir  lyis, 

During  his  time  quliilk  wan  sic  laud  &  pryis, 
That  throw  the  heuinis  sprang  his  nobil  fame  : 
Victorious  William  ^leldrum  wes  his  name. 


and  write  my 
epitaph. 


204     Adew  !  my  Lordis  ;   I  may  na  langer  tarie  : 
My  Lord  Lindesay,  adew  !  abone  all  vther. 
I  pray  to  God,  and  to  the  Virgine  Marie, 
f-l2lJ^.  ^^'ith  30ur  Lady  to  leif  lang  in  the  Struther. 

208     ]\laister    Patrik,    with    3ou??g    Xormo?ul,    30ur 
l)rothor, 
With  my  Ladies,  ^our  sisteris,  al,  adew ! 
!My  departing,  I  wait  weill,  30  Avill  rcw. 


SQVYER    MELDRVM. 


373 


212 


21G 


Bot,  maist  of  all,  the  fair  Ladies  of  France, 
Quhen  thai  heir  tell,  hut  dout,  that  I  am  deid, 
Extreme  dolour  wil  change  thair  countena?2ce, 
And,  for  my  saik,  will  weir  the  murning  weid. 
Quhen  thir  nouellis  dois  into  Ingland  spreid. 
Of  Londoun,  than,  the  lustie  ladies  cleir 
Will,  for  my  saik,  male  dule  and  drerie  cheir. 


The  ladies  will 
regret  me. 


220 


224 


Of  Craigfergus  my  dayis  darling,  adew  ! 

In  all  Ireland  of  feminine  the  flour. 

In  3our  querrell  twa  men  of  weir  I  slew, 

Quhilk  purposit  to  do  30W  dishonour. 

3e  suld  haue  bene  my  spous  and  paramoui-, 

With  Rent  and  riches  for  my  recompence, 

Quhilk  I  refusit,  throw  30uth  and  insolence. 


Adieu !  maid  (if 
Craigfergus. 


Fair  weill  !  36  Lemant  Lampis  of  lustines 
Of  fair  Scotland  :  adew  !  my  Ladies  all. 
During  my  30uth,  -with  ardent  besines, 
228     3®  knaw"  how  I  Avas  in  30ur  seruice  thrall. 

Ten  thowsand  times  adew !  aboue  thame  all, 

Sterne  of  Stratherne,  my  Ladie  Souerane, 

For  quhom  I  sched  my  bind  with  mekill  pane  ! 


Adieu !  ladies  of 
Scotland. 


232 


23G 


3it,  wald  my  Ladie  luke,  at  euin  and  morrow, 
On  my  Legend  at  lenth,  sclio  wald  not  mis 
How,  for  hir  saik,  I  suflFerit  mekill  sorrows 
3it,  giue  I  micht,  at  this  time,  get  my  wis. 
Of  hir  sweit  mouth,  deir  God,  I  had  ane  kis. 
I  wis  in  vane  :  allace  !  we  will  disseuer. 
I  say  na  mair :  sweit  hart,  adew  for  euer  ! 


Above  all,  Star  of 
Stratherne,  adieu! 


Brether  m  Armes,  adew,  in  generall  ! 
2-40     For  me,  I  wait,  3our  hartis  bene  full  soir. 
All  treAV  compan3eounis,  into  speciall, 
I  say  to  30W,  adcAv,  for  euermoir. 


True  fiieuda, 
adieu,  till  we 


374 

meet  in  Glory ! 


I  commend 
myself  to  God. 


THE    TESTAMENT    OF    SQVYER    MELDRVM. 

Till  that  we  meit  agane  with  God  in  Gloir  ! 
244     Sir  Curat,  now  gif  me,  incontinent, 

My  Crysme,  with  the  holie  Sacrament. 

My  Spreit  hartlie  I  recommend 

In  maniis  tuas,  Domine. 
248     My  hoip  to  the  is  till  ascend, 

Rex,  quia  redemisti  me. 

Era  Syn  Eesurrexisti  me  ; 

Or  ellis  my  sauU  had  bene  forlorne  : 
252     "With  Sapience  docuisti  me  ; 

Blist  be  the  hour  that  thow  wes  borne  ! 


FIXIS. 


IN    COMMENDATION    OF   VERTEW 


AND  VITVPEEATION  OF  VTCE. 


MAID    BE 


Sir  gauib  IJiixbtsay  oi  t^e  gtont, 


Imn  ''^in^  oi  §.rmes. 


AT  EDINBVRGH. 

PRINTED    BE    ROBERT    CHARTERIS. 

1602. 

CVM  PRIVILEGIO   REGIS. 


ANE 

PLEASANT    SATYIIE 

OF  THE  THRIE  ESTAITIS, 
IN  COMMEND ATIOVN  OF  VERTEW  AND  VITVPERATIOVN  OF  VYCE : 

AS    FOLLOWIS. 
DILIGENCE. 

THE  Father  and  founder  of  faith  and  fehcitie,     ^'»y  God  the 

Father, 

That  jour  fassioun  formed  to  his  simiUtude, 
And  his  Sone,  our  Sauiour,scheild  in  necessitie, —  God  the  son, 
4     That  bocht  30W  from  baillis  rauson  rude,  Who  ransomed  us 

Eepleadgeand   his    presonaris     with   his    hart-  with  his 

blude, —  blood. 

The  halie  Gaist,  gouernour  and  grounder  of  grace,  and  God  the  Hoiy 

Ghost, 

Of  wisdome  and  weilfair  baith  fontaine  and  flude, 
8     Gif  30W  all  that  I  sie  seasit  in  this  place,  protect  and 

And  scheild  30W  from  sinne,  inspire  you  with 

And  "with  his  Spreit  30W  inspyre. 
Till  I  haue  shawin  my  dosyre. 
12     Silence,  Soueraine,  I  requyre; 

For  now  I  begin.  ""^  p°^™  ' 

Tak  tent  to  me,  my  freinds,  and  hald  30W  coy;  My  friends, 
For  I  am  sent  to  jow,  as  messingeir,  ,         ,       ,, 

?       '  ^"       o       J  I  present  myself 

16     From  ane  nobill  and  rycht  redoubtit  Eoy, 

The  quhilk  hes  bene  absent  this  monie  3eir,  — 

Humanitie,  giue  36  his  name  wald  speir, —  ^'"s  Humanity, 

Quha  bade  me  shaw  to  30W,  but  variance,  who  win  soon 

ctr\       rrii  •  appear  among 

20     That  he  intendis  amang  30W  to  compeir,  you, 


His  Spirit,  till 
you  have  heard 


as  messenger  fioni 


378 


ANE    SATYRE. 


in  triumph 


to  avenge  misrule 

and  tlie  death  of 

innocent  folk. 

A  reform 

is  coming. 

Misdoers, 

depart ; 

or  j'ou  will  liu 

hanged. 

Faithful  men 
may  sing. 

The  King  says 
none  shall  be 
wronged. 

But  excuse  him, 

if  he  is  vicious 

meantime, 
and  avoids 
Correction, 
Trath,  and 
Discretion. 

In  the  King's 
name,  I  summon 

the  Three  Estates 

to  appear 

and  do  homage,— 

the  spirituality, 
the  burgesses, 
and  the 
temporal  peers. 

HearerR, 
be  patient, 


With  ane  triumph  and  awfull  ordinance, 

Witli  crown,  and  sword,  and  scepter  in  his  hand, 

Temperit  with  mercie,  qnhen  penitence  appeiris  ; 
24     Howbeit  that  hee  lang  tyme  lies  bene  sleipand, 

Quliairthrow  mi.sreull  hes  rung  thir  monie  3eiris, 

That  innocentis  hes  bene  brocht  on  thair  beiris 

Be  fals  reporteris  of  this  natioun  : 
28     Thocht  30ung  oppressouris  at  the  elder  leiris, 

Be  now  assurit  of  reformatioun. 
Sie  no  misdoeris  be  sa  baukl 

As  to  remaine  into  this  hauld  ; 
32     For  quhy,  be  him  that  ludas  sauld, 
Thay  will  be  heich  hangit. 

Now  faithfull  folk  for  ioy  may  sing, 

For  quhy  it  is  the  iust  bidding 
36     Of  my  soveraine  lord  the  king, 
That  na  man  be  wrangit. 

Thocht  he  ane  quhyll,  into  his  flouris, 

Be  gouernit  be  vylde  trompouris, 
40     And  sumtyme  lufe  his  paramouris, 
Hauld  36  him  excusit ; 

For,  quhen  he  meittis  with  Correctioun, 

With  Veritie,  and  Discretioun, 
44     Thay  will  be  banisched  aff  the  toun, 
Quhilk  hes  him  abusit. 

And  heir,  be  oppin  proclamatioun, 

I  wairne,  in  name  of  his  magnificence, 
48     The  thrie  estaitis  of  this  natioun, 

That  thay  compeir,  Avith  detfull  diligence, 

And  till  his  grace  mak  thair  obedience. 

And,  first,  I  wairne  the  Spritualitie  ; 
52     And  sie  the  burgessis  spair  not  for  expence, 

Bot  speid  thame  heir,  with  Temporalitie. 

Als,  I  beseik  30W  famous  auditouris, 

Conveinit  in  this  congregatioun, 
56     To  be  patient  the  space  of  certaine  houris, 


AN'K    SATYRE. 


379 


Till  ^e  liaiie  hard  our  short  narratimm. 

And,  als,  we  mak  30W  supplicatioun, 

That  na  man  tak  our  wordis  intill  disdainc, 
60     Althocht  36  hear,  be  declamatioun, 

The  common-weill  richt  pitiouslie  complaine. 

Eycht  so  the  verteous  ladie  Veritie 

Will  mak  ane  pitious  lamentatioun  ; 
64     Als  for  the  treuth  sho  will  impresonit  be, 

And  banischit  lang  tyme  out  of  the  toun. 

And  Chastitie  will  mak  narratioun, 

How  sho  can  get  na  ludging  in  this  land, 
68     Till  that  the  heauinlie  king  Corrcctionn 

;Meit  with  the  king  and  commoun,  hand  for  hand. 
Prudent  peopill,  I  pray  30W  all, 

Tak  na  man  greif  in  speciall ; 
72     For  wee  sail  speik  in  generall, 
For  pastyme  and  for  play. 

Thairfoir,  till  all  our  ryniis  be  rung, 

And  our  mistoinit  sangis  be  sung, 
76     Let  euerie  man  keip  weill  ane  toung. 
And  euerie  woman  tway. 


aiiil  ilis.laiii  not 
my  words, 
though  the 
Commonweallh 
complain,  though 
Truth 

be  iinpiisoned, 

uiiil  though 
Chastity  he 
banished. 

I  shall  speak 

generally,  not  of 

individuals, 

for  diversion, 

Solet 

every  man  hold 

his  one  tongue, 

and  every 
woman  t^vo. 


REX    HVMANITAS. 

0  Lord  of  Lords,  and  King  of  kingis  all.  Lord  Aimi.-My, 
Omnipotent  of  power,  Prince  but  peir,                    reigning  in 

80     Euer  ringand  in  gloir  Celestial, —  glory, 

Quha,  be  great  micht,  and  haifing  na  mateir.        Maker  of  aii  from 

Maid  heauin  and  eird,  fyre,  air,  and  watter  cleir, —  nothing. 

Send  me  thy  grace,  with  peace  perpetuall, 
84     That  I  may  rewll  my  realme  to  thy  pleaseir ; 

Syne,  bring  my  saull  to  ioy  angehcall. 

Sen  thow  hes  giuin  mee  dominatioun 

And  rewll  of  pcpill  subiect  to  my  cure, 
88     Be  I  nocht  rewlit  be  counsall  and  ressoun, 

Li  dignitie  I  may  nocht  lang  indure. 

1  grant,  my  stait  my  self  may  nocht  assure, 


send  me  grace 
to  rule  as  pleases 
Thee;  and  save 
me  at  last. 

If  I  govern  not 
aright,  my 
power  will  be 
short-lived. 


380 


ANE    SATYRE. 


Pity  and  support 
me,  Christ ; 

defend  nie ; 
save  me  from  sin 
and  shame ; 
and  let  ine 
rule  as 
is  agreeable 
to  Thee ! 


N"or  jit  consenie  my  life  in  sickernes. 
92     Haue  pitie,  Lord,  on  niee,  thy  creature, 
Supportand  me  in  all  my  busines. 
I  thee  requeist,  quha  rent  wes  on  the  Rude, 
Me  to  defend  from  the  deids  of  defame, 
96     That  my  pepill  report  of  me  hot  glide, 

And  be  my  saifgaird  baith  from  sin  and  shame. 
I  knaw  my  dayis  induris  hot  as  ane  dreame  : 
Thairfoir,  0  Lord,  I  hairtlie  the  exhort, 
100     To  gif  me  grace  to  vse  my  diadeame 

To  thy  pleasure  and  to  my  great  comfort. 


Wliy  so  sad,  my 

i.oi-d  :- 


Be  blithe 
and  liappy  ; 

for  the  merry 
man  lives  as  long 
as  the 
melancholy. 
Placebo  and  I 

promise  to 

enliven  you, 

.ind  to  see  that 

you  want  no 

pleasure. 


WANTON. NES. 

My  Soueraine  Lord  and  Prince  but  peir, 
Quhat  garris  jow  mak  sic  dreirie  cheiv  ? 
101     Be  blyth,  sa  laug  as  je  ar  heir, 

And  pas  tyme  Avith  pleasure  : 
For  als  lang  leifis  the  mirrie  man 
As  the  sorie,  for  ocht  he  can. 
108     His  banis  full  sair,  Sir,  sail  I  ban, 
That  dois  30W  displeasure. 
Sa  lang  as  Placebo  and  I 
Eemainis  into  jour  company, 
112     3o^ii'  grace  sail  L'if  richt  mirrely  : 
Of  this  haif  je  na  dout. 
Sa  lang  as  je  haue  vs  in  cure, 
^oxiY  grace,  sir,  sail  want  na  pleasure. 
IIG     War  Solace  heir,  I  30W  assure, 
He  wald  reioyce  this  rout. 


PLACEBO. 

Where  is  Solace,  Gude  brother  myne,  quhair  is  Solace, 

the  jovial?  The  mirrour  of  all  mirrines? 

120  I  haue  great  mcruell,  be  the  Mes, 
wc  arc  done  for,  He  taries  sa  lang. 

without  him.  Byde  he  away,  wee  ar  hot  shent : 


ANE    SATIRE. 


381 


I  ferlie  how  he  fra  vs  "went ; 
124     I  trow  he  hes  impediment 

That  lettis  him  nocht  gang. 

WANTONNES. 

I  left  Solace,  that  same  greit  loun, 
Drinkand  into  the  burro a\'s  toun  : 
128     It  will  cost  him  halfe  of  ane  croun, 
Althocht  he  had  na  mair. 
And,  als,  he  said  hee  wald  gang  see 
Fair  ladie  Sensualitie, 
132     The  bui'iaU  of  all  bewtie 

And  portratour  preclair. 

PLACEBO. 

Be  God,  I  see  him,  at  the  last, 
As  he  war  chaist,  rynnand  richt  fast ; 
136     He  glowris,  euin  as  he  war  agast, 
Or  fleyit  of  ane  gaist. 
Na,  he  is  wod  drunkin,  I  trow. 
Se  36  not  that  he  is  wod  fow  1 
140     I  ken  Weill,  be  his  creischie  mow, 
He  hes  bene  at  ane  feast. 

SOLACE. 

!N"ow,  quha  saw  euer  sic  ane  thrangl 
Me  thocht  sum  said  I  had  gaine  ■^^Tang. 
144     Had  I  help,  I  wald  sing  ane  sang 
With  ane  rycht  mirrie  noyse. 
I  haue  sic  pleasour  at  my  hart, 
That  garris  me  sing  the  troubill  pairt, 
148     Wald  sum  gude  fellow  fill  the  quart, 
It  wald  my  hairt  reioyce. 
Howbeit  my  coat  be  short  and  nippit, 
Thankis  be  to  God,  I  am  weill  hippit, 
152     Thocht  all  my  gold  may  shone  be  grijipit 
Intill  ane  pennie  pursse  ; 


Something  mu3t 
have  hindered 
his  coming. 


1  left  him 
drinking ; 
and  be 
said  he  was 
going  to  see  Lady 
Sensuality,  the 
dainty  beauty. 


When  last  I  saw 
Iiim,  he  was 
running  hard,  us 
if  scared  by  a 
ghost. 

But  no ;  he  is 


Who  says  I  have 
gone  wrong  ? 
I  should  like  to 
sing  you  the 
treble  of  a  song, 
if  some  one  would 
fill  the  quart. 
Thank  God,  1  an. 

very  stiff  in  the 

back, 


382 


ANE    SATYRE. 


and  not  worth 
a  pin. 


Can  you  ^ess 
my  name  ? 
I  am  Sandy 
Solace, 
eon  of  Bess, 
the  wanton 
from  her 
girlhood, 

and  of  four  or  five 
fathers,— no 
joking,— one 
after  another. 
I  had  a  power  of 
sires,  lay  and 
cleric. 

She  is  more  tlian 
a  match  for 
twenty-four  a 
night,  honour 
bright. 
Have  you 
seen  the  King? 
1  am  his  player ; 

and  he  is  soon 
coming  liere. 
Long  may 
he  reign ! 


Thocht  I  arte  seruand  lang  haif  bene, 
My  purchais  is  nocht  worth  ane  preine ; 
156     I  may  sing  PeLlis  on  the  greine, 
For  ocht  that  I  may  tursse. 
Quhat  is  my  name,  can  ^e  not  gesse  ? 
Sirs,  ken  ^e  nocht  Sanclie  Solace  1 
160     Thay  callit  my  mother  bonie  Besse, 
That  dwelt  betwene  the  bowia. 
Of  twelf  3eir  auld  sho  learnit  to  swyfe  : 
Thankit  be  the  great  God  on  lyue, 
164     Scho  maid  me  fatheris  four  or  fyue  : 
But  dout,  this  is  na  mowis. 
Quhen  ane  was  deid,  sho  gat  ane  vther  : 
"Was  never  man  had  sic  ane  mother. 
1 68     Of  fatheris  sho  maid  me  ane  futher. 
Of  lawit  men  and  leirit. 
Scho  is  baith  wj^se,  worthie,  and  wicht ; 
For  scho  spairis  nouther  kuik  nor  knycht, 
172     ^ea,  four  and  twentie  on  ane  nicht, 
And  ay  thair  eine  scho  bleirit  : 
And,  gif  I  lie,  sirs,  ^e  may  speir. 
Bot  saw  ye  nocht  the  King  cum  heir  ? 
176     I  am  ane  sportour  and  playfeir 
To  that  Eoyall  ^oung  King. 
He  said  he  wald,  within  schort  space, 
Cum  pas  Ids  tyme  into  this  place. 
1 80     I  pray  the  Lord  to  send  him  grace, 
That  he  lang  tyme  may  ring. 


Whv  80  iate  ? 


PLACEBO. 

Solace,  quhy  taryit  ^e  sa  lang? 


SOLAOB. 


I  could  not  come  The  fftind  a  faster  I  micht  gang  : 

184     I  micht  not  thrist  out  throw  the  thrang 
Of  wyfes  fyftein  fidder. 


any  quicker;  and 


ANE   SATYRE. 


383 


Then  for  to  rin  I  tuik  ane  rink  ; 
Bot  I  felt  neuer  sik  ane  stink. 
188     For  our  Lordis  luif,  gif  me  ane  drink, 
Placebo,  my  deir  brother. 


I  rati  awaj  as 
soon  as  I  could. 
For  God's  love, 
give  me  a  drink. 


EEX    HVMANITAS. 

My  servant  Solace,  quliat  gart  30W  tarie  1 

SOLACE. 

I  wait  not,  sir,  be  sweit  saint  Marie  : 
192     I  haue  bene  in  ane  feirie  farie. 
Or  ellis  intill  ane  trance  : 
Sir,  I  haue  sene,  I  50W  assure, 
The  fairest  earthlie  creature 
196     That  ever  was  formit  be  nature, 
And  maist  for  to  advance. 
To  luik  on  hir  is  great  delyte, 
With  lippis  reid  and  cheikis  quhyte  : 
200     I  wald  renunce  all  this  warld  quyte, 
For  till  stand  in  hir  gi'ace. 
Sclio  is  wantoun,  and  scho  is  wyse 
And  cled  scho  is  on  the  new  gyse  : 
204     It  wald  gar  all  30ur  flesche  vpryse. 
To  luik  vpon  hir  face. 
"War  I  ane  king,  it  sould  be  kend, 
1  sould  not  spair  on  hir  to  spend, 
208     And  this  same  nicht  for  hir  to  send, 
For  my  pleasure. 
Quhat  rak  of  30m"  prosperitie, 
Gif  je  want  Sensualitie  ! 
212     I  wald  nocht  gif  ane  sillie  flie 
For  3  our  treasure. 


Why  did  you 
delay  ? 


I  have  been  in 

sad  confusion. 

I  have  seen  the 
loveliest  creature 
that  ever  was 
created, 

with  red  lips  and 

white  cheeks, 

most  desirable, 

inviting, 

and  dressed  in 

the  new  fashion. 

Such  a  face ! 

Jf  I  were  a  king, 

cost  wliat  it 
miglit,  I  would 
send  for  her  to 
niglit. 

What  it)  the 
world  worth 
without  a 
woman  ? 


REX    HVMANITAS. 


Forsuitli,  my  freinds,  I  think  30  are  not  wyse 
Till  cuuiisall  ine  to  break  conimandcmcnt, 


The  King  rebukes 
Solace 


384 


ANE    SATYKE. 


for  trying 

to  tempt  one  who 

was  minded  to 

eschew  lewdness, 

and  repudiates 

his  offer, 

as  odious. 

He  liad,  hitlierto, 
had  no  manner 
of  experience 
wliatever. 


216     Directit  be  the  Prince  of  Paradyce, — 
Considering  36  knaAV  that  my  intent 
Is  for  till  be  to  God  obedient, — 
Quhilk  dois  forbid  men  to  be  lecherous 

220     Do  I  nocht  sa,  perchance  I  will  repent, 
Thairfoir,  I  think  ^our  counsall  odious, 

The  quhilk  36  gaif  mee  till ; 
Becaus  I  haue  bene,  to  this  day, 

224     Tanquam  tabula  rasa  ; 

That  is  als  mekill  as  to  say, 
Redie  for  gude  and  ill. 


Placebo  says  they 

have  no  wish  to 

corrupt  or 

mislead  the  King. 

Tliey  will  side 
with  him, 
so  that  he  be 
not  a  young  saint 
and  then  an  old 
devil. 


PLACEBO. 

Beleiue  ^e  that  we  will  begyll  30W, 
228     Or  from  3our  vertew  we  will  Avyle  30W, 
Or  with  euill  counsall  overseyll  30 w 

Both  into  gude  and  euill  1 
To  tak  3our  gi'aces  part  wee  grant, 
2.32     In  all  30ur  deidis  participant, 

Sa  that  36  be  nocht  ane  30ung  sanct, 
And,  syne,  ane  auld  deuill. 


vouches  the 

Romisli  Church, 

in  proof  that 

lechery  is  no  sin. 

Chastity  is 
banished  out  of 
Rome. 


WANTONNES. 

Beleiue  3e,  Sir,  that  Lecherie  be  sin  1 
236     N'a,  trow  nocht  that :  this  is  my  ressoun  quhy 
First,  at  the  Eomane  Kirk  will  3e  begin, — 
Quhilk  is  the  lemand  lamp  of  lechery, — 
Quhair  Cardinals  and  Bischops,  generally, 
240     To  luif  Ladies  thay  think  ane  pleasant  sport. 
And  out  of  Rome  hes  baneist  Chastity, 
Quha  with  our  Prelats  can  get  na  resort. 


SOLACE. 

Solace  advises  His  Sir,  quhill  36  get  ane  prudent  Queine, 

Majesty  to  have       244     I  think  3our  Maiestie  scrcin 

a  concubine, 


Sould  haue  ane  lustie  Concubein, 


ANE    SAT Y RE, 

To  play  30W  withall. 
For  I  knaw,  be  30UI"  qiialitie, 
248     3e  want  the  gift  of  chastitie. 
Fall  to,  in  nomine  Domini  : 

This  is  my  counsall. 
I  speik,  Sir,  vnder  protestatioun, 
252     That  nane  at  me  haif  indignatioun ; 
For  all  the  Prelats  of  this  natioun, 

For  the  maist  part, 
Thay  think  na  schame  to  haue  ane  huir  j 
256     And  sum  hes  thrie  vnder  thair  cuir. 
This  to  be  trew,  He  30W  assuir, 

3e  sail  heir  efterwart. 
Sir,  knew  [30]  all  the  mater  throeh, 
260  To  play  30  wald  begin. 

Speir  at  the  Monks  of  Bamirrinoch, 
Gif  lecherie  be  sin. 


385 

for  his  comfort ; 
as  be  lacks  the 
gift  of  chastity. 

For  the  prelates 
indulge,  pretty 
generally,  in 
concubinage ; 
and  some  of  them 
had  a  whole  leash 
of  mistresses. 
This  is  true ; 

and  do  thou 

likewise. 

Ask  the  monks 
of  Bamirrinoch 
if  lechery  is  sin. 


PLACEBO. 

Sir,  send  36  for  Sandie  Solace,  placebo  teiis  tiie 

264     Or  ells  3o\ir  mon3eoun  Wantonnes  ;  King  to  ask  the 

And  pray  my  Ladie  Priores  Prioress 

The  suith  till  declair,  whether 

Grif  it  be  sin  to  tak  Ivaity,  fornication  is  sin. 

268     Or  to  leif  like  ane  bummillbaty. 

The  bulk  sajds  Omnia  probate,     '  Prove  aii 

And  nocht  for  to  spair.  tilings. 

SEXSVALITIE. 

Luifers,  awalk  !  behald  the  fyrie  spheir !  Lovers,  look  at 

272     Behauld  the  naturall  dochter  of  Venus  !  me,  venu3^; 

Behauld,  luifers,  this  lustie  Ladie  cleir,  daughter. 

The  fresche  fonteine  of  Knichtis  amorous,  loveiy, 

Eepleit  Avith  ioyis  dulce  and  delicious  :  fun  of  joys. 

276     Or  quha  wald  mak  to  Venus  observance  1  Pleasant  is  my 

In  my  mirthfull  chalmer  melodious,  bower 


386 


ANE    SATYRE. 


to  all.  Thair  sail  thay  find  all  pastyme  and  pleasance. 

See  my  lovely  Behauld  my  held  !  behaiild  my  gay  attyre  ! 

neck,  280     Behauld  my  liaise  lusum  and  lilie  quhite  ! 

ray  glowing  face,  Eehauld  my  visage  flammand  as  the  fyre  ! 

brea^sts."^*^  ^  Behauld  my  papis  of  portratour  perfyte  ! 

I  please  all  To  luke  OH  mee  luiffers  hes  greit  delyte  ; 

kings,  and,  284     Rycht  sa  hes  all  the  Kingis  of  Cluistindome  : 

specially,  the  To  thame  I  half  done  pleasouris  infinite, 

Court  of  Rome.  And,  spcciallie,  vnto  the  Court  of  Rome. 

My  kiss  is  worth  Ane  Icis  of  me  war  worth,  in  ane  morning, 

a  million  of  gold ;  288     A  mil3ioun  of  gold,  to  Knicht  or  King ; 

and  yet  I  readily  And  3it  I  am  of  nature  sa  to  wart, 

give  it  to  all.  I  lat  no  luiff"er  pas  with  ane  sair  hart. 

My  name  is  Of  my  name  wald  30  wit  the  veritie. 

Sensuality.  292     Forsuitli,  thay  call  me  Sensualitie. 

Let  us  sing  a  I  liauld  it  best,  uow,  or  we  farther  gang, 

song  to  venuB.  To  Dame  Venus  let  vs  go  sing  ane  sang. 


HAMELINES. 


Familiarity  Madame,  but  tarying, 

296  For  to  serue  Venus  deir, 

atquie  tes  ^y^  ^^-^  ^^^-^  ^^  ^^^^  sillg. 

in  this.  Sister  Danger,  cum  neir. 


Danger 


DANGER. 

Sister,  I  was  nocht  sweir 
300  To  Venus  observance. 

Howbeit  I  mak  Dangeir, 

3it,  be  continuance, 

Men  may  haue  thair  pleasance  ; 
304  Thairfoir,  let  na  man  fray 

We  will  tak  it,  perchance, 

Howbeit  that  woe  say  nay, 

HAMELINES. 

Sister,  cum  on  3our  way  ; 


Jlc-J 


ANE   SATTRE. 


387 


308  And  let  vs  nocht  think  lang, 

In  all  the  haist  wee  may, 
To  sing  Venus  ane  sang. 


presses  her 
to  sing  a  song 
to  Venus 


DANGER. 

Sister,  sing  this  sang  I  may  not, 
312     "Without  the  help  of  gude  Fund-Ionet. 
Fund-Ionet !  hoaw  !  cum  tak  a  pavt. 

FVND-IONET. 

That  sail  I  do,  with  all  my  hart. 

Sister,  howbeit  that  I  am  hais, 
316     I  am  content  to  beir  a  bais. 

3e  twa  sould  luif  me  as  jour  lyfe  ; 

^e  knaw  I  lernit  30W  baith  to  swyfe  : 

In  my  chalmer — je  wait  weill  quhair — 
320     Sen  syne  the  feind  ane  man  -^e  spair. 


Danger  asks  for 
the  help  of 
Fund-Jonet 


Fund-Jonet, 
though  hoarse, 
is  ready  to  sing 
bass. 

She  claims  llieir 
love,  since  she 
initiated  them. 


HAMELINES. 


Fund-Ionet,  fy !  30  ar  to  blame. 

To  speik  foull  wordis  think  ^e  not  schame 


Ol)}urf;ation. 


FVND-IONET. 

Thair  is  ane  hundreth  heir  sitand  by, 
324     That  luitis  geaping  als  weill  as  I, 
Micht  thay  get  it  in  priuitie. 
Bot  quha  begins  the  sang,  let  se. 

REX    HVMANITAS. 

Vp,  Wantonnes  !  thow  sleipis  to  lang. 
328     Me  thocht  I  hard  ane  mirrie  sang  : 
I  the  command  in  haist  to  gang 
Se  quhat  3on  mixth  may  meine. 


Many  a  one 
here  is  as  wanton 
as  I. 
But  the  song ! 


The  King  tells 
Wantonness  to 
see  who  is 
singing. 


WANTONNES. 

I  trow,  Sir,  be  the  Trinitie, 


Sensuality,  Sir, 


3S8 


ANE    SAiyRB. 


1  Burniiso,  332     ^on  Same  is  Sensualitie  : 

whom  I  Gif  it  be  scho,  sune  sail  I  sie 

would  see.  That  Severance  sereine. 


Sensuality. 


She  can  both 
play  and 
dance. 

Her  neck  is  like 
silk  ;  her  liair  is 
fine; 

and  I  biun 

with  passion. 

She  has  not 
her  equal  on 
earth. 

If  you  knew 
love's  lore,  and 
had  once  seen 
her, 

you  would  give  a 
million  for  her 
love. 


REX    HVM ANITAS. 

Quhat  war  thay  jon,  to  me  declair. 

WANTONNES. 

336     Dame  Sensuall,  baith  gude  and  fair. 

PLACEBO. 

Sir,  scho  is  mekill  to  avance  ; 
For  scho  can  baith  play  and-dance, 
That  perfyt  patron  of  plesance, 

340  Ane  perle  of  pulchritude  : 

Soft  as  the  silk  is  hir  quhite  lyre, 
Hir  hair  is  like  the  goldin  Avyre  : 
My  hart  burnis  in  ane  flame  of  fyre 

344  I  sweir  3oav,  be  the  Rude. 

I  think  scho  is  sa  wonder  fair, 
That  in  earth  scho  hes  na  compair. 
"War  36  Weill  leirnit  at  luffis  lair, 

348  And  syne  had  hir  anis  sene, 

I  wait,  be  colds  passioim, 
3e  wald  mak  supplicatioun, 
And  spend  on  hir  ane  millioun, 

352  Hir  lufe  for  till  obteine. 


ShaU  3he  come  to 
you  at  once  ? 
What  is  the 
worth  of  power 
and  riches, 
without  joy 
and  quiet  ? 

Till  you  get  a 
wife,  take  your 
pleasure. 


SOLACE. 

Quhat  say  ^e,  sir  ]  ar  ^e  content 

That  scho  cum  heir  incontinent  1 

Quhat  vails  30ur  kingdome  and  30ur  rent, 

356  And  all  30ur  great  treasure, 

"Without  36  half  ane  mirrie  lyfe, 
And  cast  asyde  all  sturt  and  stryfe. 
And,  sa  lang  as  30  want  ane  wyfe, 

360  Fall  to  and  tak  30ur  pleasure  1 


ANK    SATYKIC. 


:\80 


REX    HVM ANITAS. 

Gif  that  be  trew  quhilk  je  me  tell, 

I  will  not  langer  tarie, 
Bot  will  gang  preif  that  play,  my  sell, 

364  Howbeit  the  warld.  me  warie. 

Als  fast  as  30  may  carie, 
Speid  with  all  diligence  : 
Bring  Sensualitie, 

368  Fra-hand,  to  my  presence. 

Forsuth,  I  wait  not  how  it  stands  ; 
Bot,  sen  I  hard  of  30ur  tythands, 
My  bodie  trimblis,  feit  and  hands, 

372  And,  quhiles,  is  hait  as  fyre. 

1  trow,  Cupido  with  his  dart 
Hes  woundit  me  out-throw  the  hart ; 
My  spreit  will  fra  my  bodie  part, 

376  Get  I  nocht  my  desyre. 

Pas  on  away,  with  diligence, 
And  bring  Mr  heir  to  my  presence  : 
Spair  nocht  for  trauell  nor  expence  ; 

380  I  cair  not  for  na  cost. 

Pas  on  3our  way,  schone  Wantonnes  ; 
And  tak  with  30W  Sandie  Solace, 
And  bring  that  Ladie  to  this  place, 

384  Or  els  I  am  bot  lost. 

Commend  me  to  that  sweitest  thing, 
And  present  hir  with  this  same  Ring ; 
And  say  I  ly  in  languisching, 

388  Except  scho  mak  remeid. 

With  siching  sair  I  am  bot  schent, 
Without  scho  cum,  incontinent. 
My  heauie  langour  to  relent, 

392  And  saif  me  now  fra  deid. 


The  King 

yields, 

defying 

the  world, 

and  orders  them 
to  fetch 
Sensuality,  at 
once,  to  him. 

He  finds  himself 

very  much 

excited. 

Cupid's  dart  has 

pierced  him ; 

and  he  is  very 

uneasy. 

Let  her  come 

immediately, 

despite  trouble 

and  cost. 

Wantonness  and 

Solace 

are  to  bring 

Sensuality  to  him 

forthwith, 

giving  her  a 

ring; 

for  he  longs  and 

sighs  sorely  for 

her  to  come  and 

relieve  his 

distress. 


WANTONNES. 

Or  ^e  tuik  skaith,  be  Gods  goun, 


He  is  told  he 


390 


ANE    SATYBE. 


sliall 
not  be 

disappointed. 
Sensuality  sliall 

come:  but  there 

will  be  charges. 


Money  is 
indispensable ; 
and  we  have 
no  ready  coin. 


I  leuer  thair  war  not,  vp  nor  doun, 

Ane  tume  cunt  into  this  toun, 
396  Nor  twentie  myle  about. 

Doubt  ^e  nocht,  Sir,  bot  wee  will  get  hir ! 

"Wee  sail  be  feirie  for  till  fetch  bir ; 

]5>ot,  faith  !  wee  wald  speid  aU  the  better, 
400  Till  gar  our  pursses  rout. 

SOLACE. 

Sir,  let  na  soitow  in  30W  sink ; 
Bot  gif  vs  Ducats  for  till  drink, 
And  wee  sail  never  sleip  ane  wink, 
404  Till  it  be  back  or  eadge. 

5e  ken  weill,  Sir,  wee  haue  no  cun^e. 


REX    HVMANITAS. 


The  King 
gives  it, 
and  bids  them 
make  haste. 


408 


Solace,  sure  that  sail  be  no  sunjie : 
Beir  ^e  that  bag  vpon  ^our  lunjie. 

Now,  sirs,  win  weill  jour  wage  : 
I  pray  jow  speid  30W  sone  againe. 


They  promise 
diligence, 
whatever  the 
weather,  and  to 
be  back  by  mid- 
night. 


WANTONNES. 

5e  !  of  this  sang,  sir,  wee  ar  faine  : 
Wee  sail  nother  spair  wind  nor  raine, 

412  Till  our  days  wark  be  done : 

Fairweill  !  for  w^ee  ar  at  the  flicht. 
Placebo,  rewll  our  Eoy  at  richt : 
We  sail  be  heir,  man,  or  midnicht, 

416  Thocht  wee  marche  witli  the  Mone. 


Wantonness 
greets  Sensuality. 


WANTONNES. 

Pastyme,  with  pleasance  &  greit  prosperitie, 
Be  to  30W,  Soveraine  Sensualitie  I 

SENSVALITIE. 

Sirs,  3e  ar  welcum  :  quhair  go  je?  eist?  or  west? 


ANE    SATYUE. 


391 


WANTONNES. 

420     In  faith,  I  trow  we  be  at  the  farrest. 


SEXSVALITIE. 

Quhat  is  ^our  name'?  I  pray  3011,  Sir,  declair.        Your  name? 

WANTONNES. 

Marie  !  Wantonnss,  the  Kings  seoretair.  wantonness. 

SENSVALITIE. 

Qnhat  King  is  tliat  qnhilk  hes  sa  gay  a  boy  ?        prom  «i,at  king? 


WANTONNES. 

424     Humanitie,  that  richt  redoutit  Koy, 

Quhilk  dois  commend  him  to  30W  hartfullie, 
And  sends  30W  heir  ane  ring  with  ane  Rubie, 
In  takin  that,  abuife  all  creatour, 

428     He  hes  chosen  30W  to  be  his  Paramour. 
He  bade  me  say  that  he  will  be  bot  deid, 
Without  that  3e  mak,  haistelie,  remeid, 

SENSVALITIE. 

How  can  I  help  him,  althocht  he  suld  forfairl 
432     3e  ken,  richt  weill,  I  am  na  Medcinair. 


Humanity ; 
and  he  sends  y  ou 
a  ring,  as  a  token 
that  he 

has  chosen  you 
as  his  paramour. 

Do  not  delay. 


irow  can  I,  110 
physician,  help 
him? 


SOLACE. 

3es,  lustie  ladie,  thocJit  he  war  never  sa  seik, 
I  wait  36  beare  his  health  into  3our  breik. 
Ane  kis  of  30ur  sweit  mow,  in  ane  morning, 
436     Till  his  seiknes  micht  be  greit  comforting. 
And,  als,  he  maks  30W  supplicatioun. 
This  nicht  to  mak  with  him  collatioun. 

SENSVALITIE. 

I  thank  his  grace  of  his  benevolence. 
440     Gude  sirs,  I  sail  be  reddie,  evin  fra-hand  : 


In  a  very  natural 

way. 

One  kiss  of  yours 
will  give  him 
gre;it  comfort. 

Meet  him 
to-night. 


Sensnality  agrees 
to  go  at  once; 


392 


ANE    SATYRE. 


she  will  not 
neglect  him, 
will  come 
immediately, 
and  will  do  his 
bidding. 


444 


In  me  thair  sail  be  fund  na  negligence, 

Baitli  niclit  &  day,  qnlien  his  grace  Avill  demand. 

Pas  36  befoir,  and  say  I  am  cummand, 

And  thinks  richt  lang  to  haif  of  him  ane  sicht : 

And  I  to  Venus  do  mak  ane  faithfull  band, 

That  in  his  arms  I  think  to  ly  all  nicht. 


Wantonness 
asks  for 
Familiarity. 


448 


WANTONNES. 


That  salbe  done  :  bot  jit,  or  I  hame  pas, 
Heir  I  protest  for  Hamelynes,  jour  las. 


The  request  is 
granted. 


Wantonness 

congratulates 

himself 

on  having  led  the 

King  so  quickly 

into  sin. 
He  grieves 

that  he 

did  not  keep 

Sensuality 

to  himself, 

and  abuses 

himself. 

lie  jests 

about  spraining 


SENSVALITIE. 

Scho  salbe  at  command,  sir,  quhen  je  Avill : 
I  traist  scho  sail  find  jow  flinging  jour  filL 

WANTONNES. 

Now  hay  !  for  ioy  and  mirth  I  dance. 
452     Tak  thair  ane  gay  gamond  of  France  : 
Am  I  nocht  worthie  till  avance. 

That  am  sa  gude  a  page. 
And  that  sa  spedelie  can  rin 
456     To  tyst  my  maister  vnto  sin? 
The  flend  a  penny  he  will  Avin 

Of  this  his  mariage. 
I  rew  richt  sair,  be  sanct  Michell ! 
460     ISTor  I  had  pearst  hir  my  awin  sell ; 
For  quhy  jon  King,  be  Bryds  bell, 

Kennis  na  mair  of  ane  cunt 
Nor  dois  the  noueis  of  ane  freir, 
464     It  war  bot  almis  to  pull  my  eir, 

That  wald  not  preif  jon  gallant  geir. 

Fy,  that  I  am  sa  blunt ! 
I  think,  this  day,  to  win  greit  thank. 
468     Hay  !  as  ane  brydlit  cat,  I  brank  : 
Alace  !  I  liauc  wreistit  my  scliank, 
Yit  gangis,  be  sanct  Michael!  ! 


ANE    SATYRE. 


;i93 


Quliilk  of  my  loggis,  Sii-s,  as  30  trow, 
472     Was  it  that  I  did  hurt  evin  now  1 
Bot  quhairto  sould  I  speir  at  30W 1 

I  tliink  thay  baith  ar  haill. 
Glide  morrow,  IMaister,  be  the  Mes  ! 


one  of  his 
legs,  but 
afterwards 

tliiiiks  they 
are  botli  rifjlit. 


REX    HVMANITAS. 


476     Welciuii,  my  11161130011,  Wan  tonnes  ! 
How  hes  thow  sped  in  thy  trauell  ? 


Welcome ! 
What  speeil  ? 


WANTONNES. 


Rycht  Weill,  be  him  that  herryit  hell  ! 
^our  erand  is  weill  done. 


Very  good. 


REX   HVMANITAS. 

480     Then,  Wantonnes,  how  weill  is  mee  ! 
Thow  hes  deseruit  baith  nieit  and  fie, 

Be  him  that  maid  the  Mone  ! 
Thair  is  ane  thing  that  I  wald  s^jeir  : 
484     Qiihat  sail  I  do,  qiihen  scho  cunis  heir  1 
For  I  knaw  nocht  the  craft,  perqueir, 

Of  luifers  gyn  : 
Thairfoir,  at  lenth  -^e  mon  me  leir 
488  How  to  begin. 


Then  you  deserve 
reward. 
But  what  shall 
I  do  when  she 
comes  r    For 
I  am  a 

novice  in  love- 
matters 


WANTONNES. 

To  kis  hir  &  clap  hir,  sir,  be  not  affeard : 

Sho  will  not  schrink,  thocht  30  kis  hir  ane  span 

within  the  baird. 
Gif  36  think  that  sho  thinks  shame,  then  hyd  the 

bairns  sine 
492     With  hir  taill,  &  tent  hir  Aveil :  je  wait  quhat 

I  meine. 
Will  36  leif  me.  Sir,  first  for  to  go  to  ? 
And  I  sail  leirne  30W  all  keAvis  how  to  do. 


of  her  resisting, 

&c.,  &c. 

Shall  I  go  first, 

and  show  you  ? 


394 


ANK    SAT Y  UK. 


I!y  no 
tnannei 
ut' means. 


REX    HVMANITAS, 


God  forbid,  Wantonnes,  that  I  gif  the  leife  ! 
49  G     Thou  art  ouer  perillous  ane  page  sic  practiks  to 
preife. 


She  comes, 
lie  wise. 


WANTONNES. 


jSTow,  Sir,  preife  as  3e  pleis.     I  se  hir  fuinand. 
Vse  30iir  self  grauelie  :  wee  sail  by  30AV  stand. 


<;loi-y  to  tiiee, 
VpiiMs,  for 
s;iving  me  such 
lieanty ! 
1  will  sacrifice 

tolluM'. 


clerics  and 

laymen,— 

anrl  till  will,  the 

young  especially. 

None  here  conld 
tnithruUy  ileiiy 
this. 

I  now  go  to  a 
powerful  prince. 

It  delights  me  to 
take  hvm  in 
cliarge,— 


SENSVALITIE. 

0  Queene  Venus  !  vnto  thy  Celsitude 
500     I  gif  gloir,  honour,  laud,  and  renerence, 

Quha  grantit  me  sic  perfite  pulchritude, 
That  Princes  of  my  persone  haue  pleasancc. 

1  mak  ane  vow,  with  humbill  obseruance, 
504     Richt  reuerentlie  thy  Tempill  to  visie. 

With  sacrifice  vnto  thy  Dyosie. 
Till  everie  stait  I  am  so  greabill, 
That  few  or  nane  refuses  me,  at  all  : 

508     Paipis,  Patriarks,  or  Prelats  venerabill, 
Common  pepill,  and  Princes  temporall 
Ar  subiect,  all,  to  me.  Dame  Sensuall. 
Sa  sail  it  be  ay,  quhill  the  warld  indures, 

512     And,  speciallie,  quhair  ^outhage  hes  the  cui'es. 
Quha  knawis  the  contrair  1 
I  traist,  few,  in  this  companie, 
AVald  thay  declair  the  veritie, 

516     How  thay  vse  Sensualitie, 

Bot  with  me  maks  repair. 
And  now  my  way  I  man  auance 
Vnto  ane  Prince  of  great  puissance, 

520     Quhom  30ung  men  hes  in  gouernance, 
Rolland  into  his  rage. 
I  am  richt  glaid,  I  30 w  assure, 
That  potent  Prince  to  get  in  cure, 

524     Quhilk  is  .,f  lustinrs  llio  luir, 


ANE    SATYRE. 


395 


And  greitest  of  curage. 
0  potent  Prince,  of  pulchritude  preclair, 
God  Cupido  preserue  30ur  celsitude  ! 
528     And  Dame  Venus  mot  keip  30ur  court  fro  cair. 
As  I  wald  sho  suld  keip  my  awin  hart-blud  ! 

REX    HVMANITAS. 

Welcum  to  me,  peirles  in  pulchritude  ! 
Welcum  to  me,  tliow  sweiter  nor  the  Lamher, 
532     Quhilk  lies  maid  me  of  all  dolour  denude  ! 
Solace,  convoy  this  Ladie  to  my  chamber. 

SENSVALITIE. 

I  gang  this  gait  with  richt  gude  will. 
Sir  Wantonnes,  tarie  -^e  stil ; 
53G     And,  Hamelines,  the  cap  3eis  fill. 
And  beir  him  cumpanie. 

[hamelines.] 

That  sail  I  do,  withoutin  dout, 
And  he  and  I  sail  play  cap'out. 

wantonnes. 

540     jSToav,  Ladie,  len  me  that  batye  tout : 
Fill  in  ;  for  I  am  dry. 

3our  dame,  be  this,  trewlie, 

Hes  gotten  vpon  the  giimis. 
544     Quhat  rak,  thocht  36  and  I 

Go  iunne  our  iustinjc  Lumis  ! 


a  bold  youth. 

M;iy  Cupid  and 
Venus  waloh 
over  you  ! 

Welcome ! 
Take  the  lady 
to  my  chamber. 

I  go  wiUiiifily. 
But  di)  you  two 
drink. 


Fill  up. 
Suppose  we 
follow  their 
example  ? 


HAMELINES. 

Content  I  am,  with  gude  will, 
Quhen  euer  36  ar  reddie, 
648     3our  pleasure  to  fidfill. 

WANTONNES. 

Now,  Weill  said,  be  our  Ladie  ! 


I  am  iiolliiMf; 
loth. 

f  will  do  ag  ray 


396 


ANE    SATYRE. 


master,  and  just 


where  we  are, 


He  bair  my  Maister  cunipaiiie, 
Till  that  I  may  indure  : 
552     Gif  ^e  be  quisland  wantouulie, 
We  sail  flinc;  on  the  flure. 


God  save  the 
hearers,  and  keep 
them  from 
offending  Christ, 
tlie  Crucified ! 

May  He  nile  and 

guide  you ! 

1  corae,  because 

kings,  without 

me,  are  notliing. 
To  such 

my  wisdom 

is  all. 

But  for  me, 

Good  Counsel, 

confusion  is 

inevitable. 

I  liave  dwelt 
in  many 
a  land, 

but  have  long 
been  banished 
Scotland ; 


GVDE    COVNSALL. 

Immortall  God,  maist  of  magnificence, 
Quhais  Maiestie  na  Clark  can  comprehend, 

556     Must  sane  30W  all  that  giiiis  sic  audience, 
And  grant  3<i\v  grace  him  never  till  offend, 
Quliilk  on  the  Croce  did  wilKnglie  ascend, 
And  sched  his  pretious  blude  on  everie  side ; 

560     Quhais  pitious  passioun  from  danger  30W  defend. 
And  be  3our  gratious  governour  and  gyde  ! 
Now,  my  gude  freinds,  considder,  I  30W  beseik, 
The  cans  maist  principall  of  my  cumming  : 

564     Princis  or  Potestatis  ar  nocht  worth  ane  leik, 
Be  thay  not  gydit  be  my  gude  gouerning. 
Thair  was  never   Empriour,    Conquerour,    nor 

King, 
Without    my    Avisdome    that   micht    thair   wil 
avance. 

568     My  name  is  Gude  Counsall,  without  feinjeing; 
Lords,  for  lack  of  my  lair,  ar  brocht  to  mischance. 
Finallie,  for  conelusioun, 
Quha  halds  me  at  delusioun 

572     Sail  be  brocht  to  confusioun  : 
And  this  I  vnderstand  ; 
For  I  haue  maid  my  residence 
With  hie  Princes  of  greit  puissance, 

576     In  Inghmd,  Italic,  and  France, 
And  nionie  vther  Land. 
Bot  out  of  Scotland — wa !  alace  ! — 
I  haif  bene  flciinit  lang  tyme  space  : 

580     Tliat  garris  our  gyders  all  want  grace, 
And  die  befoir  thair  day. 


ANE    SATYRB. 


397 


Becaus  thay  lyclitlyit  Gude  Counsall, 

Fortune  turnit  on  thame  hir  saill, 
584     Quhilk  brocht  this  Realme  to  meildll  baill. 
Qiilia  can  the  contrair  say  1 

My  Lords,  I  came  nocht  heir  to  lie. 

Wa  is  me  ;  for  King  Humanitie 
588     Overset  with  Sensualitie, 

In  th'  entrie  of  his  ring, 

Throw  vicious  counsell  insolent. 

Sa  thay  may  get  riches  or  rent, 
592     To  his  weilfair  thay  tak  na  tent, 
^or  quhat  sal  be  th'  ending. 

3it  in  this  Eealme  I  wald  mak  sum  repair, 
<  Gif  I  beleifit  my  name  suld  nocht  forfair  ; 
596     For,  wald  this  King  be  gydit  3it  with  resioun. 

And  on  misdoars  mak  punitioun, 

Howbeit  I  half  lang  tyme  bene  exyllit, 

I  traist  in  God  my  name  suld  ^it  be  styilit  : 
600     Sa,  till  I  se  God  send  mair  of  his  grace, 

I  purpois  till  repois  me  in  this  place. 


misfortune. 

I  come,  for  that 
King  Humanity, 
at  the  outset  of 
his  reign,  is 
misguided  by 
vicious  and 
greedy 
counsellors, 
heedless  of 
consequences. 

May  the  king 

still  be  guided  by 

reason ;  and  may 

I  regain  my 

honour  here. 

Hence  I  mean  to 
stay  awhile. 


FLATTERIE. 


604 


608 


612 


Mak  roume,  sirs,  hoaw  !  that  I  may  rin  ! 
Lo,  se  quhair  I  am  new  cum, 

Begaryit  all  with  sindrie  hswis  ! 
Let  be  30ur  din,  till  I  begin, 

And  I  sail  schaAV  30W  of  my  newis. 
Throuchout  all  Christindome  I  haue  past, 
And  am  cum  heir  now,  at  the  last, 
Tostit  on  sea  ay  sen  3^111  day, 
That  wee  war  faine  to  hew  our  Mast, 

Xocht  haK  ane  myle  beyond  the  INIay. 
Bot  noAV  amang  30W  I  will  remaine  : 
I  purpois  never  to  sail  againe, 

To  put  my  lyfe  in  chance  of  watter. 
"Was  never  sene  sic  wind  and  raine, 


Room! 

Look  at  my 

bravery,  and 

hear  my  news. 
A  traveller,  I 

come,  sea-tossed 

since  last 

Christmas. 
No  more  of  sea 
for  me,  nor  its 
risks  and 
stoiTns ! 


398 


ANE    SAT  Y  RE. 


There  was  such 
a  gale,  and  din 
of  voices, 
rattling  of  ropes, 

flapping  and 

rending  of  sails ; 

and  I  was  in  a 

ead  plight 

therefrom. 

Escaped, 

I  am  gay. 

I  am  the  same 

that  was  with 

you  at  Christmas. 

Where  arc  my 
mates  ? 
Falsehood ! 


616  Nor  of  Schipmen  sic  clitter  clatter. 

Sum  bade  liaill  !  and  sum  bade  standby  1 
On  steirburd  !  lioaAV  !  aluiff  !  fy  !  fy  ! 

Quhill  all  tlie  raipis  beguith  to  rattiL 
620     Was  never  Eoy  sa  fleyd  as  I, 

Qulien  all  the  sails  playd  brittill  brattill. 
To  se  tbe  waws,  it  was  ane  As^onder, 
And  wind,  that  raif  the  sails  in  sunder. 
624  Bot  I  lay  braikand  like  ane  Brok, 

And  shot  sa  fast,  aboue  and  vnder, 

The  Deuill  durst  not  cum  neir  my  dok. 
Now  am  I  scapit  fra  that  effray : 
628     Quhat  say  ^e,  sirs  1  am  I  nocht  gay  1 

Se  ^e  not  Flatterie,  jour  awin  fuill. 
That  ^eid  to  mak  this  new  array  1 

Was  I  not  heir  with  :50w  at  3^dll  1 
632     3es,  be  my  faith,  I  think  on  weill. 

Quliair  ar  my  fallows  that  wald  nocht  fail? 

We  suld  haue  cum  lieir  for  ane  cast. 
Hoaw  !  Falset,  hoaw  ! 


FALSET. 

Who  caUs  me  ?        636  Wa  fair  the  Deuill  ] 

Quha  is  that  that  cryis  for  me  sa  fast  1 


Don't  yon  know 
me,  brother  ? 


FLATTERIE. 


Quhy,  Falset,  brother,  knawis  thou  not  me  ? 
Am  I  nocht  thy  brother  Flattrie  1 


Let  UB  embrace. 


as  we  love. 


How  here  ? 


FALSET. 

640     Now  welcome,  be  the  Trinitie  ! 

This  meitting  cums  for  gude. 
Now  let  me  breste  the  in  my  armis 
Quhen  freinds  meits,  harts  warmis, 

644  Quod  lok,  that  frelie  fude. 

How  happinit  30W  into  this  place  1 


ANE    SATA'RE. 


399 


FLATTER IE. 

Now,  be  my  saul !  evin  on  a  cace  : 
I  come  in  sleipand  at  the  port, 
648     Or  ever  I  wist,  amang  this  sort. 

Quhair  is  Dissait,  that  limmer  lotm  1 

FALSET. 

I  left  him  drinkand  in  the  tonn  : 
He  wUl  be  heir  incontinent. 


Quite  by  way  of 

chance. 

Where  is  Deceit  ? 


Drinking. 

He  will  be  here 

soon. 


FLATTERIE. 

652     IS'ow,  be  the  haly  Sacrament ! 

Thay  tydingis  comforts  all  my  hart. 

I  wait,  Dissait  will  tak  my  part  : 

He  is  richt  craftie,  as  ^e  ken, 
656     And  counsallour  to  the  Merchand-men. 

Let  vs  ly  doun  heir,  baith,  and  spy 

Gif  wee  persaiie  him  cummand  by. 

DISSAIT. 

Stand  by  the  gait,  that  I  may  steir. 
660     Aisay  !  Koks  bons  !  how  cam  I  heir? 
I  can  not  mis  to  taic  sum  feir, 
Into  sa  greit  ane  thrang. 
Marie  !  heir  ane  cumlie  congregatioun  ! 
664     Qiihat !  ar  ^e,  sirs,  all  of  ane  nationn? 
Maisters,  I  speik  be  protestatioun, 

In  dreid  -^e  tak  me  wrang. 
Ken  36  not,  sirs,  qnhat  is  my  name  1 
668     Gude  faith  !  I  dar  not  schaw  it,  for  schame. 
Sen  I  was  clekit  of  my  Dame, 

3it  was  I  never  leill : 
For  Katie  Vnsell  was  my  mother, 
672     And  common  theif  my  father-brother  : 
Of  sic  freindship  I  had  ane  fither; 
Howbeit,  I  can  not  steill ; 


I  am  glad  of  it. 

He  is  a  shrewd 
one,  you  know. 

Let  us  watch  for 
him. 


Help  me  steer. 
How  came  I 
here  ?    I  am 

frightened. 
Are  you  all  of 

one  nation  ? 

Excuse  me. 

I  do  not  dare  to 

tell  my  name, 

from  shame. 

Kitty  Bad-iin  was 
my  mother;  a 
thief,  my  father. 
Yet  I  cannot 
steal. 


400 


ANE    SATYRE. 


Hut  I  am  ready 

to  borrow 

and  lend, 

and  to  fight. 

I  live  among 
merchants. 
My  name  ? 

I  am  Deceit. 
I  am  with  you 
any  way. 

I  met  Good 
Counsel, — 

Devil  take  him ! 


Bot  3it  I  will  borrow  and  len, 
676     As,  be  my  cleathing,  36  may  ken 
That  I  am  cum  of  nobill  men  ; 

And,  als,  I  will  debait 
That  querrell  Avith  my  feit  and  hands. 
680     And  I  dwell  amang  the  merchands  : 
My  name  gif  onie  man  demands, 

Thay  call  me  Dissait. 
Bon-iour  !  brother,  with  all  my  hart. 
684     Heir  am  I  cum  to  talc  3our  part, 
Baith  into  gude  and  euill. 
I  met  Gude  Counsall  be  the  way, 
Quha  pat  me  in  ane  felloim  fray  : 
688  I  gif  him  to  the  Deuill. 


How  did  you  get 
away? 


FALSET. 

How  chaipit  36,  I  pray  30W  tell. 


I  slipped  into  a 

brothel,  and  there 

hid  myself  and 

had  adventures. 

Why  came  you 
here  ? 


DISSAIT. 

I  slipit  into  ane  bordell, 
And  hid  me  in  ane  bawburds  bed : 
692     Bot  suddenlie  hir  schankis  I  sched, 
With  hoch  hurland  amang  hir  hoAvis  : 
God  wait  gif  wee  maid  monie  moAvis. 
How  came  30  heir,  I  pray  30W  tell  me. 


To  seek  King 
Humanity. 


FALSET. 

696     Marie  !  to  seik  King  Himianitie. 


And  so  I, 

too. 

Let  us  devise 

some  cunning 

Echenie. 


DISSAIT. 

NoAV,  be  the  gude  Ladie  that  me  bair ! 
That  samin  liors  is  my  aAvin  Mair. 
NoAv  AA'ith  our  purpois  let  vs  mell : 
700     Quliat  is  3our  counsall,  I  pray  30AV  tell. 
Sen  we  thrie  seiks  3on  nobill  King, 
Let  vs  deuyse  sum  sul)till  tiling. 


ANE    SaTYRE. 


401 


And,  als,  I  pray  30W,  as  my  brother, 
704     That  we,  ilk  ane,  be  trew  to  vther. 

I  mak  ane  vow,  with  all  my  hart. 

In  gude  and  euili  to  tak  30111  part. 

I  pray  to  God,  nor  I  be  hangit, 
708     Bot  I  sail  die,  or  36  be  wrangit. 

FALSET, 

Quhat  is  thy  counsall  that  wee  do  1 
Marie  !  sirs,  this  is  my  counsall,  lo  ! 
Till  tak  our  tyme,  quhill  wee  may  get  it ; 

712     For  now  thair  is  na  man  to  let  it. 

Fra  tyme  the  King  begin  to  steir  him, 
Marie  !  Gude  Covmsall  I  dreid  cum  neir  him 
And,  be  wee  kna^vin  with  Correctioun, 

716     It  will  be  our  confusioun. 

Thairfoir,  my  deir  brother,  deuyse 
To  find  simi  toy  of  the  neAv  gyse. 


Let  us  be 
mutually  true. 
I  will  aid  you, 

and  will  not  play 

you  false. 

My  advice  is, 

that  we  set  to 

work  at  once. 
We  must  keep 

Good  Counsel 

away. 

What  deceit  shall 

we  use  ? 


FLATTERIE. 

]\Iarie  !  I  sail  finde  ane  thousand  wyles  : 
720     Wee  man  turne  our  claithis,  &  change  our  stiles. 

And  disagyse  vs,  that  na  man  ken  vs. 

Hes  na  man  Clarkis  cleathing  to  len  vs  1 

And  let  vs  keip  graue  countenance, 
724     As  wee  war  new  cum  out  of  France. 


Let  us  disguise 


ourselves  as 


clerks,  just  come 


from  France. 


DISSAIT. 


N"ow,  be  my  saull !   that  is  weill  deuysit. 
3e  sail  SB  me  sone  disagysit. 

FALSET. 

And  sa  sail  I,  man,  be  the  Eude  ! 
728     Now,  sum  gude  falloAv  len  me  ane  hude. 

DISSAIT. 

Now  am  I  buskit,  and  qulia  can  spy — • 


Well  thought ! 
I  wUl  soon 
disguise  myself. 


And  I,  too. 
Lend  me  a  hood. 


Who  could  say 


402 


AXE    SATYRK. 


this  was  myself?  Tile  Deuill  stik  me  ! — gif  this  Le  I  ] 

I  reauy  am  not  If  this  be  I,  Or  not,  I  Can  not  Weill  say. 

sure  it  is.  732     Or  hes  the  Feind  or  Farie-folk  borne  me  away? 


With  tlie  addition 
of  a  coif,  I  should 
be  quite 
disguised. 


What  do  you 
mean  to  make 
yourseli, 
Flattery  ? 


You  cannot 
preach. 


I  can  flatter. 
1  may  become 
King's  confessor. 
Friars  are 
favoured. 
Bishops  depute 

tbem  to  preacli ; 
and  yet  they 
differ  from 
Bishops. 

They  never 
starve ; 

and  goodwives 
vide  with  them, 


FALSET. 

And,  gif  my  hair  war  vp  in  ane  how, 
The  feind  ane  man  wald  ken  me,  I  trow. 
Quhat  sayis  thou  of  my  gay  garmoun  ? 

DISSAIT. 

736     I  say  thou  luiks  euin  hke  ane  loun. 
Now,  brother  Flatterie,  quhat  do  ^e  ? 
Quhat  kynde  of  man  schaip  36  to  be  ? 

FLATTERIE. 

Now,  be  my  faith  !   my  brother  deir, 
740     I  will  gang  counterfit  the  Freir. 

DISSAIT. 

A  Freir  !  quhairto  1  ^e  can  not  preiche. 

FLATTERIE. 

Quhat  rak,  man  !  I  can  richt  weill  fleich. 

Perchance  He  cum  [till]  that  honour 
744     To  be  the  Kings  confessour. 
V     Pure  Freirs  are  free  at  any  feast, 

And  marchellit,  ay,  amang  the  best. 

Als,  God  to  them  hes  lent  sic  graces, 
748     That  Bischops  puts  them  in  thair  places, 

Out-thi'ow  thair  Dioceis  to  preiche  : 

Bot  ferlie  nocht,  howbeit  thay  fleich  ; 

For,  schaw  thay  all  the  veritie, 
752     Thaill  want  the  Bischops  charitie. 

And,  thocht  the  come  war  never  sa  skant, 

The  gudewyfis  will  not  let  Freirs  want ; 

For  quhy  thay  ar  thair  confes^^ours, 
75G     Tliair  heauinlie  prudent  counsalours  : 


AXK    SATYKE. 


403 


Thairfoir  the  wyfis  plaiulie  taks  thair  parts, 
And  shawis  the  secreits  of  thair  harts 
To  Freirs,  with  better  will,  I  trow, 
760     l^ov  thay  do  to  thair  bed-fallow. 

DISSAIT. 

And  I  reft,  anis,  ane  Freirs  coull, 
Betuix  Sanct  lolinestoun  and  Kinnoidl. 
I  sail  gang  fetch  it,  gif  3e  will  tarie. 

FLATTKRIE. 

764     Now  play  nie  that  of  companarie  : 

3e  saw  him  nocht,  this  hundreth  3eir, 
That  better  can  counterfeit  the  Freir. 


and  are  more 
open  to  tlieni 
tlian  to  their  own 
husbands. 


I  will  fetch  a 
friar's  cowl  I  onco 
came  by. 


I  never  saw  a 
friar 

counterfeited 
better. 


Heir  is  thy  gaining,  all  and  sum  : 
768     This  is  ane  koull  of  TuUilum. 


Here  is  the  cowl. 


FLATTERIE. 


Quha  hes  ane  portouns  for  to  len  me  1 
The  feind  ane  sauU,  I  trow,  will  ken  me. 


Who  has  a 
breviary  to  lend 


FALSET. 


Now  gang  thy  way,  quhair  euer  thow  will ;  Now  you 

772     Thow  may  be  fallow  to  freir  Gill :  wiu  do. 

Bot  with  Correctioun  gif  wee  be  kend,  woe  to  us,  if 

I  dreid  wee  mak  ane  schamefull  end.  found  out  i 


FLATTERIE. 

For  that  mater,  I  dreid  na  tiling  : 
776     Freiris  ar  exemptit  fra  the  King; 
And  Freiris  will  reddie  entries  get, 
Quhen  Lords  ar  haldin  at  the  jet. 

FALSET. 

Wee  man  do  mair  jit,  be  Sanct  lames  ! 


Have  no  fear. 
Friars  are 
always 
admitted. 


404 


ANE    SATYRE. 


change  our 
names. 


What  will  you 
call  me  ? 


Or  myself? 


Name  him. 


Discretion,  then. 


My  compatenial 
present  ? 


All  the  devils  iu 

hell. 


Keep  them. 
I  haptize  you. 
Vour  name  ? 


Name  liim. 


Sapience. 


Baptize  nie. 


Then  kneel. 


780     For  wee  mon,  all  thiie,  change  our  names. 
Hayif  me,  and  I  sail  haptize  thee. 

DISSAIT. 

Be  God !  and  thair-ahout  may  it  he. 
How  will  thou  call  me,  I  pray  the  tell. 

FALSET. 

784     I  wait  not  how  to  call  my  selL 

DISSAIT. 

Bot  3it  anis  name  the  hairns  name. 

FALSET. 

Discretioun,  Discretioun,  in  Gods  name. 

DISSAIT. 

I  neid  nocht  noAV  to  cair  for  thrift : 
788     Bot  quhat  salhe  my  Godhairne  gift  ? 

FALSET. 

I  gif  30W  all  the  DeuUis  of  hell. 

DISSAIT. 

Na,  brother ;  hauld  that  to  thy  sell. 
Now  sit  doun ;  let  me  baptize  the  : 
792     I  wait  not  quhat  thy  name  sould  be. 

FALSET. 

Bot  ^it  anis  name  the  bairns  name. 

DISSAIT. 

Sapience,  in  ane  warlds-schame. 

FLATTEBIE. 

Brother  Dissait,  cum  baptize  me. 

DISSAIT. 

796     Then  sit  doun  lawlie  on  thy  kne. 


ANE    SATYUE. 


405 


800 


FLATTEKIK. 

Now,  brother,  name  the  bairns  name. 

DISSAIT. 

Devotioun,  the  Deuillis  name. 

FLATTERIE. 

The  deiiill  resaue  the  liirdoun  loun  ! 
Thow  hes  wet  all  my  new  schawin  croun. 


Name  liini. 


DISSAIT. 

Devotioun,  Sapience,  and  Discretioun, 
Wee  tbre  may  rewll  this  Regioun. 
Wee  sail  find  monie  craftie  things 
804     For  to  begyU  ane  hundreth  Kingis  : 

For  thow  can  richt  well  crak  and  clatter ; 
And  I  sail  fein3e  ;  and  thow  sail  flatter. 

FLATTERIE. 

Bot  I  wald  haue,  or  wee  depairtit, 
808     Ane  drink,  to  mak  vs  better  hartit. 

(^Now  the  King  sail  cumfra  his  chamber.) 
DISSAIT. 

Weill  said,  be  him  that  herryit  hell ! 

I  was  euin  thinkand  that,  my  sell. 

]^ow,  till  wee  get  the  Kings  presence, 
812     Wee  will  sit  doun  and  keip  silence. 

I  se  ane  3eoman  :  quhat  ever  be, 

lie  wod  my  lyfe,  ^on  same  is  he. 

Feir  nocht,  brother  ;  bot  hauld  30W  still, 
816     Till  wee  haue  hard  quhat  is  liis  will. 

REX    HVMANITAS. 

Ifow,  quhair  is  Placebo  and  Solace? 
Quhair  is  my  min3eoun,  Wantonnes  1 
Wantonnes  !  hoaw  !  cum  to  me  sone  ! 


You  have  wetted 
all  my  tonsure. 


JSow  we  can 
control  this 
realm, 

what  between 
vapouring, 
feigning,  and 
flattering. 


Let  us  take  a 
drink. 


So  I  was 

thinking. 

Now  let  us  keep 

quiet. 

I  see  the  King 

coming. 

Let  us  learn  his 
will. 


Where  are  my 
three  friends ! 
W.antonness  1 


40G 


ANE    SATYItE. 


I  had  not  done. 


What  were  you 
doing  ? 


Learning  a 
lesson,  with 
amazement. 


I  was  in  the 
same  way. 


You  are  content  ? 
And  tired. 


I  kept  Placebo 
and  Solace  merry. 


WAXTOXNES. 

820     Quhy  cryit  30,  sir,  till  I  Lad  done  ? 

REX    HVMANITAS. 

Qiihat  was  30  doand  1  tell  ine  that: 

WANTONNES. 

Mary  !  leirand  how  iny  father  me  gat. 
I  wait  nocht  how  it  stands,  hut  douht : 
824     Me  think  the  warld  rinnis  round  ahout. 

REX   HVifANITAS. 

And  sa  think  I,  man  :  he  my  tlu'ift ! 
I  se  fyfteine  Mones  in  the  lift. 

HAMELINES. 

Gat  3e  nocht  that  quhilk  30  desyrit  1 
828     Sir,  I  heleif  that  3e  ar  tyrit. 

DANGER. 

Bot,  as  for  Placebo  and  Solace, 
I  held  them  haith  in  mirrines. 


Sir,  are  you  Now  schaw  me,  sir,  I  30W  exhort, 

pleased?  832     How  ar  36  of  3our  luif  content. 

Did  you  like  it  ?  Thuik  36  not  this  ane  mirrie  sport  1 


REX    HVMANITAS. 


Very  weU.  ^ea,  that  I  do,  in  verament. 

TATio  are  they  Quhat  balrnis  ar  3on  vpon  the  bent  ] 

yonder?  836     I  did  nocht  se  them  all  this  day. 


When  they  come 
up,  listen  to 
them. 


WAN  TONNES. 


Thay  will  be  heir  incontinent. 

Stand  still,  and  heir  quhat  thay  will  say. 


(No7c  tk^  vycis  r/oii-i,  and  ruaks  saltitatloiDi,  mi/ing ;) 


ANK    SATYRK.  407 


Laud,  honor,  gloir,  triumph,  &  victory  ^e  '"i"'*  tii* 

840     Be  to  jour  maist  excellent  Maiestie  !  King. 

REX    HVM ANITAS. 

3e  ar  ■welcum,  gude  freinds,  be  the  Eude  !  vou  are  welcome. 

Appeirandlie,  je  seime  sum  men  of  gude.  what  are  your 

Quhat  ar  jour  names,  tell  me  without  delay.         "^"les  ? 

DISSAIT. 

844     Discretioun,  Sir,  is  my  name,  perfay.  Discretion. 

REX    HVMAXITAS. 

Quhat  is  jour  name,  sir,  with  the  clipit  croun  1     Yours  ? 

FLATTRIE. 

But  dout,  my  name  is  callit  Devotioun.  Devotion. 

REX    HVM  AN  IT  AS. 

Welcum,  Devotioun,  he  Sanct  lame  !  welcome. 

848     Now,  sirray,  tell  quhat  is  jour  name.  And  yours? 

FALSET. 

Marie  !  sir,  thay  call  me  ; — quhat  call  thay  me  ?  My  name? 

REX    HVMANITAS. 

Can  ye  nocht  tell  quhat  is  jour  name  1  °°"'*y"" ''"°" 

FALSET. 

I  kend  it  quhen  I  cam  fra  hame.  i  knew  it  just 


now. 


REX    HVMANITAS. 

852     Quhat  gars  je  can  nocht  schaw  it  now? 


Why  cannot  you 
teUit? 


FALSET. 

Marie  !  thay  call  me  thin  drink,  I  trow  !  Thin  drink. 

REX    HVMANITAS. 

Thin  drink !  quhat  kynde  of  name  is  that  1  what  a  name  i 

3 


408 


ANE    SATYRE. 


DI8SAIT. 

Sapiens,  you  are  Sapiens,  thou  seruis  to  beir  ane  plat. 

stupid.  856     Me  think  tliow  scliawis  the  not  weill-wittit. 


Yes :  Sypiens. 


UiB  name  Ib 
Sapientia. 


FALSET. 

Sypeins,  sir,  sypeins  :  marie  !  now  ^e  hit  it. 

FLATTRIE. 

Sir,  gif  3e  pleis  to  let  him  say, 
His  name  is  Sapientia. 

FALSET. 

860     That  same  is  it,  be  Sanct  Michell. 


Why  could  not 
you  say  so, 
yourself? 


REX    HVMANITAS. 

Quliy  could  thou  not  tell  it  thy  sell? 


Pardon  me. 
From  plethora  of 
sapience 
sometimes  I  am 
entranced. 

I  was  up  above 
Trinity. 


I  pray  30ur  grace  appardoun  me, 
And  I  sail  schaw  the  veritie. 
864     I  am  sa  full  of  Sapience, 

That,  sumtyme,  I  will  tak  ane  trance 
My  spreit  wes  reft  fra  my  bodie,    • 
'Now  heich  abone  the  Trinitie. 


Sapience  should 
be  a  likely 
person. 


You  may  believe 


REX   HVMANITAS. 

868     Sapience  suld  be  ane  man  of  gude. 

FALSET. 

Sir,  ^e  may  ken  that,  be  my  hude  ! 


With  Sapience, 
Discretion,  and 
Devotion,  I  can 
now  rule  aright, 
and  have  them 
for  my  secretary, 


872 


REX    HVMANITAS. 

Now  haue  I  Sapience  and  Discretioun, 
How  can  I  faill  to  rewll  this  Eegioun  1 
And  Devotioun,  to  be  my  confessour  : 
Thir  thric  came  in  ane  happie  hour. 
Heir  I  mak  the  my  secreiar  ; 


ANE    SATYHE. 


409 


And  tliou  salLc  my  thesam\ar ; 
876     And  tliow  salbe  my  coimsallour 

In  sprituall  things,  and  confessour. 


treasurer,  and 
counsellor  and 
confesBor. 


PLATTRIE. 

I  sweir  to  30W,  sir,  be  sanct  Ann  ! 
3e  met  never  with  ane  wyser  man  ; 
880     For  monie  a  craft,  sir,  do  I  can. 
War  thay  weill  knawin. 
Sir,  I  haue  na  feill  of  flattrie, 
Bot  fosterit  with  Philsophie  ; 
884     Ane  strange  man  in  Astronomic, 
Quhilk  salbe  schawin. 


You  have,  in  me, 
one  of  the  wiaost 
and  most  learned 
of  men. 

No  flatterer,  I  am 
an  adept  in 
philosophy  and 
astronomy. 


PALSET. 

And  I  haue  greit  intelligence 
In  quelling  of  the  quintessence. 
888     Bot,  to  preif  my  experience, 

Sir,  len  me  fourtie  crownes, 
To  mak  multiplicatioun  ; 
And  tak  my  obligatioun  : 
892     Gif  wee  mak  fals  narratioun, 

Hauld  vs  for  verie  lownes. 


As  for  me,  I 
know  all  about 
the  quintessence. 
Lend  me  forty 

crowns ;  and,  if 

we  deceive  you, 

count  us  villains. 


DISSAIT. 

Sir,  I  ken,  be  30ur  Physnomie, 
3e  sail  conqueis,  or  els  I  lie, 

896     Danskin,  Denmark,  and  Almane, 

Spittelfeild,  and  the  Eealme  of  Spane  : 
3e  sail  haue  at  jour  governance 
Ranfrow  and  all  the  Eealme  of  France  ; 

900     ^ea,  England,  and  the  toun  of  Eome, 
Castorphine,  and  al  christindome  : 
Quhairto,  sir,  be  the  Trinitie  ! 
3e  ar  ane  verie  Apersie. 
3  * 


I  know,  by  your 
physiognomy, 
that  you  are 
destined  to 
conquer  many 
realms  and 
regions,— all 
Christendom. 
You  are  a  very 
A  per  se. 


410 


ANE    SATYRE. 


1  have  learned 
palmistry. 
Show  me  your 
hand,  to  tell  your 
fortune,  bad  or 
good. 

You  will  have  15 
queens  and  3U0 
concubines, 
Wliat  a  white 
face, — and  arms, 
hands,  legs ! 

You  could  knock 
down  1500. 


And  how  he  fits 
his  clothes ! 
No  man  is  fitter 
tor  a  king. 


FLATTRIE. 

904     Sir,  quhen  I  dwelt  in  Italie, 
I  leirit  tlie  craft  of  Palmistrie. 
Schaw  me  the  liife,  Sir,  of  3our  hand, 
And  I  sail  gar  30W  vnderstand 

908     Gif  3 our  grace  be  infortunat, 
Or  gif  3e  be  predestinat. 
I  see  36  will  hane  fyfteine  Queenes 
And  f}^teine  scoir  of  Concubeines. 

912     The  Virgin  Marie  saife  3our  grace  ! 
Saw  ever  man  sa  r[uhyte  ane  face, 
Sa  greit  ane  arme,  sa  fair  ane  hand  ! 
Thairs  nocht  sic  ane  leg  in  al  this  land. 

916     War  3e  in  armis,  I  think  na  wonder, 

Howbeit  36  dang  doune  fyfteine  hunder. 

DISSAIT. 

Now,  be  my  saiill !  thats  trew  thow  sayis  ; 
Wes  never  man  set  sa  weill  his  clais. 
920     Thair  is  na  man  in  Christintie, 
Sa  meit  to  be  ane  King  as  3e. 


FALSET. 

You  should  thank  Sir,  thank  the  haly  Trinitie, 

the  Trinity,  sir.  That  seud  vs  to  3our  cumpaide. 

for  sending  UB  924     For  God  !  nor  I  gaip  in  ane  gallows, 
three  to  you.  Gif  evcr  3e  fand  thrie  better  fallows. 

REX    HVMANITAS. 

^e  ar  richt  welcum,  be  the  Eude  ! 

Welcome  ! 

3e  seime  to  be  thrie  men  of  gude. 

(Jleir  sail  Gude  Counsall  schaw  himself  in  the  feild.') 

928     Bot  quha  is  3on  that  stands  sa  still  ? 
Ga  sjjy,  and  spcir  qnhat  is  his  will ; 
And,  gif  he  3earnis  my  presence, 
Bring  him  to  mee  with  Diligence. 


Who  is  that 
yonder  P 
Bring  him,  if  he 
wishes  to  come  to 
lue. 


ANE    SAT  Y  RE. 


411 


DISSAIT. 


932 


936 


940 


944 


That  sail  wee  do,  be  Gods  breid  ! 
"We  's  bring  liim  eatlier  quick  or  deid. 


REX    HVMANITAS. 


I  ^vill  sit  still  heir  and  repois. 
Speid  30W  agane  to  me,  my  lois. 

FALSET. 

3e,  hartHe,  Sir  :  keip  30W  in  clois 
And  quyet,  till  wee  cum  againe. 
Brother,  I  trow,  be  coks  toes  ! 
3on  bairdit  bogill  cums  fra  ane  traine, 

DISSAIT. 

Gif  he  dois  sa,  he  salbe  slaine. 
I  doubt  him  nocht,  nor  ^it  ane  vther. 
Trowit  I  that  he  come  for  ane  traine, 
Of  my  freindis  I  sould  rais  ane  futher. 

FLATTRIE. 

I  doubt  full  sair,  be  God  him  sell ! 
That  3on  aiild  churle  be  Gude  Coimsell. 
Get  he  anis  to  the  Kings  presence, 
"VVe  thrie  will  get  na  audience. 


We  will  do  as 
you  bid. 


Go,  while  I  sit 
here 


Meantime,  keep 
quiet. 
But  I  fear 
miscliief. 


I  will  prevent 
that,  fearlessly. 
I  would  raise  my 
friends. 


I  fear  it  is  Good 

Counsel. 

He  must  not  get 

near  the  King. 


DISSAIT. 

948     That  matter  I  sail  tak  on  hand. 

And  say,  it  is  the  Kings  command, 

That  he  anone  devoyd  this  place. 

And  cum  nocht  neir  the  Kings  grace, — 

952     And  that,  vnder  the  paine  of  tressoun. 

FLATTRIE. 

Brother,  I  hauld  ^our  counsel!  ressoun. 

!N"ow  let  vs  heir  quhat  he  will  say. 
Auld  lyart  beard,  gnde  day !  gude  day  ! 


I  will  undertake 
to  say  he  must  lie 
off  at  once,  under 
pain  of  treason. 


Well  thought ! 
What  says  he  ? 
Good  morrow  1 


412 


ANE   SATTRB. 


GVDE   COVNSALL. 


Good  morrow ! 
The  Lord  better 
you! 


We  need  uo 
prayers,  being 
good  already. 

Your  name  ? 


Good  Counsel. 


Is  it  80  ? 

Away,  then ! 

And  stay  away, 
or  we  will  slay 
you. 


956     Gude  day,  againe !  sirs,  be  the  rude ! 
The  Lord  mot  mak  30W  men  of  gude  ! 

DISSAIT. 

Pray  nocht  for  vs  to  Lord  nor  Ladie ; 
For  we  ar  men  of  gude  alreadie. 
960     Sir,  schaw  to  vs  quhat  is  ^our  name. 

GVDE  COVNSALL. 

Gude  Counsell  thay  call  me  at  hame. 

PALSET. 

Quhat  says  thow,  carle  1  ar  thow  Gude  Counsell  1 
Swyith !  pak  the  sone,  vnhappie  vnsell ! 
964     Gif  ever  thou  cum  this  gait  againe, 
I  vow  to  God,  thou  sail  be  slaine. 


GVDE    COVNSALL. 


Only  let  me  speak  I  P^ay  ^ow,  sIts,  gif  me  licence 

two  words  to  the  To  cum  anis  to  the  Kings  presence, 

King.  968     To  speik  bot  twa  words  to  his  grace. 


Awajr! 


I  know  you  well 
enough.    You  are 
Flattery,  Deceit, 
and  False  lleport, 
keeping  me  from 
the  King. 


972 


FLATTRIE. 

Swyith  !  hursone  carle  :   devoyd  this  jilace  ! 

GVDE  COVNSALL. 

Brother,  I  ken  30W  Weill  aneuch, 
Howbeit  3e  mak  it  never  sa  teuch  : — 
Flattrie,  Dissait,  and  Fals  Report, 
That  will  not  suffer  to  resort 
Gude  Counsall  to  the  Kings  presence. 


DIS8AIT. 


Be  off!  Suyith  !  hursmi  carle  :  gang,  pak  the  hence 

Come  again,  and       976     Gif  cver  thou  cum  this  gait  aganc, 
be  killed.  I  VOW  to  God,  tliou  Sail  be  slane. 


ANE    S  A  TYKE. 


413 


(^Heir  sail  thay  hirle  away  Crude  Counsall.) 
[gvde  covnsall.] 

Sen,  at  this  tyme,  I  can  get  na  presence, 
Is  na  remeid  bot  tak  in  patience. 
980     Howbeit  Gude  Counsall  liaistelie  be  nocht  hard 
With  30ung  Princes,  3it  sould  thay  noch  be  skard ; 
Bot,  quhen  3outhheid  hes  blawin  his  wanton 

blast. 
Then  sail  Gude  Counsall  rewll  him,  at  tlie  last. 
{Now  tJie  Vycis  gangs  to  ane  counsall.^ 


Good  Counsel 
is  turned  away. 


I  have  no  remedy 

but  patience. 

Though  Good 
Counsel  is  not  at 
first  heard  by 
young  Princes, 
he  rules  them, 
finally,  when 
youth  is  past. 


984     Now,  quhiU  Gude  Counsall  is  absent. 
Brother,  wee  mon  be  diKgent, 
And  mak,  betwix  vs,  sikker  bands, 
Quhen  vacands  fallis  in  onie  Lands, 

988     That  everie  man  help  weill  his  fallow. 

DISSAIT. 

I  had,  deir  brother,  be  Alhallow  ! 
Sa  36  fische  nocht  within  our  bounds. 

FLATTRIB. 

That  sail  I  nocht,  be  Gods  wounds ! 
992     Bot  I  sail  plainlie  tak  3our  partis. 

FALSET. 

Sa  sail  wee  thyne,  with  all  our  hartis. 
Bot  haist  vs;  quhill  the  King  is  3oung ; 
Let  everie  man  keip  weill  ane  toung, 
996     And,  in  ilk  quarter,  haue  ane  spy, 
Vs  tdl  adverteis  haistelly, 
Quhen  ony  casualities 
Sail  happin  into  our  countries  : 
1000     And  let  vs  mak  provisioun, 
Or  he  cum  to  discretioun. 
Na  mair  he  waits,  now,  nor  ane  sant, 


Now  that  Good 
Counsel  is  not 
here,  we  must 
agree  to  help  each 
other,  when  good 
luck  falls. 


Only  do  not 
poach. 


You  may  depend 
on  me. 


Let  us  lose 
no  time; 
observing 
secrecy,  and 
employing  spies 
to  warn  us  of 
casualties, 
while  he  is 
BtiU  heedless. 
At  pre>;ent,  he 


414 


ANE    SATYRE. 


takes  no  thought.  Quliat  thing  it  is  to  haif  or  want. 

AU  must  be  done  1004     Or  lie  cuui  till  his  perfyte  age, 
before  he  comes  "We  sail  be  sikker  of  our  wage  : 

°^''ee.  And  then  let  everie  carle  craif  vther. 


You  are  a 

cunning 

counsellor. 


Why  were  you 
eo  long  aw.iy  ? 
Who  was  he 
of  the  heard  ? 


A  burglar, 


whom  we  have 


disposed  of. 


DISSAIT. 

T^at  mouth  speik  mair,  my  awin  deir  brother. 
1008     For  God !  nor  I  rax  in  ane  raip, 

Thow  may  gif  counsall  to  the  Paip. 
{Now  thay  returne  to  the  King. ) 

REX   HVMANITAS. 

Quhat  gart  30U  bid  sa  lang  fra  my  presence  1 
I  tliink  it  laug  since  je  depairtit  thence. 
1012     Quliat  man  was  ^on,  with  an  greit  bostous  beird? 
Me  thoclit  lie  maid  ^ow,  all  thrie,  very  feard. 

DISSAIT, 

It  was  ane  laidlie  lurdan  loun, 
Cumde  to  break  buithis  iiito  this  touu. 
1016     Wee  haue  gart  bind  liim  Avith  ane  poill, 
And  send  him  to  the  theifis  hoill. 


Take  we  our 
pleasure. 

Let  us  play  some     1020 
game,  or  have 
a  horse-race. 


REX    HVMANITAS. 

Let  him  sit  thair,  with  ane  mischance  ; 
And  let  vs  go  to  our  pastance. 

WANTONNES. 

Better  go  reuell  at  the  rackat, 
Or  elHs  go  to  the  hurlie  hackat, 
Or,  then,  to  schaw  our  curtlie  corsses, 
Ga  se  quha  best  can  rin  thair  horsses. 


SOLACE. 

Let  Sensuality       1024     Na,  sovcrainc,  or  wee  farther  gang, 
sing  a  song.  Gar  Sensualitie  sing  ane  sang. 

{lleir  sail  the  Ladies  sing  ane  sang,  the  King  sail  It/  doitn  amang 
the  Ladies,  and  then  Veritie  sail  enter.') 


ANE    SATYUR. 


415 


VERITIE. 


DiKgite  lustitiain  qui  iudicatis  terrain. 
Luif  lustice,  ^e  quha  hes  ane  ludges  cure 

1028     In  earth,  and  dreid  the  awfull  ludgement 

Of  liim  that  sail  cum  iudge  baith  rich  and  pure, 
Rycht  terribilly,  with  bludy  wounds  rent. 
That  dreidfull  day  into  :^our  harts  imprent; 

1032     Beleuand  weill,  how  and  quhat  maner  33 
Vse  lustice  heir,  til  vthers,  thair,  at  lenth, 
That  day,  but  doubt,  sa  sail  -^e  iudgit  be. 
Wa,  than,  and  duiU  be  to  30W  Princes,  all, 

1036     SufFerand  the  pure  anes  for  till  be  opprest ! 
In  everlasting  burnand  fyre  36  sail 
With  Lucifer  richt  dulfullie  be  drest. 
Thairfoir,  in  tyme  for  till  eschaip  that  nest, 

1040     Feir  God,  do  law  and  lustice  equally 

Till  everie  man  j  se  that  na  puir  opprest 
Vp  to  the  hevin  on  30W  ane  vengence  cry. 
Be  iust  iudges,  without  fauour  or  fead ; 

1044    And  hauld  the  BaUance  euin  till  everie  wicht. 
Let  not  the  fault  be  left  into  the  head. 
Then  sail  the  members  reulit  be  at  richt ; 
For  quhy  subiects  do  follow,  day  and  niclit, 

1048     Thair  goveruours,  in  vertew  and  in  vyce. 

3e  ar  the  lamps  that  sould  schaw  them  the  licht 
To  leid  them  on  this  sliddrie  rone  of  yce. 
Mobile  mutatur  semper  cum  principe  An.tlgus. 

1052     And,  gif  30  wald  30ur  subiectis  war  weill  geuin. 
Then  verteouslie  begin  the  dance,  3our  sell ; 
Going  befoir,  then  they  anone,  I  wein, 
Sail  follow  30W,  eyther  till  heiiin  or  hell. 

1056     Kings  sould  of  gude  exempils  be  the  well ; 
Bot,  gif  that  30ur  strands  be  intoxicate, 
In  steid  of  wyne,  thay  drink  the  poyson  fell : 
Thus  pepill  follows,  ay,  thair  principate. 


Love  Justice,  ye 
judges,  holding 
in  dread  the 

Judgment. 

As  you  have 
judged  others, 
80  shall  you  be 
judged, 
yourselves. 

Woe  to 

oppressors, 

reserved  for 

burning ! 

Then  fear  God, 
do  justice,  and 
prevent  the  cry 
to  Heaven  for 
vengeance  on 
you. 

Eschew 

partiality. 

Set  an  example  of 

virtue,  and  your 

subjects  will 

imitate  it. 

Ye  are  to  light 

their  way. 

According  to 
your  guidance 
the  people  will 
follow,  eitlier  to 
Heaven  or  to 
HeU. 

Beware  that, 
instead  of  wine, 
you  give  them  not 
drink  of  poison. 


416 


ANE    SATYRE. 


And  do  you, 

Prelates,  look  to 

it  that  your 

lights  so  shine  aa 

to  advantage  the 

lay  folk. 

Lead  godly  lives, 
and  the  people 
will  copy  you 
alike  in  your 
works  and  words. 


My  name  is 
Truth. 

I  have  had  much 
experience. 

I  am  in  quest  of 
King  Humanity, 
whom  I  hope  to 
benefit,  when 
once  he  knows 


10G(»     Sic  luctat  lux  vestra  coram  hominibus,  vt  vi- 
deant  opera  vestra  bona. 
And,  specially,  30  Princes  of  the  Preists, 
That  of  peopill  hes  spiritual  cuir, 
Dayly  ^e  sould  revolue  into  30ur  breistis, 

1064     How  that  thir  haly  words  ar  still  maist  sure. 
In  verteous  lyfe  gif  that  ^e  do  indure, 
The  pepill  wil  tak  mair  tent  to  ^oiir  deids 
Then  to  ^our  words,  and,  als,  baith  rich  and  puir 

1068     Will  follow  30W  baith  in  ^our  warks  and  words. 

{Heir  sal  Flattrie  spy  Veritie  with  ane  dnm  countenance.') 

Gif  men  of  me  wald  haue  intelligence, 
Or  knaw  my  name,  thay  call  me  Veritie. 
Of  Christis  law  I  bane  experience, 

1072     And  hes  over-saillit  many  stormie  sey. 
Now  am  I  seikand  King  Humanitie  ; 
For  of  his  grace  I  haue  gude  esperance, 
Fra  tyme  that  he  acquaintit  be  witli  mee, 

1076     His  honour  and  heich  gloir  I  sail  avance. 

{Heir  sail  Veritie  pas  to  Mr  sail.) 


Good  morrow  I 
What  news  - 


Gude  day,  father  :  quhair  haue  30  bene  1 
Declair  till  vs  of  30ur  nouels. 


There  is  Lady 

Truth. 

If  she  gets  at  the 
King,  there  is  no 
peace  for  us. 
Let  us  he  off. 


FLATTRIE. 

Thair  is  now  lichtit  on  the  grene, 
1080     Dame  Veritie,  be  Buiks  and  bels  ! 

Bot  cum  scho  to  the  Kings  presence, 
Thair  is  na  buit  for  vs  to  byde  : 
Thairfoir,  I  red  vs  all  go  hence. 


Not  =0. 
Rather,  let  us 


FALSET. 

1 084     That  will  avc  nocht  3it,  be  Sanct  Bryde  ! 
Bot  wee  sail  ather  gang  or  rydc 


ANE    aATYKK. 


417 


To  Lords  of  Spritualitie, 
And  gar  tliem  trow,  3011  bag  of  pryde 
1088     Hes  spokin  manifest  heresie. 

{Heir  thay  cum  to  the  Spritualitie^ 

PLATTRIE. 

0  reverent  fatheris  of  the  Sprituall  stait, 
Wee  counsall  30W,  be  wyse  and  vigilant. 
Dame  Veritie  hes  lychtit,  now  of  luit, 

1092     And  in  hir  hand  beirand  the  Newtestament. 

Be  scho  ressauit,  but  doubt  wee  ar  bot  schent : 
Let  hir  nocht  ludge,  thairfoir,  into  this  Land. 
And  tliis  wee  reid  90W  do  incontinent, 

1096     JiTow  quhill  the  King  is  with  his  luif  sleipand. 

SPRITVALITIB. 

Wee  thank  30W,  freinds,  of  30ur  benevolence  : 
It  sail  be  done,  evin  as  je  haue  devysit. 
Wee  tliink  36  serue  ane  gudlie  recompence, 

1100     Defendand  vs,  that  wee  be  nocht  supprysit. 
In  this  mater  wee  man  be  weill  aduysit, 
Now  quhill  the  King  ruisknawis  the  veritie. 
Be  scho  ressauit,  then  wee  will  be  deprysit. 

1104     Quhat  is  3our  counsell,  brother,  now  let  se. 

ABBOT. 

1  hauld  it  best,  that  wee,  incontinent. 
Gar  hauld  hu-  fast  into  Captivitie, 
Vnto  the  thrid  day  of  the  Parlament, 

1108     And  then  accuse  hir  of  hir  herisie, 

Or  than  banische  hir  out  of  this  cuntrie  ; 
For,  with  the  King  gif  Veritie  be  kna'win, 
Of  our  greit  gloir  wee  will  degradit  be, 

1112     And  all  our  secreits  to  the  commouns  schawin. 

PERSONE. 

3e  se  the  King  is  3it  effeminate, 


go  and  lay  a 
charge  of  heresy 
against  her. 


We  come  to 
report  of  Lady 
Truth,  who  has 
appeared, 
bearing  the  New 
Testament. 

She  must  not  be 
received,  but 
must  be  expelled 
from  the  land, 
and  that  while 
the  King  still 


It  shall  be  even 
so; 

and  you  deserve 

well  of  us. 

We  must  be 

cautious. 

Her  success 
would  be  our 
niin. 


Let  her  be  cast 

into  bonds, 

and  accused  of 

heresy, 

or  banished. 

If  the  King 
comes  to  know 
her,  we  shall  be 
degraded  and 
exposed. 


The  King 


418 


ANE    SATYUE. 


is  as  yet 
immersed  in  tlie 
pleasures  of 
youth ;  and  I 
advise  that  you 
destroy  the 
Lutherans,  and 
Lady  Truth,  in 
particular. 


And  gydit  be  Dame  Sensualitie, 
Rycht  sa  witli  joung  counsall  intoxicate  : 
1116     Swa  at  this  t^ane  ^e  liaif  ^our  libertie. 

To  tak  3our  tyme,  I  hauld  it  best,  for  lue, 
And  go  distroy  all  thir  Lutherians, 
In  speciall,  jon  ladie  Veritie. 

SPRITVALITIE. 


Parson,  contrive  1120     Scliir  Peisoue,  36  Sail  bs  my  commissair, 

this;  To  put  this  mater  till  executioun  ; 

and  do  you,  And  36,  six  Freir,  becaus  30  can  declair 

Friar,  assist.  The  liaiU  proccsse,  pas  with  him  in  commissioun  : 

Bless  you,  both ;  1124     Pas,  all  togidder,  with  my  braid  bennisoun; 

n"  free  of  speech.  And,  gif  scho  speiks  against  our  libertie, 

imprison  her,  rn-i  ±  i  •      ■  in 

ihen  put  hir  m  perpetuall  presoun, 

not  to  approach  ^  jr     i-  r  j 

the  King.  That  scho  cum  nocht  to  King  Hunianitie. 

{Heir  sail  ihay  pas  to  Verity.') 

PERSONE. 


What  is  your 
business  here  ? 

Who  authorized 

your  mission  ? 

Unless  you 
receive  pardon, 
and  renounce 
your  errors,  I 
fear  you  will  he 
burnt  alive. 


]  recant  nothing 
I  have  spoken. 

If  the  King  gets 
to  know  me,  you 
will  rue  my 
coming. 

Let  liiin  learn  the 
truth,  and  your 
credit  is  at  an 
end 


1 128     Lustie  Ladie,  we  wald  faine  vnderstand 
Quhat  earand  36  half  in  this  Eegioun. 
To  preich,  or  teich,  quha  gaif  to  30W  command  '^ 
To  counsall  Kingis  how  gat  36  commissioun  1 

1132     I  dreid,  without  36  get  ane  remissioun, 
And,  syne,  renunce  30ur  new  opiniones, 
The  sprituall  stait  sail  put  30W  to  perditioun, 
And  in  the  fyre  will  burne  30W,  flesche  and  bones. 

VERITIE. 

1 136     I  will  recant  nathing  that  I  haue  schawin  : 
I  haue  said  nathing  hot  the  veritie. 
Bot,  with  the  King  fra  tjnne  that  I  be  knawin, 
I  dreid  30  spaiks  of  Spritualitio 

1  ]  40     Sail  rew  that  ever  I  came  in  this  cuntrie  : 
For,  gif  the  Veritie  plainlic  war  proclamit, 
And,  speciallie,  to  the  Kings  INfaiestie, 
For  30ur  traditions  3c  wilbe  all  defamit. 


ANE    SATYUK. 


419 


FLATTRIE. 

1 1 44     Quhat  buik  is  that,  harlot,  into  thy  hand  ] 
Out !  walloway  !  this  is  the  ISTew  Test'nient, 
In  Englisch  toung,  and  printit  in  England  ! 
Herisie  !  herisie  !  fire  !  fire  !  incontinent. 


This  is  the  New 
Testament,  in 
Knglish,  and 
printed ! 
Heresy  !  Fire ; 


VERITY. 

1148     Forsuith,     my     freind,     36    haue     ane    \vra72g  Tiiereisno 

iudgement  ;  heresy  in  this 

For  in  this  Buik  thair  is  na  heresie,  hook,  but  Christ's 

Bot  our  Christs  word,  baith  dulce  and  redolent, —  word,  a  flowing 
Ane  springing  well  of  sinceir  veritie.  weii  of  truth. 


DISS  AIT. 

1152     Cum  on  ^our  way  :  for  all  3our  ^ealow  locks, 
3our  vantoun  words,  but  doubt,  36  sail  repent : 
This  nicht  36  sail  forfair  ane  pair  of  stocks, 
And,  syne,  the  morne,  be  brocht  to  thoill  ludg- 
ment. 


You  shall  repent 
your  speeches  in 
tlie  stocks  to- 
night, and  be 
tried  to-morrow. 


VERITIE. 

1156     For  our  Christs  saik  I  am  richt  Aveill  content 
To  suffer  all  thing  that  sail  pleis  his  grace. 
Howbeit  36  put  ane  thousand  to  torment, 
Ten  hundreth  thowsand  sail  rise  into  thair  place. 
{Veritie  sits  doun  on  Mr  knies,  and  sai/is  .•) 

1160     Get  vp  ! — tliow  sleipis  all  too  lang,  0  Lord, — 
And  mak  sum  ressonabill  reformatioun 
On  them  that  dois  tramp  doun  thy  gracious  word, 
And  hes  ane  deidlie  indignatioun 

1164     At  them  quha  maks  maist  trew  narratioun. 
Suffer  me  not.  Lord,  mair  to  be  molest ! 
Gude  Lord,  I  mak  the  supplicatioim, 
With  thy  vnfreinds  let  me  nocht  be  supprest. 

1168  N'ow,  Lords,  do  as  3e  list. 

I  haue  na  rnair  to  say. 


I  am  ready  to 
suffer  for  Christ. 
Persecution 
spreads  faith. 


Arise,  0  Lord ! 
Convert  those 
that  trample  on 
Thy  Word  and 
set  themselves 
against  true 
teaching. 

Let  me  not  bo 
grieved  and 
crushed  by  Thy 
enemies. 

Do  your  will. 

Lords. 

I  have  spoken. 


420 


ANE    SATYBE, 


Rest  here  till 

day. 

Truth  is  put  in 
the  stocks. 


We  have  made 
fast  the  babbler. 


FLATTRIE. 

Sit  doiin,  and  tak  30W  rest, 
All  nicht,  till  it  be  day. 
( Thay  'put  Veritie  in  the  stocks,  and  returne  to  Spritualite.') 

DISSAIT. 

1172     My  Lord,  wee  haiie,  with,  diligence, 
Bucklit  vp  Weill  3on  bledrand  baird. 


You  deserve 
these  ten  crowns 
as  reward. 


SPRITVALITIE. 


I  tbink  30  serue  gude  recompence. 
Tak  tliir  ten  crowns  for  ^onr  rewaird. 


In  me  is  fulfilled, 
this  day,  the 
prophecy,  that 
the  truth  must 
suffer  violence ; 
to  be  read  in 
Isaiah,  chapter 
Iv. 

See,  too,  what  S. 
Paul  says  to 
Timothy. 

But  I  trust  in 
God  to  deliver 
me. 

I  fear,  however, 
that  the 

Spiritual  Princes 
will  be  visited  by 
the  plagues  of  the 
Apocalypse. 

Amend,  and  so 

escape. 


VERITY. 

1176     The  Prophesie  of  the  Propheit  Esay 
Is  practickit,  alace  !  on  mee,  this  day, 
Quha  said  :  the  veritie  sould  be  trampit  doun 
Amid  the  streit,  and  put  in  Strang  presoun. 

1180     His  fyue  and  fiftie  chapter  quha  list  luik, 
Sail  find  tliir  words  \\T:ittin  in  his  Buik. 
Eicht  sa,  Sanct  Paull  Aviytis  to  Timothie, 
That  men  sail  turne  thair  earis  from  veritie. 

1184     Bot  in  my  Lord  God  I  haue  esperance : 
He  will  provide  for  my  deliverance. 
Bot  ^e,  Princes  of  Spritvalitie, 
Quha  sould  defend  the  sinceir  veritie, 

1188     I  di-eid  the  plagues  of  lolmcs  Eevelatioun 
Sail  fal  vpon  thair  generatioun. 
I  counsall  30W  this  misse  t'amend, 
Sa  that  ^e  may  eschaip  that  fatall  end. 


CHASTITIE. 

I  have  long  been  1192     How  lang  Sail  this  inconstant  warld  indure, 
banished.  That  I  soidd  baucist  be  sa  lang,  alace  ! 

I  am  unheeded  Few  creaturcs  or  nane  takis  on  nie  cure, 

and  unfriended.  QuhiUc  gars  me  monie  nicht  ly  harbrieles. 


ANK    SATYUE. 


421 


119G     Tliocht  I  hauc  past  all  3{,'ir,  fra  place  to  place, 
Amang  the  Temporal  and  Spirituall  staits, 
Nor  amang  Princes,  I  can  get  na  grace, 
Bot  boustuouslie  am  halden  at  the  ^etis. 

DILIGENCE. 

1200     Ladie,  I  pray  30W  schaw  me  jonr  name. 
It  dois  me  noy,  30ur  lamentatioun. 

CHASTITIE. 

My  freind,  thairof  I  neid  not  to  think  shame ; 
Dame  Chastitie,  baneist  from  town  to  toAvn. 


1204 


1208 


1212 


1216 


DILIGENCE. 


I  wauJtr  from 
place  to  place, 
ami  neither  the 
Temporal 
Estate,  nor  the 
Spiritual,  nor 
Princes  show  me 
favour. 


What  is  your 
name? 
Yonr  lament 
touches  me. 


My  name— of 
which  I  ara  not 
ashamed, — is 
Chastity. 


1220 


Then  pas  to  ladies  of  Religioun, 
Qiihilk  maks  thair  vow  to  obserue  Chastitie. 
Lo  !  quhair  thair  sits  ane  Priores  of  renown 
Amangs  the  rest  of  Spritualitie. 

CHASTITIE. 

I  grant,  ^on  Ladie  hes  vowit  Chastitie 
For  hir  professioun ;  thairto  sould  accord. 
Scho  maid  that  vow  for  ane  Abesie, 
Bot  nocht  for  Christ  lesus  our  Lord. 
Fra  tyme  that  thay  get  thair  vows,  I  stand  for'd, 
Thay  banische  hir  out  of  thair  cumpanie  : 
With  Chastitie  thay  can  mak  na  concord, 
Bot  leids  thair  lyfis  in  Sensualitie. 
I  sail  obserue  ^our  counsall,  gif  I  may. 
Cum  on,  and  heir  quhat  3011  Ladie  will  say. 
{Chastitie  passis  to  the  Ladie  Priores,  and  sayis  ;) 

My  prudent,  lustie,  Lastie  Priores, 
Remember  how  je  did  vow  Chastitie. 
Madame,  I  pray  30W,  of  ^our  gentilnes, 
That  36  wald  pleis  to  half  of  me  pitie, 
And  this  ane  nicht  to  gif  me  harberie  ; 


Go  and  try  the 
nuns, 

especially  a 
famous  prioress. 


She  should  be  as 
good  as  her 
profession. 

Only  she  took  not 
her  vows  for 

Christ. 

The  nuns  have 

banished 

Chastity, 

according  better 

with  Sensuality. 

Still,  I  will  act  on 

your  advice. 


As  you  have 
bomid  yourself 
to  chastity,  take 
pity  on  me. 
Madam,  and 
give  me 
shelter  for  this 
Bingle  night. 


422 


ANE    SATYRE. 


I  pray  you.  For  this  I  iiiak  30W  siipplicatioun. 

otherwise,  so  1224  Do  36  noclit  sa,  Madame,  I  di'eid,  perdie  ! 

mucii  the  worse.  It  will  be  caiis  of  depravatiouii. 


Off  at  once! 

You  don't  suit. 

Some  old  monk 
or  friar  may  talce 
you  in. 

Or  apply  to  tlie 

prelates. 

Lady  Sensuality 
says  I  am  not  to 
consort  with  you. 


If  you  wish  to 
learn  more  of  the 
truth,  the 
Spiritual  Lords, 
too,  have 
excluded  me 
from  their 
presence. 


My  Lords,  hail  to 

you! 

Of  your 
benevolence, 
harbour  me. 

Far-travelled,  I 
can  get  no 
lodging. 

As  to  my  name, 
it  is  Chastity. 
Take  me  in  to- 
night, for  charity. 


PEIORES. 

Pas  hynd,  Madame:  beChi'ist!  3e  cum  nocht  heir: 
3e  are  contrair  to  my  cumplexioun. 

1228     Gang  seik  ludging  at  sum  auld  Monk  or  Freir  : 
Perchance  thay  will  be  ^our  protectioun. 
Or  to  Prelats  mak  ^our  progressioun, 
Quhilks  ar  obleist  to  30W,  als  weill  as  I. 

1232     Dame  Sensuall  hes  geuin  directioun 
3ow  till  exclude  out  of  my  cumpany. 

CHASTITIE. 

Gif  ye  Avald  wit  mair  of  the  veritie, 
I  sail  schaw  30W,  be  sure  experience, 
1236     How  that  the  Lords  of  Sprituality 

Hes  baneist  me,  alace  !  fra  thair  presence. 

{Chastitie  passes  to  the  Lords  of  Sprit ualltie!) 

My  Lords,  laud,  gloir,  triumph,  and  reverence 

Mot  be  vnto  ^oxix  halie  Sprituall  stait  ! 
1240     I  30W  beseik,  of  30ur  benevolence, 

To  harbry  mee  that  am  sa  desolait. 

Lords,  I  haue  past  throw  mony  vncouth  schyre  ; 

Bot  in  this  Land  I  can  get  na  ludgeing. 
1244     Of  my  name  gif  30  wald  half  knawledging, 

Forsuith,  my  Lords,  thay  call  me  Chastitie. 

I  30W  beseik,  of  30ur  graces  bening, 

Gif  me  ludging,  tliis  nicht,  for  charitie. 


Pass  on, 
stranger. 
Your  staying  here 
any  longer  will 
be  paid  dear  for. 


SPRITVALITIE. 

1248     Pas  on,  IMadame, — we  knaw  30W  nocht; — 
Or,  be  him  that  the  warld  wrocht ! 
3our  cumming  sail  be  richt  deir  coft, 
Gif  36  mak  langcr  tarie. 


ANE    SATYUE. 


423 


1252     But  doubt,  wee  will  Ijuitli  Icii'  and  die 
With  our  luif,  Sensualitie. 
Wee  will  haif  na  mair  deall  with  the 
Then  with  the  Queene  of  Farie. 


We  prefer 
Sensuality,  and 
will  have  no 
dealings 
with  yovu 


PERSONE. 


1256     Pas  haiiie  amang  the  Nuiinis,  and  dwell,  Go  and  stay 

Quhilks  ar  of  Chastitie  the  well.  with  the  nuns. 

I  traist  thay  will,  with  Buik  and  bell,  They  win  give 

Ressaue  30AV  in  thair  Closter.  you  a  reception. 


CHASTITIE. 

1260     Sir,  quhen  I  was  the  jSTunnis  amang, 
Out  of  thair  dortour  thay  mee  dang, 
And  wald  nocht  let  me  bide  sa  lang 
To  say  my  Pater  noster  : 
1264     I  se  na  grace,  thairfoir,  to  get. 
I  hauld  it  best,  or  it  be  lait. 
For  till  go  proue  the  Temporall  stait, 
Gif  thay  will  mee  resaif. 
1268     Gud  day,  my  Lord  Temporalitie, 
And  30W,  merchant  of  gravitie  ! 
Ful  faine  wald  I  haue  harberie, 
To  lud^e  amang  the  laif. 


The  nuns  drove 
me  from  their 
dormitory,  before 
I  could  say  a 
Pater  Noster. 

I  had  better  try, 
then,  whether 
tlie  Temporal 
Estate  will 
take  me  in. 

My  Lord 

Temporality,  I 

would  fain  lodge 

with  you. 


TEMPORALITIE. 

1272     Forsiiith,  wee  wald  be  well  content 
To  harbrie  3pw  with  gude  intent. 
War  nocht  we  haif  impediment ; 
For  quhy  we  twa  ar  maryit. 
1276     Bot,  wist  our  wyfis  that  ^e  war  heir, 
Thay  wald  mak  all  this  town  on  steir. 
Thairfoir,  we  reid  3CW  rin  areir. 
In  dreid  36  be  miscaryit. 


Gladly,  but  for 
the  hindrance 
that  we  are 
married. 

Considering  our 
wives,  you  had 
better  take 
yourself  out  of 
harm's  reach. 


424 


ANE    SATYRE. 


CHASTITIE. 

Ye  men  of  cvaft,  1280     ^6  men  of  craft,  of  greit  ingriie, 
house  and  feed  Gif  me  harbrie,  for  Christis  pj'ne, 

me,  for  Christ's  And  Avin  Gods  bennesone  and  niyne, 

passion.  And  help  my  hungrie  hart. 

SOWTAR. 

Y'ou  are  welcome;  1284     Welcum,  bc  him  that  maid  the  IMone  ! 
and  we  will  do  Till  dwell  with  vs  till  it  be  lune. 

for  you  the  best  We  Sail  mend  baith  30111  hois  and  schono, 

in  our  way.  And  plainlie  tak  3our  part. 

TAYLOVR. 

Is  this  Lady  1288     Is  this  fair  Ladie  Chastitie  ? 

Chastity  ?   Y'ou  ]^ow,  welcum,  be  the  Trinitie  ! 

must  not  stay  I  think  it  Avar  ane  great  pitie 

o"t  there.  That  thou  soidd  ly  thair  out. 

You  have  my  1292     30^^"  great  displeasour  I  forthink. 

pity;  and  I  Sit  doun,  Madame,  and  tak  ane  drink; 

propose  that  we  And  let  na  sorrow  in  30W  sink, 

carouse  together.  Uot  let  VS  play  cap'out. 


SOWTAR. 

I  will  join  you.      1296     Fill  in,  and  play  Cap' Gilt ; 
For  I  am  wonder  dry. 
The  Deuill  snyp  aff  thair  snout, 
That  haits  this  compan}'. 

lENNIE. 

1300     IIoaAV  !  mynnie,  niynnic^  mynnio  I 


And  never 
mind  others. 


Where  is  your 
father? 


DrinkinR, 


TAYLOYRS    WYFE. 

Quliat  wald  fchow,  my  deir  dochter  leiiiiiel 
Jennie,  my  Toy,  quhair  is  thy  dadie  1 

lENXY. 

Mary  !  (hinkaud  with  ane  lustic  Ladie, 


ANE    SATYRE. 


425 


1304     Ane  fair  ^oung  niayden,  clcd  in  quliyte, 
Of  quliom  my  dadie  taks  delyte. 
Scho  hes  the  fairest  forme  of  face, 
Furnischit  with  all  kynd  of  grace. 

1308     I  traist,  gif  I  can  reckon  riclit, 

Scho  schaips  to  ludge  with  him  all  nicht. 

SOWTAES    WYFE. 

Quhat  dois  the  Sowtar,  my  gudman  ? 

lENNIE. 

JNIary  !  fillis  the  cap  and  turnes  the  can. 
1312     Or  he  cum  liame,  be  God  !  I  troAV 
He  will  be  drunkin  lyke  ane  sow. 

TAYLOVRS    WYFE. 

This  is  ane  greit  dlspyte,  I  think, 
For  to  resaue  sic  ane  kow-clink. 
1316     Quhat  is  30ur  counsell  that  wee  do  ] 

SOWTARS    WYFE. 

Cummer,  this  is  my  counsall,  lo  ! 
Ding  je  the  tane,  and  I  the  vther. 

TAYLOVRS    WYFE. 

I  am  content,  be  Gods  mother  ! 
1320     I  think,  for  mee,  thay  huirsone  smaiks 

Thay  serue  richt  weUl  to  get  thair  paiks. 

Quhat,  maister  feind,  neids  all  this  haist  1 

For  it  is  half  ane  ^eir,  almaist, 
1324     Sen  ever  that  loun  laborde  my  ledder. 


and  liarpy,  willi 
a  young  maiden, 

a  rare  beauty 

wlio,  I  rather 
think,  means  to 
stay  all  night. 


What  is  the 
cobbler  doincr  ? 


Toping;  and  he 
will  be  as  drunk 
as  a  swine,  before 
he  comes  lumie. 


What  a  shame  to 
take  in  a  harlot ! 
What  shall 
we  do 


Let  us  give  them 
a  beating. 


So  be  it.     This 

Is  what  they 

deserve. 

It  is  si.x  months 

since  that  scamp 

did  me  justice. 


1328 


SOWTERS    WYFE. 

God  !  nor  my  trewker  mence  ane  ledder  ! 
For  it  is  mair  nor  fourtie  dayis 
Sen  ever  he  cleikit  vp  my  clayis  ; 
And,  last  quhen  I  gat  chalmer  glew, 
That  foull  SoAvter  began  till  spew. 


And  it  is  more 
than  forty  days 
since  the  cobblei 
showed  me  due 
benevolence ;  and 
then  he  was 
sick  over  it. 


426 


ANE    SATYRE. 


If  they  are  really 
drinking  with  a 
harlot,  let  us  give 
them  a  good 
dressing. 


Here  without 
our  leave  ? 
You  shall  feel 
my  distaff. 
What  is  your 
name  P 


And  now  thay  will  sit  cloun  and  drink 
In  company  with,  ane  kow-clink. 
1332     Gif  tliay  half  done  vs  tliis  dispyte, 
Let  vs  go  ding  them  till  thay  dryte. 
{Heir  the  v:ifis  sail  chase  away  Chastitie.) 

TAYLOVRS    WYFE. 

Go  hence,  harlot  !  how  durst  thow  he  sa  bauld 
To  ludge  with  our  gudemen,  hut  our  licence  1 
1336     I  mak  ane  vow  to  him  that  ludas  sauld, 
This  rock  of  myne  sail  he  thy  recompence. 
Schaw  me  thy  name,  dudron,  with  diligence. 


CHASTITIE. 

Marie  !  Chastitie  is  my  name,  he  Sanct  Blais  ! 

TAYLOVRS    WYFE. 

1340     I  pray  God,  nor  he  work  on  the  vengence; 
For  I  luifit,  never,  Chastitie,  all  my  dayes. 

SOWTARS    WYFE. 

Bot  my  gudeman — tlie  treuth  I  sail  the  tell, — 
Gars  mee  keip  Chastitie,  sair  agains  my  will. 
1344     Becaus  that  Monstour  lies  maid  sic  ane  mint, 
"With  my  hedstaf,  that  dastard  heirs  ane  dint. 
And,  als,  I  vow,  cum  thow  this  gait  againe, 
Thy  buttoks  salhe  heltit,  he  Sanct  Blaine  ! 
{Heir  sail  thay  speik  to  thair  ffitdemcn,  and  ding  them.) 

TAYLOVRS    WYFE. 

Yon  shall  repent    1348     Fals  liurson  carlc,  hut  dout  thou  sail  forthink 
bii^e  done.  That  evar  thow  eat  or  drink  with  jon  kow-clink. 

SOWTARS    WYFE. 
As  an  earnest  of  I  l^'T^k  ailO  VOW  to  Sauct  Cl'ispine, 

my  revenge,  Ise  1  jc  rcvcngit  on  that  graceles  grume  : 

there  is  a  blow.      1352     Aiul,  to  bogiu  tlic  play,  tak,  thair,  ane  flap. 


Chastity. 


That  is  what 
1  never  loved. 


My  husband 
makes  me 
keep  chaste. 
I  am  not  to  be 
trifled  with ;  and 
I  may  show  my 
spirit  again. 


ANE    SATYRE.  427 

SOWTAR. 

The  feind  ressaue  the  hands  that  gaif  mee  that !  Damn  you  •. 

SOWTARS    WYFE. 

Quhat  now,  huirsun  ?  begins  thow  for  til  ban  1     Do  you  curse  ? 
Tak,  thair,  ane  vther  vpon  thy  peikl  harne-pan.  '^^^^  another 

blow. 

1356     Quhat,  now,  cummer  1  will  thow  nocht  tak  my  vvui  you  help 

part  1  me,  gossip  ? 


TAYLOVRS    WYFE. 

That  sal  I  do,  cummer,  with  all  my  hart. 
{Heir  sail  tlwy  ding  thair  gudemen  with  siletice.) 


Heartily, 


TAYLOVR. 

Alace  !  gossop,  alace  !  how  stands  with  30W  ?  siie  has  broken 

3on  cankart  carling,  alace  !  hes  brokin  my  brow,  my  head. 

1 360     !N"ow  weils  30W  Preists,  now  weils  ijow,  all  jour  Weii  is  it  with 

1-j?  the  priests,  not  to 

'  have  such 

That  ar  nocht  weddit  with  sic  wickit  wyfes.  wicked  wives. 

SOWTAR. 

Bischops  ar  blist,  howbeit  that  thay  be  waryit,  And  blessed 

For  thay  may  fuck  thair  fill,  and  be  vnmaryit.  are  bishops. 

1364     Gossop,  alace  !  that  blak  band  we  may  wary,  Alas,  that  we 

That  ordanit  sic  puir  men  as  vs  to  mary.  must  marry  ! 

Quhat  may  be  done  bot  tak  in  patience  1  Malediction 

And  on  all  wyfis  we'ill  cry  ane  loud  vengence,  on  wives  \ 

{Heir  sail  the  wyfis  stand  be  the  waiter  syde,  and  say  .•) 


SOWTARS    WYFE, 

1368     Sen  of  our  cairls  we  have  the  victorie,  come  off  best, 

/-\    1          •                                  XT                              1          T        1           (1  what  shall 

Quhat  IS  30ur  counsel!,  cummer,  that  be  done  ?  we  do? 

TAYLOVRS    WYFE. 

Send  for  gude  wine,  &  hald  our  selfis  merie  :  send  for  wine, 

I  hauld  this,  ay,  best,  cummer,  be  Sanct  Clone  !  and  be  merry. 


428 


ANE  SATYRE. 


SOWTARS  WYFE. 

I  will  gofiu  1372     Cumer,  will  je  draw  afF  my  hois  &  schone, 

tiie  quart.  To  fill  the  Quart  T  sail  rin  to  the  toun. 


Truss  up  your 

clothes,  and  miiki 

haste  back. 
I  will  get  a 
incal  ready. 


TAYLOVRS    WYFE. 

That  sal  I  do,  he  him  that  maid  the  Mone, 
"With  all  my  hart :  thairfoir,  cummer,  sit  doun. 
1376     Kilt  vp  3our  claithis  ahone  30iir  waist, 
And  speid  30W  hame  againe  in  haist ; 
And  I  sail  provyde  for  ane  paist, 
Our  corsses  to  comfort. 

SOWTARS    WYFE. 

I  am  afr.iid  of  the  1380     Then  help  me  for  to  kilt  my  clais. 
frogs,  and  of  Quliat  gif  the  padoks  nip  my  tais  1 

rowmng,  j  dreid  to  droun  heir,  be  Sanct  Blais, 

unless  some  one  '  ' 

sui.ports  me.  Without  I  get  support. 

(S/io  lifts  vp  Mr  clais  ahoue  Mr  waist,  8f  enters  in  the  water.') 
1384     Cummer,  I  will  nocht  droun  my  sell, 
Go  east  ahout  the  nether  mill. 


But  I  shall  not 
drown,  if  I  go 
another  way. 


TAY'LOVRS    WYFE. 

1  will  go  with  I  am  content,  be  Bryds  bell ! 

you  by  any  roa  I.  To  gang  with  30W,  cjuhair  ever  36  will. 

{Heir  sail  thai/  depairt,  and  pas  to  the  Pal^eoun.) 

DILIGENCE    TO    CIIASTITIE. 

Why  out  so  late?   1388     IMadamc,  quhat  gars  30W  gang  sa  lait  1 
Tell  me  how  3e  haue  done  debait 
With  the  Temporall  and  Spirituall  stait. 
Qidia  did  30W  maist  kyxidnes  1 


Which  was 
kinder  to  you,  the 
Temporal  Estate, 
or  the  Spiritual  ? 


CIIASTITIE. 

They  both  1392     In  faith,  I  faud  l)ot  ill,  and  war. 
treated  me  like  a  Tliay  gavt  mcc  staiid  fia  tliauie  askar, 

beggar,  and  drove  Evin  lyk  aue  beggcr  at  the  bar, 

me  away.  And  fleimit  mair  and  lesse. 


ANE    SATYUE. 


4:^1) 


DILIGENCE. 

139G     I  counsall  30W,  but.  taiying, 

Gang  tell  Humaiiitie,  tlie  King. 
Perchance  hee,  of  liis  grace  bening. 
Will  niak  to  jow  support. 

CHASTITIE. 

1400     Of  30ur  coimsell,  I  am  content 
To  pas  to  him  incontinent, 
And  my  service  till  him  jiresenit. 
In  hope  of  sum  comfort. 

{Heir  sail  thci)/  pas  to  the  King^ 


Go  tell  King 
Humanity, 
i'erliaps  lie 
wiU  aid  you. 


I  accept  your 
advice,  hoping 
that  good  may 
come  of  it' 


DILIGENCE. 


1404     Iloaw!    Solace,  gentil.  Solace,-  declair  vnto  the  Soiace,  carry 


1408 


king 
How  thair  is  heir  ane  Ladie,  fair  of  face, 
That  in  this  cuntrie  can  get  na  ludging, 
Bot  pitifuUie  fiemit  from,  j)la,ce  to  place, 
Without  the  king,  of  his  speciall  grace, 
As  ane  servand  hir  in  his  court  resaif. 
Brother  Solace,  tell  the  king  all  the  cace. 
That  scho  may  be  resavit  amang  the  laif. 


word  to  tlie  King 
that  there  is  a 
fair  lady  here, 
praying  to  be 
received  at  his 
Court,  as  a 
servant. 
Tell  the  news 
persuasively. 


SOLACE. 


1412     Soverane,  get  vp,  and  se  ane  hevinlie  sicht,- 
Ane  fair  Ladie,  in  quhyt  abuil3ement. 
Scho  may  be  peir  vnto  ane  king,  or  knicht,- 
Most  lyk  ane  Angell,  be  my  iudgment. 


Sire,  looli  at  this 
fine  creature, — 

very  like  an 
angel,  metliinks. 


REX    HVMANITAS. 


141 G     I  sail  ga.-ng  se  that  sicht,  incontinent. 

Madame,  behauld  gif  36  haue  knawledgiug 
Of  3011  Ladie,  or  quhat  is  hir  intent. 
Thairefter  wee  sail  turne,  but  tarying. 


I  am  coming. 
See  whether  you 
know  her,  or 
her  business. 
I  shaU  not 
neglect  her. 


430 


ANE    SATYRE. 


It  mny  be  that 

I  know  her. 

It  is  Cliastity. 

As  slie  and  I 
cannot  stay  in 
one  place,  if  you 
prefer  my 
company,  Sire, 
send  her,  at  once, 
out  of  the 
country. 


SENSVALITIE. 

1420  Sir,  let  me  se  qiihat  3011  mater  may  meiiie  : 
Perchance  that  I  may  knaw  liir  be  hir  face. 
But  doubt,  this  is  Dame  Chastitie,  I  weine. 
Sir,  I  and  sclio  cannot  byde  in  ane  place ; 

1424     13ut,  gif  it  be  the  pleasour  of  30ur  grace 
That  I  remaine  into  jour  company, 
Tliis  woman  richt  haistelie  gar  chase, 
That  scho  na  mair  be  sene  in  this  cuntry. 


REX    HVMANITAS. 

Beitjustaayou  1428     As  ever  36  pleis,  sweit  hart,  sa  sail  it  be. 
please.   I  submit  Dispone  hir  as  30  think  expedient, 

the  matter  to  Evin  as  36  Hst,  to  let  hir  line  or  die. 

your  decision.  I  Avill  refer  tliat  tiling  to  30ur  ludgement. 


Then  let  her  be 

expelled  the 

country,  to  die, 

if  she  returns, 

Sapieaee  and 
Discretion,  do 
your  duty. 


SENSVALITIE. 

1432     I  Avill  that  scho  be  flemit  inco??tinent, 

And  never  to  cum  againe  in  this  cuntrie  ; 
And,  gif  scho  dois,  but  doubt  scho  sail  repent, 
As,  als,  perchance,  a  duilfuU  deid  sail  die. 

1436     Pas  on,  sir  Sapience,  and  Discretioun, 

And  banische  hir  out  of  the  kmgs  presence. 


DISCRETIOVN. 

Madam,  we  That  Sail  we  do,  Madame,  be  Gods  passioim  ! 

obey  you.  Wee  Sail  do  30ur  command  with  diligence, 

obligingly.  1440     And  at  3our  hand  serue  gudely  recompence. 

Lady  Cliastity,  Dame  Cliastitio,  cuni  on  :  be  not  agast : 

come  and  be  set  Wee  Sail,  ryclit  sone,  vpon  30ur  awin  expence, 

in  the  stocks.  Iiito  the  stocks  30ur  bouy  fute  mak  fast. 

(//("»•  sail  thru  Jnirl  Chaxlllic  to  the  stocks  ;  and  scho  sail  say  :'^ 

Patience,  sirs.       1444     I  pray  3 ow,  sirs,  bo  patient ; 
I  yield  to  your  For  I  Sail  be  obcdicnt 

commands.  Till  do  c^uliat  3c  command, 


ANE    SATYRE. 


431 


Sen  I  se  thair  is  na  remeid, 
1448     Howbeit  it  war  to  siiifer  deid, 
Or  flemit  furtli  of  the  land. 
I  wyte  the  Empreour  Constantino, 
That  I  am  put  to  sic  mine, 
1452  And  baneist  from  the  Kirk  ; 

For,  son  he  maid  the  Paip  ane  King, 
In  Eome  I  could  get  na  ludging ; 
Bot  heidlangs  in  the  mirk. 
1456     P>ot  Ladio  Sensualitio 

Son  syne  hos  gydit  this  cuntrio, 

And  monie  of  the  rest ; 
And  now  scho  roulis  all  this  land, 
1460     And  lies  docryit,  at  hir  command, 
That  I  suld  bo  supprost. 
Bot  all  comes  for  the  best 
Til  him  that  louis  the  Lord  : 
1464     Thocht  I  be  now  molest, 
I  traist  to  be  restorde. 

(^Helr  sail  they  put  Mr  in  the  stocks.') 
Sister,  alace  !  this  is  ane  cairful  cace. 
That  we  with  Princes  sould  bo  sa  abhordo  : 


having  no  clioice 
but  death  or 
banishment. 
The  Emperor 
Constantine  is  to 
blame  for  my 
disfavour,— the 
fruit  of  his 
having  made  the 
Pope  a  king. 

Lady  Sensuality, 
since  then,  has 
borne  sway,  and 
has  ordered  that 
I  be  put  down. 
But  good  comes 
to  the  good ;  and 
I  hope  for  better 
fortune. 


It  is  sad  that  we 
should  be  so 
abhorred  by 
kings. 


VERITY. 

1468     Be  blyth,  sister.     T  trust,  within  schort  space,  We  ahaii  soon  be 

That  wo  sail  bo  richt  honorablio  restorde,  well  with 

And  with  the  King  we  sail  be  at  Concorde ;  the  king; 

Por  I  heir  tell,  divyne  Correctioun  for  Correction  has 

1472     Is  new  landit,  thankit  bo  Christ  our  Lord  !  arrived,  and  win 

I  wait  hoe  will  bo  our  protectioun.  protect  us. 
(Hir  sail  enter  Corrections  Variety 


VARLET. 


Sirs,  stand  abak,  and  hauld  30W  coy. 
I  am  the  King  Correctiouns  boy, 
1476  Cum  heir  to  dres  his  place. 


I  am  Correction's 
servant,  come  to 
prepare  a  place 
for  him. 


432 


ANE    SATYRE. 


Yield  Se  that  3e  muk  obedience 

obedience  Vutill  liis  noLUl  excellence, 

to  him,  at  sight.  Fra  tyme  30  se  liis  face ; 

He  is  reforming  1 480     For  lie  malcs  reformatiouns 

the  nations  of  Out-throw  all  Christin  ]S"atioim.s, 

Christendom,  QuliaiT  lie  finds  great  debaits  : 

and  will  do  And,  sa  far  as  I  vnderstand, 

iiereas  1484     Hs  Sail  reforme,  into  this  Land, 

elsewhere.  Evin  all  the  tlirie  estaits. 

God  has  sent  him,  God  furth  of  lieavin  lies  liim  send, 

to  punish  To  punisclie  all  that  dois  offend 

offenders  1488              Against  his  Maiestic ; 

with  wars,  As  Ijks  him  best,  to  tak  vengence, 

plagues,  death,  Suiiityme  with  Sword  and  Pestilence, 

and  poverty.  "With  derth  and  povertie. 

To  the  penitent  1492     Bot,  quhen  the  peopill  dois  repent, 

he  will  show  And  beis  to  God  obedient, 

grace ;  Then  AYiU  he  gif  them  grace  : 

but  the  Bot  thay  that  will  nocht  be  correctit 

obstinate  he  1496     Rycht  sudanlie  will  be  deiectit, 

will  cast  down.  ^^^  flcimit  from  his  face. 

Our  words  are  Sirs,  thocht  Avee  speik  in  generall. 

Intended  Let  na  mail  into  speciall 

for  all;  1500             Tak  our  woi'ds  at  the  warst. 

and  you  must  Quhat  ever  wee  do,  quhat  ever  Avee  say, 

take  them  in  I  pray  30W  tak  it  all  in  play, 

good  part.  And  indg,  ay,  to  the  best. 

1  wui  make  haste  1504     For  sileiice  I  protest 

now,  and  give  Baith  of  Lord,  Laird,  and  Ladie. 

notice  that  aU  is  JS"0W  I  will  Tin,  but  rest, 

made  ready.  And  tell  that  all  is  ready. 

DISSAIT. 


This  news  of        1508     Brotliei",  heir  ^c  jon  proclamatiovui  ? 
reformation  I  di'cid  full  sair  of  reformatiouii : 

stuns  me.  ^011  mcssage  maks  me  mangit. 


ANE    SATYRE. 


433 


Quhat  is  30111  counsell,  to  me  tell. 
1512     Kemaine  Avee  heir,  bo  God  him  sell ! 
"Wee  will  be,  all  tlu'e,  hangit. 

FLATTRIE. 

He  gang  to  Spiritualitie, 
Ami  preicli  out-throw  his  dyosie, 
1516  Quhair  I  will  be  vuknawin  ; 

Or  keip  me  closse  into  sum  closter, 
With  mony  piteous  Pater  noster, 
TiU  all  tliir  blasts  be  blawin. 

DISSAIT. 

1520     He  be  weill  treitit,  as  ^e  ken, 

With  my  maisters,  the  merchand  men, 

Quhilk  can  mak  small  debait. 
3e  ken  richt  few  of  them  that  thryfes, 
1524     Or  can  begyll  the  landwart  wyfes, 
But  me,  thair  man,  Dissait. 
Now,  Falset,  quhat  sail  be  thy  schift  ? 

FALSET. 

Na,  cuir  thow  nocht,  man,  for  my  tlu'ift. 
1528  Trows  thou  that  I  be  daft  ? 

Na,  I  will  leif  ane  lustie  lyfe 
Withoutin  ony  sturt  and  stryfe, 
Amang  the  men  of  craft. 

FLATTRIE. 

1532     I  na  mair  will  remaine  besyd  30W, 

Bot  counsell  30W,  rycht  weill  to  gyde  30W, 

Byd  nocht  on  Correctioun. 
Fair-weil !  I  will  na  langer  tarie. 
1 536     I  pray  the  abich  Queene  of  Farie 
To  be  ^our  protectioun. 

DISSAIT. 

Falset,  I  wald  wee  maid  ane  band. 


WJiat  do  you 
advise  ?    For,  if 
we  stay  here,  we 
shall  be  liangcd. 


I  will  go  and 

preach  where  I 

am  unknown, 

or  will  keep  close, 
in  some  cloister, 
till  more 
quiet  times. 


My  masters,  the 
merchants,  will 
look  after  me ; 
for  few  of  them 
can  thrive 

without  Deceit. 

And  you. 
Falsehood  ? 


I  for  myself. 
Am  I  mad  V 
I  shall  do  bravely 
among  the 
craftsmen. 


My  counsel  is, 

not  to  stay 

for  Correction. 

Good  bye ! 

May  the  Queen  of 
the  Fays 
defend  you ! 


Let  us  conspire. 


434 


ANE    SATYRE. 


'Now,  quliill  tlie  King  is  3it  sleipand, 


and,  while  the 

king  sleeps,  steal  . 

his  box.  1540  Quhat  rack  to  steill  his  Box  1 


FALSET. 

Well  said  !  Xow,  Weill  Said,  be  tlie  Sacrament  ! 

I  will  steal  it  I  Sail  it  stciU  iucontincnt, 

forthwith.  Thoclit  it  Lad  twentie  lox. 

(^Heir  sail  Falset  steill  the  Kings  box  icith  silence.) 
Here  it  is.  1544     Lo  !  heir  the  Box:  now  let  vs  ga: 

It  will  repay  us.  TMs  may  suffice  for  onr  rewairds. 

DISSAIT. 

Kven  so.   And  ^Q?i,  tliat  it  may,  man,  be  this  day  : 

let  us  throw  It  may  Weill  mak  of  land  wart  lairds, 

away  our  clothes,  1548     Now  let  vs  cast  away  our  clais, 
to  baffle  pursuers;.  In  dreid  sum  follow  on  the  chase. 


I  wish  we  were 
safe  away. 


Now  we  are  \.002i 

secure,  let  us 
part  our  booty, 
and  then  be  off. 


I  must  have 
most ;  as  I  stole 
the  box,  while 
you  only 
looked  on. 


1556 


FALSET. 

Rycht  Weill  deuysit,  man,  be  Sanct  Blais ! 
Wald  God  wee  war  out  of  this  place  ! 

DISSAIT. 

Now,  sen  thair  is  na  man  to  wrang  vs, 
I  pray  30W,  brother,  with  my  hart, 
Let  vs  ga  part  this  pelf  amang  vs  ; 
Syne,  haistely  we  sail  depart. 

FALSET. 

Tro^v's  thou  to  get  als  mekill  as  I  ] 
That  sail  thow  nocht :  I  staw  the  Box. 
Thou  did  nathing  bot  luikit  by, 
Ay  lurkeand  lyke  ane  ■w'yhe  Fox. 


DISSAIT. 

15 GO     Thy  hcid  sail  beir  ane  cuppill  of  knox, 
PeUour,  without  I  get  my  part. 
Break  the  locks,  Swyitlx !  liuirsun  smaik,  ryfe  vp  the  lox, 


Withhold  my 
share  at 
your  peril. 


ANE    SATYRE. 

Or  I  sail  .stick  tlic  thmucli  the  hart. 
(Heir  sail  thai/  fecid  icilh  silence.) 

FALSET. 

1564     Alace  !  for  ever  my  eye  is  out. 

Walloway !  will  na  man  red  the  men'? 

DISSAIT. 

Vpon  thy  craig  tak  thair  ane  clout. 
To  be  courtes.se  I  sail  the  ken. 
1568     Fair-weill !  for  I  am  at  the  fliclit : 
I  will  nocht  byde  on  ma  demands. 
And  wee  twa  meit  againe  this  nicht, 
Thy  feit  salbe  with  fourtie  hands. 

(Heir  sal  Dissait  riii  aicajj  wilh  the  Box,  throuch  the  icater.) 


435 


or  I  stnb  you. 


My  eye  is  out. 
Will  no  one 
separate  them  ? 


There  is  a  clout 

for  your  civility. 

I  am  going,  with 

what  I  have ; 

and  you  will  not 
see  me 
again  soon. 


DIVYNE    CORRECTIOVX. 

1572     Beati  qui  csuriunt  &  sitiunt  lustitiam. 
Thir  ar  the  words  of  the  redoutit  Eoy, 
The  Prince  of  peace,  aboue  all  Kings  King, 
Quhilk  hes  me  sent  all  cuntries  to  convoye, 

1576     And  all  misdoars  dourlie  to  doun  thring. 
I  will  do  nocht  without  the  conveining 
Ane  Parleament  of  the  estaits  all : 
In  thair  presence  I  sail,  but  fein^eing, 

1580     Iniquitie  vnder  my  Sword  doun  thrall. 
Thair  may  no  Prince  do  acts  honorabill, 
Eot  gif  his  counsall  thairto  wiU  assist. 
How  may  he  knaAV  the  thing  maist  profitabil, 

1584     To  follow  vertew,  and  vycis  to  resist, 
Without  he  be  instructit  and  solist  ? 
And,  quhen  the  King  stands  at  his  counsell  sound. 
Then  welth  sail  wax,  and  plentie,  as  he  list ; 

1588     And  policie  sail  in  his  Eealme  abound. 
Gif  ony  list  my  name  for  till  inquyre, 
I  am  callit  Divine  Correctioun. 


Blessed  are  they 
who  rightly 
consider  justice. 
So  s.iys  lie  who 
has  sent  me  to 
repress 
transgressors. 

Supported  by  the 

three  Estates,  I 

purpose  to  put  an 

end  to  iniquity. 

Like  council, 

like  king. 

A  king,  to  do 

aright,  requires 

guidance. 

If  he  is  heedful, 

great  is  the 

reward. 

My  name  is 

Correction. 


436 


AXE    SATYRE. 


I  profit  all 

nations ; 

and  I  have  come 

here  to  right  all 

manner  of 

wrongs. 

I  am  all 

to  kings. 

Kich  and  poor 

are  alike  to  me. 

I  bring 

tranquillity ;  and 
I  put  down  and 
punish  traitors 
and  tyrants. 

What  is  a  king 
but  an  olficer 
busied  in  securing 
equity  and  in 
admonishing 
trespassers  ? 

If  the  king  is  a 
tyrant,  then 
follow  war, 
poverty,  and 
shameful 
slaughter. 

I  am  ajudfe'e, 

come  from  afar, 

unwavering, 

unseducible. 

Many  grieve  at 

my  advent; 

but  the  virtuous 

rejoice  thereat. 


T  fled  tliroch  mony  vncouth  land  &  schyre, 
1592     To  the  greit  profit  of  ilk  N"atioun. 

Now  am  I  cum  into  this  Eegioun, 
1  To  teill  the  ground  that  hes  bene  lang  vnsawin, 

To  punische  tyrants  for  thair  transgressionn, 
1596     And  to  caxis  kill  men  Hue  vpon  thair  aAvin. 

Na  Realme  nor  Land  hut  my  support  may  stand ; 

For  I  gar  Kings  Hue  into  Eoyaltie. 

To  rich  and  puir  I  heir  ane  equall  hand, 

1600  That  thay  may  Hue  into  thair  awin  degrie  : 
Quhair  I  am  nocht  is  no  tranquillitie. 

Be  me  tratours  and  tyrants  ar  put  doun, — ■ 
Quha  thinks  na  schame  of  thair  iniquitie, 

1601  Till  thay  be  punisched  be  mee,  Correctioun. 
Quhat  is  ane  King  1  nocht  hot  ane  ofiiciar 
To  cans  his  Leiges  Hue  in  equitie, 

And,  vnder  God,  to  be  ane  pimischer 

1 608     Of  trespassours  against  his  Maiestie. 

Bot,  quhen  the  King  dois  Hue  in  tyrannie, 
Breakand  Justice,  for  feare,  or  affectioun, 
Then  is  his  Eealme  in  weir  and  povertie, 

1612     "With  schamefull  slauchter,  but  correctioun. 
I  am  ane  ludge  richt  potent  and  seveir, 
Cum,  to  do  Justice,  monie  thowsand  myle  : 
I  am  sa  constant,  baith  in  peice  and  weir, 

1616  Xa  bud  nor  fauour  may  my  sicht  oversyle. 
Thair  is,  thairfoir,  richt  monie,  in  this  lie, 
Of  my  repair,  but  doubt,  that  dois  repent. 
Bot  verteous  men,  I  traist,  saU  on  me  smyle, 

1620     And  of  my  cumming  sail  be  richt  weill  content. 


The  faitliful 

welcome  you, 

come  to  correct 

faults  and  crlnioR.    1  G24 


GVDE    COVNSELL. 

Welcum,  my  Lord,  welcum,  ten  thousand  tyms, 
Till  all  faithfull  men  of  this  Eegioun  ! 
Welcum,  for  till  correct  all  falts  and  cryius 
Aman"  this  cankcrd  concrcjratioun  ! 


AXE    SATYRE. 


437 


Louse  Cliastitie,  T  mak  supplicatioun  : 
Put  till  fredome  fair  Ladic  Yeritie, 
Quha  he  vnfaitlifull  folk  of  this  Natioim 
1 G28     Lyis  bund  full  fast  into  Captivitie. 

CORRECTIOVN. 

I  mervel,  Gude-counsell,  how  that  may  be. 
Ar  36  nocht  witli  the  King  familiar  1 

GVDE    COVNSELL. 

That  I  am  nocht,  my  Lord,  full  wa  is  me  ! 
1632     Bot,  lyke  ane  begger,  am  halden  at  the  bar  : 

Thay  play  bo-keik,  evin  as  I  war  ane  skar. 

Thair  came  thrie  knaues,  in  cleithing  counterfeit, 

^Vnd  fra  the  King  thay  gart  me  stand  affar, — 
1G36     Quhais  names  war  Flatfrrie,  Falset,  and  Dissait ; 

Bot,  quhen  thay  knaues  hard  tell  of  ^our  cum- 
ming, 

Thay  staw  away,  ilk  ane,  ane  sindrie  gait, 

And  cuist  fra  them  thair  counterfit  cleitliing. 
16-40     For  thair  leuing  full  weill  thay  can  debait. 

The  merchandmen  thay  half  resauit  Dissait ; 

As  for  Falset,  my  Lord,  full  weill  I  ken, 

He  will  be  richt  weill  treitit,  air  and  lait, 
1644     Amang  the  maist  part  of  the  crafts  men  ; 

Flattrie  hes  taine  the  habite  of  ane  Freir, 

Thinkand  to  begyll  S23iritualitie. 


Rcloase  Chastity 
and  Lady  Trutli, 
now  lying  in 
captivity. 


Are  not  you 
friends  with  tlie 
king? 


On  the 
contrary, 
I  am  held  aloof. 
Tliree  Itnavea 
kept  me  from 
the  king. 
Hearing  of  your 
coming,  they 
stole  off,  each  in 
a  separate 
direction, 
self-helpful ; 

Deceit  to  the 
merchants, 
Falsehood  to  the 
craftsmen, 
and  Flattery  to 
the  Spirituality. 


CORRECTIOVN. 


But  dout,  my  freind  and  I  liue  half  ane  3eir, 
1648     I  sail  search  out  that  great  iiiiquitie. 
Quhair  lyis  ^on  Ladyes  in  Captiuitie  1 
How,  now,  Sisters '?  quha  hes  30W  sa  disgysit  1 


We  shall  find  out 

all  shortly. 

Where  are  the 

ladies  ? 

How  disguised  ! 


1652 


Ynfaithfull  members  of  iniquitie.  The  wicked  have 

Dispytfullie,  my  Lord,  hes  vs  supprysit.  oppressed  us. 


438 


ANE    SATYRE. 


Release  the 
ladies,  and  break 
the  stocks. 

And  be  in  good 

earnest. 

Break  the  looks, 

and  take  them  by 

the  hand. 

I  would  fain 

assault  their 

persecutors. 


And  now,  Sire,  I 
beg  you  to  go  to 
King  Humanity, 
and  to  dismiss 
from  his  service 
Lady  Sensuality, 
in  favour  of  Good 
Comisel. 


It  shall  be  so; 
and  he  will  stand 
by  you  three. 


Who  is  it  that  I 
see,  ready  to 
flee  away  ? 

What  means 

this? 

Is  he  friend, 

or  foe  ? 

What  Bays  he  ? 

I  know  him  not. 


CORRECTIOVX. 

Gang  put  3on  Laclyis  to  tliair  libertie, 

Incontinent,  and  Lreak  donn  all  the  stocks. 

But  doubt,  thay  ar  full  deir  welcuni  to  mee. 
165G     Mak  diligence  :  me  think  36  do  hot  mocks. 

Speid  hand,  and  spair  nocht  for  to  break  the 
locks  ; 

And  tenderlie  tak  them  vp  be  the  hand. 

Had   I  them  heir,   thay  knaues  suld  ken  my 
knocks, 
IGGO     That  them  opprest,  and  baneist  aff  the  land. 
{.Thai/  tak  (he  Ladi/isfurfh  of  (he  s(ocks  ;  and  Veride  sail  say  ••) 

VERITIE. 

Wee  thank  30U,  sir,  of  30ur  benignitie. 
Eot  I  beseik  30ur  maiestie  Eoyall, 
That  3e  wald  pas  to  King  Humanitie, 
16G4     And  lleime  from  him  3on  Ladie  Sensuall, 
And  enter  in  his  service  Gude-counsell ; 
For  ye  will  find  him  verie  counsalabill. 

CORRECTIOVN. 

Cum  on,  Sisters  :  as  30  half  said,  I  sail, 
1GG8     And  gar  him  stand  with  30 w  thrie,  firme  and 
stabill. 

{Corrediouii passis  toicards  the  King,  with  Veritie,  Chastitie, 
and  Gude-counsell.') 

WANTONXES. 

Solace,  kna"wis  thou  not  quhat  I  so  ? 
Ane  knicht,  or  ellis  ane  king,  thinks  me, 
With  wantoun  -wings,  as  he  -wald  lie. 

1672  Brother,  quhat  may  this  nieine? 

I  vnderstand  nocht,  be  this  day, 
Quhidder  that  he  be  freind  or  fay. 
Stand  still,  and  heare  quhat  he  will  say. 

1G76  Sic  ane  I  haif  nocht  seine. 


ANE    SATYRE. 


439 


SOLACE. 

3on  is  ane  stranger,  I  stand  forde  : 
He  semes  to  be  ane  lustie  Lord. 
Be  his  heir-cumming  for  concorde, 

1680  And  be  kinde  till  our  King, 

He  sail  be  welcome  to  this  place, 
And  treatit  with  the  Kingis  grace  : 
Be  it  nocht  sa,  we  sail  him  chace, 

1684  And  to  the  diuell  him  ding  ! 

PLACEBO, 

I  reid  vs  put  A'pon  the  King, 
And  walkin  him  of  his  sleiping. 
Sir,  rise,  and  se  ane  vncouth  tiling ! 
1688  Getvp!     3e  ly  too  lang. 

SEXSVALITIE. 

Put  on  30ur  hude,  lohne-Fule.     3©  raif. 
How  dar  ^e  be  so  pert,  sir  knaif, 
To  tuich  the  King  ?     Sa  Christ  me  saif, 
Fals  huirsone,  thow  sail  hang. 


1692 


1696 


1700 


1704 


CORRECTIOVN. 

Get  vp,  sir  King  !     3e  haif  sleipit  aneuch 
Into  the  armis  of  Ladie  Sensual. 
Be  suir  that  mair  belangis  to  the  pleuch ; 
As  efterward,  perchance,  rehears  I  sail, 
liemember  how  the  King  Sardanapall 
Amang  fair  Ladjes  tuke  his  lust  sa  lang, 
Sa  that  the  maist  pairt  of  his  Leiges  al 
Eebeld,  and  syne  him  duilfully  doun  thrang. 
Eemember  how,  into  the  tyme  of  ]^oy. 
For  the  foull  stinck  and  sin  of  lechery, 
God,  be  my  wande,  did  al  the  warld  destroy. 
Sodome  and  Gomore,  richt  sa,  full  rigorously. 
For  that  vyld  sin,  war  brunt  maist  cruelly. 
Thairfoir,  I  the  command,  incontinent 


If  this  stranger 
proves  to  be  well- 
disposed  to  the 
Kins,  he  shall 
be  welcome 
and  favoured. 
Otherwise,  we 
will  drive  him  off. 


Let  us  wake 
the  King. 
Up,  feire,  and  see 
a  stranere  thins  I 


How  dare  you 
touch  the  King  ? 
You  shall 
be  hanged. 


You  have  had 
sleep  enough. 
More  mis- 
becomes you. 
King  Sarda- 

napalus,  lustful, 

was  dethroned. 

Under  Noah, 
for  lecliery 
the  world  was 
destroyed. 

Therefor,  too, 
Sodom  and 
(iomorrah 
were  burnt. 
Accordingly, 


440 


ANE    SATYRE. 


Banisclie  from  the  that  huir  Sensiialitie ; 


banish  Sensuality, 
if  you  would 

not  repent.  1708     Oi'  els,  but  Joubt,  ludlie  thow  sail  repent. 


REX    nVM ANITAS. 


Who  autliorized 
you  to  correct 
a  King  ? 

I  am  King 
Humanity,  a 

royal  sovereign. 


Be  quhom  liaue  ^e  sa  greit  authoritie, 
Qulia  dois  presume  for  til  correct  ane  King  ] 
Knaw  36  nocht  me,  greit  King  Humanitie, 
1712     That  in  my  Ecgioun  Eoyally  dois  ring? 


CORRECTIOVN. 

I  have  power  to  I  liaiic  powcr  greit  Princes  to  dou??  thring, 

ruin  princes  that,  That  liucs  contrair  tlie  ]\[aiestie  Divyne, 

imrepentantiy,  Agaiiist  the  trcutli  r[uhilk  plainlie  dois  maling 

live  amiss.  1716     Repent  they  nocht,  1  put  them  to  ruyno. 
First,  I  reform  I  will  bcgiu  at  tlice,  quhillv  is  the  head, 

you;  then.  And  mak  on  the,  first,-  reformat! oun  : 

your  subjects.  Thy  Lcigcs,  than,  will  follow  the,  but  pleid. 

Out, harlot!  1720     Swyith !  harkit.     Ilcnce,  without  dilatioun. 


Let  mc  return 

to  Rome. 

Among  its 
princes  I 
shall  thrive. 


1724 


Adieu !    It  does 

not  matter. 

My  curse  on  you, 

following  my  foes!     1  /  -O 

Pitiful  King! 


Bishops  and 
Cardinals  would 
pamper  me. 
There  is  no 
earthly  joy 
without  me. 


1732 


Venus  preserve 
you,  Lord 
Spiiitual. 

I  cannot  resist. 


SEXSVALITIE, 

IMy  Lord,  I  mak  30W  supplicatioun, 

Gif  me  licence  to  pas  againe  to  Rome. 

Amang  the  Princes  of  that  K^atioun, 

I  lat  30W  wit,  my  fresche  beautie  will  blume. 

Adcu,  Sir  King  !  I  may  na  langer  tary. 

I  cair  nocht  that :  als  gude  luife  cums  as  gals. 

I  recommend  30W  to  the  Queene  of  Parie. 

I  se  36  will  be  gydit  with  my  fais. 

As  for  this  king,  I  cure  him  nocht  twa  strais. 

War  I  amang  liischops  and  Cardinals, 

I  wald  get  gould,  silver,  and  jirecious  clais. 

JSTa  earthlie  ioy,  but  my  presence,  avails. 

(Heir  sail  scho  jxis  to  Spirilualitie .') 
]\ry  Lords  of  the  Spirituall  stait, 
Venus  prcserue  30W,  air  and  lait ; 
For  I  can  mak  na  mair  debait. 


AXE    SATYRK. 


441 


173G  T  am  partit  witli  30ur  king, 

And  am  baneisclit  this  llegioun, 

Be  counsell  of  CoiTCctiouii. 

Be  36  noclit  my  prutectioun, 
1740  I  may  seik  my  ludgeing. 

SriRITVALITIE. 

"Welcum,  our  dayis  darling  ! 
Welcum,  with  all  our  hart  ! 
"Wee.  all,  but  fein^eing, 
1744  Sail  plainly  tak  3our  part. 

{Heir  sal  the  Bishops,  Abbots,  and  Persons  his  the  Ladies.') 
CORRECTIOVN. 

Sen  36  ar  quyte  of  Sensualitie, 

Eesaue  into  30ur  service  Gude-counsall, 

And,  richt  sa,  this  fair  Ladie  Chastitie, 
1748     Till  3e  mary  sum  Queene  of  blude-royall : 

Observe,  then,  Chastitie  matrimoniall, 

Richt  sa,  resaue  Veritie  be  the  hand. 

Yse  thair  counsell,  30ur  fame  sail  never  fall : 
1752     With  thame,  thairfoh",  mak  ane  perpetuall  band. 
(^Ueir  sail  the  King  resaue  Counsell,  Veritie,  Sf  Chastitie.) 

]^ow,  sir,  tak  tent  quliat  I  Avill  say ; 

Observe  thir  same,  baith  nicht  and  day. 

And  let  them  never  part  30AV  fi-ay  ; 
1756  Or  els,  withoutin  doubt, 

Turne  30  to  Sensualitie, 

To  vicious  lyfe,  and  rebaldrie, 

Out  of  30ur  Eealme,  richt  schamefullie, 
1760  3fi  s^'ill  he  ruttit  out ; 

As  was  Tarquine,  the  Eomane  King 

Quha  was,  for  his  vicious  living. 

And  for  the  schamefull  ravisching 
1764  Of  the  fair  chaist  Lucres, 

He  was  dicrraidit  of  his  croun. 


I  have  left  your 
King,  beiiif; 
banished  by 
counsel  of 
Correction. 

You  are  my 

sole  resort. 


Welcome,  darling, 
heartily.    We 
will,  all,  be  on 
yom-  side. 


Quit  of  Sensuality, 
entertain  Good 
Counsel ;  also 
Chastity,  till 
you  marry, 
and  after ; 
and  Truth. 

Advise  with 
them,  and  agree 
with  them. 


Lisien  to  them. 
Sire,  night  and 
day,  at  yoin-  side; 
else,  if  you  turn 

to  Sensuality,  you 

will  be  e.xpelled 

from  your  realm ; 

as  was  Tarquin, 
who,  for 
ravishing  chaste 
Lucretia,  was 
deprived  of 
his  crown,    . 


442 


AXE    SATYRE. 


and  banished. 

History  teUs 
what  1  did 
by  him. 


1768 


And.  baneist  aff  liis  Eegioun. 
I  maid  on  him  correctioun, 
As  stories  dois  expres. 


I  trust  you, 

worthy  of  trust. 

Submissive,  I 
permit  you  to 
punish  and 
to  forgive. 

I  will  make  a 
league  with  you, 
and  will  abide  by 
your  counsel. 


REX   HVM ANITAS. 

I  am  content  to  jour  counsall  t'inclyne, 

3e  beand  of  gnde  conditioun. 

At  jour  command  sail  be  all  that  is  myne ; 
1772     And  heir  I  gif  jow  full  commissioun 

To  puuische  faults  and  gif  remissioun. 

To  all  vertcw  I  salbe  consociabill : 

With  jow  I  sail  confirme  ane  vnioun, 
1776     And  at  jour  counsall  stand,  ay,  firme  and  stabill. 

(J!he  King  imhraces  Correction,  with  a  luimhil  countenance.') 


CORRECTIOVN-. 

Convene,  at  once,  I  COUllSall  JOW,  inCOntinCUt 

a  Parliament  of  To  gar  proclamc  auc  Parliament 

the  three  Estates ;  Of  all  the  thrie  cstaits, 

and  then  address  1780     That  thay  be  heir,  mtli  diligence, 

yourself  to  To  malv  to  jow  obediciice, 

complaints.  Aud,  syuc,  drcs  all  debaits. 


Even  so. 
Diligence,  learu 
your  message. 
Go  warn  the 
Spirituality  and 
the  Temporalty 
to  give  their 
speedy  attend- 
ance, to  advise  us. 
Negligence  to 
comply  will 
bo  punished. 


REX  HVMANITAS. 

That  salbe  done  but  mair  demand. 
1784     Hoaw  !  Diligence,  cum  heir,  fra  hand, 
And  tak  jour  informatioun. 
Gang  warne  the  Spiritualitie, 
Kycht  sa,  the  Temporalitie, 
]  788  Be  oppin  proclamatioun. 

In  gudlie  haist  for  to  compeir, 
In  thair  maist  honorabill  maneir, 
To  gif  vs  thair  counsals. 
1792     Quha  that  beis  absent,  to  them  schaw, 
That  thay  sail  vndcrly  the  law. 
And  punischt  be,  that  fails. 


ANE    SATYRE. 


443 


DILIGENCE. 

Sir,  I  sail,  baith  in  brucli  and  land, 
1796     With  diligence  do  ^oiir  command, 
Vpon  my  awin  expens. 

Sir,  I  hane  servit  30W  all  this  jeir ; 

Bot  I  gat  never  ane  dinneir, 
1800  3it,  for  my  recompence. 


I  will  serve  you, 

and  at  my 

own  eliarges. 

For  all  this  year's 
services  I  Iiave 
got  no 
recompence. 


REX  HVMANITAS. 

Pas  on,  and  thou  salbe  regairdit, 
And,  for  thy  service,  weill  rewairdit ; 
For  quhy,  with  my  consent, 
1804     Thou  sail  haue,  3eirly,  for  thy  hyre, 

The  teind  mussellis  of  the  ferrie  myre, 
Confixmit  in  Parliament. 


You  shall 
be  well 
rewarded ; 
and  the  reward 
shall  be  confirmed 
in  Parliament. 


DILIGENCE. 

I  will  get  riches  tlu'ow  that  rent, 
1808  Efter  the  day  of  Dume  ; 

Quhen,  in  the  colpots  of  Tranent, 

Butter  will  grow  on  brume. 
All  nicht  I  had  sa  meikill  drouth, 
1812  I  micht  nocht  sleip  ane  wink. 

Or  I  proclame  ocht  with  my  mouth. 
But  doubt  I  man  half  drink. 


And  no 
doubt  I 
sliall  be  very 
rich  by  it. 
All  night  I  slept 
not  for  thirst. 

Before  I  cry,  I 

must  have 
a  di'ink. 


CORRECTIOVN. 

Cum  heir,  Placebo  and  Solace, 
1816     With  3our  compan3eoun,  Wantonnes. 
I  knaw  Weill  30ur  conditioun  : 

For  tysting  King  Humanitie 

To  resaue  Sensualitie, 
1820  3e  man  suffer  punitioun. 

WANTONNES. 

We  grant,  my  lord,  we  haue  done  ill ; 


Placebo,  Solace, 
and  Wantonness, 
you,  for  enticing 
King  Humanity 
to  receive 
Sensuality,  must 
be  punished. 


We  have 
done  wrong ; 


444 


ANE    SATYRE. 


80  we  yield. 


Thairfoir,  wee  put  vs  iu  30111-  will. 
Bot  wee  haife  bene  abusit ; 


Yet,  deceived, 

we  really  thought    -„_.        -,-,  .  t      n      t       a 

there  was  no         1824     ±1 01,  111  gude  faith,  Sir,  wee  beleifit 

liariii  in  leoliery, 
it  being  so 

common.  Bccaus  it  is  sa  vsit. 


That  lecherie  had  na  man  greifit, 


Sensuality  is 
countenanced, 
everywiiere,  by 
tlie  great,  and 
even  by  our 
own  prelates. 

Ask  my  Lady 
Prioress  if 
lechery  be  sin. 


PLACEBO. 

3e  se  how  Sensualitie 
1828     With  Principals  of  ilk  cuntrie 
Bene  glaidlie  lettin  in, 

And  Avith  our  Prelatis,  mair  and  les. 

Speir  at  my  Ladie  Priores 
1832  Gif  lechery  be  sin. 


We  will  amend.  Sir,  Avec  Sail  mend  our  conditioun, 

if  pardoned.  Sa  3e  giuB  VS  remissiouii. 

But  let  us  sing,  Bot  giue  vs  liue  to  sing, 

dance,  A:e.,  &c.,  1836     To  daiice,  to  play  at  Chcssc  and  Tabils, 

for  the  King's  To  I'eid  Stoiies  and  mirrie  fabils, 

pleasure.  Por  pleasure  of  our  Iving. 


Take  your 

pardon, 

conditionally. 

Of  course 
Princes  may 
divert  themselves 
harmlessly,  as 
with  hawking 
and  hunting, 
in  time 
of  peace, 

and  wilh 
tlirowing  the 
Bpear,  against 
using  it  in  war. 


CORRECTIOVN. 

Sa  that  36  do  na  vther  cryme, 
1840     3*^  Siill  be  pardonit  at  this  tyme; 
Por  quhy,  as  I  suppois. 
Princes  may  sumtyme  seik  solace 
With  mirth  and  laAvful  mirrines, 
1844  Thair  spirits  to  reioyis. 

And,  riclit  sa,  Ilalking  and  Hunting 
Ar  honest  pastimes  for  ane  King, 
Into  the  tynie  of  peace ; 
1848     And  leirnc  to  rin  ane  hcavie  sj)ear, 
That  he,  into  the  tymo  of  Avear, 
May  follow  at  the  cheace. 


ANli    SAT  Y  HE, 


445 


HEX    IIVMANITAS. 


Quliair  is  Sapience  and  Discretioun  1 
1852     And  quliy  cunis  noclit  Devotioun  navl 


Wliere  are 
Sapience, 
Discretion,  ami 
Devotion  ? 


Sapience,  sir,  was  ane  verie  loun ; 
And  Discretioun  was  nathing  war. 
The  suith.  Sir,  gif  I  wald  report, 
1856     Tliay  did  begyle  30ur  Excellence, 
And  wald  not  suffer  to  resort 
Ane  of  vs  tlirie  to  3our  presence. 

CIIASTITIE. 

Thay  thrie  war  Flattrie,  and  Dissait, 
1860     And  Falset, — that  vnhappie  loun, — ■ 
Against  vs  thrie  quhilk  maid  debait, 
And  baneischt  vs  from  town  to  town. 
Thay  gart  vs  twa  fall  into  sowne, 
1864     Quhen  thay  vs  lockit  in  tlie  stocks. 
That  dastart  knaue,  Discretioun, 
Full  thrifteouslie  did  steill  30ur  Box, 


Sapierrce  and 
Discretion  were 
sad  fellows.    To 
say  truth,  they 
deceived  you,  aud 
prevented  our 
getting  access 
to  you. 


They  were; 
really,  Flattery, 
Deceit,  and 
Falsehood ; 
and  they  drove 
us  from  town 
to  town, 
and  put  us 
in  the  stocks. 

Discretion 
stole  vour  box. 


REX    HVMANITAS. 

The  Deuill  talc  them,  sen  thay  ar  gane  ! 

1868     ]Me  thocht  them,  ay,  thrie  verie  smaiks. 
I  mak  ane  vow  to  Sanct  Mavane, 
Quhen  I  them  finde,  thays  bear  thair  paiks  : 
I  se  they  haue  playit  me  the  glaiks. 

1872     Gude-counsall,  noAv  schaw  me  the  best, 
Quhen  I  fix  on  30W  thrie  my  staiks, 
How  I  sail  keip  my  Eealme  in  rest. 
Initium  sapientioe  est  timor  Domini. 

GVDE-COVNSALL. 

1876     Sir,  gif  3our  hienes  3earnis  lang  to  ring. 

First,  dread  30ur  God,  abuif  all  vther  thing ; 


The  Devil  take 
tlie  rascals ! 

If  1  find  them, 
they  shall  be 
paid  for 
fooling  me. 

Good  Counsel, 
now  show  me 
how,  relying  on 
you  three,  I  can 
kjep  my  realm 
in  quiet. 


If  you  would 
reign  long, 
fear  God ; 


44G 


AXE    SATYRE. 


for  you  art  -iit 
an  instnament 
in  His  liands, 
appointed  to  rule 
His  people. 

First,  let  a  king 
be  just;  next, 
merciful,  without 
severity  or 

partiality. 

To  govern  is  a 

grave  thing. 

A  king  has  his 
choice  between 
great  labour  and 
perpetual 
infamy. 

Of  some  the 
fame,  of  others 
the  shame,  will 
be  reliearsed  a 
thousand  years 
after  they 
are  dead. 

Study  the 
chronicles;  for 
there  you  will 
learn  that  the 
deeds  of  a  prince 
never  die. 

Obey  me,  and 

be  glorious. 


Kijig  Humanity 

charges  all 

members  of 

Parliiiment  to 

repair  to  the 

Court  forthwith, 

in  due  form. 

Let  none  be 
absent  or 
contumacious. 

Also,  as  you  have 
heard  the  first 
half  of  our  play. 


1880 


For  je  ar  bot  aue  mortall  instrument 
To  that  great  God  and  King  Omnipotent, 
Preordinat,  be  his  divine  ]\Iaiestie, 
To  reull  his  peopill  intill  vnitie. 
The  principall  point,  Sir,  of  ane  kings  office 
Is  for  to  do  to  euerilk  man  iustice, 
1884     And  for  to  mix  his  iustice  with  mercie, 
But  rigoiu',  fauour,  or  parcialitie. 
Forsuith,  it  is  na  Httill  obseruance. 
Great  Eogions  to  haue  in  gouernance. 
Quha  euer  taks  on  him  that  kinglie  cuir, 
To  get  ane  of  thir  twa,  he  suld  be  suir, — 
Great  paine  and  labour,  and  that  contiiuiall, 
Or  ellis  to  haue  defame  perpetuall. 
Qulia  guydis  weill  tliey  win  immortall  fame ; 
Quha  the  contrair,  they  get  perpetuall  schame ; 
Efter  quhais  death,  but  dout,  ane  thousand  3eir 
Thair  life  at  lenth  rehearst  sail  be,  perqueir. 
The  Chroniklis  to  knaw  I  30W  exhort : 
Thair  sail  je  finde  baith  gude  and  euill  report ; 
For  euerie  Prince,  efter  liis  qualitie^ 
Thocht  he  be  deid,  his  deids  sail  neuer  die. 
Sir,  gif  36  please  for  to  vse  my  counsall, 
3our  fame  and  name  sail  be  perpetuaU. 

{Heir  sail  the  messinger  Diligence  relume  and  cry  a  Hoj/zes,  a 
Hoi/zes,  a  Tloyzes^  and  say  .•) 

At  the  command  of  King  Humanitie, 

I  wairne  and  charge  all  members  of  Parliament, 

Baith  sprituall  stait  and  Temporalitie, 

That  till  his  Grace  thaj'  be  obedient, 

And  speid  them  to  the  Court,  incontinent, 

In  gude  ordour  arrayit  royally. 

Quha  beis  absent,  or  inobedient, 

The  Kings  displeasure  thay  sail  vnderly. 

And,  als,  I  mak  30W  exhortatioun, 

Sen  36  haif  heard  the  first  pairt  of  our  play, 


1888 


1892 


1896 


1900 


1904 


1908 


AXE    SATYRE. 


4-17 


1912     Go  talc  ano  Jrink,  and  mak  Collatioun : 

Ilk  man  drink  till  his  marrow,  I  30W  pray. 

Tarie  noclit  lang :  it  is  lait  in  the  day. 

Let  sum  drink  Ayle,  and  sum  drink  Claret  wine  : 
1916     Be  great  Doctors  of  Physick  I  heare  say, 

That  michtie  drink  comforts  the  dull  ingine. 

And  36,  Ladies,  that  list  to  pisch, 

Lift  vjj  ^our  taill  plat  in  ane  disch  ; 

1920     And,  gif  that  3our  mawkine  cryis  quhisch, 

Stop  in  ane  wusp  of  stray. 

Let  nocht  3our  bladder  burst,  I  pray  30W  ; 

For  that  war  euin  aneuch  to  slay  30W  : 
1924     For  3it  thair  is  to  cum,  I  say  30W, 

The  best  pairt  of  our  Play. 


refresh  your- 
selves, and  pledge 
each  other. 

I!e  quick. 

Let  some 
drink  ale ; 
others,  claret, 
comforting. 

Let  the  hidies, 
too,  avail  them- 
selves of  this 
intermission. 

Do  not  be  pre- 
vented from 
returning;  for 
the  best  part 
of  the  play  is 
ctill  beliind. 


The  End  of  the  first  part  of  the  Satyre. 

(^Kow  sail  tlie  pepill  mak  Collatioun :  then  heginnis  the  Inter- 
lude;  the  Kings,  Bischups,  and  prlncipall  i^lagers  being  out  of 
their  seats.) 


0 


PAVPER,    THE    PVRE    MAN. 

f  30ur  almis,  gude  folks,  for   Gods  luife  of  Give  me  aims, 
heavin  !  g^o''  people,  for 

my  motherless 
little  ones ;  or. 


For  I  haue  motherles  bairns,  either  sax  or  seavin. 
1 928     Gif  3e'ill  gif  me  na  gude,  for  the  luife  of  lesus,     ^^^  i^^^t^  ji,.^^,j  ,„g 
"VYische  me  the  richt  way  till  Sanct-Androes.        to  s.  Andrews. 


DILIGENCE. 


Quhair  haue  wee  gottin  this  gudly  compan^eoun?  i?e  off, 

Swyitli !     Out  of  the  feild,  fals  raggit  loun  !  wretch! 

1932     God  wait  gif  heir  be  ane  weill  keipit  place,  How  cami 

Quhen  sic  ane  vilde  begger  Carle  may  get  entres.  he  here? 


448 


AXE    SATYRE. 


How  negligent, 
both  provost 

and  bailies ! 

Off  with  this 
clown ;  or  no 
more  play. 

Why  such 

violence  ? 


Fy    on    30W    official's,    that   mends    noclit    thir 

fail3ies  ! 
I  gif  30W  all  till  the  deuill,  baith  Provost  and 

Bail3ies. 
1936     Without  36  cum  and  chase  this  Carle  away,      v-^'. 
The  DeuiU  a  word  3e'is  get  raair  of  our  play.     ' 
Fals  huirsun,  raggit  Carle,  quhat  Deuil  is  that 

thou  rufjs  1 


Shall  I  cut 
your  ears  oil'? 


Quha  Devil  maid  the  ane  gentill  man,  that  wald 
not  cut  tliy  lugs? 


Take  yc  ur  elf 
away  ;  or  I  will 
break  your  back, 


Coine  down  ;  or  I 
will  murder  vou. 


DILIGENCE. 

1 940     Quhat,  now  !   'Me  thinks  the  carle  begins  to  crack. 
Swyitli,  carle  !   i^way  !   Or  be  tliis  day  Ise  break 
thy  back. 
(//(?//•  sail  the  Carle  dim  vp  and  sit  in  the  Kings  tchi/re.) 
Cum  doun ;  or,  be  Gods  croun  !  fals  loun,  I  sail 
slay  the. 


These  dastai'dly 
courtiers,  as  soon 
as  they  get  whole 
clothes,  learn  to 
swear  and  to 
trip  daintily. 


lie  called  me 

knave,  to  the  face. 

Ask  pardon ;  or 

be  slain. 

Come  down ;  or 
you  shall  lose 
your  head. 


KoAV,  sweir  be  thy  brunt  schinis.     The  Deuill 

ding  them  fra  the  ! 
1944     Quhat  say  30  till  thir  court  dastards?     Be  thay 

get  hail  clais, 
Sa  sune  do  thay  leir  to  sweir,  and  tri]D  on  thau' 

tais. 

DILIGENCE. 

Me  thocht  tlie  carle  callit  me  knaue,  cviii  in  my 

face. 
Be  Sanct  Fillanc  !  thou  salbe  slane,  hot  gif  thou 

ask  grace. 
1948     Loup  doun ;  or,  be  the  gude  Lord  !  thow  sail  los 

thy  held. 


AN'E    SATYUE.  449 

PAVPER. 

I  sal  aiiis  drink,  or  I  ga,  thoclit  tliou  had  sworne  i  wiu  drink  before 
my  deid.  i  s".  ""y  "'•''>■■ 

{Heir  Diligence  castis  uiccuj  the  ledder.') 

DILIGENCE. 
Loup    now,  gif  thou  Ust  ;    for    thou    heS    lost    the    Now  yuu  may 

ledder.  .i"'"!'  ^''>»'"- 


It  is,  full  weil,  thy  kind  to  loup  and  licht  in  a  jumping  into 
ledder. 

a  halter  is 

1952     Thou  sal  he  faine  to  fetch  agane  30  ledder,  or 

I  loup.  like  you. 

I  sail  sit  heir,  into  this  tcheir,  till  I  haue  tumde  i  "'in  sit  here  tin 

I  have  emptied 
the  StOUp.  the  pitcher. 

{Heir  sail  the  Carle  loup  aff  the  scaffald.) 

Swyith  !  hegger  !  bogiU  !  haist  tlie  away  !  Go!   Don't  spoil 

Thow  art  over  pert  to  spill  our  play.  «">'  p'='y- 


1956     I  wil  not  gif,  for  al  30ur  play,  worth  an  sowis  fart ;  Botheryour  piay  i 

Eor  thair  is  richt  lytill  play  at  my  himgrie  hart,  i  •■""  hungry. 

DILIGENCE. 

Quhat  DeviU  ails  this  cruckit  carle  1  JheS? 

PAVPER. 

Marie !     Meikill  sorrow.  ^  =i'" '"  g'^at 

grief.     I  can 

1 960     I  can  not  get,  thocht  I  gasp,  to  beg,  nor  to  borrow,  neither  beg 

nor  borrow. 
DILIGENCE. 

Quhair  deuiU  is  this  thou  dwels  1    Or  quhats  thy  ^''e^e  do  you 

_  -a  ./  i;^,g3    And  what 

intent  1  do  you  w.ant  ? 

PAVPER. 

I  dweU  into  Lawthiane,  ane  myle  fra  Tranent.  J^'lr  Tone"!!!""' 


450 


ANK    SATYRE. 


Where  would 
you  go,  really  ? 


To  S.  Andrews, 
for  justice. 


Edinburgh  is  the 
place  for  that. 


DILIGENCE. 

Qiihair  wald  thou  be,  carle  1     The  suth  to  me 
schaw. 

PAVPER. 

1904     Sir,  evin  to  Sanct-Androes,  for  to  seik  law. 

DILIGENCE. 

For  to  seik  law,  in  Edinburgh  was  the  neirest 
way. 


I  could  get  none 
there,  Devil 
take  the  crew ! 


Explain  to  me, 
in  full,  how  you 
have  come  to 
this  condition. 


I  will  declare 

the  black  truth. 

My  father  was 
eighty  and  more ; 
my  mother, 
ninety-five. 

I  supported  them.    1 9  /  G 

We  had  a 
mare  that 
foaled  yearly ; 

and  three  cows, 

of  the  best. 

My  father  died ; 

and  my  mother 

mourned  bitterly. 


Sir,  I  socht  law  thair  this  mouie  deir  day ; 
Bot  I  culd  get  nane  at  Sessioun  nor  Seinje  : 
1968     Thairfoir,  the  mekill  din  Deuill  droun  all  the 


1972 


1980 


mein3e 


DILIGENCE. 


Shaw  me  thy  mater,  man,  with  al  the  circum- 
stances. 
How  that  thou  lies  happinit  on  thir  vnhappie 

chances. 

PAVPER. 

Gude-man,  will  ^e  gif  me  30ur  Charitie, 
And  I  sail  declair  30W  the  black  veritie. 
My  father  was  ane  auld  man,  and  ane  hoir, 
And  was  of  age  fourscoir  of  jeirs  and  moir ; 
And  jMald,  my  mother,  was  fourscoir  and  fyfteine; 
And  with  my  labour  I  did  thame  baith  susteine. 
Wee  had  ane  INfeii",  that  caryit  salt  and  ccill ; 
And  everie  ilk  3eir  scho  brocht  vs  hame  ane  foill. 
AYee  had  tlirie  ky,  that  was  baith  fat  and  fair, — 
I«rane  tydier  iuto  the  toun  of  Air. 
]\Iy  father  was  sa  waik  of  blude  and  bane, 
That  he  deit ;  quhairfoir  my  mother  maid  great 
maine. 


AXE    SATYRE.  451 

Tlion  sclio  duit,  within  ano  da}'  or  two  ;  Then  she  aie>i, 

1981:     And  tliair  began  my  povertic  and  wo.  to  my  misery. 

Oar  glide  gray  Meir  was  baittand  on  tlie  I'eild  ;  The  mai-e  went 

And  our  Lands  laird  tuik  hir  for  liis  liyreild.  for  heriot. 

The  Vickar  tuik  the  best  Cow  be  the  liead,  The  vicar  took 

1988     Incontinent,  quhen  my  father  was  deid  ;  one  cow,  on  my 

And,  quhe?j  the  Vickar  hard  tel  how  that  my  fatiier's  death, 

mother  ami  another,  on 

"Was  dead,  fi'a-hand  he  tuke  to  him  ane  vther.       my  mother's. 
Then  Meg,  my  wife,  did  murne,  both  evin  &  Next,  Meg,  my 

morOW,  wife,  grieved 

1992     Till,  at  the  last,  scho  deit  for  verie  screw.  todeatii; 

And,  quhen  the  Vickar  hard  tell  my  wyfe  was  and  tiien  the 

dead,  vicar  took  the 

The  thrid  Cow  he  cleikit  be  the  head.  """^  f'"^^- 

Thair  vmest  clayis,  that  was  of  rapploch  gray,  The  vicar's  cierk, 

199G     The  Vickar  gart  his  Clark  bear  them  away.  too,  got  spoil. 

Quhen  all  Avas  gaine,  I  micht  mak  na  debeat,  At  this  i  was 

Bot,  with  my  baii-ns,  past  for  till  beg  my  meat.  '^"^'*"  *°  ^^°- 

jS'ow  haue  I  tald  joav  the  blak  veritie,  ^hus,  in  truth, 

was  I  brouglit 

2000     How  I  am  brocht  into  this  miserie.  to  this. 

DILIGENCE. 

How  did  3e  person?  Was  he  not  thy  gude  freind  ?  ^^5;^?™? 

PAVPER. 

The  devil  stick  him  !    He  curst  me  for  my  teind,  He  e.\coramuni- 

And  halds  me  3it  vnder  that  same  proces,  cated  me  for  not 

2004     That  gart  me  want  the  Sacrament  at  Pasche.  P'^y'ng  "y  ""'c^- 

In  gude  faith,  sir,  thocht  he  wald  cut  my  throt,  i  have  only  a 

_  ,  .  T       T  groat  left,  with 

I  haue  na  geir  except  ane  Inglis  grot,  ^^.^^  ^  ^^^,,  ^^ 

Quhilk  I  purpois  to  gif  ane  man  of  law.  f«e  a  la^vyer. 

DILIGENCE. 

2008     Thou  art  the  daftest  fuill  that  ever  I  saAv.  y«"  ^'"'  ^  ^reat 

fool,  if  you  hope 

Trows  thou,  man,  be  the  law  to  get  remeid  t"  set  anytiiing 

from  priests 

Of  men  of  kirk  1     Na,  nocht  till  thou  be  deid.      by  law. 


452 


AXE  SATYRE. 


PAVPER. 

I'v  wiiat  law  may  gjj,^  ]jq  q^ij^at  Itiw,  tell  me,  Quliairfoir,  or  qnhv, 

a  vicar  take  tlirce  " 

cows  from  mc  ?      2012     That  auB  Vickar  sould  tak  fra  me  tlirie  ky. 


Use  ill  law 
eiioujjli  for  sKcli. 


Such  use  sliuuM 
not  be  law. 
And  wiiere  is  a 
law  to  lie  foir.itl, 
to  rob  me  of 
tliree  cows  ? 


Tliis  is 
priests'  law. 


Certain  prelates 
of  tbese  parts 
are  in  use  to 
make  free  with 
womankind. 
Is  tliis  law 
bad,  or  good  ? 


lie  quiet!     You 
must  be  mad. 

There  is  peril 
in  speaking 
thus  of  priests. 


Perils  I 
heed  nothing. 


DILIGENCE. 

Thay  haue  na  law  exceptand  consuetude, 
Quliilk  law,  to  them,  is  sufficient  and  gude. 

PAVPER. 

Ane  consuetude  against  the  common  weill 
20 IG     Sould  be  na  law,  I  think,  he  sweit  Sanct  Geill ! 

(j)idiair  will  30  find  that  law,  tell,  gif  ^e  can, 

To  tak  tlirie  ky  fra  ane  pure  hushand  man  ; 

Ane  for  my  father,  and  for  my  Avyfe  ane  A-tlier, 
2020     And  the  thrid  Cow  he  tuke  fra  INIald,  my  mother. 

DILIGENCE. 

It  is  thair  law,  all  that  thay  haue  in  vse, 
Thocht  it  be  Cow,  Soav,  Ganer,  Gryse,  or  Guso. 

PAVPER. 

Sii',  I  wald  speir  at  30W  ane  questioun. 
2024     Behauld  sum  Prelats  of  this  Eegioun  : 

Manifestlie,  during  thair  lustie  lyfis, 

Thay  SAvyfe    Ladies,  Madinis,  and  vther  mens 
wylis ; 

And  sa  thair  cunts  thay  haue  in  consuetude. 
2028     Quhidder  say  je  that  law  is  evill,  or  gude  ] 

DILIGENCE. 

Hald  thy  toung,  man  !     It  seims  that  thou  war 

mangit. 
Sjieik  thou  of  Preists,  but  doubt  thou  will  be 
1  haugit. 

PAVPER. 

Be  him  that  buir  the  cruell  Croun  of  thorne  ! 
2032     I  cair  notht  to  be  han^it  evin  the  mornc. 


AXE    SATYRE. 


453 


DILIGEXCE. 

I3o  siire,  of  Preistis  tliou  "will  get  na  support. 

PAVrER. 

Gif  that  be  trow,  the  feind  resaue  the  sort  ! 
Sa,  sen  I  se  I  get  na  vther  grace, 
203G     I  will  ly  doun,  and  rest  mec  in  this  place. 
(Pauper  Ij/is  doiui  in  thefeikl.     Pardoner  enters.) 


Priests  will 
not  help  you. 


The  Fiend  take 
them,  then  !   Aiul 
I  will  lie  down 
and  rest  me. 


PABDONER. 

Bona  dies  !  Bona  dies  ! 
Devoit  peopill,  gude  day  I  say  3o-vv. 
Now  tarie  ane  lytill  qiiliyll,  I  pray  30W, 
2040  Till  I  be  with  30W  knawin. 

AYait  30  Weill  how  I  am  nainit  1 
Ane  nobill  man,  and  vndefamit, 
Gif  all  th-e  suith  war  schawin. 
2044     I  am  sir  Robert  Eome-raker, 
Ane  perfite  publike  pardoner, 

Admittit  be  the  Paij). 
Sirs,  I  sail  schaw  30W,  for  my  wage, 
2048     My  pardons  and  my  pilgramage, 
Quhilk  36  sail  se  and  graip. 
I  giue  to  the  deuill,  with  gude  intent. 
This  vnsell  wickit  Xew-testament, 
2052  With  them  that  it  translaitit. 

Sen  layik  men  knew  the  veritie, 
Pardonera  gets  no  charitie. 

Without  that  thay  debait  it 
2056     Amang  the  wiues,  with  wrinks  and  wyles, 
As  all  my  marrowis  men  begyles 

Yfith  our  fair  fals  flattrie. 
3ea,  all  the  crafts  I  ken  perqueir, 
2060     As  I  was  teichit  be  ane  Freir 
Callit  Hypocrisic. 
Bot  now,  allace  !  our  greit  abusioun 


Good  day ! 

Devout  people, 

stay  and  leavn 

who  I  am. 

I  am  very 
respect:ible, 
if  the  truth 
were  known. 

1  am  a  pardoner, 
highly  re- 
commended. 
Tou  shall  have 
proof  of  my  wares 
and  merit. 

The  Devil  take 
the  New  Testa- 
ment and  its 
translators ! 

Among  laymen 
pardoners  now 
meet  with 
no  success, 

and  have  to 
confine  them- 
selves to 
female  clients. 

I  am  an  adept, 
taught  by 
Friar  Hypocrisy. 
But  now,  alas ! 


454 


AXE    SATYRE. 


it  is  liard  times 

witli  us. 

lly  credit  is 
spoilt  by  Ivnow- 
ledge  of  tlie  New 
Testament. 

Renewed 
cm'sing. 

Would  that 
Luther  and  the 
rest  had  been 
smothered 
by  their 
chrisom-cloths ! 

As  to  S.  Paul,  I 
wish  he  had  never 
been  born ;  and  I 
wish  his  books 
were  kept  out 
of  night,  or 
else  torn  up. 


Come  and 

see  my 

patent  pardons. 

Even  without 
repentance  you 
Bhall  have 
full  pardon. 

Here  is  a 

prime  relic 

of  a  man  ; 

and  here  is 

one  of  a 

peccant  beast. 

Here,  too,  is  the 

cord  that  throttled 

John  Armstrong: 

whoso  is  hanged 

with  it  need 

never  be  drowned. 


Is  cluiiiie  knawin,  till  our  confusioun, 
20C4  That  we  may  sair  repent. 

Of  all  credence  now  I  am  quyte ; 
For  ilk  man  lialds  me  at  disp}i;e, 
That  reids  the  iN'ew-test'ment. 
20G8     Duill  fell  the  Lraine  that  hes  it  wrocht ! 
Sa  fall  them  that  the  Bulk  hame  brocht  ! 

A  Is,  I  praj_to  the  Rude^^ 
That  Martin  Lutlier,  that  fals  loun, 
2072  ^  Black  Bullinger,  and  IMelancthoun 
Had  bene  smorde  in  their  cude. 
Be  him  that  buir  the  crowne  of  thorne  ! 
I  wald  Sanct  Paull  had  neuer  bene  borne  ; 
2076  And,  als,  I  wald  his  buiks 

War  never  red  into  the  ku^k, 
Bot  aniangs  freirs,  into  the  mirk, 
Or  riuen  amang  ruiks. 
{Heir  sail  he  lay  cloiin  his  (/eir  vjjoii  ane  hidrd,  and  say  :) 
2080     My  patent  pardonns  ^e  may  se, 
Cum  fra  the  Caue  of  Tartarie, 

Weill  seald  with  oster-schellis. 
■  Thocht  36  haue  na  contritioim, 
2084  '  3e  sail  haue  full  reniissioun, 

With  help  of  Buiks  and  bellis. 
Heir  is  ane  relict,~liSg'and  braid. 
Of  Fine  MacouU  the  richt  cliaft  blaid, 
2088  With  teith  and  al  togidder. 

Of  Collings  cow  heir  is  ane  home  ; 
For  eating  of  Makconnals  come. 
Was  slaine  into  Baquhiddcr. 
2092     Heir  is  ane  coird,  baith  great  and  lang, — 
Quhilk  hangit  Johne  the  Armistrang, — 

Of  gude  hemp,  soft  and  sound. 
Glide,  halie  peopill,  I  stand  for'd, 
209G     Quha  ever  beis  hangit  with  this  cord 
Neids  never  to  be  dround. 


ANE    SATTEE. 


455 


The  ciUum  of  Sanct  Bryds  Icoav  ; 
The  gruntill  of  Sanct  Antoiiis  sow, 
2100  Quhilk  huir  his  haly  bell. 

Quhaever  he  be  hciris  this  bell  clinck, — 
Gif  me  ane  ducat  for  till  drink, — 
He  sail  never  gang  to  hell, 
2104     Without  he  be  of  Baliell  borne. 

Maisters,  trow  30  that  this  be  scorne  1 

Cum,  win  this  pardoun  :  cum. 
Quha  luifis  thair  wyfis  nocht  ^v-ith  thair  hart, 
2108     I  haue  power  them  for  till  part. 
Me  think  30W  deif  and  dum. 
Hes  naiue  of  30W  curst  "wickit  wyfis, 
That  halds  30W  into  sturt  and  stryfis  ] 
2112  Cum,  tak  my  dispensatioun. 

Of  that  cummer  I  sail  mak  30W  quyte, 
Howbeit  30ur  selfi.s  be  in  the  wyte, 
And  mak  ane  fals  narratioun. 
2116     Cum,  Avin  the  pardoun, — now  let  se, — 
For  meill,  for  malt,  or  for  monie, 
For  cok,  hen,  guse,  or  gryse. 
Of  relicts  heir  I  haue  ane  hunder. 
2120     Quhy  cum  36  nocht  ?     This  is  ane  wonder. 
I  trow  36  be  nocht  wyse. 

SOWTAR. 

"Welcum  hame,  Eobert  Rome-raker, 
Our  halie,  patent  pardoner  ! 
2124  Gif  36  haue  dispensatioun 

To  pairt  me  and  my  wickit  wyfe, 
And  me  deliver  from  stuit  and  stryfe, 
I  mak  30W  supplicatioun. 

PARDONER. 

2128     I  sail  30AV  pairt  but  mair  demand, 
Sa  I  get  mony  in  my  hand. 

Thairfoir,  let  se  sum  cun3o. 


See  S.  Bride's 
cow's  tail,  .and 
S.  Antony's 
bow's  snout. 

He  who  hears 
this  bell— I 
wager  a 
ducat, — will 
never  go  to  hell, 
tmless  born 
of  Belial. 

Have  a  pardon. 
I  can  part  ill- 
assorted  couples. 
If  any  of  you  has 
a  troublesome 
wife,  I  can  relieve 
him  of  her, 
though  he  may  be 
in  the  wrong 
and  may  lie. 
I  take 
anything  in 
payment. 
My  relics 
you  are  fools 
to  despisa 


Welcome  home, 

pardoner ! 

If  you  can 
separate  n.e  and 
mjr  wicked  wife, 
I  pray  you 
to  help  ine. 


I  will  do  it 
for  money. 
Show  your  coin. 


456 


I  liave  only  five 
shillings ;  but 
they  shall 
be  yours. 


What  is  your 
wife  lilie  ? 


Quarrelsome, 
filthy, 
violent, 
altogethei 
disagreeable. 
She  vexes  me  all 
day,  and  scolds 
my  sleep  away. 
The  Devil  himself 
could  not  abide 
the  horror. 


ANE    SA.TYRE. 

SOWTAR. 

I  haue  na  silver, — be  my  lyfe  ! — 
2132     Bot  f}aie  scliillings,  and  my  scliaipping  knyfc. 
That  sail  30  liaue,  but  5111136, 

PARDONER. 

Qubat  kynd  of  -woman  is  thy  wyfe  ? 

SOWTAR. 


Ane  quick  Devill,  Sir ;  ane  storme  of  stryfii ; 

Ane  Frog  that  fyles  the  winde  ; 
Ane  fi  stand  flag  ;  a  flagartie  fufife  : 
At  ilk  ane  pant  scho  lets  ane  puffe, 

And  hes  na  ho  behind. 
All  the  lang  day  scho  me  dispyts  ; 
And  all  the  nicht  scho  flings  and  flyts, 

Thus  sleip  I  never  ane  wink. 
That  Cockatrice,  that  commoun  huir, 
2144     The  mekill  Devill  may  nocht  induir 

Hir  stuburnnes  and  stink. 


2136 


2140 


1  hear  yen,  thief; 

and  you  shall 

smart,  when  I 

lay  hold  of  you.       2148 


SOWTARS    WIFE, 


Theif !  carle  !  thy  words  I  hard  rycht  wcill. 
In  faith,  my  freindschip  36  sail  feill, 
And  I  the  fang. 


praise  you,  may 
I  swing  for  it ! 


SOWTAR, 


Gif  I  said  ocht,  Dame, — be  the  Eude  !- 
Except  3e  war  baith  fair  and  gudc, 
God  !  nor  I  hang  ! 


PARDONER. 

Dame,  I  can  part    2152     Fair  dame,  gif  30  wald  be  ane  wowcr, 
you  and  him.  To  part  30W  twa  I  liauo  ane  power. 

Do  you  consent?  Tell  Oil.      Ar  30  COlltent  ] 


ANE   SATTRE. 


457 


SOWTARS    WYFE. 

3e,  that  I  am,  with  all  my  hart, 
2156     Fra  that  fals  huirsone  till  depart, 
Gif  this  theif  will  consent. 
Gausses  to  part  I  haue  anew  ; 
Becaus  I  gat  na  chamber-glew. 
21  GO  I  tell  30W,  verely, 

I  meruell  nocht  sa  mot  I  lyfe  ; 
Howheit  that  swingoour  can  not  swyfe, 
He  is  baith  caiild  and  dry. 

TARDOXER. 

2164     Quhat  wil  je  gif  me,  for  ^our  part? 

SOWTARS    WYFE. 

Ane  cuppill  of  sarks,  with  all  my  hart, 
The  best  claith  in  the  land. 


Majt  heartily, 
if  this  thief 
will. 
I  have  a 
wife's  good 
reasons ; 
for  this  drone 
is  no  husband 
to  i;oor  me. 


What  will 
you  give? 


Two  shifts,  of  the 
best  of  stuff. 


PARDONER. 

To  part  sen  je  ar  baith  content, 
2168     I  sail  30W  part  incontinent  : 

Bot  3e  mon  do  command. 
INIy  will  and  finall  sentence  is, 
Ilk  ane  of  30W  vthers  arsse  kis. 
2172     Slip  doun  ^our  hois.     Me  thinkis  the  carle  is  kiss  each  other, 
glaikit. 
Set  thou  not  by,  howbeit  scho  kisse  and  slaik  it. 

{Heir  sail  scho  Ids  Ms  arsse  with  silence.^ 
Lift  vp  hir  clais  :  kis  hir  hoill  with  jour  hart.      And  now  kiss  her. 


I  will  separate 
you,  if  you  do 
my  bidding. 
My  sentence 
is,  that  you 


Dame,  do  you 
kiss  first. 


SOWTAR. 

I  pray  30W,  sir,  forbid  hir  for  to  fart. 
(Jleir  sail  the  Carle  kis  hir  arsse  with  silence.') 


But  make  terms 
with  her. 


PARDONER. 


2176     Dame,  pas  30  to  the  east  end  of  the  toun  ; 

And  pas  30  west,  cvin  lyke  ane  cuckald  loun. 


Now  one  will  go 
east,  and  the 

other  will 
go  west. 


458 


ANE   SATYRE. 


Away,  both  1 
How  glad 
they  are! 


Go  hence,  30  taith,  with  Baliels  braid  blissing 

Schirs,  saw  ^e  ever  mair  sorrowles  pairting  1 
{Heir  sail  the  boy  cry  aff  the  hill.  ) 


WILKIN. 

Where  are  you  ?     2180     Hoaw  !  maistcr,  hoaw !  quhaix  ar  36  now] 


Here,  rascal. 


I  have  obeyed 
you,  and  have 
found  a  horse- 
bean  on  Dame 
Flesher's  dung- 
hill. 

You  may  per- 
suade the  women 
it  is  good 
against  fever. 

Be  wary,  now, 
and  you  will  have 
them  at  .your  will, 
far  and  near. 


What  is  said 
of  me? 


PARDONER. 

I  am  heir,  Wilkin,  widdiefow. 

WILKIN. 

Sir,  I  haue  done  30ur  bidding ; 
For  I  haue  fund  ane  great  hors-bane — 
2184     Ane  fairer  saw  36  never  nane, — 

Vpon  Dame  Fleschers  midding. 
Sir,  3e  may  gar  the  wyfis  trow 
It  is  ane  bane  of  Sanct  Bryds  cow, 
2188  Gu.de  for  the  fener  quartane. 

Sir,  will  36  reull  this  relict  weill, 
All  the  wyfis  will  baith  kis  and  kneill, 
Betuixt  this  and  Dumbartane. 

PARDONER. 

2192     Quhat  say  thay  of  me  in  the  touni 


Your  reputation 
is  very  good  with 
a  few,  but  exceed- 

i)igly  bad  with 

the  majority. 

Keep  out  of  the 
power  of  King 
Correction, 
however ;  or, 
being  what  you 
are,  you  will 
assuredly 
te  hanged. 


219G 


2200 


Sum  sayis  36  ar  ane  verie  loun  ; 

Sum  sayis  Legatus  natus  ; 
Sum  sayis  3'ar  ane  fals  Saracene ; 
And  sum  sayis  30  ar,  for  certaine, 

Diabolus  incarnatus. 
Bot  keip  30W  fra  subiectioun 
Of  the  curst  King  Correctioim  ; 

For,  be  30  with  liini  fangit, 
Becaus  30  ar  ane  Rome-raker, 
Ane  coramoun,  i»ul)lick  cawsay-paker, 

Ikit  doubt  3e  will  be  hangit. 


AXE    SATYRE. 


459 


PARDONER. 

2204     Quhair  sail  I  ludge  into  the  toun  1 

WILKIN'. 

"With  gude,  kynde  Christiane  Anderson, 

Qnliair  36  "will  be  weill  treatit. 
Gif  ony  limmer  30W  demands, 
2208     Scho  "will  defend  30-w  "with  hir  hands, 
And  womanlie  debait  it. 
Ba"wburdie  says,  be  the  Trinitie  ! 
That  scho  sail  heir  30"w  cumpanie, 
2212  Ho"wbeit  30  byde  ane  3eir. 

PARDONER. 

Thou  hes  done  "weill,  be  Gods  mother  ! 
Tak  30  the  taine,  and  I  the  t'other ; 
Sa  sail  we  mak  greit  cheir. 

"WILKIN. 

2216     I  reid  30"w,  sjieid  30 w  heir, 
And  mak  na  langer  tarie. 
Byde  30  lang  thair,  but  "weir 
I  dreid  30ur  "weird  30"w  "warie. 

{Heir  sail  Pauper  rise  and  rax  him?) 

PAVPER. 

2220     Ouhat  thin"  "was  5on  that  I  hard  crak  &  cry?       i  have  been 

^  '^  '  ''  dreaming  of 

I  haue  bene  dreamand  and  dreueland  of  my  ky.  my  cow. 

With  my  richt  hand  my  haiU  bodie  I  saine  :  Send  her  to 

Sanct  Bryd,  Sanct  Bryd,  send  me  my  ky  againe  !  ^e,  s.  Bride ! 

2224     I  se  standand  3onder  ane  halie  man  :  can  yonder  hoiy 

To  mak  me  help  let  me  se  gif  he  can.  m^n  help  me  ? 

Halie  maister,  God  speid  30"w  !  and  gude  morne !  Good  morrow:  sir. 

PARDONER. 

"\Yelcum  to  me,  thocht  thou  "war  at  the  home.      "Welcome! 
2228     Cum,  Avin  the  pardoun  ;  and  syne  I  saU  the  saine.   Have  a  pardon. 


Wliere  shall 
X  lodge  ? 


Christiane  Ander- 
son will  treat 
you  well, 

and  will  defend 

you  as  a 

woman  can. 

B.iwburdie  says 
she  will  bear  you 
company,  though 
you  stay  a  year. 


Well  done ! 

Each  taking 
one,  we  shall 
fare  bravely. 


Don't  delay 
any  longer ; 
or  it  will  not 
be  good  for  you. 


4G0 


AXE    SATTRE. 


PAVrER. 

Wil  that  pardoun  get  me  my  ky  agaiue  ? 

PARDONER. 

Carle,  of  thy  ky  I  haue  nathing  ado. 

Cum,  ^Ym  my  pardon  ;  and  kis  my  relicts,  to. 

{Heir  sail  he  sulne  him  with  his  relictis.') 

2232     Xow  lows  thy  pursse,  &  lay  doun  thy  offrand. 
And  thou  sail  haue  my  pardon,  euin  fra  hand, 
AVith  raipis  and  relicts  I  sail  the  saine  againe  ; 
Of  Gut  or  grauell  thou  sail  neuer  haue  paine. 

2236     ISTow  win  the  pardon,  limmer ;  or  thou  art  lost. 

PxVVPER. 

]\Iy  haly  father,  quhat  Avil  that  pardon  cost  ] 

PARDONER. 

Let  se  quhat  mony  thou  bearest  in  thy  Lag. 

PAVPER. 

A  groat.  I  haue  ane  grot  heir,  bund  into  ane  rag. 

PARDONER. 

No  more  sUver  ?     2240     Hos  thou  na  vthcr  siluer  hot  ane  groat] 


WOl  it  restore 
my  cow? 


I  ask  if  3'ou  will 
have  a  pardon. 


Untie  your 
purse,  and 
have  a  pardon. 

I  can  bless  away 

all  your  ailments. 

Have  a  pardon. 


■\\niat  will  it  cost  ? 


AMiat  money 
have  you  ? 


Search  me. 


Give  me 
that,  then. 


I  will.    And  now 

for  the  pardon.         2244 


I  pardon  you  for  a 
thousand  years. 


PAVPER. 

Gif  I  haue  mair,  sir,  cum  and  rype  my  coat. 

PARDONER. 

Gif  me  tliat  grot,  man,  gif  thou  best  na  mair. 

PAVPER. 

"With  all  my  heart,  maistcr.     Lo  !  tak  it  thair. 
Now  let  me  se  ^our  pardon,  \vith  30ur  leif. 

PARDONER. 

Ane  thousand  3eir  of  pardons  I  the  gcif. 


ANE    SATTRE. 


461 


PAVPEU, 

Ane  thoiTsand  ^eir  1  I  ■will  not  liue  sa  lang. 
Delyuer  me  it,  maister,  and  let  me  gang. 


I  shan't  live  so 
long.  Give  me 
the  pardon. 


PARDONER. 


2248     Ane  thousand  3eir  I  lay  vpon  thy  head,  For  a 

"With  totiens  quotiens.     JSTow  mak  me  na  mair  thousand 

plead.  years.    And 

Thou  hast  resaifit  thy  pardon  now  already.  now  enougii ! 


I  see  nothing; 
money  gone, 
and  no  wares, 
to  my  grief! 
Show  nie  what 
you  give  me 


Bot  I  can  se  na  thing,  sir,  be  our  Lady  ! 
2252     Forsuith,  maister,  I  trow  I  be  not  wyse, 

To  pay  ere  I  haue  sene  my  marchandryse. 

That  3e  haue  gottin  my  groat  full  sair  I  rew. 

Sir,  quhidder  is  ^our  pardon  black,  or  blew  1 
2256     Maister,  sen  ^e  haue  taine  fra  me  my  cun3ie, 

My  marchandryse  schaw  me,  withouttin  sun3ie  ;  for  my  coin; 

Or  to  the  Bischop  I  sail  pas,  and  plein3ie  <"■  i  «^iu  com- 

In  Sanct-Androis,  &  summo?«d  30W  to  the  Sein3ie.  p^^'"  of  you. 

PARDONER. 

2260     Quhat  craifis  the  carle  ?   Me  thinks  thou  art  not  Tiie  feiiow  must 


wise. 


be  silly. 


PAVPER, 

I  craif  my  groat,  or  ellis  my  marchandrise. 

PARDONER. 

I  gaif  the  pardon  for  ane  thowsand  3eir. 

PAVPER. 

How  sail  I  get  that  pardon,  let  me  heir. 

PARDONER, 

2264     Stand  still,  and  I  sail  tell  the  haill  storie.  when  you  die, 

and  go  to 

Qidien  thow  art  dcid,  and  gais  to  Purgatorie,        Purgatory. 


My  groat,  or 
something  for  it. 


I  pardoned 
you  for  a 
thousand  years. 


How  shall  I 
get  the  pardon  ? 


462 


ANE    SATYRE. 


to  be  tormented 

a  thousand  years, 

the  pardon  will 

relieve  you.  2268 


Being  condempit  to  paine  a  thousand  ^eir, 
Then  sail  thy  pardoun  the  releif,  but  weir. 
Xow  be  content,     ^e  ar  ane  merveloiis  man. 


Shall  I  get  no- 
thing the  while  ? 


No,  to  be  pla-n. 


PAVPER. 

Sail  I  get  nathing  for  my  grot  quhill  than  1 

PARDOXER. 

That  sail  thou  not,  I  mak  it  to  30W  plaine. 


Then  give 

me  back  my 

groat; 

for  you  don't 

bargain 

fairly. 

■Wlien  I  die,  I 

must  go  to 

Purgatory. 

But  tell  me  wliere 

I  shall  find  you. 

In  hell,  where 
you  can't 
help  yourself. 

Before  you  helped 
me,  I  sliould 
get  scorched. 

Do  you  think 
I  will  buy 
blind  lambs  ? 

Give  me  back 
my  groat. 


He  must  be  mad. 
You  don't  get 
your  groat  again. 


PAVPER. 

'Nal     Than,  gossop,  gif  me  my  grot  againe. 
2272     Quhat    say    ^e,    maisters?      Call   je   this   gude 
xesoun, 
That  he  sould  promeis  me  ane  gay  pardoun, 
And  he  resaue  my  money  in  his  stead, 
S}Tie  mak  me  na  payment  till  I  be  dead  1 
2276     Quhen  I  am  deid,  I  wait  full  sikkerlie, 
j\Iy  sillie  saull  will  pas  to  Purgatorie. 
Declair  me  this  : — !Now  God  nor  Baliell  bind 

the  !- 
Quhen  I  am  thair,  curst  carle,  quhair  sail  I  find 
the  ? 
2280     ISTot  into  heavin,  hot,  rather,  into  hell. 

Quhen  fhon  are  thair,  thou  can  not  help  thy  sel. 
Quhen  will  thou  cum  my  dolours  till  abait, 
Or  I  the  find,  my  hippis  will  get  ane  bait. 
2284     Trowis   thou,  butcliour,  that  I    wdll  by  blind 
lambis  1 
Gif  me  my  grot.  The  de^Tll  dryte  in  thy  gambis  ! 

PARDONER. 

Suyith  !  stand  abak  !  I  trow  this  man  be  mangit. 
Thou  gets   not  this,  carle,  tliocht  fhon  suld  be 
hansit. 


ANE    SATYRK. 


463 


2288     Gif  me  my  grot,  weill  bund  into  ane  clout ; 
Or,  be  Gods  broid  !  Robin  sail  beir  ane  rout. 

{Heir  sal  thay  fecht  with  silence  ;  and  Pauper  sal  cast  doiin  the 
buird,  and  cast  the  relicts  in  the  water.) 

DILIGEXCE, 

Quhat  kind  of  daffing  is  tliis  al  day  1 
Suyith  !  smaiks,  out  of  the  fcild  !  away! 

2292     Into  ane  presoun  put  them  sone  ; 

Syne  hang  them,  quhen  the  play  is  done. 

{Heir  sail  BiUgeyice  mak  his proclamatioun.') 
Famous  peopill,  tak  tent,  and  je  sail  se 
The  tlirie  estaits  of  this  natioun 

2296     Cum  to  the  Court,  with  ane  strange  gravitie. 
Thairfoir,  I  mak  30W  supplicatioun, 
Tdl  36  haue  heard  our  liaill  narratioun, 
To  keiji  silence  and  be  patient,  I  pray  30W. 

2300     Ilowbeit  we  speik  be  adulatioun, 

"Wee  sail  say  nathing  bot  the  suith,  I  say  30W. 
Gi;de,  verteous  men,  that  luifis  the  veritie, 
T  wait  thay  will  excuse  our  negligence. 

2304     Bot  vicious  men,  denude  of  charitie, 
As  fein3eit,  fals,  flattrand  Saracens, 
Howbeit  thay  cry  on  vs  ane  loud  vengence. 
And  of  our  pastyme  mak  ane  fals  report, 

2308     Quhat  may  wee  do  bot  tak  in  patience. 
And  vs  refer  ■\Tito  the  faithfull  sort  ? 
Our  Lord  Jesus,  Peter,  nor  Paull 
Culd  nocht  compleis  the  peopill  all ; 

2312  Bot  sum  war  miscontent. 

Howbeit  thay  schew  the  veritie, 
Sum  said  that  it  war  heresie, 

Be  tbair  maist  fals  iudsement. 


Give  me  my 

groat ;  or  j-ou 
sluill  be  thrashed. 


What  fooling  is 

this  ?    Away ! 

Shut  tliem  up ; 
and  l\an<j  thera, 
wlien  the  play 


Tiie  three  Estates 
are  coming  to 
Court,  with 
strange  gruvitj'. 

Be  silent,  tlien, 

I  pray  you,  till 

1  have  told  all. 

I  shall  sjjeak 

the  truth  only. 

The  virtuous 
will  make 
allowance. 

As  to  the  vicious, 
uncharitable,  they 
will  cry  venge- 
ance on  us  :  but 
we  must  have 
patience,  and 
refer  ourselves  to 
the  faithful. 

Even  Christ  and 

the  Saints  could 

not  please  all. 

Though  they 
showed  the 
tnith,  some 
denounced  it. 


{Heir  sail  the  fhrie  estaits  cum  fra  the  palyoun,  gangand  hack- 
wart,  led  he  thair  vi/ces.) 


464 


AXE  SATYRE. 

WANTONNES. 


What  is  that         2316     IS'ow,  braid  beiiedicite  ! 

J  see  ?  Quliat  thing  is  3011  that  I  se  ? 

Look,  Solace !  Liilce,  Solace,  my  hart ! 


SOLACE. 


Brotlier  Wantonnes,  qiihat  thinks  thow  ) 


Wliat  think  you  ? 

The  tiiree  2320     ^on  av  the  tlirie  estaits,  I  trow. 

Estates,  marcli- 

ing  backwards,  Ganpfand  backwart. 


It  is  a  shame 
they  should 
march  so. 

Correction 
must  soon 

effect  a  reform. 

Let  us  tell 
the  King. 


Sire,  we  have  seen 
a  strange  thing, — 

the  three  Estates 
proceeding  to 
Parliament 
backwards. 


WANTONNES. 

BackAvart,  backwart  1     Out !  Wallaway  I 

It  is  greit  schame  for  them,  I  say, 
2324  Backwart  to  gang. 

I  trow  the  King  Correctioun 

Man  mak  ane  reformatioun, 
Or  it  be  lang. 
2328     Xow  let  vs  go  and  tell  the  King. 

(Pausa.) 

Sir,  wee  haue  sene  ane  mervelous  thing, 

Be  our  iudgement : 
The  thrie  estaits  of  this  Eegioun 
2332     Ar  cummand  backwart,  throAV  this  toun, 
To  the  Parlament. 


Indeed  ? 

Send  thtm  to 
me,  lest  they 
go  wrong. 


REX    HVMANITAS. 


BackAvart,  backwart  1     How  may  that  be  1 
Gar  speid  them  haistelie  to  me, 
2336  In  dreid  that  thay  ga  wrang. 


They  will  get 
here  as  fast 
as  their  speed 
will  let  them. 


PLACEBO. 


Sir,  I  se  them  ponder  cummand. 
Thay  will  be  heir  evin  fra  hand, 
Als  fast  as  thay  may  gang. 


ANE    SATYRE. 


465 


GVDE-COUNSELL. 

2340     Sir,  liald  3011  stil,  &  skar  them  noclit, 
Till  36  persaue  quhat  be  thair  tlioclit, 

And  se  qiiliat  men  them  leids ; 
And  let  the  King  Correctioun 
2344     Mak  ane  scliarp  inqiiisitioun, 

And  mark  them  be  the  heids. 
Quhen  36  ken  the  occasioun 
That  maks  them  sic  persuasioun, 
2348  3c  may  expell  the  cans  ; 

Sj'ne,  them  reforme,  as  3e  think  best, 
Sua  that  the  Eealme  may  line  in  rest, 
According  to  Gods  lawis, 
(Heir  sail  (he  thrie  estaits  cum,  and  turne  thair  faces  to  the  Kii/ff.) 

SPIRITVALITIE. 

2352     Gloir,  honour,  laud,  triumph,  and  victorie 
Be  to  jour  michtie  prudent  excellence  ! 
Heir  ar  we  cum,  all  the  estaits  thrie, 
Eeadie  to  mak  our  dew  obedience, 

2356     At  30ur  command,  with  humbill  observance, 
As  may  pertene  to  Spiritual]  tie, 
"With  counsell  of  the  Temporalitie. 


Don't  alarm 
them,  till  we 
learn  their  intent 
and  their  leaders ; 

and  let  King 
Correction 
observe  them 
narrowly. 

First,  we  must 

find  out  the  cause 

of  this  procedure; 

and  then  they 
may  be  reformed, 
and  tlie  realm 
may  live  in  peace. 


All  hail  to 
your  Excellency ! 
We  come  to  make 
our  obedience, 
at  your  comnian  1, 
with  advice  of  tlie 
Temporalty. 


TEMPORALITIE. 

Sir,  we,  with  michtie  curage,  at  command 
23G0     Of  30ur  superexcellent  Maiestie, 

Sail  mak  seruice  baith  with  our  hart  and  hand, 

And  sail  not  dreid  in  thy  defence  to  die. 

Wee  ar  content,  but  doubt,  that  wee  may  se 
2364     That  nobill,  heavinlie  King  Correctioun, 

Sa  he  with  mercie  mak  punitioun. 


Sire,  at  your 
command,  we 
will  ni  ike 
service,  even 
with  our  lives. 

King  Correction 
is  welcome, 
so  he  ])unish 
with  mercy. 


MERCHAXD. 


Sir,  we  ar  heir,  3our  Bm-gessis  and  Merchands. 
Thanks  be  to  God  that  we  may  se  jour  face. 


We,  burgesses 
and  merchants, 
welcome  you. 


■166 

hoping  for  your 

support, 

and  for  quiet. 

Misdoers  re- 
moved, mer- 
chants niav  live. 


We  welcome 
our  Estates. 

We  will  take 
steps  against 
offenders ; 

and,  with  all 
equity,  we  will 
use  the  sword 
in  punishment. 


ANE    SATYRE. 


"Mv..Jwj   ']  -' 


2368 


2372 


2376 


Traistand  wee  may,  now,  into  divers  lands 
Convoy  our  geir,  with  support  of  30ur  grace  ; 
For  now,  I  traist,  wee  sail  get  rest  and  peace. 
Quhe?z  misdoars  ar  witli  30ur  sword  overthrawin, 
Then  may  leil  nierchands  Hue  vpon  thair  a"U'in. 


REX    HVMANITAS. 

Welcum  to  me,  my  prudent  Lords,  all ! 

3e  ar  my  members,  suppois  I  be  jour  head 

Sit  doun,  that  we  may,  with  jour  iust  counsall, 

Aganis  misdoars  find  soveraine  remeid. 

"Wee  sail  nocht  spair,  for  fauour  nor  for  feid, 

"With  jour  avice,  to  mak  punitioun, 

And  put  my  sword  to  executioun. 


4  f^ 


CORRECTIOVN, 


My  friends,  I 
would  ask 
one  thing. 

I  wish  to  know 
the  real  cause 
of  your  march- 
ing backwards. 


AVe  have  gone  so 
for  many  a  year ; 
and,  whatever  you 
think,  we  find  it 
most  agreeable. 


2380 


2384 


My  tender  freinds,  I  pray  jow,  -wdth  my  hart, 
Declair  to  me  the  thing  that  I  Avald  speir. 
Quhat  is  the  caus  that  je  gang,  all,  back  wart  ? 
The  veritie  thairof  faine  wald  I  heir. 


SriRITVALITIB. 


Soveraine,  we  haue  gaine  sa  this  mony  a  jeir. 

Howbeit  je  think  we  go  vndecently, 

^Yee  think  wee  gang  riclit  wonder  pleasantly. 


Sit  down,  my 
Lords,  and  let  the 
King  consider. 

The  rest,  too, 
may  be  seated ; 
and  the  Court 
will  be  opened. 


DILIGENCE. 

Sit  doun,  my  Lords,  into  jour  proper  places  ; 
2388     S}Tie,  let  the  King  consider  all  sic  caces. 

Sit  doun,  sir  scribe,  and  sit  doun,  dampster,  to ; 
And  fence  the  Court,  as  je  Avar  Avont  to  do. 

(Thai)  ar  set  doun  ;  ^-  Gitd-Counsell  sal  pas  to  his  seat.) 


REX    HVMANITAS. 


My  Lords,  we  My  prudent  Lords  of  the  thrie  estaits, 

specially  wish       2392     It  is  our  Avill,  abuifc  all  vther  thing, 


ANE    SATYRE. 


467 


239G 


For  to  reforme  all  them  that  maks  debaits  to  take  order  for 

Contrair  the  richt,  quhilk  day  lie  dois  maling,  the  better  ruling 

And   thay   that   dois    the    Conimon-weil   doun  ofthecommon- 

thriiig.  wcaitii. 

With  help  and  counsell  of  King  Correctioun,  King  correction 

It  is  our  will  for  to  luak  punisching,  wUiTo  awa7 

And  plaine  oppressours  put  to  subiectioun.  with  oppression. 


SPIRITVALITIE. 

Quhat  thing  is  this,  sir,  that  ^e  haue  devysit  1 
2400     Schirs,  36  haue  neid  for  till  be  weill  advysit. 
Be  nocht  haistie  into  3our  execution  ; 
And  be  nocht  ouir  extreime  in  30ur  punitioun 
And,  gif  ^e  please  to  do,  sir,  as  wee  say, 
2404     Postpone  this  Parlament  till  ane  vther  day. 
For  quliy  the  peopill  of  this  Eegioun 
May  nocht  indure  extreme  correctioun. 

CORRECTIOVN'. 

Is  this  the  part,  my  Lords,  that  36  will  tak 
2408     To  mak  vs  supportatioun  to  correct  1 

It  dois  appeir  that  36  ar  culpabill. 

That  ar  nocht  to  Correctioun  applyabill. 

Suyith  !  Diligence.     Ga  schaw  it  is  our  will 
2412     That  everilk  man  opprest  geif  in  his  Bill. 


You  must 

be  cautious. 

Avoid  haste 

and  severity. 

We  counsel 

adjournment ; 

for  the  people 
cannot  endure 
extreme 
correction. 


Do  you  thus 
further  our 
reform  ? 

You  must,  indeed, 

be  in  fault. 

Diligence,  let 
all  complain 
that  would. 


DILIGENCE. 


2416 


All  maneir  of  men  I  wairne,  that  be  opprest, 
Cum  and  complaine,  and  thay  salbe  redrest ; 
For  quhy  it  is  the  nobill  Princes  will. 
That  ilk  compleiner  sail  gif  in  his  BiU. 


All  shall  have 
justice,  if  they 
apply  for  it ; 

and  such  is  the 
will  of  the  Prince. 


lOHNE    THE    COMMON-WEILL. 

Out  of  my  gait !     For  Gods  saik,  let  me  ga  ! 
Tell  me  againe,  gude  maister,  quhat  3e  say. 


stand  aside ! 
Repeat  that. 


468 


AN'E    SATYRE. 


DILIGENCE. 


All  that  suffer 

wrong  shall 

get  their  due.  2420 


I  warne  al  that  be  wrangouslie  offendit, 

Cum  and  complaine,  and  thay  sail  be  amendit. 


Thankit  be  Christ,  that  buir  the  croim  of  thorno  ! 
For  I  was  never  sa  blyth  sen  I  was  borne. 

DILIGENCE. 

Quhat  is  thy  name,  fallow  1     That  wald  I  fail. 

lOHNE. 

2424     Forsuith,  thay  call  me  lohne  the  co?72mon-weil. 
Gude  maister,  I  wald  speir  at  30U  ane  thing : 
Quhair  traist  ^q  I  sail  find  3on  new-cumde  King  1 

DILIGENCE. 

Cum  over,  and  I  sail  schaw  the  to  his  grace. 

lOIINE. 

2428     Gods  bennesone  licht  on  that  luckie  face  ! 
Stand  by  the  gait :  let  se  gif  I  can  loup. 
I  man  rin  fast,  in  cace  I  get  ane  covl]}. 
(Ileir  sail  lohne  hup  the  stank,  or  els  fall  in  it.') 

DILIGENCE. 

Speid  the  away.     Thou  taryis  all  to  lang. 

lOHNE. 

I  can  go  no  faster.  2432     Now  be  this  day  I  may  na  faster  gang. 

lOHNE    TO    THE    KING. 

Gude  day,  gud  day  !     Grit  God  saif  baith  30ur 

graces ! 
Wallie,  Avallie  fall  thay  twa  Aveill-fairde  faces  ! 

KEX    11 VM  AN  IT  AS. 

Your  name,  Sliaw  mc  tliv  name,  "ude  man,  I  the  command. 

good  man?  •'  '  °  ' 


I  am  rejoiced 
to  Iiear  this. 


Your  name  f 


John  the 
Commonwealth . 
And  where  is  this 
new-come  king  ? 


I  will  pre- 
sent you. 


God  bless  liis 
face !    Let  me 
Bee  if  I  can  run. 


You  are  too  slow. 


God  save  both 
Your  Graces ! 

Bless  their 
fine  faces ! 


ANE    SATYRE. 


4G9 


lOHNB. 

2-436     Marie  !  lohne,  the  common-weil  of  fair  Scotlaml. 

REX    HVMANITAS. 

The  commouu-weill  lies  bene  amang  his  fais. 

lOHNE. 

3e,  sir.    That  gars  the  commoun-weil  want  clais. 

REX    IIVMANITAS. 

Quhat  is  the  cans  the  common-weil  is  crukit  1 

lOHNE. 

2440     Becans  the  common-wcill  hes  bene  overlukit. 

REX    HVM ANITAS. 

Quhat  gars  the  luke  sa  with  ane  dreirie  hart  1 

lOHNE. 

Becaus  the  thrie  estaits  gangs,  all,  backwart. 

REX    HVM  ANITAS. 

Sir   co?/imon-weill,  knaw  30  the  limmers   that 
them  leids  1 


John  the 
Comiuonwealtli. 


The  Common- 
wealth was  among 
his  enemies. 


So  he  had 
no  clothes. 


Why  ia  the 
t.'<niinijn\ve.ilth 
htiue  ? 


From  being 
neglected. 


Wliy  look  yoii 
so  sad  ? 


rec.iuso  the 
three  Estates 
go  backwards. 


Do  you  know 
the  rogues  that 
lead  them  ? 


lOHNE. 

2444     Thair  canker  cullours,  I  ken  them  be  the  heads. 

As  for  our  reverent  fathers  of  Spiritualitie, 

Thay  ar  led  be  Couetice  and  cairles  Sensualitie ; 

And,  as  36  se,  Teraporalitie  hes  neidof  correctioun, 
2448     Quhilk  hes,  lang   tyme,  bene  led  be  publick 
oppressioun. 

Loe,  quhair  the  loun  lyis  lurkand  at  his  back  ! 

Get  vp !  I  think  to  se  thy  craig  gar  ane  raip  crack. 

Loe  !  heir  is  Falset  and  Dissait,  weill  I  ken, 
2452     Leiders  of  the  merchants  and  sillie  crafts-men. 

Quhat  mervell  thocht  the  thrie  estaits  backwart 


I  know  them,— 

the  leaders  of  tlie 

Spirituality, 

and  also  the 

leader  of  the 

Temporalty. 

For  him  a 

rope  were  fit. 

And  I  know 

others'  leaders. 

What  wonder, 
if  the  three 
Estates  ma'-ch 


470 


AXE    SATYRE. 


backwards,  Qulien  sic  an  vyle  curapanie  dwels  tliem  amang, 

and  that  I,  for  Quliilk  lics  reulit  tliis  rout  monie  deir  dayis, 

my  part,  want  2456     Quliilk   gai's    loliii  the  co?nmon-weil  "want  liis 

warm  clothes !  wamic  cdais  ! 

Reform  them;  Sir,  Call  tlieiu  bcfoix  30W,  and  put  them  in  ordour; 

or  else  1  Or  els  lolm  the  common- well  man  beg  on  the 

must  beg.  bordour. 

ab  to  Flattery,—  Thou  fein^eit  riattrie,  the  feind  fart  in  thy  face  ! 

who  defrauded  2460     Quhen  3e  was  guyder  of  the  Court,  we  gat  litill 

115,—  grace. 

and  Falsehood  Eyse  vp,  Falsct  and  Dissait,  without  ony  sun3e. 

and  Deceit,  I  pray  God,  noi  the  devils  dame  dryte  on  thy 

I  curse  them.  grun3e  ! 

Much  harm  has  Behauld  as  the  loun  lukis  evin  lyke  a  tliief. 

been  wrought.  2464     INlonie  wicht  warkman  thou  brocht  to  mischief. 

Lord  Correction,  My  soveraine,  Lord  Correctioun,  I  mak  30W  sup- 

I  pray  you  to  plication, 

excommunicate  Put  tliir  tryit  truikcrs  from  Christis  congrega- 

all  three.  tioil. 


Be  it  80. 

Serjeants,  im- 
prison these 
thieves.     Hang- 
ing would  be 
none  too  much 
for  them. 


We  obey. 
Help,  brother ! 
Get  up,  you 
vile-looking 

miscreant ! 


CORRECTIOUN. 

As  36  haue  devj'sit,  but  doubt  it  salbe  done. 
2468     Cum  heir,  my  Sergeants,  and  do  30ur  debt  sone. 
Put  tliir  thrie  pellours  into  pressoun  Strang. 
Howbeit  36   soidd  hang  them,  36  do  them  ua 
wrang. 

FIRST    SERGEANT. 

Soverane  Lords,  wee  sail  obey  30ur  commands. 
2472     Brother,  vpon  thir  limmers  lay  on  thy  hands. 

Piyse  vp  sone,  loun !    Thou  luiks  evin  lyke  ano 

lurden. 
3our  mouth  Avar  nieit  to  drink  an  wesche  iurden. 


SECVND    SERGEANT. 

You  shau  repent  Cum  heir,  gossop  ;  cum  heir,  cum  heir, 

your  past  hfe.        2476     ^o^^ii' I'^^cklcs  lyfc  3e  Sail  repent. 


ANE    SATYRE. 


471 


Qiihen  was  30  wont  to  be  sa  sweir  ? 
Stand  still,  and  be  obedient. 

FIRST    SERGEANT, 

Thair  is  nocbt,  iu  all  this  toun, — 
2480     Bot  I  wald  nocht  this  taill  war  tald, — 

Bot  I  wald  hang  him  for  his  goun, 

Quhidder  that  it  war  Laird  or  laid. 

I  trow  this  peiiour  be  spur-gaid. 
2484     Put  in  thy  hand  into  this  cord. 
^        Howbeit  I  se  thy  skap  skjre_skaid, 

Thou  art  ane  stewat,  I  stand  foird. 

(Jleir  sail  the  vycis  he  led  to  the  stocks.') 

SECVND    SERGEANT. 

Put  in  30ur  leggis  into  the  stocks  ; 
2488     For  90  had  never  ane  meiter  hois. 

Tliir  stewats  stinks  as  thay  war  Broks. 
Now  ar  je  sikker,  I  suppois. 
iPausa.) 

My  Lords,  wee  haue  done  30ur  commands. 
2492     Sail  wee  put  Covetice  in  caj^tivitie? 

CORRECTIOVN. 

3e  :  hardlie  lay  on  them  3  our  hands  ; 
Rycht  sa,  vpon  Sensualitie. 

SriRITVALITIE. 

Thir  is  my  Grainter  and  my  Chalmerlaine, 
2496     And  hes  my  goidd  and  geir  vnder  thair  cuiris. 
I  mak  ane  vow  to  God,  I  sail  complaine 
Ynto  the  Paip  how  3e  do  me  iniuris. 


Lazy  now  ? 
Obey  me. 


Confidentially, 
I  wouUl  hang 
any  one  liere, 
liifjii  or  low, 
for  his  gown. 

Hind  wliat  I  say, 
you  spur-galled, 
scabby  stinkard. 


The  stocks 
fit  you  well. 
What  nosegays . 
Now  you  are  safe. 

Shall  we  shut  up 
Covetousness  ? 


Just  so;  and 
Sensuality. 


These  are  my 
general  wardens. 
I  will  complain 
to  the  Pope. 


COVETICE. 


My  reverent  fathers,  tak  in  patience. 
2500     I  sail  nocht  lang  rfimaine  from  30ur  presence. 
7 


Fathers,  I  will 
Boon  return. 


Cj     v*^^' 


472 


Meanwhile 

tny  spirit  remains 

with  you  ; 

and,  Correction 
gone,  we  sliall 
both  come  back. 


Adieu !  We  assort 
naturally. 


Adieu ! 


Adieu !    Alas 
that  wft 
must  part ! 


j     ANE    SATYRE. 

Thocht  for  ane  quliyll  I  man  from  30W  depairt, 
1 1  wait  my  spreit  sail  remaine  in  ^our  hart ; 
■And,  quhen  this  King  Correctioiin  beis  absent, 
2504     Then  sail  we  twa  returns  incontinent. 
Thau'foir,  adew  ! 

SPIRITVALITIE. 

Adew  !  be  Sanet  Mavene  ! 
Pas  quhair  30  will,  we  ar  twa  naturall  men. 

SENSVALITIB. 

2508     Adew  !  my  Lord. 

SPIRITVALITIE. 

Adew  !  my  awin  sweit  hart. 
liTow  duill  fell  me,  that  wee  Uva  man  depart. 


SENSVALITIB. 

]My  Lord,  howbeit  tliis  parting  dois  me  paine, 


I  tnist  we  shall 
soon  come 

together  again.      2512     I  traist  in  God  we  Sal  melt  sone  agaiie. 


Hasten  back. 
You  are 
indispensable. 


The  Estates 
should  strive  for 
Commonwealth. 

So  let  us  concert 
to  this  end,  con- 
forming to  the 
common  law, 


SPIRITVALITIE. 

To  cum  againe,  I  pray  30W,  do  30ur  cure. 
Want  I  30W  twa,  I  may  nocht  lang  indure. 

{Heir  sal  the  Sergeants  chase  them  away  ;  and  they  sal  gang  to 
the  seat  of  Sensualitie.) 


2516 


2520 


and  using  the  aid 

of  Good  CounseJ 

versed  in  the 

canon  law  and 

the  civil.  2524 


TEMPORALITIE. 

My  Lords,  36  knaw  the  thrie  estaits 

For  Common-weill  suld  male  debaits. 

Let,  now,  amang  vs,  be  devysit 

Sic  actis  that  with  gude  men  be  praysit, 

Conforming  to  the  common  law ; 

For  of  na  man  we  sould  stand  aw. 

And,  for  till  saif  vs  fra  murmell, 

Schone,  Diligence,  fetch  vs  Gude-counsell ; 

For  quhy  he  is  anc  man  that  knawis 

Baith  the  Caiinou  and  Civill  lawis. 


A\E    SATYRK. 


473 


2528 


DILIGEXCE. 

Father,  30  man,  incontinent, 
Passe  to  the  Lords  of  Parliament 
Per  quhy  thay  ar  dctcrminat,  all, 
To  do  na  thing  by  jour  counsall. 


You  must  at 
once  pass  to  the 
Lords  of  Parlia- 
ment, who  will 
do  notliins; 
without  you. 


GVDE-COVNSALL. 

That  sal  I  do  Avitliin  schort  space  ; 
Praying  the  Lord  to  send  vs  grace 
For  tiU  conclude,  or  wee  depart, 
2532     That  thay  may  profeit  efterwart. 

Baith  to  the  Kirk  and  to  the  King 
I  sail  desyre  na  vther  thing. 

My  Lords,  God  glaid  the  cumpanie  ! 
253fi     Quhat  is  the  caus  je  send  for  me  1 


Softly !    May  we 
arrange  all, 
before  we 
separate ! 
Heartily  I 
desire  this. 


Why  <^o  yo'i 
send  for  me  ? 


MEKCHAND. 

Sit  doun,  and  gif  vs  jour  counsell. 
How  we  sail  slaik  the  greit  raurmell 
Of  pure  peopill,  that  is  weill  knawin, 

2540     And  as  the  Common-weill  lies  schawin. 
And,  als,  wee  knaw  it  is  the  Kings  will, 
That  gude  remeid  be  put  thairtill. 
Sir  Common-weill,  keip  je  the  bar  : 

2544     Let  nane  except  jour  self  cum  nar. 


Sit  down,  and 
tell  us  how  the 
murmurs  of  the 
poor  are  to 
be  stilled. 

The  King  is  con- 
cerned about  this. 

Commonwealth, 
keep  out 
Intruders. 


2548 


lOHNE. 

That  sail  I  do  as  I  best  can  : 
I  sail  hauld  out  baith  wyfe  and  man. 
3e  man  let  this  puir  creature 
Support  me  for  till  keip  the  dure. 
I  knaw  his  name  full  sickcrly  : 
He  will  complain  e,  als  weill  as  L 


As  well  as 

I  am  able. 

But  this 
poor  creature 
must  help. 

I  know  him ; 
and  he  has  com- 
plaints to  make. 


474 


ANE    SATYRE, 


While  busied 

witli  reforni, — 

seconded  by 

tlie  Kin}:f, — 

you  must  not 
only  punish 
robbery. 

In  peace  you 

should  provide 

against  war, 

and  not  as 
before,  but 
refiular  men- 
at-arms. 

You  must  be 

more  alert. 

The  Common- 
wealth must  be 
more  honoured. 

The  Commons 

daily  grow  poorer. 

Their  rents  keep 

them  starved. 

Tithes  to  the 

Prelates  grieve 

the  husbandmen. 

Gentle  folk, 

too,  increase 

their  grievance. 

They  will  be 
ruined,  but 
for  God's  pity. 


This  is  true. 

I  had  cattle  and 
norses ;  now,  my 
clothes  only. 


I  will  mend 
matters, 
before  I  go. 


GVDE-COVNS.\LL. 

My  wortliy  Lords,  sen  36  haue  taine  on  hand 

2552     Sum  reformatioun  to  mak  into  this  land, — 
And  als  36  knaw  it  is  the  Kings  mynd, 
Quha  till  the  Common-weil  hes,  ay,  bene  kynd, — 
Thocht  reif  and  thift  Aver  stanchit  Weill  aneuch, 

2556     3it  sumthing  mair  helangis  to  the  pleuch. 

Now,  into  peace,  3e  sould  provyde  for  weirs, 
And  be  sure  of  how  mony  thowsand  speirs 
The  King  may  be,  quhen  he  hes  ocht  ado  ; 

2560     For  qnhy,  my  Lords,  this  is  my  ressoun,  to  : 

The  husband-men  and  commons  thay  war  wont 
Go,  in  the  battell,  formest  in  the  front. 
Bot  I  haue  tint  all  my  experience, 

2564     "Without  30  mak  sum  better  diligence. 

The  Common-weill  mon  vther  wayis  be  styllit ; 
Or,  be  my  faith  !  the  King  Avilbe  begyllit. 
Thir  pure  commouns,  daylie,  as  36  may  se, 

2568     Declynis  doun  till  extreme  povertie  ; 
For  sum  ar  hichtit  sa  into  thair  maill, 
Thair  winning  will  nocht  find  them  water-kaill. 
How    Prelats   heichts   thair   teinds,  it  is  well 
knawin, 

2572     That  husband-men  may  not  weill  hald  thair  awin. 
And  now  begins  ane  plague  amang  them,  new, 
That  gentill  men  thah-  steadings  taks  in  few  : 
Thus  man  thay  pay  great  ferme,  or  lay  thair  steid. 

2576     And  sum  ar  plainlie  harlit  out  be  the  held, 
And  ar  distroyit,  without  God  on  them  rew. 

PAVPER. 

Sir,  be  Gods  breid  !  that  taiU  is  verie  trew. 
It  is  Weill  kend,  I  had  baith  nolt  and  hors ; 
2580     Now,  all  my  geir  30  se  vpon  my  cors. 

CORRECTIOVX. 

Or  I  dcpairt,  T  think  to  mak  ane  ordour. 


AXE    S.VTYUE. 


475 


T  pray  30W,  sir,  begin,  first,  at  tlie  hordour, 
For  how  can  -we  fend  a's  aganis  Ingland, 
Quhen  we  can  noclit,  witliin  our  natiue  Land, 
Destroy  our  awin  Scots  common  trator  theifis, 
Quha  to  leill  laborers  dajdie  dois  misclieifis  1 
War  I  ane  King,  my  Lord,  be  Gods  wounds  ! 
Qidiaever    held   common    theifis   within    thair 

bounds, — 
Quhairthrow   that,   dayly,   leil   men    micht   be 

wrangit, — 
"Without  remeid  thair  chiftanis  suld  be  hangit. 
Quhidder  he  war  ane  knicht,  ane  Lord,  or  Laird, 
2592     The  Devill  draw  me  to  hell,  and  he  war  spaird. 


2584 


2588 


Begin  at  the 
border;  for  how 
can  we  defend 
ourselves  against 
England,  if  we 
cannot  root  out 
our  own  thieves? 

Were  I  a  king, 

all  chieftains 

tluit  harboured 

common  thieves 

should  be 

hanged. 

I  would  not  spare 

the  noblest. 


TEMPORALITIE. 

Quhat  vther  enemies  hes  thou,  let  vs  ken. 


Wliat  other 
enemies 
have  you  ? 


Sir,  I  compleine  vpon  the  idill  men  ; 

For  quhy,  sir,  it  is  Gods  awin  bidding, 
2596     All  Christian  men  to  wirk  for  thair  Uving. 

Sanct  PauU,  that  pillar  of  the  Kirk, 

Sayis  to  the  wretchis  that  will  not  wirk, 

And  bene  to  vertews  laith, 
2600     Qui  non  laborat  non  manducet, 

This  is,  in  Inglische  toung  or  leit : 

^ul^a  Inbouris  itorljt  l^c  sail  not  cit. 

This  bene  against  the  Strang  beggers, 
2604     Fidlers,  pypers,  and  pardoners. 

Thir  lugglars,  lestars,  and  idill  cuitchours, 

Thir  carriers,  and  thir  quintacensours, 

Thir  babil-beirers,  and  thir  bairds, 
2608     Thir  sweir  swyngeours  with  Lords  and  Lairds, 

Ma  then  thair  rents  may  susteine, 

Or  to  thair  profeit  neidfull  bene, 


The  idle :  for  all 
Christians  should 
earn  their  living. 
S.  Paul  says,  with 
reference  to  such 
as  will  not  work, 
and  are  averse 
from  virtue:  'No 
labour,  no  meat.' 
This,  of  beggars 
and  the  like. 
Jugglers,  jesters, 
idle  gamblers, 
and  people  of  this 
sort  are  a  useless 
expense,  and  of 
no  sort  of  profit. 


476 


ANB    SATYRE. 


contentious, 
make-baits, 
retained  for 
violence. 

This  is  against 
all  that  wear 
cowls,  who 
work  not,  but 
are  well  fed, 

though  every 

way  idle, 

like  dogs, 

or  swine. 

They  should 

act  up 

to  tlieir 

profession. 

What  if  they 

imitated 

Diogenes  ? 

Disgusted  with 
the  world,  he 
shut  liimself 
up  in  a  tub, 
and  lived  on 
herbs  and  water. 

He  did  not  beg 

about,  but 

free''  the  world 

of  uimself. 

I  might  instance 

other  cases  of 

real  poverty, 

in  hundreds, 

if  I  chose. 

In  short,  slothful 
idleness  is 
injurious  to 
the  State. 


Quliilk  bene,  ay,  blythest  of  discords, 
2612     And  deidly  feid  amang  thar  Lords  : 

Tor  then  they  sleutchers  man  be  treatit, 

Or  els  thair  querrels  vndebaitit. 

This  bene  against  thir  great  fat  Freiris, 
2616     Augustenes,  Carnileits,  and  Cordeleirs, 

And  all  vthers  that  in  cowls  bene  cled, 

Quhilk  labours  nocht,  and  bene  Weill  fed 

I  mein,  nocht  laborand  Spirituallie, 
2620     Nor,  for  thair  living,  corporallie. 

Lj'and  in  dennis,  lyke  idill  doggis, 

I  them  comi^air  to  Aveil  fed  hoggis. 

I  think  they  do  them  seMs  abuse, 
2624     Seing  that  thay  the  warld  refuse ; 

Haifing  protest  sic  povertie. 

Syne,  fleis  fast  fra  necessitie. 

Quhat  gif  thay  povertie  wald  professe, 
2628     And  do  as  did  Diogenes, 

That  great  famous  Philosophour  1 

Seing,  in  earth,  hot  vaine  labour, 

Alutterlie  the  warld  refusit, 
2632     And  in  ane  tumbe  him  self  inclusit, 

And  leifit  on  lierbs  and  water  cauld ; 

Of  cori^orall  fude  na  mair  he  wald. 

He  trottit  nocht  from  toun  to  toun, 
2636     Beggand  to  feid  his  carioun  : 

Fra  tyme  that  lyfe  he  did  profes, 

The  wald  of  him  was  cummerles. 

Eycht  sa,  of  Marie  Magdalene, 
2640     And  of  Mary  th'  Egyptiane, 

And  of  auld  Paull,  the  first  Hermeit, 

All  thir  had  povertie  compleit. 

Ane  hundreth  ma  I  micht  declair ; 
2644     Bot  to  my  jiurpois  I  will  fair  ; 

Concluding  sleuthfuU  idilnes 

Against  the  Common-wcill  exprcsse. 


ANE    SATYUE. 


477 


CORRECTIOVN. 

Quliom  vj^on  ma  will  30  compleine  ? 

lOHNE. 

2G48     ]\rarie  !  on  ma,  and  ma  againe. 

For  the  pure  peopill  cryis,  with  cairis, 
The  infetching  of  Justice  airis, 
Exercit  mair  for  couetice 

2652     Then  for  the  punisching  of  vyce, 

Ane  peggrell  theif  that  steillis  ane  kow 
Is  hangit ;  hot  he  that  steillis  ane  bow, 
With  als  meikill  geir  as  he  may  turs, 

2656     That  theif  is  hangit  he  the  j^urs. 

Sic  pykand  peggrall  theifis  ar  hangit ; 
Bot  he  that  all  the  warlJ  lies  wrangit, — 
Ane  cruell  tyrane,  ane  strang  transgressour, 

2660     Ane  common,  puhlick,  plaine  oppressour, — 
By  buds  may  he  ohteine  fauours 
Of  Tresurers  and  compositours  : 
Thocht  he  serue  greit  punitioun, 

2664     Gets  easie  compositioun. 

And,  throch  laws  consistoriall, 
Prolixt,  corrupt,  and  perpetuall, 
The  common  peopill  ar  put  sa  vnder, 

2668     Thocht  thay  be  puir  it  is  na  wonder. 


Do  you  complain 
of  any  one  else  'i 


Of  many. 
The  Eyres 
satisfy  covet- 
ousness  rather 
than  justice. 
A  petty  thief 
is  hanged; 
a  wholesale 
robber,  fined. 

A  heinous 
transgressor,  if 
of  substance, 
will  give  bribes, 
buy  favours, 
and,  though  he 
deserves  severe 
punishment,  will 
get  off  easily. 

It  is  no  wonder, 
owing  to  the 
consistorial  laws, 
that  the  common 
people  are  poor 


CORRECTIOVN. 

Gude  lohne,  I  grant  all  that  is  trew 
3our  infortoun  full  sair  I  rew. 
Or  I  pairt  aff  this  Natioun, 

2672     I  sail  mak  reformatioun. 

And,  als,  my  Lord  Temporalitie, 
I  30W  command^  in  tyme  that  30 
Expell  oppressioun  afF  30ur  lands. 

2676     And,  als,  I  say  to  30W,  merchands, 


It  la  even  so ; 

and  I  pity  you. 

But  I  will  reform 

all,  betbre  I  go. 

Lord  Tempor- 
ality, put  down 
oppression 
betimes. 

Merchants, 


478 


ANE    SATYRB. 


2680 


If  ever  I  find 
you  keeping 
company  with 
Deceit,  I  will 
use  my  sword, 
and  do  strict 
justice  on  you. 

lord  Spiritualty, 

you  are  to  let  6684 

your  lands  to  real 

husbandmen,  and 

not  to  gentlemen, 

that  neither  wiU      6688 

work  nor  can. 


Gif  ever  I  find,  Lc  land  or  sie, 
Dissait  be  in  30ur  cumpanie, 
Quliilk  ar  to  Common-weill  contrair, 
I  vow  to  God  I  sail  not  spair 
To  put  my  sword  to  executioun, 
And  mak  on  30W  extreme  punitioun. 
]\Iairover,  my  Lord  Spiritualitie, 
In  gudlie  haist  I  will  that  30 
Set  into  fcAV  30ur  temporall  lands 
To  men  that  labours  with  thair  hands, 
Bot  nocht  to  ane  gearking  gentill  man, 
That  nether  will  he  mrk,  nor  can, — 
Quliairthroch  the  poHcy  may  incresse. 


TEMPORALITIE. 

I  am  willing  to  do  I  am  Content,  sir, — be  the  messe  ! — 

BO,  if  Spiritualty  Swa  that  the  Spiritualitie 

doesUkewise.        2692     Scts  tliairs  in  feAv,  als  weill  as  wee. 


Spiritual  Lords, 
are  you  willing  ? 


CORRECTIOVN. 

My  Spirituall  Lords,  ar  36  content  1 


SriRtTVALITIB. 


Na  !  na  !     Wee  man  tak  advysenient. 
In  sic  maters  for  to  conclude 


We  must  con- 
sider ;  for  it  is 
not  good  to  re- 
such  matters.        2696     Ouir  liaistelie  wee  think  nocht  gude. 


You  shall  be 
punished,  if  you 
do  not  consent. 


CORRECTIOVN. 


Conclude  30  nocht  with  the  Co??imon-weil, 
3e  salbe  punischit,  be  Sanct  Geill  ! 

iHeir  sail  the  Bischops  cum,  with  the  Freir.') 


SI'IRITVALITIE. 


wc  demur  Schii",  we  Can  schaw  exemptioun 

to  your  title         2700     Fra  30ur  temporall  punitioun, 

to  punish  us.  The  quhilk  wee  purpois  till  debait. 


ANE    SATYRE. 


479 


COKRECTIOVN. 

Wa !     Tlian  36  ihink  to  stryue  for  stait ! 
My  Lords,  quliat  say  30  to  this  i")lay  1 

TEMPORALITIB. 

2704     My  sovcrane  Lords,  we  "will  obay, 

And  tak  3oiir  part  with  hart  and  hand, 

Quhatever  36  pleis  vs  to  command. 

(^Heir  sal  the  Temporal  stait  sit  doun  on  thair  Icnies,  8j-  say  ;) 

Bot  wee  heseik  30W,  Soveraine, 
2708     Of  all  our  cryms  that  ar  bygaine 

To  gif  vs  ane  remissioun. 

And  heir  wee  mak  to  30W  conditioun 

The  Common-weill  for  till  defend 
2712     From  henceforth  till  our  Hues  end. 

CORRECTIOVN. 

On  that  conditioun  I  am  content 
Till  pardon  30W,  sen  30  repent. 
The  Common-weill  tak  be  the  hand, 
2716     And  mak  with  him  perpetuall  band. 

{Heir  sail  the  temporal  staits,  to  toil,  the  Lords  and  merchandsy 
imbreasse  lohiie  the  Common-weill.') 

lohne,  haue  3e  ony  ma  debaits 
Against  the  Lords  of  Spiritual!  staits  ? 

lOHNE. 

Ka,  sir.     I  dar  nocht  speik  ane  word. 
2720     To  plaint  on  Preistis,  it  is  na  bourd. 

CORRECTIOVX. 

riyt  on  thy  fow  fill,  I  desyre  the, 
Swa  that  thou  schaw  bot  the  veritie. 


So  you  are 
arabitions  \ 


We  will  do 
whatever 
you  command. 

For  past  crimis 
we  crave 
forgiveness. 

The  Common- 
wealth we  will 
ever  defend. 


Then  I 
pardon  you. 

Make  a  league 
with  the  Com- 
monwealtli. 


Do  you  charge 
anything  further 
against  the 
Spiritual  Estate  ? 


I  do  not  dare 
to  complain 
of  priests. 


Blame  your 
fill,  so  you 
speak  truth. 


lOHXE. 

Grandmerces  !     Then  I  sail  nocht  spair 
2724     First  to  compleine  on  the  Yickair. 


Then,  there 
is  the  vicar. 


480 


ANE    SAT  Y  RE. 


A  poor  cotter, 
who  has  children, 
dies.    Of  his 
two  cows  the 
viear  takes 
one,  and 
the  coverlet. 
If  the  wife  dies, 
he  takes 
the  other  cow, 
with  a  coat. 
Let  there  he 
an  end  of  this. 


The  pure  Cottar  being  lyke  to  die, 
Haifancl  30U]ig  infants,  twa  or  tlirie, 
And  lies  twa  ky,  but  ony  ma ; 

2728     The  Vickar  most  haif  ane  of  thay, 

With  the  gray  frugge  that  covers  the  bed, 
Howbeit  the  wyfe  be  puxelie  cled. 
And,  gif  the  Avyfe  die  on  the  morne, 

2732     Thocht  all  the  bairns  sould  be  forlorne, 
The  vther  kow  he  cleiks  away, 
"With  the  pure  cot  of  raploch  gray. 
Wald  God  this  custome  war  put  doun, 

2736     Quhilk  never  was  foundit  be  ressoun  ! 


TEMPORALITIE. 

Ar  all  thay  tails  trew  that  thou  telles  1 

PAVPER. 

Trew,  sir  !     The  Divill  stick  me,  elles ! 
For — be  the  halie  Trinitie  !— 
2740     That  same  Avas  practeisit  on  me. 

For  our  Vickar — God  giue  him  pyne  ! — 
lies  3it  thrie  tydie  kye  of  myne  ; 
Ane  for  my  father,  and,  for  my  wyfe,  ane  vther, 
vife,  and  mother.    2744     A  ud  the  tlirid  coAV  he  tuke  for  Maid,  my  mother. 


Do  you  tell 
the  truth  f 


I  recount 
my  own 
exiierience. 

Our  vicar 
robbed  me 
of  three  cows, 
for  my  father. 


Our  parson  takes  Qur  Pcrsone,  heir,  he  takis  na  vther  pyne 

his  tithes,  and  p,ot  to  ressauc  his  teinds,  and  spend  them,  syne ; 

spends  them,  but  Howbcit  he  be  obleist,  be  gude  ressoun, 

does  not  preach.     2748     To  preich  the  Evangell  to  lus  parocliouu. 

Ho  does  not  Howbeit  thay  suld  Avant  preiching  sevintin  3cir, 

forego  his 

comforts.  Our  Pcrsouu  Avill  not  Avant  ane  scheif  of  beir. 


PAVPER. 


Our  bishops  Our  bishops,  Avith  thair  lustie  rokats  quhyte, 

have  great  wealth,  2752     Thay  flow  in  riclics,  royallie,  and  delyte. 

Lyke  Paradice  bene  thair  palices  and  places, 


live  in 
palaces,  and 


ANE    SATYUE. 


481 


And  wants  na  pleasour  of  the  fairest  faces. 

Als,  thii-  Prelates  lies  great  prerogatyues  ; 
2756     For  qiiliy  tliay  may  depairt,  ay,  Avitli  thair  wyues, 

Without  ony  correctioun  or  damnage, 

Syne,  talc  ane  vthcr  wantoner,  but  mariage. 

But  doubt,  I  wald  think  it  ane  pleasant  lyfe, 
27G0     Ay  on,  quhen  I  list,  to  part  with  my  wyfe, 

Syne,  tak  ane  vtlier,  of  far  greiter  bewtie. 

Bot  ever,  alace  !  my  Lords,  that  may  not  be  ; 

For  I  am  bund,  alace  !  in  mariage. 
2764     Bot  thay,  lyke  rams,  rudlic  in  thair  rage, 

Ynpysalt,  rinnis  amang  the  sillie  30"\vis, 

Sa  lang  as  kynde  of  nature  in  them  growis. 


have  pretty 
women. 
Moreover,  they 
change  their 
wives,  and 
with  impunity, 
scorning  wedlock. 

I  should 
tliiiik  this 
very  pleasant. 
But  I  am 
ni:in-iu(l. 
They  indulge 
their  lust  as 
long  as  it  lasts. 


PERSON. 


Thou  lies,  fals  huirsun,  raggit  loun. 
2768     Thair  is  na  Preists,  in  all  this  toun. 
That  ever  vsit  sic  vicious  crafts. 


Liar,  not  a 
priest  in  town  lias 
ever  done  thus. 


lOHNE. 

The  feind  ressaue  tliay  flattrand  drafts  !  what  a 

Sir  Domine,  I  trowit  36  had  be  dum.  simpleton, 

2772     Quhair  Devil  gat  we  this  ill-fairde  blaitie  bum]  to  say  this! 


To  speik  of  Preists,  be  sure  it  is  na  bourds. 
Thay  will  burne  men,  now,  for  rakles  words ; 
And  all  thay  words  ar  herisie,  in  deid. 


Such  heresy 
is  deserving 
of  the  stake. 


lOHNE. 

2776     The  niekil  feind  resaue  the  saul  that  leid  ! 

All  that  I  say  is  trew,  thocht  thou  be  greifit ; 
And  that  I  offer  on  thy  pallet  to  preif  it. 


1  say  what 
is  true;  and  I 
can  prove  it. 


SPIRITVALITIE. 


l\Ty  lords,  quhy  do  ^e  thoil  that  lurduii  loun 
2780     Of  Kirk-men  to  speik  sic  detractioun  ? 


Why  is  t'lis 
varlet  allowed 
to  slander 
the  clergy  ? 


482 


ANE    SAT Y  RE. 


This  19 
past  joking. 


The  villain  puts 
me  out  of  charity. 


I  let  30W  wit,  my  Lords,  it  is  na  bourds 
Of  Prelats  for  till  speik  sic  -wantoun  words 

{Ueir  Spritimlltie fames  and  rages.') 
3on  villaine  puttis  me  out  of  Charitie, 


If  he  has 
lied,  you  have 
your  remedy. 


TEMPORALITIE. 


2784     Quhy,  my  Lord  1     Sayis  lie  oclit  bot  verity  ? 

3e  can  nocht  stop  ane  pure  roan  for  till  plein^e. 
Gif  he  lies  faltit,  summond  liim  to  3our  Sein3e. 


The  wretch 
shall  rue 
his  speaking 
of  the  cow. 


SPIRITVALITIE. 

3ea,  that  I  sail.     I  mak  greit  God  a  vow, 
2788     He  sail  repent  that  he  spak  of  the  kow. 
I  will  not  suffer  sic  words  of  3on  villaine. 


Then  give  my 
tliree  cows  back. 


PAVPER. 

Than  gar  gif  me  my  thrie  fat  ky  againe. 


Don't  you  fear 
to  speak  of  me  ? 


SPIRITVALITIE. 

Fals  carle,  to  speik  to  me  stands  thou  not  aw  ? 


PAVPER. 

An  hour  after  my    2792     The  feiud  resaue  them  that  first  devysit  that  law  ! 
thVvLrseiled'  Within  an  houre  efter  my  dade  was  deid, 

my  cow.  The  Vickar  had  my  kow  hard  be  the  held. 


PERSON. 


Fals  huirsun  carle,  I  say  that  law  is  gude, 


That  Uiw  is 
good,  being 

of  old  use.  279G     Becaus  it  lies  bene  lanp;  our  consuetude. 


When  Pope,  I 
will  repeal  it. 


Quhen  I  am  Paip,  that  law  I  sal  put  doun. 
It  is  ane  sair  law  for  the  pure  commoun. 


Von  shall  repent 
these  words. 


SPIRITVALITIE, 

I  mak  an  vow,  thay  words  thou  sal  repent. 


ANE  SATYUE. 


4S3 


GVDE-COVNSALL. 

2800     I  30W  reqnyre,  my  Lords,  be  patient.  Wecamo, 

Wee  came  nocht  lieir  for  disputatiouns  ;  not  to  dispute, 

Wee  came  to  make  gude  reformatiouns.  ^"t '« reform. 

Heirfoir,  of  this  jour  propositioun.  Do  you  take 

2804.     Conclude,  and  put  to  executioun.  action,  then. 

MERCHAND. 

!RIy  Lords,  conclud  that  al  the  tewiporal  lands  Let  tiie  temporal 

Be  set  in  few  to  laboreris  with  thair  hands,  lands  be  leased 

With  sic  restrictiouns  as  sail  be  devysit,  to  husbandmen, 

2808     That  thay  may  liue,  and  nocht  to  be  supprysit,  on  terms  which 

With  ane  ressonabill  augmentatioun  ;  they  can  bear. 

And,  quhen  thay  heir  ane  proclamatioun.  And  let  them 

That  the  Kings  grace  dois  mak  him  for  the  weir,  ^oid  themselves 

-ii  •      ^  1  .in  readiness 

2812     That  thay  be  reddie  with  liarneis,  bow,  and  speir.       .   . ,  . 

"^  '  '  1  against  being 

As  for  myself,  my  Lord,  this  I  conclude.  required  for  war. 


GVDE-COVNSALL. 


Sa  say  we  all.     3our  ressoun  be  sa  gude, 
To  mak  ane  Act  on  this  we  ar  content. 


You  have  only 
to  make  an  Act 
on  this. 


2816     On  that,  sir  Scribe,  I  tak  ane  instrument. 
Quliat  do  36  of  the  cors-present  and  kow  1 

GVDE-COVNSALL. 

I  wil  conclude  natliing  of  that,  as  now, 
Without  my  Lord  of  Spiritualitie 
2820     Thairto  consent,  with  all  this  haill  cleargie. 
My  Lord  Bischop,  will  je  thairto  consent  1 


What  of  the 
mortuary 
and  cow  ? 


What  say  tlie 
clergy  and  the 
Lord  Bishop  to 
this  matter? 


SPIRITVALITIE. 

'Na,  na  !     JSTever  till  the  day  of  ludgement  we  win  never 

Wee  will  want  nathing  that  wee  haue  in  vse, —  give  up  anytin 
2824     Kirtil,  nor  kow,  teind  lambe,  teind  gryse,  nor  we  have  been 

gUSe,  used  to  enjoy. 


484 


ANE    SATYRE, 


The  King  had 
better  apply 
to  the  Pope 
for  a  decree 
against  mortu- 
aries, which 
we  object  to. 


Record  my  dis- 
sent, notary. 


TEMPORALITIE. 

Forsuitli,  my  Lord,  I  think  we  suld  conclude, 
Seing  this  kow  ^e  haue  in  consuetude, 
Wee  "will  decerne,  heir,  that  the  Kings  grace 
2828     Sail  wryte  vnto  the  Paipis  holines. 
With  his  consent,  be  proclamatioun 
Baith  cors-present  and  cow  wee  sail  cry  doun. 

SPIRITVALITIE. 

To  that,  my  Lords,  wee  plainlie  disassent. 
2832     looter,  thairof  I  tak  ane  instrument. 


It  signifies  no- 
thing that  you 
object.    We  two 
Estates  can  carry 
it  against  you  one.    2836 


TEMPORALITIE. 

My  lord,  be  him  that  al  the  warld  lies  wi'ocht ! 
Wee  set  nocht  by  quhider  je  consent  or  nocht. 
3e  ar  bot  ane  estait,  and  we  ar  twa  ; 
Et  vbi  maior  pars  ibi  tota. 


Consider,  now, 
the  money  that 
goes  to  Rome 
in  bribes. 
If  I  were  a  King, 
never  a  penny 
more  should  find 
its  way  there. 
There  must  be  a 
stop  put  to  this. 


The  complaint 
is  very  just. 
Wo  merchants 
alone  have 
sent  enormous 
wealth  thither. 


My  lords,  je  half  richt  prudentlie  concludit. 
Tak  tent,  now,  how  the  land  is  clein  denudit 
Of  gould  and  silver,  quhilk  daylie  gais  to  Eome, 

2840     For  buds,  mair  then  the  rest  of  Christindome. 
War  I  ane  King,  sir,  be  coks  passioun  ! 
I  sould  gar  mak  ane  proclamatioun, 
That  never  ane  penny  sould  go  to  Eome  at  all, 

2844     Xa  mair  then  did  to  Peter  nor  to  Paull. 
Do  ^e  nocht  sa,  heir,  for  conclusioun, 
I  gif  30W,  all,  my  braid  black  malesoun. 

MERCHAND. 

It  is  of  treuth,  sirs,  be  my  christindome  ! 
2848     Tliat  raekil  of  our  money  gais  to  Eome ; 

For  we  merchants,  I  wait,  within  our  bounds, 
Hes    furneist    Preists    ten    hundrctli    tliowsand 
punds. 


ANE    SATYRE. 


485 


For  thaiv  finnance  :  nane  knaAS-is  sa  weill  as  wee. 

2852     Thairfoir,  my  Lords,  dev^^se  sum  remedie  ; 
For,  throw  tliir  play  is,  and  thir  promotioiin, 
Mair  for  denners  nor  for  devotioun, 
Sir  Symonie  lies  maid  with  them  ane  band, 

2856     The  gould  of  weicht  thay  leid  out  of  the  land  ; 
The  Common-weil  thairthroch  being  sair  opprest. 
Thairfoir,  devyse  remeid,  as  30  think  best. 


Let  this  be 
remedied. 

So  much  gold — 
and  not  for 
spiritual  pur- 
poses,— has  gone 
out  of  the 
country,  that  tlie 
Commonwealth 
Buffers  sorely 
iu  consequence. 


GVDE-COVNSALL. 

It  is  schort  tyme  sen  ony  benefice 
2860     Was  sped  in  Eome,  except  greit  Bischopries ; 

Bot,  now,  for  ane  vnworthie  Vickarage 

Ane  Preist  will  rin  to  Rome,  in  Pilgramage. 

Ane  cavell  quhilk  was  never  at  the  scule 
2864:     Will  rin  to  Rome,  and  keip  ane  Bischops  mule, 

And,  syne,  cum  hame,  with  mony  colorit  crack, 

With  ane  buirdin  of  benefices  on  his  back  ; 

Quhilk  bene  against  the  law,  ane  man  alane 
2868     For  till  posses  ma  benefices  nor  ane. 

Thir  greit  commends,  I  say,  withoutin  faill, 

Sould  nocht  be  giuen  bot  to  the  blude  Royall. 

Sa  I  conclude,  my  Lords,  and  sayis,  for  me, 
2872     3e  sould  annull  all  this  pluralitie. 


People  now  visit 
Rome,  not  for 
bishoprics  only, 
but  even  for 
vicarships. 

A  poor  illiterate 
creature  will  go 
to  Rome,  tend  a 
Bishop's  mule, 
and  return  laden 
with  benefices, 
in  the  teeth 
of  the  law. 

Such  abuses,  and 
that  of  pluralities, 
should  be 
abolished. 


2876 


SPIRITVALITIE. 

The  Paip  hes  giuen  vs  dispensatiouns. 

GVDE-COVNSALL. 

3ea,  that  is,  be  ^our  fals  narratiouns. 
Thocht  the  Paip,  for  jour  pleasour,  wHl  dispence, 
I  trow  that  can  nocht  cleir  jour  conscience. 
Advyse,  my  Lords,  quhat  je  think  to  conclude. 

TEMPORALITIE. 

Sir,  be  my  faith  !  I  think  it  verie  gude, 


The  Pope  has 
given  us 
dispensitions. 


Yon  deceiv- 
ing him. 
But,  even  tlien, 

you  cannot 
clear  your 
consciences. 
What  shall 
be  done  ? 


To  my  mind. 


486 


ANE    SATTRE. 


priests  should 
keep  away  from 
Rome;  as  they 
impoverish  the 
realm  for  their 
own  benefit. 

And  I  think  a 
priest  should 
have  but  one 
benefice,  or  none. 


2880 


2884 


That,  fra   hencefurtli,   na  Preistis   sail  pas   to 

Eome ; 
Becaus  our  substance  thay  do  still  consume. 
For  plejds,  and  for  tliair  profeit  singulair, 
Thay  half  of  money  maid  this  realms  bair. 
And,  als,  I  think  it  best,  be  my  advj^se, 
That  ilk  Preist  sail  half  bot  ane  benefice ; 
And,  gif  thay  keip  noclit  that  fmidatioun, 
It  sail  be  cans  of  deprivatioun. 


We  concur 
in  this. 


MERCHAND. 


As  ^e  half  said,  my  Lord,  we  \nl  consent. 
2888     Scribe,  mak  ane  act  on  this,  incontinent. 


Now,  what  is 
the  duty  of 
prelates 
and  priests  ? 

We  should  decide    2892 

this  point,  before 

we  break  up. 

Benefices  are 

given  for  good.        2  8  9  G 

An  office  should 

be  duly  served. 

A  bishop 

Bhouldpreach;        2900 

and  a  parson 
should  teach 
the  Gospel. 

The  clergy  ought 

to  be  qualified. 

Tithes  are  to 

reward  services. 


2904 


GVDE-COVXSALL. 

My  Lords,  thair  is  ane  thing  3it  vnproponit, — 
How  Prelats  and  Preistis  aucht  to  be  disponit : 
This  beand  done,  we  haue  the  les  ado. 
Quhat  say  ^e,  sirs  ]     This  is  my  counsall,  lo  ! 
That,  or  wee  end  this  present  Parliament, 
Of  this  mater  to  tak  rype  advysement. 
Mark  weill,  my  Lords,  thair  is  na  benefice 
Giuen  to  ane  man,  bot  for  ane  gude  office. 
Quha  taks  office,  and  syne  thay  can  nocht  vs  it, 
Giuer  and  taker,  I  say,  ar  baith  abusit. 
Ane  Bischops  office  is  for  to  be  ane  preichour, 
And  of  the  law  of  God  ane  publick  teachour  ; 
Rycht  sa,  the  Persone  viito  his  parochoun 
Of  the  Evangell  sould  leir  them  ane  lessoun. 
Thair  sould  na  man  desyre  sic  dignities, 
Without  ho  be  abill  for  that  office  ; 
And,  for  that  caus,  I  say,  without  leising, 
They  haue  thair  teinds,  and  for  na  vther  thing. 


Where  do  you 
leam  that  we 
ought  to  be 
preachers  P 


SPIRITVALITIE. 

Freind,  quhair  find  3e  that  wc  suld  precliours  be  ? 


ANE    SAT Y HE. 


■ial 


GVDE-COVNSALL. 

2908     Luik  Quhat  Sanct  Paul  wryts  vnto  Timothie.        Read  what  s. 

Paul  writes 

Tak,  thair,  tlie  Buik  :  let  se  gif  je  can  spell.         to  Timothy. 

SPIRITVALITIE. 

I  never  red  that.     Thairfoir,  reid  it,  ^our  sel.       Read  it  yourself. 
(Giide-Counsall  sail  read  tliir  word  is  on  arte  Buik.) 

Fidelis  sermo  :  Si  quis  Episcopatum  desiderat,  bonum  opus  desidc- 
rat.     Oportet  [ergo,]  eum  irrcprehensibilem  esse,  vnius  vxoris 
virum,  sobrium,  prudentem,    ornatum,    pudicum,   hospitalem,   The  duty 
doctorem,  non   vinolentum,  non  percussorem,  sed  modestum. 
That  is:  "^'^ 

This  is  a  true  saying :   If  any  man  desire  the  office  of  a  Bishop,   Bishop, 
he  desireth  a  worthie  worke.    A  Bishop,  therefore,  must  be  vn- 
reproueable,  the  husband  of  one  wife,  &c. 


SPIRITVALITIE. 


3e  temporall  men,  be  liini  that  heryit  hell  ! 
2912     ^6  ar  ovir  peart  with  sik  maters  to  mail. 


You  laymen  have 
no  busijiess  with 
such  things. 


TEMPORALITIE. 

Sit  still,  my  Lord.     3e  neid  not  for  til  braull.       s.  Paui  Mmseif 
Thir  ar  the  verie  words  of  th'  Apostill  Paull.        says  this. 

SPIRITVALITIE. 

Sum  sayis,  be  him  that  woare   the   croun  of  some  say  it  had 

thorne!  beenwell.if 

Paul  had  never 

291 6     It  had  bene  gude  that  Paull  had  neir  bene  borne,  been  born. 

GVDE-COVNSALL. 

Bot  je  may  knaw,  my  Lord,  Sanct  Pauls  intent.  Did  you  never 

read  the  New 

Schir,  red  39  never  the  New  testament?  Testament? 


SPIRITVALITIE. 

ITa,  sir.     Be  him  that  our  Lord  Jesus  sauld  ! 
2920     I  red  never  the  ISTew  testament,  nor  auld  ; 
Nor  ever  thinks  to  do,  sir,  be  the  Rude  ! 
I  heir  freiris  say  that  reiding  dnis  na  gude. 


Never  New 
or  Old;  nor 
do  I  mean  to 
read  them. 

To  read  is  bad. 


488 


ANB    SATYRE. 


Reading  would 
be  no  wrong  to 
you,  it  being 
your  duty. 

What  do  you 
say  to  this  ? 


Don't  pester  me. 


GVDE-COVNSALL. 

Till  30W  to  reid  them  I  tliiuk  it  is  na  lack  ; 
2924     For,  anis    I   saw    them,   baith,  bund    on   30111 
back, — 
That  samin  day  that  30  was  consecrat. 
Sir,  quhat  meinis  that  1 

SPIRITVALITIE. 

The  femd  stick  them  that  wat  ! 


MERCHAND. 

vou  are  unfit  2928     Then  bcfoir  God  liow  can  36  be  excusit, 
for  your  office.  To  half  ane  office,  and  waits  not  how  to  vs  it  1 

Your  tithes  were  Quhairfoir  War  gifin  30W  all  the  temporal  lands, 

never  given  you  And  all  thir  teinds  36  haif  amang  3our  hands  1 

to  reward  what  2932     Thay  war  giuin  30W  for  vther  causses,  I  weine, 
you  now  do.  'NoT  mummil  matins  and  hald  3our  clayis  cleine. 

How  very  ^e  Say  to  the  Appostils  that  36  succeid  ; 

apostoUc!  Bot  36  schaw  nocht  that  into  word  nor  deid. 

For  tithes  2936     The   law   is  plaine,    our  teinds    suld  furnisch 

give  teachers.  teichours. 


Or  prtachei-8. 


GVDE-COVNSALL. 

3ea,  that  it  sould,  or  susteine  prudent  preichours. 


Our  parson  Sir,  God  !  nor  I  be  stickit  with  ane  knyfe, 

never  preached.  Gif  Bver  our  Pcrsoun  preichit,  in  all  his  lyfe. 


PERSONS. 
Wliat  does  our  n  r\    ^ 

preaching  2940     Quhat  dcvii.  raks  the  of  our  preiching,  vndocht? 

concern  you  !- 


Should  you  get 
tithes  gratis  ? 


Do  you  look  for 
a  cure  of  this  ? 


PAVPER. 

Think  30  that  36  suld  haue  the  teinds  for  nocht  ? 

PERSONS. 

Trowis  thou  to  get  remeid,  carle,  of  that  thing  1 


ANK    SATYHE.  489 

r.WPEK. 
~     ,     ,        .  ,  .   1  T  ,, .  There  would 

3ea,  be  Gods  breid  !  ncht  soue,  wav  1  ane  King,  iicacure,  ifi 

were  king. 


PERSONE. 

2944     Wald  thou  of  Prelats  male  deprivatiouu  ? 


Wijiil'l  villi 
(k]>ri\e  |irelates? 


Na  ;  I  siild  gar  them  kcip  thair  I'uudatioun.  Not  so. 

Quhat  devill  is  tliis?     Quhom  of  sould  Kings  wi.y  siiouid 

stand  aw  kings  fear  to 

To  do  the  thing  that  thay  soukl  be  the  law  ]        obey  the  law? 

2948     War  I  ane  Eang,  be  coks  deir  passionn  !  inhere  be  not 

I  sould  richt  sone  mak  reformatioun.  a  reformation, 

Fail^eand  thairof,  :jour  grace  sould  richt    sone  the  priests  win 

finde  soon  have  it  all 

That  Preists  sail  h'id  30W  lyke  ane  bellie  lilinde.  their  own  way. 

lOHNE. 

2952     Quhat  gif  King  David  Avar  leiuand  in  thir  dayis,  if  King  David, 

11-1  who  founded  so 

The  quhilk  did  tound  sa  mony  gay  Abayis  !  many  abbeys. 

Or,  out  of  heavin  quliat  gif  he  luikit  doun,  or  were  he  to  "^' 

look  down  from 
Heaven  and  see 


And  saw  the  great  abominatioun 


29r)G     Amang  thir  Abesses  and  thir  Nunries,—  'Jj®  com.ption  of 

"  '  the  religions 

Thair  publick  huirdomes  and  thair  harlotries  !      houses, 
He  wald  repent  he  narrowit  sa  his  bounds  he  would  wish 

he  had  been 

Of  ^eirlie  rent  thriescoir  of  thowsand  pounds.       more  liberal. 
2960     His  successours  maks  litill  ruisse,  I  ges,  His  successors 

little  value 

Of  his  devotioun,  or  of  his  holines.  his  virtues. 


ABBASSE. 

How  dar  thou,  carle,  presume  for  to  declair,  what  imperti- 

Or  for  to  niell  the  with  sa  heich  a  mater  %  nence  in  you : 

2964     For,  in  Scotland  thair  did  3it  never  ring, — ■  Never  had  we 

I  let  the  wit, — ane  mair  excellent  King.  "  ''^"e'  King ; 

Of  holines  he  was  the  verie  plant,  ""<i ''« is>  "ow. 
And  noAV,  in  heavin,  he  is  ane  michtfull  Sanet  ;  » migiity  Buint. 


490 


ANE    SATYRB. 


He  fuuiided 
fifteen  abbeys, — 
greatly  en- 
riching the 
church, — unlilie 
present  kings. 

Perdition  reward 
your  presump- 
tion, in  judging 
so  holy  a  man ! 


2968 


2972 


Becaus  that  fyfteiii  Abbasies  he  did  found, 
Quhairthrow  great  riches  hes  ay  done  abound 
Into  our  Kirk,  and  daylie  3it  abunds  : 
Bot  kings,  now,  I  trow,  few  Abbasies  founds. 
I  dar  Weill  say,  thou  art  condempnit  in  hell, 
That  dois  presume  with  sic  maters  to  meU. 
Fals,  huirsun  carle,  thou  art  ovir  arrogant, 
To  iudge  the  deids  of  sic  ane  halie  Sanct. 


What  said  James 

I.  of  him? 

He  was 

too  profuse ; 

and  his  suc- 
cessors suffered 
from  his  holiness. 


2976 


2980 


King  lames  the  first,  Eoy  of  this  Eegioun, 
Said  that  he  was  ane  sair  Sanct  to  the  croun. 
I  heir  men  say  that  he  was  sumthing  bHnd, 
That  gaue  away  mair  nor  he  left  behind. 
His  successours  that  halines  did  repent, 
QuhUk  gart  them  do  great  inconvenient. 


This  wretch 

prates  heresy, 

and  deserves 

to  be  burnt, 

for  speaking 
against  our  law 
and  liberty. 


ABBASSE. 

My  Lord  Bishop,  I  mervel  how  that  33 
Suffer  this  carle  for  to  speik  heresie ; 
2984     For,  be  my  faith  !  my  Lord,  Avill  je  tak  tent, 
He  servis  for  to  be  brunt  incontinent, 
^e  can  nocht  say  bot  it  is  heresie, 
To  speik  against  our  law  and  libertie. 


Let  him 
be  charged, 
and  taken  to 
the  stake, 
if  he  merits 
death. 


Dcdare  your 

hith. 


2992 


SPIRITVALITIE. 

Sancte  pater,  I  mak  30W  supplicatioun, 
Exame  ^on  carle  ;  sjoie,  mak  his  dilatioun. 
I  mak  ane  vow  to  God  omnipotent, 
That  bystour  salbe  brunt  incontinent. 
Venerabill  father,  I  sail  do  ^our  command  ; 
Gif  he  semis  deid,  I  sail  sune  vnderstand. 

(^Paum.) 

Fals,  huirsun  carlo,  schaw  furth  thy  faith. 


AN'K    SATVRK. 


41tl 


lOHNE. 

Me  think  je  speik  as  30  war  wraith. 
299G     To  30W  I  will  iiathing  declair  ; 
For  36  ar  nocht  my  ordinair. 

FLATTRIE. 

Quhoni  in  trowis  thou,  fals  monster  mangit  1 

lOHNE. 

I  trow  to  God  to  se  the  hangit. 

3000     "War  I  ane  King,  be  coks  passioun  ! 
I  sould  gar  mak  ane  congregatioun 
Of  all  the  freii'S  of  the  four  ordouris, 
And  mak  30W  vagers  on  the  bordours. 

3004     Schir,  will  ^e  giue  me  audience, 

And  I  sail  schaw  ^our  excellence — 
Sa  that  30ur  grace  will  giue  me  leife, — 
How  into  God  that  I  beleife. 

CORRECTIOVN. 

3008     Schaw  furth  30ur  faith,  and  fein3e  nocht. 
lonNE. 

I  beleife  in  God,  that  all  lies  wrocht, 

And  creat  everie  thing  of  nocht : 

And  in  his  Son,  our  Lord  lesu, 
3012     Incarnat  of  the  Virgin  trew  ; 

Quha  vnder  Pilat  tholit  passioun, 

And  deit  for  our  Salvatioun  ; 

And,  on  the  thrid  day,  rais  againe, 
3016     As  halie  scriptour  schawis  plane. 

And,  als,  my  Lord,  it  is  weill  kend, 

How  he  did  to  the  heavin  ascend, 

And  set  him  doun  at  the  richt  hand 
3020     Of  God  the  father,  I  vnderstand, 

And  sail  cum  iudge  on  Dumisday. 

Quhat  will  36  mair,  sir,  that  I  say  1 


You  arc  anfjrv. 

It  is  not  to  you 
that  I  will  " 
declare  anytliiiig 


Whom  do  jiiii 
trust  in  ? 


1  trust  to  see 
you  hanged. 

If  1  were  a  king, 
I  would  send 
friai's  of  all 
sorts  packing. 
To  Your  Ex- 
cellency 1 
am  willing  to 
state  my  belief. 


state  it, 
and  honestly. 


I  believe  in 

God  the  Creator; 

and  in  Christ, 

Virgin-born, 

crucified, 

dcail,  and 

risen  again  on 

the  third  day ; 

ascended  into 

Heaven ; 

seated  at  God's 

riglit  hand ; 

who  will  come 
to  judge  at 
Doomsday. 


492 


ANE    SATVRE. 


Say  the  rest. 


I  believe  in 
Holy  Church, 
but  not  in  bishops 
or  friars, — 
a  graceless 

crew,  alto- 
gether. 


GURKECTlOVN. 

Schaw  furth  the  rest.     This  is  iia  game. 

lOHNE. 

3024     I  trow  Sanctam  Ecclesiam, 

Bot  nocht  in  tliir  Biscliops,  nor  thir  Freirs, 
Quhilk  will,  for  purging  of  thir  neirs, 
Sard  vp  the  ta  raw  and  doun  the  vther. 

3028     The  mekill  Devill  resaue  the  tidder ! 


.Tolin  seems  » 
^ood  Christian. 


CORRECTJOVN. 


Say  quhat  30  will,  sirs,  he  Sanct  Tan ! 
INfe  tliinlc  lohue  aue  jmde  Christian  man. 


TEMPORALITIE. 


My  Lords,  let  he  ^our  dispiitatioun. 
Conclude,  with  firm  deliberatioun, 
How  Prelats,  fra  thyne,  sail  be  disponit. 


Determine,  my 

Lor,Ls  what  shall   3,332     Couclude,  with  firm  dcliberatioun, 

be  (lone  as 


Benefices  should 

be  given  to 

preachers  only ; 

and  no  sheep 

to  wolves. 

Heresy  is  bred 

by  bad  bishops, 

independent  of 

the  prince. 

Hence,  kings 
sliould  give 
bishoprics  to 
such  only  as 
jii-each  through- 
out their  sees. 

And  every  ii.ivsun 
should  preaili 
in  his  pavisli. 


MERCIIAND. 

I  think,  for  me,  eviu  as  36  first  proponit. 
That  the  Kings  grace  sail  gif  na  benefice 

3036     Bot  till  ane  peichour  that  can  vse  that  office. 
The  siUie  sauls  that  bene  Christis  scheip 
Sould  nocht  be  givin  to  gormand  wolfis  to  kelp. 
Quhat  bene  the  cans  of  all  the  heresies, 

3040     Bot  the  abusiouu  of  the  prelacies  1 

Thay  Avill  correct,  and  will  nocht  be  correctit ; 
Thinkand  to  na  prince  thay  wil  be  subiectit : 
Quhairfoir,  I  can  find  na  better  remeid 

3044     Bot  that  tliir  kings  man  take  it  in  thair  held, 
That  thair  be  giucn  to  na  man  bischoprics, 
Except  thay  preich  outthrocli  thair  diosies, 
And  ilk  persone  preich  in  his  parochon  : 

'M)\S     And  this  I  say,  for  fmall  conclusion. 


ANE    SATYRE.  493 

TEMPORALITIP;. 

Wee  think  30111*  coiinsall  is  verie  gude  :  we  aii  approve 

As  3e  haiie  said,  wee  all  conclude.  your  counsel 

Of  this  conclusioun,  Noter,  wee  mak  ane  act.        as  very  good. 

SCRYBE. 

3052     I  wryte  all  da)^,  hot  gets  never  ane  plack.  nut  my  fees  r 

PAVPER. 

Och  !  my  Lords,  for  the  halie  Trinitie,  Remember  tiie 

Remeniher  to  reforme  the  consistorie.  consisiory,  my 

Lords,  wliieh 

It  hes  mair  neid  of  reformatioun  ^^,.^1^  ,,^^^3 

3056     Nor  Ploiitois  court,  sir,  he  coks  passioun  !  ameudinp. 

PERSONE. 

Quhat  catis  hes  thou,  fals  pellour,  for  to  plein3e  1  why  complain 
Quhair  was  36  ever  suinmond  to  thair  sein3e?        of  the  consistory? 

PAVPER. 

Marie  !  I  lent  my  gossop  my  mear,  to  fetch  hame  i  lent  my 

Coills  ;  mare ;  and  she 

3060     And  he  hir  drounit  into  the  querrell  hollis.  was  drowned. 

And  I  ran  to  the  Consistorie,  for  to  plein3e  ;        i  hastened  to  the 
And  thair  I  happinit  ainang  ane  greidie  mein3e,  consistorj-,  to 
Thay  gaue  me,  first,  ane  thing  thay  call  citandum ;  lodge  a  com- 

3064     "Within  aucht  dayis,  I  gat  hot  lyhellandum  ;         ,,iaint;  and  there 
Within  ane  moneth,  I  gat  ad  opponendum  ;  i  feii  among 

In  half  ane  3eir,  I  gat  interloquendum ;  cunning  and 

And,  syne,  I  gat — how  call  3e  it  1 — ad  replican-  extortionate 

dum  :  lawyers,  who 

3068     Bot  I  could  never  ane  word  3it  vnderstand  him.  had  my  case 

And  than  thay  gart  me  cast  out  many  plackis,  adjourned  and 

And  gart  me  pay  for  four  and  twentie  actis  ;  adjourned,  and 

Bot,  or  thay  came  half  gait  to  concludendum,  drained  me  of  aii 

3072     The  feind  ane  plack  Avas  left  for  to  defend  him.  my  money,  in 

Thus  thay  postponit  me  twa  3eir,  with  thair  traine,  payment  of 

Syne,  hodie  ad  octo,  had  me  cum  againe;  their  fees; 


494 


ANE    SATYRE. 


*nd  they  cried 
fur  silver,  to  the 
last ;  but  I  never 
got  my  good 
mare,  after  all. 


And  than  thir  ruiks  thay  roupit  wonder  fast 
3076     For  sentence  silver  :  tliay  cryit,  at  the  last. 

Of  pronunciandum  thay  maid  me  "wonder  faine  j 
Bot  I  gat  never  my  gude  gray  meir  againe. 


Herein,  again,  we 

will  reform.  3080 

The  law-charges 

are  excessive. 

We  will  have 
it  here  as  it  is 
in  France.    The 
Spiritualty 
sliall  look  after 
spiritual  matters ; 
the  Teraporalty, 
after  temporal. 


3084 


3088 


TEMPOEALITIE. 

My  Lords,  we  mon  reforme  thir  consistory  la\vis, 
Quhais  great  defame  aboue  the  heavins  blawis. 
I  wist  ane  man,  in  persewing  ane  kow, 
Or  he  had  done,  he  spendit  half  ane  bow. 
Sa  that  the  kings  honour  wee  may  avance. 
Wee  will  conclude  as  thay  haue  done  in  France. 
Let  SprituaU  maters  pas  to  Spritualitie, 
And  Temporall  maters  to  Temporalitie  : 
Quha  fail^eis  of  this  sail  cost  them  of  thair  gude. 
Scribe,  mak  ane  act ;  for  sa  wee  will  conclude. 


This  goes  against 
our  interest, 
which  we  will 
not  forego. 


SPIRITVALITIB. 


That  act,  my  Lords, — plainlie  I  will  declair, — 

It  is  againis  our  profeit  singulair. 

"Wee  will  nocht  want  our  profeit,  be  Sanct  Geill ! 


YoTir  interest  3092 

is  selfish ;  and 
your  consent 
does  not  signify. 

Temporal  Judges, 

not  spiritual,  "^00  P 

sliould  have 

cognizance  of 

matters  temporal. 

We  have  given 

our  decision.  3100 


TEMPORALITIE. 

3our  profeit  is  against  the  Common-weil. 
It  salbe  done,  my  Lords,  as  36  haue  wrocht  : 
"We  cure  nocht  quhidder  36  consent,  or  nocht. 
Quhairfoir  servis,  then,  all  thir  Temporall  ludges, 
Gif  temporall  maters  sould  .seik  at  30W  refuges  ? 
My  Lord,  36  say  that  36  ar  SprituaU  : 
Quhairfoir  mell  36,  than,  with  things  temporall  ? 
As  we  haue  done  conclude,  sa  sail  it  stand. 
Scrilje,  put  our  Acts  in  ordour,  evin  fra  hand. 


SPIRITVALITIE. 


To  .ill  your  Ads  Till  all  30ur  acts  plainlie  I  disassent. 

wetakeexcepiioii.  Xolar,  thaivof  I  tak  aiic  instrument. 


ANE    SATYKE. 
(^Heir  sail  Veritie  and  Chastitie  mak  thair  plaint  at  the  bar.) 
VERITIE. 


495 


3104 


3108 


My  Soverane,  I  beseik  ;our  excellence, 

Yse  lustice  on  Spiritualitie, 

The  quhilk  to  vs  lies  done  great  violence, 

Becaus  we  did  rehers  the  veritie. 

Tliay  pnt  vs  close  into  Captivitie  ; 

And  sa  remanit  into  suhiectioun, 

Into  great  langour  and  calamitie, 

Till  we  war  fred  be  Kin"  Correctioun. 


I  beseech  that 

Spiritualty  may 

get  his  due  for  his 

violence  to  us. 

He  cast  us  into 
bonds,  where  we 
lay  until  released 
by  King 
Correction. 


CHASTITIE. 

My  lord,  I  half  great  cans  for  to  coniplaine. 
3112     I  could  get  na  ludging  intill  this  land, 

The  Spirituall  stait  had  me  sa  at  disdane. 

With  Dame  Sensuall  thay  haue  maid  sic  ane 
band, 

Amang  them  all  na  freindschip,  sirs,  I  fand  ; 
3116     And,  quhen  1  came  the  nobill  innis  amang, 

My  lustie  Ladie  Priores,  fra  hand. 

Out  of  hir  dortour  durlie  scho  me  danw. 


For  my  part,  I 
could  get  no 
lodginfj  in  all 
the  land, 
owing  to  the 
influence  of 
Sensuality. 

Even  the  Lady 
Piioress  drove 
me  out  of  her 
dormitory. 


VERITIE. 

With  the  advyse,  sir,  of  the  Parliament, 
3120     Hairtlie  we  mak  30 w  supplicatioun. 

Cause  King  Correctioun  tak,  incontinent, 
Of  all  this  sort  examinatioun, 
Gif  thay  be  digne  of  deprivatioun, — 
3124     3e  haue  power  for  to  correct  sic  cases, — 

Chease  the  maist  cunning  Clerks  of  this  natioun, 
And  put  mair  prudent  pastours  in  thair  places. 
My  prudent  Lords,  I  say  that  pure  craftsmen 
3128     Abufe  sum  Prelats  ar  mair  for  to  commend. 
Gar  exame  them,  and  sa  3e  sail  sune  ken 
How  thay  in  vertcw  Bischops  dois  transcend. 


Let  King 
Correction 
examine 
all  persons 
of  this  sort. 

Let  fit 

clergy  be 

substituted 

for  unfit. 

Even  poor 
craftsmen  knovr 
their  business 
better  than 
tome  Iijshope. 


496 


ANE    SATYUE. 


What  is 
your  craft  ? 


That  of  tailor, 
to  make  and 
to  mend. 


Why  called 
tailor  ? 


Because  I  can 
make  doublets, 
c.iats,  and  hose. 


And  what  are 
you  called  ? 


A  shoemaker. 


Why  so  called  ? 


Because  1  make 
foot-gear. 
I  should  like  to 
show  a  sample 
of  my  skill. 


Things  are, 
indeed,  out  of 
order,  when  very 
shoemakers  and 
tailors  surpass, 
in  tlieir  voca- 
tions, our 
prelates. 


SCRIBE. 

Thy  life  and  craft  mak  to  thir  King.s  kend. 
3132     Quhat  craft  hes  tliow  declair  that  to  me  plaine. 

TAIL3EOVR. 
Ane  tail3eour,  sir,  that  can  baith  niak  and  mend  : 
I  wait,  nana  better  into  Dumbartane. 

SCRIBE. 

Quhairfoir  of  tail^eonrs  beirs  thou  tlie  st}'!  1 

TAIL3EOUR. 
3136     Becaus,  I  wait,  is  nane,  within  ane  niyll, 
Can  better  vse  that  craft,  as  I  suppois  ; 
For  I  can  mak  baith  doublit,  coat,  and  liois. 

SCRIBE. 

How  cal  thay  30U,  su',  wdtli  the  schaiping  knife  1 

SOWTAR. 

3140     Ane  sowtar,  sir;  nane  better  into  Fyfe. 

SCRIBE. 

Tel  me  quhairfoir  ane  sowtar  30  av  namit  1 

SOWTAR. 

Of  that  surname  I  neid  nocht  be  aschamit; 
For  I  can  mak  schone,  brotekins,  and  buittis. 
3144     Gif  me  the  coppie  of  the  Kings  cuittis. 

And  36  sail  se,  richt  sune,  quhat  I  can  do. 
Heir  is  my  lasts,  and  weill  wrocht  ledder,  to. 

GVDE-COVNSALL. 

0  Lord  my  God       This  is  an  mervelous  thing, 
3148     How  sic  misordour  in  this  Eealme  sould  ring. 
Sowtars  and  tail3eours  thay  ar  fiir  mair  expert 
In  thair  pure  craft,  and  in  tliair  handle  art, 
Nor  ar  our  Prelatis  in  tliair  vocatioun. 
3152     I  pray  v^w,  sirs,  mak  reformatioun. 


ANK    SATYRK. 


497 


VERITIE. 

Alace !  alace  !     Quhat  gars  thir  temporal  Kings 
Into  the  Kirk  of  Christ  admit  sic  doings  1 
My  Lords,  for  hife  of  Christs  passioun, 

3156     Of  thir  ignorants  niak  depriuatioun, 

Qnhilk  in  the  court  can  do  hot  flatter  and  fleich  ; 
And  put  into  thair  places  that  can  preich. 
Send  furth,  and  seik  sum  devoit  cunning  Clarks, 

3160     That  can  stcir  vp  the  peopill  to  gude  warks. 


Much  to  bUme 
are  kings. 

Sly  Lords,  depose 
tliese  ignorant 
persons,  mere 
flatterers,  and 
supersede  them 
by  earnest  clerks, 
that  know  how 
to  preach. 


3164 


CORRECTIOVN. 

As  3e  haue  done,  Madame,  I  am  content. 

Hoaw  !  Diligence,  pas  hynd,  incontinent, 

And  seik  outthrow  all  towns  and  cities. 

And  visie  all  the  vniversities. 

Bring  vs  sum  Doctours  of  Divinitie, 

"With  licents  in  the  law  and  Theologie, 

With  the  maist  cunning  Clarks  in  all  this  land. 


Diligence,  explore 
the  towns,  cities, 
and  universities, 
and  bring  hither 
doctors  of 
divinity,  licen- 
tiates in  law 


and  theology,  and 

3168     Speid  sune  jour  way,  and  bring  them  heir  fra  leamed  clerks, 
hand.  furtiiwith. 


3172 


DILIGENCE. 


Quhat  gif  'I  find  sum  halie  provinciall,  what  if  i 

Or  minister  of  the  gray  freiris  all,  find  any,  besides 

Or  ony  freir,  that  can  preich  prudentlie  1  these,  that 

Sail  I  bring  them  with  me  in  cumpanie  1  can  preach  ? 


CORRECTIOVN. 


Let  them 
be  included. 
No  matter 
what  their  titles, 


Cair  thou  nocht  quhat  estait  saever  he  be, 
Sa  thay  can  teich  and  preich  the  yeritie. 
i\Iaist  cunning  Clarks  with  rs  is  best  beluifit 
3176     To  dignitie  thay  salbe,  first,  promuifit. 

Quhidder  thay  be    ]\Iunk,  Channon,  Preist,   or  they  that  can 

Freir,  preach  shall 

Sa  thay  can  proirh,  faill  nocht  to  bring  them  be  raised,  first, 

heir.  to  dignity. 


498 


ANE    SAT  Y  HE. 


I  will  do 
as  I  am  bid. 


Sire,  pity  our 

daughters,  hard 

to  dispose  of, 

unless  dowried 

3184 

with  land. 

The  market  is 

spoilt  for  them, 

since  the  daugh- 

ters of  prelates 

3188 

can  be  endowed 

with  such  large 

marriage- 

portions. 

The  wealth 

of  the  prelates 
keeps  our 

3192 

daughters 

ucwedded. 

And  some  of  thera 

go  naughty. 

3196 

There  is  reason  in 

this  complaint ; 

and  here,  too,  I 
will  reform,  be- 
fore I  go  away. 


Clear  the  way 
for  me. 
Alack,  if  I 
Bm  taken  I 


DILIGENCE. 

Than  fair-weill,  sir ;  for  I  am  at  the  flicht. 
3180     I  pray  the  Lord  to  send  30W  all  gude  nicht. 
(^Heir  sail  Diligence  pas  to  the  palyoun.') 


TEMPORALITIB. 

Sir,  we  beseik  ^our  soverane  celsitude 

Of  our  dochtours  to  haue  compassioun, 

Qiihoni  wee  may  na  way  marie,  be  the  Eude  ! 

"Without  wee  mak  sum  alienatioun 

Of  our  land,  for  thair  supportatioun  ; 

For  quhy  tlie  markit  raisit  bene  sa  hie, 

That  Prelats  dochtours  of  this  natioun 

Ar  maryit  with  sic  superfluities, 

Thay  Avill   nocht    spair   to    gif  twa   thowsand 

pound. 
With  thair  dochtours,  to  ane  nobill  man  ; 
In  riches  sa  thay  do  superaboimd. 
Bot  we  may  nocht  do  sa,  be  Sanct  Allane  ! 
Thir  proud  Prelats  our  docliters  sair  may  ban, 
That  thay  remaine  at  hame  sa  lang  vnmaryit. 
Schir,  let  30ur  Barrouns  do  the  best  thay  can, 
Sum  of  our  dochtours,  I  dreid,  salbe  miscaryit. 

CORRECTIOVN. 

My  Lord,  30ur  complaint  is  richt  ressonabill. 
And,  richt  sa,  to  our  dochtours  profitabill. 
I  think,  or  I  pas  aff  this  natioun. 
Of  this  mater  till  mak  reformatioun. 

{Heir  sail  enter  common  thift.) 

THIFT. 

Ga  by  the  gait,  man  ;  let  me  gang. 
How  Devill  came  I  into  this  thrang  1 
"With  sorrow  I  may  sing  my  sang. 
And  I  be  tainc. 


3200 


3204 


ANE    SATYRi:. 


499 


For  1  liaue  run  bailli  nicht  and  Jay  ; 
Tlirow  speid  of  fut  I  gat  away. 
Gif  I  be  kend  heir,  wallaway  ! 
3208  I  will  be  slaine. 

PAVPER. 

Quhat  is  thy  name,  man,  be  thy  thrift  1 

THIFT. 

Huirsun,  thay  call  me  common  thift  ; 

For  quhy  I  had  na  vther  schift, 
3212  Sen  I  was  borne. 

In  Eusdaill  was  my  dwelling  place  : 

Mony  ane  wyfe  gart  I  cry  alace  ; 

At  my  hand  thay  gat  never  grace, 
3216  Bot  ay  forlorne. 

Sum  sayis,  ane  king  is  cum  amang  vs, 

That  purposis  to  head  and  hang  vs. 

Thair  is  na  grace,  gif  he  may  fang  vs, 
3220  Bot  on  an  pin. 

Eing  he,  we  theifis  will  get  na  gude. 

I  pray  God  and  the  halie  Eude, 

He  had  bene  smoird  into  his  cude, 
3224  And  all  his  kin. 

Get  this  curst  King  me  in  his  grippis. 

My  craig  will  wit  quhat  weyis  my  hippis. 

The  Devill  I  gif  his  toung  and  lippis, 
3228  That  of  me  tellis. 

Adew !  I  dar  na  langer  tarie  ; 

For,  be  I  kend,  thay  will  me  carie, 

And  put  me  in  ane  fierie  farie  : 
3232  I  se  nocht  ellis. 

I  raife      Be  him  that  herryit  hell  ! 

I  had  almaist  for3et  my  sell. 

Will  na  gude  fallow  to  me  tell 
3236  Quhair  I  may  finde 

The  Earle  of  Eothus  best  haiknav  : 


My  legs 
saved  me. 
If  recognized, 
I  am  lost. 


What  is 
your  namu  ? 


Common  Theft; 
for  I  live 
by  thieving. 
My  home  was 
in  Ewisdale, 
where  I  vexed 
the  wives. 

They  say  that 

a  King  has  come, 

who  means 

to  hang  us. 

I  wish  he  and  all 

his  kindred  had 

been  smothered  in 

their  chrisoras. 

He  would  soon 

do  for  me. 

Let  no  one  delate 

against  me. 

Good-bye !  If 

I  am  known, 

it  will  fare 

ill  with  me. 

I  had  almost 

forgot  myself. 

Will  no  one 
tell  me  where 
I  can  find 
a  certain  hackney 


500 


ANE    SATYUE. 


I  came  about, — 

sturdy,  and  fleet 

as  tlie  wind  ? 

Here  are  my 

bridle  and  spurs. 

I  should  like  to 

spirit  him  away. 

If  I  got  sight  of 

him,  we  should  be 

a  long  way  off 

before  midnight. 

Which  is  the  way 

to  the  Stother  ? 

My  mother  would 

like  to  see  me. 

With  Lord 
Lindesay's  genet, 
and  beyond , 
the  water 
of  Annand,  I 
should  not  fear. 

What  brouglit 
you  here, 
Oppression  ? 
What  have 
you  done  ? 

The  King 

set  me  here. 

1  wish  I  could 

see  Temporalty. 

Pray  stay  here 

half  an  hour. 

I  was  never 
backward  to 
defend  you. 

Put  your  leg  in 

my  place. 

1  will  relieve  and 

release  you  soon.     3272 


3240 


3244 


3248 


3252 


3256 


32G0 


3264 


3268 


That  was  my  earand  heir  away. 
He  is  richt  starck,  as  I  heir  say, 

And  swift  as  winde. 
Heir  is  my  brydill  and  my  spurris, 
To  gar  him  lance  ovir  h^nd  and  furris. 
Micht  I  him  get  to  Ewis  durris, 

I  tak  na  cuir. 
Of  that  hors  micht  I  get  ane  sicht, 
I  haife  na  doubt,  3it  or  midnicht, 
That  he  and  I  sould  tak  the  flicht 

Throch  Dysert  mure. 
Of  cumpanarie,  tell  me,  brother, 
Quhilk  is  the  richt  way  to  the  Strother. 
I  wald  be  welcum  to  my  mother, 

Gif  I  micht  speid. 
I  wald  gif  baith  my  coat  and  bonet, 
To  get  my  Lord  Lindesayis  broun  lonet. 
War  he  bejond  the  watter  of  Annet, 

We  sould  nocht  dreid. 
Quhat  now,  Oppressioun,  my  maister  deir  ! 
Quhat  mekill  Devill  hes  brocht  30W  heirl 
Maister,  tell  me  tlie  cans,  perqueir, 

Quhat  is  that  36  haue  done. 

OPPRESSIOVN. 

Forsuith,  the  kings  maiestie 
Hes  set  me  heir,  as  30  may  se. 
Micht  I  speik  Temporalitie, 

He  wald  me  releife  sone. 
I  beseik  y^w,  my  brother  deir, 
Bot  halfc  ane  houre  for  to  sit  heir. 
3e  knaw  that  I  was  never  sweir 

3ow  to  defend. 
Put  in  30ur  leg  into  my  place ; 
And  heir  I  sweir,  be  Gods  grace, 
3ow  to  releife  within  schort  space, 

Syne,  let  30W  wond. 


ANE    SATYRE. 


601 


THIFT. 

Than,  maister  deir,  gif  luc  30111'  hand, 
And  mak  to  me  ane  faithful!  band, 
That  je  sail  cum  agaue  fra  hand, 
32 7  G  Withoutin  foill. 

OPPRESSIOVN. 

Tak,  thair,  my  hand,  richt  faithfullie. 

Als,  I  promit  the,  verelie, 

To  gif  to  the  ane  cuppill  of  kye, 

3280  In  LiddisdaiU. 

{Thift puts  his  legs  in  the  stockis.) 
Haif  I  nocht  maid  ane  honest  schift, 
That  lies  betrasit  common  Thift  ] 
For  thair  is  nocht,  vnder  the  lift, 

3284  Ane  curster  cors. 

I  am  richt  sure  that  he  and  I, 

Within  this  hal  3eir,  craftely 

Hes  stolne  ane  thowsand  scheip  and  ley, 

3288  By  meiris  and  hors. 

"Wald  God  I  war  baith  sound  and  haill, 

Now  liftit  into  LiddisdaiU  ! 

The  Mers  sonld  find  me  beif  and  kaill. 

3292  Qnhat  rak  of  bread  ! 

War  I  thair  liftit,  with  my  lyfe, 

The  Devill  sould  stick  me  with  ane  knyfe. 

And  ever  I  come  againe  to  Fyfe, 

3296  Quhill  I  war  dead. 

Adew  !  I  leife  the  Devill  amang  30W : 
That  in  his  fingers  he  may  fang  30W, 
With  all  leill  men  that  dois  belang  30W : 

3300  For  I  may  rew 

That  ever  I  came  into  this  land  ; 
For  qtihy,  3e  may  weill  vnderstand, 
I  gat  na  geir  to  turne  my  hand. 

3304  3it  anis,  adew  ! 


Then  give  me 
your  hand,  and 
promise  to  return 
soon  certainly. 


I  promise 
faithfuUy. 

And  I  will  give 
you  a  couple 
of  cows,  too. 


So  I  have 
betrayed  Common 
Theft,  the 
miserable  wretcli. 

Within  the 
twelvemonth  I 
am  sure  he  and  I 
have  stolen  a 
thousand  sheep 
and  kine. 

Would  I  were 

in  Liddisdale! 

The  Mers  should 

teed  me  well. 

Once  there,  I 

would  never 

more  return 

to  Fyfe. 

Adieu!  The  Devil 
take  you  and  all 
your  loyal  men ! 
I  regret  having 
ever  come  here, 
where  my  chance 
has  been  so  poor. 

Once  more, 
adieu  I 


502 


ANE    SATYKE. 


I  bring  three 
clerks,  very  in- 
telligent, able  to 
preach,  and  also 
to  teach  Latin, 

They  are  a  doctor 
of  divinity  and 
two  licentiates, 
altogether  godly. 


{Heir  nail  DUigPuce  conuoy  the  thrie  Chirks.) 
DILIGENCE. 

Sir,  I  haue  brocht  vnto  3  our  Excellence, 

Thir  famous  Clarks  of  greit  intelligence  ; 

For  to  the  common  peopill  thay  can  preich, 
3308     And,  in  the  Scuilis,  in  Latine  toung  can  t'eich. 

This  is  ane  Doctour  of  Divinitie  ; 

And  thir  twa,  Licents,  men  of  gravitie. 

]  heare  men  say,  tliair  conversatioun 
3312     Is  maist  in  Divine  Contemplatioun. 


My  blessing  on 

this  company. 

We  come  to 

serve  you, 

ready  to  do 
whatever  yon 
command. 


DOCTOVR. 

Grace,  peace,  and  rest  from  the  hie  Trinitie, 
Mot  rest  amang  this  godlie  cumpanie  ! 
Heir  ar  we  cumde,  as  3our  obedients, 
3316     For  to  fulfil  ^our  iust  commandements. 

Quhateuir  it  please  30ur  Grace  vs  to  command, 
Sir,  it  sail  be  obeyit,  euin  fra  hand. 


REX    HVMANITAS. 


Gud  freinds,  3e  ar  richt  welcome  to  vs  all. 


Welcome! 

Sit  down,  and  . 

advise  us.  3320     Sit  doun,  all  thrie,  and  geif  vs  3our  counsall. 


Exert  yourself 
in  your  office. 
First,  search  out 
all  that  are  in- 
competent to 
fulfil  th«ir  duties, 
and  put  others  in 
their  places. 

You  are  the  head 
of  this  congrega- 
tion; and  I  will 
be  diligent  to 
support  you. 


CORRECTIOVN. 

Sir,  I  giue  30W  baith  counsal  &  conanand, 

In  30ur  office  vse  exercitioun  ; 

First,  that  je  gar  search,  out  throch  all  30ur  land, 
3324     Quha  can  nocht  put  to  executiuun 

Thair  office  efter  the  institutioun 

Of  godlie  lawis,  conforme  to  thair  vocatioun  : 

Put  in  thair  places  men  of  gude  conditioun  : 
3328     And  this  30  do  without  dilatioun. 

3e  ar  the  head,  sir,  of  this  congrcgatioun, 

Preordinat  be  God  omnipotent, 

Quhilk  hes  me  send  to  mak  30W  snpportatioun, 
3332     Into  the  quhilk  T  salbe  diligent. 


ANE    SATYRE. 


503 


And  quhasaever  beis  inobedient, 
And  will  nocht  suffer  for  to  be  correctit, 
Thay  salbe,  all,  deposit  incontinent, 
3336     And  from  30ur  presence  tliey  sail  be  deiectit. 

GVDE-COVNSAI-L. 

Begin,  first,  at  the  Spritualitie, 
And  tak  of  them  examinutioun, 
Gif  they  can  vse  their  divyne  dewetie. 
3340     And,  als,  I  male  30W  snpplicatioun, 

All  thay  that  lies  thair  offices  misvsit, 
Of  them  make  haistie  depriuatioun, 
Sa  that  the  peopill  be  na  mair  abusit. 


And  they  who 
refuse  to  be 
corrected  Bliall 
be  deprived . 


Make  a  begin- 
ning with  tlic 
Spiritualty; 

and  let  all  that 
have  misused 
their  officeB  be 
forthwith 
ejected. 


COERECTIOVN. 

3344     3e  ar  ane  Prince  of  Spritualitie. 

How  haue  ^e  vsit  jour  office,  now  let  se. 


How  have 
you  discharged 
your  duties  P 


3348 


3352 


3356 


3360 


-V.-V 


SPIRITVALITIE. 

My  Lords,  quhen  was  thair  ony  Prelats  wont 
Of  thair  office  till  ony  King  mak  count  ? 
Bot  of  my  office  gif  je  wald  haue  the  feill, 
I  let  30W  wit,  I  haue  it  vsit  weill ; 
For  I  tak  in  my  count  twyse  in  the  jeir, 
Wanting  nocht,  of  my  teind,  ane  boll  of  beir. 
I  gat  gude  payment  of  my  Temporall  lands. 
My  buttock-maill,  my  coattis,  and  my  ofFrands, 
With  all  that  dois  perteine  my  benefice. 
Consider,  now,  my  Lord,  gif  I  be  wyse. 
I  dar  nocht  marie  contrair  the  common  law  ; 
Ane  thing  thair  is,  my  Lord,  that  je  may  knaw. 
Howbeit  I  dar  nocht  plainlie  spouse  ane  Avyfe, 
3it  Concubeins  I  haue  had  four  or  fyfe  ; 
And  to  my  sons  I  haue  giuin  rich  rewairds. 
And  all  my  dochters  maryit  vpon  lairds. 
I  let  30W  wit,  my  Lord,  I  am  na  fuill, 
For  quhy  I  ryde  vpon  ane  amland  Muill. 


When  did  a 
pretate  account 
to  a  king  ? 

Still,  you  shall 
know  all. 
I  look  well 
after  creature- 
comforts,  and 
exact  everything 
that  I  have 
a  claim  to, 
judiciously. 

The  law  forbid- 
ding me  to  marry, 

I  have  had  four  or 
five  concubines. 

I  care  for  my 
children,  too ; 
and  I  ride  an 
ambhng  mule. 


(d.a.      E-t*^uvUj 


^'C^lT 


504 


AXE    SATYRB. 


Also,  I 
live  well. 
Further,  I 
pension  divers 
temporal  lords, 
that  they  may 
always  take 
my  part. 
And  this  is  all. 


3364 


3368 


Tliair  is  ua  Temporall  Lord,  in  all  this  land, 
That  maks  sic  cheir,  T  let  30W  vnderstand. 
And,  als,  my  Lord,  I  gif,  with  gude  intentioun. 
To  divers  Temporall  Lords  ane  jeirKe  pensioun. 
To  that  intent,  that  thay,  with  all  thair  hart, 
In  richt  and  Avrang  sal  plainlie  tak  my  part. 
Now  haue  I  taidd  30W,  sir,  on  my  best  ways, 
How  that  I  haue  exercit  my  office. 


CORRECTIOVN. 

3372     I  weind  30ur  office  had  bene  for  til  preich, 
And  Gods  law  to  the  peopill  teich. 
wiiy  yom- mitre  ?  Quhairfoii  weir  36  that  mytour,  3e  me  tell. 


I  thought  you 
should  preach 
and  teach. 


SPIRITVALITIE. 

I  don't  know.  I  wat  nocht,  man,  be  him  that  herryit  hel ! 

CORRECTIOVN. 

It  means  that        3376     That  dois  bctakin  that  3 e,  with  gude  intent, 
and  preach.  '  Sould  teicli  &  preich  the  aidd  &  New  testament. 


A  friar  takes  my 
duties  till  Easter. 

This  abbot  and 

this  prioress  are 

scorners  and 

hypocrites. 

They  break 
their  vows 
and  live 
unchastely. 
Examine 
into  this. 


SPIRITVALITIE, 

I  haue  ane  freir  to  preiche  into  my  place : 
Of  my  office  3e  heare  na  mair  quhill  Pasche. 

CHASTITIE. 

3380     My  Lords,  this  Abbot  and  this  Priores 

Thay  scorne  thair  gods.  This  is  my  reason  quhy 
Thay  beare  an  habite  of  fein3eit  halines, 
And,  in  thair  deid,  thay  do  the  contrary. 

3384     For  to  Hue  chaist  thay  vow  solemnitly  ; 

Bot,  fra  that  thay  be  sikker  of  thair  boAvis, 
Thay  Hue  in  huirdome  and  in  harlotry. 
Examine  them.  Sir,  how  tliay  obserue  thair  voAvis. 


CORRECTIOVN. 

AU  three  shall  be    3388     Sir  Scribe,  3e  sail,  at  Chastities  requeist, 
scrutinized.  Pas  and  exame  3on  thrie,  in  gudlie  haist. 


ANE    SATYllK. 


505 


339:2 


Father  Abbot,  this  comisall  bids  luo  sjjeir  :  ,  a,„  ^^  inaniw 

How  je  haue  vsit  JOur  Abbay,  thay  wald  heir.       ''""'  y""  ''"''^ 
And,  als,  thir  Kings  hes  giuin  to  nie  oomniissi(Min  ''"'>  acquitted 

yourself  of 

Of  3our  office  for  to  niak  inquisitioun.  your  tiutie<>. 


ABBOT. 

Tuiching  my  office,  I  say  to  jow,  plainlie, 
My  Monks  and  I,  we  leif  richt  caselie. 
3396     Thair  is  na  Monks,  from  Carrick  to  Carraill, 

That  fairs  better,  and  drinks  mair  holsum  Aill. 
My  Prior  is  ane  man  of  great  devotioun  ; 
Thairfoir  daylie  he  gets  ane  double  portioun. 

SCRIBE. 

3400     My  Lords,  how  haue  3e  keijit  jour  thrie  vows  ? 

ABBAS. 

Indeid,  richt  weill,  till  I  gat  hame  my  bows. 

In  my  Abbay  quhen  I  was  sure  professour, 

Then  did  I  leife  as  did  my  predecessour. 
3404     My  paramours  is  baith  als  fat  and  fair 

As  ony  wench  into  the  toun  of  Air. 

I  send  my  sons  to  Pareis,  to  the  senilis  : 

I  traist  in  God  that  thay  salbe  na  fuillis. 
3408     And  all  my  douchters  I  haue  weill  providit. 

Now  iudge  je  gif  my  office  be  weill  gydit. 


My  monks  and  1 
lead  a  jovial  life, 
and  cat  and 
drink  very 
satisfactorily. 

My  prior,  a  most 
devout  man, 
gets  a  double 
share  of  ale. 


How  have 
you  kept  your 
thi'ee  vows  ? 


I  have  lived 

like  my 

jiredecessor. 

My  paramours 

are  in  capitalciiso; 

my  sons  are 
educated  at 
Paris;  and 
I  provide  for 
my  daughters. 

Don't  I  do  well  ? 


SCRIBE. 

Maister  Person,  schaw  vs  gif  30  can  preich. 

PERSONE. 

Thocht  I  preich  not,  I  can  play  at  the  caiche. 
3412     I  wait  thair  is  nocht  ane,  amang  30W  all, 
Mair  ferilie  can  play  at  the  fut-ball ; 
And,  for  the  carts,  the  tabils,  and  the  dyse, 
Aboue  all  persouns  I  may  beir  the  pryse. 


Parson,  can 
you  preach  ? 


Though  I  am  not 
able  to  preach, 
I  have  r.are  skill 
in  all  manner  of 
sports  and  games- 


506 


ANE    SATYRE. 


I  study  my  3416     Oui'    roimcl  bonats,  we   male  thenij  now,  fonr- 

dress,  also.  liuickit, 

Such  is  my  life.  Of  richt  fyne  stuifF,  gif  30W  list  ciini  and  luik  it. 

You  learn  no  Of  my  office  1  haue  declarit  to  the. 

more  from  me.  Spsir  quliat  36  pleis,  3e  get  na  mair  of  me. 


Now  for  my 
Lady  Prioress. 

Why  did 
you  turn 
Cliastitv  away  ? 


She  did  not 

suit  me. 

I  follow  custom ; 
and  I  will  en- 
lighten you 
no  fui-ther. 


Now  direct 
some  of  your 
cunning 
clerks  that 
can  preach, 
to  make  a 
sermon  o'.it 
of  hand. 


SCRIBE. 

3420     Quliat  say  36,  now,  my  Ladie  Priores  1 
How  haue  36  vsit  30ur  ofiice,  can  39  ges  ? 
Quhat  was  the  caus  36  refusit  harhrie 
To  this  30ung  lustie  Ladie  Chastitie  1 

PRIORES. 

3424     I  Avald  haue  harborit  hir,  ■with  gude  intent ; 
Bot  my  complexioun  thairto  wald  not  assent. 
I  do  my  office  efter  auld  vse  and  wount : 
To  30ur  Parliament  I  will  mak  na  mair  count. 

VERITIE. 

3428     Now  caus  sum  of  30111  cunning  Clarks 
Quhilk  ar  expert  in  heavinlie  warks, 
And  men  fulfillit  with  charitie, 
That  can  weill  preiche  the  veritie, 

3432     And  gif  to  sum  of  them  command 
Ane  sermon  for  to  make  fra  hand. 


I  will  do 
80  at  once. 


You  can  teacli  in 
the  schools,  I 
know.    Now 
preach  a  sermon 
in  English. 


3436 


CORRECTIOVN. 

As  3e  haue  said,  I  am  content 
To  gar  sum  preich  incontinent. 

(Pa?<sa.) 
Magister  noster,  T  ken  how  3e  can  teiche 
Into  the  scuillis,  and  that  richt  ornatlie. 
I  pray  30W,  now,  that  3e  wald  please  to  preiche 
In  Inglisch  toung,  laud  folk  to  edifie. 


DOCTOVR. 

I  will  obey  you      3440     Soveranc,  I  sail  obey  30W  humbillie, 

straightway,  With  auc  schort  sormou,  presentlie,  in  this  place, 


ANK    SATYUR. 


507 


And  schca-w  tlie  word  of  God,  vnfeiu^eitlic 

And  sinceirlie,  as  God  will  giue  me  grace. 

(^Heir  sail  the  Doclour  pas  to  the  jrnlpit,  and  say  :) 

3444         Si  vis  ad  vitani  ingredi,  serva  mandata. 

DeVoit  peopill,  Sanct  Paull,  the  preichour,  sayis  : 

The  fervent  luife  and  fatherlie  pitie 

Qiihilk  God  almichtie  hes  scha^vin,  niony  wayis, 

3448     To  man,  in  his  corrupt  fragilitie, 

Exceids  all  luife  in  earth,  sa  far  that  we 
May  never  to  God  male  recompence  conding ; 
As  quhasa  lists  to  reid  the  veritie 

3452     In  halie  Scripture,  he  may  find  this  thing. 
Sic  Deus  dilexit  muudum. 
Tuiching  nathing  the  great  jirerogatiue 
Quhilk  God  to  man,  in  his  creatioun,  lent. — 

3456     How  man,  of  nocht  creat,  superlatiue 

Was  to  the  Image  of  God  omnipotent, — 
Let  vs  consider  that  speciall  luife  ingent, 
God  had  to  man,  quhen  our  foirfather  fell, 

3460     Drawing  vs,  all,  in  his  loynis  immanent. 
Captive  from  gloir,  in  thirlage  to  the  hel. 
Quhen  Angels  fell,  thair  miserabil  niyne 
Was  never  restorit ;  hot,  for  our  miserie, 

3464     The  Son  of  God,  secund  persone  divyne, 
In  ane  pure  Virgin  tuke  humanitie. 
Syne,  for  oar  saik,  great  harmis  suffered  he, 
In  fasting,  walking,  in  preiching,  cauld,  and  heit ; 

3468     And,  at  the  last,  ane  schamefull  death  deit  he ; 
Betwix  twa  theifis,  on  Croce,  he  3eild  the  Spreit : 
And,  quliair  an  drop  of  his  maist  precious  blade 
Was  recompence  sufficient  and  conding 

3472     Ane  thowsand  warlds  to  ransoun  from  that  wod 
Infernall  feind,  Sathan,  notwithstanding, 
He  luifit  vs  sa,  that,  for  our  ransoning, 
He  sched  furth  all  the  blude  of  his  bodie, — 

3476     Eiven,  rent,  and  sair  wondit,  quhaii'  lie  did  hiug, 


as  God  slmll 
give  me  grace. 

Devout  people, 
S.  Paul  teaches 
us  that  God's 
good-will  to 
fallen  and  frail 
man  surpasses 
all  earthly  love, 
and  that  we  can 
make  no  meet 
return  for  it. 

And  this  you 
will  find  in  the 
Scriptures. 

I  shall  not  now 
dwell  on  the  fact, 
that  God  created 
man  in  His 
own  image. 

Kather,  let  us 
consider  God's 
great  love  to  man, 
when  Adam  fell, 
and  we  with  him. 

Angels  fell,  to 
remain  fallen ; 
but  Christ 
assumed 
humanity,  to 
rescue  man. 

Sorely  did  He 
suffer  for  us,  and, 
at  last,  was 
crucified,  between 
two  thieves. 

A  single  droj)  of 
His  blood  would 
suffice  to  redeem 
a  thousand 
worlds ;  and  yet, 
for  love  of  us. 
He  shed  all 
lUs  blood. 


508 


ANE    SATYRE. 


J 

^ 


on  the  cross 
on  Calvary. 

Tlius  was 
Satan  worsted, 
we  were  saved 
fiom  hell, 
and  the  gate 
of  Pai'adise 
was  opened  to 
all  mankind. 
For  this  love 
God  asks 
only  love. 
And  love  is  a 
ladder  with 
liiit  two  steps, 
hy  which  we 
gain  Heaven. 


First,  love 
Ood ;  aud, 
secondly, 
love  your 
neighbour. 

Otherwise, 
tliere  is  no 
sidvation. 
iSo  says  the 
hoi}'  Gospel. 

There  is 

no  remedy 

for  such  as 

do  not  eschew 

all  manner 

of  sin,  and  engajje 

in  good  works. 


3480 


3484 


3488 


3492 


Naild  on  the  Croce,  on  the  Mont  Calvary. 

Et  copiosa  apud  eum  redemptio. 
0  cruell  death,  be  the  the  venemons 
Dragon,  the  Devill  infernall,  lost  his  pray. 
Be  the  the  stinkand,  mirk,  contageous, 
Deij)  pit  of  hell  mankynd  escaipit  fray. 
Be  the  the  port  of  Paradice,  alsway. 
Was  patent  maid  vnto  the  heavin  sa  hie, — 
Opinnit  to  man  and  maid  ane  reddie  way 
To  gloir  etemall  with  th'  haly  Trinitie. 
And  ^it,  for  all  this  luife'incomparabill, 
God  askis  na  rewaird  fra  vs  againe, 
Bot  luife  for  luife.     In  his  command,  hut  fabill, 
Conteinit  ar  all  haill  the  lawis  ten, 
Baith  aid  and  new,  and  commandements  illv  ane. 
Luife  bene  the  ledder,  quhilk  hes  bot  steppis  twa, 
Be  quhilk  we  may  dim  vp  to  lyfe  againe, 
Out  of  this  vaill  of  miserie  and  wa. 

Diliges  Dominum  Deum  tuum  ex  toto  corde 
tuo,    &   proximum   tuum   sicut    teipsum : 
in  his  duobua  mandatis,  &c. 
The  first  step,  suithlie,  of  this  ledder  is, 
To  hiife  thy  God,  as  the  fontaine  and  well 
Of  luife  and  grace  ;  and  the  secund,  I  wis. 
To  luife  thy  nichtbour  as  thou  luifis  thy  .sell. 
3500     Quha  tynis  ane  stop  of  thir  twa,  gais  to  hel, 
Bi)t  he  repent,  and  turne  to  Christ  anone. 
Hauld  this  na  fabill :  the  halie  Evangell 
Bears,  in  effect,  thir  words,  everie  one. 

Si  vis  ad  vitam  ingredi,  serva  mandata  Dei. 
Tliay  tyne  thir  steps,  aU  thay  quha  ever  did  sin 
In  pryde,  invy,  in  ire,  and  lecherie, 
In  covetice,  or  ony  extreme  Avin, 
Into  swcirnes,  or  into  gluttonie  ; 
Or  qulia  dois  nocht  the  deids  of  mercie, 
Gif  Imnffrie  meit,  and  "if  the  naikit  clavis. 


349  G 


3504 


3508 


ANE  SATYRE. 


609 


PERSONE. 

Now,  walloAvay  !    Thinks  thou  na  scharae  to  lie  1  This  is 
3512     I  trow,  the  Devill  a  word  is  trew  thou  sayis.         aii  false. 

Thou  sa^as  thair  is  hot  twa  steppis  to  the  heavin  ;  u  is  not  two 

Quha  fail3eis  them  man  backwarts  fall  in  hell,      steps  to  Heaven, 

I  wait  it  is  ten  thowsand  my  lis  and  sevin  : 
3516     Gif  it  be  na  mair,  I  do  it  vpon  thy  sell. 

Schort-leggit  men,  I  se,  be  Bryds  bell ! 

Will  nevir  cum  thair,  thay  steppis  bene  sa  wyde 

Gif  thay  be  the  words  of  the  Evangell,  one  must 

3520     The  sprituall  men  lies  mister  of  ane  gyde.  have  a  guide. 


but  many 
thousand  miles. 

Short-legged  men 
will  never 
get  there. 


ABBOT. 

And  I  beleif  that  cruikit  men  and  blinde 
Sail  neuer  get  vp  vpon  sa  Inch  ane  ledder. 
By  my  gude  faith,  I  dreid  to  ly  behinde, 

3524     "Without  God  draw  me  vp  into  ane  tedder. 

Quhat  and  I  fal  1  Than  I  will  break  my  bledder. 
And  I  cum  thair  this  day,  the  Devill  speid  me, 
Except  God  make  me  lichter  nor  ane  fedder, 

3528     Or  send  me  doun  gude  Widcok  wingis  to  flie. 

PERSONE. 


How  about  the 
lame  and  blind  ? 

I  must  be 

hauled  up. 

And  if  I  fall  ? 

To  get  up,  God 
must  make  me 
lighter  thiin  a 
feather,  or  give 
me  good  wood- 
cocks' wings. 


Cum  doun,  dastart,  and  gang  sell  draitf.  Come  down, 

I  vnderstand  nocht  quhat  thow  said.  dastard,  and  go 

Thy  words  war  nather  corne  nor  caiff :  yom-  way.  You 

3532     I  wald  thy  toung  againe  war  laid.  prate  nonsense. 

Quhair  thou  sayis  pryde  is  deidlie  sin,  Pride  is 

I  say  pryde  is  bot  honestie  ;  honesty; 

And  Covetice  of  warldlie  win  covetousness  is 

3536     Is  bot  wisdome,  I  say  for  me  :  wisdom; 

Ire,  hardines,  and  giuttonie  a,i^  anger  and 

Is  nathing  ellis  but  lyfis  fude  :  the  rest,  which 

The  naturall  sin  of  lecherie  you  denounce, 

3540     Is  bot  trew  luife.     All  thir  ar  gude.  are,  aii,  good. 


u 


510 


ANE    SATYEE. 


God  and  the 
Church  forbid 
them  to  good 
Christians. 


If  they  were  sin, 
we  clerics  should 
avoid  tliem. 


3544 


DOCTOVR. 

God  and  the  Eark  hes  giuiii  noinmand 
That  all  gude  Chxistian  men  refuse  them. 

PERSONE. 

Bot,  war  thay  sin,  I  vnderstand, 

We  men  of  Kirk  wald  never  vse  them. 


Brother,  may  the 

Trinity  support 

you,  for  the  good 

of  your  subjects ! 

People,  pray 

for  your  rulers, 

that  the  wicked 

may  have  justice. 

I  pray  for  your 
safety  and 
pardon ;  and  may 
God  bless  you ! 


Tlie  Spiritual 
Estate  means  to 
resist,  under 
advice  of 
vonder  friar. 


3548 


3552 


DOCTOVR. 

Brother,  I  pray  the  Trinitie 
^our  faith  and  charitie  to  support, 
Causand  30W  knaw  the  veritie, 
That  3e  3  our  subiects  may  comfort. 
To  3our  prayers,  peopill,  I  recommend 
The  rewlars  of  this  nobill  regioun ; 
That  our  Lord  God  his  grace  mot  to  them  send, 
On  trespassours  to  mak  punitioun. 
Prayand  to  God  from  feinds  30W  defend. 
And  of  30ur  sins  to  gif  30W  full  remissioun, 
I  say  na  raair  :  to  God  I  30W  commend. 
(^Heir  Diligence  spyis  the  freir  roundand  to  the  Prelate.^ 


3556 


DILIGENCE. 


My  lords,  I  persaue  that  the  Sprituall  stait. 
Be  way  of  deid,  purpois  to  mak  dehait ; 
For,  be  the  counsall  of  3on  flattrand  freir, 
Thay  purpois  to  mak  all  this  toun  on  steir. 


Do  you  think 
they  will  disobey 
the  decrees  of . 
Parliament  ? 


Since  the  Pope 
wars  against  tlie 
King  of  France, 
tliey  think  that 
prelates  may 
defend  their 
patrimony. 


FIRST    LICENT, 

3560     Traist  30  that  thay  wilbe  inobedient 

To  that  quhilk  is  decreitit  in  Parliament  ? 

DILIGENCE. 

Thay  se  the  Paip,  with  awfull  ordinance, 
Makis  weir  against  the  miclitie  King  of  France. 
3564     Eicht  sa,  thay  think  tliat  prelats  suld  nochtsun3ie, 
Be  Avay  of  deid,  defend  thair  patrimonie. 


ANK    SATYUE. 


611 


FIRST   LICENT. 

I  pray  the,  brother,  gar  me  vnderstand  where  did  Christ 

Quhair  ever  Christ  possesait  ane  fut  of  land.         possess  land  ? 


DILIGENCE. 


3568     3ea,  that  he  did,  father,  withoutin  fail ; 
For  Christ  Tesus  was  Kins  of  Israeli. 


He  had  land ; 
for  He  was  King 
of  Isriiel. 


FIRST  LICENT. 

I  grant  that  Christ  was  king  abufe  al  kings  ; 

Bot  he  melHt  never  with  temporall  things ; 
3572     As  he  lies  plainlie  done  declair,  him  sell ; 

As  thou  may  reid  in  his  halie  EvangeU  : 

Birds  hes  thair  nests,  and  tods  lies  thair  den  ; 

Bot  Christ  lesus,  the  Saviour  of  men, 
3576     In  all  this  warld  hes  nocht  ane  penny  braid 

Quhairon  he  may  repois  his  heavinlie  head. 

DILIGENCE, 

And  is  that  trew  1 

[SECVND   LICENT.] 

^es,  brother,  be  Alhallows  ! 
3580     Clirist  lesus  had  na  propertie  bot  the  gallows, 
And  left  not,  quhen  he  ^eildit  vp  the  Spreit, 
To  by  himself  ane  simpill  winding-scheit. 


Christ  was, 
indeed,  King  of 
kings ;  but  He 
avoided  teraporal 
matters. 

Thus,  we  read, 
in  the  Gospel, 
that  He  had 
not  where  to 
lay  His  head. 


And  is 
this  true  ? 


It  is.    He  had 
no  property  but 
the  Cross ;  and 
He  dirt  not  leave 
enough  to  buy  a 
winding-sheet. 


DILIGENCE. 

Christs  successours,  I  vnderstand,  hu  successors 

3584     Tliinks  na  schame  to  haue  temporall  land,  scom  not  weaitii, 

Father,  they  haue  na  will,  I  30W  assure,  unwilling  to 

In  this  warld  to  be  indigent  and  pure.  be  poor. 

Bot,  sir,  sen  ^e  ar  callit  sapient.  But  why  was 

3588     Declair  to  me  the  cans,  mth  trew  intent,  not  Lady  Truth 

Quhy  that  my  lustie  Ladie  Veritie  treated  wcii 

Hes  nonht  bene  weill  trcatit  in  this  cuntrie.  in  thin  <-ouiitiyf 


512 


ANE    SATYRE. 


Wliere  the 
counsels  of 
begging  ft-iars 
prevail,  un- 
doubtedly the 
truth  is  despised, 
causing  confusion. 

Is  not  it  so  ? 

Institute 

a  refonn. 

Friars  prefer  to  do 

the  preaching. 

They  would 
lose,  if  the 
prelates  did  it. 

So  banish  that 

friar,  at  once, 

from  the  land. 

Otherwise, 

he  will  surely 

work  mischief. 

And  the  prioress 

is  of  evil 

influence. 

You  should 

deprive  them 

both,  I  think. 


If  ordered, 
we  will  soon 
despoil  them. 


3592 


3596 


3600 


3604 


3608 


3612 


3616 


Let  them  be 
banished  the 
country  directly.      OOwU 


Come,  friar. 
The  King  must 
be  obeyed ; 


BATCHELER. 

Forsuith,  quhair  Prelats  vses  the  coiuisall 
Of  beggand  freirs,  in  monie  regioun, 
And  thay  Prelats,  with  Princes  principall, 
The  veritie,  but  doubt,  is  tranipit  doun, 
And  Common-weill  put  to  confusioun. 
Gif  this  be  trew,  to  30W  I  me  report. 
Thairfoir,  my  Lords,  mak  reformatioun. 
Or  39  depart,  hairtlie  I  30W  exhort. 
Sirs,  freirs  wald  never,  I  30"w  assure, 
That  ony  Prelats  vsit  preiching  : 
And  Prelats  tuke  on  them  that  cure, 
Freirs  wald  get  nathing  for  thair  fleiching. 
Thairfoir,  I  counsall  30W,  fra  hand 
Banische  3on  freir  out  of  this  land, 

And  that  incontinent. 
Do  3e  nocht  sa,  withoutin  weir 
He  will  mak  all  this  toun  on  steir  : 

I  knaw  his  fals  intent. 
3on  Priores,  withoutin  fabill, 
I  think  scho  is  nocht  profitabill 

For  Christis  regioun. 
To  begin  reformatioun, 
Mak  of  them  deprivatioun  : 

This  is  my  opinioun. 

FIRST    SERGEANT. 

Sir,  pleis  3e  that  we  twa  invaid  them, 
And  3e  sail  se  vs  sone  degraid  them 
Of  coill  and  chaplarie. 

CORRECTIOVN. 

Pas  on.     I  am  richt  weill  content. 
Syne,  banische  them,  incontinent, 

Out  oi'  this  cuntrie. 

FIRST    SERGEANT. 

(yum  on,  sir  freir,  and  be  nocht  flcyit. 
The  King,  our  niai^stev,  mon  be  obey  it  ; 


ANE    SATYUE. 


513 


Bot  3c  sail  liaue  11a  haime. 
3G24     Gif  :5c  Avald  travcll  fra  tdiin  to  touu, 
I  think  this  hiide  and  heauie  goun 

Will  hald  30ur  wambe  ovir  warme. 

FLATTERIE    FEEIR. 

NoAV,  qiihat  is  this  that  thir  monsters  ineinsl 
3628     I  am  exemptit  fra  Kings  and  Queens, 
And  fra  all  humane  law. 


but  you  HliuU 
take  no  harm. 
If  you  would 
travel,  this  hooU 
and  gown  will 
keep  you  warm. 


What  mean  these 
monsters  ?    I  am 
not  subject  to 
human  laws. 


8ECVND    SERGEANT. 

Tak  ^e  the  hude,  and  I,  the  gown. 
This  limmer  luiks  als  lyke  ane  lown 
3632  As  any  that  ever  I  saw. 

FIRST    SERGEANT. 

Thir  freirs,  to  chaip  punitioun, 
Haulds  them  at  their  exemptioun,     . 
And  na  man  will  obey. 
3636     Thay  ar  exempt,  I  30W  assure, 

Baith  fra  Paip,  kyng,  and  Empreour ; 
And  that  maks  all  the  pley. 

SECVND    SERGEANT. 

On  Dumisday,  quhen  Christ  sail  say 
3640  Venite  benedicti. 

The  Freirs  will  say,  without  delay, 
Nos  sumus  exempti. 
{Ueir  sail  thai/  spuily  Flattrie  of  the  Freirs  habile.) 

GVDE-COVNSALL. 

Sir,  be  the  halie  Trinitie  ! 

3644     This  same  is  fein3eit  Flattrie  : 
I  ken  him  be  his  face. 
Beleiuand  for  to  get  promotioun. 
He  said  that  his  name  was  Devotioun, 

3648  And  sa  begylit  ;onr  grace, 


Let  us  take  the 
hood  and  gown. 
How  like  a  scamp 
he  looks ! 


These  friars,  to 
escape  punish- 
ment, claim 
exemption. 

They  are 
altogether  ex- 
empt, I 
assure  you. 


At  the  Judgment, 
when  Christ  shall 
say  '  Come,  ye 
blessed,'  the  friars 
will  say  they 
are  exempt. 


I  see  this 

is  Flattery, 

in  disguise. 

To  get  promotion, 
he  called  himself 
Devotion,  and  so 
Jceeived  you. 


5U 


ANE    .SATYHE. 


Come  on,  Lady 
Prioress.  We 
will  teach  you 
a  new  dance. 


Bletliinks  this 
holy  prioress 
lias  turned  into 
a  courtesan. 


3652 


FIRST    SERGEANT. 

Cum  on,  my  Ladie  Priores. 

We  sail  leir  30W  to  dance — 
And  that  within  ane  lytill  space, — 

Ane  new  pavin  of  France. 


(^Heir  sail  thay  spuil-^e  the  Priores  ;  and  scho  sail  haue  ane 
kirtill  of  silk  vnder  Mr  habile.') 

]S'ow,  brother,  be  the  Masse  ! 

Be  my  iudgement,  I  think 
This  halie  Priores 
3656  Is  turnit  in  ane  cowclink. 


Curse  on  my 
friends,  who 
would  have  me 
a  nun,  and 
not  marry ! 

It  was  their  36  GO 

greed  that  made 

me  a  prioress. 

Nuim  sing  ever, 

lull  with  no  3664 

understanding. 

The}'  are  not 

necessary  to 

the  Church.  3668 

I  mean  to  marry, 

and  become 

housewife. 

Marriage  is  more     36(2 

religious  than  to 

be  friar  or  nun. 


PRIORES. 

I  gif  my  freinds  my  malisoun. 
That  me  compellit  to  be  ane  Nun, 

And  wald  nocht  let  me  marie. 
It  was  my  freinds  greadines 
That  gart  me  be  ane  Priores  : 

iS'ow  hartlie  them  I  warie. 
Howbeit  that  Nunnis  sing  nichts  and  dayis, 
Thair  hart  Avaitis  nocht  quhat  tliair  mouth  sayis ; 

The  suith  I  30W  declair. 
Makand  30W  intimatioun, 
To  Christis  congregatioun 

l^unnis  ar  nocht  necessair. 
Bot  I  sail  do  the  best  I  can, 
And  marie  sum  gude  honest  man, 

And  brew  gude  aill  and  tun. 
Mariage,  be  my  opinioun. 
It  is  better  Eeligioun 

As  to  be  freir  or  Xun. 


FLATTERIE    PREIR. 

My  Lords,  don't  j\Iy  Lords,  for  Gods  saik  let  not  hang  mo, 

let  me  he  hanged.  3676     Howbeit  that 'widdiefows  wuld  w rang  me. 
ici'unot  I  can  inak  na  debait 


ANK    SATYRE. 


515 


To  win  my  meat  at  pleuch  nor  harrowis  ; 
Bot  I  sail  help  to  hang  my  marrowis,— 
3680  Baith  Falset  and  Dissait. 

CORRECTIOVN. 

Than  pas  thy  way,  &  greath  the  gallons  ; 
Syne,  help  for  to  hang  vp  thy  fellowis. 
Thou  gets  na  vther  grace, 

[flatterie.] 

3684     Of  that  office  I  am  content. 

Bot  our  Prelates,  I  dread,  repent, 
Be  I  fleimde  from  thair  face. 

(Heir  sail  Flattrie  sit  hesyde  his  marrowis.') 

DISSAIT. 

ISow,  Flattrie,  my  auld  companjeoun, 
3688     Quhat  dois  ^on  King  Correctioun  ? 
Kjiawis  thou  nocht  his  intent  ] 
Declair  to  vs  of  thy  novellis. 

[flatterie.] 

3e'ill  all  be  hangit, — I  se  nocht  ellis, — 
3692  And  that  incontinent. 


earn  my  bread  by 
tillage ;  but  I  can 
help  to  hang 
my  coiDpanionn. 


Then  go  and 
prepare  tlie 
gallows  for  them. 
You  get  no  grace 
but  t)iis. 


I  consent. 

But  our  prelates 

will  miss  me. 


What  is  Cor- 
rection doing  ? 
Tell  me  what 
you  know. 


I  only  know  that 
you  will  all 
be  hanged. 


DISSAIT. 

Now,  walloway  !     "Will  30  gar  hang  vs  % 
The  Devill  brocht  3011  curst  king  amang  vs, 
For  mekill  sturt  and  stryfe. 


Through  you  ? 

It  was  the  Devil 
that  brought 
Correction  here. 


FLATTERIE. 

3696     I  had  bene  put  to  deid  amang  30W,  To  save  myself, 

War  nocht  I  tuke  on  hand  till  hang  30W  ;  i  offered  to 

And  sa  I  saifit  my  lyfe.  hang  you. 

I  heir  them  say,  thay  will  cry  doun  aii  friars  and 

3700     All  freirs  and  Nunnis  in  this  Eegioun,  nuns  are  to 

Sa  far  as  I  can  feill,  be  cried  down, 


516 


ANE    SATYBE. 


as  uniiecessai-y, 

and  as  opposed 
to  the  common 
welfare. 


These  prelates 

shall,  all, 

bo  deprived ; 

and  these  three 

clerks  sliall 

supersede  them. 

This  is  because 
God's  Word 
was  neglected. 


Be  it  so. 

Effect  the  change. 


Patience ! 
We  will  obey. 


3704 


Becaus  thay  ar  iioclit  iiecessair  : 
And,  als,  thay  think  thay  ar  contrair 
To  lohne  the  common-weill. 


{Heir  sal  the  Kings  and  the  temporal  stait  round  tor/ider.) 
CORRECTIOVN. 

With  the  advice  of  King  Humanitie, 
Heir  I  determine,  with  rype  advysement, 
That  all  thir  Prelats  sail  deprivit  he, 

3708     And,  be  decreit  of  this  present  Parliament, 
That  thir  thrie  cunning  Clarks  sapient 
Immediatlie  thair  places  sail  posses  ; 
Becaus  that  thay  haue  bene  sa  negligent, 

3712     Suifring  the  word  of  God  for  till  decres. 

REX    HVMANITAS. 

As  3e  haue  said,  but  dout  it  salbe  done. 
Pas  to,  and  mak  this  interchaingmg  sone. 

{The  Kings  servants  lay  hands  on  the  thrie  prelats,  8f  says  .•) 

WANTONNES. 

My  Lords,  we  pray  30W  to  be  patient ; 
371 6     For  we  will  do  the  Kings  commanderaent. 


Touch  us,  and 

we  curse  yon ; 

and,  afterwards, 
we  will  complain 
to  the  Pope. 

Such  reformation 

is  new  in  Scotland. 


How  could 
you  accept 
such  cures, — 


SPIRITVALITIE. 

I  mak  ane  vow  to  God,  and  yt  vs  handUl, 
3e  salbe  curst  and  gragit  with  bulk  and  candill. 
Syne,  we  sail  pas  vnto  the  Paip,  and  plein3ie, 
3720     And  to  the  Devill  of  heU  condemne  tliis  mein3e  ; 
For  quhy  sic  reformatioun,  as  I  weine. 
Into  Scotland  was  never  hard  nor  seine. 

{Heir  sal  thay  sptiil-^e  them  with  silence,  and  put  thair  habile  on 
the  thrie  Clarks.) 

MERCHAND. 

"We  mervell  of  30W,  paintit  sepulturis, 
3724     That  was  sa  bauld  for  to  accept  sic  cuiris,-- 


ANE    SATYRE. 


51' 


With  glorious  luibitc  rydaiul  vpon  jour  iMuilli;- 
]!^ow  men  may  s:^,  30  ar  bot  verie  fuillis. 

SPIRITVALITIE. 

We  say,  the  Kings  war  greiter  fuillis  nor  we, 
3728     That  vs  promovit  to  sa  greit  dignitie. 

ABBOT. 

Thair  is  ane  thowsand  in  the  kirk,  but  doubt, 
Sic  fuillis  as  we,  gif  tliay  war  weill  socht  out. 
J^ow,  brother,  sen  it  may  na  better  be, 
3732     Let  vs  ga  soup  Avith  Sensualitie. 

{Heir  sail  thai/  pas  to  Sensualitie.') 

SPIRITVALITIE. 

Madame,  I  pray  30W  mak  vs  thrie  gude  cheir. 
We  cure  nocht  to  remaine  with  30W  all  3eir. 

SENSVALITIE. 

Pas  fra  vs,  fuillis,  be  him  that  hes  vs  wrocht !      Away  \  i  wui 

have  nothing  to 

3736     5e  ludge  nocht  heir ;  becaus  I  knaw  30W  nocht.  do  witii  yon. 

SPIRITVALITIE. 

Sir  Covetice,  will  je,  also,  misken  me  1  You  win  help  us, 

I  wait,  richt  weill,  30  wil  baith  gif  and  len  mo.     covetousness  ? 
Speid  hand,  my  freind  ;  spair  nocht  to  break  the  Break  open  my 

lockis:  box,  a,^  give 

me  a  thou- 

3740     Gif  me  ane  thowsand  crouns  out  of  my  box.         sand  crowns. 

COVETICE. 

Quhairfoir,  sir  full,  gif  50W  ane  thowsand  crowns?  wiiy  give  them  to 
Ga  hence.     3e  seime  to  be  thrie  verie  lowns.         you?   Be  off! 


tools,  as  you 
now  appear  1 


The  kings  that 
cxaltod  us  were 
greater  fooU. 


The  Church  has 
many  more 
like  us. 

But  let  us  go 
drink  with 
Sensuality. 


Madame,  pray 
treat  us. 


SPIRITVALITIE. 


I  se  nocht  els,  brother,  withoutin  faill, 
3744     Bot  this  fals  warld  is  turnit  top  ouir  taill. 
Sen  all  is  vaine  that  is  vnder  the  lift. 
To  win  our  meat  we  man  mak  vther  schift. 


The  world  is 
turned  topsy- 
turvy. 

Wc  must  seek  a 

living  otherwise. 


518 


ANE    SATYRE. 


If  we  do  not 
work,  we 
shall  starve. 


3748 


With  our  labour  except  we  mak  debait, 

I  dreid,  fuU  sair,  we  want  baith  driuk  and  meat. 


Then  let  us  go 
where  we  are 
not  known. 


It  is  these  friars 
that  have  ruined 
me,  by  usurp- 
ing my  place 
in  preaching. 


PERSONE. 

Gif  witb  our  labour  we  man  vs  defend, 
Then  let  vs  gang  quhair  we  war  never  kend. 

SPIRITVALITIE. 

I  wyte  thir  freirs,  that  I  am  thus  abusit ; 
3752     For  by  thair  counsall  I  haue  bene  confusit. 
Thay  gart  me  trow  it  suffysit,  allace  ! 
To  gar  them  plainlie  preich  into  my  place. 

ABBOT. 

Curse  on  this  Allace  !     This  reformatioim  I  may  warie  ; 

reformation!  For    oi-k/^-cti  -j-i  Ji,i.  Pi. 

I  have  stiu  two    3/56     r  OT  I  haue  3it  twa  dochters  lor  to  mane  ; 
daughters  to  j^-^([  thay  ar  baith  contractit,  be  the  Eude  ! 

marry,  and  lack 

portions  for  them.  And  waits  uocht  how  to  pay  thair  tocher-gude. 

PERSONE. 

As  for  me,  being  The  Devill  mak  cair  for  this  vnhappie  chance  ; 

young,  I  wiu        3760     For  I  am  3oung,  and  thinks  to  pas  to  France, 
go  to  France,  and  And  tak  wagcs  amaug  the  men  of  weir, 

turn  soldier.  And  win  my  living  with  my  sAvord  and  speir. 

{The  Bischop,  Abbot,  persone,  and  Priores  depairts,  altogidder.) 


Before  you  go, 
let  John  the 
Commonwealth 
be  dressed  out; 
for  he  has  been 
neglected, 

and  is  in 
much  distress. 


GVDE-COVNSALL. 

Or  36  depairt,  sir,  aff  this  Regioun, 
3764     Gif  lohne  the  common-weiil  ane  gay  garmoun. 

Becaus  the  Common-weill  hes  bene  overluikit, 

That  is  the  caus  that  Common-weill  is  cruikit. 

"With  singular  profeit,  he  hes  bene  sa  supprysit, 
3768     That  he  is  baith  cauld,  nakit,  and  disgysit. 


Be  it  so. 
Reck  him 
bravely ;  and 


CORRECTIOVN. 


As  36  haue  said,  father,  I  am  content. 
Sergeants,  gif  lohne  ane  new  abuil^ement,- 


ANE    SATYKK. 


519 


Of  Sating,  Damais,  or  of  the  Velvoit  fyne  ; — 
3772     And  gif  him  plactj  in  our  Parliament,  syne. 

{Heir  sal  thay  cleith  lohie  (he  Common-iceil  fforgeouslie,  and 
set  him  doun  amang  them,  hi  the  Farliament.) 

All  verteous  peopil  now  may  be  reioisit, 

Sen  Common-weill  hes  gottin  ane  gay  garmo\in  ; 

And,  ignorants  out  of  the  Kirk  deposit, 
8776     Devoit  Doctours  and  Clarks  of  renoun 

Now,  in  the  Kirk,  sail  haue  dominioun  ; 

And  Gude-counsall,  with  Ladie  Veritie, 

Ar  profest  with  our  kings  IMaiestie. 
3780     Blist  is  that  Realine  that  hes  ane  prudent  King, 

Quhilk  dois  delyte  to  heir  the  veritie, 

Punisching  thame  that  plainlie  dois  maling 

Contrair  the  Common-weill  and  equitie. 
3784     Thair  may  na  peopill  haue  prosperitie, 

Quhair  ignorance  hes  the  dominioun, 

And  co??^mon-weil  be  tirants  trampit  doun. 

{Pausa.) 
Now,  maisters,  je  sail  heir,  incontinent, 
3788     At  great  leysour,  in  ^our  presence,  proclamit 
The  Nobill  Acts  of  our  Parliament, 
Of  quhilks  we  neid  nocht  for  to  be  ascbamit. 
Cum  heir,  trumpet,  &  sound  ^our  Avarning  tone,  summon  aii, 

fo  hear  what 

3792     That  every  man  may  knaw  quhat  we  haue  done,   we  have  done. 

(^Heir  sail  Diligence,  with  the  Scri/je  and  the  trumpet,  pas  to  the 
pulpit,  and  proclame  the  Actis.) 


kIvc  him  a 
Beat  in  our 
Parliament. 


Rejoiec,  now, 
good  people :  for 
the  Common- 
wealth has  got  a 
gay  garment ; 
ifjnoramuses.  in 
the  Church,  have 
been  exchanged 
for  fit  clerics ; 

and  Good  Counsel 
iind  Truth  are 
friends  with 
the  King. 

Happy  is  the 
realm  whose 
king  loves 
truth  and 
punishes  in- 
justice. 

There  is  no 
prosperity 
under  ignorance 
and  tyranny. 


You  shall  now 
hear  the  Acts 
of  our  Parliament 
proclaimed. 


3796 


THE    FIRST    ACT. 

It  is  devysit  be  thir  prudent  Kings, 
Correctioun  and  King  Humanitie, 
That  thair  Leigis,  induring  all  thair  Ringis, 
With  tbe  avyce  of  the  estaits  thrie, 
Sail  manfullie  defend  and  fortifie 
The  Kirk  of  Christ,  and  his  Poligioun, 
10 


King  Correct- 
ion and  King 
Humanity 
have  resolved 
that  their 
lieges  shall 
defend  the 
Church,  and 


520 


AXE    SATVKK 


earnestly,  iiiuler 
pain  of 
punisliment. 

The  Acts  passed 
by  the  last 
Parliament,  being 
wholesome, 
sbaU  be 
duly  observed ; 
and  they  that 
break  them 
shall  suffer. 
The  temporal 
lands  are  to 
be  leased,  as 
in  France, 
to  real  husband- 
men, but 
with  equitable 
restrictions. 

Noblemen 
are  not  to 
connive  at 
thieves,  but 
are  to  be  re- 
sponsible for 
their  stealing, 
if  they  do  not 
commit  them 
for  trial. 

Justices,  witli 
a  President, 
are  to  be 
appointed  in 
Elgin,  or  In 
Inverness,  for 
the  northern 
quarters,  to 
save  long 
journeys 


Witliout  di.ssimiilauce  or  liypocrisie, 
3800     Yncler  the  paine  of  tliair  punitiomi. 

2.  Als,  tliaj  -wall,  that  the  Acts  honorabill 
Maid,  be  our  Prince,  in  the  last  Parliament, 
Becaus  thay  ar  baith  gude  and  profitabill, — 

3804     Thay  will  that  everie  man  be  diligent 

Them  till  observe,  with  vnfemjeit  intent. 

Quha  disobeyis,  inobedientlie, 

Be  thir  lawis,  but  doubt,  thay  sail  repent, 

3808     And  painis  conteinit  thairin  sail  vnderly. 

3.  And,  als,  the  Common-weil  for  til  advance, 
It  is  statute  that  all  the  Temporall  lands 

Be  set  in  few,  efter  the  forme  of  France, 
3812     Til  verteous  men  that  labours  with  thair  hands, 

Eesonabillie  restrictit  with  sic  bands. 

That  thay  do  service,  nevertheles, 

And  to  be  subiect,  ay,  vnder  the  wands  ; 
3816     That  riches  may  with  policie  incres. 

4.  Item,  this  prudent  Parliament  hes  dev^'sit, 
Gif  Lords  halds  vnder  thair  dominioun 
Theifis,    quhairthroch    puir    peopil    bein    sup- 

prisit, 

3820     For  them  thay  sail  make  answeir  to  the  croun, 
And  to  the  pure  mak  restitutioun, 
Witliout  thay  put  them  in  the  iudges  hands. 
For  thair  default  to  suffer  punitioun ; 

3824     Sa  that  na  theifis  remaine  within  thair  lauds. 

5.  To  that  intent,  that  lustice  sould  incres, 
It  is  concludit,  in  this  Parliament, 

That,  into  Elgin,  or  into  Inuernesse, 
3828     Sail  be  ane  sute  of  Clarks  sapient, 

Togidder  Avith  ane  prudent  Precident, 

To  do  iustice  in  aU  the  ISTorther  Airtis, 

Sa  equallie,  -without  impediment, 
3832     That    thay    neid    nocht    seik    iustice    in    thir 
pairts. 


ANK    SATYKE. 


521 


6.  With  liceiue  of  the  Kirks  halini's, 
Tliat  iustice  iiiay  be  done  coiitiinia]Iie, 
All  the  maters  of  Scotland,  niair  and  les, 

3836     To  thir  twa  famous  saits,  perpetuallie, 

Salbe  directit ;  becaus  men  seis,  plainlii, 
Thir  wantoun  Nunnis  ar  na  way  necessair 
Till  Common-weill,  nor  ^it  to  the  glorie 

3840     Of  Christs  Kirk,  thocht  thay  be  fat  and  fair. 
And,  als,  that  fragill  ordoiir  feminine 
Will  uocht  be  missit  in  Christs  Eeligioun  : 
Thair  rents  vsit  till  ane  better  fyne, 

3844     For  Common-AA'eill  of  all  this  Regioun. 
Ilk  Senature,  for  that  erectioun, 
For  the  vphakling  of  thair  gravitie, 
Sail  haue  fyue  hundreth  mark  of  pensioiui  ; 

3848     And,  also,  bot  tAva  sail  thair  nummer  be. 

Into  the  North,  saxteinc  sail  thair  remaine  ; 
Saxtein,  rycht  sa,  in  our  maist  famous  toun 
Of  Edinburgh,  to  serve  our  Soveraine  ; 

3852     Chosen,  without  partiall  aifectioun, 

Of  the  maist  cunning  Clarks  of  this  Eegioun  ; 
Thair  Chancellar  chosen,  of  ane  famous  Clark, 
Ane  cunning  man  of  great  perfectioun, 

3856     And,  for  his  pensioun,  haue  ane  thowsand  mark. 

7.  It  is  devj\sit,  in  this  Parliament, 
From  this  day  furth,  na  mater  Temporal} — 
Our  new  Prelats  thairto  hes  done  consent, — 

3860     Cum  befoir  ludges  consistoriall, 

Quhilk  hes  bene  sa  prolixt  and  partiall, 

To  the  great  hurt  of  the  communitie. 

Let  Temporall  men  seik  ludges  Temporall  ; 

3864     And  Sprituall  men,  to  Spritualitie. 

8.  Na  beneiice  beis  giffin,  in  tyme  cummiug, 
Bot  to  men  of  gude  eruditioun. 

Expert  in  the  hahe  Scripture,  and  cunning, 
3868     And  that  they  be  of  gude  conditinnn, 


The  Church 
assenting, 
spiritual  matters 
are  there  to  be 
adjudiaited  on. 
Nuns,  iis  being 
unnecessary 
either  to  State 
or  Churcli, 
are  to  be 
abolished;  and 
their  revenues 
are  to  be 
applied  more 
for  the  public 
interest. 

The  Senators 
are  to  be 
stipendiary, 
and  their 
numlier  is  to 
be  fixed. 

There  are  to 
be  thirty- 
two  royal 
councillors, 
chosen,  im- 
partially, for 
their  ability ; 

and  their 
Chancellor,  a 
learned  man,  is  to 
have  1000  marks, 
as  salary. 

From  this 
day  forth, 
temporal 
matters  sh:ill 
come  before 
temporal 
judges,  and 
spiritual 
matters  be- 
fore spiritual 
judges. 

Benefices  are 
to  be  bestowed 
on  erudite 
ecclesiastics. 


522 


AXE    SATYRE. 


of  gocjii  lile, 
iiiul  qualified 
to  preach  or 
else  to  teach. 

As  ignorant 
priests  ahoiiml, 
disgracing  the 
dignity  of 
teachers,  the 
Bishops  are 
to  ordain  none 
but  men  of 
learning,  and 
fit  for  the 
priestliood. 

As  an  un- 
skilful tailor 
is  not  tolerated, 
so  an  ignorant 
cleric  should  not 
be  endured. 

Isaiah  con- 
demns such. 

No  prelate 
is  to  attempt 
to  restore  tlie 
custom  of 
death-presents. 

No  person 
but  of  the 
blood-royal 
is  to  hold 
a  plurality. 

Mortuaries 
are  to  be 
done  away 
with,  as  being 
detrimental  to 
the  commonalty ; 

and  the  Barons 

are  no  longer 


3872 


3876 


3880 


3884 


3888 


3892 


389G 


3900 


Of  publick  vices  Lut  supitioun, 

And  (pialefiet  riclit  prudentlie  to  preicli 

To  tliair  awin  folk,  ])aith  into  land  and  toun, 

Or  ellis  in  famous  senilis  for  to  teich. 

[9.]  Als,  becaus  of  the  great  pluralitie 
Of  ignorant  Preists,  ma  then  ane  Legionn, — 
Quhairthroch  of  Teicheouris  the  heich  dignitie 
Is  vilipendit  in  ilk  Eegioun, — 
Thairfoir  our  Court  hes  maid  ane  provisioun, 
That  na  Bischops  mak  teichours,  in  tyme  cum- 

ming, 
Except  men  of  gude  eruditioun, 
And  for  Preistheid  qualefeit  and  cunning. 
Siclyke  as  30  se,  in  the  borrows  toun, 
Ane  Tail^eour  is  nocht  sufferit  to  remaine, 
Without  he  can  mak  doublet,  coat,  and  gown, — 
He  man  gang  till  his  prentischip  againe, — 
Bischops  sould  noclit  ressaue,  me  tliiuk  certaine, 
Into  the  Kirk  except  ane  cunning  Clark. 
Ane  ideot  preist  Esay  compaireth,  plaine, 
Till  ane  dum  dogge,  that  can  nocht  byte  nor  bark. 

1 0.  From  this  day  fiirth,  se  na  Prelats  pretend, 
Vnder  the  paine  of  inobedience, 

At  Prince  or  Paip  to  purchase  ane  command 
Againe  the  kow  ;  becaus  it  dois  offence. 
Till  ony  Preist  we  think  siifficience 
Ane  benefice  for  to  serve  Cod  withall. 
Twa  Prelacies  sail  na  man  haue,  from  thence, 
Without  tliat  he  be  of  the  blude  Koj^all. 

11.  Item,  this  prudent  counsall  hes  concludit, 
Sa  that  our  haly  Vickars  be  nocht  wraith, 
From  this  day  furth,  thay  salbe  cleane  denudit 
Baith  of  cors-present,  cow,  and  vmest  claith  ; 
To  pure  commons  becaus  it  hath  done  skaith. 
And,  mairouer,  we  think  it  lytill  force, 
Howbeit  the  Barmuns  thairtn  will  lie  laith, 


ANE    S  A  TV  UK. 


523 


3904:     From  thine  fiirtli  thay  sail  want  Ihair  hyrald 
hors. 

12.  It  is  decroit,  that,  in  this  Parliament, 
Ilk  Bischop,  jMinister,  Priour,  and  Persoun, 
To  the  effect  thay  may  tak  better  tent 

3908     To  sanlis  vnder  thair  dominioun, 

Efter  the  forme  of  thair  fundatioiin, 
Ilk  Bischop  in  his  Diosie  sail  remaine, 
And  everilk  Persone  in  his  parachoun, 

3912     Teiching  thair  folk  from  vices  to  refraine. 

13.  Becaus  that  clarks    our   substance    dois 
co??sume 

For  bils  and  proces  of  thair  prelacies, 
Thairfoir  thair  sail  na  money  ga  to  Rome, 
From  this  day  furtli,  for  any  benefice, 
Bot  gif  it  be  for  greit  Archbischopries. 
As  for  the  rest,  na  money  gais  at  all, 
For  the  incressing  of  thair  dignities, 
Na  mail  nor  did  to  Peter  nor  to  Paull. 

14.  Considering  that  ourPreists,  fortlie  maist 
part, 

Thay  want  the  gift  of  Chastitie,  we  se, — 
Cupido  hes  sa  perst  them  throch.  the  hart, — 

3924     We  grant  them  Kcence  and  frie  libertie 

That  thay  may  haue  fair  Virgins  to  thair  wyfis. 

And  sa  keip  matrimoniall  Chastitie, 

And  noclit  in  huirdome  for  to  leid  thair  lyfis. 

3928  15.     This    Parliament,    richt    sa,    hes    done 

conclude. 
From  this  day  forth,  our  Barrouns  temporall 
Sail  na  mair  mix  thair  nobil  ancient  blude 
With  bastard  bairns  of  Stait  Spirituall. 

3932     Ilk  stait  amang  thair  a^yin  selfis  marie  sail. 
Gif  I^obils  marie  with  the  Spritualitie, 
From  thyne,  subiect  thay  salbe,  and  all 
Sal  be  degraithit  of  thair  I^obilitie, 


3916 


3920 


to  exact 
heriota. 

All  jjersoiis 
having  tlie 
cure  of  Houls 
are,  for  tlie 
good  of  those 
under  them, 
to  confine  them- 
selves to  tlieir 
charges,  minis- 
tering as  is  due. 
In  time  to 
come,  no  more 
money  is  to 
go  to  Rome, 
for  offices  in 
the  Church, 
Archbishoprics 
excepted.    .SS. 
Peter  and  Paul 
are,  herein, 
to  be  your 
example. 

As  our  priests, 
for  the  most 
part,  want 
the  gift  of 
chastity,  they 
may  marry 
maids,  and  so 
avoid  sinful 
lives. 

Uarons  .ire  no 
longer  to  marry 
the  illegitimate 
children  of 
prelates. 

Noblemen  offend- 
ing by  such 
unions  shall 
be  disennobled. 


524 


ANE    SATYRE. 


and  shall  so 
remain  until, 

on  itayment 
of  a  fine,  they  be 
I'eliabilitated. 

In  like  manner, 
ecclesiastics  are 
to  find  wives 
in  their  own 
order,  after 
ancient 
precedent. 
Such  are  the 
Acts  of  this 
Parliament. 
Let  them 
be  obeyed. 
None  but  the 
malicious  will 


3936     And  from  amang  the  Nobils  cancellit, 
Vnto  the  tyme  thay  by  thair  libertie, 
Eehabilit  be  the  ciuill  magistrate. 
And  sa  sail  marie  the  Spiritualitie  : 

3940     Bischops  with  bischops  sail  mak  affinitie  ; 
Abbots  and  Priors,  with  the  Priores ; 
As  Bischop  Annas — in  Scripture  we  may  se. 
Maryit  his  dochter  on  Bischop  Caiphas. 

3944         I^Tow  haue  ^e  heard  the  Acts  lionorabill 
Devysit  in  this  present  ParHament, 
To  Common-weill,  we  think,  agreabill. 
All  faithfiill  folk  sould  heirof  be  content 

3948     Them  till  observe  with  hartlie  trew  intent. 
I  wait  nane  will  against  our  Acts  rebell, 
Nor  till  our  law  be  inobedienfc, 
Bot  Plutois  band,  the  potent  prince  of  hell. 


(^Heir  sail  Pauper  cum  befoir  the  King,  and  say  ••) 


IVly  blessing 

for  your  bounty 

and  for  your 

noble  Acts ! 

May  you  use 

thein  well. 

O'.ieyed,  they 

will  benefit; 

decl.ared,  they 
should  be 
observed. 

Hut  behead 
Deceit  and  his 
companions, 
and  banish 
Flattery,  the 
scoundrel. 

Then  we  had,  all, 
better  rest. 


PAVPER. 

3952     I  gif  30W  my  braid  bennesoun. 

That  hes  givin  Common-weill  a  goun. 
I  wald  nocht,  for  ane  pair  of  plackis, 
3e  had  nocht  maid  thir  nobill  Actis. 

3956     I  pray  to  God  and  sweit  Sanct  GeiU 
I'o  gif  :5ow  grace  to  vse  them  weill. 
Wer  thay  Aveill  keipit,  I  vndorstand, 
It  war  great  honour  to  Scotland. 

3960     It  had  bene  als  glide  ^e  had  sleipit, 
As  to  mak  acts,  and  be  nocht  keipit. 
Bot  I  beseik  30W,  for  Alhallows, 
To  held  Dissait,  and  hang  his  fellows, 

3964     And  banische  Plattrie  aff  the  toun  ; 
For  thair  Avas  never  sic  ane  loun. 
That  boand  done,  I  hauld  it  best 
That  overic  man  ga  to  his  rest. 


ANE    SAT  V  RE. 


525 


CORRECTIOVN. 

3968     As  thou  lies  said,  it  salbe  done. 

Suyitli !  Sergeants,  hang  jon  swingeours  sone. 

(.Heir  sal  the  Sergeants  Ions  the  presotiers  out  of  the  stocks, 
and  leid  them  to  the  gallows.) 

FIRST    SERGEANT. 

Cum  heir,  sir  Theif ;  cum  heir,  cum  heir. 
Quhen  war  je  wont  to  be  sa  sweir  ? 
3972     To  hunt  Cattell  36  war,  ay,  speidie ; 
Thairfoir  ^e  sail  weaue  in  ane  widdie. 

THIFT. 

Man  I  be  hangit  %  Allace  !  allace  ! 
Is  thair  nane  heir  may  get  me  grace  1 
3976     jit  or  I  die,  gif  me  ane  drink. 

FIRST    SERGEANT. 

Y\  !  huirsun  carle.     I  feil  ane  stink. 


It  shall  be  so. 
Sergeants  I 


Here,  Thief! 

You  were  not 
so  slow  in 
stealing. 

You  must  swing. 


Will  no  one 

save  me  ? 

Give  me  a  drink. 


THIFT. 


3980 


Thocht  I  wald  nocht  that  it  war  wittin, 
Sir,  in  gude  faith  I  am  bedirtin. 
To  wit  the  veritie,  gif  ^e  pleis, 
Louse  doun  my  liois,  put  in  3our  neis. 


FIRST    SERGEANT. 

Thou  art  an  limmer,  I  stand  foird. 
Slip  in  thy  head  into  this  coird ; 
3984     For  thou  had  never  ane  meiter  tippit. 

THIFT. 

Allace  !     This  is  ane  fellon  rippit. 

(^Pausa.) 
The  widdifow  wairdanis  tuke  my  geir, 
And  left  me  nether  hors  nor  meir. 


Tou  can  tell 
what  has 
happened, 
if  yon  use 
your  nose. 


Rascal,  slip 
your  head  int') 
this  cord, — a 
good  fit. 


A  bad  go,  tills  ! 


I  have  been 
stripped  of 


526 


ANE    SATYRE. 


all ;  and  now 
I  must  be 
hanged. 

Eepent, 

evil-doers ; 

or  else  confess, 

and  make  ready. 

If  you  stay,  and 
if  Correction  lays 
hands  on  you, 

a  noose  will  be 

your  grace. 

FareweU, 

fellow-thieves ! 

Farewell, 

ye  cunning 

in  our  craft, 

nimble  of 

foot,  strong 

of  hand,  whose 

names  are  so 

many  that  I 

have  no  time 

to  repeat  them ! 

If  Correction 
catches  you,  it 
will  be  all  up 
with  you. 


3988     Not  earthlie  gude  that  me  belangit. 
Now,  walloway  !  I  man  be  hangit. 
Eepent  ^onr  lyfis,  36  plaine  oppressours, 
All  36  misdoars,  and  transgressours  ; 

3992     Or  ellis  gar  chuse  30W  gude  confessours, 
And  mak  30W  forde  : 
For,  gif  36  tarie  in  tliis  land, 
And  cum  vnder  Correctiouns  hand, 

3996     ^our  grace  salbe,  I  vnderstand, 
Ane  gude  scharp  coird. 
Adew  !  my  bretheren,  common  theifis, 
That  helpit  me  in  my  mischeifis. 

4000     Adew  !   Grosars,  Nicksons,  and  Bellis  : 
Oft  haue  we  run  outthoart  the  fellis. 
Adew  !  Eobsonis,  Hansles,  and  Pyllis, 
That  in  our  craft  lies  mony  Avylis, 

4004     Lytils,  Trumbels,  and  Armestrangs, 
Adew  !  all  theifis  that  me  belangs, 
Tail3eoui-s,  Curwings,  and  Elwands, 
Speidie  of  fut,  and  wicht  of  hands, — 

4008     The  Scottis  of  Ewisdaill,  and  the  Graimis 
I  haue  na  tyme  to  tell  3our  namis. 
With  King  Correctioun  and  36  be  fangit, 
Beleif,  richt  weill,  3e  wilbe  hangit. 


FIRST   SERGEANT. 

Make  haste!         4012     Speid  hand,  man,  with  thy  clittsr  clattet. 


But  give  me 
lime  to 
relieve  nature. 


THIFT. 

For  Gods  saik,  sir,  let  me  mak  watter. 
Howbeit  I  haue  bene  cattel-gredie, 
It  schamis  to  pische  into  ane  widdie. 

{Heir  sal  Th'ift  be  draicin  vp,  or  his Jif/our. 


SEOVND    SERGEANT. 

4016     Cum  lu'ir,  l^is.'^ait,  my  compan3onnn. 


ANK    SATYRE. 


5l'7 


Saw  ever  ane  man  lyker  ane  loun, 
To  hing  vpon  ane  gallows'? 

DISSAIT. 

This  is  aneuch  to  make  me  mangit. 
4020     Duill  fell  me,  tliat  I  man  be  hangit ! 
Let  me  speik  with  my  ftiUows. 

I  trow  wan-fortune  brocht  me  heir. 

Quhat  mekill  feind  maid  me  sa  speidie  1 
4024     Sen  it  was  said,  it  is  sevin  ^eir, 

That  I  sould  weaue  into  ane  widdie. 

I  leirit  my  maisters  to  be  gredie. 

Adew  !  for  I  se  na  remeid. 
4028     Luke  quhat  it  is  to  be  evil-deidie. 

SECVND    SERGEANT. 

Now  in  this  halter  sHp  thy  heid. 
Stand  still.     Me  think  3e  draw  aback. 

DISSAIT. 

Allace  !     Maister,  ^e  hurt  my  crag, 

SECVND    SERGEANT. 

4032     It  Avill  hurt  better,  I  woid  an  plak, 

Richt  now,  quhen  3e  hing  on  ane  knag. 

DISSAIT. 

Adew  !  my  maisters,  merchant  men. 
I  liaue  30W  servit,  as  je  ken, 
403G  Truelie,  baith  air  and  lait. 

I  say  to  30W,  for  conclusioun, 
I  dreid  30  gang  to  confusioun, 
Fra  tyrae  30  want  Dissait. 
4040     I  leirit  30W,  merchants,  mony  ane  wyle, 
Vpalands  Avyfis  for  to  begyle, 
V))0U  aiic  itiarkil-day, 


What  a  raacal 
to  bail); ! 


I  am  stunned. 

I  to  be  liangcd  ? 

Let  me  speak. 

I  am  unlucky. 

Seven  years 
ago  it  was 
foretold  I  should 
be  hanged. 

I  tauglit  greed. 

I  am  done  for. 

This  comes  of 
evil  courses. 


Slip  your  head  in. 
Do  you  flinch  ? 


Vou  hurt 
my  neck. 


It  will  hurt 
more  directly. 


Farewell, 
merchantmen, 
whom  I  have 
served  well  I 

You  will  fare 

ill,  without 

Deceit. 

I  taught  you 

to  cheat  the 

country  wives, 


528 


ANE    SAT Y RE. 


and  to  palm 
off  on  tliem 
wortliless  wares 
for  souiitl. 

I  was  always 

whispering  you, 

and  putting  you       4048 


up  to  tricks. 
It  is  well  that 
Correction 
knows  not 
of  your  craft. 
I  taught  you 
to  mix  new 
wine  and  old ; 


40o2l 


to  buy  cheap 
and  sell  dear ; 
and  the  art  of  4056 

adulteration. 

Remember  usuiy, 

imitating 

your  betters.  4060 

Never  mind 

scant  measure 

or  short  weight. 

Good-bye,  old 

friends.    I  was 

true  to  you ; 

and  you  will 

grieve  for  me, 

especially  Tom 

Williamson. 

Tom,  pray  for 
me  heartily, 
and  reflect  on 
my  doings ;  for 
you  learned 
from  me  how 
to  cheat  the 
Bishop  and 
his  clerks. 

Young  merch- 
ants, you  may 
curse  yonder 
king. 


And  gar  them  trow  3our  stuflfe  was  gude, 
4044     Qnhen  it  was  rottin, — be  the  Eude  ! — 

And  sweir  it  was  nocht  sway. 
I  was  ay  loundand.  in  ^our  ear, 
And.  leirit  30W  for  to  ban  and  sweir 

Quliat  30ur  geir  cost  in  France, 
Howbeit  the  Devill  ane  word  was  trew. 
3our  craft  gif  King  Correctioun  knew, 

Wald  turne  30W  to  mischance. 
I  leirit  30W  wyllis  many  fauld  : 
To  mix  the  new  wyne  and  the  auld, — 

That  faschioun  was  na  follie  ; — 
To  sell  richt  deir,  and  by  gude  chaip  ; 
And  mix  E,y-meill  amang  the  saip, 

And  Saiffrone  with  Oyl-dolie. 
Forget  nocht  oclcer,  I  coiinsall  30W, 
Mair  then  the  vicker  dois  the  kow, 

Or  Lords  thair  doiibill  maill. 
Howbeit  30ur  elwand  be  too  skant, 
Or  30ur  pound-Avecht  thrie  vnces  want. 

Think  that  bot  lytill  faiU. 
4064     Adew  !  the  greit  Clan  lamesone, 
The  blude  Eoyal  of  Clappertoun  : 

I  was,  ay,  to  30W  trew. 
Baith  Andersone  and  Paterson 
4068     Above  them  all,  Thome  "Williamsone, 

My  absence  36  will  rew. 
Thome  Williamsone,  it  is  3our  pairt 
To  pray  for  me  with  all  30ur  hairt, 
4072  And  think  vpon  my  warks ; 

How  I  leirit  30W  ane  gude  lessoun. 
For  to  begyle,  in  Edinburgh  toun, 

The  Bischop  and  his  Clarks. 
4076     3e,  30ung  merchants,  may  cry  allace  : 
For  wanting  of  30ur  wonted  grace, 

^on  furst  King  30  may  ban. 


ANE    SATYllK. 


529 


Had  I  leitit  bot  halfe  aiie  3eir, 
4080     I  soiild  haue  leirit  30W  crafts  perqueir. 
To  begyle  wyfe  and  man. 
How  may  36,  merchants,  mak  dcbait, 
Fra  tyme  je  want  ^our  man  Dissait  1 
4084  For  30W  I  mak  great  cair. 

Without  I  ryse  fra  deid  to  lyfe, 
I  wait  Weill,  ^e  will  never  thiyfe 
Farther  nor  the  fourth  air. 

(Heir  sal  Dissait  be  drawin  cp,  or  ellis  his  figure^ 


In  six  raonths 
more  I  would 
have  made 
you  adepts. 

You  will  strive 
fruitlessly,  with- 
out Deceit. 

Unless  I  come  to 
life,  you  will  not 
thrive  many 
generations. 


FIRST    SERGEANT. 

4088     Cum  heir,  Falset,  &  mense  the  gaUows. 
3e  man  hing  vp  amang  ^our  fallows. 

For  ^our  cankart  conditioun. 
Monie  ane  trew  man  haue  ^e  wi'angit : 
4092     Thairfoir,  but  doubt,  ^e  salbe  hangit, 
But  mercie  or  remissioun. 


Come,  Falsehood, 
and  grace  the 
gallows,  with 
your  mates. 

For  your  wrong- 
doing you  must 
swing. 


FALSET. 

Allace  !     Man  I  be  hangit,  to  %  How  did  i  incur 

Quhat  mekill  De'vdl  is  this  ado  1  tws  nuisance  of 

4096  How  came  I  to  this  cummer?  being  hanged? 

My  gude  maisters,  30  craftsmen,  Craftsmen,  you 

Want  36  Falset,  full  weill  I  ken,  wiu  starve,  witu- 

3e  will,  all,  die  for  hunger.  out  Falsehood. 

4100     3c,  men  of  craft,  may  cry  allace.  As  you  win 

Quhen  30  want  me,  36  want  30ur  grace  ;  miss  me, 

Thairfoir,  put  into  Avryte  note  down  my 

My  lessouns  that  I  did  30AV  leu\  instructions. 

4104     Howbeit  the  commons  ejaie  36  bleir,  Don't  mind 

Count  36  nocht  that  ane  myte.  practising  guile. 

Find  me  ane  Wobster  that  is  leill,  is  any  weaver 

Or  ane  Walker  that  yo\\  nocht  steiU, —  or  fuller 

4108  Thair  craftinos  I  ken, —  honest? 


530 


ANE    SATYRE. 


A  miller  Unit 
will  not  steal  you 
may  count  holy. 

Among  butchers, 

to  blow  up  their 

meat  is  only 

a  joke : 

and  I  taught 

it  to  them. 

Tailors,  too, 

learned  from  me, 

in  the  towns. 

Country  tailors 

I  allowed 

to  cabbage. 

Andro  Fortovni 

will  be  fi-antic 

about  me ; 

and  Tailor 
Babarage  will 
roar  at  seeing 
me  hanged. 

Not  so  Deacon 

Jamie  Ralfe, 

honest  fool ; 

nor  Willie 

Cadyeoch,  the 

selfish  maltwonn. 

To  the  brewers 
of  Cowpertown 
I  leave  a 
hearty  curse. 

They  think  it 

no  harm  to  brew 

washy  ale. 

r)o  you  know 
how  they  make 
harns-out  ? 


Or  ane  Millair  that  lies  na  fait, 
That  will  nather  steill  meall  nor  malt, 
Hauld  them  for  halie  men. 
4112     At  our  fieschers  tak  30  na  greife. 

Thocht  thaj  blaw  leane  mutton  and  Leife, 

That  thay  seime  fat  and  fair, 
Thay  think  that  practick  hot  ane  mow. 
4116     Howbeit  the  Devill  a  thing  it  dow, 
To  thanie  I  leirit  that  lair. 
I  leirit  Tail^eours,  in  everie  toun, 
To  schaip  fyue  quarters  in  ane  goun, 
4120  In  Angus,  and  in  Fyfe. 

To  vplands  Tail3eours  I  gaue  gude  leife 
To  steill  ane  sillie  stump,  or  sleife, 
Vnto  Kittok,  his  wyfe. 
4124     j\Iy  gude  maister,  Andro  Fortoun, 

Of  Tail3eours  that  may  weir  the  cromi, 

For  me  he  Avill  be  mangit. 
Tail3eour  Babarage,  my  sone  and  air, 
4128     1  wait,  for  me  will  rudlie  rair, 
Fra  tyme  he  se  me  hangit. 
Tlie  barfit  Deacon,  lamie  Ealfe, 
Quha  never  3it  bocht  kow  nor  calfe, 
4132  Becaus  he  can  nocht  steall ; 

Willie  Cad3eoch  will  make  na  plead, 
Howbeit  his  wyfe  want  beife  and  bread. 
Get  he  gude  barmie  aill. 
4136     To  the  brousters  of  Cowper  toun 
I  leife  m}^  braid  black  malesoun, 

Als  hartlie  as  I  may. 
To  make  thinne  aill  thay  think  na  fait, 
4 1 40     Of  mekill  Ijurne  and  lytill  malt, 
Aganc  the  market-day. 
And  thay  can  mak,  witlionlin  doubt, 
Ane  kynde  of  aill  thay  call  Harns-out. 
4144  Wait  30  how  thay  mak  tliat  ? 


ANK    SATYKK 


531 


Aue  curtill  (|UuiiU',  nwr  laidlic  lui(lau(% 
Of  Strang  wesche  sclio  will  tak  aiie  iurclane, 
And  settis  in  the , gyle-fat. 
4148     Qulia  drinks  of  that  aill,  man  or  page, 
It  will  gar  all  his  harnis  rage. 
That  iiirdane  I  may  rew  : 
It  gart  my  held  rin  hiddie  giddie. 
4152     Sirs,  God  !  nor  I  die  in  ane  widdie, 
Gif  this  taill  be  nocht  trew. 
Speir  at  the  Sowtar,  Geordie  Sillie, 
Fra  tyme  that  he  had  fild  his  bellie 
4156  With  this  vnhelthsum  aill. 

Than  all  the  Baxters  will  I  ban, 
That  mixes  bread  with  dust  and  bran, 
And  fyne  flour  with  beir  maill. 
4160     Adew  !  my  maisters,  Wrichts  and  Maissouns. 
I  haue  neid  to  leir  30W  few  lessouns  : 

3e  knaw  my  craft  perqueir. 
Adew  !  blak-Smythis  and  Loriners. 
4164     Adew!  30  craftie  Cordiners, 

That  sellis  the  schone  over  deir. 
Gold  Smythis,  fair-weill  !  aT)one  them  all. 
Remember  my  memoriall, 
4168  With  mony  ane  sittill  cast. 

To  mix,  set  30  nocht  by  twa  preinis, 
Fyne  Ducat  gold  with  hard  Gudlingis, 
Lyke  as  I  leirnit  30W  last. 
4172     Qulien  I  was  ludgit  vpaland. 

The  Schiphirds  maid  with  me  ane  band, 

Richt  craftelie  to  steill. 
Than  did  I  gif  ane  confirmation n 
4176     To  all  the  Schiphirdis  of  this  K'atioun, 
That  thay  sould  never  be  leill. 
And  ilk  ane  to  reset  ane  vther. 
I  knaw  fals  Schiphirds,  fyftie  fidder, — 
4180  War  thair  canteleinis  kend, — 


A  nasty  liiissy 
puts  stale  into 
the  miishing- 
vat; 

and  the  ale 
burns  the 
brains. 

This  I  know 

from  trial : 

.-md  I  tell 

the  truth. 

Ask  Geordie 
Sillie  how  it 
w,is  with  him, 
when  he  had 
drunk  of  it. 

My  curse 

on  cheating 

bakers  1 

Wrights  and 
masons  under- 
stand ray 
arts  well ; 

and  cordwainers 
know  how  to 
charge  for  shoes. 
Farewell,  gold- 
smiths, you 
who  do  not 
stick  at  mixing 
base  metal  with 
tCoUi,  after  my 
lessoning. 

The  country 
shepherds 
I  initiated 
in  stealing. 

Henceforth, 
shepherds, 
thanks  to  me, 
are  safe  to  be 
dishonest. 

Little  is 

known  oi  tlia 


532 


ANE    «ATYRE. 


tricks  to 

which  they 

agree  together. 

Craftsmen, 

too,  are  seldom 

trusty. 

But  I  mast  be 
off,  to  the  King 
of  the  Fays, 
or  else  to  hell. 


Alas !    No  one 
ever  tried 
harder  than 
Common  Thief  to 
live  honestly. 

He  was  a  rare 

hand  at  spiriting 

away  cows. 

Satan  take 

thy  soul, 

faithful  Deceit! 

The  merchants 

will  never  find 

yom-  equal. 


V  ho  will  po 
with  me ' 
Come,  y« 
masterful  kings, 
invaders, 
oppressors, 
will!  Pliaraoh, 
to  heU. 
Shedders  of 
innocent  blood, 
and  gras|).ng 


How  thay  mak,  iu  tliair  conventiouiis, 
On  montans,  far  fra  ony  touns, 
To  let  them  never  mend. 
4184     Amang  craftsmen,  it  is  ane  wonder 
To  find  ten  leill  amang  ane  huuder ; 

The  treuth  I  to  30W  tell. 
Adew  !  I  may  na  langer  tarie. 
4188     I  man  pas  to  the  King  of  Farie, 
Or  ellis  the  rycht  to  hell. 

(Heir  sail  he  luke  vp  to  his  fallows  hingand.) 

Wa  is  me  !     For  the  gude  common  thift, 
Was  never  man  maid  ane  mair  honest  schift 
4192  His  leifing  for  to  -win. 

Thair  was  nocht  ane,  in  all  Lidsdaill, 
That  ky  mair  craftelie  culd  staill, 
Quhair  thou  hings  on  that  pin. 
4196     Sathan  ressaue  thy  saull,  Dissait ! 
Thou  was  to  me  ane  faithfull  mait, 

And,  als,  my  father  brother. 
DuiU  fell  the  sillie  merchant  men ! 
4200     To  mak  them  ser\^ce,  AveUl  I  ken, 
Thaill  never  get  sic  ane  vther. 

{Heir  sail  thay  festin  the  coard  to  his  neclc,  with  ane  diim 
countenance.     Thairefter,  he  saU  sai/ :) 

Gif  any  man  list  for  to  be  my  mait, 
Cum  follow  me  ;  for  I  am  at  the  gait. 

4204     Cum  follow  me,  all  cat}^e,  covetous  Kings, 

Eeauers,  but  richt,  of  vthers  Realmis  and  Rings, 
Togidder  with  all  wrangous  conquerours. 
And  bring,  with  30W  all  publick  opi^ressours, 

4208     With  Pharao,  King  of  Egiptians  : 

"With  him,  in  hell,  salbe  ^our  recompeuce. 
All  cruell  schedders  of  blude  innocent, 
Cum  follow  me;  or  cUis  riu  and  r.-pfnt. 

4212     Prelats  that  lies  ma  beiiefeits  nor  tlirie. 


ANE    SATYRK. 


533 


And  will  nocht  teicli  nor  preiehu  tlic  veritie, 
Without  at  God,  in  tyme,  thay  cry  for  grace, 
In  hiddeous  hell  I  sail  prepair  thair  place. 

4216     Cum  follow  me,  all  fills  corruptit  ludges. 

With  Pontius  Pilat  I  sail  prepair  3  our  ludges. 
All  3e  officials  that  parts  men  with  thair  wyhs, 
Cum  follow  me  ;  or  els  gang  mend  30ur  lyfis  ; — 

4220     With  all  fals  leiders  of  the  constrie  law, 

With  wanton  Scribs  and  Clarks,  intill  ane  raw. 
That  to  the  puir  maks  mony  partiall  traine, 
Syne,  hodie  ad  octo  bids  them  cum  againe. 

4224     And  3e  that  taks  rewairds  at  baith  the  hands, 
3e  sail,  Avith  me,  be  bund  in  Baliels  bands. 
Cum  follow  me,  all  curst  vnhappie  Avyfis, 
That  with  30ur  gudemen  dayly  flytis  and  stryfis, 

4228     And  quyethe  with  ry balds  makes  repair, 

And  taks  na  cure  to  make  ane  Avrangous  air. 
3e  sal,  in  hel,  rewairdit  be,  I  wein. 
With  lesabell,  of  Israeli  the  Queene. 

4232     I  haue  ane  curst  vnhappie  wyfe,  my  sell. 
Wald  God  scho  war  befoir  me  into  hell ! 
That  Bismair,  war  scho  thair,  \Adthoutin  doubt. 
Out  of  hell  the  Devill  scho  wald  ding  out. 

4236     3e  maryit  men,  evin  as  3e  luife  30ur  tyfis. 

Let  never  preists  be  hamelie  with  3our  wyfis. 
My  wyfe  with  preists  sho  doith  me  greit  onricht, 
And  maid  me  nine  tymes  cuckald,  on  ane  nicht. 

4240     FairweH  !    For  I  am  to  the  Aviddie  wend ; 
For  quliy  falset  maid  never  ane  better  end. 

{Heir  sal  he  be  heisit  vp,  and  not  his  figure  ;  and  an  Craw  or  ane 
Ke  salhe  castin  vp,  as  it  war  his  saull.) 


niui  idle  prclatcx, 

unrcpenting, 

will  be  lost. 
Come,  false 
judges, 
and  Pontius 
Pilate. 

Ye  that  part 

man  and  wife, 

that  abuse 

the  law  to 

the  injury 

of  the  poor, 

and  that  take 
bribes,  must  go 
vfith  me. 

L'nfaithful  wives, 
who  vex  their 
husbands  and 
wrong  them, 
will  be  rewarded 
in  hell,  with 
Jezebel. 

And  what  a 


She  would  turn 
the  Devil  himself 
out  of  hell. 

Married  men, 

beware  of  priests. 

Me  they  have 
cuc'kolded 
roundly. 
Good-bye  1 
Falsehood 
never  made  a 
better  end. 


PLATTRIE. 


Haue  I  nocht  chaipit  the  widdie  Aveil  ? 
3ea,  that  I  haue,  be  sAveit  Sanct  Geill ! 


How  well  I 
have  escaped 
scragging ! 


534 


ANE    SATYRE. 


For  I  deserved 
it  even  more 
richly  tliaii  my 
companions, 
in  that  I 
beguiled  the 
three  Estates. 

With  my  hood 
on,  I  was 
thought  good. 

Ami! 

Let  the  greatest 
of  rascals 
only  don  a 
friar's  dress, 
and  the  wives 
will  deem  him 
a  very  saint. 
That  dress 
covers  more 
heat  than  charity. 
Is  a  wolf 
in  a  sheep's 
skin  holy  'r 

But,  escaped, 

I  will  not  stay 

to  cliatter. 

I  will  go, 
Immbly,  and 
teach  the  Hermit 
of  Loretto  how 
to  Hatter. 


4244  For  I  had  iioclit  bene  wrangit ; 

Becaus  I  servit, — be  AllialloAvs  ! — 
Till  haue  bene  merchellit  amang  my  fellowis. 
And  heich  aboue  them  hangit. 
4248     I  maid  far  ma  falts  nor  my  maits : 
I  begylde  aU  the  thrie  estaits 

With  my  hypocrisie. 
Quhen  I  had  on  my  freirs  liude, 
4252     All  men  beleifit  that  I  was  gude. 
ISToAV  iiidge  -^e  gif  I  be. 
Tak  me  an  rackles  rubyatour, 
Ane  theif,  ane  tyrane,  or  ane  tratour, 
4256  Of  everie  vyce  the  plant ; 

Gif  him  the  habite  of  ane  freir, 
The  wyhs  will  trow,  withoutin  weir, 
He  be  ane  verie  Saint. 
4260     I  knaw  that  cowle  and  skaplarie 
Genners  mair  bait  nor  charitie, 

Thocht  thay  be  blak  or  blew. 
Quhat  halines  is  thair  within 
4264     Ane  wolfe  cled  in  ane  wedders  skin? 
Tudge  30  gif  this  be  trew. 
Sen  I  haue  chaipit  this  firie  farie, 
Adew  !  I  will  na  langer  tarie, 
4268  To  cumber  30W  with  my  clatter  ; 

Bot  I  will,  -with  ane  humbill  spreit, 
Gang  serve  the  Hcrmeit  of  Lareit, 
And  leir  him  for  till  flatter. 


(Heir  xal  enter  Foly.) 


FOLIE. 


Good-day!  Don't  4272     Gude  day,  my  Lords,  and,  als,  God  saine  ! 

you  return  •        n 

any  saiut<> :-  Dois  na  man  bid  gude  day  agame  i 

are"giad?° '  Quhen  fuilUs  ar  fow,  then  ar  thay  faine. 

Don't  vou  -rr  ^  l  t 

know  me?  Ken  36  uocbt  me ? 


AXE    SATYRE. 


535 


4276     How  call  tliay  me  can  30  noclit  tell] 
Isow,  be  him  that  herryit  hell ! 
I  wait  noclit  how  tliay  call  my  sell, 
Bot  "if  I  he. 


Sly  name  ? 
I  don't  know, 
myself,  unless 
lUe. 


DILIGENCE. 

4280     Qnhat  brybour  is  this  that  males  sic  beiris  ? 

FOLIE. 

The  feind  ressaue  that  mouth  that  speirs  ! 
Gude-man,  ga  play  30W  with  jour  feiris, 
"With  muck  vpon  jour  mow. 

DILIGENCE. 

4284     Fond  fuill,  quhair  lies  thou  bene  sa  lait  1 


What  beggarly 
wretch  is  lliis  ? 


Out  on  you  that 
ask !    Go  and 
play  with 
your  fellows. 


Where  have 
you  been  so  late  ? 


IVIarie  !     Curamand  tlirow  the  Schogait. 
Bot  thair  hes  bene  ane  great  debait 
Bet^vixt  me  and  ane  Sow. 
4288     The  Sow  cryit  guff,  and  I,  to-ga : 
Throw  speid  of  fute,  I  gat  awa ; 
Bot,  in  the  midst  of  the  cawsa, 
I  fell  into  ane  midding. 
4292     Scho  lap  vpon  me,  with  ane  bend. 

Quhaever  the  middings  sould  amend, 
God  send  them  ane  mischevous  end  ! 
For  that  is  bot  Gods  bidding ; 
4296     As  I  was  pudlit  thair,  God  wait, 
Bot  with  my  club  I  maid  debait, 
Ise  never  cum  againe  that  gait, 
I  sweir  30AV,  be  Alhallows  ! 
4300     I  wald  the  officiars  of  the  toun. 
That  suffers  sic  confusioun, 
That  thay  war  harbreit  with  INIaho-wn, 
Or  hangit  on  ane  gallows. 
11 


I  have  had 
a  quarrel 
with  a  sow. 
I  managed  to 
run  away,  but 
fell  into  a 
dung-heap. 
She  sprang 

on  me. 

Bless  the 
dung-heaps ! 

Bemired  there, 
if  I  had  not 
had  my  club, 
I  should  never 
have  saved 
myself. 
The  officers  of 
the  town  should 
be  made  to  rue 
it  for  their 
negligence. 


536 


ANE    SATYRE. 


The  Devil  take 

those  who  leave 

the  country 

uuoarecl-for ! 

I  wish  tlie 
Provost  would 
look  to  the 
dung-heap 
wliere  I  met 
my  mischance. 


4304     Fy,  fy,  that  sic  ane  fair  cuntrie 
Sould  stand  sa  lang  but  policie  ! 
I  gif  them  to  the  Devill,  hartlie, 
That  hes  the  wyte. 
4308     I  wald  the  Provost  wald.takin  held 
Of  3on  midding  to  make  remeid, 
Quhilk  pat  me  and  the  Sow  at  feid. 
Quhat  may  I  do  hot  flyte  ? 

REX  HVMANITAS. 


Diligence,  bring     4312     Pas  on,  my  Servant  Diligence, 

yonder  fool  ait-  p    mi 

hither.  And  bring  3011  luill  to  our  presence. 


DILIGENCE. 


At  once. 

Folly,  go  to 
the  King. 


That  sail  be  done,  but  tarying. 
Foly,  ^e  man  ga  to  the  King. 


FOLIE. 

Is  that  he,  with     4316     The  King?   Quhat  kynde  of  thing  is  that  ? 
the  gilt  cap  ?  Is  3on  he,  with  the  goldin  Hat  ? 


Yea.  Come  alon?. 


DILIGENCE. 

3on  same  is  he.     Cum  on  thy  way. 


Good-day ! 
I  have  a  com- 
plaint to  make. 


Against  whom  ? 


FOLIE. 

Gif  3e  be  King,  God  30W  gude  day. 
4320     I  haue  ane  plaint  to  make  to  30W. 

REX    HVMANITAS. 

Quliom  on,  Folic  ? 


She  has  sworn 
to  slay  or  to 
maitn  me. 

Yon  should  do 
justice  to  all. 


FOLIE. 

]\Iarie  !    On  ane  Sow. 
Sir,  scho  lies  sworno  that  scho  sail  shx  me, 
4324     Or  ollis  byte  baith  my  balloks  fra  me. 
Gif  30  be  King, — be  Sanct  Allan  ! — 
3e  sould  do  lustice  to  ilk  man. 


ANE    SATTRR. 


537 


Had  I  nocht  keipit  me  witli  my  clul), 
4328     The  Sow  had  drawin  me  in  ane  dub. 

I  heir  them  say  thair  is  cum  to  the  toun 
Ane  King,  callit  Correctioun. 
I  pray  jow  tell  me  quhilk  is  he. 

DILIGENCE. 

4332     3on,  with  the  wings.    May  nocht  se  ? 

FOLIE. 

Xow,  wallie  f;iU  that  weill  fairde  mow  ! 

Sir,  I  pray  30W  correct  3on  Sow, 

Quhilk  with  hir  teitli,  but  sword  or  knyfe, 

4336     Had  maist  haue  reft  me  of  my  lyfe. 
Gif  36  will  nocht  mak  correctioun, 
Than  gif  me  jour  protectioun 
Of  all  Swyne  for  to  be  skaithles, 

4340     Betuix  this  toun  and  Invernes. 


My  club  alono 

saved  me. 

Which  is  King 
Correction,  wlio, 
they  say,  has 
come  to  town  ? 


He  with  the 
wings. 


Bless  him  ! 

Sire,  correct 
yonder  sow 
for  all  but 
killing  me. 

If  you  will  not, 
then  protect  me 
from  all  swine 
between  here 
and  Inverness. 


DILIGENCE. 

Foly,  hes  thou  ane  wyfe  at  hame  ? 


Have  you  a  wife  ? 


3ea,  that  I  haue,  God  send  hir  schame  ! 

I  trow,  be  this,  scho  is  neir  deid  : 
4344     I  left  ane  wyfe  bindand  hir  held. 

To  schaw  hir  seiknes  I  think  schame. 

Scho  hes  sic  rumbling  in  hir  wambe, 

That  all  the  nicht  my  hart  overcasts 
4348     With  bocking  and  with  thunder-blasts. 


Yes,  and  nearly 
dead,  I  imagine. 

I  don't  know 
what  has  come 
to  her ;  but  she 
was  in  a  very 
bad  way  all  the 
night  long. 


DILIGENCE. 

Peradventure  scho  be  with  bairne. 

FOLIE. 

AUace  !  I  trow  scho  be  forfairne. 
Scho  sobbit,  and  scho  fell  in  so-\\ti  ; 


Perhaps  she 
is  pregnant. 


She  is  almost 
woni  out,  I 
think. 


538 


ANE    SATYRE. 


She  fell  into 
a  swoon ;  and 
then  they 
rubbed  her  up 
and  down ; 
and  then  she 
got  some 
comfort,  but 
to  the  great 
discomfort  of 
everybody 
around. 
And  she  was 
quite  miable 
to  control 
herself. 


4352     And  than  tliay  ruLbit  hir  vp  and  doun. 
Scho  riftit,  routit,  and  maid  sic  stends, 
Scho  3eild,  and  gaid  at  "baith.  the  ends, 
Till  scho  had  castin  ane  cuppill  of  quarts  ; 

4356     Syne,  all  turnit  to  ane  rickill  of  farts. 
Scho  blubert,  bockit,  and  braikit  still ; 
Hir  arsse  gaid  evin  lyke  ane  wind-miU. 
Scho  stumblit,  and  stutterit,  with  sic  stends, 

4360     That  scho  recantit  at  baith  the  ends. 
Sik  dismell  drogs  fra  hir  scho  schot, 
Quhill  scho  maid  all  the  fluir  on  Hot, 
Of  hir  hurdles  scho  had  na  hauld, 

4364     Quhill  scho  had  twmed  hir  mony  fauld. 


You  had  better 
take  her  to 
the  doctors. 


DILIGENCE. 

Better  bring  hu'  to  the  Leitches  heir. 

FOLIE. 


Pshaw !     She  is 
not  to  be  moved, 
she  is  In  such 
a  condition ; 
and  she  con- 
stantly cries 
for  a  priest. 


Trittill  trattill !    Scho  may  nocht  steir. 

Hir  verie  buttoks  maks  sic  beir, 
4368  It  skars  baith  foill  and  fiUie. 

Scho  bocks  sik  bagage  fra  hir  breist, 

He  wants  na  bubbils  that  sittis  hir  neist ; 

And  ay  scho  cryis,  a  preist !  a  preist ! 
4372  With  ilk  a  quhUlie  lillie. 


Didn't  she 
recover  at  last  ? 


DILIGENCE. 

Recoverit  scho  nocht,  at  the  last  1 


Yes,  but  noisily. 
1  pity  her,  when 

she  sighs. 


FOLIE. 


3ea ;  hot,  wit  ^e  Aveil,  scho  fartit  fast. 
Bot,  quhen  scho  sichis,  my  hart  is  sorie. 


Does  she  drink 
at  all  P 


DILIGENCE. 


4376     Bot  drinks  scho  ocht  1 


ANE    SATYRE. 


539 


FOLIE. 

3e, — Le  Sanct  Marie  ! — 
Ane  quart  at  anis  it  will  nocht  tarie, 
And  leif  the  Devill  a  drap. 
4380     Than  sic  flobbage  scho  layis  fra  hir, 
About  the  wallis,  God  wait,  sic  wair  ! 
Quhen  it  was  drunkin,  I  gat  to  skair 
The  lickings  of  the  cap. 

DILIGENCE. 

4384     Quliat  is  in  that  creill,  I  pray  the  tell. 

FOLIE. 

Marie  !  I  haue  Folie-Hats  to  sell. 

DILIGENCE. 

I  pray  the,  sell  me  ane  or  tway. 

FOLIE. 

]^a.     Tarie  quhill  the  market-day. 
4388     I  will  sit  doun  heir, — be  Sanct  Clune  ! — ■ 

And  gif  my  babies  thair  disiune. 

Cum  heir,  gude  Glaiks,  my  dochter  deir. 

Thou  salbe  maryit,  within  ane  3eir, 
4392     Vpon  ane  freir  of  Tillilum. 

'Na  :  thou  art  nather  deaf  nor  dum. 

Cum  bidder,  Stult,  my  sone  and  air. 

My  ioy,  thou  art  baith  gude  and  fair, 
4396     Now  sail  I  fend  30W  as  I  may, 

Thocht  ^e  cry  lyke  ane  Ke  all  day. 

{fleii-  sal  the  bairns  cry  keel;  lylce  ane  Kae  ;  and  he  sal  pid  meat 
in  thair  mouth.') 


Well,  she  (loea 

not  stick  at  a 

quart  at  once, 

but  with  dis- 
agreeable con- 
sequences ; 

and  I  get  tlie 

leavings. 


What  is  in 
that  basket  ? 


I  have  fools- 
caps to  sell. 


Sell  me  one 
or  two. 


Wait  till 
market-day. 

I  will  give  my 
babes  their 
breakfast. 

Glaiks,  my 
daugliter,  you 
shall  marry 
a  friar  within 
a  year.    But  thou 
art  neither 
deaf  nor  dumb. 

stult,  my  boy, 
you  are  a 
fine  fellow. 

It  is  hard  to 
make  shift 
for  you. 


4400 


DILIGENCE. 

Get  vp,  Folie,  but  tarying, 

And  speid  30W,  haistelie,  to  the  King. 

Get  vp.    Me  think  the  carle  is  dum. 


tony,  nasti'ii 
to  the  King. 
Get  up ! 


640 


ANE    SATYRE. 


FOLIE. 

Now,  bum,  Lalerie,  bum,  bum. 


Out  of  this 
trance,  and 
get  up ;  or 
else  I  will  take 
your  wallet. 

Shame  on  you. 


If  I  get  up 
again  I  wiU 
break  your  pate. 
I  am  overcome 
at  sight  of 
yonder  fair  lass 
in  a  satin  gown. 
If  I  had  you  in 
a  quiet  place, 
you  would  not 
wish  to  run  away. 
You  pretty-armed 
thing,  I  should 
like  to  kiss 
your  lips. 

Angry  as  you 
look,  if  chance 
favoured,  you 
would  try 
my  mettle. 


Come  to  the 
King,  and  stop 
your  prating. 


4404 


4408 


4412 


4416 


4420 


4424 


Here  is  Folly,  the    4428 
lazy  scamp. 


DILIGENCE. 

I  trow  the  trucour  Ijis  in  ane  trance. 
Get  vp,  man,  with  ane  mirrie  mischance ; 
Or — be  Sanct  Dyonis  of  France  ! — 

Ise  gar  the  want  thy  wallet. 
It's  schame  to  se,  man,  how  thow  lyis. 

FOLIE. 

Wa  !    3it  againe  1    'Now,  this  is  thryis. 
The  Devill  wirrie  me,  and  I  ryse, 

Bot  I  sail  break  thy  pallet. 
Me  think  my  pillok  will  nocht  ly  doun. 
Hauld  doun  30ur  head,  ^e  lurdon  loun. 
3on  fair  las  with  the  Sating  goun 

Gars  30W  thus  bek  and  bend. 
Take,  thair,  ane  neidill  for  30ur  cace. 
ISTow,  for  all  the  hiding  of  30ur  face. 
Had  I  30W  in  ane  quyet  place, 

3e  wald  nocht  waine  to  fiend. 
Thir  bony  armis,  that  ar  cled  in  silk, 
Ar  evin  als  wantoun  as  any  Avilk. 
I  wald  forbeir  baith  bread  and  milk. 

To  kis  thy  bony  lippis. 
Suppois  3e  luke  as  30  war  wi-aith, 
War  36  at  quyet  behind  ane  claith, 
3e  wald  not  stick  to  preife  my  graith 

With  hobling  of  3our  hippis. 

DILIGENCE. 

Suyith  !  harlot.     Haist  the  to  the  King, 

And  let  allane  thy  trattilling. 

Lo  !  heir  is  Folie,  sir,  alreadie, — 

Ane  richt  sweir  .'^Avingcour,  be  our  Ladie  ! 


ANE    8ATTRE. 
FOLIE. 


541 


Thou  art  not  half  sa  sweir,  thy  sell. 
Quhat  mcins  this  piiljiit,  I  pray  the  tell. 


DILIGENCE. 

4432  Our  new  Bischops  hes  maid  ane  preiching ; 
Bot  thou  heard  never  sic  pleasant  teiching. 
3on  Bischop  wil  j)reich  throch  the  coast. 

FOLIE. 

Than  stryk  ane  hag  into  the  poast ; 

4436     For  I  hard  never,  in  all  my  lyfe, 

Ane  Bischop  cum  to  preich  in  Fyfe. 
Gif  Bischops  to  be  preichours  leiris, 
"Wallaway  !  quhat  sail  word  of  freiris  1 

4440     Gif  Prelats  preich  in  brugli  and  land, 
The  sillie  freirs,  I  vnderstand. 
Thay  Avill  get  na  mair  meall  nor  malt ; 
Sa,  I  dreid,  freirs  sail  die  for  fait. 

4444     Sen  sa  is,  that  3on  nobill  Kmg 

AVill  mak  men  Bischops  for  preiching, 
Quhat  say  je,  sirs  1     Hauld  36  nocht  best 
That  I  gang  preich,  amang  the  rest  1 

4448     Quhen  I  haue  preichit  on  my  best  wayis, 
Then  will  I  sell  my  merchandise 
To  my  bretherin  and  tender  maits 
That  dwels  amang  the  thrie  estaits ; 

4452     For  I  haue,  heir,  gude  chaifery 
Till  any  fuill  that  lists  to  by. 

(Heir  sail  Folj/  hing  vp  his  liattis  on  the pulpet,  and  say  .•) 

God  sen  I  had  ane  Doctours  hude  ! 


And  you? 
What  means 
this  pulpit? 


Our  new  Bishopa 
preacli.    You 
never  Iieard 
such  pleasant 
instruction. 


Note  that ;  for 
I  never  heard 
of  the  like. 
If  Bishops 
learn  to  preach, 
I  suspect 
that  the  friars 
will  stan-e 
to  death. 

If  that  King 
gives  bishoprics 
fur  preaching, 
why  should  not 
I  preach  ? 

After  preaching 
as  best  I  can, 
I  will  go  sell  my 
wares  among 
the  three  Estates, 

to  any  fool 

that  will  buy. 


I  wish  I  had  a 
doctor's  hood. 


REX    HVMANITAS. 

Quhy,  Fohe  ?     Wald  thou  mak  ane  preiching?     J,^°°^Jp^°'' 


542 


ANE    SATYRE. 

FOLIE. 


I  would,  and  in      4456     ^^a,  that  I  walJ,  sir, — Le  the  Rude  !- 
plain  words.  But  eythei  flattering  or  fleiching. 


Let  us  hear 
what  he  says. 


The  kitchen  and 
the  pots  best 
befit  hira. 

Shall  I  act  as 

clerk  for  you  ? 


First,  tlie  fiend 
take  that 
ugly  face ! 


Solomon,  the 
wisest  King 
of  Israel,  has 
said  that  fools 
are  innumerable ; 
and  I  am  not 
ashamed  to  be 
one,  since  there 
are  so  many. 

1  have  kindred 
in  every  land, 
Earls,  Dukes, 
Kings,  &c., — 
fools  now,  as 
they  have 
long  been. 


4460 


4464 


4468 


4476 


4480 


BEX    HVM ANITAS. 


Now,  brother,  let  vs  heir  his  teiching,- 
To  pas  our  tyme, — and  heir  him  raife. 


DILIGENCE. 


He  war  far  meiter  for  the  kitching, 
Amang  the  pottis,  sa  Christ  me  saife  ! 
Fond  Foly,  sail  I  be  thy  Clark, 
And  answeir  the,  ay,  with  amen  1 


FOLIE. 


Now,  at  the  beginning  of  my  wark, 
The  feind  ressaue  that  graceles  grim. ! 


(Heir  sal  Folie  heg'm  Ins  sermon,  asfollowis  ;) 

Stultorum  numerus  infinitus. 
Salomon,  the  maist  sapient  King, 
In  Israeli  quhan  he  did  ring, 
Thir  words,  in  effect,  did  vm'iie  : 
The  number  of  fuillis  ar  infinite. 
I  think  na  schame — sa  Clirist  me  saife  ! — 
4472     To  be  ane  fuill,  amang  the  laife, 

Howbeit  ane  hundreth  stands  heir  by, 
Perventure  als  great  fuillis  as  I. 

Stultorum. 
I  hauc,  of  my  Genelogie, 
Dwelland  in  everie  cuntrie, 
Earles,  Duiks,  Kings,  and  Empriours, 
With  mony  guckit  Conquerours, 
Quhilk  dois  in  Folie  perseveir, 
And  hes  done  sa  this  many  ;eir. 


ANE    SATYRE. 


543 


Sum  seiks  to  warldlie  dignities, 

And  sum,  to  sensuall  vanities. 
4484     Quliat  vails  all  tliir  vaine  honours, 

Nocht  being  sure  to  leife  twa  houris  1 

Sum  greidie  fuill  dois  fiU  ane  box  ; 

Ane  vther  fuill  cummis,  and  breaks  the  lox, 
4488     And  spends  that  vther  fuillis  hes  spaird, 

Quhilk  never  thocht  on  them  to  wairde. 

Sum  dois  as  thay  sould  never  die. 

Is  nocht  this  folie  1    Quhat  say  ^e  1 
4492         Sapientia    huius    mundi    stultitia    est    apud 
Deum. 

Becaus  thair  is  sa  many  fuillis 

Eydand  on  hors,  and,  sum,  on  muillis, 

Heu'  I  haue  bocht  gude  chafery 
4496     Till  ony  fuiU  that  lists  to  by. 

And,  speciallie,  for  the  thrie  estaits, 

Quhair  I  haue  mony  tender  maits  ; 

Quhilk  causit  them,  as  30  may  se, 
4500     Gang  backwart  throw  the  haill  cuntrie, 

Gif  with  my  merchandise  30  list  to  mell. 

Heir  I  haue  Folie-Hattis  to  sell. 

Quhairfoir  is  this  Hat,  wald  30  ken  1 
4504     Marie  !   For  insatiabill  merchant  men. 

Quhen  God  hes  send  them  abundance, 

Ar  nocht  content  with  sufficiance, 

Bot  saillis  into  the  stormy  blastis, 
4508     In  Winter  to  get  greater  castis, — 

In  mony  terribill  great  torment, 

Against  the  Acts  of  Parliament. 

Sum  tynis  thair  geir,  and  sum  ar  droimde : 
4512     "With  this  sic  merchants  sould  be  crounde. 


They  aim  after 
unsubstantial 
things,  tliough 
life  is  quite 
uncertain. 

One  fool  hoards 
gold;  and 
another  fool 
steals  and 
spends  it. 

Others  are  so 

foolish  as  to 

act  as  if  they 

were  never  to  die. 

There  being 
many  wealthy 
fools, 

I  have  bought 

goods  for  them, 

and,  especially, 

for  the  three 
Estates,  in  whiih 
I  have  many 
mates,  as  appears 
from  their  acts. 

I  have  fools- 
caps to  sell. 
This  one  is  for 
the  merchants. 

Not  content  with 
abundance, 
they  run  risks 
in  winter-time, 
in  the  teeth 
of  the  Acts  of 
Parliament, 
with  various 
results. 
This  cap 
suits  such. 


DILIGENCE. 


Quhom  to  schaips  thou  to  seU  that  hude  1 
I  trow,  to  sum  great  man  of  gude. 


And  this  hood 
is  for  some 
rich  man  ? 


544 


AXE    SATTRE. 


I  would  sell  it 

to  some  one 

old  and  cold, 

ready  to  die, 

with  a  family 

of  children, 

and  who,  yet, 

weds  a  mere 

girl,  trusting 

that  she  will 

not  make  him 

a  cuckold. 

For  the  like 
of  him  this 
cap  is  suited. 


This  hude  to  sell  riclit  fame  I  wald 
4516     Till  him  that  is  baith  auld  &  cald, 
Reddie  till  pas  to  hell,  or  heavin, 
And  hes  fair  bairns,  sax  or  seavin, 
And  is  of  age  fourscoir  of  jeir, 
4520     And  tales  ane  lasse  to  be  his  peir, 

Quliilk  is  nocht  fourteine  jeir  of  age, 
And  ioynis  with  hir  in  mariage, 
Geifand  hir  traist  that  scho  nocht  wald 
4524     Rycht  haistelie  mak  him  cuckald. 

Quha  maryes,  beand  sa  neir  thair  dead, 
Set  on  this  Hat  vpon  his  head. 


What  cap  is  this? 


DILIGENCE. 

Quhat  Hude  is  that,  tell  me  I  pray  the. 


This  cap  is  huly 

and  ordained, 

and  is  for 
spiritual  fools 
who,  unfit,  under- 
take cures  from 
mere  motives 
of  gain, 

and  sell  them- 
selves to  Satan. 
Tliis  cap  is 
proper  for  such. 


4528     This  is  ane  haly  Hude,  I  say  the. 
This  Hude  is  ordanit,  I  the  assure, 
For  Sprituall  fuiliis  that  taks  in  cure 
The  saullis  of  great  Diosies, 

4532     And  regiment  of  great  Abesies, 
For  gredines  of  warldlie  pelfe. 
Than  can  nocht  iustlie  gyde  them  selfe. 
Vthers  sauls  to  saife  it  settis  them  weill, 

4536     Syne,  sell  thair  awin  saullis  to  the  DeuiLL 
Quhaever  dois  sa,  this  I  conclude, 
Vpon  his  heid  set  on  this  Hude. 


Are  such  in  the 
Church  now  ? 
How  shall  I 
recognize  tliem  ? 


DILIGENCE. 


Foly,  is  thair  ony  sic  men 
4540     Xow  in  the  Kirk,  that  thou  can  ken  1 
How  sail  I  ken  them? 


AN£  SATYRE. 


545 


FOLIE. 


4544 


Na,  keip  that  clois. 
Ex  operibus  eorum  cognoscetis  eos. 
And  fuillis  speik  of  the  Prelacie, 
It  will  be  hauldin  for  herisie. 


Know  them 

by  tlieir  works. 

It  is  heresy  to 
speak  of  the 
prelates. 


REX    HVMAXITAS. 

Speik  on  hardlie.    I  gif  the  leife. 

FOLIE. 

Than  my  remissioun  is  in  my  sleife. 
4548     "Will  3e  leife  me  to  speik  of  Kings  1 

REX    nVMANITAS. 

3ea  :  hardlie  speik  of  all  kin  things. 

[folie.] 

Conforming  to  my  first  narratioun, 
3e  ar,  all,  fuillis,  be  Coks  passioun  ! 


I  give  you  leave 
to  speak. 


Then  I  am  safe. 
May  I  speak 
of  kings  t 


Yes,  of  all 
the  like. 


As  I  said  before, 
you  are,  all,  fools. 


DILIGENCE. 

4552     Thou  leis.     I  trow  this  fuill  be  mangit. 

FOLIE. 

Gif  I  lie,  God  !  nor  thou  be  hangit. 
For  I  haue  heir — I  to  the  tell, — 
Ane  nobill  cap  imperiell, 

4556     Quhilk  is  nocht  ordanit  bot  for  doings 
Of  Empreours,  of  Duiks,  and  Kings, — 
For  priaceHe  and  imperiall  fuillis  : 
Thay  sould  haue  luggis  als  lang  as  MuUlis. 

4560     The  pryde  of  Princes,  withoutin  faill, 
Gars  all  the  warld  rin  top  ovir  taill. 
To  win  them  warldlie  gloir  and  gude, 
Thay  cure  nocht  schedding  of  saikles  blude. 


A  He.    He  is 

demented. 


Not  so. 

For  I  have,  here, 

a  noble  cap, 

suited  for  royal 

fools  of  every 

sort  and 

description. 

Princes  confuse 
the  world  by 
their  pride,  and, 
to  satisfy  it,  slay 
the  innocent. 


546 


ANE    bATYRE. 


England  would 
liave  troubled  us 
sorely,  but  for 
the  aid  of 
France. 

And  now  the 

Emperor  is 

going  to  blows 

with  France. 

His  reason  I 

know  not 

Princes  in 
general  are,  this 
year,  in  a  com- 
motion, which 
some  will  regret. 

The  Pope  has 
sent  his  army 
into  the  field, 
outdoing  the 
old  Saints. 

Is  this  charity  ? 

Or  is  it  folly  ? 

Christ  taught 
not  this  foolish- 
ness ;  for  such 
it  is,  among 
Cliristians. 

For  thera  is 
this  cap. 

Fulfilled,  now,  is 
Merlin's  pro- 
phecy, 

which  I  learnt 
from  my  grand- 
mother ; 

and  thus  it 
runs. 

Merlin's 
prophecy. 


4564     Quliat  cummer  haue  30  had,  in  Scotland, 

Be  our  auld  enemies  of  Ingland  ] 

Had  nocht  bene  the  support  of  France, 

We  had  bene  brocht  to  great  mischance. 
4568     Now,  I  heir  tell,  the  Empreour, 

Schaippis  for  till  be  ane  Conquerour, 

And  is  muiting  his  ordinance 

Against  the  Nobill  King  of  France. 
4572     Bot  I  knaw  nocht  his  iust  querrell, 

That  he  hes  for  till  mak  battell. 

All  the  Princes  of  Almanie, 

Spainj-,  Flanders,  and  Italic, 
4576     This  present  3eir,  ar  in  ane  flocht : 

Sum  sail  thair  wages  find  deir  bocht. 

The  Paip,  with  bombard,  speir,  and  scheild, 

Hes  send  his  armie  to  the  feild. 
4580     Sanct  Peter,  Sanct  Paull,  nor  Sanct  Androw 

Raisit  never  sic  ane  Oist,  I  trow. 

Is  this  fraternall  charitie  ? 

Or  furious  folic  1     Quhat  say  je  1 
4584     Thay  leird  nocht  this  at  Christis  Scuillis  : 

Thairfoir,  I  think  them  verie  fuillis. 

I  think  it  fulie, — be  Gods  mother  ! — 

Ilk  Christian  Prince  to  ding  doun  vther. 
4588     Becaus  that  this  hat  sould  belang  them, 

Gang  thou,  and  part  it  evin  amang  them. 

The  Prophesie,  withouttin  weir, 

Of  Merling  beis  compleit  this  3eir. 
4592     For  my  gudame,  the  Gyre  Carling, 

Leirnde  me  the  Prophesie  of  IMarUng  ; 

Quhairof  I  sail  schaw  the  sentence, 

Gif  30  will  gif  me  audience  : 
4596         Flan,   Fran  resurgent,  simul  Hispan  viribns 
vrgent, 
Dani  vastabiint,  VaUones  valla  parabunt. 


ANE    SATYUE. 


54^ 


Sic  tibi  nomcn  in  a  niulier  cacavit  in  oUa. 
Hoc  cpulum  comedes. 

DILIGENCE. 

5600     Marie  !    That  is  ana  il-sauorit  discho. 


A  foul  moss. 


FOLIE. 

Sa,  be  tbis  Propbesie  plainlie  appeirs,  So,  mars  are 

Tbat  mortall  weirs  salbe  amang  freirs.  to  wrangle; 

Tbay  sail  nocbt  knaw  Weill,  iu  tbair  closters,        their  religion 
5G04     To  qubom  tbay  sail  say  tbair  Pater  nosters.  being  disordercj. 

Wald  tbay  fall  to,   and  fecbt  with  speir  and  Wouid  that 

sbeild,  they  fought 

The  feind  mak  cuir  qubilk  of  tbem  win  tbe  with  spear 

feild.  and  shield! 

N'ow  of  my  sermon  baue  I  maid  ane  end  ;  Finally  i  com- 

mend you  to 
5G08     To  Gilly-mouband  I  30W  all  commend  :  Giiiy-moubund. 

And  I  30W  all  beseik,  ricbt  bartfiillie,  Pray,  too,  for 

Pray  for  tbe  saull  of  gude  Cacapbatie, —  the  soul  of 

Qubilk  laitlie  drounit  bimself  into  Locbleavin, —  cacaphatie,  who 

5G12     Tbat  bis  sweit  saull  may  be  aboue  tbe  beavin.      was  drowned. 


DILIGENCE. 

Famous  peopil,  bartlie  I  30W  requyre 

Tbis  lytill  sport  to  tak  in  patience. 

"We  traist  to  God,  and  we  leif  ane  vtber  jeir, 

5616     Qubair  we  baue  failit,  we  sail  do  diligence, 

Witb  mair  pleasure,  to  mak  30 w  recompence  ; 
Because  we  baue  bene,  sum  part,  tedious, 
"Witb  mater  rude,  denude  of  eloquence, 

5620     Likewyse,  percbance,  to  sum  men  odious. 
ISTow  let  ilk  man  bis  way  avance  ; 
Let  sum  ga  drink,  and  sum  ga  dance : 
Menstrell,  blaw  vp  ane  brawll  of  Prance  ; 

6624  Let  se  quba  bobbils  best. 


Take  our  play 
in  good  part. 

Next  year,  if  we 
live,  we  will 
try  to  do 

better; 

for  we  have 
been  tedious, 
rude,  and, 
perchance, 
invidious. 

Now  go,  and 

drink,  and  try 

who  can  dance 

best. 


548  ANE    SATYRE. 

For  I  Avill  rin,  incontinent,  i,  myself,  wni 

,  run  straight  to 

To  the  Tavern,  or  ever  I  stent,  the  tavern,  and 

And  pray  to  God  omnipotent,  ^'"  ^'"^  '\f 

i^       J  jr  '  you  may,  all, 

5628  To  send  30W  all  gude  rest.  have  good  rest. 

Rex  sapiens,  seterne  Deus,  genitorque  benigne,  ^'o'^J''  praise, 

■^  '  .  and  honour  he  to 

Sit  tibi,  perpetuo,  gloria,  laiis,  &  honor.  God  evermore ; 


Printed  at  Edinburgh,  he  Robert  Charteris. 

An.  Do.  MDCII. 

And  are  to  be  sanld  in  liis  Buith,  on  the  North  side  of  the  Gait, 
at  tlie  West  side  of  the  auhl  Prounsts  Closhead. 


CIjc 


NAMELY 


%'^t  gc|)loratiou«  iof  (Qwm  glaglialcue, 

[cOxMPYLIT    1537] 

%\t  gnstor  plnlk  StMr  giiuiij  f  inl)tsa]r  tttnib  U 
f  Idngis  llnting, 

[l53C] 

t\t  C0mpIaint  anb  |)ub(ict  Canffssiawn  0f  i\t 

liingis  glultr  |)ouniJ  itallit 

§agsd]c, 

[about  1536] 

glM  ^u])plitatiauu  k  i\n  ^tngts  6race 

in  rontcmptiouu  at  B^^t  f  aillis 

auij  glisscllit  fads, 

[ab.  1538] 

fittns   C0nftssi0un, 

[between  1537  AND  154l] 

^t  Ittstgng  httti^  lanvcs  Uhimw  auij  |I]one  §arl)0«t, 

[ab.   1538] 
[reprinted  from  the  WARKIS,  1568] 

gne  gtstriptMit  0f  Dc^tr  Coffcis 
failing  na  rcgairb  till  f]0nestit  k  t\m  ikv^imw 

[printed  from  the  BANNATYNE  MS.] 


551 


THE 

DEPLOEATIOUN 


[Signature  K] 


DEITH  OF  QUENE  MAGDALENE. 


[Fro7n  the  Warlcis,  1568.'] 

OCruell  Deith  !  to  greit  is  thy  puissance, 
Deuorar  of  all  earthlie  leiiyng  tliingis  ; 
Adam  !  we  may  the  wyit  of  this  mischance, 
In  thy  default  this  cruell  t}Tane  ringis, 
And  spairis  notlier  Empryour  nor  Kingis, 
And  now,  allace  !  hes  reft  furth  of  this  land 
The  flour  of  France,  and  confort  of  Scotland. 


0  cruel  ilcatli ! 
thy  might  is  too 
great ! 


Adam !  we  have 
tliee  to  blame 
for  this, 

that  we  have  lo.'t 
th.e  flower  of 
France  and  joy 
of  Scotland. 


%  THE  DEPLORATIOUN  OF  THE  DEYTH  OF 
QUENE  MAGDALENE. 

[From  the  edition  of  Jascuy,  Paris,  1558,  printed  from  the  British  Museum 
copy,  C.  12.  g  2.] 

O  Crewell  deyth,  to  greit  is  thy  puissance, 
Devorar  of  ah  erthly  levyng  thingis. 
Adame,  we  may  the  wj'it  of  yis  mischance  ; 
In  thy  default  this  crewell  tyranne  r3^ngis,  4 

And  spairis  nother  empryour  nor  kyngis, 
And  now,  allace  !  hes  reft'^  furth  of  this  land, 
The  flour  of  France,  and  confort  of  Scotland. 
2  misprint  rest 


Printed  from  Lord  Mostyu's  copy. 


552 


THE    BEPLOnATIOUN    OF    QUENE    MAGDALENE. 


*f[  Father  Adam !  allace  that  tliow  ahusit 
Thy  disobeaipnce   Thy  fre  wyll,  being  Inobedient ; 

Tho\y  cliesit  Deith,  and  lesting  lyfe  refusit, 
Tliy  Successioun,  allace  !  that  may  repent, 
That  thow  lies  maid  mankynd  so  Impotent, 
That  it  may  mak  to  Deith  no  resistance, — 
Example  of  our  Quene,  the  flour  of  France. 


made  thy 
posterity  mortal. 


12 


Cruel  dragon. 
Death! 


thou  gavest  lier 
no  respite 


to  take  leave  of 
her  prince. 


0  dreidfull  Dragoun  !  with  thy  dulefull  dart, 
QuhiLk  did  noclit  spair,  of  Feminine  the  flour, 
Bot  cruellie  did  pers  hir  throuch  the  hart. 
And  "vvald  nocht  giue  hir  respite  for  ane  hour. 
To  remane  with  hir  Prince  and  Paramour, 
That  scho  at  laiser  mycht  haue  tane  licence, 
Scotland  on  the  may  cry  ane  loud  vengeance  ' 


16 


20 


Thou  didst  spare  Thow  leit  Mathusalem  leif  nine  houndreth  2eir 

Metliuselah  for 

many  years,  Tlire  scorc  and  uyne  ;  bot  in  thy  furious  rage, 

but  didst  devour  tit  i  •  -r-. 

this  peerless  ihow  did  deuore  this  30ung  Princes  but  peir, 

princess  in  her  r\  i  ^    -i  •    •  •        n 

.seventeenth  year  Ur  scho  was  compleit  seuiiiteue  3eir  01  age  ; 


24 


^  Father  adame,  allace  yat  thow  al)iii<it  8 

Thy  fre  will  1  beyng  inohedient, 

Thow  cheisit  deyth,  and  lestyng  lyif  refusit. 

Thy  successioun,  allace  !  yat  may  repent 

That  thow  lies  maid  mankynd  so  impotent,  12 

That  it  may  maik  to  deyth  no  resistance, 

Exampill  of  our  Quene,  the  flour  of  France  ! 

5[  0  dreidful  Dragone,  wyth  thy  duilfull  dart, 

Quhilk  did  nocht  spair  of  ferny  nine  the  flour,  16 

Bot  crevvellye  did  pers  hir  throw  the  hart, 

And  wald  nocht  gif  her  resput  for  ane  hour. 

To  remane  wyth  '  hir  prynce  and  paramour, 

That  sclie  at  laser  mycht  hef '■'  tane  licence,  20 

(Scotland  on  the  may  cry,  ane'  loud  vengence. 

^  Thow  leit  matussalem  leist  nynne  hundroth^  Jeir 

Thre  scoir  and  nyno,  bot  in  thy  furious  rage 

Thow*  did  dcn-oir  this  ^owng  princes  hut  peir,  24 

Or  sche  was  compleit  sevintene  -icit  of  age ; 


misprint  wysh 


*  liunidrt'dth 


THE    DEPLORATIOUX    OF    QUEXE    MAGDALENE.  553 

Grodie  gorman  !  quliy  did  thow  noclit  asswago  [k,  back] 

Tliy  furious  rage  contrair  that  lustie  Quene, 

Tyll  Ave  some  fruct  had  of  hir  bodie  sene  1  28  before  siic  left 

any  issue. 

0  Dame  Xature  !  thow  did  no  diligence  name  Nature! 

Contrair  this  theif  quhillc  al  the  Avarld  confoundis ;  imtrvene  in 

Had  thow  with  naturall  targis  maid  defence, 

That  brybour  had  not  cu?nmit  within  hir  boundis,      32 

And  had  bene  sauit  from  sic  mortall  stoundis, 

This  mony  ane  3eir  :  bot  quhair  was  thy  discretion,  where  was  tiiy 

mi      J    1    -1    1   •  J -1  T       1  •        n  dibCietioni' 

Ihat  leit  lur  pas,  tu  we  had  sene  succession? 


0  Yenus,  with  thy  blynd  sone  Cupido,  36  Fie  on  you! 

Fy  on  30W  baith,  that  maid  no  resistance  !  youiuierfeieUnot 

In  to  30ur  Court  36  neuer  had  sic  two, 
So  leill  Luffaris  without  dissimulance, 
As  lames  the  Fift,  and  Magdalene  of  France,  40 

Discending  boith  of  bhide  Imperiall, 
To  quhome  in  lufe  I  find  no  perigall.  lovers  so  true. 


Gredye  gorman,  quhj'  did  thow  nocht  asswage 

Thy  furious  rage  contrar  yat  lustye  Quene, 

Till  we  sum  fruct  had  of  hir  body  sene  ?  28 

^  0  dame  nature,  thow  did  no  deligence 

Contrar  this  theif  quhilk  all  the  warld  confundis ; 

Had  thow  w)^th  naturall  targis  maid  defence. 

That  brybour  had  nocht  cunid  wytin  hir  bundis,  32 

And  had  bene  sauit  from  sic '  mortall  stouudis 

This  mony  ane  ^eir,  bot  quhar  was  thy  discretioun 

That  leit  hir  pas  till  we  had  sene  successioun? 

5[  0  Venus,  wyth  thy  blind  sone  ^  Cupido,  36 

Fy  on  30\v  bayth  yat  maid  no  resistance  ! 

In- to  lour  court  36  neuer''  had  sic  two 

So  leill  luffars  wythout  dissimulance, 

As  lames  the  fift,''  and  Magdalene  of  France,  40 

Discendyng  boyth  of  blude  imperiall, 

To  quhom  in  lufe  I  find  no  paregall. 

I  misprint  sit  2  bind  scue  3  nener  *  list 


Ooi 


THE    DEPLORATIOUN    OF    QUENE    MAGDALENE. 


Like  Leander, 


James  Fifth 
crossed  the  floods 


to  seek  bis  love. 


For  as  Leander  swame  outthrow  tlie  flude, 
To  his  fair  Lady  Hero,  mony  nichtis, 
So  did  tliis  prince  tlirow  biilryng  stremis  wode 
With  Erlis,  haronis,  squyaris,  &  Avith  knichtis, 
Contrair  ]^eptiine  and  Eol,  and  thare  michtis, 
And  left  his  Eealme  in  greit  disesperance, 
To  seik  his  Lufe,  the  first  Dochter  of  Erance. 


44 


4B 


And  slie  for  him 
left  home  and 
friends. 


[Kii] 


And  scho  lyke  prudent  Quene  Penelope, 
Eul  coHstantlie  wald  change  hym  for  none  vther, 
And  for  his  plesonr  left  liir  awin  countre, 
"Without  regard  to  Eather  or  to  Mother, 
Takyng  no  cure  of  Sister,  nor  of  Brother, 
Bot  schortlie  tuke  hir  leif,  and  left  thame  all, 
Eor  lufe  of  hym,  to  qiiliome  lufe  maid  hir  thrall. 


52 


56 


Dame  Fortune,      Q  Daiue  Eortuue  !  quharc  was  thy  greit  confort 

thy  favourable 

aspect  proved        Till  hir  to  quhome  thow  was  so  fauorable] 
Thy  slyding  gyftis  maid  hir  no  support, 
Hir  hie  lynage,  nor  Eiches  intellible ; 


60 


^  For  as  Lj'ander  swame  outhrow  the  flude 
To  his  fair  lady  Hero  mony  nychtis, 

50  did  this  piynce,  throw  buh-yng  streimis'  wode, 
Wytli  erlis,  barronis,  squyaris,  and  wyth  knychtis, 
Contrar  Neptune,  and  eoll,  and  j-air  mychtis, 
And  left'  his  realms  in  greit  disaperance, 

To  seik  his  lufe,  the  first  dochter  of  France. 

^  And  sche,  lyke  prudent  Kuene  peuelope, 

Ful  constantly  wald  change  him^  for  nonne  wUier, 

And  for  his  plesour  left^  hir  awin  cuutre, 

Wythout  regard  to  fader  or  to  moder, 

Takyng  no  cure  of  sister  nor  of  brother, 

Bot  schortly  tuke  hir  leif,  and  left*  yame  all, 

For  lufe  of  him  to  quliom  lufe  maid  hir  thrall. 

51  0  dame  fortune  !  quhar  was  thy  greit  confort 
Till  hir  to  quhome  thow  was  so  fauorabill  ? 
Thy  slyding  giftes  maid  hir  no  sujiport, 

Ilir  hie  Ivnage  nor  Eiches  intellebill ; 


44 


48 


CO 


1  misprint  strennis 


THE    DEPLORATIOUN    OF    QUEXE    MAGDALENE. 


555 


I  se  thy  puissance  bene  bot  variable, 

Quhen  liir  father,  the  most  hie  cristinit  King, 

Till  his  deir  Chyld  mycht  mak  no  supporting. 


I  see  thy  power 
U  unsteady. 


The  potent  Prince,  liir  lustie  lufe  and  Knicht, 
With  his  most  liardie  Xoblis  of  Scotland, 
Contrair  that  bailfull  bribour  had  no  micht, 
Thocbt  all  the  men  liad  bene  at  his  conimaml. 
Of  France,  Flanderis,  Italic,  and  Ingland, 
With  fiftie  thousand  Millioun  of  tresour, 
]\Iycht  nocht  prolong  that  Ladyis  lyfe  ane  hoiu-. 

0  Paris  !  of  all  Citeis  principall, 

Quhilk  did  resaue  our  Prince  with  laud  &  glorie, 

Solempnitlie  throw  Arkis  triumphal], 

Quhilk  day  bene  digne  to  put  in  memorie. 

For  as  Pompey,  efter  lus  Victorie, 

Was  in  to  Pome  resauit  with  greit  loy, 

So  thou  resauit  our  richt  redoutit  Poy. 


G4 


Ilor  Iiu8l)and 
could  do  nothing 
to  save  her. 


68 


Not  all  the 
treasures  of  the 
world  could  pive' 
a:  I  hour's  respite. 


72   Paris!  thou 
didst  welcome 
our  prince  with 
triumphal  arches, 


t  6   as  Rome  did 
Pompey. 


I  se  thy  puissance  bene  bot  variabill, 

Quhen  hir  father  the  moist  hie  cristinit  kyng 

Till  his'  deir  chyld  myt  mak  no  sujiportyng. 

^  Tlie  potent  Prince,  hir  lusty  lufe  and  knycht,  64 

With  his  moist  hardy  noblis  of  Scotland, 

C'ontrar  yat  bailfull  bribour  had  no  mycht, 

Thocht  all  the  men  had  bene  at  his  command 

Of  France,  Flanders,  Italie,  and  Ingland  ;  68 

With  fifte  thowsaud  millioun  of  thresour, 

Mycht  nocht  prolong  yat  ladyis  lyfe  ane  hour. 

^  0  Pareis  !  of  all  Citeis  principall, 

Quhilk  did  ressaue  our  Prince  with  laud^  ar.d  glori(>,  72 

Solempnitly  throw  arkis  triumphal), 

Quhilk  day  bene  ding  to  put  in  memorie  ; 

For  as  pompey,  eftir^  his  victorie, 

Was  in-to  Rome  ressauit  with  greit  loy,  76 

So  thow  ressauit  ■*  our  richt  redoutit  Roy, 


'  misi»i}U  hir 


55G 


THE    DEPLORATIOUN    OF    QUENE    MAGDALEXE. 


Never  was  Bot  at  Ms  Mariage  maid  vpon  tlie  morne, 

celebrated;  Sic  solace,  aiid  Solempni^atioun, 

"Was  neuer  sene  afore,  sen  Christ  was  borne,  80 

.    !N"or  to  Scotland  sic  consolatioun  ! 
it  was  a  confirma-  Tliare  selit  was  the  confirmatioun 

tion  of  the  ancient 

league.  Of  the  Weill  keipit  ancient  alliance 

Maid  hetwix  Scotla?«d  and  the  realme  of  france.  84 


[K  ii,  back] 
I  never  saw  such 
rich  array, 


music,  banquet- 
ing, and 
tournaments 


(but  soon  was  the 
joy  changed  to 
sorrow). 


What  pre- 
parations were 
made  by  the 
three  estates  of 
Scotland. 


I  neuer  did  se  one  day  more  glorious, 

So  mony  in  so  riche  abil3ementis 

Of  Silk  and  gold,  with  stonis  precious  ; 

Sic  Banketting,  sic  sound  of  Instrumentis, 

With  sang,  and  dance,  &  Martiall  tornamentis. 

Bot  lyke  ane  storme  efter  ane  plesand  morrow, 

Sons  was  our  solace  changit  in.  to  sorrow. 

0  traytour  deith,  quhom  none  may  contramand  ! 
Thow  mycht  haue  sene  the  preparatioun 
]\Iaid  be  the  thre  Estaitis  of  Scotland 
With  greit  confort  and  consolatioun, 


92 


Bot  at  his  mariage  maid  wpone  the  morne, 

Sic  solace  and  solempni^atioun 

Was  neuer  affoir  sen  Christ  was  borne,  80 

Nor  to  Scotland  sic  consolatioun  ; 

Thair  selit  was  the  confinnatioun 

Of  the  well  keipit  ancient  alliance, 

Maid  betuix  Scotland  and  the  realme  of  France.  84 

^  I  neuer  did  se  one  day  moir  glorious, 

So  mony  in  so  riche  abihementis 

Of  Silk  and  Gold,  with  stonis  precious, 

Sic  bankettyng,  sic  sownd  of  instrumentis,  88 

With  sang  and  dance  and  marcial  tornamentis  ; 

Bot  lyk  ane  storme  eftir '  ane  plesand  morow, 

Sone  was  our-  solace  changeit  in-to  sorow. 

^  0  tratour  deid  1  quhom  none  may  contramand,  02 

Thow  micht  hef  sene  the  preparatioun 
Maid  be  the  thre  estaitis  of  Scotland, 
With  greit  confort  and  consolatioun, 


•  misprint  estir 


THE    DEPLORATIOUN    OP    QUENE    MAGDALENE. 

In  euerilk  Ciete,  Castell,  Toure,  and  Town,  96 

And  how  ilk  Nobill  set  liis  hole  intent 
To  be  excellent  in  Habiljement. 


557 


Theif  !  saw  thow  nocht  the  greit  preparatiuis 
Of  Edinburgh,  the  Xobill  famous  toun  1 
Thow  saw  the  peple  labouring  for  thare  lyuis 
To  male  triumphe  with  trump  and  Clarioun  ! 
Sic  plesour  was  neuer  in  to  this  Eegioun, 
As  sxild  haue  bene  the  day  of  hir  entrace, 
With  greit  propynis  geuin  till  hir  grace. 


How  her  arrival 
1  AA  ^'"^  prepared  for 
lUU    iiiEdiiiburt-U! 


104 


Thow  saw  makand  rycht  costlie  scaffalding, 
Depayntit  weill  with  Gold  and  asure  fyne, 
Eeddie  preparit  for  the  vpsetting, 
With  Fontanis  flowing  watter  cleir  and  wync  ; 
Disagysit  folkis,  lyke  Creaturis  deuyne. 
On  ilk  scaffold,  to  play  ane  syndrie  storie  ! 
Bot  all  in  greiting  turnit  thow  that  glorie ! 


Scaffolds  were 
constructed. 


108 


fountains  to  run 
with  water  and 
wine. 


1  1  9    (Death  tnmed  all 
■'■■'■-'    to  weeping!) 


In  euerylk  Cite,  Castell,  Toure,  and  Town, 
And  how  ilk  nobill  set  his  hoil  intent 
To  be  excellent  in  abil^ement. 


96 


51  Theif  !  saw  thow  nocht  the  greit  preparatiuiH 
Of  Edinburgh,  the  nobill  famous  toun  ? 
Thou  saw  the  pepill  laboryng  for  yair  liuis, 
To  mak  triumphe  with  trium  and  clarioun  ; 
Sic  plesour  was  neuer  in-to  yis  regioun, 
As  suld  hef  bene  the  day  of  hir  entrece, 
With  greit  propinis  giiifin  till  her  grace. 


100 


lOi 


^  Thow  saw  makand  richt  costly  scaffalding, 

Depaintit  weill  wth  Gold  and  asure  fyne, 

Eeddye  preparit  for  the  wpsetting, 

With  fontanis  flowing  waiter  cleir  and  vryne  ; 

Disagysit  folks  lyk  creaturs  deuine. 

On  ilk  scaffald  to  play  ane  sindry  storie  ; 

Bot  all  in  greting,  turnit  thow  yat  glorie  ! 


108 


112 


658 


THE    DEPLORATIOUN    OP    QUENE    MAGDALENE. 


[K  iii] 
Many  fresh 
gallants. 

Craftsmen  with 
bows,  dressed  in 
green. 


Burgesses  in 
scai-let  and  grane. 


Thow  saw  mony  ane  lustie  fresclie  galland, 
"Weill  ordourit  for  resauing  of  thair  Quene  ; 
Ilk  Craftisman,  with  bent  bow  in  his  hand, 
Full  gal3eartlie  in  sehort  clething  of  grene  ; 
The  honest  Burges,  cled  thow  suld  haue  sens, 
Sum  in  scarlot,  and  sum  in  claith  of  grane, 
For  till  haue  met  thare  Lady  Souerane. 


IIG 


The  provost,  and   Prouest,  Baillies,  and  lordis  of  the  toun, 

balllies. 

The  Senatouris  in  ordour  consequent, 


the  lords  of 
parliament, 
barons  and 
baronets ; 
(alas !  their  gold 
is  changed  to 
sable !) 


Cled  in  to  Silk  of  Purpure,  blak,  and  browTi ; 
Syne  the  greit  Lordis  of  the  Parliament, 
With  mony  knychtlie  Barroun  and  baurent 
In  Silk  and  Gold,  in  colouris  confortable : 
Bot  thow,  allace,  all  turnit  in  to  sable  ! 


120 


124 


Next,  the 
spiritual  peers 


Syne,  all  the  Lordis  of  Eeligioun, 
And  Princes  of  the  preistis  venerable. 
Full  plesandlie  in  thare  Processioun, 


cunning  cin-ks;     With  all  the  cunnyug  Clerkis  honorable. 


128 


^''  Thow  saw  mony  ane  lustj'e  fresche  galland 
Weill  ordourit  for  ressauing  of  yat  Quene, 
Hk  craftisman  with  bent  how  in  his  hand, 
Ful  gal^eartlye  in  sehort  clething  of  grene  ; 
The  honest  burges  cled  thow  suld  hef  sene, 
Sum  in  scarlot,  and  sum  in  clayt  of  gi-ane, 
For  till  hef  met  yair  lady  souerane. 

^  Prouest,  Baillies,  and  Lordis  of  the  Toun, 
The  Senatouris  in  ordour  consequent, 
Cled  in-to  Silk  of  purpure  blak  or  brown, 
Syne  the  greit  Lordis  of  tlie  perliament, 
With  mony  knychtly  barrown  and  baurent,^ 
In  Silk  and  Gold  in  colours  confortabill  ; 
Bot  thow,  allace  !  all  turnit  iu-to  sabill. 


116 


120 


124 


^  Syne  all  the  Lordis  of  religioun, 
And  Princes  of  the  preistis  vencrabill, 
Ful  plesandly  in  yair  i)rocessioun, 
With  all  tlie  cunnyng  clerkis  honorabill, 


128 


THE    DEPLORATIOUN    OP    QUE.VE    MAGDALENE. 


559 


But  thiftuouslie,  thow  Tyrane  tresonable  ! 
All  thare  greit  solace  and  Solempniteis, 
Thow  tumit  in  till  diilefiill  Dirigeis. 

S)Tie,  nixt  in  Ordour,  passing  tlirow  the  toun, 
Thow  suld  haue  hard  the  din  of  Instrumentis, 
Of  Tabrone,  Trumpet,  Schalme,  &  Clarioiin, 
"With  reird  redoundand  throw  the  Elemeiitis  ; 
The  Heratddis,  Aviih  thare  awfull  Vestimentis, 
AVith  ]\Iaseris,  vpon  ather  of  thare  handis, 
To  rewle  the  preis,  with  burneist  sduer  Avandis. 

S}nie,  last  of  all,  in  Ordour  triumphall. 

That  most  Illuster  Princes  honorable, 

"With  hir  the  lustie  Ladyis  of  Scotland, 

Quhilk  suld  haue  bene  ane  sycht  most  delectable  : 

Hir  rayment  to  rehers,  I  am  nocht  able, 

Of  Gold  and  perle,  and  precious  stonis  bryclit 

Tw}Tikling  lyke  sterris  in.  ane  frostie  nycht. 

Under  ane  Pale  of  gold  scho  suld  haue  past, 
Be  Burgeis  '  borne,  clothit  in  sUkis  fyne ; 


132  (their  ceremonies 
are  cliunged  into 
dirges !) 


Next  slioulil  ooino 

instruiiieiital 

music 


136 


140 


making  tlie 
welliiii  ring. 


Heralds  and 
Macers  with 
silver  wands. 

[K  iii,  back] 
Last  in  order,  the 
princess  with  her 
ladies. 


144 


I  cannot  describe 
her  apparel. 


She  was  to  have 
1 4o    passed  under  a 
pall  of  gold, 
['  orig.  Burgcssis] 


Bot  thif  tuously,^  thow  tyrane  tresonabill ! 
All  yair  greit  solace,  and  solempniteis, 
Thow  tornit  in-till  dulefull  dei-igeis. 

5[  Syne  nixt  in  ordour,  passing  throw  the  Toun, 
Thow  suld  hef  hard  the  dyne  of  instrumentis, 
Of  tabrone,  trumpet,  schalme,  and  clarioun  ; 
With  reid  redoundand  throw  the  elimentis ; 
The  herauldis  with  yair  a^^•ful  vestimentis. 
With  masers  w'^^one  ather  of  yair  handis. 
To  RewU  ye  preis  with  burneist  Siluer  wandis. 

*[  Syne  last  of  all,  in  ordour  triumphall, 

That  moist  IHuster  Princes  honorable  ; 

With  hyr  the  lusty  ladyis  of  Scotland, 

Qidiilk  suld  hef  bene  ane  sycht  moist  delectabiU 

Hir  rayment  to  rehers  I  am  nocht  habill, 

Of  Gold  and  perle  and  precious  stonis  brj-cht, 

Twynklyng  lyk  sterris  in  ane  frostye  nycht. 

^  Onder  ane  pale  of  Gold  sche  suld  hef  past, 
Be  burgis  borne  clothit  in  silkis  fyne  ; 

2  misprint  tl'.istuoasly 


132 


136 


140 


114 


I4S 


560 


THE    DEPLORATIOUN    OF    QUENE    MAGDxiLEKE. 


followed  by  the 
Master  of  the 
household 
allerla$t  (last  of 
aU}. 


Manj'  a  blessing 
awaited  her 

from  maidens 
and  wives. 


shouting,  Vive  la 
Eeine ! 


(Tyrant!  to 
change  our 
AHelnia.  unto 
allace'.) 

The  Orators 
would  have 
speechified  to  her. 


The  Coronation 
was  to  take 
place  in  the 
Abbey  church  of 
Hoi  V  rood. 


The  greit  Maister  of  lioushold  all  thare  last ; 

With  hym  in  ordour  all  the  kingis  tryue, 

Quhais  ordinance  war  langsum  to  defyne  ;  152 

On  this  maner,  scho  passing  throAV  the  toun, 

Suld  haue  resauit  mony  benisoun 

Of  Virginis,  and  of  lustie  burges  wyiffis, — 

Quliilk  sidd  haue  bene  ane  sycht  celestiall, — •  15G 

Viue  la  Royne  cryand  for  thare  Ipffis, 

With  ane  Harmonious  sound  Angehcall, 

In  euerilk  corner,  myrthis  Musicall ; 

Bot  tliow,  tyi'ane,  in  quhome  is  found  no  grace,        IGO 

Our  Allelui/a  lies  turnit  in  allace  ! 

Thow  suld  haue  hard  the  ornate  Oratoiuis 

]\Iakand  hir  hienes  Salutatioun, 

Boith  of  the  Clergy,  toun,  and  counsalouris,  164 

With  mony  Notable  l^arratioun ; 

Thow  suld  haue  sene  hir  Coronatioun, 

In  the  fair  Abbay  of  the  Holy  nide, 

In  presence  of  ane  myrthfull  multitude.  168 


The  greit  maister  of  howshold  all  yair  last, 
"With  him  in  ordour  all  the  Kj-ngis  tr_yne, 
Quhais  ordinance  war  langsum  to  define  ; 
On  this  maner  sche  passing  throw  the  Toun, 
Suld  hef  ressauit  mony  benesoun 

^  Of  virginis  and  of  lusty  burges  wyififis, 

Quhilk  suld  hef  bene  ane  sycht  celestiall, 

J^i'ua  la  royna,  ciyand  for  yair  lyiffis, 

With  ane  aiToonious '  sound  Angelicall ; 

In  euerylk^  corner  myrthis  musicall. 

Bot  thow,  tyrane,  in  quhome  is  fund  no  grace, 

Our  Allellvya,  hes  turnit  in  allace  ! 

5[  Thow  suld  hef  hard  the  ornat  oratours 

Makand  hir  hynes  salutatirtm, 

Boith  of  the  clergy,  town,  and  counsalours, 

With  mony  notabill  narratioun  ; 

Tliow  suld  hef  sene  hir  coronatioim 

In  the  fair  abay  of  the  holy  rude, 

In  presence  of  ane  myrthfull  multitude. 


152 


156 


160 


1G4 


1C8 


•  misprint  armonious 


i  euerj'lk 


THE    DEPLORATIOQN    OF   QUEXE    MAGDALENE. 


5G1 


Sic  Banketing,  sic  aufull  Toruamentis 

On  liors  &  fute,  tliat  tymc  quliilk  sulJ  haue  bene  ! 

Sic  Cliapell  Eoyall,  A\dtli  sic  Instrunientis, 

And  craftie  Musick,  singing  from  the  sjjlene, 

In  this  coimtre  was  neuer  hard  nor  sene  ! 

Bot  all  this  greit  solempnite  and  gain, 

Tiirnit  thow  lies  Li  Requiem  leternam! 


172 


[K  iiij,  no  »ig.] 
Such  bunqueU 
and  touriiuniciits ; 

music  by  the 
choir  royal, — 


but  all  la  hushed 
in  the  moss  for 
departed  bouIb, 


Inconstant  Avarld  !  tliy  freindschip  I  defy  !  17G  Fickle  worui! 

Sen  strenth,  nor  wisdome,  riches  nor  honour, 

A^ertew  nor  bewtie,  none  may  certefy 

"Within  thy  bonndis,  for  to  remane  ane  hour ; 

Quhat  valith  to  the  king  or  Empryour,  180 

Sen  prjTicely  puissance  may  nocht  be  exemit 

From  Deith,  quhose  dolour  can  nocht  be  expremit  ? 


nothing  is  $ure 


nor  exempt  from 
death : 


Sen  man  in  crth  lies  na  place  permanent, 
Bot  all  mon  passe  be  that  horrible  port, 
Lat  us  pray  to  the  Lord  Omnipotent, 
Tliat  dulefull  day  to  be  our  greit  comfort. 


all  must  pass 
through  that  gate 
184   of  dread. 

Let  us  pray  for  a 
safe  arrival 


^  Sic  banckatyng,'  sic  aufull  tornamentis, 

On  hors*  and  fute  yat  tyme  quhilk  suld  ^  hef  bene ; 

Sic  chapell  royal  wyt/t  sic  instrumentis, 

And  craftye^  music  singj-ng  from  the  splene, 

In  this  cuntre  was  neuer  hard  nor  sene  ; 

Bot  al  this  greit  solempnite  and  game, 

Tumit  thow  hes  In  requiem  aternam. 

^  Inconstant  warld  !  t[h]y  frendschip  I  defj'e,* 

Sen  strenth  nor  wisdome,  Kiches  nor  honour, 

Wertew  nor  bewte,  none  may  certefie 

Wythin  thy  bowndis®  for  to  remane  ane  hour  ; 

Quhat  valith  to  be  kyng  or  Empr5-our. 

Sen  pryncely  puissance  may  nocht  be  exemit 

From  Deyth,'  quhas  dolour,  can'  not  be  expremit? 

^  Sen  man  in  erth  hes  na  place  permanent, 
Bot  all  mon  pas  be  yat  horribill  port, 
Let  ws  pray  to  ye  lord  omnipotent 
That  dtdef ul  day  to  be  our  greit  comfort ; 


172 


170 


180 


184 


I  misprint  banckacyug  •  hois 

5  defye  "  bywndis 


3  fuld 
'  3Kyt!i 


562 


THE    DEPLORATIOUX    OF    QUENE    MAGDALENE. 


to  where  Mag- 
dalene has  gone. 

Death  may  de- 
stroy the  body, 

but  cannot  con- 
sume the  glory 
of  Magdalene. 

Poets  shall  put 
her  in  everlasting 
memory. 


[K  iiij,  back] 
Thou  hast  slain 
the  fleui--de-li3 
engrafted  on  our 
thistle, 


but  its  fragrance 
shall  endure  and 
keep  the  two 
realms  in  amity. 


That  in  his  Eealme  we  may  A\dth  hym  resort, 
Quhilk/6'  from  tliQ  hell,  viiih  his  blude  ransonit  bene, 
With  Magdalene  vmquhyle  of  Scotland  Qiiene.  189 

0  Deith  !  thocht  thow  the  body  may  denore 

Of  enery  man,  3it  hes  thow  no  puissance. 

Of  thare  vertew  for  to  consume  the  glore  !  192 

As  salbe  sene  of  Magdalene  of  France, 

TJmquhyle  our  quene,  quhom  Poetis  sal  auance, 

And  put  hir  in  perpetuall  memorie  ; 

So  sail  hir  fame  of  the  haue  Victorie.  19G 

Thocht  thou  hes  slane  thn  heuinly  flour  of  France, 

Quhilk  Impit  was  in  to  the  Thrissill  kene, 

Quharein  all  Scotland  saAv  thair  hail  plesance. 

And  maid  the  Lyoun  reioysit  frome  the  splene ;       200 

Thocht  rute  be  pullit  frome  the  leuis  grene, 

Tlie  smell  of  it  sail,  in  disj^yte  of  the, 

Keij)  ay  twa  Eealmes,  in  Peice  and  Amite. 

Quod  Lindesay. 


That  in  his  rejilme,  we  may  \Ayth  him  resort, 

Quhilks  from  the  hell  vvyth  his  blude  ransonit  bene,  188 

Wj^th  Magdalene,  wmquhile'  of  Scotland  Quene. 

5[  0  Deyth  I   thocht  thow  the  body  may  devoir, 

Of  euery  man  jit  hes  thow  now  puissance. 

Of  yair  vertu,  for  to  constume  the  gloir,  192 

As  salbe  seue  of  M[a]gdalene  of  France, 

Wmq?/hyle^  our  quene,  quhom  ^  poetis  sail  avance, 

AtkI  put  hir  in  perpetuall  memorie  ; 

Fo  sal  hir  f;  me  of  the  hef  victorie.  196 

^  Tliocht  thow  lies  slane  the  hevinly  flour  of  France, 

Quhilk  imput  was  vuto  the  thrissil  kene, 

Quharin  all  Scotland  set^  yair  hail  plesance. 

And  maid  the  lyoun  reiosit  from  ye  splene  ;  2C0 

Tliocht  rtite  be  pullet  from  the  lyvis  grene. 

The  smell  of  it  sal,  in  dispyte  of  the. 

Kelp  ay  twa  realmes  in  pace  and  amite. 

Finis. 


misprint  winquliile 


Wincily 


3  giihoiir 


563 


THE  ANSWER 

QUHILK  SCHIR  DAUID  LINDESAY  MAID  TO 


Y«  KIXGIS  FLYTIXG. 

^  'h  ^ 

I  Edoutit  Ro)^,  30iir  ragmeut  I  haue  red, 
Quliilk  dois  perturb  my  dull  Intendemewt. 
From  30ur  flyting,  wald  God,  thcd  I  Aver  fred, 
Or  ellis  sum  Tygerris  touug  wer  to  me  lent  ! 
Schip !  pardone  me,  thoclit  I  be  Impacient, 
Quhilk  bene  so  with  ^our  prun3eand  pen  detractit, 
And  rude  report  frome  Venus  Court  deiectit. 

Lustie  Ladyis,  that  [on]  jour  Libellis  lukis, 
IMy  cumpanie  dois  bald  abhominable, 
Commandand  me  beir  cumpanie  to  the  Cukis. 
Moist  lyke  ane  DeuiU,  thay  bald  me  detestable ; 
Tbay  banis  me,  sayand  I  am  nocbt  able 
Thame  to  compleis,  or  preis  to  thare  presancc ; 
Apon  ^ova'  pen  I  cry  ane  loud  vengeance ! 

Wer  I  ane  Poeit,  I  suld  preis  with  my  pen 
To  wreik  me  on  jour  wennemous  wryting  ; 
Bot  I  man  do  as  dog  dois  in  his  den, 
Fald  baith  my  feit,  or  fle  fast  frome  jour  flyting. 
The  mekle  Deuil  may  nocht  indure  jour  dyting  ; 
Quharefor,  Cor  mundum  crea  in  me  !  I  cry, 
Proclamand  jow  the  Prince  of  Poetry. 


12 


16 


Redoubtable 
king!  I  have  read 
your  discourse. 


Would  I  had  a 
tiger's  tongue ! 


Pardon  my 
impatience. 


Ladies  who  read 
your  poem 


hold  me 
detestable. 


Were  I  a  poet  I 
should  wreak  my 
vengeance  on  you ; 


[K4] 


20 


you  are  the 
prince  of  poetry. 


;g4 


THE    ANSWER   TO    Y^    KYNGIS    FLYTIXG. 


I  must  reply 
since  you 
command. 

Thoigli  you  are 
now  strong  as 
an  elephant, 

time  will  tell 
upon  your  valour. 


Schir  !  with  my  Prince  pertenit  me  nocht  to  pley ; 
Bot  sen  your  grace  hes  geuin  me  sic  command, 
To  mak  answer,  it  must  neidis  me  obey : 
Tliocht  36  be  now  strang  lyke  ane  Elepliand, 
And  in  till  Venus  werkis  maist  vail3eand. 
The  day  wyll  cum,  and  that  within  few  ^eiris, 
That  je  wyll  draw  at  laiser  Avith  ^our  feiris. 


24 


28 


Time  was  when 
I  was  better 
accoutred. 

I  regret  errors 
of  youth. 

Waste  not  your 
vigour. 


Quhat  can  36  say  forther,  bot  I  am  fail3eit 
In  Venus  werkis  ?  I  grant,  schir,  that  is  trew ; 
The  tyme  hes  bene,  I  was  better  artail3eit 
K'or  I  am  now  ;  bot  3it  full  sair  I  rew 
That  euer  I  did  Mouth  thankles  so  persew. 
Quharefor  tak  tent,  and  30ur  f}Tie  powder  spair, 
Ajid  waist  it  noclit,  bot  gyf  36  Avit  weill  quhair. 


32 


It  is  a  game  for 
leisurely  playing, 


Thocht  36  rin  rudelie,  lyke  ane  restles  Ram, 
Schutand  3our  bolt  at  mony  sindrie  schellis, 
Eeleif  richt  weill,  it  is  ane  bydand  gam ; 
Quharefore  be  war  with  dowbling  of  the  bellis, 
For  mony  ane  dois  liaist  thair  awin  saide  knellis ; 
[1  Ed.  1592,  wo??]  And  speciallie,  quhen  that  the  well '  gois  drj^. 
Syne  can  nocht  get  agane  sic  stufe  to  by. 


36 


40 


The  fiend  take       I  gi\ie  30ur  couusalc  to  the  feynd  of  hell, 

your  counsel, 

that  would  not      That  wald  nocht  of  ane  Princis  30W  pi'ouidc  ;  44 

a  princess,  Tholaud  30AV  riu  schutand  frome  schell  to  schell, 

allowing  the  time  Waistaud  3our  corps,  lettand  the  tyme  ouerslyde  : 

to  pass  away.  ^  o         ' 

[K  4,  back]       For,  lyke  ane  boisteous  Bull,  36  rin  and  ryde 

PtoyatoiLslie  lyke  ane  rude  Ptubeatour,  48 

Ay  fukkand  lyke  ane  furious  Fornicatour. 


TUE    ANSWKU   TO    Y^    KYNGIS    FLYTING.  5G5 

On  Ladronis  for  to  loip,  50  wyll  noclit  lat,  Your  attentions 

are  indis- 

Ilowbeit  the  Garibaldis  cry  the  corinoch.  criminaio; 

Remember  how  bcsyde  the  masking  fat  52 

Je  caist  ane  quene  ove^-tliort  ane  stinking  troch ; 

That  feynd,  with  fuffilling  of  hir  roistit  hoch, 

Caist  doun  the  fat,  quharthrow,  drink,  draf,  &  iuggis      tiiink  of  tia-ir 

ignoniiiiioug 

Como  rudely  rmna?id  do2/n  about  3our  Iuggis.  56  ibbuc! 


Wald  God  the  Lady  that  luffit  30W  best, 

Had  sene  30TV  thair  ly  swetterand  lyke  twa  swyne  !  weltering  nke 

Bot  to  indyte  how  that  duddroun  Aves  drest, 

Drowkit  w/t/i  dreggis,  quhimperajul  with  mony  quliryne! 

That  proces  to  report,  it  wer  ane  pyne.  Gl 

On  20ur  behalf  I  thank  God  tymes  ten  score,  *      1  thank  God  for 

yoiupie>:erviition. 

That  30U  preseruit  from  gut  &  frome  gvandgore. 


Now,  schir,  fairweill !  because  I  can  noclit  flyte ;       64  i  cannot  scoia. 

And  thocht  I  could,  I  wer  nocht  tyll  auance 

Aganis  your  ornate  Meter  to  indyte. 

Bot  3it  be  war  with  lawbouring  of  30ur  lance  !  But  beware! 

8mn  sayis  thare  cu???mis  ane  bukler  furtli  of  france,   68  a  Queen  comes 

Quhilk  vryll  indure  30ur  dintis,  thocht  thay  be  dour.        ^m  satisfy  you. 

Fairweill !  of  flowand  Eethorik  ihc  flour  ! 


Quod  Lindesay  in  his  flyting 
Aganis  the  Kingis  dyting. 


D6C 


[K3] 


THE    COMPLAINT 


PUBLIC!  CONFESSIOUN  OF  THE  KINGIS  AVLD  HOUND 


BAGSCHE 


DIRECTIT  TO  BAWTE,  THE  KINGIS  BEST  BELOUIT  DOG, 
AND  HIS  COMPAN^EONIS. 


MAID    AT    COMMAND    OF    KING    JAMES    THE    FYFT, 

BE    SCHIR    DAUID    LINDESAY    OF    THE    MONT    KNYCHT, 

Alias   LYOUN    KING    OF    ARMES,    &C. 


To  whom  shall  I 
plain  in  my 
extreme  need  ? 


bJ'ar  my  l.umlle 
praj'er  to  the 
king's  fiivouiitc 
dogs. 


I  have  followed 
the  Court  until  I 
am  no  more  able. 


When  I  had 
place  and  power 
I  never  dreaded 
this. 


Llace  !  quhome  to  sidd  I  complayne 
In  my  extreme  Necessitie  ? 
Or  quhameto  sail  I  male  my  maine  ? 
In  Court  na  Dog  wyll  do  for  me. 

Eeseikand  sum,  for  Clierite, 

To  beir  my  Supplicatioun, 

To  Scudlar,  Luflfra,  and  Bawte, 

N'ow  or  the  king  pas  of  the  toun. 

I  haue  folloAvit  the  Court  so  lang, 
Quhill  in  gude  faith  I  may  no  mair ; 
The  Countre  knawis  I  may  nocht  gang ; 
I  am  so  crukit,  auld,  and  sair, 
That  I  wait  nocht  quhare  to  repair; 
For  quhen  I  liad  authorite, 
I  thocht  mo  so  familiar, 
I  neucr  dred  ncccssite. 


12 


16 


THE    COMPLAINT    AND    CONFESSIOUN    OF    BAGSCME. 


507 


I  rew  the  race  that  Geordic  Steill 
Erocht  Bawte  to  the  kingis  presence ; 
I  pray  God  lat  hym  neuer  do  weill, 
Sen  syne  I  gat  na  audience. 
For  Bawte  now  gettis  sic  credence, 
That  he  lyis  on  the  kingis  nyclit  goun, 
Quhare  I  perforce,  for  my  otFence, 
^Rlan  in  the  clois  ly  lyke  ane  loun. 


Plafe'uc  on  Iho 
day  that  liawl* 
was  brought  to 
the  king. 

20 

[K  3,  back] 
He  8uppluiitc<l 
me  as  favourite. 

I  lie  in  the  outer 
passage  like  a 
24    villain. 


For  I  haif  bene,  ay  to  this  hour, 
Ane  wirrear  of  lamb  and  hog ; 
Ane  tyrrane,  and  ane  Tuljeom*, 
Ane  murdreissar  of  mony  ane  dog. 
Fyue  foullis  I  chaist  outthroch  ane  scrog, 
Quharefor  thare  motheris  did  me  waric ; 
For  thay  war  drownit  all  in  ane  bog : 
Sjjeir  at  Ihone  Gordoun  of  Pittarie, 


I  have  worried 
Iambs  and  one- 
year-old  sheep. 


28 


32    AskofJohi 
(lordoii 


QuhUk  in  his  hous  did  bryng  me  vp, 
And  vsit  me  to  slay  the  deir ; 
Sweit  milk  and  meill  he  gart  me  sup  : 
That  craft  I  leirnit  sone  perqueir. 
All  vther  vertew  ran  arreir, 
Quhen  I  began  to  bark  and  flyte ; 
For  thare  was  nother  Monk  nor  freir, 
'Nov  wyfe  nor  barne,  but  I  wald  byte. 


who  reared  me. 


3G 


I  respected 
.  ^    neither  monk 
4"    nor  friar. 


Quhen  to  the  King  the  cace  was  knawin 

Of  my  vnhappy  hardines, 

•And  all  the  suth  unto  hym  schawin, 

How  euerilk  dog  I  did  oppres, 

Then  gaue  his  grace  command  expres, 

I  suld  be  brocht  to  his  presence. 

Nochtwithstanding  my  wickitnes, 

In  Court  I  gat  greit  audience. 


When  the  king 
heard  of  my 
viciousnes?, 


u 


he  had  me 
brought  to  Court 
4b    and  preferred  nid. 


568 


THE    COJirLAINT    AND    CONFESSIOUN    OF    BAGSCHE. 


[K  2]  ^W  I  shew  my  greit  Ingratitude 

ingratitude  "to        To  the  Capitane  of  Bad3eno, 

Quhilk  in  his  hous  did  find  me  fade 
Two  3eir,  with  vther  houndis  mo. 
Bot  quhen  I  saw  that  it  was  so, 
That  I  grew  hich  into  the  Court, 
I  wiougiit  tiiem     For  his  reward  I  wrocht  hym  wo, 

wo. 

And  cruellie  I  did  hym  hurt. 


.52 


f)G 


I  cared  for 
nought  but  to 
please  tlie  king ; 

but  when  he 
heard  of  my 
misdeeds,  he 
ordered  me  to 
be  hanged. 


So  thay  that  gaue  me  to  the  King, 
I  was  thare  mortall  Enemie. 
I  tuke  cure  of  na  kynd  of  thing, 
Bot  pleis  the  Ivingis  IMajestie. 
Bot  quhen  he  knew  my  crueltie. 
My  falset  and  my  phane  oppressioun. 
He  gaue  command  that  I  suld  he 
Hanoit  Avithout  confessioun. 


GO 


G4 


but  took  pity  on     And  ^it  because  that  I  Avas  aukl, 

me  on  account  .      /> 

His  grace  thocht  pctie  for  to  liang  me. 


of  my  old  age. 


I  became  an  out- 
cast and  a  butt. 


Bot  leit  me  wander  quhare  I  wald  ; 
Than  set  my  fais  for  to  fang  me. 
And  euery  bouchour  dog  doun  dang  me. 
Quhen  I  trowit  best  to  be  ane  laird, 
■"Jlian  in  tlie  court  ilk  wicht  did  wraiig  me, 
And  this  I  gat  for  my  rewaird. 


G8 


72 


I  near/y  strangled  I  iiad  wirreit  blak  Makescun, 

Makesoun; 

Wer  nocht  that  rebaldis  come  and  red  ; 
Bot  he  was  flemit  of  the  toun. 
Frome  tyme  the  king  saw  how  I  bled, 
He  gart  lay  me  vpon  ane  bed, 
he  fled  from  the     For  Avith  ane  knife  I  Avas  mischeiiit. 

town.  r  M    •       11/r    1 

[K  2,  back]       J  his  Makcsouu  for  feir  he  fled 

Ane  lang  tyme  or  he  Avas  relcuit. 


76 


80 


niE    COMTLAIXT    AND    CONFESSIOUN    OF    BAGSCIIE. 


)Gd 


And  Patrik  Striviliiig  in  Ergyle, 
I  bure  liyui  bakwart  to  the  ground, 
And  liad  liyni  slane  witliin  anc  qubyle, 
War  nocbt  the  belping  of  ane  lioimd. 
3it  gat  be  mony  bludie  ■wound, 
As  3it  bis  skyn  "svyll  scbaw  the  markis. 
Find  me  ane  Dog,  qubare  cuer  ye  found, 
lies  maid  sa  mony  bhidic  sarkis  ! 


Piitrick  Stirling 
I  sorely  mangled. 


84 


Find  me  a  dog 
that  Ii:i8  made  so 
88    "lany  bloody 
shirts. 


Gude  brother  Lanceman,  Lyndesayis  dog, 

Qubilk  ay  bes  kepit  thy  laute, 

And  neuer  "wirryit  lamb  nor  hog, 

Pray  Luffra,  Scudlar,  and  Baute, 

Of  me,  Bagsche,  to  baue  pitie, 

And  prouide  me  ane  portioun 

In  Dumfermeling,  qubare  I  may  dre 

Pennance  for  my  extortioun. 


Brother  Lance- 
man, 


92    pray  the  court 
favourites 


that  I  may  liavo 
an  asylum  in 
Uunfynuline 


OG 


Get  be  thare  Solistatioun, 

Ane  letter  frome  the  Kingis  grace. 

That  I  may  bane  Collatioun, 

With  fyre  and  Candil  in  the  place. 

Bot  I  wyll  leif  schort  tyme,  allace  ! 

Want  I  gude  fresche  flescbe  for  my  gammis ; 

Betuix  Aswednisday  and  Paice, 

I  man  baue  leue  to  wirrie  Lambis. 


1 00  ^^'"'  "'^'^  "'"^ 

candle. 

I  will  live  short 
time  unless  I  get 
fresh  flesh  for 
my  maw. 

104 


Baute  !  considder  well  tliis  bill. 
And  reid  this  Cedull  that  I  send  30W, 
And  euerilk  poynt  tbareof  fulfill. 
And  now  in  tyme  of  mys  amend  30W. 
I  pray  30W  that  je  nocbt  pretend  30W 
To  clym  ouer  hie,  nor  do  na  wrang ; 
Bot  frome  30ur  fais,  with  richt  defend  3o\v, 
And  tak  exemple  qubow  I  gang. 


Bawtf,  pondei 
over  this 
Schedule ; 

[Kl] 

108    take  warning 
by  me; 

climb  not  too 
hife'h. 

112 


670 


THE    COMPLAINT    AND    CONFESSIOUN    OF    BAGSCHE. 


I  was  beyond  all 
Interference  of 
nian  or  dog- 


Now  everr  eiir 
tramples  me 
down. 


I  was  that  na  man  durst  cum  neir  me, 
Nor  put  me  f urth  of  my  lugeing ; 
K'a  dog  durst  fra  my  Dcnner  sker  me, 
Quhen  I  was  tender  with  the  king. 
!N'o^v  euerilk  tyke  dois  me  doun  thring, 
The  quhilk,  before,  be  me  war  wrangit, 
And  sweris  I  serue  na  vther  tiling, 
Bot  in  ane  belter  to  be  hansit. 


IIG 


120 


Thongli  ye  are 
now  familiar 
with  the  king, 

oppress  not  your 
iieigli  hours. 


bite  no  lambs 
nor  ewes. 


Tliocht  36  be  hamelie  with  the  King, 
3e  Luffra,  Scudlar,  and  Bawte, 
Be  war  that  ^e  do  nocht  doun  thring 
3our  nychtbouris  thro^v  authorite  ! 
And  jour  exemple  mak  be  me, 
And  beleif  weill  je  ar  bot  doggis  ; 
Thocht  je  stand  in  the  hiest  gre, 
Se  je  byte  nother  lambs  nor  hoggis. 


124 


128 


else  a  time  of 
punishment  will 
come. 


The  gallows 
gapes  for  every 
transgressor. 

[K  1,  back] 
I  was  as  fur  ben 
(intimate)  as 
you  are. 


I  am  now 

lialloed  out  of 
town. 


Thocht  36  haue  now  greit  audience, 
Se  that  be  30W  be  nane  opprest ; 
3e  wylbe  punischit  for  jour  offence, 
Frome  tyme  the  King  be  weill  confest. 
Thare  is  na  dog  that  hes  transgrest 
Throw  cruelte,  and  he  may  fang  hym, 
His  Maieste  wyll  tak  no  rest, 
Tyll  on  ane  gallous  he  gar  hang  hym. 

I  was  anis  als  far  ben  as  30  ar, 
And  had  in  Coiirt  als  greit  credence, 
And  ay  pretendit  to  be  hiear ; 
Bot  quhen  the  Kingis  excellence 
Did  knaw  my  falset  and  offence, 
And  my  prydefull  presumptioiin, 
I  gat  none  vther  recompence, 
r.ot  hoyit  and  houndit  of  the  toun. 


132 


13G 


140 


144 


THE    COMPLAINT    AND    COXFESSIOUN    OF    BAGSCnr:. 


571 


"Wes  neuer  sa  vnkynd  ane  corce, 
As  quhen  I  had  autliorite ; 
Of  my  frcindis  I  tuke  na  force, 
The  quhilkis  afore  had  done  for  me. 
This  Proucrb,  it  is  of  verite, 
Quhilk  I  hard  red  in  tyll  ane  letter : 
"  Hiest  in  Court,  nixt  the  weddie, 
"Without  he  gyde  hym  all  the  bettor." 


I  paid  no  atten- 
tion to  my 
148    friends. 


152 


Next  tlie  tlirono, 
next  tliu  lialterl 


I  tuke  na  mair  compt  of  ane  Lord 
Nor  I  did  of  ane  keiching  knaif. 
Thocht  euerilk  day  I  maid  discord, 
I  was  set  vp  abone  the  laif ; 
The  gentill  hound  was  to  me  slaif, 
And  with  the  Kingis  awin  fingeris  fed ; 
The  .sillie  raichis  wald  I  raif ; 
Thus  for  my  euill  deidis  wes  I  dred. 


I  accounted  no 
more  of  a  lord 
tliun  of  3  kitclien 
knave. 


156 


Tlie  hounds  and 
raclies  were  uiy 
slaves. 


IGO 


Tharfor,  Bawte,  luke  best  about, 
Quhen  thow  art  hiest  with  the  King ; 
For  than  thow  standis  in  greitest  dout, 
Be  thow  nocht  gude  of  gouerning. 
Put  na  pure  tyke  frome  his  steiding, 
Is'or  3it  na  sillie  Ratchis  raif ; 
He  sittis  abone  that  seis  all  thing, 
And  of  ane  knicht  can  mak  ane  knaif. 


164 


Bawtd!  look 
about  you. 
\Vl)en  highest, 
you  are  in  great- 
est danger,  if  not 
on  your  good 
behaviour. 
Drive  no  cur  from 
his  station. 
[Signature  L.] 


He  sits  alxive  who 
f  (,Q  can  turn  a  knight 
luo    into  a  knave. 


Quhen  I  come  steppand  ben  the  flure, 
AU  Eachis  greit  roume  to  me  red  ; 
I  of  na  creature  tuke  cure, 
Bot  lay  vpon  the  kingis  bed, 
With  claith  of  gold  thocht  it  wcr  spred  ; 
For  feir,  ilk  freik  wald  stand  on  far, 
With  euerilk  Dog  I  Avas  so  dred, 
Thay  trimblit  quhen  thay  hard  me  nar. 


1(2    I  used  to  lie  on 
the  king's  bed. 


176 


Kvcry  dog 
trembled  when  I- 


572 


THE    COMPLAINT    AND    CONFESSIOUN    OF    BAGSCHE. 


Brother  Bawti ! 


do  not  oppresa 
the  innocent. 


Gude  brother  Bawte  !  beir  the  euin, 
Thocht  with  thy  Prince  thow  be  potent ; 
It  cryis  ane  vengeance  from  the  heuin, 
For  till  oppres  ane  Innocent. 
In  welth  be  than  most  vigilent, 
And  do  na  wrang  to  dog  nor  beiche, 
As  I  haue,  quhilk  I  now  repent : 
Na  Messane  reif,  to  male  the  riche. 


180 


184 


Not,  for  augmenting  of  thy  boundis, 
AsTc  no  reward  to  Ask  no  reward,  schir,  at  the  king, 

others'  hurt.  /^    t  -n 

C^uhilk  may  do  hurt  to  vther  houndis, 
Expres  aganis  Goddis  bidding. 
Chase  no  poor  cur  Chais  na  pure  tyke  frome  liis  midding, 

from  liis  midden. 

Throw  cast  of  Court,  or  Kingis  requeist. 
And  of  thy  self  presume  no  thing, 
Except  thow  art  ane  brutall  beist. 


188 


192 


[L,  back] 

No  wrong-doer 
will  henceforth 
lie  spared. 


Traist  weill  thare  is  none  oppressour, 
Nor  boucheour  dog,  drawer  of  blude, 
Ane  Tyrrane,  nor  ane  transgressour, 
That  sail  now  of  the  King  get  gude, 
Frome  tyme  furth  that  his  Celsitude 
Dois  cleirlie  knaw  the  verite  ; 
Bot  he  is  flemit,  for  to  conclude, 
Or  hangit  hich  vpon  ane  tre. 


196 


200 


Thocht  3e  be  cuplit  all  to  gidder 
With  silk,  and  swoulis  of  syluer  fyne, 
Ane  dog  may  cum  furth  of  Balqultidder, 
And  gar  30W  leid  ane  lawer  tryne. 
Qulien  ane  strange  hounter  blawis  his  home, 
And  all  your  treddiugis  gar  30W  tyne, 
iind  displace  you,    'fhau  Sail  jour  laubour  be  forlorne. 


Thonith  your 
leaslies  be  silken, 
and  the  swivels 
of  silver,  a 
mountain  dog 
may  come  from 
lialquhidder 


204 


THE    COMrLAIXT   AND    CON'FESSIOUN    OF    DAGSCIIE. 


573 


I  say  no  more  !  gude  freindis,  adew, 
In  dreid  we  neuer  meit  agano  ! 
That  euer  I  kend  the  Court,  I  rew ; 
Wes  neuer  wycht  so  will  of  wane. 
Lat  no  Dog  now  serue  our  Souerane, 
Without  he  be  of  gude  conditioun  ! 
Be  he  peruerst,  I  tell  90W  plane, 
He  lies  neid  of  ane  gude  Remissioun. 


208    A.licu! 


I  rue  tliat  ever  I 
kiifW  llie  CourL 


212 


That  I  am  on  this  way  mischeuit. 
The  Erie  of  Hountlie  I  may  warie  ; 
He  wend  I  had  bene  weill  releuit, 
Quhen  to  the  Court  he  gart  me  carie. 
"Wald  God  I  war  now  in  Pittarie  ! 
Because  I  haue  bene  so  euill  dedie, 
Adew  !  I  dar  no  langer  tarie  ! 
In  dreid,  I  waif  in  till  ane  wyddio. 


216 


I  curse  the  Earl 
of  Huiilly. 


220    Would  I  were 
now  in  Pittarie. 
I  liave  been  such 
a  malefactor, 
I  dreaU  tliat  I 
shall  wave  in  n 
halter. 


FINIS 


574 


[Sign.  L  ii] 


ANE   SUPLICATION 


DIRECTIT  FROME  SCHIR  DAUID  LYNDESAY,  KNICHT, 
TO  THE  KINGIS  GRACE, 

IN  CONTEMPTIOUN  OF  SYDE  TAILLTS. 


Your  Graee  has 
reduced  the 
Highlands  and 
the  Borders  to 
order; 


Btill  there  remains 
one  email  fault  to 
be  reformed. 

The  matter  is  too 
vile  for  an  ornate 
style. 


A  rose  ehaplet 
cannot  be  made 
of  foul  weeds. 
I  refer  to  these 
low-lianging 
skirts  which  drag 
through  the  mire. 


Though  bishops 
have  train-bearers 
for  their 
jiuntifical  robes. 


[I  oriV.  Comform- 

and] 

and  queens  for 

their  royal  robes, 


SCliir,  thocht  3our  grace  lies  put  gret  ordour 
Baitli  in  the  Hieland  and  the  Bordour, 
3  it  mak  I  Supplicatioun, 
Tyll  haue  sum  Eeformatioun  -    4 

Of  ane  small  fait,  quhilk  is  nocht  Tressoun,  -  ^ 

Thocht  it  he  contrarie  to  Eessoun. 
Because  the  Matter  bene  so  vyie, 

It  may  nocht  haue  ane  Ornate  style  ;  8 

Quharefor,  I  pray  3our  Excellence 
To  heir  me  with  greit  Pacience. 
Of  stinkand  weidis  maculate 

"No  man  may  mak  ane  Rois  Chaiplat.  12 

Souerane,  I  mene  of  thir  syde  taillis, 
Quhilk  throw  the  dust  and  duhbis  traillis, 
Thre  quarteris  lang  behind  thare  heUlis, 
Expres  agane  all  Co7?imoun  weillis.  16 

Thocht  Bischoppis  in  thare  pontificallis 
Haue  men  for  to  heir  up  thare  taillis, 
For  dignite  of  thare  office  ; 

Rychtso  ane  Queue,  or  ane  Emprice,—  20 

Jlowbeit  thay  vse  sic  grauite, 
Conformand^  to  thare  Maieste, — 
Thocht  thare  Rob  Royallis  be  vpborne, 
I  think  it  is  ane  verray  scorne  24 


ANE    SUPPLICATIOUK    AXENT    BYDE   TAILMS. 


575 


riiat  euery  Lady  of  the  land 

Suld  liaue  liir  ti\ill  so  syde  trailland  ! 

Howbeit  thay  bene  of  hie  estait, 

The  Quene  thay  suld  nocht  counterfait. 

Quhare  euer  thay  go,  it  may  be  sene, 

How  kirk  and  calsay  thay  soujj  clene. 

The  Imagis  in  to  the  kirk, 

May  think  of  thare  syde  taUis  Irk, 

For  quhen  the  wedder  bene  most  fair, 

The  dust  fleis  hiest  in  the  air, 

And  all  thare  facis  dois  begarie  ! 

Giue  thay  culd  speik,  thay  wald  thame  warie. 

To  se  I  think  ane  plesand  sicht, 

Of  Italic  the  Ladyis  bricht, 

In  thare  cle thing  most  triumphand, 

Aboue  all  vther  christin  land. 

3it  quhen  thay  trauell  throw  the  townis, 

Men  seis  thare  feit  beneth  thare  gownis, 

Four  Inclie  abone  thare  proper  heillis, 

Circulat  about  als  round  as  quheillis ; 

Quhare  throw  thare  dois  na  poulder  ryis, 

Thare  fair  quhyte  lymmis  to  suppryis. 

Bot  I  think  maist  abusioun, 

To  se  men  of  Eeligioun 

Gar  beir  thare  taillis  throw  the  streit, 

That  folkis  may  behald  thare  feit. 

I  trow  sanct  Bernard  nor  sanct  Blais 

Gart  neuer  man  beir  vp  thare  clais ; 

Peter,  nor  Paule,  nor  sanct  Androw, 

Gart  neuer  beir  vp  thare  taillis,  I  trow. 

Bot  I  lauch  best  to  se  ane  Nwn, 

Gar  beir  hir  taill  abone  hir  bwn, 

For  no  thing  eUis,  as  I  suppois, 

Bot  for  to  schaW  hir  lillie  quhyte  hois. 

In  all  thare  Eewlis,  thay  will  nocht  find, 

Quha  suld  beir  vp  thair  taillis  behind. 


28 


I  tliink  it  dis- 
graceful that 
every  lady  hIiouIJ 
have  her  skirts 
BO  long. 

[L  li,  back] 


They  sweep  the 
pavements  dean. 


32 


They  begrime  the 
images  in  church. 


3G 


The  ladies  of 
Italy 


40 


show  their  feet 


u 


four  inches  under 
their  dresses. 


48    As  for  those 
churchmen. 


52 


Peter  and  Paul 
had  no  trains  nor 
train-bearers. 


5G    It  Is  ridiculous  to 
sec  nuns  with 

[sign.  L  iii.] 
their  tails  borne 
behind  them ; 


CO 


576 


AXE    SUPPLICATIOUX   ANEXT    SYDE    TAILLIS. 


but  worst  of  all, 
every  dirty 
Cinderella  must 
have  two  ells  of 
skirt  below  her 
knees. 


Ti  orig.  mylkit] 


It  is  a  nuisance 
to  walk  behind 
them  J 


you  get  nose, 
mouth,  and  eyes 
full  of  (lust. 


What  of  their 
own  lirebs? 


[L  iii,  back] 


Twere  well  they 
liad  breeches. 


Wliat  an  exposure 
when  tlieir  skirts 
nre  tucked  up ! 


Bot  I  haue  maist  in  to  despyte, 

Pure  Claggokis  cled  in  roiplocli  quliyte, 

Quliilk  hes  skant  twa  markis  for  thare  feis, 

Wyll  haue  twa  ellis  beneth  thare  kneis.  G-1 

Kittok,  that  clekkit  wes  3istrene, 

The  morne  wyll  counterfute  the  Quene, 

Ane  mureland  Meg  that  mylkis^  the  3owis, 

Claggit  with  clay  abone  the  howis,  68 

In  bam  nor  byir  scho  wyll  nocht  byde, 

Without  hir  kirtyU  taill  be  syde. 

In  Burrowis  wantoun  burges  wyiffis, 

Quha  may  haue  sydest  taillis  stryiffis,  72 

Weill  bordourit  with  Ueluoit  fyne  : 

Bot  following  thame,  it  is  ane  pyne  ! 

In  Somer  quhen  the  streitis  dr}ds, 

Thay  rais  the  dust  abone  the  skjns  !  7G 

l^one  may  go  neir  thame  at  thare  eis, 

Without  thay  couer  mouth  and  neis, 

Frome  the  powder,  to  keip  thare  ene. 

Consider  giue  thare  Cloififis  be  clene !  SO 

Betuixt  thare  cleuing,  and  thare  kneis, 

Quha  mycht  behald  thare  sweitie  theis, 

Begairit  all  with  dirt,  and  dust, 

That  wer  aneuch  to  stanche  the  lust  84 

Of  ony  man  that  saw  thame  naikit. 

I  think  sic  giglottis  ar  bot  glaikit, 

Without  profite  to  haue  sic  pryde, 

Harland  thare  claggit  taillis  so  syde.  88 

I  wald  thay  borrowstounis  barnis  had  brcikki;^. 

To  keip  sic  mist  fra  Malkinnis  cheikkis  ; 

I  dreid  rouch  Malkin  de  for  drouth, 

Quhen  sic  dry  dust  blawis  in  hir  mouth.  92 

I  think  maist  pane,  efter  ane  rane, 

To  se  thame  towkit  vp  agane ; 

Than,  quhen  thay  step  furth  throw  the  stieit, 

Tharo  faldingis  flappis  about  thair  feit,  OG 


AXE    SUPPLICATIOUN    ANEXT    SYDE    TAILLIS. 


577 


Tliare  laithlie  lyning  furtliwart  flypit, 

Quliilk  lies  the  muk  and  midding  wypit. 

Thay  waist  more  claith  witliin  few  jeiris, 

ISTor  wald  claith  fyftie  score  of  freiris. 

Quhen  IMarioun  frome  the  midding  gois, 

Frome  hir  morne  turne  scho  strypis^  the  nois. 

And  all  the  day  quhare  euer  scho  go, 

Sic  liquour  scho  likkith  vp  also ; 

The  TurcLunis  of  hir  taill,  1  trow, 

Mycht  he  ane  supper  till  ane  sow. 

I  ken  ane  man,  quhilk  swoir  greit  aithis, 

How  he  did  lift  ane  Kittokis  claithis, 

And  wald  haue  done,  I  wait  nocht  quhat ; 

But  sone  remeid  of  lufe  he  gat  : 

He  thocht  na  schame  to  mak  it  wittin, 

How  hir  syde  taill  was  all  hescliittin  ! 

Of  filth  sic  flewer  straik  till  his  hart, 

That  he  behouit  for  till  depart. 

(Quod  scho)  sweit  schir,  me  think  30  rew  ! 

{Quod  he)  30ur  tail  makis  sic  ane  stew. 

That  be  sanct  Bryde,  I  may  nocht  byde  it ! 

3e  war  nocht  wyse,  that  wald  nocht  hyde  it. 

Of  Taillis  I  wyll  no  more  Indyte, 
For  dreid  sum  Duddroun  me  despyte. 
Xocht  withstanding,  I  wyll  conclude. 
That  of  syde  Taillis  can  cum  na  gude, 
Syder  nor  may  thare  hanclethis  hyde  ; 
The  remanent  proceidis  of  pryde, 
And  Pryde  proceidis  of  the  Deuill ; 
Thus  alway  thay  proceid  of  euill. 

^p°  Ane  vther  fault,  Schir,  may  be  scne 
Thay  hyde  thare  face  all  hot  the  ene. 
Quhen  gentill  men  biddis  thame  gude  day. 
Without  Eeuerence  thay  slyde  away, 
That  none  may  knaw,  I  30W  assure, 
Ane  honest  woman  be  ane  hure. 


100 


10-t 


What  a  w.iste  of 
clotli  too ! 


['  orig.  8trji>it] 


The  accumula- 
tions on  their 
skirts  mi^lit 
Bene  a  pig  for 
supper. 


108 


112 


Don't  let  it  tie 
seen ! 


IIG      [L  iiij;  no  sig.] 


120 


Skirts  lower  than 
the  ancles  come 
from  priile,  and 
pride  from  the 
124    Devil. 


Another  fault. 

128    They  hide  their 
fares. 


You  can't  tell  ,i 
decent  woman 
1  32    f^om  a  whore. 


578 


ANE   SUPPLICATIOUN    ANENT    SVDE    TAILLIS. 


The  French  ladies 
have  better 
manners. 


It's  well  enough 
to  wear  a 
covering  in  the 
rain. 


[L  iiij,  back] 


But  they  ouglit 
to  show  their 
faces  in  church 
and  market. 


Order  them  to 
show  their  faces 
and  feet. 


Will  they  call 
my  words  vile  ? 

Let  them  cleanse 
the  filth  of  their 
own  tails  first. 


"Without  tliare  naikit  face  I  se, 

Thay  get  no  mo  gude  dayis  of  me  ! 

Hails  ane  France  Lady  quhen  36  pleis, 

Scho  wyll  discouer  mouth  and  neis,  136 

And  with  ane  humill  countenance, 

With  Uisage  bair  mak  reuerence. 

Qulien  our  Ladyis  dois  ryde  in  rane, 

Suld  no  man  haue  thame  at  disdane,  140 

Thocht  thay  be  couerit,  mouth  and  neis. 

In  that  cace  thay  wyll  nane  displeis ; 

Nor  quhen  thay  go  to  quiet  places, 

I  thame  excuse  to  hyde  thare  facis,  144 

Quhen  thay  wald  mak  Collatioun 

With  ony  lustie  Companjeoun ; 

Thocht  thay  be  hid  than  to  the  ene, 

3e  may  considder  quhat  I  mene.  148 

Bot  in  the  kirk,  and  market  placis, 

I  think  thay  suld  nocht  hide  thare  facis. 

Without  thir  faltis  be  sone  amendit, 
My  fly  ting,  schir,  sail  neuer  be  endit ;  1.52 

Bot  Avald  your  grace  my  counsall  tak, 
Ane  Proclamatioun  30  suld  mak, 
Baith  throw  the  land  and  Borrowstounis, 
To  schaw  thare  face,  and  cut  thare  gownis ;  156 

Xane  suld  fra  that  Exemptit  be, 
Except  the  Quenis  Maieste. 
Because  this  mater  is  nocht  fair, 

Of  Eethorik  it  man  be  bair.  1 60 

Wemen  wyll  say  this  is  no  bourdis, 
To  wryte  sic  vyle  and  filthy  wordis, 
Bot  wald  thay  clenge  thare  filthy  taillis, 
Quliilk  ouir  the  myris  and  middingis  traillis,  1G4 

Than  suld  my  wrytting  clengit  be ; 
None  vther  mendis  thay  get  of  me  ! 
The  suith  suld  nocht  be  haldin  clos, 
Veritas  non  querit  Angidos.  168 


ANE    SUPPLIC.VTIQUN    ANENT    SYDE    TAILLI3.  579 

I  wait  gude  wemen  that  bene  wyse,  wise  women  wiii 

not  find  fault 

This  rurall  Kyme  wyll  noclit  dispryse.  wiiu  mc. 

None  wyll  mo  blame,  I  30W  assure, 

Except  ane  wantoun  glorious  hure,  172 

Quhais  flyting  I  feir  nocht  ane  He.  i  Jon't  cmc  wimt 

Btnimpcts  inar 

Fair  weill  1  je  get  no  more  of  me  !  say. 

Quod  Lindesay  in  co??tenipt  of  the  syde  taillis. 
That  duddrounis  &  duntibouris  throu  the  dubbis  trailiis. 


580 


rL4] 


KITTEIS  CONPESSIOUN, 


COMPYLIT  (AS. IS  BELEUIT)  Be  SCHIR  DAUID 
LINDESAY  OF  THE  MONT,  KNIGHT.     &c. 


Tlie  Curate 
confessed  Kittie ; 


he  would  fain 
have  kissed  her. 


T 


THE    CURATE,    AND    KITTE. 


Had  slie  stolen 
anything  ? 


he  Curate  Kitte  culd  Confesse, 
And  scho  tald  on  baith  mair  and  lesse. 
Quhen  scho  Avas  telland  as  scho  wist, 
The  Curate  Kitte  wald  haue  kist ;  4 

Bot  3it  ane  countenance  he  bure, 

Degeist,  denote,  daine,  and  demure, 

And  syne  began  hir  to  exempne  : — 

He  was  best  at  the  efter  game. —  8 

(Quod  he)  haue  ^e  na  wrangous  geir  ? 

(Quod  scho)  I  staw  ane  Pek  of  beir. 

(Quod  he)  that  suld  restorit  be, 

Tharefore  delyner  it  to  me.  12 

Tibbe  and  Peter  bad  me  speir. 

Be  my  conscience  thay  sail  it  heir. 

(Quod  he)  leue  36  in  lecherie  1 

(Quod  scho)  "Wyll  Leno  mo  wit  me.  16 

(Quod  he)  his  wyfe  that  sail  I  tell, 

To  mak  hir  acquentance  with  my  sell. 
Was  she  conscious  (Quod  he)  kcn  36  na  Heresic? 

I  wait  nocht  quhat  that  is,  (quod  sche).  20 

(Quod  he)  hard  30  na  Inglis  Bukis  ? 

(Quod  scho)  my  Maister  on  thamc  lukis, 

(Quod  he)  the  Bischop  that  sail  knaw, 

For  I  am  sworne  that  for  to  schaw.  24 


Did  she  live  in 
unchastity  ? 


of  any  heresy  ? 


Had  she  any 
£nglisl>  books  ? 


KITTKIS    CONFESSIOUN. 


581 


(Quod  he)  quhat  said  he  of  tlie  King  1 

(Quod  scho)  of  gude  he  spak  na  thing. 

(Quod  he)  his  grace  of  that  sail  wit, 

And  he  sail  lose  his  lyfc  for  it. 

Quhen  scho  in  mynd  did  mair  reuolue, 

(Quod  he)  I  can  nocht  30W  absolue, 

Bot  to  my  Chalmer  cum  at  euin, 

Absoluit  for  to  be  and  schreuin. 

(Quod  scho)  I  "svyll  pas  tyll  ane  vther ; 

And  I  met  with  schir  Andro  my  brother, 

And  he  full  clenelie  did  me  schryue, 

Bot  he  wes  something  talkatyne. 

He  speirit  mony  strange  cace, 

Quhow  that  my  lufe  did  me  Inbrace, 

Quhat  day,  how  oft,  quhat  sort,^  and  quharc  1 

(Quod  he)  I  wald  I  had  bene  thare  ! 

He  me  absoluit  for  ane  plak, 

Thocht  he  na  prv^e  with  me  wald  mak, 

And  mekle  Latjoie  he  did  mummill, 

I  hard  na  thing  but  hummill  bummill. 

He  schew  me  nocht  of  Goddis  word, 

Quhilk  scharper  is  than  ony  sword, 

And  deip  in  tyll  our  hart  dois  prent 

Our  SjTi,  quhairthrow  we  do  repent. 

He  pat  me  na  thing  in  to  feir, 

Quharethrow  I  suld  my  syn  forbeir ; 

He  schew  me  nocht  the  IMaledictionn 

Of  God  for  Syn,  nor  the  afflictioun. 

And  in  this  lyfe,  the  greit  mischeif- 

Ordanit  to  punische  hure,  and  theif. 

'Not  schew  he  me  of  hellis  pan^, 

That  I  mycht  feir,  and  vice  refrane. 

He  coimsalit  me  nocht  till  abstene. 

And  leid  ane  holy  lyfe  and  clene. 

Of  Christis  blude,  na  thing  he  knew, 

Nor  of  his  premisses  full  ircw, 


Wliat  did  lier 
master  Hay  of 
the  King  ? 


28    It  should  cost  hira 
liis  life. 

[L  i,  back] 


He  would  pive  her 
absolution  in  his 
32    o^^'"  chamber  at 
even. 

She  would  rather 
be  excused,  and 
would  try 
another, 

36 

who  was  rather 
curious  as  to 
minutiee, 

[1  oriff.  scort] 

40    but  sympaihetia 
withal, 

and  absolved  her 
for  a  plack. 


44 


He  showed 
nothing  of  God's 
word. 


48 


nor  the  divine 
displeasure  with 


56 


nor  the  pains  of 
hell. 


He  did  not 
counsel  a  holy 
life, 


GO 


tL3] 


582 


KITTEIS   COXFESSIOUN. 


nor  speak  of  faitli 
in  Christ, 


nor  keeping  His 
law. 


But  he  prescribed 
penance. 


and  bade  her  buy 
a  mass  for  a 
plack, 

(which  she  could 
earn  again,) 
and  go  a 

pilgrimage  (the 
very  way  to 
corruption). 


So  now  she 
knows  the  price 
of  theft  and 
unclcanness. 

He  fell  asleep  by 
the  fire, 


[L  3,  back] 


and  raved,  being 
half-di  uiik. 


That  saifis  all  tliat  wyll  beleue, 
That  Sathan  sail  vs  neuer  greue. 
He  techit  me  nocht  for  tyll  traist 
The  confort  of  the  haly  Gaist ; 
He  bad  me  nocht  to  Christ  be  kynd, 
To  keip  his  law  with  hart  and  mynd, 
And  loue  and  thank  his  greit  mercie, 
!Fra  Syn  and  hell  that  sauit  me. 
And  lufe  my  Nichtbonr  as  my  sell : 
Of  this  na  thing  he  could  me  tell ; 
Bot  gaue  me  pennance,  ilk  ane  day 
Ano  Ane  Marie  for  to  say, 
And  Frydayis  fyne,  na  fische  to  cit ; — • 
Bot  butter  and  eggis  ar  better  meit ; — 
And  with  ane  plak  to  by  ane  Messe 
Fra  drounkin  schir  lohne  latynelesse. 
(Quod  he)  ane  plak  I  wyll  gar  Sande 
Giue  the  agane  with  hande  dando. 
Syne  in  to  Pilgramage  to  pas, 
The  verray  way  to  wantounes. 
Of  all  his  pennance  I  was  glaid, 
I  had  thame  all  parqueir,  I  said ; 
To  mow  and  steill,  I  ken  the  pryce, 
I  sail  it  set  on  Cincq  and  Syce. 
Bot  he  my  counsale  culd  nocht  keip, 
He  maid  hym  be  the  fyre  to  sleip, 
Syne  cryit,  Colloris,  bcif,  and  Coillis, 
Hois,  and  schone,  Avith  dowbill  soillis, 
Caikis,  and  Candill,  Creische,  and  Salt, 
Curnis  of  meil,  and  lufFiUis  of  IMalt, 
Wollin,  and  linning,  werp,  and  woft ; 
Dame  !  keip  the  keis  of  30ur  woll  loft. 
Throw  drink  and  sleip  maid  him  to  raif ; 
And  swa  with  vs  thay  play  the  knaif ! 
Freiris  swoiris  bo  thare  professioun, 
N'ane  can  be  saif  but  this  Confessionn, 


64 


68 


72 


80 


84 


88 


92 


9G 


KITTEIS    COXFESSIOUN. 


583 


And  garris  all  men  vntlerstand 

That  it  is  Goddis  awin  command ; 

3 it  is  it  noclit  bot  mennis  drame, 

The  peple  to  confound  and  schame. 

It  is  nocht  ellis  bot  mennis  law, 

!Maid,  mennis  myndis  for  to  knaw, 

Quharethrow  thay  syle  thame  as  thay  will, 

And  makis  thare  law  conforme  thare  till ; 

Sittand  in  mennis  conscience, 

Abone  Goddis  Magnificence, 

And  dois  the  peple  teiche  and  tyste, 

To  serue  the  Paip,  the  Antechriste. 

To  the  greit  God  Omnipotent 

Confes  thy  Syn,  and  sore  repent ; 

And  traist  in  Christ, — as  wrytis  Paule, — 

Quhilk  sched  his  blude  to  saif  thy  Saule ; 

For  nane  can  the  absolue  bot  he, 

'Nov  tak  away  thy  syn  frome  the. 

Giue  of  glide  counsall  thow  lies  neid, 

Or  lies  nocht  lernit  weUl  thy  Creid, 

Or  wickit  vicis  regne  in  the. 

The  quhilk  thow  can  nocht  mortific. 

Or  be  in  Desperatioun, 

And  wald  haue  Consolatioun, 

Than  till  ane  preichour  trew  thow  pas, 

And  schaw  thy  Syn  and  thy  trespas  ; 

Thow  nedis  nocht  to  schaw  hym  all, 

jSTor  tell  thy  Syn  baith  greit  and  small, 

QuliUk  is  vnpossible  to  be, 

Bot  schaw  the  vice  that  troubillis  the, 

And  he  sail  of  thy  saule  haue  reuth, 

And  the  Instruct  in  to  the  treuth, 

And  with  the  word  of  verite 

Sail  confort  and  sail  counsall  the ; 

The  Sacramentis  schaAV  the  at  lenth, 

Thy  lytle  faith  to  stark  and  strenth. 


So  friars  gull  tlio 
pooi>le. 


100 


Confession  is  only 
a  huniau  dwicc. 


104 


1 08    pertaining  to  tlio 
sorviec  of 
Anticlirist. 

Confess  thy  sin 
to  God. 


112 


He  only  can 
absolve. 


116 


120 

You  may  show 
what  weighs  on 

[L  2] 
your  conscience 
lo  a  faithful 
■I  .-)  (    preaclier. 


1  28    who  will  counsel 
you  with  the 
word  of  truth. 


132 


584 


KITTEIS    COXFESSIOUN. 


Suoli  was  the 
only  confession 
known  in  the 
primitive  Church. 


And  liow  tliow  siild  tliame  riclitlie  vse, 
Aiid  all  Hypocrisie  refuse. 
Confessioun  first  wes  ordanit  fre, 
In  this  sort  in  tlie  Kirk  to  he. 
Swa  to  confes,  as  I  descrpie, 
"Wes  in  the  gude  Kirk  Primityue ; 
Swa  wes  Confessioun  ordanit  first, 
Thocht  Codrus  kyte  suld  cleue  and  hirst. 


136 


140 


FINIS. 


585 


THE    lUSTING 


lAMES  WATSOUN",  AND  IHOXE  BAEBOLTt, 
SERUITOURIS  TO  KING  lAMES  THE  FYFT, 

COMPYLIT  BE   SCHIR   DAUID   LIKDESAY 
OP   THE   MOXT,   KNICHT,    &C. 

IN  Sanctandrois  on  Witsoun  jMonnunday, 
Twa  Campionis  tharemanheid  did  assay, 
Past  to  the  Barres,  Enarmit  held  and  liandis, 
"Wes  neuer  sene  sic  lusting  in  no  landis,  4 

In  presence  of  the  Kingis  grace  and  Quene, 
Quhare  mony  lustie  Lady  mycht  be  sene. 
Mony  ane  Knicht,  Barroun,  and  baurent, 
Come  for  to  se  that  aufull  Tornament.  fi 

The  ane  of  thame  was  gentill  James  "NVatsoun, 
And  lohne  Barbonr  the  vther  Campioun ; 
Vnto  the  King  thay  war  familiaris, 
And  of  his  Chalmer  boith  Cubicularis. 
lames  was  ane  man  of  greit  Intelligence, 
Ane  Medicinar,  ful  of  Experience  ; 
And  lohne  Barbour,  he  was  ane  nobill  Leche, 
Crukit  Carlingis  he  wald  gar  thame  get  speche. 
Frome  tyme  they  enterit  war  in  to  the  feild, 
Full  womanlie  thay  weildit  speir  and  scheild. 
And  wichtlie  waiffit  in  the  wynd  thare  heillis, 
Hobland  lyke  Cadgeris  rydand  on  thare  creillis ; 
Bot  ather  ran  at  vther  with  sic  haist, 
That  thay  could  neuer  tliair  speir  get  in  the  reist. 
Quhe?i  gentil  lames  trowit  best  with  lohne  to  meit, 
His  speir  did  fald  amang  his  horssis  feit. 


At  St  Andrews  on 
Wliitnionday  two 
champions  met  in 
tournament 
[L  2,  back] 


in  presence  of  tlio 
court,  nobles,  and 
gentle-folk  : 


James  Watson,  au 

exiJcrienceJ 

medicinar. 


12 


16 


and  John  Barbour, 
a  noble  leech. 


How  they  bore 
themselves  on 
entering  the  lists; 


20 


their  charging. 


Jaflles's  thrust 
landed  among  the 
24    horse's  feet. 


586 


THE    lUSTING    OF    WATSOUX    AND    BARBOUR. 


A  parley. 


[LI] 


They  break  their 
spears. 


I  am  lyclit  sure  gude  lames  had  bene  -vaidone, 
John  took  aim  by  "War  not  that  lohne  his  mark  tuke  he  the  mone. 

the  moon, 

(C^uod   lohne)  howheit   ihoxi   thiukis  my  leggis  lyke 

rokkis, 
My  speir  is  gude  :  now  keijD  Me  fra  my  knokkis  !       28 
Tary  (quod  lames)  ane  quhyle,  for,  he  my  thrift, 
The  feind  ane  thing  I  can  se  hot  the  hft ! 
IS^omore  can  I  (quod  lohne)  he  goddes  hreid ! 
I  se  no  thing  except  the  steipill  heid  !  32 

^it  thocht  thy  hraunis  he  lyk  twa  harrow  tra7?imis^ 
A  second  ciiarge.    Defend  the,  man  !   Than  ran  thay  to,  lyk  ra?nmis  : 
At  that  rude  rink,  lames  had  bene  strykin  doun, 
Wer  not  that  lohne  for  feirsnes  fell  in  swoun ;  36 

And  rychtso  lames  to  lohne  had  done  greit  deir, 
Wer  not,  amangis  his  hors  feit  he  hrak  his  speir. 
(Quod  lames)  to  lohne,  ^it  for  our  ladyis  saikis, 
Lat  vs  to  gidder  straik  thre  market  straikis.  40 

I  had,  (quod  lohne,)  that  sail  on  the  he  wrokin ; 
But  or  he  spurrit  his  hors,  his  speir  wes  hrokin. 
'From  tyme  -with  speiris  none  could  liis  marrow  meit, 
lames  drew  ane  sweird,  wz't/t  ane  rycht  auful  spreit,  44 
And  ran  til  lohne,  til  half  raucht  liim  ane  rout ; 
lohnis  swerd  was  roustit,  &  wald  no  way  cnm  out. 
Tha?i  lames  leit  dryfe  at  lohne  w/t/i  hoith  his  fystis ; 
He  mist  ilm  man,  &  dang  vpon  the  lystis,  48 

And  \fitli  that  straik,  he  troAvit  that  lolin  Avas  slane, 
His  swerd  stak  fast,  and  gat  it  neuer  agane. 
Be  this  gude  lohne  had  gottin  furth  his  SAverd, 
And  ran  to  lames  Avith  mony  aufull  Avord  :  52 

IMy  furiousnes  forsuith  now  sail  thoAv  find  ! 
Straikand  at  lames,  his  swerd  flcAV  in  iliQ  Avind. 
Tha?i  gentill  lames  began  to  crak  greit  Avordis, 
Allace  !  (quod  he),  this  day  for  fait  of  SAVordis  !  56 

Tlian  ather  ran  at  vtlier  Avith  ncAv  raicis, 
"With  gluifis  of  plait  thay  dang  at  A^theris  facis. 
Qulia  Avan  this  feild,  no  creature  could  ken, 


They  draw 
Bwords, 


but  fail  in 
wielding  them, 


nnd  try  boxing- 
gloves. 


THE    lUSTiXG    OF    WATSOUN    AND    BARHOUn. 


587 


Till  at  the  last,  lolme  cryit  fy,  red  the  men  ! 
3e,  red,  (quod  lames,)  for  that  is  my  desyrc, 
It  is  ane  hour  sen  I  began  to  tyro. 
Sone  be  thay  had  endit  that  royall  rink, 
Into  the  feild  mycht  no  man  stand  for  stink. 
Than  euery  man  that  stude  on  far,  cryit  fy ! 
Sayand  adew  !  for  dirt  partis  cumpany. 
Thare  hors,  harnes,  and  all  geir  was  so  gude. 
Louyng  to  God,  that  day  was  sched  no  blude. 


CO    No  one  could  Itll 
who  waa  the 

[L  1,  bock] 
victor. 

Uoth  Imd  lia«l 
enough  of  it. 

G  4    The  Ktcncli  v::ia 
intolerable. 


G8    No  blood  was 
Khetl. 


FINIS. 

Quod  Lindesay,  at  command  of 
King  lames  the  Fyft. 


NEWLIE   AXD    CORRECT- 

lie  Imprentit  at  Edinburgh,  be  lohne  Scot. 

At  the  Expensis  of  Henrie  Charteris.     And 

ar  to  be  sauld  in  the  said  Henries 

Buith,  on  the  north  syde 

of  the  gait,  abono  the 

Tkrone. 

The3eirofGod.l5G8. 

3ciris. 


588 


ANE  DISCEirXIOUN  OF 


PEDEE    COEEEIS 


I  purpose  to 
describe  the 
entire  race  of 
peUlar  knaves, 

who  set 

themselves  up 


and  injure  tlie 
good  name  of  our 
burghs. 


A  paltry  dealer, 
who  traverses  the 
country  buying 
fowls  against  a 
rise  in  price ; 


he  forestalls  the 
market 


while  he  begs 
his  food. 

A  lying  trafficker 
in  old  relics, 
deceives  women 


with  canting 
voice. 


HAVING  NA  EECtAIED  TILL  HONESTIE 
m  THAIR  VOCATIOUN. 

[^From  the  Bannatyne  3fS.,  ivhere  it  is  attrihitcd  to  Lyndcsny. 
Vol.  L  leaf  162  a,  top.] 

TT  is  my  purjioiss  to  disciyve 

-■-  This  hole'  perfyte  genolagie 

Of  pedder  knavis  superlatj^'e, 

Pretendand  to  awtoretie,  4 

That  "wait  of  iiocht  hot  bcggartie. 

3e  hurges  sonis  prevene  thu'  lo^mis, 

That  wald  distroy  nohilitie, 

And  haneiss  it  all  borrow[s]  townis.  8 

Thay  ar  declarit  in  serin  pairtis ; 
[1]  Ane  (scroppit  cofe)  quhen  he  hegy?mis, 
Sornand  all  and  sindry  airtis, 
For  to  by  he?mis  reid-wod  he  ry?mis  ;  12 

He  lokis  thame  vp  in  to  his  innii3 
Vnto  ane  derth,  and  sellis  thaii"  eggis, 
Eegraitandly  on  thame  he  "wywnis, 
And  secondly  his  meit  he  beggis.  1 G 

[2]  Ane  swjTigeor  coife,  amangis  the  wyviO, 
In  land- wart  dwellis  v;iih  subteill  menis, 
Exponand  thame  auld  Sanctis  lyvis, 
And  sanis  thame  w?'t7i  deid  me?2is  banis ;  20 

Lyk  Eome-rakaris,  Avith  awsterne  granif^, 
SiDcikand  curlyk  ilk  ane  till  vder  ; 
Peipand  peurly  with  peteouss  granif,''' 
Lyk  fenjeit  Symniye  and  his  bruder.  24 

'  MS.  holy.  ^  should  perliaps  be  Jiianis, 


ANE    DESCRIPTIOUN    OP    PEDER    COFFEIS. 


589 


[3]  Thir  (cur  cotfeis)  tliat  sailis  ouro  sonc, 
And  thretty  sum  abowt  ane  pale, 
With  bair  blew  bonattis  and  liobbold  sclione, 
And  beir  bonnokkis  w/t/i  tliame  thay  tak  ; 
Tbay  schamed  sclirewis,  God  gif  tliame  lak, 
At  none  quben  mercliantis  makis  gud  choir, 
Steilis  doun,  and  l}as  behind  ane  pak, 
Drinkand  bot  dreggis  and  barmy  beir. 


Low  traders  who 
commence  ihoir 
voyage  before  tho 
stiitutory  opening 
of  the  season ; 


28 


tlieir  means  are 
60  small  that 
thirty  combine  to 
raise  one  pack. 


32 


[4]  Knaifatic^  coff  misknawis  him  sell, 
Quhen  he  gettis  in  a  furrit  goun ; 
Grit  Lucifer,  maister  of  hell, 

Is  nocht  sa  helie  as  that  loun  ;  3G 

As  he  cu?ni3  brankand  throw  the  toun, 
'With  his  keis  clynlvand  on  his  arme, 
That  calf  clovin-futtit  fleid  custroun, 
AVill  mary  nane  bot  a  burgess  bairne. 

[5]  Ane  dyvour  coffe,  that  wirry  hen, 
Distroyis  the  honor  of  our  natioun, 
Takis  gudis  to  frist  fra  fre??imit  me?2, 
And  brekis  his  obligatioun  ; 
QuhUk  dois  the  marchand/*^  defamatioun ; 
Thay  ar  reprevit  for  that  regratour. 
Thairfoir  we  gif  our  declaratioun, 
To  hang  and  draw  that  co??mioun  tratour. 

[G]  Ane  cuiioreouss  coffe,  that  hege  skraper. 
He  sittis  at  hame  quhen  that  thay  baik, 
That  pedder  bryboxir,  that  scheip-keipar. 
He  tellis  thame  ilk  ane  caik  by  caik  ; 
Syne  lokkis  thame  vp,  and  takis  a  faik, 
Betwix  his  dowb[l]ett  and  his  lackett, 
And  eitis  thame  in  the  buith  that  smaik ; 
God  that  he  mort  in  to  ane  rakkett.  56 


A  knavish 
huckster  who 
rises  to  civic 
distinction 


puts  on  airs 


and  aspires  to  the 
liand  of  a 
40    burgess's 
daughter. 

[leaf  162  b] 

A  fraudulent 
bankrupt 
takes  goods  on 
credit  from 
44    foreigners,  and 
breaks  through 
his  obligations; 
he  brings  discredit 
to  fellow-traders. 


48    Hang  and  draw 
him! 


A  niggardly 
curmudgeon,  a 
wife-carl, 


5  2    counts  the  cakes 
as  they  are 
baking, 

keeps  the  keys  of 
the  pantry, 
eats  out  of  his 
pocket. 


MS.  knaifatica. 
4 


590 


A^'E    DESCRIPTIOUN    OF    PEDER    COFFEIS. 


A  miser  who  will 
not  use  his 
money,  but  lives 
like  a  cursed 
wretch ; 


he  grows  in 
avarice. 


[7]  Ane  gader-all '  coffe,  lie  is  o\'ir  reclie, 
And  lies  na  liap  his  gade  to  spend, 
Bot  levis  Ijh  ane  wareit  wreclie, 
And  trestis  nevir  till  tak  ane  end ; 
"W^t7i  falsheid  e\Ti  dois  liim  defend, 
Proceding  still  in  averice, 
And  leivis  liis  sawle  na  gude  comvuend, 
Bot  walkis  ane  wilsoine  way,  I  wiss. 


GO 


64 


Show  this  to  the 
provost. 


that  he  may 
banish  them  from 
the  Burgess  Row 
to  tlie  Shoe 
Street; 

and  crop  their 
ears,  that  they 
may  be 
recognized. 


I  30W  exliort  all  that  is  heir, 
That  reidis  this  hill,  3e  "wald  it  schaw 
Vnto  the  provest,  and  him  requeir. 
That  he  will  geif  thir  coffis  the  law, 
And  haneis  thame  the  hurgess  raw. 
And  to  the  scho  streit  -^e  thame  ken  ; 
Syne  cntt  thau'  luggis,  that  ^e  may  knaw, 
Tliix  peddir  knavis  he  hui-ges  men. 


G8 


quod  Linsdsay. 


rmis. 


'  The  word  in  the  MS.  was  at  first  Catlieclrall ;  the  first 
BIX  letters  have  been  altered  by  the  -nriter  himself,  though  it 
is  not  easy  to  say  to  what.  Gader-all  or  gather-all  seems  the 
most  likely  reading,  although  not  perfectly  certain.  Catlieclrall, 
given  by  Chalmers  and  others,  is  condemned  by  the  original  as 
clearly  as  by  the  sense. 


Cr  site  mn\\h  GJ  Hit.  f;i- 
m0UJi  mxil  vm[i\x^  llnicltt 

<Sd)ir  Qauiti  iLgnticsaij  of  rtje  iHoiit,  Alias  Hpun  Iting 

of  ^rmcs*    Ncbolg  corrcrtit,  auti  bintiicatc  from  tlje 

former  crrouris  qufjairbjttf)  tfjcg  toar  brfoir  coi^ 

ruptit :  anti  ausumcutit  feit}}  sintiric  toarhis 

quijilk  bjas  not  icfotr  3:mprfntit, 


(V)  ^ 


^  Ef)c  contcntis  of  tlje  liufte,  anti  quijat  inarfus  ar 
ausmcnttt,  tfjc  tiixt  s^tic  sail  srjabj, 

^  Viuet  etiam  post  funera  virtus. 
lOB.  VII. 

^  Militia  est  vita  hominis  super  terram. 

^  ^tmt  Imprcntit  It  lOHNE  SCOT,  at  tljc 

expettsis  of  l^cnrie  Cljartcris :  anti  ar  to  tie 

saultr  in  fjts  Buitfj,  on  t!)c  nortlj  soUe 

of  tfje  gait,  alione  tjjc  ^fjronc. 

O-i    CVM    PRIVILEGIO    REGALI. 
ANNO.  DO.  M.D.LXVIII. 


THE    CONTENTIS    OE   TniS 

BVKE    rOLLOWIXG. 

^  Ano  Dialog  betuix  Fatlier  Experience  and  ane  Conrteour,  of  the 
MiserabUl  estait  of  the  waiid  :  deuydit  in  four  bukis,  or  in  four 
Monarcheis. 

IF  The  Testament  and  Gomplaynt  of  one  Souerane  Lordis  Papingo, 
King  lames  the  Fyft. 

IT  The  dreme,  direct  to  our  said  Souerane  Lord,  quTudrm  ar  contenlt, 
IT  The  diuisioun  of  the  eirth. 
51  Tlie  descriptioun  of  Paradice. 
^  The  descriptioun  of  the  Eeahne  of  Scotland. 
H  And  the  Complamt  of  the  Commoun  weill  of  Scotland, 

H  Ane  exhortatioun  to  the  Klngis  grace. 

IT  The  Complaint  vnto  the  Kingis  gi'ace,  omittit  in  the  Im^n^entingis 
of  Rowen  and  Londoun. 

IT  The  Tragedie  of  Dauid  Betoun  Cardinal!,  and  Archebischop  of 
Sanctandrois. 

IF  The  deploratioun  of  the  deith  of  Quene  Magdalene, 

IF  Ane  answer  to  the  Kingis  flyting,  neuer  hefoir  Imprent'd} 

IF  The  Complaynt  and  Confessioun  of  Eagsche,  ye  Kingis  aidd  houwd, 
direct  to  Bawtie,  and  Ms  Compan^eonis. 

^  Ane  supplicatioun  to  the  Kingis  grace,  in  contemptioun  of  syde 
taillis,  and  missellit  facis. 

*!r  Kitteis  Confessioun. 

IF  The  lusting  betuix  lames  watsone,  and  lohne  Barbour,  familiar 
seruitouris  to  King  lames  the  Fyft. 

EditiPn  of  1582  adds 

[IF  The  Historic  of  the  Squyer  William  Meldrum  of  the  Benis,-  neuer 
hefoir  Invprentif. 

IF  Tlie  Testament  of  the  said  Squyer.] 

'  The  words  Keucr  hrfoir  Lnprcntit  omitted  in  ed.  of  1502. 
*"Ed.  1502  Bynnis. 


3* 


O^   VNTO  THE  GODLIE  AND  CHRI- 

STIANE  EEIDAE,  HENEIE  CIIAETEEIS  AVISCIIIS  GEACE, 

AND    PEICE    FROM    lESUS    CHRIST    OUR    SALUIOUR,   WITH 

THE  PERPETUALL  ASSISTENCE  OF  HIS  HALIE  SPIRITE. 

T  is  tlic  comnioun  and  accustomit  maner  (gentill  reidar)  of  all 
thame  quliilk  dois  proliemiate  vpon  ony  vther  ma?mis  wark,  clieiflie 
*  to  tranel  about  twa  pointis.  The  ane  is,  to  declaii'  tlie  properteis 
of  ye  Autlioiu',  noclit  onlie  externall,  as  his  originall,  birth,  vocatioun, 
estait,  strenth,  giftis  of  the  bodie,  substance,  &  nianer  of  leuing :  bot 
alswa  internall:  as  the  qualiteis,  habites,  &  dispositiones  of  the  niynde, 
his  ingyne,  knawlege,  wisdome,  giftis  of  the  Spirit,  and  all  vther  ver- 
tewis  quhilk  culd  iustlie  be  kna^yin  to  haue  bene  in  him.  Eot  seing  it  is 
nocht  monie  3eiris  past,  sen  it  lies  pleisit  the  eternall  God  to  call  our 
Authour  out  of  the  niiserabill  and  tnxbilsum  calamiteis  of  this  transi- 
torie  lyfe,  vntil  his  celestiall  ioy,  and  heuinlie  habitatioun,  swa  that 
the  memorie  of  him  is  bot  as  3it  recent,  and  not  out  of  the  hartis  of 
niony  3it  leuand,  to  quhome  his  haill  maner  of  lyfe  Avas  better  knaw-in 
than  vnto  me,  I  think  it  not  greitlie  neidfull  to  tary  the  thairon,  bot 
will  remit  the  to  lerne  it  at  yair  niouthis.  The  vther  is,  to  declair  his 
maner  of  wryting,  the  vtilitie  of  his  warkis,  &  quhat  frute,  profite, 
and  commoditie,  may  ensew  and  follow  to  the  diligent  reidar  and 
reuoluar  of  the  samin.  JSTouther  in  this  is  it  greitly  neidfull  to  me 
to  trauell,  seing  the  samin  may  be  maist  csilie  &  perfytelie  kna^vin 
be  his  awin  pen.  For  besydis  the  plesand  and  dclectabill  versis,  be- 
sydis  the  craftie  and  ingenious  poeticall  inuentionis,  besydis  the 
frutefull  and  co??2modious  Historyis,  baith  humane  and  diuine,  baith 
recent  and  ancient,  besydis  the  hailsum  and  notabill  counsellis  & 
admonitionis  to  Princis,  to  Prelates,  and  to  all  estatis,  quhat  vice  or 
iniquitie  rang  in  his  dayis,  qululk  he  did  not  rebuke  ]  not  onlie  of 
the  spiritual!,  bot  alswa  of  the  temporall  estait  1  quhat  verteous  or 
co??zmendabill  fact  hes  he  not  praisit,  and  desyrit  to  be  had  in  the 
dew  honour,  and  honorabill  estimatioun  1  Bot  gif  we  sail  consider 
and  wey  the  tynie,  quhen  he  did  wryte  the  maist  pairt  of  thir  warkis, 
being  ane  tym'e  of  sa  greit  &  blind  ignorance,  of  manifest  and  liorriljUl 
abhominationis  and  abusis :  it  is  to  be  mcruellit  how  he  durst  sa 


4*  HENRY    CHARTERTS'S    PREFACE    OF    1568. 

planelie  inuey  aganis  the  wycis  of  all  men,  bot  clieiilie  of  the 
sjiirituall  estait,  being  sa  bludie  &  cruell  boucbeouris.  He  neuer 
ceissit,  baitb  in  bis  graue  and  nierie  materis,  in  ernist  &  in  bourdis?, 
in  wryting  and  in  wordis,  to  challenge  and  carp  thame.  It  cii???mis 
to  my  memorie  ane  prettie  trik,  quhilk  sumtyme  I  haue  hard  reportit 
of  him.  The  Kingis  grace,  lames  the  Fyft,  beand  on  ane  certane  tyme 
acciimpanyit  with  ane  greit  nowmer  of  his  ISTobillis,  &  ane  greit 
men3e  of  Bischoppis,  Abbottis  and  Prelatis  standing  about,  he  qniklie 
&  prettilie  inuentit  ane  prettie  trik  to  teine  yame.  He  ciiTOmis  to  tlie 
King,  and  efter  greit  dewgard  &  salutationis,  he  makis  him  as  thocht 
he  war  '  to  requyre  sum  wechtie  thing  of  the  Kingis  grace.  The  King 
persaua?id,  demandis  quhat  he  wald  haue  ?  he  answeris  :  "  Schir,  I 
haue  seruit  ^our  grace  lang,  &  lukis  to  be  rewardit  as  vtheris  ar. 
And  now  ^our  maister  Tail3eour  at  the  plesure  of  God  is  departit ; 
quhairfoir  I  wald  desyre  of  your  grace,  to  bestow  this  lytil  benefite 
upon  me,  as  ane  part  of  reward  of  my  lang  seruice,  to  mak  me  ^our 
maister  tail^eour."  The  King  beleuand  in  dede  his  tail3eour  to  be 
departit,  sayis  to  him  :  "  Quhairto  wald  thow  be  my  tail3eour  1  thow 
can  nouther  schaip  nor  sew  1 "  he  ansvv^eris  :  "  Schir,  that  makis  na 
mater :  for  je  haue  geuin  Bischoprikis  and  benefices  to  mony  stand- 
ing heir  about  30W :  and  3it  can  thay  nouther  teiclie,  nor  preiche. 
And  quhy  may  I  not  than  as  weiU  be  30ur  tail3eour,  thocht  I  can 
nouther  schaip  nor  sew ;  seing  teiching  and  preiching  is  na  les  re- 
quisite to  thair  vocatiou?^,  than  schaiping  &  serving  is  to  ane 
tail3eouris."  The  King  incontinent  persauit  his  consait,  and  leuch 
merilie  thairat :  bot  the  Bischoppis  at  sic  bourding  leuch  neuer  ane 
quhit.  Na  les  ernist  and  vehement  was  he  aganis  thame,  in  his 
fairsis  and  publict  playis,  quhairm  he  was  verray  craftie  &  excellent. 
Sic  ane  spring  he  gaif  yame  in  the  play,  playit  besyde  Edinburgh,  in 
presence  of  the  Queue  Eegent,  and  ane  greit  part  of  the  Nobilitie, 
with  ane  exceding  greit  nowmer  of  pepill,  lestand  fra  .ix.  houris  afoir 
none,  till  .vi.  houris  at  euin,  quhair,  amangis  mony  baith  graue  materis, 
and  merie  trikkis,  he  brocht  in  ane  Bischop,  ane  Persone,  ane  Freir, 
and  ane  Nun,  deckit  y^  in  thair  papisticall  orname/ztis,  and  maner  of 
rayment.  And  thairefter  brocht  in  King  correctioim,  quha,  reformand 
sindrie  deformities  in  his  Eealme,  passit  to  the  tryall  of  his  Clergie. 
And  findand  thame  to  be  altogidder  Idiotis,  vuAvorthie  of  ony  func- 
tioun  ecclesiasticall,  decernit  thame  to  be  degradit  of  thair  digniteis, 
and  spul3eit  of  thair  officis  :  quhilk  beand  executit,  &  thay  denudit 
of  thair  vpmaist  garmentis,  thay  war  fund  bot  verray  fulis,  hypo- 
crites, flatteraris,  &  nouchtie  persones.  Quhairby  he  signifyit  to  the 
pepill,  that  howsaeuer  thay  war  estemit  of  the  warld,  thay  had  na 
thing  quhairin  thay  iustlic  glorie  to  be  pastouris  of  Cluistis  Kirk,  and 
feidaris  of  his  flock,  bot  onlie  thair  outwanl  ornamentis,  and  triumph- 
ant tytillis.     Bot  beand  inwardlie  considcrit,  thay  wald  be  fund  bot 

'  sign.  ^  ij,  back . 


HEXnY   CIIARTEUIS'S   PREFACE   OF    15U8.  5* 

verray  liyrclingis,  enemeis  to  Christ  &  deuoraris  of  liis  flock.  Tin's 
play  did  enter  with  sic  greif  in  thair  hartis,  that  thay  study  it  be  all 
menis  to  be  auengit  thairof.  Thay  couuenit  thair  prouinciall  couii- 
sellis,  thay  consultit  how  thay  sukl  best  sustene  tliair  kingdoine  in- 
clynand  to  ruyne,  quhilk  Lxitiie  had  gottin  sa  publict  ane  wound : 
thay  3eid  about  to  liaue  his  haill  warkis  condenipnit  for  horeticall, 
and  cessit  not,  in  Kirk  and  market,  iJublictHe  and  priuelic,  to  rage 
and  rayll  aganis  him,  as  ane  Heretike.  Bot  to  return  to  our  purpose. 
]N'ochtwithstanding  the  birnand  fyre  borne  aganis  him  in  thair 
breistis,  the  hatreut  co??sauit  in  tliair  hartis,  thair  i)uissance  and 
power  euin  in  that  tyme,  quhen  thay  had  the  ball  at  thair  fute,  quhen 
nouther  Prince,  nor  vther  was  abil  to  withsta?al  '  thame,  3it  culd  thay 
neuer  get  power  ouer  this  sempil  man,  nor  haif  yair  hartis  satiat  of 
him.  Thay  had  thair  Canoun  Lawis  :  thay  hud  the  Municipal 
Lawis  of  the  Eealme,  and  actis  of  Parliament  haldin  be  yat  samin 
King,  quhame  he  seruit,  Avith  quhome  from  his  jouth  vp  he  coh- 
nersit,  that  na  man  stild  ressoun  or  call  in  dout  the  authoritie  of  thair 
spirituall  Father ;  that  Imagis  suld  be  honourit :  that  the  libertie  of 
halie  Kirk  (as  thay  namit  it)  suld  T)e  mantenit,  and  defendit.  And 
gif  ony  war  suspectit  in  ony  hereticall  point,  aganis  the  commande- 
mentis  of  this  yair  Kirk,  incontinent  tliay  v/ar  cytit,  thay  war  appre- 
hendit,  and  incarcerat  in  Strang  presoun :  &  finallie  thay  war  corn- 
pellit  outlier  to  abiure  (quhairthrow  thay  remanit  infomit  all  thair 
dayis,  nouther  micht  enioy  honouris,  nor  diguiteis  for  thair  tyme)  or 
eUis  thay  behouit  maist  cruellie  sulfer  the  fyre.  How  cu??nnis  it  than, 
that  this  our  Authour  being  sa  plane  aganis  thame,  and  as  it  war  pro- 
fessit  enemie  to  thame,  culd  eschaip  thair  snairis,  cpihen  vtheris,  in 
doing  les,  lies  cruellie  perischit  1  Sum  wid  think,  because  liis  wryt- 
ing  was  co»?mounlie  mixit  Avith  mowis,  and  colourit  with  craftio 
consaitis  (as  Chaucer  and  vtheris  had  done  befoir)  the  matter  was  the 
mair  mitigate.  Bot  this  can  not  satisfie  :  for  na  mowis  in  sic  materia 
culd  mitigate  thair  bludie  breistis.  Sum  will  think  because  he  was 
continuallie  in  Court,  and  seruit  the  King,  he  was  esilie  ouersene. 
Bot  in  my  iugement,  that  is  the  greiter  cause  of  offence  :  namelie  to 
haif  thair  vaniteis  and  wickitnes  publischit  in  Court  and  sicht  of 
Princis.  Nouther  culd  this  be  saiftie  to  vtheris.  M.  Patrik  Ham- 
miltou?^  Abbot  of  Feirn,  being  of  the  blude  Eoyall,  being  ane  man  of 
greit  literature,  and  of  sic  lyfe,  that  the  verray  enemeis  thame  selfis 
war  enforcit  to  commend  and  allow  him,  3it  did  he  nocht  eschaip 
thair  malice,  bot  sufterit  cruell  deith  by  fyre,  Robert  Forester,  alswa 
gentUman,  on  the  samin  maner  Avas  tormentit.  And  hoAvbeit  tliir  did 
cruellie  perische,  3it  in  all  agis,  and  in  all  naticncs,  it  hes  plesit  God, 
of  his  greit  mercy,  to  rais  and  steir  vp  his  Prophetis  and  seruandis, 
quhame  he  hes  michtilie  preseruit,  to  repreif  the  generationis  present 
of  thair  vnrichteousnes :  to  vtter  and  oppin  to  the  pepill  the  corrup- 

'  leaf  iii,  not  signed. 


C*  HENRY   CHARTERIS'S   PREFACE   OF    1568. 

tioun  than  regnand  :  and,  as  it  war,  aganis  the  Denill  and  the  warld, 
to  testifie  his  treuth,  to  walkin  thame  out  of  thair  Ignorance.  He 
steirit  up  the  auld  and  ancient  Doctouris,  to  imj)ugne  and  stranglie 
to  confute  all  heresyis  springand  and  rysand.  Bot  thame  at  this 
present  I  will  omit  for  breuitie,  &  will  si3eik  rather  sumquhat  sen 
corruptioun  and  superstitioun  enterit  amangis  thame,  quhilk  war 
rewlaris  and  Pastouris  of  the  Kirk  of  God  :  sen  thay  hegouth  to  leif 
preiching  of  pure  Christ,  and  to  set  up  thame  selfis  :  to  conqueis 
Healmis,  prouincis,  and  countreis  :  to  suhdew  Princis  and  Potestates  : 
and  finallie  to  exalt  thame  selfis  ahone  all  that  is  callit  God.  In 
quhilk  dayis  war  mony  leirnit  men  &  godlie  Bischoppis  in  this 
cuntrie  :  as  Seruanus,  Columha,  Aidanus,  Pinnanus,  Colmannus, 
Leiiinus,  Gallus,  and  mony  ma,  qiiha  haith  in  this  Eealme,  and  in 
Ingland,  did  lang  de^bell,  and  hald  out  the  Eomische  superstitionis 
and  ceremoneis,  as  is  at  lenth  contenit  in  the  auld  Historyis  of  Bed  a, 
and  vtheris.  He  rasit  vp  alswa  in  the  dayis  of  Carolus  Magnus, 
twa  of  our  cuntrie  men,  haith  of  greit  eruditioun  and  leirning,  the 
ane  callit  lohne,  surnamit  Mailrosius  :  the  other,  Claudius  Clemens. 
Tliir  twa  passand  out  of  Scotla?id,  at  co??2mand  of  King  Achaius  (as 
Boethius  wrytis)  to  ye  partis  of  Prance,  come  to  Paris,  and  war  the 
occasioun  of  the  fundatioun  of  ye  Uniuersitie  of  the  samin,  &  sindrie 
vtheris,  and  war  the  first  professouris  of  liherall  sciences  in  thame. 
Nouther  ceissit  thay  with  ane  Adelhertus  ane  Prencheman,  and  Ber- 
tramus,  to  inwey  on  ye  stait  of  ye  Kirk,  than  tendand  and  declynand 
fast  to  corruptioun,  vntill  Claudius,  &  Adelhertus  war  clappit  in  clois 
presoun,  ancl  lohne  departit  the  cuntrie,  &  come  in  Ingland,  quhair 
(as  sum  "v\Tytis)  at  the  perswasioun  of  certane  ]\Ionkis,  he  was  slaine, 
be  certane  his  aw  in  discipulis,  impacie?;t  of  his  admonitiones  and 
correctionis.  Efter  thir,  quhen  the  sindrie  sectis  of  Preiris  began  to 
spring  vp,  he  raisit  in  Prance  Guilielmus  de  .S.  Amore  :  Nigellus  : 
Nicolaus,  and  Arnoldus  de  villa  noua  :  in  Itahe  ye  Abbot  loachimus 
Calaber  :  in  Germanic,  Hildcgardis  ye  Prophetes,  with  sindrie  vtheris, 
quhilk  stranglie  wrait  aganis  the  superstitionis  and  Idilteth  of  the 
begging  Preiris,  and  vther  abusis  of  the  Clergie.  •  And  howbeit  yair 
admonitiones  culd  not  be  hard,  nor  thair  -writing  tane  in  gude  part, 
bot  vtterlie  reiectit  and  despysit,  3it  war  thay  not  cu??2.mit  to  that  furie 
&  rage,  as  to  bruyle  and  scald  quha  sa  euer  sidd  speik  aganis  thame, 
bot  co?itentit  thame  selfis  with  presoun  or  banischement  of  sic  per- 
sones  as  war  contrarious  to  thame,  degraiding  thame  of  thair  digniteis 
and  ofiices  :  and  exco??jnninicating  thame  out  of  thair  Kirkis.  Bot 
quhen  thair  iniquiteis  was  cu?»min  to  maturitic,  God  raisit  vp  in  Ing- 
land, lolme  IJicleif,  qxdia,  seand  the  haill  ecclesiasticall  estait  to  bo 
altogidder  corrupt :  the  word  of  God  to  be  cu??nnit  to  neglect  and  con- 
tempt :  and  me»nis  traditionis  abone  to  be  cxtollit :  did  maist  ernistlic 
toiche,  and  wryto  ane  huge  nowmer  of  volumis  and  bukis  aganis 

'  leaf  iii,  back,  not  .signed. 


HENHY    CHAUTERIs's   preface   of    1508.  7* 

tlianie.  Than  was  the  beist  vnqiiyetit  of  his  resting  sait,  and  began 
to  rage  and  fret,  to  seik  the  deith  and  destructioun  of  this  pure  nia«. 
Bot  all  for  nocht.  The  Lord  did  potentlie  ])roserue  hiiu  fmm  yair 
snairis  and  girnis  :  and,  nochtwithstandiiig  all  tluiir  furio,  [he]  dopartit 
in  the  Lord  in  peico.  And  howbeit  cfter  deith  Rancour  co/z/iuounlio 
ceissis,  ^it  xli,  ^eiris  efter  his  deith,  yai  tuke  vp  liis  baiiis,  and  l)rint 
yame.  Persewaud  alswa  Avith  maist  extremitie  all  that  adheirit  to  liim, 
or  did  allow  his  doctrine,  Thay  brint  the  Lord  Cobhain,  8chir  Ifogcr 
Actou?z,  Knicht,  Williame  Thorpe,  AVilliameTayleir,  Kicliard  Ilowcdcw, 
lohne  Cleydoun.  Thay  banischit  Lienor  Cobhame  :  thay  murderit 
in  presoun  lohne  Astoiui,  Eeginald  Pecock,  Bischop  of  Chichester, 
with  ane.  infinite  noumber  ma.  Thair  was  na  end  in  thair  furie. 
Quhill  thay  war  thus  bnsie  in  Ingland,  began  lohne  IIus  and 
Hierome  of  Praga  to  preiche  in  Boheme,  men  of  sic  leirning  and 
lyfe,  that  thay  war  in  adniiratioun  ^  euin  to  the  verray  aduersaris  tham 
sellis,  quhairof  remainis  yit  sufficient  testimoneis  Avrittin  be  Poggius, 
and  vtheris  of  the  Antichristiaue  menje.  Thay,  beand  cytit  to  tlie 
counsall  of  Constance,  come  vpon  ane  saifconduct  of  Sigismundus 
the  Empriour,  than  King  of  Boheme,  present  at  the  counsall ;  and 
thair  gaif  ane  resoun  &  declaratioun  of  thair  faith  and  doctrine  :  fra 
the  constant  professioun  qidiairof,  quhen  yai  cidd  nocht  be  diss- 
wadit,  thay,  contrair  the  saifconduct,  contrair  all  promises,  cruellic 
brint  thame,  Satisfyand  the  Empriour  with  this  godUe  Law,  of  thair 
awin  forgeing,  quod  nulla  fides  sit  hereticis  seruanda  :  Thair  is  na 
promis  to  be  keipit  to  heretikes.  Quhat  frute  this  gudelie  Law  hes 
wrocht,  the  battell  betuix  the  Turk,  and  Lowes,  King  of  Ungarie  and 
Boheme,  &  the  occasioun  thairof,  quhair  the  said  Lowes  perischit,  to 
the  greit  hurt  of  all  Christianitie,  -will  declair :  and  mony  vther 
histories  alswa,  quliilkis  for  schortnes  I  omit.  Now  our  Prelates, 
laith  to  ly  behind,  Avilling  to  schaw  yair  gude  seruice  to  ye  liaUc 
Sait,  apprehe?Klit  heir  in  Scotland,  Paull  Craw,  tei clung  the  doc- 
trine quhilk  Uicleif  &  Hus  had  teicbit,  &  maid  ane  Sacrifice  of 
him  in  Sanctandrois.  And  findand'  the  sawour  of  this  Sacrifice 
fragrant  and  smelland,  thay  tuke  the  Uicar  of  Dolour,  Freir  Kelour, 
Symsone,  Bawerage,  Kennedie,  Stratoun,  Gourlay  and  mony  ma, 
quha,  because  yai  culd  not  allow  yair  vaine  superstitiones  and 
Idolatries,  expres  aganis  the  con2mandement  of  ye  Lord  thair  God,  Avar 
cuttit  of  be  the  fyi^e.  Thay  had  noAV  lernit  to  dispute  Avith  fyre  & 
faggot,  for  our  auld  Bischoppis  &  Pastouris  Avar  decayit,  quhilk^'*'  Avar 
wo?Jt  to  be  lampis,  and  as  it  war  leidsternis,  to  all  nationis  adiace?«t : 
from  qiihome  passit  furth  mony  lernit  men  to  all  cuntreis,  to  Ing- 
land, France,  Germanic,  Latowe,  Pruse,  and  vther  partis,  as  thair 
Chronikillis  testifyis,  plantand  and  teichand  the  Christiane  faith,  & 
all  godlie  sciencis.  Bot  now,  dull  Asynis  had  ascendit  to  thair 
roAvmis,  beand  maryit  Avith  dame  propertie,  and  riches,  and  fair  lady 

^  leaf  iv,  not  signed. 


8*  HENRY   CHARTERIS'S   PREFACE   OF   1568. 

Sensualitie  :  and  swa  efter  ye  rait  of  vther  Realmis,  war  becii???mifc  Idil 
bellyis,  Ignorant  blokkis,  and  diuu  doggis.  Nouther  Avar  tliay  Idill 
in  Italie  :  thair  cruellie  siifferit  Thomas  Rhedonensis  the  Carmelite. 
And  in  Florence  the  godlie  blak  Freir,  Hieronymus  Sauoronola. 
Thus  co?itinewand  yair  rage  in  all  Eealmes,  eiiin  to  the  vttermaist  of 
yair  power,  it  pleisit  ye  mercyfull  God,  of  his  greit  mercy,  &  fauour- 
abill  lufe  towartis  man,  quhairby  he  wald  not  half  man  vtterlie  to 
perische,  to  gif  (as  it  war)  lycht  to  the  warld  :  and  that  be  reueilling 
of  his  word  and  Euangel,  be  the  mouthis  of  his  seruandis  Luther, 
Bucer,  Zuinglius,  Oecolam})adius,  Caluine,  &  niony  vtheris  :  be 
quhome  he  hes  discouerit  yaii-  cankerit  corruptioun  &  auld  festur  in 
sic  sort,  yat  na  man  (except  he  Avilbe  Avilfullie  blind)  may  not  persaif 
ye  vennome  &  fylth  thairof.  And  ^it  hes  ye  maist  part  of  yir  (how 
saeuer  ye  poweris  of  ye  Avarld  hes  bene  cowtrarious  to  yame)  departit 
in  ye  Lord,  in  quietnes.  Now  sum  wil  say,  thir  war  preicheouris,  & 
Ministeris  of  the  word,  and  had  bene  sumtyme  anoyntit  schauelingis, 
markit  ^Avith  the  beistis  mark,  and  had  maid  defectioun  from  thame, 
quhairfoir  thay  perseAvit  thame  the  mair  scharplie  and  cruellie.  Bot 
the  Lord  Cobhame,  Robert  Forester,  Straitoun,  Aver  nouther  schaueling- 
is nor  preicheouris.  Richard  Mekinnis,  ane  boy  of  .xvij.  3eiris  of 
age,  brint  in  Lo?Kloun,  was  na  preicheour.  The  lyke  lugement  sufferit 
Maistres  An  Askew,  Avith  mony  wemen,  quhilk  3it  Avar  na  preicheouris. 
3it  forther,  sum  Avill  obiect  the  equitie  of  the  tyme  qubairin  our 
Authoir  leuit :  that  the  poAver  of  the  aduersaries  Avas  restraynit,  that 
thay  culd  not  rage  and  rin  at  ryot  at  thair  libertie,  and  plesour,  as 
tha}'-  Avar  Avont.  And  3it  ane  lytill  befoir  his  deith  thay  brint  .M. 
George  Uischart,  and  Adam  Wallace,  Mariner.  And  schortlie  efter 
our  Authouris  deith  thay  tuke  the  avild  ma?;  Walter  ]\Iill,  and  cruellie 
brint  him  :  althocht  fra  that  fyre  rais  sic  ane  stew,  cprhilk  stridce  sic 
sturt  to  thair  stomokis,  that  tliay  reAvit  it  euer  efter.  'Jlian  hes  it 
not  bene  seriousnes  intermixit  Avith  iocunditie :  it  hes  nocht  bene 
continuall  abyding  nor  seruing  in  court,  it  hes  nocht  bene  blude 
royall,  nor  fauour  of  Princes  :  nouther  teiching  nor  preiching,  nor 
equitie  of  tyme,  culd  be  protectioun  to  onj^  aganis  sa  crucll  and  feirs 
aduersaries,  of  equall  Avill,  rage,  and  furie,  indifferentlie  aganis  all.  It 
is  rather  the  prouydence,  the  lugement,  tlie  poAver,  and  the  inmensi- 
bill  fauour  and  mercy  of  God  toAvartis  his  Sanctis  and  elect  :  quhilk 
vpo?z  ye  ane  part,  of  his  lufe  towardis  his  chosin,  to  satisfie  thair 
thrist,  &  desyre,  quhillv  thay  had  to  be  dissoluit,  and  to  be  Avith 
Christ,  yat  yai  suld  not  be  langer  enforcit  to  behald  ye  Avickit 
vaniteis  of  yis  Avarld  :  Partlie,  of  his  iust  lugement,  because  the 
warld  Avas  not  Avorthie  of  thame,  for  it  hes  lufit  luirknes  rather  yan 
licht,  and  delytit  mair  in  leis  yan  in  ye  treuth.  And  partlie,  to  mani- 
fest to  all  pepill  ye  cruell,  l)ludie,  (K:  iusatial)il  hartis  of  ye  membcris 
of  Antichrist,  ye  pilleris  of  tlic  malignant  Kirk,  he  did  (as  it  Aver)  gif 

"  leaf  iv,  back,  not  signed. 


HENRY   CHAUTERIS'S   PREFACE   OF    loGR.  d* 

ouir  into  yair  liandis,  ye  lyfis,  ye  possessionis,  giulis,  and  quhatsum- 
euer  extcrnall  tiling  yai  had,  to  be  maid  mokking  stokkis,  &  to  bo 
disponit  at  thair  libertie,  and  plesour.  On  the  vther  pairt,  to  declair 
his  niichtie  prouidence,  and  power,  qnhairby  he  Avil  not  suller  ane  hair 
of  the  heidis  of  his  chosin  to  perische,  but  liis  permissioun  :  and  to 
encorage  his  elect,  seing  yat  nouther  gude  nor  euill  can  fall  vnto 
yame,  by  ye  Avill  of  yair  Father :  he  hes  maist  niichtilio  nianteput 
yame,  ania?/gis  ye  iniddis  of  yis  niahgnant  generatioun.  This  luge- 
men  t  man  we  lykewise  haif  of  our  Dauid  Lyndesay,  to  quhome  we  will 
returne,  omittand  the  special  abusis  of  the  Clergie,  for  eschewing  of 
prolixitie,  &  tediousnes,  to  be  socht  out  of  his  awin  warkis  be  ye 
diligent  reidar.  Now  as  he  hes  bene  scharp  and  vigilant  in  marking 
ye  enormiteis  of  the  spiritualitie,  swa  hes  he  not  bene  negligent,  nor 
sleuthfull  in  rebuking  ye  defaltis  of  ye  tcmporalitie,  and  all  estatis 
yairof.  He  hes  not  spairit  King,  Court,  Counsalouris,  !Xoliilitie,  nor 
vtheris  of  inferiour  estait.  And  howbeit  yai  Avar  not  altogidder 
cu/«niit  to  sic  corruptioun  and  furie,  yat  yai  micht  not  heir  mair 
equallie  with  gonerall  admonitionis  and  reprochis,  yan  'the  spirit- 
ualitie, ^it  als  lytill  amendement  foUowit  in  the  ane  stait,  as  in  the 
vther.  Quhat  laubouiis  tulce  he,  that  the  landis  of  this  cuntrie  micht 
be  set  out  in  Fewis,  efter  ye  fassioun  of  sindrie  vther  liealmes,  for 
the  incres  of  policie,  and  riches  ?  Bot  quhat  hes  he  profitit  1  Quhen 
ane  pui'e  man  with  his  liaill  raice  and  offspring  hes  laubomit  out  yair 
lyfis  on  ane  lytLU.  peice  of  ground,  and  brocht  it  to  sum  point  and 
perfection?! :  tha?z  must  the  Lairdis  brother,  ki??nisman,  or  surname, 
haif  it :  and  ye  pure  man,  with  his  wyfe  &  babeis,  for  all  yair  trauellis, 
schot  out  to  beg  yair  meit.  He  yat  tuke  lytiU  laubouris  on  it,  man 
enioy  ye  frutes,  and  comraoditeis  of  it :  he  man  eit  vp  the  sweit  & 
laubouris  of  ye  pure  mawnis  broAAas.  Thus  the  pure  dar  mak  na  policie, 
nor  bitro-in",  in  cace  yai  big  yame  selfis  out.  Bot  althocht  men  wink 
at  yis,  and  ouirluke  it,  3it  he  sitts  abone  yat  seis  it,  and  sal  luge  it. 
He  yat  heiris  ye  sichis  &  complaintis  of  ye  pure  oppressit,  sail  not 
for  euer  suffer  it  vnpunischit.  Quhat  hes  he  alswa  written  aganis  yis 
Heriald  hors,  deuysit  for  mony  pure  mannis  hurt?  Bot  quha  hes 
dimittit  it  1  finallie,  quhat  oppressioun  or  vice  hes  he  not  repreuit  1 
Bot  yir  sail  suffice  for  exempill.  And  gif  he  had  leifit  in  yir  lait 
dayis,  quhat  had  he  said,  of  ye  unnatural  murtheris  :  ye  cruel 
slauchteris  :  ye  manifest  reiffis  :  ye  continuall  heirschippis  :  ye  plane 
oppressionis  :  ye  lytill  regard  of  all  persones  to  ye  co??nuoun  weilth  : 
ye  mantening  of  derth,  to  the  vniuersall  hurt  of  the  pure  in  trans])ort- 
ing  of  victuallis  fm-th  of  ye  Eealme,  co?ztrarie  to  ye  statutis  yairof, 
for  ye  particular  weill  of  few,  &  hurt  of  mony :  the  Importing  of 
greit  quantiteis  of  fals  cun^e  sklenderlie  serchit,  and  lychtliar 
punischit  :  The  midtitude  of  Kirkis  destitute  of  ]\Iinisteris  throw 
the  hail  cu?itrie  :  The  slaw  adininistratioun  of  Justice,  and  for  lea 

'  sign.  A  .j. 


10*  HENRY    CHARTERIS'S   PREFACE   OP    1568. 

cxecutioun  :  with  all  kynde  of  impieteis  (as  it  wer)  puljlictlie,  and 
frelie  Eegna/id.  3it  noclityeles  we  luke  for  redres  and  reformatioun 
of  all  sic  horribil  deformities,  at  ye  liandis  of  sic  rewlaris  as  God  lies, 
and  sail  strentliin  Avitli  his  Spirit,  lychtin  with  ye  pure  word  of  his 
Euangel,  endew  with  his  feir  (qiihilk  is  ye  begiixaing  of  all  "wisdome) 
with  sic  knawlege,  sic  lugement,  and  ^eill,  yat  yai  sail  to  yair  vtter- 
maist  endenour,  auance,  and  set  fordwart  all  lustice,  and  equitie,  and 
suppres  all  vice  and  iniquitie  :  to  ye  glorie  of  God  :  to  ye  auaunce- 
nient  of  his  word  :  to  ye  edificatioun  of  his  Kirk,  and  to  ye  confort, 
and  qnietnes  of  yis  trubillit  and  afflictit  commoun  weilth.  Quhilk 
God  of  his  greit  niercie  grant  that  we  may  schortlie  se.     Amen. 

I  haue  alreddie  passit  ye  boundis  of  ane  preface  :  jit  ane  thing 
restis  to  admonische  ye  (gentill  reidar)  of  yir  warkis  following.  The 
mair  part  of  yame  lies  bene  sindrie  tymes  in  sindrie  places  imprentit : 
as  heir  in  Scotland,  quhilk  jit  Avar  not  sa  correct  as  neid  requyrit. 
Tliay  half  bene  Imprentit  in  Rowen,  bot  altogidder  sa  corrupt  and 
fals,  that  na  man  can  be  abill  to  atteyne  to  the  Authoris  mynde  be 
yame.  For  besydis  the  wrang  Ortographie,  and  fals  spelling,  the 
transpositiones  of  Avordis  &  lynis  :  yair  is  alswa  sic  defectiones,  yat 
suintymes  Avill  want  twa,  or  thre  ^ lynis  in  ane  sentence:  sumtymes 
als  mony  abound,  and  be  doublit. 

QuhairthroAV  the  inyndis  of  honest  men  ar  alienatit  from  reidiug  of 
sa  frutefuU  Avarkis  :  jouth  is  abusit  and  corruptit :  the  Authour  and 
Ms  Avarkis  schaniefullie  blottit,  and  barbuljeit :  the  cu?ztrie  infamit : 
&  sic  personis  as  laubouris  for  iust  correctioun  vtterly  discuragit,  seand 
thair  lauboures  and  trauellis  sa  haistelie  yairefter  to  be  corruptit,  at 
the  priuate  appetite  and  gredines  of  certane  godles  Ignorantis  :  quhilk 
in  respect  of  yir  greit  hurtis,  deseruis  na  small  punischcment.  Thay 
ar  lykcAvise  laitlie  Imprentit  in  Londoun,  with  lytill  better  sncces 
than  ye  vther.  For  yai  haif  gane  about  to  bring  thame  to  ye  sonth- 
erne  language,  alterand  ye  uers  and  collouris  yairof,  in  sic  placis,  as  yai 
culd  admit  na  alteratioun  :  quliairfoir  ye  natiue  grace  and  first  mynd 
of  ye  AATyter,  is  oftentjanes  peruertit.  And  for  ye  Ortographie,  trans- 
positiones, and  defectiones,  thay  ar  alniaist  commoun  Avith  the  vther. 

Thus  seing  this  famous  Authour,  and  his  notabill  AA'arkis  to  be  sa 
velanouslie  handillit,  and  sa  miserabilHe  and  malitiouslie  mankit, 
and  alterat :  Ave  haif  gane  about,  and  takin  sum  trauellis,  to  Adndicate 
yame  from  yir  blottis,  &  corruptiones  :  and  to  reduce  and  bring 
thame  to  the  natiue  integritie,  and  first  mening  of  ye  Avryter.  Quhilk 
salbe  elike  persauit  in  ye  reiding  :  bot  maist  esilie,  gif  onj'  AA'il  confer 
this  editioun  Avith  yame  yat  hes  preceid  it :  quhairin,  quhat  difference 
is  betuix  rycht  &  Avra?2g  Avryting,  betuix  correct  and  A^ncorrect  Im- 
prcnting,  salbe  clcirlie  sene. 

Mair,  Ave  haif  eikit  sindrie  warkis  of  ye  saniin  Authour,  quhilkis 
lies  not  bene  befoir  Imprentit :  to  yo  intent,  that  na  thing  of  sa 

'  sign.  A  .j.,  back. 


HENRY   CnARTERIs's   PREFACE   OF    loC8.  11* 

E"obill  anc  wryter  siild  porisclie,  tlirow  negligence,  or  sk-uthfulnes  of 
tins  present  age,  hot  suld  be  reseniit  to  ye  fruto  of  all  posteriteis 
following.  And  forther  intendis  (be  ye  help  of  God)  to  use  ye  lyko 
diligence,  in  all  warkis  of  yis  wryter,  quliilkis  sail  heirefter,  be  ouy 
menis,  cum  to  our  liandis. 

I  vnR  deteyne  the  na  langer  (gnde  Eeidar)  from  the  warkis  thamo 
selfis :  bot  will  commit  the  to  the  protectioun  of  ye  Almychtic,  our  God : 
ernistlie  desyrand  ye  to  call  vpo?i  him  :  yat  he  will  rais  and  steir  up 
mony  Dauid  Lyndesayis,  yat  Avill  continuallie  admonische  baitli 
Prince  and  pepill  of  thair  dewtie,  and  vocatioun,  quhairunto  yc  Lord 
yair  God  lies  callit  yame  :  yat  will  rebuke  and  repreif  all  sic  defaltis 
as  salbe  fiuid  in  yame  :  yat  •will  co??nnit  to  letteris,  and  -wryte,  yo 
honour,  ye  gloir,  ye  fame,  and  succes  of  vertew,  and  inbraceris  yair- 
of :  The  dishonour,  ye  schame,  ye'  defame,  and  mischeif  of  vyce  and 
impietie,  and  enhanteris  thairof.  To  be  notifyit  and  maid  knawin  to 
all  agis  to  cum  :  that  it  may  be  ane  piik  and  spur  to  ye  verteons  and 
godlie,  to  ga  fordwart  in  all  richteousnes,  and  equitie ;  that  it  may  be 
ane  stay  and  brydill  to  reteyne  &  hald  bak  ye  wickit  and  vngodlio 
from  all  wickitness,  and  iniquitie.  To  the  intent :  yat  God  may  be 
glorifyit :  his  Kirk  edifyit  :  and  this  commoun  weilth  confortit,  and 
quietit. 


'^ne  atijortattoim  of  all  fstatis,  to  tfje  reitiincj  of  tfjir 

present  ijjarltis. 

1^  (►!•)  .m 

SEN  that  it  is  maist  worthie  for  to  be 
Lamentit  of  euerilk  Avarldlie  -wicht : 
*     To  se  the  warkis  of  plesant  Poetrie 
To  ly  sa  hid  and  sylit  from  the  sicht 
Of  those,  in  hart  quha  dois  reiois  aricht, 
In  Vulgar  toung  for  to  behald  and  heir 
Vertew  and  vyce  disclosit,  and  brocht  to  licht, 
In  thair  richt  collouris  planelie  to  appeir. 

Thairfoir  (gude  Eeidar)  half  I  trauell  tane, 

Intill  ane  volume  now  breiflie  for  to  bring 

Of  Dauid  Lyndesay,  the  haill  warkis  ilk  ane, 

Knicht  of  the  IMont,  Lyoun,  of  x\[r]mis  King, 

Quha  in  our  dajis  now  did  laitlie  King, 

Quliais  pregnant  practick,  and  quhais  ornate  style, 

To  be  commendit  be  me,  neidis  na  thing  : 

Lat  warkis  beir  mtnes,  qiihilkis  he  hes  done  compyle. 

'  sign.  A  .ij. 


12*  HENBY    CHARTERIS'S    PREFACE    OP    15 C8. 

Tliocht  Gawine  Dowglas,  Bischop  of  Dunk  ell, 
In  ornate  meter  surmount  did  euerilk  man  ; 
Thoclit  Kennedie  and  Dunbar  hure  tlie  bell, 
For  the  large  race  of  Eethorik  thay  ran  : 
3it  neuer  Poeit  of  our  Scottisclie  clan, 
Sa  cleirlie  schew  that  Monstour  with  his  markis. 
The  Eomane  God,  in  quhome  all  gyle  began  : 
As  dois  gude  Dauid  Lyndesay  in  his  warkis. 

Quhairin  na  stait  he  spairit,  hot  stoutlie  schew  thame, 
How  thay  baith  God  and  man  had  sore  offendit : 
With  fleschehulds  of  flatterie  he  neuer  clew  thame ; 
Of  quhat  degre  sa  euer  thay  discendit, 
Thair  auld  misdeid  he  prayit  thame  ay  to  mend  it, 
Empriour,  nor  King,  Duke,  Erie,  Prince,  nor  Paip, 
Gif  thay  to  quell  Christis  flock  5it  still  pretendit  : 
Goddis  lust  lugementis  na  way  suld  thay  eschaip>. 

With  prettie  problemis,  and  sentences  maist  sage, 
With  plesand  prouerbis  in  his  warkis  all  quhair, 
With  staitlie  storyis  aggreing  to  our  age, 
^With  similitudis  semehe  he  dois  declair, 
With  well  waillit  wordis,  wyse,  and  familiar, 
Of  queynt  conuoy,  this  ioyous  gem  locound, 
Intill  his  bulds  to  speik  he  did  noqjit  spair 
Aganis  all  vyce,  ay  quhair  it  did  abound. 

Princes  approche !  cum  Eewlaris  in  ane  Randoun  ! 
Eeid  heir  3e  Lordis  of  the  meyner  men3e. 
The  end  of  hicht ;  ^our  pryde  lerne  to  abandoun. 
Cum,  schameles  schauelingis  of  Sathanis  sen^e, 
Rynnand  in  vyce,  ay  still  with  oppin  ren^e  ; 
Of  proud  Prelatis  reid  heir  the  suddano  fall, 
Quha  for  to  stoup  3it  did  neuer  den^e. 
Under  the  30ck  of  him  that  creat  all. 

Cum  teynefull  tyra?mis,  trimmilling  with  30ur  trayne  ! 

Cum  nouchtie  ISTewtrallis  with  3our  bailfull  band  ! 

3e  half  ane  cloik  now  reddy  for  the  rayne  : 

For  fair  wether,  ane  vther  ay  at  hand. 

Idolateris  draw  neir  to  Burgh  and  land, 

Eeid  heir  3our  lyfe  at  large,  baith  mair  and  min, 

With  Hypocrites  ay  slyding  as  the  sand. 

As  humloik  how  of  wit,  and  vertew  thin 

'  A  .ij.,  back. 


HENRY    CHARTERIS'S    TREFACE   OF    i:;08.  13* 

Oppressouris  of  the  pure,  ciiui  in  till  paivis  ! 
Flatteraris  tiok  fordwart !  for  I  [haif]  hard  tell, 
3e  had  aue  saw  richt  sicker  for  all  sairis. 
Lawieris,  and  Scrybis,  qiiha  lies  ^our  saulis  to  sill  ! 
Craftismen,  and  jNIercbandis,  gif  [yat]  30  do  mell 
"With  fraud  or  falset,  than  I  30\v  desyre, 
Keid  in  this  huke,  the  speiche  gif  ^e  can  spell, 
Quhat  lust  reAvard  36  sail  haif  for  30ur  hyre. 

Amang  the  rest,  now  Courteouris  cum  hiddcr  ! 
Thocht  3e  be  skeich,  and  skip  abone  the  skyis, 
3it  constantlie  I  pray  30AV  to  considder, 
In  to  this  scrow,  quhat  Lyndesay  to  30W  cryis. 
Cum  all  degreis,  in  Lurdanerie  quha  lyis. 
And  fane  wald  se  of  sin  the  feirfull  fync  : 
And  lerne  in  vertew  how  for  to  vpryis  ! 
Eeid  heir  this  buke,  and  30  sail  find  it  syne. 

"With  Scripture  and  with  storyis  natiu'all, 

'  Richelie  replenischit  from  end  to  end, 

Jn  till  this  buke,  quha  list  to  reid,  thay  sail 

Find  mony  lessoun  largelie  to  commend  ; 

The  braid  difference  quhairin  weill  may  iDe  kend 

Betwene  verteous  and  vicious  leuing. 

Lat  vs  thau-foir  our  lyfe  in  vertew  spend, 

Sen  vyce  of  mankynd  is  the  haiU  mischeuing. 

Lat  LjTidesay  now  as  he  Avar  3it  on  lyif, 
Pas  furth  to  lycht,  A\dth  all  his  sentence  hie  : 
Vnto  all  men  tliair  deAvtie  to  descr}Tie 
Quhairin  thay  may  ane  lyuelie  Image  se, 
Of  his  expressit  mynd  in  Poetrie, 
Prentit,  as  he  it  publischit  with  his  pen  : 
That  him  self  speik,  I  think  it  best  for  me  ; 
Gif  gloir  to  God,  quhilk  gaif  sic  Giftis  to  men. 

Finis. 


[0)1  the  lotcer  half  of  this  page  begins] 

The  Epistil  Nnn- 
cnpatorie  of  Schir  Dauid  Ljoidosay  of  the 
Mont  Knicht,  on  his  Dialog  of  the  Mi- 
serabill  estait  of  the  warld.  ~ 

'  A  .iii.  no  sign. 


7f 


PR 

1119 
A2 

no.  11 


Early  English  Text 
Society 

cPublicationS] 
Original  series,  no.  Ii;i9:ji5: 
37,^7 


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